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Above the Law
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List Price: $12.97
Our Price: $9.99
Your Save: $ 2.98 ( 23% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Starring: Steven Seagal, Pam Grier, Henry Silva, Ron Dean, Daniel Faraldo
Directed By: Andrew Davis
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9780790734132
Format: Anamorphic
ISBN: 6304779089
Label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 1998-01-28
Running Time: 99
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1988-04-08
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Editorial Reviews:
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Steven Seagal plays a Chicago cop who takes on CIA types in this action thriller from Andrew Davis (The Fugitive). Davis brings muscle to the project, including some strong set pieces that make Seagal (who also co-wrote and co-produced the film) look awfully good. Costars Pam Grier and Sharon Stone give a big assist in that department, too, yet nothing can really mitigate such ridiculous moments as Seagal's getting profound with a villain in his raspy monotone: "You think you're above the law. But you're not." The DVD release includes full-screen and widescreen presentations, production notes, trailers, optional Spanish soundtrack and optional French and Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Segal's First And One Of His Best
Comment: Like many bargain priced eighties Above The Law is a bare bones DVD with no features to speak of. However at 9.99 no one is going to buy this movie for the features even though a commentary would have been nice. As for the movie,Above The Law is a hands down action classic. This was the debut of one the early nineties biggest action stars Stevn Segal. The direction by Andrew Davis was tense and the fight sequences are cool. Steven Segal's first is still one of his best.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Segal uncorks the film world and takes it for the very first time!
Comment: This was a hugely significant moment in film history. Above the Law was the first ever film of the now ledgendary Steven Segal. Yeah, this was his first film, but the man looked like he was in the zone from the first second of the film when we see him in his karate getup with two of the most ferocious sideburns to ever grace the big screen. To set the scene, the movie was made in 1988, and it was set in Chicago. And to top it all off, Segal's name in the film was Nico Toscani. So, basically, this film stared Segal, a few other people we know, and about 35 Bernie Kosar look-alikes with black curly A.C. Slater mullets and all.
One of the people we knew was the infamous Sharon Stone. She was about 4 years away from her breakout role in Basic Instinct here, and clearly fell into the category of Not Ready For Prime-Time. She was far from hot. Actually, she looked "a little chubby." (direct quote from an honorary Sid the Elf member for part of the movie) They even had her play the wet blanket wife in this one. Another person we knew was Segal's buddy from Vietnam who later became the CIA guy. It was the guy who played Eddie Harris in Major League and the bum that tried to run Coach Norman Dale out of Hickory in Hoosiers. This guy's got it. When he was having his terribly acted argument with Segal, Sid was waiting for him to break character and say, "Are you saying Jesus Christ can't hit a curve ball?" But it never happened.
That's one of the reasons we, Sid the Elf, could only give Above the Law 4 stars. Don't misunderstand, this is a terrific action B. But, it just was missing something. Sid's theory is that the lack of the Segal ponytail, double chin, and big gut made this one feel different. So, Segal was skinny and ponytailless but he did have what appeared to be the begining stages of the Myers hair we all saw in Urban Justice. Also, Segal didn't have the role of goomba rouge cop perfected yet. This was the only role he played in his early movies, so he had enough practice to get it down by the time he nailed it perfectly in Out for Justice. While Nico was not as tough as Gino Felino, he was still man enough to take on the main villan who was played by Henry Silva wearing a Chevy Chase mask. One other thing, Segal DID kick a multitude of butt in Above the Law, but there was a serious lack of explosions. You don't get 5 stars as an action flick with no explosions. Not gonna happen.
Finally, like any good B Above the law was floating along and ended abruptly. It also had a few "wait, what's going on here?" moments and enough physically impossible things happening to make it certified B. Like when Segal was hanging onto the roof of the car going like 30 mph while choking the guy in the passenger seat. Sid loved that. It pushed the film into the upper echelon of action B and enabled us, Sid the Elf, to give Above the Law our Watchability Seal of Approval.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Above the Law - Awesome Film!
Comment: A great film featuring a then unknown Steven Seagal. This was the film that eventually made Steven famous. It is also the first film featuring street Aikido and very accurately portrayed by Master Seagal. There would of been no one better for the role then Steven Seagal, his past martial arts training and prior military experience blended excellent in this action packed cop flick. This film was very close to the personal life of Steven Seagal and is strangely biographical.This is my favorite police movie of all time. I watched it in 1989 and never stopped watching this film. Steven has become a legendary icon to the martial arts world and to the action star status. This film had it all
Customer Rating:
Summary: Action is too intense
Comment: One of the best Steven Seagal movies made. He needs to stick to these types of movies.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Flawed entertainment
Comment: The best bit of this film is the opening few minutes where we see Steven Seagal doing Akido, at which he is an acknowledged master - 7th Dan in fact. This is one of his earliest films and in my view, of those that I've seen, its second only to 'Under Siege'.
Its a pretty standard plot: The CIA want to assassinate a US Senator whos going to expose their dealings with drug cartels etc. Nico being ex special forces is going to try to stop them. There is plenty of action and in some ways some of it reminded me of the 'Dirty Harry' movies. Unfortunately whilst Seagal is undoubtably a real tough guy he does not have the screen presence or the acting ability of Clint Eastwood. The film has an interesting supporting cast. Sharon Stone plays Rico's wife and Pam Grier is pretty good as his partner in the Police.
In places it is just ridiculous though. Nico seems to have a magic force field around him which prevents him from ever being hit by a bullet. Believe me a lot of bullets are fired at him but none ever touch him.
To its credit it is a short film that I could happily watch again. Just don't expect too much from it.
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