Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD EAN: 7321950119141 Format: Anamorphic Number Of Discs: 1 Region Code: 2 Theatrical Release Date: 1990-02-09
After making his action-hero debut in 1988's Above the Law, Steven Seagal followed up with this typically formulaic action thriller, in which the ponytailed crime fighter is shot full of bullets and left for dead after he uncovers a powerful circle of corrupt politicians. After seven years in a coma, he returns to consciousness and is nursed back to health by--surprise, surprise!--a gorgeous woman, played by Seagal's then wife Kelly ("don't hate me because I'm beautiful") LeBrock. Once in peak condition, snarlin' Steve sets out to satisfy his hearty appetite for revenge, and the bone-crunching action kicks into high gear with the requisite chases, hand-to-hand combat, and escalating body count. This is one of Seagal's best vehicles, establishing the star's screen persona before it grew stale in later films. --Jeff Shannon
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: Seven Years In 96 Minutes Comment: I'm conflicted about "Hard to Kill" (alternatively known as "The Seven Year Storm" - a better title, if you ask me): on one hand, it displays Steven Seagal's strengths to near-perfection, but on the other, it's just about the dumbest follow-up that Seagal could do after his smarter-than-average debut, "Above the Law". Rest assured, it's not a bad movie, and certainly belongs on any of Seagal's "best of" lists...but for many folks, that's not saying much.
In the film, Seagal is Mason Storm - a lone wolf policeman who's just made a breakthrough regarding a plot to assassinate a US senator. Before he can deliver the evidence, however, an attack on his home by the crooks leaves his wife dead, his son missing, and Storm himself in a coma. Protected by his friend and colleague Kevin O'Malley (Frederick Coffin, "View from the Top"), Storm lies unconscious for seven years until awakening to renewed assassination attempts and a thirst for revenge.
For the record, being put into a coma is the most harm that has ever befallen the usually-invincible Seagal. That doesn't stop him, however, from managing to outrun an assassin while still in his hospital bed, mere minutes after he woke up. Throw in the beard he grew during his coma and the taking off of his shirt, and you've got a respectable list of things you see in none other of his films.
I suppose that's where the film's main appeal lies: he's put into situations you usually don't see him in, but the fact that he handles all of them in his superhuman way puts a bit of a damper on the thought that his character might be but a man.
The action is hit-and-miss: the scene in the convenience store is one of the best examples of seeing real aikido in use, but it's nothing more than Seagal taking out the garbage as usual. A couple of similar scenes don't supply much of a rush, either. However, the shootout in the doctor's house is one of the finest that Seagal has ever been filmed in: brilliant mix of gunplay and hand-to-hand fighting, and even a grotesquely-snapped arm thrown in for good measure.
The inclusion of Kelly LeBrock ("The Woman in Red") - Seagal's then-wife - is a two-edged blade: while she gives little more than an acceptable performance, her interaction with Seagal seems to give the martial artist a confidence that he tends to lack in his acting, and supplies him with a surprising flair that chooses to express itself during quieter scenes - I mean, when's the last time you've seen Seagal guffaw convincingly? Then again, since she was his real-life spouse, it's inevitable that they begin a relationship in the movie, and this doesn't gel at all with the approach of a man who, in his mind, has lost his wife only weeks ago.
However, when the bad guys get theirs, it's some of the most satisfying scenes that our hero has ever uttered harsh language in: you really don't know how good you can feel for a guy until William Sadler ("Roswell") is standing with a gun barrel in his mouth, being told what's going to happen to him in prison. The ability to instill this marvelous feel for vengeance earns late director Bruce Malmuth ("Nighthawks") some kudos...but eventually, it feels like just another run-of-the-mill action vehicle for Steven.
While it's more interesting than most of the films Seagal's been involved in, it really doesn't top an old-fashioned, to-the-point Seagalian bloodbath like "Out for Justice" or "Under Siege". Fans should definitely pick it up, and 80s-action freaks should get a fix out of this one...but everybody else, rent it first. Customer Rating: Summary: A fun movie Comment: This is a good Seagal thriller and pushes the right buttons. It isn't one of his best but it does deliver the goods. Customer Rating: Summary: No classic Comment: This is no classic. Seagal plays a cop who after capturing a politician on film with some well known criminals becomes their target. He survives but his family do not. The rest you can guess. Having said its no classic, that is only by comparison to the very highest standards; as Seagal films go this is one of his best. He has ample opportunity to display his martial arts skills and it moves along with pace, and as its only just over an hour and a half long this means you won't be bored.
However the script is pretty average, and as with a lot of Seagal films it has a made for TV feel about it which does it no favours. I certainly wouldn't recommend purchasing as I don't believe it will hold up to repeated viewings. See it once and enjoy it for what it is and move on! Customer Rating: Summary: "I'm gonna take you to the bank, Senator Trent. To the blood bank!" Comment: After Above the Law's Success it was more than obvious that Steven Seagal was going to return for another movie...And so he did, but not for one movie but for 2.In 1990 Seagal had 2 theatrical releases, Marked for Death and Hard To Kill. Both of which are some of his best work. Hard to Kill has the quality of good acting and great Aikido action scenes from Seagal's part, that is not present in his more recent films.
The story of Hard to Kill centers on Mason Storm, A cop that is secretly videotaping an individual (who will later become a Senator) telling the mafia that they can rely on his political support. Stating that the can take that to the bank. Storm who thinks he is safe and hasn't been spotted is later found by thugs at his house; they brutally murder his wife and nearly kill Storm as well. He is left in a coma for 7 years, after his wake it's obvious that he is after revenge and will expose the truth he videotaped. The movie manages to show Seagal slowly train and recuperate his strength to fight once more. The movie has more fights and more linear plot than "Above the Law". For me this is Seagal's best movie. Main reason because it is still on the realistic level and the character he plays is not as cocky as his future roles. And his acting is much superior to that of his future films. The movie also stars Kelly Le Brock, Seagal's now ex wife.
MY PERSONAL RATING: 5 OUT OF 5
Customer Rating: Summary: Come and cut my heart out Comment: Mason Storm (Seagal) is a dangerous LA homicide cop. So bad, in fact, an early movie exchange cements his lethality. Storm tauntingly drops to his knees in a grocery store, whispering, "Come and cut my heart out, come and cut my heart out!" to a knife-wielding criminal. It's funny because the criminal has clearly never even used a steak knife, much less attack another human being...who happens to be a black belt in aikido. That'll cost you one fully functional ankle and fibula, Mr. Unaware Criminal.
Anyway, Storm is investigating police and political corruption. One night he's spying on a corrupt deal where he gets audio and video evidence of a political assassination plan. Unfortunately, he can't keep his trap shut and blabs to a friend as corrupt policemen listen in.
Once the bad guys are aware of Storm's evidence, they send a hit-squad to his house. Completely unaware, Storm and his wife get gunned down in bed. Luckily, Storm's young son escapes through the window, and, Storm does not die. He's severely injured, but he's just left for dead in a coma.
Fast forward seven years...
Storm wakes up from his coma where a hot nurse (Kelly Lebrock) is attending to him. During a pointlessly unreal scene, Lebrock lifts the sheet to look at Storm's dormant package, and openly pines for him to awake from the coma. A guy waking from a coma to a beautiful nurse who wants to have sex with him? What is this, a porn flick?
In a matter of no time, Storm has regained his past superhuman dexterity and strength via some light work outs and self-administered smoking acupuncture needles...because this clearly takes care of SEVEN year's worth of muscle atrophy. And, sure enough, he and Lebrock start to fall for one another. From vegetable to fully healthy man forgetful of his dead wife, it's borderline comical how quickly he begins romance anew with his hot, private nurse.
During this brief healing period, Storm hears a campaign ad on tv from the corrupt Senator who was involved in his assassination attempt, and this is where the classic Seagal line is uttered, "I'm gonna take you to the bank Senator. To the blood bank!"
From there it's a confrontation with the crooked cops and politicians, where an ample amount of appendages are broken and dislocated, and Mason Storm triumphantly delivers pain before walking off during the credit roll with his new woman, his long lost son, and a plethora of bleeding bad guys in his wake.
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