Assassins is one of the numerous 90's action films featuring a very important disc with highly sensitive information that sets off a string of action, lots of shootouts, and technology and computer scenes that viewed now are quite amusing.I would give it a 5.5 if I was able, as the Stallone/Banderas thriller has it's moments, and the promise of what was to come from The Wachowskis a few short years later is visible, but apparently the script was meddled with by a third writer and studio influence, and maybe that explains some of the odd character choices and plot holes.The idea of rival assassins has potential, and the movie does predict things like the use of texting (even if it's done over laptop) and wiring money over the internet. Where it goes wrong is in the details of what exactly the disc that Julianne Moore's character even has on it, and maybe I didn't pay enough attention, but the movie should've done a better job of making me care and presenting the idea more clearly. However I don't really think I was supposed to think about that when I watched it.Stallone is fine as the hit-man Robert Rath, but the character would've worked better with an older, less musclebound actor. Stallone now, even would be fine, but the character is written like a tired old vet, and Stallone is clearly still in excellent shape here. Banderas is way over-the-top, chewing scenery, and even though the point is that he's supposed to be less patient, it's hard to buy someone this reckless would be the number 2 assassin in the world. Julianne Moore is an amazing actress, yet they cast her in a part that plays like a female anime character (considering The Wachowskis, maybe this was on purpose). If she were played by a younger actress, her character would make sense, or if they had changed her character to cater to Julianne Moore's talent, and to be less of a voyeuristic weirdo who literally spray paints people (in one of the heavy handed political moments in the movie, there are a few). I don't even totally disagree with the views presented, but these scenes have literally nothing to do with the story and take away from your engagement.Overall, with better, more sensible characters and some clean-up work on the writing, Assassins could've been an action classic, there's still some decent shootouts and set-moments, but as it stands, it's just decent. Again, there's better work, concepts, and ideas from every single person in this production.

Professional hit-man Robert Rath wants to fulfill a few more contracts before retiring but unscrupulous ambitious newcomer hit-man Miguel Bain keeps killing Rath's targets. The film stars Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas and Julianne Moore and it's directed by Richard Donner (Superman, Superman II and Lethal Weapon 1,2,3 and 4) even tho the film has some great chases, dialogue and performances by a talented cast the movie takes a lot of time to begin with or continue until the big finale and i'm not saying it's a bad movie it just uses more explanation instead of man to man combat although the film has a lot of great scenes mostly from Banderas who pretty much steals the show years later Sly and Antonio would work again together in EX3.

Professional hit-man Robert Rath wants to fulfill a few more contracts before retiring but unscrupulous ambitious newcomer hit-man Miguel Bain keeps killing Rath's targets.How often are Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas in the same movie? Not very often. And how often are they both killers, who would be more than happy to kill each other? Only once, so far as I know. It is a great combination, and proof that Stallone was not just a star of the 80s -- he is just as strong here (and some would say he is still good in 2015).This also happens to be one of those Julianne Moore films that has her as a main character before you realized that Moore was a big star. Maybe at this point it was more obvious, but it is quite surprising how many films she did before she was seen as an A-list actress.

What I mean by my title is that Arnold Schwarzenegger's True Lies was a feat of mastery for the action genre. It wasn't just an action film, it was an epic, masterfully created piece of work. It had a very talented director, a sweeping storyline, powerful supporting roles...everything about it worked. Assassins could have been that and in some ways it comes close. You have a legendary action director in place, the action god himself, a worthy villain, and epic storyline, exotic locales. It was a roller coaster ride for me and not just because of the action but how I felt about the film. One moment I was riveted and really enjoying it and then something would happen that would drop it down a few points for me. There was one entire character who I think was entirely mis-cast but I will get to that. The film absolutely gets better as it goes until the epic climatic finale that is truly outstanding. The story is well written and action scenes that are very nearly legendary. The shoot out in the cemetery, the car chase scene with the police and the taxi cab and the finale in the run down church are without a doubt sheer genius. So why isn't Assassins better known? I am completely biased when it comes to Sylvester Stallone. I idolize this man. When I first discovered how much I loved movies I discovered Stallone and he and I spent an inordinate amount of time together when I was a teenager. And yet I had never seen Assassins...don't even know how that happened. So I was on the edge of my seat to see this. Stallone is very good as the emotionally charged and scarred Hit-man who does what he is told in order to get his "mark." He is the best of the best and an event in his past has left him deeply marked. This was a solid role for him and he does well. Many reviewers on IMDb dislike the film but most rave about the performance by Antonio Banderas. Banderas is okay in the role but I would never rave about it. I think he overplays and overdoes the role. The quirky little behaviour and obsessive tics his character has gets old quick and is more distracting than anything and makes it hard to believe his assassin is number two in the world. Stallone and Banderas have good chemistry opposite each other but its not amazing chemistry. Banderas does get significantly better (excellent actually) in the last half hour of the film when he starts to take things more seriously. And not the problem with the film. Now I have the opposite bias for Julianne Moore that I have with Stallone. I don't like her. Never have. She has chosen some good movies and she won't stop me from seeing a movie but I don't enjoy her for whatever reason. I think she is awful in this movie. The character is completely given the wrong persona and she is not believable, distracting, annoying, whiny and the romantic tension with Stallone is SOOO not necessary. Removing her from this film and making the hacker a guy would have made this film at LEAST a nine for me. The three of them simply don't mesh well together and it drags the film down. Stallone and Banderas are okay but you add Moore and the cast is sub-par at best.Richard Donner is a legend just based in my books on one film and a film series alone. That is Superman and the Lethal Weapon films. Those make him action director extraordinaire. His style and exceptional emotional range as a director does truly make this a very good watch and far from just a run and gun, shoot em up flick. It's so close to being great that it hurts. I feel like Banderas and Moore were bad casting or at least Banderas character was over-acted in the beginning. The concept is awesome. Two hit men, one young hot headed newcomer is desperate to eliminate the top hit-man in the world. It's a solid script written by those crazy Wachowski siblings of The Matrix fame proving they have more in them than just Matrix. A better supporting cast, and just a slight tightening of a few details in the script and this could have been really something. However, as it is, its still a great Stallone action flick and worth checking out for a turn off your brain, sit back and enjoy sort of flick. 7.5/10