Most recent Steven Seagal films are utter rubbish. That's the general consensus of even the most ardent lovers of the ponytailed star, whose glory days at the box office are but a distant memory. These days, there are films where he doesn't even get out of his chair (TICKER), and films where even his voice is doubled as well as his body (too many to note). PISTOL WHIPPED is slightly different, though, because it's a real film with real production values. It was also made in America, in Connecticut in fact, which makes a refreshing change from the usual Eastern European hijinks we've come to expect from the once-great star.The storyline is once more a rather slim concoction written entirely around Seagal's presence, but to be fair it does have more going for it than per usual. This time around Seagal is blackmailed into becoming an assassin, and stages a series of hits on some really unpleasant characters. Meanwhile there are more murky characters lurking around in the sidelines than in a pub alleyway on a Friday night, and it's all going to end in disaster. The good news is that Dutch director Roel Reine is probably the best director Seagal's teamed up with for a while, and he manages to bring style and some originality to the proceedings. I even felt that this film had a slight '70s vibe going on, an edginess pretty much missing from the actor's canon ever since NICO: ABOVE THE LAW.Seagal himself isn't too shabby, and we can at least be thankful that he doesn't seem to be noticeably doubled for much of the action (as well as other scenes) here. The supporting cast also has more going for it than per usual. Excluding Renee Goldsberry, who's awful as the love interest (her expression while eating a fried egg put paid to hopes that she might give a decent performance), we have great turns from Arthur J. Nascarella – as a really sleazy gangster-type who's number one on Seagal's hit list; Paul Calderon as 'Blue', a strange figure always lurking around, and best of all, Lance Henriksen! Henriksen has taken his time getting around to appearing in a Seagal film (let's not forget he starred with Van Damme back in 1993's HARD TARGET) and sadly it's a bit of a wasted opportunity here, as he appears in a mere handful of scenes and rarely rises from his theatre seat, but nevertheless it's great to have him on board.The action scenes are fun and there are some classic moments (like when a guy pretending to be a cop unwisely slaps Seagal's face as he's sitting in a car, and he pulls this guy's arm in and snaps it). The assassin moments are real highlights, especially when our hero takes down 'Bruce' and his cronies while sitting at a table. Things pick up as the film goes on, throwing in a wild shoot-out-cum-car-chase seemingly inspired by HEAT and finishing off with a massive extended gun battle in a cemetery of all places! None of it is particularly profound but it is fun and it did work for me – unlike some of the star's lesser productions of late. So, not bad at all.

steven seagal is back in top form in this action thriller about an ex cop who is recruited by a big time gangster to be his personal hit-man, seagal's movies have since 2003 been absolute garbage really, and im happy to say that pistol whipped is the best steven seagal movie since fire down below, he kicks ass brutally and has some of the best shoot outs I've seen in an action movie for a long time, there are no stunt doubles this time, no stupid voice doubles just a classic badaas seagal bieng a badass, seagal's role here gives him more to do as well as he plays a quite bad character who wants to be a good farther and he pulls these scenes off well if at times a little awkwardly, but hey this is a steven seagal movie and it delivers some top bone crunching violence, definitely recommended

I must have watched a different film to everyone else who reviewed this. This film was a bore from start to finish. This was Steven Seagal indulging himself. How on earth anyone put up the money for this is a mystery! The plot was poor, the acting pathetic, the music (if that was what it was supposed to be be) annoying, the action scenes like something out of Bugs Bunny, the slo-mo shots were just killing time - they should have killed the movie. How many shots of cars reversing do we need to see in one movie? I reckon the priest would have slashed his wrists if he watched the film. The final shoot-out was dreadful.I kept waiting for the film to get better, but it didn't.I have always enjoyed Steven Seagal's films but this was awful. Please - don't waste your time watching it. Sorry to everyone who thought it was good.I feel like the little boy who called out, "The King hasn't got any clothes on!"

I am a big Steven Seagal fan of his 90s movies but began to loose faith in him after Half Past Dead. That was a very impressive movie which did not deserve a rating of 3.9 out of 10. Plenty of action and humour, plus some great kicks from seagal. After his Straight-to-DVD features, i began to lose faith, his fights looked so fake because he had stunt doubles that looked nothing like him and his voice was dubbed pointlessly.Then came Renegade Justice (or Urban Justice as US calls it), it was a very decent action flick and made me see that he dozen't need to retire early. The fights were all done by seagal and dubbing was ignored. It was also a fun film to watch and a must-have for all seagal fans. What I mostly love about it is seeing seagal the way we use to know him in the 90s. Just no original plot.This film that I am talking about is the best seagal film I have ever seen. This is mainly because he isn't the hero in this film. There are no heroes in this film. He is an alcoholic ex-cop with a gambling problem, a huge debt and a neglectful father. It convinced me on what a depressing character he was.The soundtrack was brilliant. At the start, seeing Seagal shooting in a cemetery while there was emotional music playing in the background made me see the drama in this film. The second scene where seagal and the priest are talking really described his character as not being some "perfect hero" but a more realistic character. These problems that he has is also his fault.The action was also brilliant as well. There is still mindless violence in this movie but that won't spoil your fun as the fight scenes are still realistic but they are not the reason why this movie is so great. Seagal also shows talent and emotion in his acting which is very rare as he is mostly acting with his fists and guns.This is the best seagal DVD movie yet. Mainly because it is something a little different than his others and is the most unique out of all of the films he has been in.