Wordiezett So much average

Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Moustroll Good movie but grossly overrated

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

breakdownthatfilm-blogspot-com Charles Martin Smith who is not the most critically acclaimed director has made some pretty good movies in his time although not many people seem to know about them. However, this did not stop me from finding the movie Fifty/Fifty. I stumbled onto this little token because I was searching for films Peter Weller had starred in. Boy was I glad this film caught my attention with its excellent trailer. I usually do not laugh during trailers but this one was a rare gem.Fifty/Fifty was released by Cannon Films who seemed to me like a well- known cinema company; I guess not. This film wasn't even theatrically released. But that makes it all the better. Peter Weller and Robert Hays star as two CIA operatives who are given an assignment to overthrow a ruthless dictator. Although both are from two different genres, both of them work really well together. I say this because their wisecracks seemed so natural like they didn't read the script. I'll admit that I did not have one favorite scene in this movie, because almost every scene was too good to pick a favorite. Even director Charles Martin Smith has a role in this story and he does his part well too.The action is good in this movie too. There are plenty of shootings, explosions and there is some blood but not a lot of gore. The MPAA rating for this movie is rated R mostly for the language. I enjoyed Smith's direction on how he had Weller and Hays act during trouble. Even near death scenes, they never let go of their wit and funny comments.Making this movie even more rare of a find is the score composed by Peter Bernstein, son of famous composer Elmer Bernstein. It's a little distressing to me because I enjoy many soundtracks to movies and I love collecting them and Bernstein's score is unobtainable. The score is fun to listen to because of its cheery mood and the way it gets fed into whatever scene is currently happening. I enjoyed this film a lot and wished that it was released theatrically. Director Charles Martin Smith outdid himself with this movie and its unfortunate not many people know of this funny action movie.For some, it would seem like Robert Hays and Peter Weller are not the best duo in action comedy when in fact they deliver goods extremely well. With funny lines, a good soundtrack, and loud action, Fifty/Fifty will please any hardcore action comedy fan.

elshikh4 You know what the problem of this movie is ?.. The way people look at it, simply because they measure it by the "big and loud" American action movies of the 1990s.. and really that's unfair.Here, or as you can find in that kind of low budget films, there is no bankable stars, huge production, nor strong capacity to export their work to the global cinemas. So they struggle to have the opportunity to make movies (good ones at least) and to buy them inside USA or around the world. And as for (Fifty /Fifty) I think they did it good this time.. so good indeed. When you have a low budget action flick then you would have heroes like (Christopher Lambert), (Brandon Lee), (Dolph Lundgren), (Don the dragon Wilson), (Cynthia Rothrock). And there are some others who got more fame and appreciation in the middle east like (Chuck Norris), (Steven Seagal), (Jean-Claude Van Damme) and all of the above, with all due respect for them and for their lovers, had more bad movies than their own good, and they are all whether not good actors or mostly the very bad ones ever!. Therefore when you watch such a brilliant, pleasant and entertaining small movie as (Fifty/Fifty) you must evaluate it first as an independent film and second as one with no acting problems in it.For the story obviously it's an inspiration of the (The Seven Samurai) of Japan (I suppose it's coming from an old legend) which you can find it as (The Magnificent Seven) in America, (Shams elzanaty) in Egypt or as (Sholay - 1975) in India and that very last one looks like the original one for (Fifty/Fifty) regarding too many proofs such as : there are just 2 defenders of the weak village (not 7), the love story between one of them and a local girl, and the tossing up play by the coin.. (or maybe it's just a strange coincidences !).The most enjoyable thing here is that it has so good action (remember there is no C.G.I at all), excellent thrill, and flawless acting. Actually it's real fun to watch more than once.Just remember the action sequences at the jungle, or the finale scene that was perfect. I've got quite a surprise when I knew that the movie's director is (Charles Martin Smith) the same short actor who played the character of (Martin Sprue) the American intelligence's officer ! For that I think the acting was that nice and good. I'm now searching for his other movies as a director to enjoy their fine quality if they're all like this one which was too dazzling for a mediocre movie.I had an amazing time with it from the beginning to the last especially every shot got (Peter Weller) and (Robert Hays) together. As for (Robert Hays) he is so gifted in comedy and in action as well. He looks like Jean-Paul Belmondo but with his OWN mark of being distinguished. It makes you ask eagerly where is such an actor ? and why he isn't a star ? (while OTHERS are.. unfortunately !!).I loved all the fun and the fine work of it more than a lot, and I mean a lot, of Hollywood big and loud action movies. In one word : this time independent cinema really rocks.

snake966 This is one of those movies that grows on you. I watched it when it first came to video and thought Ho-Hum. Then a few years later it was not too bad...till now I enjoy renting it about every 6 months just as a beer and pretzels, watch with my buddies kinda movie.The action is very good. Not a whole lot of the explosions throwing undamaged bodies into 10 ft somersaults. Unlike other action flicks of this time, the heroes were pretty shot up by movies end.The whole rebellion idea was fairly well planned out, both times. People you expect to make it (the girl) don't. Even the CIA guys is actually pretty cool at the end.Watch it for entertainment, not for philosophy.

e-fun I agree that this movie IS a some kind of parody on action flicks. The heroes gunned down numerous troops without any difficulties, yet they always throw out jokes, as if they were not serious doing that. Unfortetunately, IF this was meant to be a parody, it's not funny enough. In the end, it has become a usual heroic-flick where you can blast a whole army, common in the 80s and early 90s.I've never seen Robert Hays in any real 'tough-guys' movie. From the first I saw his name on credit, I was practically sure...that this is not "Commando" or somethin' like that.By the way, I have to straighten some things up here. The movie takes place in a fictional SOUTH EAST ASIAN country, not South America or else. In fact, "Tenggara" (or Tengara, as the movie put it) means "South East" in Malay and Indonesian. The soldiers and the natives spoke Malay all through the movie, and the movie was shot in Malaysia. Yeah, I knew it's a relatively forgotten part in the (Hollywood) world (except now there's a movie called "Entrapment"). In real life, there are only three countries using Malay (and its variation, Indonesian) as official language: Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalaam.Anyway, worth watching though...if you like some mild jokes. For the rest, don't think.Or as a viewer put it: leave your brain.