I saw the same thing and it reinforced why I don't want to see this. As much as I am not a fan of Jamie Foxx, I don't have a problem with him in this film. It is all Colin Farrell. His American accent just doesn't work for me and I feel that they could have gone with another actor for the role.

Not a huge Farrell fan, but my love of Michael Mann's work supercedes any casting choices. This movie will be very entertaining. A 'can't miss' in my eyes.
I don't care if audiences get confused or are pissed off that it's not like the TV series.

I just know it's going to kick all kinds of ass visually. Dion Beebe shot this so the cinematography will be top notch.

Another vote for changing this ridiculous thread title. This is the only film I am looking forward to in this dreadful summer of movies.

Personally, I detested the series, so the farther it is from that, the happier I'll be; I'd be best satisfied if it stylistically forms the third part in an unofficial trilogy with HEAT and COLLATERAL.

Yeah, I do remember that episode. Worst part is that the alien was...



James Brown!

I kid you not.

Mark Wahlberg was an early choice. Would you watch it if it had him as Sonny? Funny enough Mark also was supposed to be in Phone Booth, Swat and the upcoming Pride & Glory. All of which starred Colin in the end.

Anyway, I like the fact they're not trying to remake it in the same style or do a satire of the show. I also have a Fandango code for only a R rated film so this will be a good one to use it on.

Wow, didn't realize I had to have a motive behind posting something.

If so, then here you go. Basically, I posted it to get feedback from fellow dvdtalkers and hear their opinions regarding the trashing of the film. Being a fan of Miami Vice, I have nothing bad to say until I view the film if I see fit to do so.

And if you look, I did post a small comment a day after I posted this article.

As far as changing it to a "review" thread, consider it done as I have asked a mod to change the title. The title itself is direct from the article.

Title of the thread should have been "Here's the only negative review out of 9 (mostly major media) listed on rottentomatoes as of late last night." Anybody can find a review to fit his/hers preconceived notions of a film.

Based on Mann's previous work, this movie will have:

- a couple of badass shootout scenes and no, it will not be in the end of the movie.
- good sound effects
- over glorify cops and criminals
- a crappy ending
- great cinematography
- good choice of music

I can't wait to see it.

i will be there opening night

And it's done.

Cool that the title was changed. Sorry if I didn't see your other post Bill. In terms of motives behind a post, it is not required, but a lot of people appreciate it. A simple post doesn't require motive, but I would like to think a whole thread would. Then again, internet forums are not known for their accurate reflections of social behavior or public opinion.

Caught an advance screening last night. It was just okay. Sonny and Rico mumble way too much which makes it difficult to understand what is going on early in the film. The action was severely lacking aside from a shootout - which did come at the end of the film.

A few blurbs:

Variety Brian Lowry
Unlike most TV-to-movie transitions, Mann returns to his roots and delivers what amounts to a slightly overblown episode, brimming with style and characteristically short on substance.

Village Voice Scott Foundas
Mann has done something transformative with Farrell: The Irish actor has never had this much charisma and natural authority in a role, and as he navigates that gray area between Crockett's real identity and his fabricated one, revealing subtle fissures in the character's cocksure facade, he's fascinating to watch.

The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen
A darker, grittier creature that, while benefiting considerably from Dion Beebe's HD cinematography, is a frustratingly inert affair -- a long and talky excursion that fails to engage the viewer from the outset.

Newsweek David Ansen
It's filled with Mann's signature macho verisimilitude, but essentially it's the stuff of what, in saner fiscal times, would have been a B movie. Miami Vice delivers the thrills, atmosphere and romance it promises, but it doesn't resonate like major Mann.

What's interesting is that while those blurbs sound negative, all but one of them were given a postive on rottentomatoes. I guess it depends on whether they gave it *** or **1/2 that swings it. Seems like a lot of people don't like the fact that Mann did something a little more commercial than his typical film fare. Others seem to dislike it because Mann exhibits his typical weaknesses.

It is still sitting at fresh, but I have the feeling that might change overnight when more start to arrive. I have seen several movies sit steady at fresh there for several days, and then plunge about 30% into rotten territory on the actual release day.

How long was the movie?

2 hr 26 mins, according to Hollywood.com.

Actually, the reviewers themselves get to pick whether they consider the film fresh or rotten when the submit their review. So two films could get the same star rating from a reviewer, but different rottentomatoe scores depending on whether the reviewer ultimately found the films worthy of recommending for viewing or not.

Based on the trailers, I got the distinct impression that Farrell and Fox don't come close to being as good as the TV cast of Crockett and Tubbs.

I haven't checked this out yet, though I'm not sure I will. Although I've enjoyed Mann's films before, I'm just not keen on this particular film.

I just have to wonder Giles, is it the casting choices, the fact it's a remake of a TV show, the director, or something else? Just curious as I've found my own tastes in movies to be somewhat similar to yours throughout my readings in the movie forum.

Oh, and I plan on seeing this tomorrow regardless of reviews as Mann is my favorite director.

Agreed. Might be checking out both Miami Vice and Lady in the Water this weekend, even amidst the critical ... uhh, criticism.

Just got back from a screening myself and my thoughts are exactly the same. The film is overly talky and very sparse in the action department, which isn't necesarily a bad thing. Mann proved in Heat and Collateral that he can create and maintain tension in talky movies....but the characters mumble their way through an un-necesarily complicated plot and to top it off, no one in the movie is all that charasmatic.

If you saw the short clip last weekend on TV, that actually represents one of the better moments in the movie.

On the plus side, the movie is beautiful to look at. It so well shot, its a shame its not better. Mann and Dion Beebe have really used the digital medium to full effect, keeping the movie clean and bright when need be and dark and gritty when needed.

It's not horrible, but its definately sub-par and pales in comparison to Heat and Collateral.

How were the shootout scenes, anywhere close to Collateral and Heat?

The shootout scenes were pretty damn nice. Very close to the downtown bank robbery shoot out with Heat but slightly less bad ass. But still very bad ass.