Ballistic (2002) is an action-thriller film written, directed and produced by Wych Kaosayananda (Kaos) who also starred actors Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu. Issued in 2002 and in spite of its almost gruesome action and prominent actors, the film is remembered mostly for the negative reviews it received than the genre it was primarily thought to be.
Synopsis
The plot centers on Agent Jeremiah Ecks (Antonio Banderas), an ex-FBI agent who has been called from retirement to probe the disappearance of a dangerous microdevice called the “Switchblade”. The device targets the central nervous of a designated victim with a kill order. To fulfill this mission, Ecks has to work with Agent Sever (Lucy Liu), a vengeful ex-client of theirs. The two go on to learn of scheming that constitutes treason, violence and some relations to Ecks’s life.
Cast and Characters
- Antonio Banderas as Jeremiah Ecks: A cool-headed agent traumatized by the loss of his loved one. In a strong acting performance, Banderas captures the pain and suffering of the character as the consummate “unsuspecting hero.”
- Lucy Liu as Agent Sever: A cool-headed but violent violence operative who has been wronged and will do whatever it takes to set the record straight. Liu’s characterization has strong physical athleticism alongside the right amount of emotion and makes her the best actress in the film.
- Gregg Henry as Robert Gant:
William clearly has something up his sleeve in devising some dastardly plans that enables the broad frame-headed operative, Gant and Robert, a malicious official at the Defense Department, self-serving, unscrupulous rogue who is trying to abuse the usage of Switchblade device.
Themes
- Revenge and Redemption: The two main characters focus on loss as well as personal quests which enrich the action component.
- Technology as a Weapon: The microdevice highlights and epitomizes the very extreme perils of technology getting into the wrong hands.
- Betrayal: With more than one flashback, deceit spans over various time layers which are constantly revealed, trust as a theme is a respective quickened pace in the narration.
Critical Review
- Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever has been ridiculed as one of the most awful rated films in the history, attaining a historical lowest rating of 0 from Rotten Tomatoes and the lowest in on-screen history. Critics were displeased with the film, stating its several deficiencies including the number of actions compared to plots in the film, and lack of development.
- There are however traces of hope since several stylistic aims of the film and many extreme sequences of the film has received a very mild genre from fans who prefer ridiculous action.
Action and Style
- Camerawork: The bubble-gum bright colours and the whole false world of the film through frenetic shootouts and hellish explostions is largely derived from Hong Kong action movies.
- Combat organization: Critics praised Liu’s combat scenes for effective intensity, purpose and clarity, which demonstrates her mastering of martial arts.—
Legacy
Although Ballistic failed phenomenally at the box office, it has become an example of what happens when style is used without substance to build a film. It is interesting especially when compared to other successful action thrillers like The Bourne Identity, or John Wick which have more than just action.
Recommended Viewing
In case such plots involving technology, action, or strong women in lead roles is to your liking, you can try these alternatives:
- The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996): A smart, character-driven action film featuring Geena Davis as an amnesiac assassin.
- Haywire (2011): Another intense spy thriller but this time with Gina Carano in her first action role.
- John Wick (2014): Ballistic: for a huge dose of intense action complemented by emotionality.