Blood of Redemption

BLOOD OF REDEMPTION is one of those cheap, digital-looking B-movie thrillers that manages to amass an old-time cast and generally wastes them in a predictable and occasionally nonsensical storyline. The only reason I got any enjoyment out of it whatsoever is that I enjoy seeing once-great actors at work and I don't mind the action thriller genre either. This one starts out on a complex level, with an ageing Billy Zane betrayed by elders and forced to go on the run with the aid of an old buddy, as played by action hero Dolph Lundgren. Vinnie Jones pops up as the shouty villain of the hour while Roberts Davi and Miano play old-time gangsters. There's a wealth of violent action complete with CGI blood spatter and the like, while the film is generally dark and dingy and unsurprising.

I am a fan of Dolph Lundgren. While he may not be a master Thespian, he is a perfectly good action star, and that's why I rented "Blood of Redemption". Sadly, this is a considerably lesser vehicle for him. Lundgren here looks tired and worn. I know he's aging, but he's come off a lot better in other recent movies. Probably his tiredness comes from the fact that his surroundings here were not adequate. This was a very low budget production (only a $2 million budget), and while I will praise the filmmakers for squeezing every last penny out of their limited funds (the lighting and photography *do* look good), much of the movie still looks cheap. I could have lived with that had the rest of the movie been good, but it isn't. The script is way too talky, slow-moving, and boring. While it does offer a twist towards the end, I think many viewers will be able to predict the "surprise" long before it comes. And the limited action sequences are choreographed and directed with absolutely no punch. It certainly doesn't help that the gunshots have been "enhanced" with obvious CGI effects. You have to wonder how Dolph and the rest of the memorable B movie cast were all convinced to appear in this utterly forgettable production.

A little more complicated and a little less violence & action than most of Dolph's movies. I would give it 6-1/2 stars if I could. It is along the lines of two parts 'The Transporter' & one part 'The Bourne Identity'. It does have more twists & turns, and hence is more complex/complicated to try to appeal to the more cerebral and the reduced action/fighting with grunting noises might reduce appeal to those inclined in that direction. It does have some of the usual 'infinite ammo cheats' when needed and there is action & fighting but just not as much as other Dolph films. I enjoyed it, I hope you do.

Cool, a new Dolph Lundgren, thats what i said when i found out about this movie. I watch most of the stuff he did in recent years and one thing that always comes to mind, minus the Expendables(which is awesome), his movies are always decent, minus a few exceptions. They never give me any "wow feeling" but they are honest DTV release. This one... isshhh, i want to like it, but there is major problems. As some people mentioned, holy cow the special effects where terrible... I mean i expect some very cheap CGI in an episode of the Angry Video Game Nerd... but not in a real movies. Gunshot sounds and effects where horrible... And if at least the shooting was decent... but way too much "guy stand in the open, kill everybody in 1 bullet, never get shot" Fist fights where below average, especially when it came to the ladies in this... felt fake as hell... Speaking about fake, we have the pleasure of a cameo of Tasha Reign and Rikki Six, two well known pornstars with fake tits in this, which made me smile. But to come back to fist fights, well a couple ones where decent but again the noise of them... felt very cheap 80s movies... Finally the story... decent. Overly complicated a bit in some part but the whole scenario was interesting and all. In the end i would say thanks god they manage to get decent B actors like Dolph and Vinnie(also Billie Zane), which is probably the reason why a bunch of guys like me watch it in the first place. But in the end, not a movie to be remember. I know the budget may not had been the best, but please guys... i saw better gun wounds and effects in 80s movies...

I like action flicks but when they are good.Yikes this one missed the mark. I thought it had potential with Davi and Zane taking on major roles. I was appalled at their acting along with the whole cast. I'm almost positive that the females in this film are either current or former * stars. Their acting was as atrocious and purely there to keep the audience watching. Shocking and disappointed with the whole thing.a Save your time find something better to watch.

I understand it's a low budget film. But there are many things going wrong. First, the plot is too complicated and I was just left confused. Second, the gun fight (garage scene) was bad.. How do you have someone standing in the open for so long and not get shot? Besides, the sound effect for the handguns sound fake. Third, when Gianni Capaldi fighting the cash handler, at the first scene you can clearly see him far away from the edge, handler steps backwards slightly. Then the second shot he was already on the edge starting to fall backwards??? Plus... how f***ing stupid is it when Capaldi had the handler's hand as he is falling, lets him go, then said "Grab my hand"??? Lastly, why the heck did Dolph Snipe Billy Zane and her girlfriend in the end??? That is just lame.... The only thing that was somewhat interesting was Dolph getting his ass kicked by his actual girlfriend (who played the dominatrix and is a karate champion). Overall, it's quite forgettable.

What drew me into seeing 'Blood of Redemption' in the first place? The reasonably likeable cast, a potentially intriguing story and that it was part of my low budget completest quest and popped up in my recommended for you section. Was also a bit apprehensive, with a less than favourable rating and generally reviews that were lukewarm at best. 'Blood of Redemption', when checking it out, certainly could have been much worse. There are definitely worse films about, of the genre and overall. Is it a good film let alone a great one? Not even close. Did it use its potential? No. Is it that bad? Not quite. Does it has redeeming qualities? Yes, but not many. To me, while having learnt not to trust ratings and not worry about going against the grain (though am in the minority here who respects critics opinions and tend to be on the same, or slightly above or below, page as them), the rating is about right and do have to agree with the criticisms here. Dolph Lundgren, Billy Zane and Gianni Capaldi do serviceable jobs and are the reasons as to why 'Blood of Redemption' wasn't any worse, Lundgren being the best thing of the film. Some of the story intrigued, namely the early stages, and the music while not the most memorable is at least listenable. Unfortunately, Vinnie Jones and Robert Davi are poorly served and used. Jones overdoes it and shouts his way through a stock character and Davi is saddled with a clearly fake accent and spends the whole time looking uninterested. None of the characters are developed enough and are very difficult to get behind. 'Blood of Redemption' looks cheap, especially the badly organised and sometimes incomprehensible editing and catastrophically awful visual effects, so fake looking and doesn't blend well with the setting at all. The action is both dull and chaotic, there is nothing exciting and it's choreographed with no enthusiasm or finesse. The script is too talky and has no tautness, the pace is flabby and the story gets far too complicated with the twists not being that much of a surprise. The direction seemed indicative of lack of experience or ease. Overall, not horrendous but severely lacking in many areas. 3/10 Bethany Cox

Why even bothering on lashing out here? I personally have respect for many of the cast members here! But, honestly, while Dolph Lundgren should try to have faith and wait for a real director to hire him, and shows off his true cinematic strengths, Vinnie Jones perhaps should stop to sign on films just for the pay check, or maybe, any other decent filmmaker may start ( rightly so) thinking the man has a serious low self esteem problem by appearing in such low grade content, and in roles that don't even have much of a redeeming reason! What else is to be said, other than this movie (despite its IMDb's higher rating) is way, way more of a waste than Hard Rush aka Ambushed, where, at least, you felt a bit of that 1970's exploitation films genre biting your adrenaline, while a more stylized visual style, could make you even believe, at times, to be more in mainstream territory! This one truly just feels cheap, uninteresting, choppy, arguably unbelievable, and, completely soapy! And, quite frankly, even though, it might remain remarkable, as a movie, as the sad mark of some of the main actors lowest point in bad screen acting, I still say that could not make enough of a reason to watch such pedestrian fiasco! I personally couldn't help myself all the way through the end ( rare!). What a disappointment! And, if you think, coming from a once respectable Film Company, such as Voltage! You could not believe your eyes! Take it or leave it? Best to forget.

You have some really big names in the B-movie department participating in this. Be it Billy Zane, Vinnie Jones and/or Dolph Lundgren. The movie is very predictable (from the starting "end", to the flashback after that until the conclusion). Lundgren plays a convincing lead, even if you might not believe his relationship to a much younger woman he is having during the course of the movie. The whole twist of the movie though does rely on some very shaky grounds and it will leave you shaking your head at the end. The action is nicely done. Though nothing to get too excited about. Don't look for a message either, watch if you're a fan of one or more of the actors though

Review: As there wasn't much to rent this month, I thought that I should give this movie a chance, but I should have known better. It's your typical Vinnie Jones movie, with drugs, sex and crime, and it looks like Dolph Lungren is becoming just as weak. The director did try and add a couple of elements, like suspense and betrayal, but it's pretty awful. I wasn't that surprised with the outcome because all of Vinnie Jones movies are just a quick payday. I think that I would be more surprised if the movies were actually good. Anyway, there are some twists in the storyline which keeps it slightly interesting but that's about it. Disappointing! Round-Up: You don't really have to pay that much attention to this movie because you can tell what is going to happen right from the beginning. All of the actors put in there usual performances, which isn't saying much, but the storyline was OK. I didn't understand how a crime family could have someone from the FBI in the family, which is why your just not supposed to take this film that seriously. I honestly don't know how the makers of these weak movies get there budgets because there not getting any better. The actors must have the same agent because they all star in the same type of movies together, were they look like there in it for the money and not for the love of films. Budget: $2million Worldwide Gross: N/A I recommend this movie to people who are into there typical Vinnie Jones movies with crime, action and a touch of suspense. 2/10