Half Past Dead

Half Past Dead-480P

Half Past Dead-480P

I rate this 7 out of 10 because it's a decent film. The plot is fine. Not overly complicated but if you never seen the film or know the actors you'll see it for what it really is: a movie that's not trying to be something it's not. It's a simple action movie with a few twists, but nothing major, just the type of twist that makes you shake your head and say "Son of a.... Go figure." If you're expecting an award winner, watch something else. If you just want something to enjoy for fun with a good action, a plot split in two with some arcs along the way, plain & simple humor, and a wide range of characters, you're in the right place. Otherwise, move along.

This terminally silly Steven Seagal vehicle casts the martial artist / "actor" as Sasha Petrosevitch (!), a "criminal" shot by the FBI, revived, and sent to "New Alcatraz", a modern version of the legendary island prison. Naturally, he is just about the only one who can save the day when a team of operatives bust INTO the place, all in the name of making condemned man Lester McKenna (Bruce Weitz) spill his guts about where he stashed a fortune in gold bars. Yeah, there's a lot of action in this flick, but so what? It still suffers from a particularly lame script by the director, a former actor named Don Michael Paul. Paul had previously established his credentials by writing the equally macho "Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man". Decent production values and a not-bad supporting cast can't do much to counteract the inanity of this whole thing. It's short on sense and long on nonsense. Now, if the potential viewer / action fan is looking for something pretty mindless, they might find this passable. One problem is that the villains lack any real personality. The usually engaging Morris Chestnut (who'd previously played sidekick to Seagal in the second "Under Siege" picture) gets a chance to play a heavy, and, to put it quite frankly, the role just isn't that entertaining. Super sexy Nia Peeples seems to be enjoying herself as Chestnuts' slinky partner in crime. Among the cast are rappers Ja Rule (as Sashas' buddy Nick) and Kurupt (as the comic relief guy Twitch), the excellent Tony Plana as a prison official, Claudia Christian as a tough Federal agent, and Linda Thorson as an imperiled Supreme Court justice. What's nice is seeing 'Hill Street Blues' actor Weitz do a good job in the only good role in the movie. TV icon Stephen J. Cannell has a small role, and Mo'Nique appears during the closing credits as Twitch's girlfriend. Some interesting touches and moments here and there, but the ending is ridiculous beyond belief. Overall, this is a mess, and indicative of the eventual decline in whatever quality there was in Seagal cinema. Four out of 10.

This film is an absolute classic it is just the same as the original film "The Rock" it is a non-stop total action epic with its major factor that being Steven Seagal one of the scene where a goofy adrenaline junkie wants to try something fast and great he takes a rocket launcher and blasts himself backwards, pure comedy and genius. Alhtough the weakness in the film is Ja Rule he just cant cut it as an actor with weak acting in the film but highly enjoyable. Also look out for the blue eyed hot babe, a real honey!!! This film deserved a high rating as it is just once of few films which have that copied theme but actually surpassed it and made a huge impact film on prisons and how a prisoner can join a war for the better not the bad.

I am a loyal Steven Seagal fan, though not for his acting, charisma or physical presence. Watching his fight scenes, which showcase his Aikido talents, fascinates me. His film Fire Down Below, while not an Oscar contender, remains a favorite of mine for excellent hand-to-hand battles throughout the movie. That said, I walked into the sneak preview of Half Past Dead hoping to see some serious Seagal-type fights, but alas there was but one decent one, with too much moving camerawork. As a standalone film, it's fairly entertaining, with some funny dialogue provided by rapper Kurupt. But as the new Steven Seagal vehicle, it lacks the trademark Aikido based fights that made him a star.

I saw Half Past Dead back in 2003 and I forgot about it.I've been getting into Seagal again recently and I watched this film a few weeks ago.Most of Seagal's films were Rated R.This is his only PG-13-rated film to date(though "Fire Down Below" was a very tame R, could have easily been PG-13).I was surprised at the low score.Sure this film is no "Above The Law", "Under Siege" or any of Seagal's earlier works, but it is a fairly entertaining action film.It was better than "Fire Down Below", "On Deadly Ground" and the majority of his straight to video fare.The film is about an FBI agent who goes undercover in a new Alcatraz-like prison.A man who buried a large amount of money years ago is to be executed.However some terrorists break into the prison and force the man to tell them where the money is.Part of the film involves the terrorists(led by Morris Chestnut who previously was in Under Siege 2 and plays a fairly good role) playing mind games with the police officers and the hostages, one of whom is a supreme court judge.The other part involves Seagal, Ja Rule and the other prisoners trying to save everybody.Half Past Dead is a fairly underrated and decent enough Seagal film.Too bad that after this, he was reduced to crappy straight to video fare.

If You like Steven Seagal You will love this movie. Steven is getting better and better of doing what he has always done. "Keep up the good work Steven!"

I was not able to see this film in the theaters and had to wait until its' release on DVD but it was well worth it. I have no idea why Sensei Seagal has so many detractors and it really doesn't matter...this film and its musical score come together perfectly. I had a blast watching it the first time despite all the negative publicity to date. I enjoy it and appreciate it a bit more with each subsequent viewing. Sensei Seagal deserves respect for what he has accomplished on and off the screen. Few, if any have accomplished what he has in the world of film and martial arts (aikido).

Anybody who liked Under Siege 2 should like this because Chestnut and Seagal have great chemistry. It is a shame Chestnut played the bad guy but Ja Rule was a OK sidekick. Any way its not often you see Morris Chestnut in a major bad guy role. Personally Nia Peeples as 40er six, stole the show. She didn't have many lines but she was like 2nd in command of the terrorist group. In a fight scene she DOMINATES Ja Rule. They did a good showcasing her fighting skills and athleticism. As if her looks weren't enough! The film mixes action with a little comedy. Its a nice blend although Seagal doesn't do as much fighting as one would expect. Judging from a lot of Seagal films: try to guess if hes a regular prisoner or undercover agent in this movie because I was definitely thrown off. Half Past dead isn't all that, but I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. Yes I'll go ahead and admit Seagals acting is pretty bad in this but he's still entertaining. If you're looking for all that characterization and back story stuff you should check out some 2004-2007 Hollywood remakes. The final showdown is surprising too, because not many head bad guys go out with a bang (literally) the way Chestnut does.