Max Payne (Unrated Edition) (2008)

The Blu-ray Disc includes the Theatrical Version and the Unrated, Extended Cut. We watched the 'Extended Cut' and were not disappointed. They spared no change in producing this film. If you want to see the best your Blu-ray system can deliver, then look no further. It was extraordinarily beautiful---almost 3D like. I'm left to think of some of the snow scenes and how I felt I could reach out and capture the giant snowflakes---how I reached for a throw, suddenly feeling a chill.

I thought Mark Wahlberg did a splendid job portraying Payne. I was immediately drawn into the storyline with him seeking those responsible for the brutal murders of his wife and baby and how he was willing to die to avenge their deaths. His grief and anger were palpable and justifiable.

I've enjoyed Max Payne video games and I don't feel that they did an injustice to the gaming fans, with this production. I could easily translate Mark Wahlberg's character and the setting, into that of the games.

I did have to suspend disbelief regarding the pharmaceutical company and, 'the drug.' This is why I took off one star. For example, every person who takes a hallucinogenic drug will not have the same hallucinations, so I was a little baffled by the big winged creatures that appeared to be everyone's' side-effect, but they looked really cool, so I almost forgive them.

Several have said they felt there were slow moments, but I have to say I was on the edge of my seat for the entire 103 minutes. Perhaps I would not have felt so positive about the movie, itself, if it had not been such a spectacular AV experience. But considering the complete package, I do recommend you give it a try. You might want to rent it first, before buying, since this one seems rather polarizing with folks either liking it a lot, or hating it.

I enjoyed this movie for the action and cinematography but that was about it. The gun play is fantastic, and it reminded me of the movie "Desperado," starring Antonio Banderas and Joachim Almeida (it even featured Cheech Marin as the bartender) from 10 or 15 years ago in its emphasis on fancy gun play. That much was entertaining at least.

I didn't mind that the plot was full of holes (after all, the movie is based on a video game so I wasn't expecting anything profound there),but unfortunately, the worst thing about the movie is that Wahlberg, who is certainly a talented actor and who I like, just doesn't seem that involved in the role. His whole performance is somewhat wooden, and from his past roles he's certainly capable of better. He's also a quite competent martial artist and quite athletic, reminding me of Lawrence Olivier when he was young, who used to do all his own stunts, when he broke a lot of bones. My generation only remembers Olivier from his senior years' roles as an old man such as in "The Jazz Singer," and most don't know how physical he was when he was younger.

Anyway, I ramble on. I give this movie three stars for all the great action sequences, and also the cinematography is actually excellent, and in many ways quite beautiful and aesthetic in many scenes, so I want to give whoever was in charge of the camera his due. He did a great job with what was otherwise a less than stellar vehicle for Walhberg, who I hope will get some better roles in the future since he is certainly capable of more.

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Three years ago, NYPD detective Max Payne's wife and baby were murdered. Max gets himself transferred to the cold case office where he can continue searching for the killer who got away. He's a loner, but two people reach out to him during a fateful week: Alex, his ex-partner who may have found a clue, and BB, the security chief at the pharmaceutical company where Max's wife worked. Meanwhile, bodies are piling up, some as a result of a drug on the street that is highly addictive and, for many who take it, brings hideous hallucinations. When one of the bodies is a woman Payne was the last to see alive, her sister comes looking for him armed to the teeth; Max must move fast.

I thought this movie was pretty good. If you ever played the games and liked it, then you will like the movie. Great action and great visuals.

Read Best Reviews of Max Payne (Unrated Edition) (2008) Here

The Unrated cut of Max Payne appears to be the same as regular Max Payne, except with all the computer graphic blood effects added back in, as well as plentiful swearing. There were a few extra miscellaneous scenes added back in, but no major additional plot points or action scenes.

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My wife likes Mark Walbergh. I am not a huge fan of him ever since I saw him in The Happening. In this movie he was a decent actor, but the weird part of the movie is that you were unsure what was real and what was not real. In some movies this "real vs unreal" concept is compelling, ala Black Swan. But in this movie it just gives you a headache and you want to stop watching.

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