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The Beauty of Belly of the Beast
pg. 3
Tim: It was about this time that we started to notice the framing job
on Seagal. What’s up with the maxi-zoom? His face is
frequently shown in full close-up from the eyebrows to the bottom lip.
Perhaps it was an attempt to keep us from seeing that he wasn’t
actually in the room with the other actors at all times? He obviously
doesn’t do all his own stunts in this movie; his double is a spry
younger man with, shall we say, less girth. I don’t blame Seagal
for getting a double this time out though. Like fellow action star Jackie
Chan, he must realize that he can’t do everything he used to without
suffering the physical consequences. Nobody’s young forever. The
one thing I couldn’t get past was the monastery scene where Seagal
is clearly dubbed. What’s the point? Did he refuse to speak the
dialogue? Were his whispers so low the mic couldn’t pick them up?
Matt: You have to admire the sheer audacity of hiring specific actors (apparently) for their resemblance to other, more well-established actors. Therefore, henceforth... Vincent Riotta, who plays Seagal's friend and club owner "Fitch" shall be known as "Fake Tom Sizemore" and Patrick Robinson, as "Agent Leon Washington" shall be known as "Fake Omar Epps."
Also notable is the wacky Trainyard Gunfight in which Seagal, Sunti and a few others shoot it out with Abu Karaf fighters. Of particular notice is the moment when Seagal's body double jumps out of traincar (through the wall) firing his pistol. The debris soars with him in slow motion, some if it appearing to have been either glued to his face or added through computer generated imagery in order to mask the stuntman's appearance.
Tim: Absolutely, I loved that scene. He’s in slow motion which excuses the length of the shot, but that can’t explain how he manages to fire a full FORTY shots (we counted) from his handgun’s clip before he hits the ground! Gloriously implausible stuff there. Also loved the scene in which the girls knife their captor. The film needed more ruthless bloodshed along those lines.
Matt: Yes, Jessica and her fellow-hottie-captive try to escape from
their captors not once, but twice -- each time having the upper hand and
then blowing it immediately. The moment you mentioned is whe
n
Jessica slaughters one of her tormentors with his own machete but is quickly
subdued and thrown back in her cell. (Good lord, girl. Who's daughter
are you? Even a ten year old Alyssa Milano got further than that in Commando.)
We are also treated to several appearances by what appears to be a strong, yet somehow over-masculine, gunrunning, killer babe called "Lena." There seems to be more to her than meets the eye, possibly in the "y-chromosome" arena. Our worst fears and concerns are realized during one particular fight when it's revealed that this kitten-with-a-whip is really, in fact, a transvestite. "Ooooooh, did you see that coming?" If not, well, you must be Ralphy Wiggum. Now go check and see if your cat's breath smells like cat food.
Tim: Yeah, and Seagal’s got a nice little one liner there too: “I liked you much better as a bitch.”
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