169 reviews
Half Decent
The Bad Half:
Unnecessarily over convoluted plot. And although at the end I understood who did what and why, there were still too many questions left. Too many loose ends. The last 10 minutes felt weird, as if the production was running out of money, so they tried to close all knots in a hurry.
Confined spaces, and generally low number of people on set, resulting in a more low-budget, B-grade feel.
Bruce Willis. His character lacks authenticity and feels artificial in any scene he's in. It seems like Bruce Willis didn't care too much for the role.
The Good Half:
Christopher Meloni, Adrian Grenier and Johnathon Schaech. Their character felt very real, and I could rely to any of them. Their character development was very good, so I clearly understood who each person is. Moreover, it seems that their script was well- written since what their said was mostly in-place (at least as the plot went on and not looking back in retrospective).
There are also several good camera movements which made nice additions.
The action was far from exceptional but in most cases it had a tight grip. One of the action scenes was actually very tense, with a good score.
I don't know whether to recommend this movie to anyone or not, but I certainly didn't feel it was a total waste of time.
Unnecessarily over convoluted plot. And although at the end I understood who did what and why, there were still too many questions left. Too many loose ends. The last 10 minutes felt weird, as if the production was running out of money, so they tried to close all knots in a hurry.
Confined spaces, and generally low number of people on set, resulting in a more low-budget, B-grade feel.
Bruce Willis. His character lacks authenticity and feels artificial in any scene he's in. It seems like Bruce Willis didn't care too much for the role.
The Good Half:
Christopher Meloni, Adrian Grenier and Johnathon Schaech. Their character felt very real, and I could rely to any of them. Their character development was very good, so I clearly understood who each person is. Moreover, it seems that their script was well- written since what their said was mostly in-place (at least as the plot went on and not looking back in retrospective).
There are also several good camera movements which made nice additions.
The action was far from exceptional but in most cases it had a tight grip. One of the action scenes was actually very tense, with a good score.
I don't know whether to recommend this movie to anyone or not, but I certainly didn't feel it was a total waste of time.
The unbelievably convoluted plot line sinks it --
- filmklassik
- Jun 29, 2016
- Permalink
Not Oscar Material, but Good Movie.
I was a little nervous going into this movie after reading all the reviews (largely negative), but was pleasantly surprised. OK, there was some bad acting on Bruce Willis' part but other members of the cast; Christopher Meloni, Dave Bautista et al made up for it. It was a great story with a good twist at the end. If you're a movie "sommelier" analyzing films for cinematography, acting etc... then you'll walk away with your nose in the air but if, like most people, you don't really care about the legs or the bouquet of your wine, you'll enjoy watching this. I don't normally bother writing reviews for movies but felt this movie was unfairly reviewed.
- tony-316-915992
- Jul 4, 2016
- Permalink
Good
It would have made a great 10 episode series but too much information, characters and plot lines for one sitting. Good actors and camera work but fails to make sense in the end. I feel like it was pitched as a series but the accountants decided to make it into a movie.
Confusing as hell.
Stupid music. Poor acting. Poor editing. Nonsense story. Does not explain anything.
Thrilling crime drama, that can be too complex.
It's one of those movies that Bruce Willis is "staring" in. His face is all over the poster. Too bad he's not in the movie as much. He took a paycheck for 2 weeks of work and 20mins of screen time.
I would think that having Christopher Meloni, Dave Bautista, and Adrian Grenier in the movie would be enough to attract attention, but I guess it's not enough to get the movie in the theaters.
Meloni leads the cast as an FBI agent searching for some bank robbers that seem focus on steeling money from Bruce Willis, who owns the banks they been targeting.
Bautista and Grenier are on Meloni's team as they investigate a tangled web of corruption from the bank, local law enforcement and even the military.
It's a compelling thriller that keeps moving despite all the obstacles in Meloni's way.
If you were a fan of Meloni back when he was on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit than you'll love this movie.
Especially with the great Dave Bautista as his partner. It's mostly him talking but he gets to do a little action as well.
It was a good role for Adrian Grenier. He plays a rookie fed who's given a hard time by Bautista, but slowly shows them just how bad ass he really is.
The only problem with the story is that it is too complicated. In their attempt to be smart they just end up being confusing with a story with far too many sub sub stories that get all jumbled together.
Overall, however the movie works with some standout characters played by some well known actors that keep you focus.
Definitely a good watch.
I would think that having Christopher Meloni, Dave Bautista, and Adrian Grenier in the movie would be enough to attract attention, but I guess it's not enough to get the movie in the theaters.
Meloni leads the cast as an FBI agent searching for some bank robbers that seem focus on steeling money from Bruce Willis, who owns the banks they been targeting.
Bautista and Grenier are on Meloni's team as they investigate a tangled web of corruption from the bank, local law enforcement and even the military.
It's a compelling thriller that keeps moving despite all the obstacles in Meloni's way.
If you were a fan of Meloni back when he was on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit than you'll love this movie.
Especially with the great Dave Bautista as his partner. It's mostly him talking but he gets to do a little action as well.
It was a good role for Adrian Grenier. He plays a rookie fed who's given a hard time by Bautista, but slowly shows them just how bad ass he really is.
The only problem with the story is that it is too complicated. In their attempt to be smart they just end up being confusing with a story with far too many sub sub stories that get all jumbled together.
Overall, however the movie works with some standout characters played by some well known actors that keep you focus.
Definitely a good watch.
- subxerogravity
- Jul 2, 2016
- Permalink
Messed up
Marauder starts off brightly but then becomes a muddled mess. Bruce Willis plays Hubert a corporate bank executive whose banks are being targeted in elaborate and clever armed robberies.
It seems Hubert was involved in a conspiracy that led to the death of his younger brother by the US military. The FBI led by Christopher Meloni and Dave Bautista follow a trail that leads to crooked cops, politicians and even FBI agents.
Even when the film's various strands come together it just leaves you confused. It really is a nonsense conspiracy action thriller. Willis is used sparingly as he is on his infamous $1 million a day contract and Bautista is just making a glorified cameo as well.
It seems Hubert was involved in a conspiracy that led to the death of his younger brother by the US military. The FBI led by Christopher Meloni and Dave Bautista follow a trail that leads to crooked cops, politicians and even FBI agents.
Even when the film's various strands come together it just leaves you confused. It really is a nonsense conspiracy action thriller. Willis is used sparingly as he is on his infamous $1 million a day contract and Bautista is just making a glorified cameo as well.
- Prismark10
- Sep 8, 2017
- Permalink
Not bad at all.Watchable
Not clear 7 ,maybe 6.8 but definitely not 5.4 Why so many bad reviews? Some 2...4 really guys? Come on ,what expectations somebody has from an action movie?The movie was good with a really nice plot. Watchable,not boring .A movie with a deeper purpose and good,interesting background story.Reviews are to help somebody to decide if it's worth seeing or not,some reviewers believe that a good review is some bad comments.Everyone had their opinion of course but 2 or 4 are for movies with no interest,awful plot and bad acting.This one wasn't any of these.I liked the idea of a higher purpose behind the script ,it had you thinking what happened?why?who? And that was interesting,there's not extremely plot just an action movie with smart scenario ,nothing unique or one of its kind.When I first saw 5.4 rate and 2...4 reviews I was like there's NO WAY to watch this.But i luckily i did and I'm glad that i did cause it was worth it.Give it a chance isn't that bad!!
- smaromargari
- Oct 27, 2016
- Permalink
Anybody else noticed it's raining the whole movie ?
"I don't care if you smoked last week.What I care about is honesty.If you lie, you withhold facts to get ahead, I'll cut off your balls and bury you."
If you're going to ask me what "Marauders" was about, I'll owe you the answer. Because to be honest, this was such a complicated story that I couldn't understand what was happening while watching. Let alone that I could still retell it now. The big jumble of storylines is just as inextricable as a fisherman whose fishing line has become entangled in a bush behind him. However, the beginning was promising. An action-packed and brilliantly filmed bank robbery with the masked robbers working in a concequent way using high-tech gadgets. But unfortunately this is the only thing that causes excitement. The rest is simply too boring and an incomprehensible mess.
And who to expect in a mediocre crime/action film? Yep, Bruce Willis is back. This time it's not his lamentable acting that makes him look bad, because he doesn't even get a chance to fail in that. His part is extremely limited, so we only get to see him a few times. And the boredom is easy to read from his facial expression. Although he's the central figure, the only thing he can produce is some doubtfully frowning. That's in line with previous roles he played. The only constant in his career at this moment. His picture on the film poster is bigger than his character in the film.
The only character I enjoyed was Christopher Meloni as FBI agent Montgomery. An impressive guy who tries to find out why banks of Hubert International (Bruce Willis is president of) are being robbed. But as I said before, this leads to a fairly complicated tangle of plots and subplots. Before you know it, it's about a failed military operation in Afghanistan where a soldier was killed (or not?), a group of corrupt agents, corruption at a political level and the wife of a policeman who has cancer. Enough to fill a whole season of a new police serial.
"Marauders" is again such a film you better forget about quickly. The only thing that kind of stayed with me, is the fact it rained continuously the entire film.
If you're going to ask me what "Marauders" was about, I'll owe you the answer. Because to be honest, this was such a complicated story that I couldn't understand what was happening while watching. Let alone that I could still retell it now. The big jumble of storylines is just as inextricable as a fisherman whose fishing line has become entangled in a bush behind him. However, the beginning was promising. An action-packed and brilliantly filmed bank robbery with the masked robbers working in a concequent way using high-tech gadgets. But unfortunately this is the only thing that causes excitement. The rest is simply too boring and an incomprehensible mess.
And who to expect in a mediocre crime/action film? Yep, Bruce Willis is back. This time it's not his lamentable acting that makes him look bad, because he doesn't even get a chance to fail in that. His part is extremely limited, so we only get to see him a few times. And the boredom is easy to read from his facial expression. Although he's the central figure, the only thing he can produce is some doubtfully frowning. That's in line with previous roles he played. The only constant in his career at this moment. His picture on the film poster is bigger than his character in the film.
The only character I enjoyed was Christopher Meloni as FBI agent Montgomery. An impressive guy who tries to find out why banks of Hubert International (Bruce Willis is president of) are being robbed. But as I said before, this leads to a fairly complicated tangle of plots and subplots. Before you know it, it's about a failed military operation in Afghanistan where a soldier was killed (or not?), a group of corrupt agents, corruption at a political level and the wife of a policeman who has cancer. Enough to fill a whole season of a new police serial.
"Marauders" is again such a film you better forget about quickly. The only thing that kind of stayed with me, is the fact it rained continuously the entire film.
- peterp-450-298716
- Mar 6, 2018
- Permalink
Strong performances and great production values undercut by a confusing screenplay.
- lemon_magic
- Dec 30, 2019
- Permalink
A tangled web alright
Saw 'Marauders' because Bruce Willis has done good films and given good performances in the past, 'Die Hard' is a genre landmark and his performance is iconic in that. The title, cast and poster also intrigued and similarly the idea for the story sounded sort of interesting, despite a lack of originality. Expectations were not high though, because Willis has been past prime for a while (several bad films and has looked tired and disengaged a lot) and has been in a lot of stinkers lately.
Despite my interest into seeing it, hopes for 'Marauders' weren't too high, with a good deal of bad things heard about it and that Willis has done similar films before, during and since this film and none of them were good and used him poorly. 'Marauders' did turn out to be a marginally better film than expected but it is still not very good despite a few decent things. Do have to agree with the flaws that have been pointed out.
'Marauders' did start off very intriguingly. It is shot with slickness and style.
The cast mostly didn't do too badly at all, better than average. Christopher Meloni and Dave Bautista give the right amount of grit and fun and Jonathan Schaech doesn't over-compensate or look bored.
Willis however phones in and looks tired in a role that is nowhere near as prominent as the advertising misleadingly indicated, something of a glorified cameo. Adrian Grenier is also quite characterless. The direction shows little engagement or finesse. The sound and music are intrusive and the characters generally aren't interesting, due to very sketchy development, with not many endearing traits.
Furthermore, the action is never exciting or tense, very routine often with silly parts and over-serious ones. The script is constantly awkward and lacks tautness, but it is the far too convoluted, as well as pedestrian and far-fetched story that suffers from trying to include too many things and underdeveloping all of them that the film suffers most from. Any twists are easily foreseeable long before they appear and there is very little tension or suspense.
Overall, tangled web sums 'Marauders' up very well. 4/10 Bethany Cox
Despite my interest into seeing it, hopes for 'Marauders' weren't too high, with a good deal of bad things heard about it and that Willis has done similar films before, during and since this film and none of them were good and used him poorly. 'Marauders' did turn out to be a marginally better film than expected but it is still not very good despite a few decent things. Do have to agree with the flaws that have been pointed out.
'Marauders' did start off very intriguingly. It is shot with slickness and style.
The cast mostly didn't do too badly at all, better than average. Christopher Meloni and Dave Bautista give the right amount of grit and fun and Jonathan Schaech doesn't over-compensate or look bored.
Willis however phones in and looks tired in a role that is nowhere near as prominent as the advertising misleadingly indicated, something of a glorified cameo. Adrian Grenier is also quite characterless. The direction shows little engagement or finesse. The sound and music are intrusive and the characters generally aren't interesting, due to very sketchy development, with not many endearing traits.
Furthermore, the action is never exciting or tense, very routine often with silly parts and over-serious ones. The script is constantly awkward and lacks tautness, but it is the far too convoluted, as well as pedestrian and far-fetched story that suffers from trying to include too many things and underdeveloping all of them that the film suffers most from. Any twists are easily foreseeable long before they appear and there is very little tension or suspense.
Overall, tangled web sums 'Marauders' up very well. 4/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Oct 26, 2018
- Permalink
Solid film with Byzantine plot and three-dimensional characters
"Marauders" is surprisingly good for a modestly budgeted action/police procedural film with Bruce Willis in a paycheck performance. The plot is satisfyingly Byzantine. The characters are three dimensional with inner demons and conflicting loyalties. Christopher Meloni delivers a solid performance in the lead. He's apparently done a lot of television work that I've never seen, but eclipsed Travolta's performance in "I Am Wrath." Solid performances also by Grenier, Schaech and Ochse (although the skullcap isn't convincing). The Cincinnati locations are effective. Action scenes are limited in scope, but done competently. Lighting is effective, but cinematography is marred by excessive reliance on jiggly-cam, although some shots use a rigid camera mount of some type. At 107 minutes, it doesn't seem long and could even benefit by extending it to two hours to give more time to develop some of the subplots. Some of the nuances of the plot and characters could have been developed more fully.
- ginocox-206-336968
- Jul 1, 2016
- Permalink
Decent acting interesting but undeveloped script missed opportunity
Cookie cutter
- Leofwine_draca
- Jan 1, 2019
- Permalink
Looks good, but fails miserably...
- hottestgirlsoftumblr-791-931947
- Jul 1, 2016
- Permalink
A Tangled Web.
I hardly know how to comment on this action story about uncovering some kind of conspiracy involving the FBI, the Cincinatti Police Department, a rogue bunch of Army Rangers, and the president of a bank franchise or whatever it's called.
But let me start with the first five minutes. One by one, half dozen production companies are slowly revealed on the screen: Lionsgate presents an Aperture Production by Circumcisional Films produced by Phineas Quimby LLC of Rocinante Incorporated. Finally we see the title: "Marauders." It's a kind of generic title, like "Guns of Darkness" or "Another Dawn." "Marauders" could be a story about nosy landladies instead of bank robbers and murderers.
Okay. The credits are over. We open on a scene in an ordinary bank. A perfectly ordinary transaction is taking place. The friendly bank manager escorts a matronly lady to the door, warning her to watch out for the rain that in this movie, as in the atrociously titled "Se7en," never stops. Before the glass door, the manager looks up and from his point of view we see the most horrible Haloween mask imaginable, a kind of death's head, aiming a shotgun at us. The manager is horrified. Does the masked figure shoot the manager through the shattering glass door? Are you kidding? End of the first five minutes. I counted.
There's no point in going through the plot because it's so ill written that I couldn't follow it. Lots of shooting and gory deaths. The director is fond of having his victims spit up blood. The prologue has warned us of "graphic violence" and "brief nudity." Too bad it wasn't "brief violence" and "graphic nudity," although now, come to think of it, there was no nudity at all.
The casting is pretty good. All the actors are of TV quality. But one of them, a human gorilla with a neck the girth of a utility pole, a partially shaved skull, a two-day stubble, and garments from the Salvation Army, rather stands out from the other, properly clad, FBI agents. What a brutish figure he cuts -- and whose was the hand than slanted back this brow? In the final, action-packed half of the movie, the camera begins to show signs that the director of photography was strung out on something. It's never still. If two people are sitting and conversing, the camera still slides slightly this way and that.
I wouldn't bother watching it but others might enjoy it.
But let me start with the first five minutes. One by one, half dozen production companies are slowly revealed on the screen: Lionsgate presents an Aperture Production by Circumcisional Films produced by Phineas Quimby LLC of Rocinante Incorporated. Finally we see the title: "Marauders." It's a kind of generic title, like "Guns of Darkness" or "Another Dawn." "Marauders" could be a story about nosy landladies instead of bank robbers and murderers.
Okay. The credits are over. We open on a scene in an ordinary bank. A perfectly ordinary transaction is taking place. The friendly bank manager escorts a matronly lady to the door, warning her to watch out for the rain that in this movie, as in the atrociously titled "Se7en," never stops. Before the glass door, the manager looks up and from his point of view we see the most horrible Haloween mask imaginable, a kind of death's head, aiming a shotgun at us. The manager is horrified. Does the masked figure shoot the manager through the shattering glass door? Are you kidding? End of the first five minutes. I counted.
There's no point in going through the plot because it's so ill written that I couldn't follow it. Lots of shooting and gory deaths. The director is fond of having his victims spit up blood. The prologue has warned us of "graphic violence" and "brief nudity." Too bad it wasn't "brief violence" and "graphic nudity," although now, come to think of it, there was no nudity at all.
The casting is pretty good. All the actors are of TV quality. But one of them, a human gorilla with a neck the girth of a utility pole, a partially shaved skull, a two-day stubble, and garments from the Salvation Army, rather stands out from the other, properly clad, FBI agents. What a brutish figure he cuts -- and whose was the hand than slanted back this brow? In the final, action-packed half of the movie, the camera begins to show signs that the director of photography was strung out on something. It's never still. If two people are sitting and conversing, the camera still slides slightly this way and that.
I wouldn't bother watching it but others might enjoy it.
- rmax304823
- May 2, 2017
- Permalink
Decent action/crime thriller
Watched this on Netflix, not expecting much. Well, it's really pretty good! I was entertained. The guy playing Mims really showed some range, and Chris Meloni was great as always. Recommended for an evening when there's sod all on the TV and you just want to relax and watch a decent film.
- carolinelea
- Mar 15, 2019
- Permalink
Waste of Time
It's a movie, like so many recently, that Bruce Willis took money to be the main attraction but doesn't have much screen time. It features an implausible and convoluted storyline that doesn't make much sense in the real world. It gets worse as it goes along, trying to be more convoluted, creating storyline twists and turns, I suppose to make it more complex. Instead it just becomes stupider. The ending is absolutely horrible and made me sad that I watched the entire movie. Don't waste your time.
very good movie...but...it could've have been great...
...don't understand where all the hate is coming from for this movie. you want to watch a bad and stupid action heist movie?...then watch "heist". "heist got almost a full star higher rating here on IMDb and i couldn't even finish it...it was that bad. ...i'm a fan of good movies...i watch independents and art-house movies more then the blockbusters. pus i've watched most of the black and white classics. i'm just a fan of good movies.
that's why i can't understand the hate from the reviewers here and thats why i voted it a 7 out of 10. it's more like a 6.5 tho.
this movie could've been great tho...instead of just very good...but all in all it had me riveted to the screen for its duration. my only gripe was the movie should've been over 2 hours so the nitpickers will shut up about how convoluted and not well told it was. movies require you to use your brain sometimes...this was one of them.
all in all a very good watch if you are an action movie fan and just a enjoyable watch. another big bonus for me which others didn't like as much...the constant rain in the movie. it rained thru-out the whole movie just about...yayyyy.
solid solid action thriller revenge style flick...an atrocity that this movie gets a rating of 5.4 here on IMDb while clunkers like "heist" gets a much higher rating.
that's why i can't understand the hate from the reviewers here and thats why i voted it a 7 out of 10. it's more like a 6.5 tho.
this movie could've been great tho...instead of just very good...but all in all it had me riveted to the screen for its duration. my only gripe was the movie should've been over 2 hours so the nitpickers will shut up about how convoluted and not well told it was. movies require you to use your brain sometimes...this was one of them.
all in all a very good watch if you are an action movie fan and just a enjoyable watch. another big bonus for me which others didn't like as much...the constant rain in the movie. it rained thru-out the whole movie just about...yayyyy.
solid solid action thriller revenge style flick...an atrocity that this movie gets a rating of 5.4 here on IMDb while clunkers like "heist" gets a much higher rating.
Masking the conspiracies
This review of Marauders is spoiler free
** (2/5)
In Hollywood, there are only a small handful of memorable crime thrillers when the mass murderers, masked vigilantes or corrupt cops reign supreme; Triple 9 comes to mind. It seems for a while that Marauders tries to follow the same riff of that movie with the plot forming around a tight-knit team of masked vigilantes, with distorted whom are armed to the teeth with giant guns. Like Triple 9 this team aims at big banks run by bank tycoon Jeffrey Hubert (Bruce Willis) but it seems that this team of professionals don't take any money, thanks to the bank's owner but is there to this tycoon that meets the eye? Of course there is, the story soon transpires that he is helping these criminals for a more legitimate scheme it turns out that he coaxes the press to convince them that these bank robberies hitting his firm of banks, Hubert International as he is trying to hide some incriminating information surrounding his family. Then the film shifts to two FBI Special Agents, Stockwell (Dave Bautista) and Wells (Adrian Grenier) who are convinced that the masked vigilantes are part of a military platoon that suddenly went rogue so as they try to find the evidence to catch up with this team who are constantly outsmarting them unfortunately their evidence plateaus, just like the plot of the film.
Stepping into the second act, as the FBI think that they are getting closer to this team, they find yet another conspiracy that Hubert is behind the whole thing and it turns out that these so called criminals are helping the authorities discover the many conspiracy that are already spiraling out of control at this point. The film begins to get a little bit lazy being constantly over taken by the immense body count, the conspiracies and the plans for revenge which are also spiraling out of control. The film then suddenly strives around the plot that an unknown deceased military ranger is behind all these deaths, and for a while the FBI agents are convinced that this man is causing all this carnage in Cincinnati for a while the film continues to riff on this same plot line as the police find his prints at the growing list of crime scenes at this point the police believe that they are being outsmarted by this man, have you caught yet? Well prepare for yet another change, as the lazy plot continues to form these convoluted misinterpreted stories that take over most of the plot, the FBI agents, manned by Special Agent Montgomery (Christopher Meloni) begin to compromise on their footing to find out what Hubert, is up to so as they try to find some problems with his impressive plan, they are compromised themselves by the bank robbers but this time it seems that they are in a tight-knit fight this time leaving behind many bodies.
As the film goes on we are thinking that there must be a better plot hidden somewhere under the immense body count, the puddles of blood and the seemingly never ending schemes turns out there isn't, so while Willis, Meloni, Bautista, etc. are constantly getting lost in the films over-the-top, nonsensical and plain goofy plot Marauders, isn't all bad as there are a couple of saving graces to point out in this film; firstly the action sequences do their job to keep the movie somewhat stable, secondly there is a third act thrill that switches the tone of the film into thinking that the corrupt cop was involved the whole time. Marauders' denouement hits a blank that ultimately shouts out what really happened in just a few minute slot it's an intriguing bit that gives the whole film a lesson that the previous hour and forty-odd-minutes did it's best to muddy. While the film has a star-studded cast with some big time old and new stars it seems that at the beginning the film lays out a forty minute scenario that keeps us intrigued enough and makes us think, but then it delves into a story that becomes seemingly far-fetched to a point when it is down right goofy, it seems that we won't be seeing any rejoice in Willis' career for a while.
VERDICT: A noisy, disjointed and frankly lazy crime thriller that constantly gets lost in the far-fetched filled with clichés plot that for a huge chunk of the film is under the immense body count and the large puddles of blood.
** (2/5)
In Hollywood, there are only a small handful of memorable crime thrillers when the mass murderers, masked vigilantes or corrupt cops reign supreme; Triple 9 comes to mind. It seems for a while that Marauders tries to follow the same riff of that movie with the plot forming around a tight-knit team of masked vigilantes, with distorted whom are armed to the teeth with giant guns. Like Triple 9 this team aims at big banks run by bank tycoon Jeffrey Hubert (Bruce Willis) but it seems that this team of professionals don't take any money, thanks to the bank's owner but is there to this tycoon that meets the eye? Of course there is, the story soon transpires that he is helping these criminals for a more legitimate scheme it turns out that he coaxes the press to convince them that these bank robberies hitting his firm of banks, Hubert International as he is trying to hide some incriminating information surrounding his family. Then the film shifts to two FBI Special Agents, Stockwell (Dave Bautista) and Wells (Adrian Grenier) who are convinced that the masked vigilantes are part of a military platoon that suddenly went rogue so as they try to find the evidence to catch up with this team who are constantly outsmarting them unfortunately their evidence plateaus, just like the plot of the film.
Stepping into the second act, as the FBI think that they are getting closer to this team, they find yet another conspiracy that Hubert is behind the whole thing and it turns out that these so called criminals are helping the authorities discover the many conspiracy that are already spiraling out of control at this point. The film begins to get a little bit lazy being constantly over taken by the immense body count, the conspiracies and the plans for revenge which are also spiraling out of control. The film then suddenly strives around the plot that an unknown deceased military ranger is behind all these deaths, and for a while the FBI agents are convinced that this man is causing all this carnage in Cincinnati for a while the film continues to riff on this same plot line as the police find his prints at the growing list of crime scenes at this point the police believe that they are being outsmarted by this man, have you caught yet? Well prepare for yet another change, as the lazy plot continues to form these convoluted misinterpreted stories that take over most of the plot, the FBI agents, manned by Special Agent Montgomery (Christopher Meloni) begin to compromise on their footing to find out what Hubert, is up to so as they try to find some problems with his impressive plan, they are compromised themselves by the bank robbers but this time it seems that they are in a tight-knit fight this time leaving behind many bodies.
As the film goes on we are thinking that there must be a better plot hidden somewhere under the immense body count, the puddles of blood and the seemingly never ending schemes turns out there isn't, so while Willis, Meloni, Bautista, etc. are constantly getting lost in the films over-the-top, nonsensical and plain goofy plot Marauders, isn't all bad as there are a couple of saving graces to point out in this film; firstly the action sequences do their job to keep the movie somewhat stable, secondly there is a third act thrill that switches the tone of the film into thinking that the corrupt cop was involved the whole time. Marauders' denouement hits a blank that ultimately shouts out what really happened in just a few minute slot it's an intriguing bit that gives the whole film a lesson that the previous hour and forty-odd-minutes did it's best to muddy. While the film has a star-studded cast with some big time old and new stars it seems that at the beginning the film lays out a forty minute scenario that keeps us intrigued enough and makes us think, but then it delves into a story that becomes seemingly far-fetched to a point when it is down right goofy, it seems that we won't be seeing any rejoice in Willis' career for a while.
VERDICT: A noisy, disjointed and frankly lazy crime thriller that constantly gets lost in the far-fetched filled with clichés plot that for a huge chunk of the film is under the immense body count and the large puddles of blood.
- coreyjdenford
- Dec 25, 2016
- Permalink
Good Action Flick!
A good action movie, sure the acting could have been better, but what it lacks in acting drama, it compensate with good action.
Christopher Meloni dominates the role, and Dave Bautista adds that humor to the whole film.
the story-line was intriguing, something you couldn't see from a mile away.
the action scene were well choreographed, the bank robber had a great appeal to them.
the movie had a sense of direction which is brilliant.
All in All, an action movie lover's treat!
Christopher Meloni dominates the role, and Dave Bautista adds that humor to the whole film.
the story-line was intriguing, something you couldn't see from a mile away.
the action scene were well choreographed, the bank robber had a great appeal to them.
the movie had a sense of direction which is brilliant.
All in All, an action movie lover's treat!
- warlock_hurt
- Jul 18, 2016
- Permalink
Promising start that turns into a convoluted mess
The start is very good. A bank heist is carried out with precision by robbers wearing aggressive masks and using high-tech devices.
It then plunges into a boring and incoherent mess with so many overlapping story lines that the script must surely have been written by a committee. I couldn't follow what was going on for most of the movie.
The ending is stupidly bizarre.
Poor and only worth 4 stars.
It then plunges into a boring and incoherent mess with so many overlapping story lines that the script must surely have been written by a committee. I couldn't follow what was going on for most of the movie.
The ending is stupidly bizarre.
Poor and only worth 4 stars.
Movie that will keep you guessing till the End.
This is a crime thriller that keeps you gripped with witty sarcasm backed with intriguing twists and plots.
The dialogue between the characters alone is enough to keep you gripped. The suspense is so thick you can physically touch.
For action junkies like me, there is so much action going on that you won't be disappointed.
To me the star of the film is Christopher Meloni, his demeanor and sarcasm made the film.
If bad guys were ever close the perfection it's the bad guys in this film, they seemed to pull off the impossible in a cold calculated way.
For me this is a movie that will keep you hooked.
It might not have the media hype, but this is a film you won't regret watching.
The dialogue between the characters alone is enough to keep you gripped. The suspense is so thick you can physically touch.
For action junkies like me, there is so much action going on that you won't be disappointed.
To me the star of the film is Christopher Meloni, his demeanor and sarcasm made the film.
If bad guys were ever close the perfection it's the bad guys in this film, they seemed to pull off the impossible in a cold calculated way.
For me this is a movie that will keep you hooked.
It might not have the media hype, but this is a film you won't regret watching.
Great shots of Cincinnnati
Not a movie buff but since I live in the Cincinnati area I wanted to see this one. Enjoyed it. Could tell it wasn't a big budget movie but with the stars that were in it I thought it played out well. It kept me interested which is hard to do.
- kemper-91871
- Dec 30, 2017
- Permalink
Rain rain rain
Every scene it's raining. Is Cincinnati in a rain forest???
Very distracting
Count the scenes with rain
A few with wet streets
Really??
Might have been an awesome movie otherwise