Blast (2004)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Anthony Hickox

Writers (WGA):

Horst Freund (teleplay "Operation Noah")
Steven E. de Souza (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 November 2004 (Russia)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Thriller

Tagline:

Oil And Money Are An Explosive Mix.

Plot:

A terrorist posing as environmentalist hijacks an oil rig off the coast of California with the intent of detonating an electromagnetic bomb over the US.

Plot Keywords:

Oil Rig | Terrorist | California | Tugboat | Buddy Comedy

Cast

Eddie Griffin	...	Lamont Dixon
Vinnie Jones	...	Michael Kittredge
Breckin Meyer	...	Jamal
Soup	...	Raj
Shaggy	...	Mace
Nadine Velazquez	...	Luna
Hannes Jaenicke	...	CEO Heller
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	Smiley (as Tiny Lister)
Warwick Grier	...	Telford
Vivica A. Fox	...	Agent Reed
Nicky Andrews	...	Eric
Paul Du Toit	...	Smiley's Goon
Langley Kirkwood	...	Agent Phillips
Dean Slater	...	Dean
Brett Whitehead	...	Uli

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and some language.

Runtime:

USA:92 min

Country:

Germany | South Africa | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/16 | New Zealand:R16 | Finland:K-15 | USA:R | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Company:

Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA)

Trivia:

Post-production ADR was apparently performed when some of the actors were not available. Thus, there are several points where they have been looped by other performers who only sound vaguely like them. In addition, Hannes Jaenicke's entire performance has been re-voiced by someone else.

Quotes:

Jamal: [answers phone] Hijacked oil rig, can I help you?

Movie Connections:

References Under Siege (1992)

Better than most direct-to-video fare

DIE HARD rip-offs are a staple of the direct-to-video market. There have been so many direct-to-video films that have followed the DIE HARD formula that one can not blame me for being less than excited about seeing BLAST. The cover art and the description on the DVD box made it seem like just about every other direct-to-video action flick that has come out in the past five years or so. However, unlike most direct-to-video action flicks, BLAST has a decent cast, a reasonably good screenwriter, and a fair share of laughs. That doesn't mean BLAST is necessarily a good movie. It isn't. In fact, if it were released theatrically, I would have been mad to pay the ticket price. Direct-to-video was the right choice for the film. It's better than most direct-to-video fare due to the charm of Eddie Griffin and his chemistry with Breckin Meyer. If it weren't for Griffin and Meyer, BLAST would truly be a waste of time. 5/10