As a snowstorm hits the soon to be defunct police station precinct 13, Sergeant Roenick is perturbed to take delivery of a bus load of crooks, one of which is gang-lord Marion Bishop. Not longer after the crooks are locked down in their cells, the precinct comes under siege from a gang of heavily armed assailants. With just a couple of colleagues for help, Roenick must make some very big decisions if they are to survive the night.
I wish to put on record my love and admiration for John Carpenter's original Assault On Precinct 13 feature film, in fact for the record I'm a John Carpenter acolyte. I also wish to say that I think myself fortunate that I can separate a remake from the original offering, I am in short, a conscientious purveyor of objectivity. Remakes are never an easy thing, and many fail to improve on the film they are re-imaging, it's especially difficult to update a cult classic film such as this one, and The Italian Job for examples, but when viewed separately, and on its own terms, Jean-Francois' Assault On Precinct 13, is a fine no brain popcorn effort. Yes it's nowhere near close to the grimness that was brilliantly evident in Carpenter's wonderful film, but as a cop and crooks exercise, it delivers fine set pieces, gun play abound, and a terrific cast eager to enjoy the ride for our personal entertainment. Ethan Hawke, Laurence Fishburne, Gabriel Byrne, Brian Dennehy, John Leguizamo, Ja Rule, Maria Bello and Drea de Matteo, all are given intriguing characters with something to add to the bubbling thriller stew.
Personally I feel that this picture is harshly treated, because as remakes go it does entertain those willing to judge it for what it is. It's not asking people to forget the original, it's merely being popcorn fodder for the suitably inclined and it's actually great fun. 7/10
I wish to put on record my love and admiration for John Carpenter's original Assault On Precinct 13 feature film, in fact for the record I'm a John Carpenter acolyte. I also wish to say that I think myself fortunate that I can separate a remake from the original offering, I am in short, a conscientious purveyor of objectivity. Remakes are never an easy thing, and many fail to improve on the film they are re-imaging, it's especially difficult to update a cult classic film such as this one, and The Italian Job for examples, but when viewed separately, and on its own terms, Jean-Francois' Assault On Precinct 13, is a fine no brain popcorn effort. Yes it's nowhere near close to the grimness that was brilliantly evident in Carpenter's wonderful film, but as a cop and crooks exercise, it delivers fine set pieces, gun play abound, and a terrific cast eager to enjoy the ride for our personal entertainment. Ethan Hawke, Laurence Fishburne, Gabriel Byrne, Brian Dennehy, John Leguizamo, Ja Rule, Maria Bello and Drea de Matteo, all are given intriguing characters with something to add to the bubbling thriller stew.
Personally I feel that this picture is harshly treated, because as remakes go it does entertain those willing to judge it for what it is. It's not asking people to forget the original, it's merely being popcorn fodder for the suitably inclined and it's actually great fun. 7/10