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Why Shoot ‘Em Up Is One Of The Most Misunderstood Action Movies Ever Made

Making a living evaluating, loving, and writing about films, I very rarely write the "all of you are wrong" articles, because I know that they can really force a writer into exile, especially depending on what portion of your audience he or she calling out. In this case, involving the vastly misunderstood and wholly brilliant 2007 action film starring Clive Owen called Shoot Em up, I have no problem pulling up a soapbox, grabbing a microphone, and letting 90% of the world know they were wrong about this film. This is not the silly action film that most take it as. Just the three stars in the film alone should tell you that. Clive Owen, Monica Bellucci, and Paul Giamatti. And you think, based on those three alone, that this movie is the film you think it is? No.

Shoot Em Up movie image Clive Owen

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Next up, we need to talk about the birthing scene. This unnamed woman goes into labor, and “Smith” delivers the baby WHILE still engaged in a shootout. He is delivering this screaming woman’s baby, all whilst spinning and popping bad guys like they are black heads. The whole time he keeps this determined look on his face, like this is no big thing, and to top it off, when he can’t figure out what to do with the umbilical cord, he shoots it. He literally shoots her umbilical cord to separate Mother and baby. Cartoon much?

And some people dare say this movie sucks because it is cheesy? Are you SERIOUS?

The ONLY thing separating Shoot ‘Em Up from being a cartoon is the fact that it’s not animated. Everything else about it, from the generic look and constant supply of stupid bad guys, to the multiple carrot executions that happen in this movie, it is all cartoon-y. So, why are some people judging it in the same way they would judge a film like The King’s Speech or Braveheart?

This movie is not trying to tell us some story. This movie is painting vivid caricatures, giving us some major John Woo levels of violence, and topping it off with some seriously great, over-the-top performances from top tier talent. Honestly, what is there NOT to love? This is live-action Looney Tunes as made by John Woo. Only a commie wouldn’t like something this magical.

Oh, and how about that love scene?

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