Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

For better or worse we live in a world of remakes and not to put to fine a point on it the remakes are almost always worse, even Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, excellent as it was couldn't quite equal let alone eclipse Bedtime Story. This time we have something of a mish-mosh. Comic crime- writer Donald E. Westlake (Dortmunder) began a second series of much more violent crime novels in the early sixties using the authorial name Richard Stark. One of these, The Hunter, was filmed as Point Blank, with Lee Marvin as the eponymous hunter, now known as Walker. This was as close to type-casting as you can get given that Marvin, like Jack Palance, is blessed with a 'don't f***k with me' appearance which Payback's Mel Gibson (known as Porter this time around) is completely lacking. There are other changes as well; having tracked down the guy who actually crossed him, Marvin tossed him off a roof whilst Gibson is content merely to shoot him. Payback remains an entertaining movie but Point Blank is still the one to beat.

For most of his career, Melt Gibson has taken flight with mainly dramatic roles and has gone on to stir up a few Oscar nominated roles but at the same time made a name for himself as an action hero beginning in the late 70s starring in the titular role in 'Mad Max'. Following the sequels, Gibson made a highly praised debut in 'Lethal Weapon' franchise starring opposite Danny Glover. Fresh out of his wonder years as the gun-totting L.A police detective, Gibson makes once again another appearance as a trigger happy protagonist in this revenge thriller directed by Brian Helgeland. Gibson plays Porter, a merciless, bad-to- the-bone thief who makes no way to make a living than to rob and pick-pocket innocent neighbors of their money and worse of all, the criminals in his neighborhood that surround are certainly no better. After a half-successful robbery from an Asian street gang known as "The Outfit", Porter is betrayed by his partner Val Resnick (played by Gregg Henry) and wife Lynn Porter (played by Deborah Kara Unger) who shoot in cold blood and leave him for dead. However, when Porter miraculously survives he seeks assistance from his ex- lover and former partner Rosie (played by Maria Bello) to deliver vengeance and claim back his money while making his way through a world of vicious drug dealers, prostitutes, and corrupt law officials. Mel Gibson has sported many clever and memorable during his year, arguably his most memorable in 'Lethal Weapon' series or as the British warrior in war epic 'Braveheart'. His role as the protagonist in this film is certainly not as memorable and definitely not as appealing as many of the heroic characters he's known for. While he gives a performance that allows him to suit well in this role, he doesn't quite bring the same sort of charisma he had in his role in Lethal Weapon. Fortunately, he still manages to entertain during gunfight sequences. Watching Gibson mow down the bad guys in a bloody, bullet-blazing frenzy is fun to watch, at least for a little while. But the rest of the time, the film is a bit tedious. From the opening scene, the plot starts off with a promise and progresses into something bigger, and it works at least the first hour. But towards the final stretch, the story falls a bit clumsy and becomes less engaging. On the bright side, the supporting cast does manage to spit out some entertaining performances along the way packing in some dark humor that works at least part of the time, particularly Gregg Henry as Mel Gibson's partner with a hidden agenda on his hands. His performance isn't quite strong, but it holds up. One of the biggest surprises comes Lucy Liu who plays a prostitute of the Asian street gang, quite a questionable role for her.Payback is not your average Mel Gibson actioner and probably sits the lower ladder of Gibson's filmopgraphy. Nonetheless, it is still entertaining on some level and has its moments of spectacle in the midst of its subpar script and plot. This revenge flick is one that will please some but definitely not all, particularly those who go in expecting something on the level of Lethal Weapon.

Payback, my favourite Mel Gibson film, is ol' Mel at his down and dirtiest, in a lovely lowbrow, hard boiled neo noir that kicks you in the nuts and laughs in your face. Gibson plays Porter, a nasty, violent criminal who's betrayed by his strung out whore bag wife (Deborah Kara Unger), and volatile nutbar of a partner (Gregg Henry, coked up and starting fights with anything that has a pulse), following a heist. They shoot him up real good, and take his share of the payout. This pisses Porter off well and good. After recovering, he climbs his way up the corporate ladder of crime, one bullet, punch, kick and slice at a time, to get his 24,000$ bucks. He's not looking for a million, or to take over anyone's organization, just his cut, which becomes a running joke, and a nice character nuance for Gibson to play on. He's a scrappy mess as the ultimate spit on antihero, and it's a blast to watch him maul anyone in his path in a reckless spree of delightful wanton violence to get what's his. Gibsons is at his best when he's playing bad, and here's he's the worst apple of the bunch, a burnt out scumbag on a one way road to self destruction, but thanks to his skills and natural charm, we just can't help but root for the guy. Kris Kristofferson icily plays a crime syndicate honcho, Maria Bello is the hooker with a heart of gold, James Coburn provides comic relief as a hysterical mob boss (Thats just mean, man!!), Bill Duke and Jack Conley leave a trail of slime as corrupt cops, and there's great stuff from William Devane, David Paymer, and a startingly young Lucy Liu as an enthusiastic Triad S&M hooker. It's a happily nihilistic, slash and burn ode to noir, with a snappy, black comedy screenplay and every actor willing to take a bite.

After being reminded how good an actor Mel Gibson is in Expendables 3, I have decided to revisit some of his earlier work. I started with 1999's Payback. And I chose to watch the theatrical release, rather than the directors cut.When Porter (Mel Gibson) is doubled crossed and left for dead by his wife Rosie (Deborah Kara Unger) and partner in crime Val (Gregg Henry) he does not take it to well, and is after revenge.It opens like a Clint Eastwood cop movie of the late 70's or early 80's, as red credits appear to a jazz score as we see a view of the City from a helicopter. Mel Gibson was riding high at the Box Office in 1999, "Lethal Weapon 4" and "Conspiracy Theory" both opened at No 1, and made over $100 million World Wide, while "Ransom" was the 5th highest-grossing film of 1996 in the United States, and he picked up the Oscar for Best Director and Best Movie for 1995's "Braveheart". Henry is well cast as the sleazy, slimy, bully Val, David Paymer, Bill Duke, James Coburn and Kris Kristopherson all have good supporting roles, but it is Lucy Lui (appearing as Lucy Alexis Liu) that steals the movie as the violent dominatrix Pearl. Then there is Mel Gibson, he is the star and simply the core of the movie. The movie simply would not work with a lesser actor as the anti hero Porter. He would only act for a few more years as the lead in movies after this one, before a seven year beak between 2003-2010. One can't help but wonder what other wonderful films we may have missed out on. Gibson is truly a great actor, and hopefully he can sort his personal problems and demons out, because as we all know Hollywood loves comebacks.A solid movie with Gibson bringing his A game.