Ballistic: Ecks vs Sever [2002]

One of a run of 2000s action disappointments, this bigscreen washout slid direct to rental DVD in the UK, suggesting that the high-octane style of recent decades is just about worn out. With a back-and-forth structure that might just evoke MAD's Spy vs Spy, this has a pile of plot devices to get ex-FBI agent Ecks [Antonio Banderas, stubble] and rogue 'DIA' agent Sever [Lucy Liu, leather] into a series of big set-piece fights.

Despite the title, the antagonists are only briefly set against each other, and a trick is missed by giving both similar backstories [lost or dead loved-ones] but not having any sexual attraction between them [Banderas's love interest is Talisa Soto] add perviness to their striding in fetish gear through huge explosions and flying bodies or indulging in many martial arts bouts. The plot motor is reliably rotten Gregg Henry, a DIA baddie who resorts to using his own son's body to smuggle a deadly mcguffin into the USA; Liu, out for revenge, kidnaps the boy – who will die in 36 hours if the thing isn't removed – and Henry is out the get the kid [who actually turns out to be Ecks's son] not to save him but so he can get hold of the device [something to do with creating untraceable assassinations]. Banderas is brought in by his ethnic FBI boss [Miguel Sandoval] and everyone's backstory comes out. Liu is motivated by a dead child, but more interesting is her unexplored status as an 'orphan' – a Chinese girl baby sold off by a family who wanted a son and raised as a killer by US intelligence.

Director Kaos [aka Wych Kaosayananda], a Thai import, does well by soulless stunt stuff, blasting vehicles all over Vancouver [cast as itself for a change] but the actors just hit their marks and strike poses. Ray Park is the minion baddie, and gets a big punch-up with Liu.
KIM NEWMAN

First published in this form here.

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