Denzel Washington and Christopher Walken rarely disappoint and Man on Fire is no exception. These are two of the premier modern actors and even in a supporting role Walken is able to impress. I added this to the rental list remembering how intense it was to hear Denzel proclaim "I'll tear your family apart piece by piece." This line was really all you need to know, as Man on Fire is a film that basically glorifies revenge and vigilantes. But as the film fails to spark emotion, Man on Fire ultimately fails to propel itself into the top tier of action movies.

Washington stars as Creasy, a former assassin who returns to the job to protect a young child Pita (Dakota Fanning). The plot develops the story of how a loner with few friends forms a bond with the young child, only to have her snatched from his watch by a group of kidnappers. After this, Creasy, who has been battling alcoholism for some time, must rededicate himself if he wants to deliver retribution.

Honestly, there is not much to the story than that. Creasy befriends a local journalist, who is able to provide him with information needed to penetrate organized crime in Mexico. Once the process starts, the audience is treated to revenge displayed rather graphically. Its tough to watch, even when you consider these are hardened criminals incurring his wrath.

When Creasy gushes the now well known line "Revenge is a dish best served cold", it is impossible not to draw comparisons between Man on Fire and Kill Bill. Although Kill Bill is unapologetically more violent, it is presented in a surreal nature which in my opinion leads to it being more entertaining. Man on Fire, on the other hand, is based on a true story which lends it more credibility than the average action film, however it doesn't make the grisly depictions any easier to endure.

In the end, Creasy is framed as almost a real-life Punisher. It's hard to argue for taking the law into your own hands, but the indication is law enforcement couldn't have been as successful as he was. Despite Washington's capabilities, Man on Fire isn't able to sustain brilliance throughout its two and a half hour runtime. It is slightly better than Training Day, but there isn't enough substance to the film to justify more than one viewing.