Rating: 
Summary: Won't Let Go
Review: While I won't say that I liked this movie, it is one that won't let go. I saw it in the theatre. Watching the DVD version made me realize how vividly I recalled the film. Any film that stays with you enough to be memorable must be good, even if it isn't likeable. Screenwriter David Ayers (The Fast & the Furious) provides an action-packed character study with the moral question: Do the ends justify the means? Most would answer "no," but Denzel Washington's character Alonzo Harris has bit hook, line & sinker that whatever it takes is what he will do. In doing that, he has become corrupt. Ethan Hawke's character Jake Hoyt begins by saying that he'll do WHATEVER Alonzo wants, which leads to the oft repeated phrase, "You're my nigger." His journey in the film leads him to reject this. Some were bothered by the contrivance that Hoyt (Hawke) stops a rape, only to have that act be the one that keeps his brains from being splattered in the bottom of a bathtub. I didn't view it a problem. For me, the one act of good that is done in the film produces another act of goodness, letting Hawke go by the gang contracted to kill him. For me, it reinforces the theme that evil begets evil, and good begets good. Aside from the debate of whether Denzel deserved the Oscar or Ethan his best supporting actor Oscar nomination, what impressed me with the film was the depth of the supporting performances. One of the stars for me is Eva Mendes who plays Sara Harris, Alonzo's Spanish lover. She was so gracious when she first met Hawke, loving to her son, sexy with Alonzo, terrified of the gunfire, protective of her son, and finally in one last shot we see her from a window whisk up her son and turn her back on Alonzo. For a small part, she had an amazing array of levels. I didn't pick out the actor's name, but the little boy was about as wonderful of a sweetheart as any mom could want. Scott Glen also wonderfully plays Roger, the drug dealer who is a dear friend and fast buddy of Alonzo's, only to be shot by him when convenience dictates. Macy Gray as the Sandman's wife does an on-the-edge cameo bursting with energy. I appreciated the added features of the DVD. The scene where the Hispanic guy tells Hoyt that Harris wanted him killed could have made that plot point more clear, for me. So although I didn't enjoy TD by any means, I certainly appreciate the performances and found the film memorable. It grabs you & won't let go.
Rating: 
Summary: 2 1/2 stars really
Review: The problem with this film is that is was more designed as a vehicle for Washington to show off his tremedous acting ability than to actually create a solid story. Even the best actor can be limited by a bad script which is what happens in this movie. Denzel Washington is in my opinion in the top 5 actors of modern film, but a movie like this just doesn't give him the room he really needs to stretch out and show off the amazingly varied characters he can create. But, of course, this was the Academy's year to award the black actors (Washington and Halle Berry), both of whom are much better actors than their oscar winning roles showed them to be. If only the academy had given them oscars for the roles they truly deserved, then the academy wouldn't have to award less than stellar roles out of guilt. Any Denzel Washington role is still better than 90% of the other roles out there, but his better roles (Hurricane, Malcolm X) lie in the unawarded 10%.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Tale of a Crooked Cop
Review: This movie I only gave three stars because the climax seemed to be thrown togather. the begining of the movie is spectacular. They develop the characters well and the forshadowing is excellent. But when it comes to the ending, i have to say, the ending was weak. It was a good idea, but it was poorly written.
Rating:
Summary: Denzel: Yes, but Training Day: No
Review: I rarely if ever go to see violent films, but being a Denzel Washington fan, I just had to check this one out. He gave a good performance, as he always does. Unfortunately, I can't say that this particular film was too good. Hmn...that's probably why Tranining Day wasn't nominated for anything other than actor. There are much better Denzel films at your local video store, o.k? Oh, and as for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, they have once again lost credibility by giving the lead actor award to a talented actor (Denzel) but for the wrong film. It's ironic how Denzel himself was quoted as saying (weeks prior to the show) that he did not want the Academy to do him any favors and that the winners should win on their own merit. I couldn't agree more. It's an even greater shame that Will Smith, who had convinced himself that he (Will Smith) had no chance of winning for Ali, decided to go on one entertainment show after another, labeling the Academy as racist. What a pathetic thing to do Mr. Smith. Most first time nominees are flattered and honored, but not this guy. Oh, and did I mention that these "racist themed interviews" with Mr. Smith were done AFTER Halle Berry won the SAG??? I truly believe that racial politics put a sour note on this years awards show. Oh, and probably the fact that the Academy did not want Russell to win (jealousy of his success, the Bafta incident, not an American...who knows why...) You're a great actor Denzel, but Russell's role in Beautiful Mind was much more of an Oscar caliber role. Shame on the Academy voters for acting like high school kids (i.e. voting for the popular guy as if they were voting for class president), rather than acting like professionals and voting for the best performance.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Film, just not my taste...
Review: This is another phony black cop, white cop buddy movie. I feel the plot and relationships in these movies are not realistic. In this one, both actors do great characterizations, especially Denzel. It's very intense from the very beginning. I was O.K. until about three-quarters of the way through the film when the bullets start to fly, and it turned into just another...action movie. Luckily, the good guy wins in the end. Objectively, it is an excellent movie, but not my preferred choice in entertainment.
Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: Denzel Washington won a Best Actor Oscar for his role as a cop in this riveting and exciting story. Completely, unexpected and on the edge of my seat. I really did not believe I was going to enjoy this film in the least, my husband picked it out, but I was up for a good performance, hey the Academy gave him an Oscar....and so well deserved! Ethan Hawke is the new guy just promoted into the drug unit to sniff out the and capture the bad guys. And he soon finds out that Washington's characther goes about this anyway possible. Is it right or is it wrong, which was is up, which way is down.....this movie will have you questioning right along with Hawke's character. Excellent, I would highly recommend this for the performances and gritty story and unexpected twists.
Rating: 
Summary: So tense it hurts
Review: "Training Day" is unflinchingly bleak yet so much more morally realistic than other cop dramas. But for one ridiculous coincidence which allows Jake (Ethan Hawke) to miraculously avoid having his brain sprayed all over a bathtub, this is an exceptionally fine film. The tension is agonizing, the performances superb, and the script has something important to say. Denzel Washington is magnificent as always, though I'm not sure his performance was Oscar-worthy. But no matter. He surely deserved one for "The Hurricane" in 2000 but lost out to man-of-the-moment Spacey in "American Beauty": another occasion when a brilliant actor got an Oscar he deserved, but probably not for that performance.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste even the money for a rental!!
Review: Unfortunately one star is as low at the rating system will let me go. This movie is a complete waste of time. I felt as if I lost brain cells just watching this garbage. The story was pathetic and the characters were completely forgettable. I can't believe that this movie was so highly acclaimed! What were the critics smoking while they watched this?
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Movie Made by Excellent Acting
Review: This is a excellent movie that could have been dangerously bad had anyone else had the lead rolls. Denzel Washington plays one of the best bad "good guys" in recent history and Ethan Hawke works well with his over the top counterpart.
What makes this movie work is Hawke's right and wrong perspective of the world and how it is slowly shattered by Washington's good guy gone bad cop. Washington, lets the character grown in the course of one day, only going over the top when it is truly needed. His soft spoken to explosiveness gives his character the insanity needed.
The deleted scenes were interesting, but would not have changed the movie all that much.
This is one of the few times the Acadamey made the right choice for Best Actor.
Rating:
Summary: Acting is Better than movie
Review: This film was very well acted and highly entertaining, but the reason I gave it only four stars is because I think that there were some writing issues. The movie followed Ethan Hawk's character who wanted desperately to be a cop. So, he meets up with Denzel Washington's character and they spend a dull day tofether fightig crime. However, the more time Hoyt(Hawk) spends with Alonzo(Washington), Hoyt realizes how truley evil Alonzo is. Alonzo, insteadc of fighting crime, gets even with people and he steals from some of them. I reccomend this film.
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