Rating: 
Summary: Mean Guns Doesn't Mean Any Good
Review: This film is a travesty of the action-adventure genre. First off, the plot is illogical and absurd even if it might be a policeman's dream: all the major criminals around congregate at a prison and kill each other in one enormous shootout. That essentially is the plot of the movie.
Adding to the "fun" is excruciating, repetitive dialogue where the major characters attempt to bare their souls. At the end of these long-winded discourses, one fervently wishes these characters to be brutally killed for being so insufferably boring and pretentious.
Oh yes, how can one forget the equally irratating mambo-inflected film score which blares loudly. and repetitively, over the soundtrack? Unfortunately, it's not loud enough to drown out the dreadful dialogue.
Mean guns doesn't mean a thing.
Rating: 
Summary: A surprisingly entertaining and rousing actioner
Review: A group of thugs who betrayed a syndicate are put in a new prison with weapons and 10 million cash promised to the last 3 survivors. It centers on the various groups that form and partialy on various moral conflicts. It's obviously low budget direct to video, but the action is entertaining and big action fans will see a few scenes intentionally taken from other movies (One scene has the table-roll-to-gunpoint from Hard-Boiled). The characters are certainly entertaining, and have more then one dimension to them. My favorite was Christoper Lambert, who insisted to Moon (the organizer) he be allowed entrance. Marcus was good and that actor had the best performance. The only bad thing about this was it's length: it was to short. That might sound weird, but it seemed like some explanations had to be cut short for length purpouses or budget constraints and I was confused at some points due to it. I'd like to see this remade big budget with Chow Yun-Fat, as Lou, and John Woo directing. Maybe Samuel Jackson as Moon.. And perhaps Sam Orbach (though he'd need to lose weight) as Marcus. That would be great.
Rating: 
Summary: A very strange and bad movie
Review: Albert Pyun has his own way of making films. He is responsible for "Omega Doom" and "Crazy Six", two movies that in spite of having quite different plots, possess in common the peculiar and curious way with which the director accomplishes his works. "Mean Guns" follows the Pyun's formula: many shootings and closes in slow motion,different and weird camera moviments, strange characters and a poor script. In this film, Lambert is a murderer who,along with other criminals, is trapped inside a prison and he needs to survive before his chances drain. Pyun substitutes idea and good-sense for excellent action scenes, that remind plenty of John Woo and Sam Peckinpah's best efforts. Unhappily, that is not enough to maintain the interest for this bad film.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Movie
Review: At first glance its just another low budget film. Thats sad because its really well written and acted. There is a plot besides shoot up action. If you like films like Pulp Fiction. You would like this film as well. Give it a try.
Rating:
Summary: A bizarre, dreamlike redemption tale.
Review: At first glance, Mean Guns seems like another brainless action movie. The plot is simplistic, the action is fast and brutal, and the sound of gunfire can be heard in every scene. But looking a little deeper, you find a surprisingly effective tale of redemption and guilt, set against a simple backdrop where the characters can grow. The dialogue is very well written, the characterization is perfect, and the mambo soundtrack fits the carnage perfectly. And the ending will blow you away (pun intended). Some of the actors are a little stiff, but the leads Christopher Lambert, Ice-T, and especially the guy who plays Marcus, all perform very well. This movie is definitely worth checking out. The violence will put off a lot of people, but those who remain will be rewarded. This is my favorite movie.
Rating:
Summary: Don't call it a "B" Movie!!!
Review: Despite an obviously limited budget (no building-busting explosions, cars plunging off freeways, or helicopters flying through train-tunnels) and some lack of realism (not as bad as most action movies, but noticable), this movie is a screen gem. Imagine a modern day version of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" with individuals and teams chasing after a cash prize of millions; only this time it's hidden inside a prison complex instead of underneath a pair of palm trees and the losers end up pushing up daisies. When the chase begins you'll find yourself picking favorites and rooting for them to win. The movie also borrows tastefully from "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" and "The Wild Bunch", with it's many showdowns and shootouts. The main characters are surprisingly well written and acted out (especially Marcus and Lou)in such a way so that you get a very good look into the personalities of each one without seeing a great deal of personal history on screen. And, of course, if you do watch it and wind up agreeing with none of this, the least you'll have to admit is that the musical score rocks! The mambo music playing over the prison PA system was a wonderfully original touch. Check this movie out. The violence may not make it everyone's cup of tea (I personally loved it, fast paced and gritty yet not bloody), but it has more than enough pluses to make up for it.
Rating:
Summary: An epic of 'Gone with the Wind' proportions!
Review: Every so often a movie comes along that changes the way we view humanity, the universe, and God. Every so often a movie takes us to great heights of joy, only to lose it, and then get it back over and over again as heros redeem themselves as villains are vanquished. Mean Guns is such a movie, indeed, perhaps the greatest movie of the 20th century, and maybe of all time! Mean Guns is destined to be mentioned first in the same breath as 'Gone With the Wind', 'Citizen Kane', 'Little Shop of Horrors', and 'Dude Where's My Car'. The complex plot concerns a shadowy criminal organization knows as the 'Syndicate' just finished constructing of all things, a prison! To this prison are summoned the Syndicate's assasins, who, unbeknownst to the assisins, were caught by the Syndicate stealing or betraying this underworld conglomerate. So the ringmaster of this get-together takes the assasins' weapons at the door and then gathers them in a main room, the prison is locked, and tells them that they were 'caught stealing' and, now they were to fight each other down to the last three alive, which would then split 10 million dollars between them. This festive occassion would be watched by the Syndicate on a closed circuit television screen. Now to start this contest, the ringleader tosses several vats of guns, bats and ammo in on top of the assembled assasins. I think you can figure out where the movie goes from there. Indeed, as the fighters spead out all over the vacant prison, alliances are developed, complex philisophical issues are raised like the prevelance of pervisity present on MTV, or the overuse of profanity in the movies, appropriate pharmaceuticals for todays assasin to take, in a nutshell, a veritable graduate course on applied ethics taught through the dialogue in this film. Indeed as Hoss, Crowe, Barbie, Moon, Marcus, Dee, Rickie, Kam, Lou, Oslow, Bad Hair Guy, Screamer, Joey, Big Bob, Staircase Guy, and Blackie ruminate on life, the universe and everything, it boggles the mind that Mean Guns was not nominated for 12 academy awards. There is so much one can learn from this film! Like the childhood story of the 'Three Cannabalistic Bears that go out looking for food one day', 'Why you shouldn't swear when you dont have to', 'What could be better than Pay TV', and why 250 people trying to kill each other 'ain't the junior league, or the girl scouts or Melrose Place'. All this as the movie is set to the Mambo music of Perex Prado? What more could a movie goer ask for. And as Lou says of Prado, 'He makes you wanna dance', indeed I felt like dancing as this movie made my soul soar when I contemplated the heights to which mankind may reach when properly motivated by shotguns, baseball bats, and 10 million dollars. All in all, this film has a fascintaing premise, the film is truly an escape and well done. I wish director Pyun was able to put more money into the development of this film. Also I hope there is a directors cut somewhere. Mean Guns is an amazingly good movie despite how preposterous the plot may sound. More and more people love this movie as we trade and pass around the DVD. Mean Guns gets more and more fans every month! No one knew this movie in 1997, but now there are at least 6 websites devoted to Mean Guns. Get this movie, its worth it!
Rating:
Summary: An epic of 'Gone with the Wind' proportions!
Review: Every so often a movie comes along that changes the way we view humanity, the universe, and God. Every so often a movie takes us to great heights of joy, only to lose it, and then get it back over and over again as heros redeem themselves as villains are vanquished. Mean Guns is such a movie, indeed, perhaps the greatest movie of the 20th century, and maybe of all time! Mean Guns is destined to be mentioned first in the same breath as 'Gone With the Wind', 'Citizen Kane', 'Little Shop of Horrors', and 'Dude Where's My Car'. The complex plot concerns a shadowy criminal organization knows as the 'Syndicate' just finished constructing of all things, a prison! To this prison are summoned the Syndicate's assasins, who, unbeknownst to the assisins, were caught by the Syndicate stealing or betraying this underworld conglomerate. So the ringmaster of this get-together takes the assasins' weapons at the door and then gathers them in a main room, the prison is locked, and tells them that they were 'caught stealing' and, now they were to fight each other down to the last three alive, which would then split 10 million dollars between them. This festive occassion would be watched by the Syndicate on a closed circuit television screen. Now to start this contest, the ringleader tosses several vats of guns, bats and ammo in on top of the assembled assasins. I think you can figure out where the movie goes from there. Indeed, as the fighters spead out all over the vacant prison, alliances are developed, complex philisophical issues are raised like the prevelance of pervisity present on MTV, or the overuse of profanity in the movies, appropriate pharmaceuticals for todays assasin to take, in a nutshell, a veritable graduate course on applied ethics taught through the dialogue in this film. Indeed as Hoss, Crowe, Barbie, Moon, Marcus, Dee, Rickie, Kam, Lou, Oslow, Bad Hair Guy, Screamer, Joey, Big Bob, Staircase Guy, and Blackie ruminate on life, the universe and everything, it boggles the mind that Mean Guns was not nominated for 12 academy awards. There is so much one can learn from this film! Like the childhood story of the 'Three Cannabalistic Bears that go out looking for food one day', 'Why you shouldn't swear when you dont have to', 'What could be better than Pay TV', and why 250 people trying to kill each other 'ain't the junior league, or the girl scouts or Melrose Place'. All this as the movie is set to the Mambo music of Perex Prado? What more could a movie goer ask for. And as Lou says of Prado, 'He makes you wanna dance', indeed I felt like dancing as this movie made my soul soar when I contemplated the heights to which mankind may reach when properly motivated by shotguns, baseball bats, and 10 million dollars. All in all, this film has a fascintaing premise, the film is truly an escape and well done. I wish director Pyun was able to put more money into the development of this film. Also I hope there is a directors cut somewhere. Mean Guns is an amazingly good movie despite how preposterous the plot may sound. More and more people love this movie as we trade and pass around the DVD. Mean Guns gets more and more fans every month! No one knew this movie in 1997, but now there are at least 6 websites devoted to Mean Guns. Get this movie, its worth it!
Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff
Review: I am not going to sit here and analyze this movie as some people here who have no jobs and plenty of time do. I am very critical, and at first glance I was like what the hell am i watching over here. But then i just got hooked, something about the movie lures people ain and makes them want to watch it. maybe its the way the mambo music is scripted into the movie or the intersting chracters. Either way its a good movie to have around and laugh at every once in a while
Rating:
Summary: Non stop action with some good lines
Review: I first saw this one night just because there was nothing else on. Nights like that can really let you find 'sleepers' and direct to video movies like this is. I am not saying this is an oscar type movie, but if you like gun fights or action, it is worth a look. The action is almost beginning to end, with only spots to delve into the personal side of the characters. But even as small as they do, I still felt as if I got to know them. The music is not the standard with a latin flavor. Now I am not a fan of this type of music, but it fit great into the pace and action of the movie. Overall, it was a movie about killers killing each other, and there was a ton of gun fights , but off hand I dont remeber a gorry or over graphic scene. The worst scenes left the graphic to the imagination, and just used sound and camera angles to show 'just enough'And a small note to any Christopher Lambert fans... He is awesome in this movie. If you like him, worth seeing just for his role.
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