Rating: 
Summary: One of the worst I have seen
Review: I would like to mention firstly that Russell's perfomance was great, and was the only reason I didn't pull the plug on my dvd player half way thru this awful movie.
When I sit down to watch a movie, I don't want to be preached at. The same politically correct formula is growing tiresome. In this case mean white hetro-sexual male cops form the good ole boys club. The movie actually goes as far as to insuate the LA riots (a true incedent) are related to the corrupt LA police force (a ficticous incedent per the lame movie).
When watching a rented movie I would like a little more depth of plot. This drivel could have aired on and ABC Wednesday night movie....shallow and predictable.
I you want a good lesson on how corrupt law enforcement is, and the only reason we have crime is because the criminals (rioters) have been victimized by the evil establishment this movie will spell that out for you. If you would rather watch something more intelligent steer clear of this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a bad Training Day wanna-be.........
Review: I thought this film was pretty good. It kind of reminded me of Training Day at first, but then about half-way through the movie goes a different direction. This is one of Kurt Russell's best performances. There is a decent cast here, but he steals the movie. It was interesting to see how corrupt the police & the system can become.It has good acting, an interesting story, and it's a good cop movie. I would recommend it to anyone looking to kill 2 hrs. and have already seen Training Day.
Rating:
Summary: (In Fact 3.5 Stars) on LA Street; Kurt Russell's Career Best
Review: Some say "Dark Blue" resembles "The Training Day." That's no wonder, because both films' scripts are from the same person, David Ayer, whose has first-hand knowledge about being street-smart. The difference is, "Dark Blue" has no Denzel Washington. But don't be disappointed, for Kurt Russell, after lamenable turns in "Vanilla Sky" and "3000 Miles to Graceland," gives his career-best performance as Eldon Perry, an LA cop who is so determined to erase the bad that he has become the part of it. The story (originally based on the one by acclaimed writer James Ellroy, the guy behind "L.A. Confidential") has nothing original except one thing (I'm coming back to that). Eldon got a partner, rookie cop (surprisingly good Scott Speedman), and with him he investigates a brutal case of murder at a liquor shop run by a Korean American. But what he finds out leads not to the criminals (about them you see in the opening), but to the corruption of the system of justice. In the meanwhile, a determined assistant police chief (Ving Rhames) is watching for the chance to 'get' Eldon and his boss LAPD chief Brendan Gleeson, both of whom he heartily despises. And there is even a story about love between the two sects.... Except for the factor about the 1992 trial about the police and Mr. Rodney King, and its shocking consequences in South Central, LA, the film has nothing new to add the genre. The combination of veteran and rookie can be seen back in these 'Dirty Harry' films, and what Clint Eastwood has done, you see done in "Dark Blue." Though the film manages to show the intense moments (like the re-created riot scenes), what you will see, I am afraid, has already been seen. And the female parts are all less than satisfactory; Lolita Davidovich (director Ron Shelton's wife) is usually good when given a right role, but this time her role is just to suffer and weep as a cop's wife (very typical). The same goes to Michael Michele, who is also the victim of the underwritten role. Having said that, "Dark Blue" has Kurt Russell's powerful performance, which is probably the best in his career so far. Because of his convincing portrait of the cop who treads on the very thin line between the good and evil, and its very credible locale that conveys the feeling of the 'street,' "Dark Blue" remains watchable throughout inspite of its occasionally dull moments.
Rating:
Summary: Kirk Russell's best performances redeems this cop film
Review: "Dark Blue" presents one of the most blatant portraits of police corruption that I can recall seeing in a film, set in Los Angeles on the eve of the Rodney King riots. Eldon Perry (Kurt Russell) and his boss, Jack Van Meter (Brendan Gleeson), live by their own rules and are ruthlessly blatant in the way they enjoy their privileged existence. At its core this 2002 film is another in a long series of movies about the older cop indoctrinating the younger cop into the way of the world in which they work. In this case Perry is trying to bring young Bobby Keough (Scott Speedman) into the fold, which means proving his heart is in the right place by killing a bad guy in cold blood. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Arthur Holland (Ving Rhames) vows to get the badges of these cowboys and clean up the L.A. Police Department, bringing a religious fervor to his quest, and everybody is waiting for the verdict to come in from the all white jury in Simi Valley. This film works entirely on Kirk Russell's performance. Even at the climactic scene, when Los Angeles is in the throes of the rioting that started when the white cops were found not guilty for the beating of Rodney King and scores of police officers are attending a ceremony while the city if burning, Russell saves "Dark Blue" from going over the edge. The idea is that Russell's character has sold his soul to the devil and the only question is whether he does not know it or he does not care. His wife, who is tired of waiting for him to come back from hell, gives up on him. However, he is not succeeding in passing on his life lessons to his young partner, and his boss turns out to be have even more layers of corruption. Watching this movie if you live in Los Angeles must be a painful experience, not just because it reopens the memories of the riots, but because it is so relentless in its portrayal of police corruption. I kept finding myself being grateful that I did not live there and that my brother and his family moved far, far away after the riots. I realize that I am supposed to be having feelings of disgust at the activities in this film, but then I would wonder what actual L.A. cops thought about this film. But ultimately "Dark Blue" finds a sense of redemption, owed entirely to Russell's performance, which is clearly the best of his career. Whatever faults there are to be found in this film, regarding the familiar plot elements and outright clichés, they do not apply to Russell's work. The film might not be as good as "Training Day," but Russell's performance is at least equal to Denzel Washington's Oscar winning performance (I have no problem with him winning; he should have won it before that point and the history of Oscar is often all about payback, but it is too bad Russell could not at least have been nominated).
Rating: 
Summary: this can't be compared 2 training day
Review: this is a really bad copy of training day. Training day is way better than this movie. The movie was slow and sometimes really boring.
Rating: 
Summary: THIS IS BASICALLY ANOTHER ''TRAINING DAY''
Review: IT'S BASICALLY A RIP-OFF OF ''TRAINING DAY''. A YOUNG COP IS TAUGHT THE HARSH REALITIES OF THE STREETS BY HIS NEW RUTHLESS PARTNER [KURT RUSSELL]. A FAR CRY FROM ''TRAINING DAY'', BUT, THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT A BAD MOVIE. HAS A STRONG PERFORMANCE FROM KURT RUSSELL AND HAS SOME GOOD ACTION SEQUENCES. THE THING THAT KINDA HURTS THIS MOVIE IS ITS SOMEWHAT DISSAPOINTING SECOND HOUR. BUT, IT RECOVERS FROM THE MEDIOCRITY ONCE IT GETS TO THE LAST 20 MINUTES. NOT ONE OF RUSSELL'S BEST, BUT IT'S WORTH SEEING.
Rating:
Summary: Russell at his best
Review: a great cop movie brought to life from the writer of Training Day. this one is based around the time of the Rodeny King beating. The cast is great, especially Russell, whos dynamite. I think Russell's character fromt his movie and Denzel's character from Training Day should be best friends. Scott Speedman(Underworld2003, My Life Without Me, Duets) is superb also as Russell's partner and you gotta love Ving Rhames, his part is great also. lots of emotional scenes, lots of action and violence and a lot of powerful moments with Russell. excellent
Rating:
Summary: A White Man¿s ¿Training Day¿
Review: Dark Blue is the white man's version of 'Training Day.' The cops in both are corrupt. Both try to help their rookies learn. Denzel tries to kill his charge, and Kurt's gets killed by someone else. Both use the tactics of the street to teach. One character (Denzel's) is smart and the leader of a rogue unit. The other (Kurt Russell's) is but a loyal lieutenant - which means the corruption goes all the way to the top. Both portray the streets of LA as a battleground, too unsafe for any sane person to tread. But one ('Dark Blue') blatantly reinforces this by using the Rodney King trial - and the resulting riot - as the City of Angels' normal state. Whereas 'Training Day' is smart and intriguing, 'Dark Blue' is one huge I'm-not-really-a-racist cliché. Kurt Russell does a journeyman's job of bringing a human side to corruption. But the conspiracy that goes back years quickly unravels when a snitch - and Russell - spill the beans, which is why conspiracies such as this are rarely long lasting, and why this movie is so unbelievable. The ghetto is a zoo where the animals should be kept in cages. If you believe that garbage, then this is a movie for you!
Rating:
Summary: Decent Crime Drama
Review: Watching this film, one can't help but feel that Kurt Russell is miscast as a corrupt cop. That issue aside, DARK BLUE is a decent character study of a cop on the edge. It's kind of "TRAINING DAY LIGHT." Set just before the 1992 Los Angeles uprising, it touches on familiar issues regarding police officers going beyond the law. You've seen it before and probably done better, but the film is by no means a failure. The story is familiar, but moves with a few thrills and plot twists. Ving Rhames and Michael Michele give good performances as do most of the cast. It's not edge of your seat suspence, but it is a good time filler for those who like crime dramas. After it's brief theatrical run, DARK BLUE has found its home on video.
Rating:
Summary: Great Acting By Kurt Russell
Review: What I got from this movie is not what I expected. I expected to get an action filled movie with car chases and gunfights. Instead I got a drama filled film about a corrupt cop, played by Kurt Russell, whose life is falling apart before his eyes and he doesnt even realize it! this was a good movie, they just did a bad job at advetising it! It came across a one thing but they gave you another. Overall Kurt Russell plays his part to the key, he was great... along with other supporting actors and a decent story line I give this film 3 stars, but plus 1 for Russells performance.
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