Rating: 
Summary: Great Beginning, end a disaster
Review: I've rarely seen a film with such a promising beginning go so terribly wrong at the end. The first half crackles with tension as the Denzel shows the ropes to the wet behind the ears new guy.
The second half degenerates into typical Hollywood crap, with a formulatic ending and Denzel going over the top, as usual. If they had been able to keep the story as taught and gritty and Denzel as restrained as they were during the first half, it would have been one for the ages.
Rating:
Summary: Subpar
Review: Denzel got an oscar for this, but I can't figure out why.
The movie was average and the acting too, it was merely Denzel being himself. So why'd I give it a 3 instead of a 2?Well kids, there is a scene in this movie that is one of the most tense I have ever witnessed. Remember the scene in Boogie Nights where Sister Christian is playing in the background? Remember how tense that was? There is a scene in this movie that is twice as tense as that. It is incredible and makes the MOVIE WORTH WATCHING. No kidding.
Rating:
Summary: good acting bad writing nothing new
Review: Unfortunately many good actors have to suffer ridiculous idiotic scripts and this is one such case, hard to judge the movie fairly, as the plot is pointless, the only way to watch is just to go with the flow and forget the fact that nothing makes any sense at all.
The acting is good and it raises the movie above the level to which it could have descended.
pretty standard fare, completely undemanding and ridiculous storyline so ultimately pretty unsatisfying.
Rating: 
Summary: Speedy
Review: Great condition, speedy arrival, and I would definitely recommend this service to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Provocative But Flawed Cop Thriller!
Review: This movie is exhibit one supporting the old adage that actors often win a belated Oscar deserved for earlier work in a movie that scarcely qualifies for such an honor. While there is no mistaking the excellent performance of either Denzel Washington or Ethan Hawke in this tale of a cop gone bad after spending too much time on the street, the mind reels to consider Washington performed as well as did Tom Wilkinson in "In The Bedroom" or Russell Crowe in "A Beautiful Mind'. This movie is just not that much of a showcase for Denzel's considerable talents. To begin with, the plot is hardly plausible, and it is downright silly to believe such patent nonsense as is presented here as the events transpiring in a single day. Shades of James Bond! Whatever happened to the idea of presenting something believable? If we are talking "B" movie entertainment, fine. But if we are going to consider giving an actor an Oscar for an outstanding performance, it might be nice to have him deliver that role in something less than pop fantasy. Shades of old Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit"! As a fantasy escape vehicle, this gritty cop drama works well, but as a serious drama, it has holes big enough for Shallow Hal's girlfriend to waddle through. All that said, it is an entertaining and action packed film. Indeed, this is a film overdosing on adrenaline, a movie with nothing but ups and precious few downers, except, of course, for the morality play at the end that serves, of course, to provide the filmgoer with a sense of closure and wrap the enigma of this bad cop up with a bow. Yet a lot of bad guys get away with it, and this character certainly seems street-wise enough to have maneuvered his way out of the dilemma. I enjoyed watching it, but felt the performances were not what I would expect from an Oscar-caliber effort at moviemaking. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: A DARK COMEDY WITH A MORAL TO TELL
Review: "Training Day" is entertaing,grim,and humourous.Mostly all at the same time.Although director Antoine Fuqua's direction style can be a little stylish and music video-ish at times(Fuqua started out helming music videos) that doesn't ruin "Training Day" at all.The acting is over the top.Denzel Washington seems peversely tickled while playing the twisted,streetwise bad crooked cop Alonzo Harris.And Ethan Hawke's Jake Hoyt is played with a boyish innocence and adult knowingness.Also featured are Tom Bergenen,Dr. Dre,Snoop Dogg,Macy Gray(as the hilarious "Sandman's Wife"),and .The hard-hitting hip hop soundtrack suits the film well.And the movie never really lags in terms of plot(although it might confuse you in one or two spots). Basically "TD"'s plot consists of Hoyt's first day of training to be a narc cop.Hoyt's trainer is veteran Harris.Harris is a part of the drug and gang culture that he's supposed to be stopping.Harris' unconventional police tatics and dubious charm rub the naive Hoyt the wrong way.And it ends rather suprisingly.
Yeah my summary may be flimsy but it wouldn't be right if I gave away the plot boilers and ending,would it? :-) To me "Training Day" was just a highly entertaining dark comedy.
I thought it was hilarious for the most part.But then again I found "Baby Boy" to be a laugh riot so I maybe I shouldn't speak on that!(LOL) The movie DID give me a glimpse of the world of the many cops who get caught up in the game in some of America's toughest 'inner cities'.That was intriguing since you hear so much about the media.This film will open a lot of eyes,which it's meant to do.But it's not flawless...As expected by any film that focuses on African Americans or Hispanics(or any ethnicity of color) OR urban suitations,"Training Day" is not without it's share of sterotypes.I'm sure Latinos are getting tired of seeing yet more Latino gangsters in chinos and tank tops spewing out "Ese" and threating to kill someone.And all of the urbanites in this film seemed to be malicious in some way.The film didn't bother to explore the 'good' people in these environments that are stuck in the shuffle or the vurnabilities of Alonzo.And the script seems weaker in terms of dialouge in certain parts. But that's not enough to turn your back on "Training Day".This is a hard hitting,eye-glueing film experience.Unlike other cop dramas/"urban" action-dramas,"Training Day" has a strong morality message as witnessed at the ending.Although it should be forewarned that this movie is ultra-violent and why the individual whom I viewed this film with let their young,under-12 children watch this hyperviolent/profainity filled film is beyond me(And this same person made an effort to rid these same children of cable television of violent video games...). Anyhow,Denzel deserves props yet again for moving in a new direction with this VERY non-good man role.Many actors at his level wouldn't have taken that step. YOU will surely have your own opinion on "Training Day" but one thing is for sure you sure won't be bored.
Rating:
Summary: Routine Cop Drama Bolstered by Two Strong Lead Performances
Review: Denzel Washington is refreshing in an uncharacteristically nasty role as a corrupt cop. Ethan Hawke is also good as the rookie cop that serves as the moral center for the film. Those two performances aside, what you get is your basic cop drama. The ending strains credibility, but otherwise TRAINING DAY is a very watchable movie. Eva Mendes as Denzel Washington's significant other is an added bonus.
Rating:
Summary: Intense, powerful, implausible
Review: This film starts with an excellent premise and then sprints straight out into left field, makes a right turn at incredible and lands somewhere between absurd and ridiculous. Actually, I enjoyed the film, but this day of mayhem and corruption is so far from believable that it diminishes the film's value. One of the most important factors in a good cop film is realism. It requires not just realistic guns, explosions and car chases, but realistic and authentic characters and a plausible story. In this film, almost all the characters were way over the top. Rookie director Antoine Fuqua brings great intensity to each frame from his music video experience, and most scenes have an imposing power that grabs the viewer and chokes off his air supply. However, Fuqua's failing in this film is that of excess. There are no moments of calm to create contrast. The film is all storm. It is well done, but exhausting and the only realistic character in the film is Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke). Denzel Washington is a great actor. I say this without hesitation. However, this is nowhere near his best performance. He was far better in both "Hurricane" and "Malcom X". He was robbed in 1993 when the best actor award went to Al Pacino for "Scent of a Woman" instead of going to him for his performance in "Malcolm X". In "Training Day", Washington tries far too hard to be bad. He overacts in spots and he is so intent on being forceful that he neglects character nuances, normally his greatest strength as an actor. So, while I consider this to be a strong performance by any other standard, comparing Denzel to Denzel, this performance is just slightly above average. This year, Russell Crowe got robbed for "A Beautiful Mind". However, Crowe won it last year despite the fact that both Ed Harris ("Pollock") and Geoffrey Rush ("Quills") gave better performances. What goes around comes around, I suppose. Ethan Hawke was also nominated for his supporting role as Jake, and it was a nomination that was well deserved. This is the strongest performance I can remember from Hawke. His is the most credible and nuanced performance in the film, despite being in Washington's shadow. He is helped, of course, by the fact that the character is the only one that is anything like a real person in the entire film. This is a vigorous film that never lets up. The action and the psychological tension are first rate. It is just too overblown to be real. And to be great, cop stories need to be real. I rated it 7/10.
Rating:
Summary: "Realistic" or not, this film rocked.
Review: Ethan Hawke steals the show from the hyped Denzel Washington in my opinion. Still, two tremendous actors like Washington and Hawke on the same screen should say enough for this great film. Judging by the other 330+ reviews that have already been posted(LOL), I'll give you my short analysis. Buy it, rent it, copy it, do whatever it takes to watch this one. You like cop movies? Than this it your ticket to a great evening. peace
Rating:
Summary: This Ain't Checkers, It's CHESS!!!
Review: Talk about a kick in the pants! Wow, Training Day is just that and more! Denzel Washington turns in the performance of a lifetime, and Ethan Hawke proves he is up to the task in this gritty Urban drama set in the city of Angels.
The film details rookie detective Jake Hoyt's (Ethan Hawke)"training day", his day to prove to Alonzo Harris (the veteran narcotics agent portrayed by Washington) that he has what it takes to be on the team. Hoyt watches with growing horror and dismay as Harris uses less than savory tactics to advance his own agenda using the same methods as those he is supposed to bring to justice.
The movie is peopled with actual gang members as extras and stars Dr.Dre, Snoop Dog and Macy Gray (who, in the words of the director was "ghetto fabulous!"), lending flavor and credence to this wonderful film.
This movie is a tour de force, containing the best performance of both Washington and Hawke's career. Buy it today!
| 
