Assault on Precinct 13

The story has appeared many times over the decades in increasingly violent and less stylistic forms. John Wayne was in two, the more famous of which was "Rio Bravo" (1959). A seasoned veteran has to command a few loose cannons in order to fend off an invasion. John Carpenter made the stylish and violent "Assault on Precinct 13" (1976) before his landmark horror "Halloween" (1978). Now we've arrived at this 2005 remake.

Directed by Jean-Francois Richet, Ethan Hawke is the pill-popping alcoholic Jake Roenick who must round up his troops on the last day at Precinct 13 on New Year's Eve in Detroit. When a group of prisoners, including Bishop (Laurence Fishburne, in Morpheus mode) make a stop-over at Precinct 13 because of a highway accident, thugs in ski masks lay siege to it trying to get Bishop. Thinking fast, Roenick gathers up everyone, including cops and prisoners, to fend off a vicious attack.

This doesn't quite live up to its predecessors in a lot of ways. It lacks true suspense and often treads the line between cool and cliché way too often. A number of plot-twists are made too, but do little to lend any weight to satisfaction. No Oscar-worthy performers, though John Leguizamo does a nice turn as a hot-headed junkie.

6/10