The Death And Life Of Bobby Z

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: November 17, 2007 (Japan)

DVD Release Date: June 13, 2007 (Poland) / September 4, 2007 (USA)

Plot 411: A convict is offered a deal that will give him his freedom if he impersonates a drug dealer.

Review: Paul Walker stars as Tim, a con who is serving time after a series of unfortunate circumstances. Gruzsa (Laurence Fishburne), a DEA agent, offers Tim a deal: pretend he is high-flying drug dealer Bobby Z (Jason Lewis) in order to swap places with a DEA agent being held hostage. However, at the exchange site things begin to unravel and alliances are questioned. Tim must continue the charade if he wants to live. But who can he trust? This is a grade B action flick that Walker and Fishburne should've passed on. Maybe times were tough and a gig is a gig? However, I seriously doubt that this movie helped either career. Walker is still toting his surfer boy accent, which is actually getting a bit irritating 10 years after Meet The Deedles. I'm just waiting for him to remake Point Break, which I do believe he would be perfect in. He can't be much worse than Keanu Reeves now can he?

Watch It: If you want to see cameos by some UFC fighters.

Skip It: Because Chuck Liddell is wasted way too fast.

Running Scared

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: February 24, 2006

DVD Release Date: June 6, 2006

Plot 411: A gun is stolen and a family's life is threatened.

Review: Joey (Paul Walker) runs with some rough guys. He's in charge of clean up when things go bad. While it's decent money, it's also dangerous. When a gun Joey's holding for insurance goes missing, he knows he's in big trouble. He needs to track the gun down and keep it from resurfacing because this gun has seen things. It's done things. And it's killed a cop. I gotta say that this is Walker's best performance ever. The intensely gritty role gives us a different look at this California surfer dude. It's tough to escape the type casting, especially if your first real role is in something like Meet The Deedles. I had high hopes for this guy to step into the role of the next big action/thriller star. Unfortunately, he's been a disappointment for the most part, but he's still hot. In this movie, he stretched his acting muscles and proved to be both believable and likeable despite toeing the line between good and bad. I also liked the pacing of this film because it always kept you interested. There never seemed to be a dull moment. Also in this movie are Chaz Palminteri, Vera Farmiga, Cameron Bright and Johnny Messner.

Watch It: For some good action sequences.

Skip It: If you're more into Guy Ritchie's style of storytelling.