Synopsis:
A high-octane action film featuring 90’s movie heroes, explosive action and international espionage, Vigilante Diaries revolves around a team of black-ops agents turned crime-fighters led by a brooding anti-hero known only as “The Vigilante.” Missions of rescue and revenge take us from the mega-mansions and underbelly of Los Angeles to far away places like Iraq, Armenia, Russia, and the United Kingdom to introduce us to a cast of colorful, dangerous, and hilarious characters – Beverly Hills filmmaker Mike Hanover (Jason Mewes), a trio of Asian femme fatales, ruthless Armenian mobsters, and at the top, a pair of deep cover super spies hell bent on throwing the world into chaos.
What We Thought:
Vigilante Diaries is a pretty solid action flick. I would have liked more Michael Jai White in it, but that’s because I like him a lot.
The film is written by and stars Paul Sloan who I’m keeping on my radar. He’s been around for a while, but with films like this and I Am Wrath, another film he wrote and stars in, Sloan could become a big name in lower budget action videos. He’s the vigilante in this and I thought he was really good.
The film is about a vigilante trying to do good before getting captured himself. Jason Mewes (of Jay & Silent Bob fame) is a filmmaker that follows the vigilante around showing the world what he’s doing. When the vigilante gets captured, his friends and allies get together to find him. Of course there’s twists and a surprise to who’s really doing everything, but I won’t spoil that.
I’ve always enjoyed lower to mid level budget, straight-to-video type action films. I have a collection of them with names like Dolph Lundgren, Vinnie Jones, Randy Couture, etc. This definitely fits the collection. Michael Madsen and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson also star in the movie. Having a soft spot for movies like The Package, Ambushed, and Blood of Redemption certainly helps my enjoyment of this.
The film also has some cool visuals. Because Mewes’ character films everything, you get visuals like in a video game or something you’d see online. It gives it an authentic feel. It’s not overly done or constant which was smart. Sometimes they bog down films with visuals when you’re watching it for the action in the first place.
The Blu-ray looks really good. Action sequences are crisp and clear and the visuals look cool. Audio has easy to hear dialogue and good sound quality for the fighting and guns. Bonus features consist of behind the scenes.
If you like any of the films or actors I’ve mentioned then you’ll definitely like Vigilante Diaries. It’s something I’d watch again and I will definitely keep my eye on Paul Sloan. I know some people don’t like these films, but I also know a lot who do. Myself and Asst. Editor Rocky Maxwell own a stockpile of them and this will definitely look good in the collection. Because of all that, it is…
RECOMMENDED!
Bonus Features:
- Vigilante Diaries: Behind the Scenes
Cast & Crew:
- Michael Madsen
- Michael Jai White
- Jason Mewes
- Quinton Jackson
- Paul Sloan
Recommended If You Like:
- Gridlocked
- I Am Wrath
- Action Flicks
The Nerds Templar 