The Mechanic: Resurrection Film

With 7 trailers prior to the Main presentation (Rogue One, The Great Wall, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, The Magnificent Seven, Morgan, Blair Witch and Hacksaw Ridge).

Running time of 99 minutes. Rated R. Genre is Suspense/Thriller and Action/Adventure.
Available in Dolby Digital.
Shot in the 1.85:1 ratio using Digital Intermediate process with Red Epic and Red Scarlet cameras.

Now that you’ve seen the trailer, you’re probably expecting me to…

It’s pretty straight-forward plot, if you’ve seen The Mechanic (2010), also starring Jason Statham and Ben Foster, with Donald Sutherland. Most of the Producers are the same people from the previous film. The screenwriters are different, however.

• To test your film-ology, Charles Bronson and Jan-Michael Vincent starred in a 1972 version of The Mechanic, with a different ending than the 2010 version. In the 1972 version, Bronson’s character sets the bomb to go off for Vincent’s character, but both characters end up getting killed. Whereas in the 2010 re-boot, the Movie Viewer doesn’t know how it’s going to end. Statham’s character also sets the bomb, and Ben Foster’s character is warned by the note. Which he laughs as the bomb goes off. But, Arthur Bishop walks away.
• Plot-wise, there is a notation from one of my viewers that Mechanic: Resurrection bears similarity to Killer Elite (2011), where Mr. Statham’s character must complete “the Job” in order to save his girl and make it look accidental in the process. I haven’t viewed this film, so I couldn’t tell you.

The tie-in between The Mechanic (2010) and The Mechanic Resurrection is our Hero, Arthur Bishop, and our Main Bad Guy, Rich Crain. There are two females, Gina Thornton (Jessica Alba) and Mei (Michelle Yeoh), who affect our Hero.

• Revenge and Vengeance are 2 major themes. And how Arthur intends to go about getting it.
• Saving and doing the right thing for Gina and Max Adams.
• Ultimately, destroying the Bad Guys, and making the world a better place (New Society Formed).

Because “Revenge is a dangerous business.” & Jason Statham *still* rocks the role!

Seriously, it’s pretty good stuff, so much that the Audience who attended the viewing with me, just sat there & awed at the Action sequences.

Everything was good: Underwater photography, Costumes, Storyline (strong characters with strong reasons), Weaponry/Armory, Martial arts (hand-to-hand combat), and superb Diving! Plus, the usual helicopters, automobiles and boats. Set in remote locations (Prison on Penjara Isle, Penang, Malaysia; 58-story building in Downtown Sydney, Australia; Secured location in Varna, Bulgaria).

Absolutely loved Mr. Statham’s work in a wetsuit and bare feet. He is *very* fit for this role.

Great casting of Ms. Alba for her sexy real female role, as well as Mr. Jones as an International Firearms dealer.

“Is it as good as the first one?”

Oh yea! It delivers The Mechanic Formula, with even more difficult assignments than the first film. Involving impenetrable security in remote locations.

The Opening Sequence is good, almost like the Bond films should be. Short, sweet, with plenty of action. And, Arthur doesn’t miss this time!

The Backstory is explained, and the reason why Arthur has been “volunteered” for the 3 assignments. This sets the tone and the Central Conflict. Rich Crain and the Hero were orphans, and while Arthur was able to escape, Rich was not. So, fast forward to present day. Apart from the Hero being pulled into his Mechanic’s world again, the Inciting Incident is Heroine Gina and Frank fighting on Frank’s boat. Mei begs Arthur to stop them (“It’s not my business.”), “otherwise I will.”

After our Hero saves the roughened-up girl, the Sex Scene is delivered quite tastefully. The use of The Watch remains a continuous theme from the previous film (“I’ll keep it safe”), and the backstory explains its importance.

Side note: the Females are getting tougher today. Gina hits, groin kicks, scraps and can handle being shot in the mid-section from the Bad Guys, so it shows that she can take more than just a few punches. (Jane Bond anyone?) To move the plot along and the Ticking Bomb, she and our Hero have a Video Chat, once each assignment has been completed to Crain’s satisfaction (“Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!”).

1. Assignment #1 – Krill who lives and runs the impenetrable Malaysian prison. Arthur saves his life from one of Krill’s former employees, who tries to kill Krill inside the Prison Yard. By saving Krill’s life, he invites Arthur to dinner. While cooking dinner, Arthur makes the death look accidental (“Shh, let him pray”).

2. Assignment #2 – Adrian Cook, who lives inside a top story fortress in Downtown Sydney, Australia. This is a great assignment! How does he make the death appear “accidental”? The Movie Poster is derived from this scene. And it delivers!

3. Assignment #3 – Max Adams, who lives in Varna, Bulgaria (“and this third one won’t look like an Accident”). When these 2 characters meet, it’s funny, as Max exclaims “You D.A.’s, you locked me in here with him” (inside the Panic Room). Arthur decides to fake Max’s death, as he’s just figured out that Crain is using Arthur to eliminate *his* competition for the International Firearms market.

The Movie Viewer is treated to the Mechanic gone Mobile, since he has no place to live (he blew up his boat in the Opening Sequence). It’s nice to see that he’s able to have computer access, paper journal sketches and wallmaps, instead of from operating within his Secret Lair, like in the first film.

As you’d expect, the Ending delivers! Bad Guys are dead, Hero & Heroine are reunited, New Society is formed (Mei is left to manage her Thailand village).

Will Max Adams be a returning character?

• Filmed on location in Varna, Bulgaria; Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand; Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; various parts of Thailand; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• On-set location in Nu Boyana Film Studios, Sofia, Bulgaria.
• I wanted to thank the 2 female A.D.’s from the 2^nd Unit Film Team. Ladies, you rock the lens!

• Produced by 16 producers, with David Winkler (who also produced The Mechanic 2010), utilizing 4 production companies (Millennium Films, Lionsgate, Chartoff Winkler and Nu Boyana).
• Directed by Dennis Gansel.
• Screenplay by Philip Shelby and Tony Mosher. Other writing credits include Rachel Long and Brian Pittman. Based upon the characters created by Lewis John Carlino, who wrote the story & screenplay for The Mechanic (2010).
• Music by Mark Isham. Excellent score again, which is a keeper from The Mechanic.
• Cinematography by Daniel Gottschalk.

Thank you to all departments for making this film happen! Film editing, Casting, Production design, Art direction, Sets, Costumes, Makeup, Production management, 2^nd Unit, Art department, Sound department, Sfx units (Bulgaria, Thai), Visual efx, Stunt department (great job, usually taken for granted in a film of this size!), Camera and electrical, Wardrobe, Editorial, Location management, Music department, Transportation, Other departments (Marine coordination, PA’s, Catering, Security, Armory, Firearms training).

Production costs of $40 million.

Theatrical distribution in all parts of the world (Austria, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Portugal, Russia, UK, Ireland, Poland, USA, Vietnam, Belgium, France, Hungary, Netherlands, Singapore, Bulgaria, Estonia, Croatia, Republic of Macedonia, Argentina, Italy, Japan, Brazil). I’m not sure when the Canadian theatrical release date is.

As always, see the film and be your own judge. Until the next one, Pam