King of New York

Plot:  A former drug lord returns from prison determined to wipe out all his competition and distribute the profits of his operations to New York's poor and lower classes in this stylish and ultra violent modern twist on Robin Hood.

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writer:

Nicholas St. John

Stars:

Christopher Walken, David Caruso, Laurence Fishburne

This is nothing like Robin Hood.  Christopher Walken plays a bad motherfucker and he is out for revenge.  When the police decide that they are tired of the red tape, the violence escalates into an all out fire fight. 

This is a particularly interesting movie because it has Laurence Fishburne in it when he as young.  Known best from his portayal as a wise leader from The Matrix trilogy, it's cool to see him with a personality and acting like a crazy gang member.

Overall, this isn't a stellar film but it's certainly cool and memorable.  If you like 80's gangster movies this is well worth a watch.  But for the average movie goer, it's not recommended.  It's too slow and there isn't enough action.  It's old school, and it doesn't compare with newer, more slick action films like Training Day.  But it does remind me of Serpico and The Deer Hunter in an odd way.  It's compared to Carlito's Way by IMDB, and while I never got that feel from the movie, the idea behind the plots are similar.

3/5 STARS