Such a frustrating disappointment

Don't listen to the negative reviews

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

This film is not your time. It's not even good as a time-waster. Segal really phones it in, or not, I can't even tell. At times it is so very over-the-top Segal, but painfully so. If someone dies, they have to die in the most stupid way imaginable. The main bad guy is killed by a gun through the eye, not a bullet, but a Ruger Mk. III in his eye-socket. A Ruger Mk. III with at least 4 bullets remaining in the magazine. A Ruger Mk. III that magically replaces the much higher calibered Makarov pistol that the big bad Russian boss carries in the beginning of the final battle. It's not a good film, but if you have low standards and some time to waste, go for it!

I agree with some commentator who suggests that The Sony's day is over. This film is better than many Seagal's DVD-films under Sony's era. Driven to Kill (or Ruslan in my country's cable TV) doesn't cheat us by put another film's footage or make a suck cinematography. Action scenes are OK at one point, the crew use Seagal's unique action style "Get up and fight with me!" which Seagal tortures his enemy until they die in very simply way. (like one shot to death, or stab through the heart) However, some action is too long and looks boring to me.I think the cast has a little problem. Dmitry Chepovetsky questions me for his role as Stephan. He should have more role in the movie even the movie try to deceive us that he maybe the mastermind behind the murder. (I admit that I think too much because I watch maybe plot-twisting movie!) Not only that but also Dmitry's look which is corny and like a jerk. Can you be more realistic? By the way, Igor Jijikine is OK for his villain role, his face tease me but I think they try to make the boss character's imposing.In the overall, the film looks raw and barbaric in action scenes and normal scene. I surprised when I saw Robert Wisden (As Terry Goldstein) slap Catherine (Inna Korobkina) for no reason. I think this is very unnecessary scene. That's so important? Do the crew try to make him looks asshole? OK every men like him is asshole, but I think it is too much. By the way, the plot is doubtful in some point. How the characters in the film connect? If I don't find the further information, I will not understand the movie! Finally, Driven to Kill is better than many Seagal's DVD movie. I understand Seagals' attempt to make the movie. He is not the first-class Hollywood star likes in the past, but he try to do everything that he can does well which is filming. The movie is barbaric but if you don't care and you are Seagal's fan. It's OK for you.

Recently, I was reading a review of another Steven Seagal movie, and in it the reviewer commented to the effect that it was just the same as his other movies. Watching "Driven To Kill", I got the same feeling. Oh sure, there are a few minor changes, like making Seagal a Russian (which leads to some unintentional hilarity, hearing Seagal's wheezy and pause-filled whisper doing a bogus accent.) But with the rest of the movie, you will see nothing new. Seagal is still fat, and he continues to wear heavy coats to mask his weight, and is mostly filmed from the chest up. (There is a very funny moment when we see him run for several seconds - he can barely do it.) It should probably come as no surprise that there aren't that many martial arts moments here compared to his early films, and they are rapidly edited and filled with shots of what appear to be doubles doing his work. The gun battle scenes are also equally hard to make out as well. The general production values (cinematography, set decoration, etc.) are passable, and that's about all that's positive I can say about this.

Driven to Kill(aka Ruslan) is the latest Steven Seagal film.Like all his other films for the past 7 years, this is once again a straight to DVD feature.Now by hearing this, you would not expect much after seeing that the majority of the newer Seagal films suck.However there are a few exceptions such as "Urban Justice", "Pistol Whipped" and this film, which in my opinion is not only his best straight to DVD film, but it ranks up there with his classics from the 90's.The acting is not all that great, and I did not find Seagal to be that bad of an actor back in his "Under Siege" days.Here, he sports a semi-Russian accent which is not very convincing.The acting from the others, especially the Russian mobster is fairly good though.The film is about a retired Russian mobster, who is now a novelist.After his wife is killed and his daughter is injured in an assassination of sorts, Seagal reverts back to his old ways and tries to find out who did this.The plot may not be the best but the most important thing about Seagal films is the action! In this category, it does not disappoint.I'm actually surprised it was Rated 14A in Canada because this is easily one of Seagal's bloodiest films.We also see Seagal use aikido again, as in we see him breaking people bones! Any fan of Seagal should check this movie out!