ABOVE THE LAW/HARD TO KILL (DVD/DBFE) DVD

Above the Law
Martial arts hero Steven Seagal developed, co-wrote, co-produced, choreographed, and debuted in this thrill ride -- a cop film with more attitude, and more plot, than its star had duties on the set. Seagal is Nico Toscani, an Italian immigrant, American patriot, ex-CIA agent, aikido specialist, and unorthodox Chicago policeman. He is as committed to his job as he is to his personalized brand of justice: expert and thorough bone-crushing. When the FBI orders his squad to ignore the mysterious shipment of military explosives they seized from a notorious narcotics dealer, Nico defiantly pursues his own investigation. With the help of his partner Jax (Pam Grier), he sifts through a tangled web of Catholic priests, illegal immigrants, and trained assassins to uncover a drug cartel run directly out of the CIA by an official named Zagon Henry Silva. Nico remembers the man from his CIA days in Vietnam, when Zagon used the agency (and the war) as a front for smuggling opium. At the time, Nico was too outranked to thwart him, but he will no longer let Zagon abuse his position to remain immune from prosecution -- especially now that the official has plans to murder a U.S. senator. Zagon may be above the law of most men, but he is certainly not above Nico's. ~ Aubry Anne D'Arminio, All Movie Guide

Hard to Kill
Action star Steven Seagal crosses Rip Van Winkle with Clint Eastwood in this belabored revenge odyssey. Seagal plays L.A. Detective Mason Storm and, over the opening credits, Storm is seen busily eavesdropping on crooked politician Vernon Trent (William Sadler). Once he has the goods on Trent, Storm phones his partner Kevin O'Malley (Frederick Coffin) to report on his progress. Unfortunately, crooked cops in the same room pick up the extension phone and listen in, thereby dooming Storm. Soon killers show up at Storm's home and blow away Storm's wife Felicia (Bonnie Burroughs) and their young son. Storm himself is also assumed dead, but when he is taken to the hospital, he lapses into a coma. O'Malley spirits him away, and everyone else, for all intents and purposes, thinks Storm has died. Seven years later, under the tutelage of incredibly beautiful nurse Andy Stewart (Kelly LeBrock), Storm rises from his coma and plots his revenge. With the able assistance of Andy, Storm heads off on a killing spree, becoming (as one character describes him), "the most unstoppable sonuvabitch I ever met." ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Cast Steven Seagal as Nico Toscani Pam Grier as Delores Jackson Henry Silva as Zagon Ron Dean as Lukich Daniel Faraldo as Salvano Sharon Stone as Sara Toscani Nick Kusenko as Agent Neeley Joe V. Greco as Father Gennaro Chelcie Ross as Nelson Fox Thalmus Rasulala as Deputy Superintendent Crowder Steven Seagal as Mason Storm Kelly LeBrock as Andy Stewart Bill Sadler as Vernon Trent Frederick Coffin as Kevin O'Malley Bonnie Burroughs as Felicia Storm Branscombe Richmond as Max Quentero Zachary Rosencrantz as Sonny Storm

Crew Louis Mann - Art Director Gary Adelson - Co-producer Joel Simon - Co-producer Bill Todman, Jr. - Co-producer Bruce Malmuth - Director John F. Link - Editor Steven Seagal - Fights Choreographer David Michael Frank - Composer (Music Score) Robb Wilson King - Production Designer Matthew Leonetti - Cinematographer Jonathan Sheinberg - Producer Steven Seagal - Producer Lee Rich - Producer Michael Rachmil - Producer Buddy Joe Hooker - Stunts Steven McKay - Screenwriter Louis Mann - Art Director Gary Adelson - Co-producer Joel Simon - Co-producer Bill Todman, Jr. - Co-producer Bruce Malmuth - Director John F. Link - Editor Steven Seagal - Fights Choreographer David Michael Frank - Composer (Music Score) Robb Wilson King - Production Designer Matthew Leonetti - Cinematographer Jonathan Sheinberg - Producer Steven Seagal - Producer Lee Rich - Producer Michael Rachmil - Producer Buddy Joe Hooker - Stunts Steven McKay - Screenwriter

Above the Law
Hollywood heavyweight Michael Ovitz hoped to prove that he could make anyone a star by arranging a meeting between Warner Bros. and his aikido instructor, Steven Seagal. In fact, at 6'4", with a sixth degree black belt and an ego to match, the reasonably handsome Seagal already easily possessed the makings of a bankable action hero. Above the Law is the first movie to result from the actor's contract to make martial arts films for Warner Bros., its success setting the tone for a decade of Seagal flicks. Playing Chicago cop Nico Toscani, Seagal begins his reign as the skilled vigilante -- a man with the competence and the arrogance to defy rules in order to abolish crime. This is the motivation for each quick and impressive fight scene, as the actor swiftly pummels his way through the city's injustice. Above the Law also begins to outline Seagal's political and moral agendas -- exploring Vietnam, drugs, immigration, corruption, and spirituality. Such a broad plot makes the action film even more superficial, but it also allows for a large supporting cast to complement its star. Veteran actors Pam Grier and Henry Silva, along with a younger Sharon Stone, provide support and chemistry for the neophyte Seagal -- letting his heroic persona shine without too many theatrical slip-ups. ~ Aubry Anne D'Arminio, All Movie Guide
 

Hard to Kill
(not reviewed)
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, Spanish, French Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD1: Dolby Digital Mono DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel DDS2.0: Dolby Digital w/ 4 channels of sound from a 2-channel stereo mix. Additional Features: cc Above the Law: Full screen version Steven Seagal trailer gallery Languages: English & Español Subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only) Hard to Kill: Full screen version Steven Seagal trailer gallery Languages & subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only) DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard MPAA Rating: R DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 2 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 196 min   DVD Chapters: Disc #1, Side A -- Above the Law 1. Master Class [2:43] 2. Chem Interrogation [3:24] 3. Make You Disappear [2:31] 4. Christening Day [3:05] 5. Jax's Suitor [:56] 6. Bar Blast [4:27] 7. Surveillance [4:11] 8. Meat Market Mayhem [3:32] 9. Nico on Top [2:40] 10. Free to Go [2:07] 11. Questionable Order [2:20] 12. The Hiding Place [4:15] 13. Sunday Mass [4:51] 14. Salvano Connection [1:54] 15. Cleanup in 'Hood [5:25] 16. Under Arrest [3:49] 17. Suspension [2:00] 18. Intended Targets [3:29] 19. Ambush [3:07] 20. "I Wanna Be #1." [4:17] 21. A Killing Team [2:38] 22. Priest in Peril [6:15] 23. Officer Down [1:51] 24. Rapid Transit [3:19] 25. Lethal Pride? [1:39] 26. Heart-to-Heart [3:09] 27. Free-for-All [5:57] 28. Just for the Fun [2:29] 29. Kitchen Cleanup [1:11] 30. Personal Thanks [2:00] 31. Above Law No More [3:23] Disc #1, Side B -- Hard to Kill 1. Uncovered [5:00] 2. Liquor Store Show [4:26] 3. Prayers/Passion [4:41] 4. Ambush [3:18] 5. Dead...Not Long [4:10] 6. Nurse's Vigil [2:48] 7. The Awakening [3:18] 8. Death-Dealing Doc [7:12] 9. Escape [2:56] 10. The Country House [3:35] 11. Learn to Heal [1:45] 12. Gathering Strength [3:31] 13. Seeking O'Malley [2:48] 14. Night of Memories [3:13] 15. Martha's Apartment [2:04] 16. Superior Attitude [4:46] 17. Gunmen's Targets [7:41] 18. Lousy Job [2:02] 19. Hotel Storm Clouds [5:14] 20. O'Malley's Finale [3:16] 21. Chinatown Carnage [4:31] 22. Trent's House [1:45] 23. Losers at Pool [1:28] 24. Worse Than Death [2:15] 25. Taken to the Bank [5:06] 26. End Credits [2:36]