Edge Of Darkness: B-

Edge of Darkness could essentially be titled "Mel Gets Mad V." We've seen Mel as the righteously pissed off warrior out for justice and out for blood more times than we can count. But he always brings just enough of a hard edged some might say masochistic twist to the proceedings as it seems the only way to get this guy fired up is to let him wallow in agony.

Here Mel is a Boston police officer who sees his only child gunned down on his front porch right in front of him. Now his daughter may or may not be invovled in some shady dealings involving a powerful defense contractor and government corruption.

And after a little staring at the wall with his dead daughter's blood still all over him, Mel decides to act. Now Director Martin Campbell is able to put together a very tightly constructed thriller. There's lots of dark alleys, underground meetings, and Mel beating people up to get them to talk. But to be honest Mel doesn't kick as much ass here as the trailers make him out to.
Most of the time its a flash of violence that shocks you out of your seat, and then its over and Mel's back looking for more clues. The big bloody climax is appropriately action packed, but it tended to drag a little in between Mel's encounters.

And on a side note, Danny Huston needs to get himself a new agent. He's played the shadowy government type one too many times, and his very presence lets the whole audience know that he's up to something and he's gonna get his ass kicked by mel by the end.

Edge of Darkness: B-