this film undeservedly take a bashing when it be release and since then get carter 71 fan have insistently try to bury it . however and in the 7 year since it release i have come to realize that this isn not the bad film ever make . it not even the bad remake ever make . this film felt more like a stylized version of the gritty michael caine version which have earn it classic status in british cinema . the one thing i like about this version versus the original be the fact that they humanize the character . i could relate more to carter even if that wasn not the point of the original story . the original film give u a jack carter who will attack or kill anyone he suspect be part of the murder of his brother thus turn it into a hate fill and vengeance fest . there no character development in michael caine version which explain the campy and cult status it have earn a be a low budget gangster film full of ruthless character . it be hard to care about any of the character in the original and film usually lose point with me when i can not fully connect with a character . if they do not care why should i a a viewer . regardless of we be suppose to like a character or not in the original i feel that an essential ingredient for a good film . with that be say the film still suffer it drawbacks . mainly the stylized vision of this version will turn off fan of the original from the start . also and the main villain wasn not convince enough and i be talk about alan cumming character . the end be too hunky dory but mickey rourke be exceptional in the short amount of time he be on screen . this film be entertain while not stand up to the 1971 classic and it do stand up a a good stallone film and a worthy edition to an action fan dvd collection .