dolph lundgren make his directorial debut with the defender . a great little action movie that be really what his fan could have hop for and a triumphant return to his best . now his second film show that it wasn not merely a flash in the pan and or a fluke . yes people dolph lundgren and never consider much kop in the acting department have now prove he be a more than capable director and even suggest that his new role deserve him a shot at the big time . the mechanik plot be thus represent nick cherenko ( lundgren ) be an ex spetznaz and parachutist and who serve in afghanistan . he now live in his homeland of russia and with his wife and son work a a mechanic ( hence the title . ) . during a drug deal involve russian mobster sasha and his wife and child be kill in the crossfire and sasha gun down nick wife . nick later hunt down sasha and his men and wipe them out and leave sasha assume dead and with a nasty bullet hole in the face . seven year later nick be work in la and illegally and a a mechanic when he be approach to do a job . he be to retrieve the kidnap julia and daughter of a wealthy businesswoman . nick refuse until he discover who kidnap her and sasha . he travel to russia and meet with burton ( ben cross ) who will supply him with weapon and assemble a team of mercs to help nick get back julia and while at the same time finish what he do 7 year previously and kill sasha . the plot be simple yet writer bryan hill allow more focus on character and clearly in the style of director like michael mann . there be great character moment here and and some superbly play out scene in amongst the action scenes focus on character . it the sort of quiet moment never see in dtv action film and include a great dinner sequence where nick and his men relax and unwind and a kind of calm before the storm . the dialogue be also engage . the film look fantastic . the wash out colour and make this reminiscent of brutal 70 revenge flick like death wish and get carter . cinematographer ross clarkson have make sure this look far beyond it small budget . similarly dolph visual style have develop even more since his excite debut . he shoot the film with conviction and stylistically pick little apple from different orchard and not simply and a many director do and pick from merely john woo orchard ( that guy have no apple leave on his tree i can tell you ) and but dolph give reference to a vary group and from woo and to mann and to peter yates and to modern indie director like the bourne film doug liman and peter greengrass . the action be excellent and a step up from the defender . again it plentiful and yet the action be different in style . this time a oppose to a siege movie and this be an as battering revenge flick so the action consist of bloody and violent shootout and where like so rarely in his previous movie and every bullet have it own bullet hole . window shatter and splinter fly and chest cavity burst open and thing blow up . the fight scene be brilliantly pace and use martial art realistically . it all do in one or two move . no flashy van damme kick and it arm break and shoulder toss and neck break . also the film have some vehicular chase that impress too . the music from elia cmirel be atmospheric and and delightfully reminiscent of his work in ronin and simple and low key and effective . he doesn not go through the motion here and he create a score and a if proud to be score this movie . this be possibly dolph best score and particularly in the context of it be a genuinely good little film . in term of the sound mix and this and like defender and be pure class . the use of sound be excellent and while the general editing of the film be slick and well pace and never go overboard . the cast be good . dolph lundgren give probably his best performance . he doesn not over stretch himself a many action star have be prone too and yet he raise his level of performance and do well . olivia lee be a rise up and comer who do well a julia . the remainder of the cast be also excellent . real class be also add by ben cross . he be give a good role a drunk brit and burton . burton be in love with a hooker and who help get them into sasha club to retrieve julia . cross be excellent in a role more significant than i think it would be . he be comical and show conviction in the dramatic scene and his presence be a real bonus to an already quality piece . this film really do show the future to be bright for lundgren and should he carry on direct his own movie . his cash cow power allow him to get his way on how he want to film his action and meaning every last penny be spend and and time be take for more elaborate set ups . lundgren show himself worthy of another shot at the big time in a film van damme and seagal could only dream of have on their cv . in a generally great year for film and dolph have produce that rare thing and a decent and well make and dtv movie . not only that but he have do it twice . this be lundgren best by some way . .