OPINION: Why Crank 2 Is More Than Just An Action Film...

It's a balls-to-the-wall game changer.

First, let me get this off my chest. I am unabashidly in love with Crank. Simply put, it's one of the best action films of the past 10 years. The story was interesting, it was visually fun, and most importantly, was more kinetic than a SpikeTV high speed chase. It is easily one of my favorite all-time action films, and is one of the biggest guilty pleasures in the DVD collection of yours truly. However, Crank: High Voltage looks to make much more of a statement, not in message, but in medium.

While the first film had a distinct style, as the trailers have shown, the style is amped up to 11, and how you all may be asking? Well, with equipment that you all can run out to your local Best Buy and pick up.

Crank: High Voltage will be the first narrative film to be released in a wide release, shot entirely on consumer grade cameras. What exactly does that mean? Well, instead of taking a 35mm camera and shooting their action film with those clunky machines, the directors, Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, have decided to strap on their 3000$ Canon XH-A1 HD pro-sumer cameras that simply use a mini-dv tape to record.

Now sure, while some of you may be asking, why should I care to see a film shot on something I could go buy? Well, this picture should answer your silly question.


(Thanks to The Movie Blog for the photo)

Well, all I'm really attempting to get across with this post is that this may be something huge. Not box office wise, not at this very moment, but along with film makers like Steven Soderbergh and David Lynch (two very different directors from Neveldine/Taylor), Neveldine/Taylor are attempting to push the medium forward. Some try to make more low key, character based dramas with their digital cameras, bringing out the truth and reality in the frame, while some simply want to get as close as they can to a guy getting punched in the throat. I'm not saying this film will be the greatest thing ever made, but this is a sign. Things will change, and this may be the first step.

So, please, this weekend, if it is for Jason Statham, for a brainless action film, or for the directors of the film, give Crank: High Voltage a shot. You may not have more fun in the theatre.

Go see something good!