Above the Law (1988)

Date	User	Rating
Jan 09	PetrosTser	40 _8th
"Above The Law" is not particularly bad, however it never quite hits its stride. The acting and action are mediocre, the dialogues are often cringey, the plot is cliched, but worst of all the writing and editing are really murky: the film doesn't bother to establish much or to execute proper transitions, and the results feel really cramped throughout. The criticism of CIA is a welcome theme, yet the resolution remains naive and the vigilante protagonist's moral high ground is at least debatable.
Mar 24, 2022	EastonD	50 _34th
who could have predicted that this balding thin martial arts master would one day rule hollywood. ebert said he was the next eastwood and that’s got to be the greatest compliment Clint ever received.
Aug 09, 2021	Karakand	55 _85th
If I said you can't make movies like this anymore, you might assume it was because of the knock-on effects in the collapse of retail DVD sales, but really I'm talking about movies that are critical of the CIA using actual activities they took part in. Zero Dark Thirty, releasing in theaters this fall!
Apr 18, 2021	wetwillies	60 _10th
Viewed April 16, 2021.
Jun 19, 2020	Antonio P	40 _46th
This was an ok movie.
Feb 14, 2018	Sweekoden	32 _17th
Skinny Seagal is kind of a trip, though not as much as him being shockingly proficient in Japanese. I'm not convinced "Sayonattasou" is an actual thing Japanese people say, but he definitely picked some stuff up during his martial arts days. His fights here are quick and brutal, but much of the focus is on political intrigue, and the film is nowhere near well written enough to make it work. Grier and Ross have the best characters, but they drop the ball on both of them. 14th film of 2018.
Sep 01, 2015	hakkanarejo	95 _63rd
Assassination plots, CIA covert operations and tough-as-nails action all come together in Steven Seagal's debut feature film. Nico not only introduces the viewing public to Seagal's brand of charisma but also to the Japanese martial art of Aikido.
Nov 28, 2013	LookJabba...	7 _57th
Above The Law is Steven Seagal's first film and my personnel favourite of his. It's by no means an action classic, but I absolutely loved it growing up. Seagal gives his first of many typecast performances, but he's great here as Nico Tasconi. Also Pam Grier is a worthy addition too but Sharon Stone is pretty useless. The aikido sequences are brilliant, the violent action sequences are lots of fun and the soundtrack is great also. Love or hate I am guilty of enjoying Seagal's early action films.
Apr 26, 2013	nuotio	47 _25th
Surprisingly serious debut from (surprisingly slim) Seagal. Also starring Pam Grier, Sharon Stone and Henry Silva. Effeciently directed by Davis but the film lacks that special something that would lift it to the ranks of better 80's action films.
Jun 05, 2012	nilkynarfy	60 _48th
Better than it has any right to be, thanks to the cringe-inducing fight scenes (in the "skateboard video blooper reel" way, not the Cannon Films way). I also liked that it had stupid political content I agree with-- it's an 80's action flick for liberals, but it's still as laughably reductionist as its norrisian counterparts. Oh, Pam Grier and Michael Rooker are in it too, so it gets a credibility bonus to its saving throw vs. suck.
Feb 26, 2012	Talvitie	53 _18th
15 minutes before the end of the movie I was bored and waiting the thing just stop. There's few good action scenes and Seagal is vulnerable in this movie. That means that he isn't God like and he gets his ass kicked... a little. Just average shit.
Feb 08, 2012	Paxton	68 _53rd
Sharon Stone and Pam Grier? Rooker and Silva? I'm going to have rewatch this.
Sep 28, 2011	crimsonking	40 _11th
The acting is so bad it's funny, the fighting keeps it entertaining though.....They should change the genre to comedy :)
Jul 29, 2011	kingofjew	66 _18th
Semi enjoyable action movie. One of the first of seagals endless action flicks. Because of the semi decent director we get a semi decent scripted, semi decent acted,and semi decent edited movie with some memorable scenes. If in the mood for an slightly above average action movie, put this shit on.
Jul 17, 2011	Noblet	43 _17th
Acceptable compared to other Seagal films, but only because in this one he has a normal, human sized head.
Jul 11, 2011	nauru	13 _9th
Terrible film. The action is forgettable and so are the characters. No development of Sharon Stone's character or Pam Grier's, despite the fact that they are the two most capable members of the cast. Give this one a miss.
Apr 08, 2011	yawkcorb	87 _68th
What can I say? I am a huge Seagal fan
Feb 20, 2011	FrankHowley	5 _0th
The most boring action movie I have ever seen.
Jan 22, 2011	bowfinger	55 _47th
in the 80s, this was a great watch, no?
Jan 22, 2011	Joelius	24 _27th
Decent not memorable.
Sep 24, 2010	hellboy76	61 _28th
Maybe Seagal's best work.
Jul 19, 2010	Broodfath3r	60 _54th
the best movie steven has ever made IMO.....
Dec 30, 2009	Ofterdingen	65 _65th
The best director Seagal ever worked with made his best movie. Leaner, meaner and way more serious then the rest of the bunch.
Nov 04, 2009	CitizenX	45 _38th
better than the other seagal movies i know
Sep 03, 2009	county_hell	80 _78th
Ah! Now, here's a classic. Make no mistake, this is not a good film, but it does rank as one of my favorite "bad" movies. Especially amusing is the movie's attempt at heady political commentary by pointing out the CIA's use of war and drugs to line the pockets of politicos. Still, Segal was a fresh take on the martial arts genre, since he use of "aikido" was different from the styles of Norris, Lee, etc.
Dec 01, 2008	teecee	33 _42nd
Denne action-skinke startede hans lange, for lange karriere som machoguy - i denne udgave endnu frisk og passende til tiden
Nov 18, 2008	MJVmovieMan	60 _31st
A modest debut for the action star. Not much going for it other than his few scenes of throwing people around. For its time I'm sure it worked much better.
Jun 26, 2008	jrc123	55 _30th
An extra 5 points for the name of the main character.
Mar 13, 2008	Pickpocket	5 _44th
lol
Mar 09, 2008	caocao	71 _62nd
Some good old 80's action, where realism and believability take a back seat to the guns, kicks and explosions.
Sep 17, 2007	Dustyd	55 _30th
not bad
Aug 30, 2007	fyngyrz	8 _24th
Good martial arts.
Aug 24, 2007	st_fly	13 _16th
ok
Aug 14, 2007	TripleSH	41 _26th
The only thing to compare this to is other Steven Seagal films, and sadly, there are better Steven Seagal films that this. Not even Sharon Stone can lift this one up to a reasonable level.
Aug 14, 2007	SpiderCrusoe	30 _17th
It seemed liked they tried, so I gave this some extra points.
May 23, 2007	Kain424	45 _19th
Fight scenes are pretty sweet though...
Apr 02, 2007	Stain	60 _47th
Seagal's least bad film. The preachiness that would damage other films doesn't work, exactly, but sets this movie apart from the usual mean-spirited action garbage
Mar 06, 2007	lonercm	80 _43rd
Seagal's debut, not half bad thanks to Seagal's surprisingly good performance and convincing, unique (at the time) fight scenes (witness his shocking physical decline between this film and now). Andrew Davis' direction is crisp and lean, and Henry Silva makes for a great villain.

Average Percentile 33.03% from 599 Ratings