Grade: C | Genre: Drama/Action Summary: Assault on Precinct 13 is definitely an unlucky number for the old police station as well for those involved with the film. Filled with talent, Assault on Precinct 13 under utilizes the resources it was given and has us struggling to stay awake. It's New Year's Ever and Precinct 13's last night of operation. The city is underneath mounds of snow, and the late night crew is working their last shift before the old police station is retired forever. Across town, crime boss Marian Bishop (Lawrence Fishburne) has been arrested and is on route to be transferred to a maximum security holding cell along with three other prisoners. However, due to inclimate weather, the transport unit must make a detour to, of all places, good ol' Precinct 13 where the pipes are leaking and the hinges are rusted. Outside, a specially trained unit of gunmen has begun to infiltrate the station in order to bust Bishop out of holding...or are they?

Sgt. Jake Roenick (Ethan Hawke) is a burnt out undercover detective still feeling the effects of a bust gone terribly wrong. He has yet to get over losing both members of his team and has been content to hide behind desk assignment ever since. Joined by veteran officer, Jasper O'Shea (Bran Dennehy), and buxom secretary, Iris Ferry (Drea De Matteo), the three spend the last night of the year closing up shop before moving into their new digs. Meanwhile, Marian Bishop and the other inmates are on their way for a temporary layover until the weather subsides. Upon arrival, they are immediately locked up in their cells as the officers countdown the new year together.

Assault on Precinct 13 Starring: Ethan Hawke, Lawrence Fishburne, Gabriel Byrne, Drea De Matteo, Brian Dennehy, Ja Rule, John Leguizamo, Maria Bello, and Aisha Hinds Director: Jean-François Richet BUYOR RENT IT NOW! You may also like... Training Day Collateral Email this article to a friend

A remake of John Carpenter's 1976 film of the same name, Assault on Precinct 13 left much to be desired...like some excitement to keep my eyes open. Precinct doesn't introduce us to anything new, which isn't necessarily always a bad thing. The problem is that you're not interested in the characters or the story. You don't really care whether Bishop survives because he is after all a criminal whom you know won't ever change his ways. Lawrence Fishurne seems to have gotten too comfortable playing Morpheus from The Matrix and resurrects his trademark character for Precinct. This time around, his chosen one isn't Neo, but Ethan Hawkes' Jake Roenick who doesn't add much more life to the film than Kee-nu did for The Matrix. The redeeming points of the film are the undervalued inmates (John Leguizamo, Ja-Rule, and Aisha Hinds) that unfortunately get caught in the middle of the mess...and I'm not talking about the gunfire of the film.

Assault on Precinct 13 is definitely an unlucky number for the old police station as well as for those involved with the film. Filled with talent, Assault of Precinct 13 under utilizes the resources it was given and has us struggling to stay awake. Check it out for yourself.