Crank

Ich sage es gleich am Anfang: Ohne das Telefon-Finale hätte Crank ein Boo! bekommen. Warum bin ich so unbarmherzig? Der Film hat einen ausgezeichneten Gedanken, er basiert auf einer wirklich originellen Idee (das muss man wirklich schätzen). Warum wurde er aber so… Ähm… Kastriert gedreht? Ich mag Statham, er stellt seine harten Kerle glaubwürdig dar. Hier hatte ich aber ein Riesenproblem mit ihm. Sein Gesichtsausdruck, der während des ganzen Films gleich blieb, hat mich unglaublich genervt. Seine Bemühungen, um jeden Preis stinksauer auszusehen, waren eigentlich peinlich. Normalerweise habe ich auch nichts gegen Schimpfwörter und Gewalt. Es muss aber einen Zweck haben. Hier gab es für 90 % der Schießereien, der Sexualkontakte auf der Straße, der Erektionen usw. keinen Grund. Crank ist ein eindeutiger B-Movie. Er ist dynamisch und schwungvoll – am Anfang kommt er in Gang und bleibt erst nach anderthalb Stunden stehen. Er ist aber schrecklich leer und wird nach einer halben Stunde sehr langweilig. (08.04.2010)

A visually overstuffed directorial debut that lacks a more distinctive narrative style and drowns its original theme in plagiarized action sequences that surprise no one. Statham is once again cool, but slowly but surely his single expression starts to become an awkward pose that becomes annoying towards the end. The film is pulled out of absolute mediocrity by a few wonderfully incorrect black-humor gems (the bird in the cage, sex by the mailbox), but why not admit it: (spoiler!) classic clips die just like the hero of the film - he tries his best, but he’s on his way underground just like everyone else. (28.11.2006)

Revelation. A brilliantly crazy and absurd affair with divine action and tons of one-liners. Crank will make you laugh, charge you with energy, and not break a sweat while doing it. Jason Statham as Chev Chelios found his perfect role, and whether it revolves around his girlfriend or slimy villains, I can't believe what the script can come up with. And the wild action, taken to unimaginable extremes, is the reason why I recommended this little treat to even action-hungry viewers. It sent shivers down my spine, and I happily smiled that someone served me scenes on a silver platter that I've always wanted to see. The fact that Neveldine and Taylor clearly went crazy before shooting the second installment is a different story, albeit a very sad one even after many years. (03.11.2006)

Crank is an adrenaline rush like we haven’t seen in a long time. The action here is really non-stop and the ideas of the director duo Neveldine/Taylor know no bounds. All the elements they use in the film are maximized, and Jason Statham, in the role that suits him best, is a great powerhouse of the whole movie. In some places, however, the plot is exaggerated and illogical but it's worth it for the entertainment... The camera shakes, the sirens blare, and Chev Chelios settles his last bill. (31.10.2006)

Crank has a huge advantage in its frantic pace, thanks to which many flaws will whizz past you. It's a movie obviously tailored to Jason Statham, and although it's a debut, even for a small budget, the filmmakers really do amazing things within the ninety-minute running time. Everything is supposed to be terribly "cool"; but while sometimes it is really cool, it's often trying to be so "cool" that it's ridiculous. The creators definitely have great ideas (they probably (used to) play GTA quite a lot) and it’s clear that even within the B-movie category, there can still be originality. (12.01.2007)