Angel of Death (2009)

Slightly entertaining episodic fiction, supps give it a higher rate
I had not watched the original web series or read the comic so I guess that makes me a non-fan/follower. On its own this would be a standard slice and fight film but with a very agile and capable action gal. Instead they included a plethora of supplements that help give this entire package a higher rating. Actually, I had ordered this because of Doug Jones as I am one of those behind-the-scenes kind of supporters and he is another one of those guys that no one knows but has been seen by everybody (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, Doom, etc.).

You have a standard (and completely unbelievable in the beginning) story of a hit woman turning the tables and killing all of those she worked for in the past. This change of heart stems from having a 12" blade stuck in her brain, but hey - this is entertainment not reality. The stunts are good, the film look is average to grainy throughout, and the acting painful at times. But what makes this (especially for the fans) are the special...

Tough Thriller
I didn't know anything about Ms Bell before I watched this movie. While I agree with some of the critics that occaisionally her acting skills lapse, there's no doubting her abilities as an action hero, right down to the Bruce Willis style singlet. I found some of the tough fight scenes difficult to stomach, they may not be real but they "felt" damn realistic to me.
The storyline mixes up the vengeance/vendetta themes of similar movies in a clever way, and I liked the central character's response to her own feelings about the terrible things she had done. I originally gave this 3 stars, but after reflection I think it's worth 4, despite a few short comings in the lead's performance.

The Best DTV Movie Compiled of Episodes of a Web Series You'll Ever See
"Angel of Death" is, indeed, a movie collected from episodes of an action/crime show that aired exclusively online. Luckily enough, this isn't a fact that you need to dwell on while you're watching the film: unlike other 'movies' compiled from TV episodes - like The Crow - Stairway To Heaven or a number of "Walker, Texas Ranger" features - "Angel of Death" feels pretty much like a real film on its own, without intentional restraints on story progression and individual scenes. Got it? Good. Now we can focus on the other things it is - a very good solo debut for stuntwoman Zoe Bell, the real heroine behind Lucy Lawless in Xena and Uma Thurman in Kill Bill.

The story: Eve (Bell) is the archetypal assassin - deadly, efficient, and utterly remorseless - but when a...

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