Director: Troy Duffy | Rated: R (violence) | Review date: 29-Dec-2009

It’s been a decade since the release of the cult-shooter favorite which has finally graced us with a sequel. When coming of college age, watching The Boondock Saints is almost a right of passage. When one finishes the movie, undoubtedly the phrase “they’ve gotta make a sequel” has always come about. But let’s take a look back shall we? Was the movie really that good, so good that it kept fans on the edge of their seats, spinning rumor mills about their dreams of a sequel becoming reality?

Watching it roughly five years after seeing it for the first time, it still holds its appeal. Stylized and glorified violence (warning to parents) smears the screen along with comedic dialogue and over the top characters. What never really stood out so much before was the comedy value this film has. Willem Dafoe by far steals the show, and it’s quite disappointing that he’s not in the sequel. Sean Patrick Flannery and Norman Reedus as the Irish brothers out to save the world from evil are a dynamic duo that convey a strong brotherly bond with the chemistry of a comedy troupe. David Della Rocco of course still provides the most laugh factor as the maniacal third wheel of the gang. And there’s Billy Connolly as Il Duce, the ultimate bad ass gunslinging old man, who still holds the status as one of the best movie hitmen in my book.

Yes, the original storyline and superb character acting in this film are well worth of the devout praise. One thing I couldn’t get off my mind this time around was how absolutely silly the crime bosses were. Though they provided a lot of the punch lines, it was hard to believe that anyone would take orders from these goons. Either way, that doesn’t detract the film’s greatness but rather ads to its memorable factor.

Director Troy Duffy obviously has a passion for this story as the Saints are currently the only movies he’s worked on to date. The Boondock Saints is a fresh take on the ultra-violent-pseudo-superhero crime genre that will be sure to still be a must see for any young adult for years to come. At the time of this writing, I have not yet seen the sequel, but I hope that Duffy’s heart was still in the film (it would be surprising if it wasn’t considering all he’s been through to get the film made) this time around – if so, then we’re in for another fantastical treat.

IMDb/trailer | Official site

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