Ads · Polar Reviews
Search results
Polar (2019) | Rotten Tomatoes. TRAILER. List. Netflix. Watch Polar with a subscription on Netflix. An action thriller starring Mads Mikkelsen as the world's most dangerous assassin should be...
- (50)
- Mads Mikkelsen
- Jonas Akerlund
- Constantin Film
Jan 25, 2019 · Based on the graphic novel Polar: Came from the Cold, “Polar” stars Mads Mikkelsen as Duncan Vizla, who is just about to retire from his career as the world’s most skilled and deadly international assassin. This is not necessarily his choice but the shadowy organization that he works for makes it a policy of not employing anyone beyond ...
Jan 25, 2019 · Polar: Directed by Jonas Åkerlund. With Mads Mikkelsen, Vanessa Hudgens, Katheryn Winnick, Fei Ren. A retiring assassin suddenly finds himself on the receiving end of a hit, contracted by none other than his own employer seeking to cash in on the pensions of aging employees.
- (99K)
- Action, Thriller
- Jonas Åkerlund
- 2019-01-25
- A polarizing action flick...
- Polar Gallery
- Verdict
By David Griffin
Updated: Jan 25, 2019 5:19 pm
Posted: Jan 24, 2019 6:00 pm
Polar is currently available to stream on Netflix.
Netflix sets its sights on the assassin film genre with Polar, a thrilling blood-soaked romp in the style of John Wick and Kill Bill and starring Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal) and Vannesa Hudgens (Spring Breakers). Based on the Dark Horse graphic novel written by Victor Santos, Polar centers on an infamous assassin named Duncan Vizla (Mikkelsen), aka The Black Kaiser. In Duncan’s killer-for-hire organization, retirement starts at age 50, but when his employer considers him to be a financial liability, the aging hitman becomes a target for some of the world’s most dangerous death dealers.
While Polar doesn’t bring anything new to the genre, it does do enough narratively to differentiate itself from similar titles. Unlike Mr. Wick or Ms. Kiddo, Mikkelsen’s Duncan isn’t burdened with a tragic past. He’s just a simple assassin killing from 9-5 to earn a buck. His lack of backstory adds a layer of mystery to his character, which Mikkelsen embodies effectively. The Danish actor shows multiple emotional sides of Duncan throughout the film, depending on who he’s interacting with. In one memorable scene - reminiscent of Schwarzenegger's Kindergarten Cop - Duncan demonstrates the art of killing to some school kids in one of the most hilarious show-and-tell displays in recent memory.
Once the hit on Duncan goes out from on high, a kill squad in unleashed. This ragtag group of assassins is instantly annoying. And apart from their abundant use of foul language and flashy wardrobes, there’s nothing funny or interesting about them. This problem is hard to ignore since they are such an integral part of the first half of the film, which spends way too much time getting to know them.
There’s also Vivian, coolly played by Vikings star Katheryn Winnick. While not nearly as tiresome as the aforementioned goon squad hunting down Duncan, Winnick’s character loses her sting early on. Think of her as Duncan’s talent agent, offering him contracts and showing up to meetings in colorful outfits that make more of an impact than her character’s arc. There simply isn’t enough for Winnick to sink her teeth into, making her more like a lovely set dressing than a vital part of the story.
Apart from Camille and Duncan, Matt Lucas’ Herman Blut - the film’s chief antagonist - is the only other character worthy of note. Lucas expertly walks the line between irritating and charismatic. He feels very much like a “comic book character,” almost too over-the-top in some instances, but his ruthless nature and overall sinister demeanor balance his more flamboyant moments. Screenwriter Jayson Rothwell doesn’t overuse Lucas as often as he does with some of the other supporting characters.
Thankfully, all of the fight choreography and gunplay is fantastic. Duncan in action is a violent and brutal display of lethal efficiency. Director Jonas Åkerlund strikes a nice balance of gun-fu and hand-to-hand combat. There is a particularly riveting close-quarter combat fight in a subterranean hallway during the second half of the film that left me wincing in voyeuristic agony. If you like the type of action found in John Wick and the Bourne franchise, then you’ve come to the right place.
Mads Mikkelsen and Vanessa Hudgens’ on-screen chemistry bring some much-needed heart to Polar’s bloodsoaked story. Duncan is also surprisingly funny in ways you might not see coming. The action is extremely violent and expertly directed by Jonas Åkerlund. If the supporting cast wasn’t so forgettable, Polar could have been a great action flick. Fort...
Jan 25, 2019 · Directed By: Jonas Åkerlund. Written By: Jayson Rothwell, Víctor Santos. Polar. Metascore Overwhelming Dislike Based on 12 Critic Reviews. 19. User Score Generally Favorable Based on 243 User Ratings. 6.4. My Score. Hover and click to give a rating. Where to Watch. All Watch Options. View All. Mads Mikkelsen. Duncan Vizla. Vanessa Hudgens. Camille.
- Polar Vantage V3. Best Polar watch overall. Pros. Stunning AMOLED display. Offline maps. Good GPS accuracy. Cons. Poor low-power GPS accuracy. No offline music.
- Polar Pacer Pro. BEST VALUE POLAR WATCH. Pros. Fast GPS hook up. Nicely lightweight. Run tracking feature-rich. Cons. No touchscreen. Basic old-school design.
- Polar Pacer. Best for the basics. Pros. Light, compact and comfortable. Good heart rate. Manages the basics well. Cons. No touchscreen. Basic old-school design.
- Polar Polar Grit X Pro. Best for endurance adventures. Pros. Good looking rugged design. Ultra-friendly GPS battery life. Excellent recovery insights.
I very rarely write reviews, but seeing the initial reviews here I couldn't not say anything. Yes, it's silly. Yes, it's over the top. Yes, there's a lot of gore. It's a movie based on a comic book! I, for one, absolutely adored all of the silliness, ridiculous fight scenes, blood splatters and gruesome moments.
