Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball [Blu-ray]

Sequels tend to take a winning formula from the original movie and thoroughly screw it up. That did not happen here. I don't know which one I like more, the original Smokin' Aces or this one. If you haven't seen Smokin' Aces, you don't have to. Both movies stand on their own and both are spectacular!This would have received a solid 4-star rating, but the ending .... that made it a 5-Star!

Love subjecting my friends to this flick, it’s just fantastically bad

The capsule summary of the story refers to a "gangland kingpin". There isn't one. Not even a phony one. It does have a very good cast.

midget clowns shot from a cannon. Need I say more? Okay. Psychopathic killers galore and one that even kills with poison lips. Is that enough? No? How about hot jazz and an even hotter gunfight where nearly everyone dies...is that enough? Well, there's all that and more. If you saw the first one THIS one makes that look like a nursery rhyme.

...the first Smokin' Aces had this chaotic type feel to it. The million dollar bounty was thrown out there, and within a DAY an eclectic group of assassins scurry to get the job done first and cash in on that big fat million. SA #1 was cool and raw and fast. But this video, Smokin' Aces #2 felt too...I don't know...too over-thought. Too complicated. Too planed. I think what happened was, with probably a bigger budget, and star power like Tom Berenger, Tommy Flanagan, and Ernie Hudson on board, I believe the directors tried to improve on something that only the first SA's could pull off: Unpredictability. This #2 was too polished. It was too complicated. It was more of an espionage, mystery thriller with the crazy Tremor family thrown in there to try to catch that craziness from the first SA; desperately trying to copy the same feel the all out free for all that made SA #1 a cult hit. Smokin' Aces #1 didn't do too shabby at the box office, but the video was super popular, I've rented it at least three times myself. But I think once was enough with this vid...it's like a second try by a one trick pony; it was a cool trick the first time, but getting better ponies and trying the same trick DIDN'T make it a better trick..? Nah...didn't work for me. Three stars.

psychological thriller

If you like the first Smokin' Aces, don't watch this one; you'll be truly disappointed. The answer is obvious from the very beginning. This version is just a throwaway. Decent enough actors, though Tommy Flanagan's role which is a holdover from the first one isn't at all utilized as well as it was. The worst part is that this one makes a limp attempt at being 'surreal' too with the fat dumb son of the truck driver and their kidnapping clowns, etc. It's all so vapid and dorky that it's just sad.

A Great Guy Flick. I still like the first one just a bit better but this comes in a very close second. Action and Twists All the Way Through. Smokin' Aces 2 is definitely a Full House Of Fun!!!