A former CIA agent, portrayed by Denzel Washington, finds employment as a bodyguard for a young girl (Dakota Fanning) from an affluent family while working in Mexico City. The cast includes Christopher Walken as his friend, Radha Mitchell as the girl’s mother, and Mickey Rourke as the family's lawyer. “Man on Fire” appeared in theaters five days after Thomas Jane starred in “The Punisher” in 2004. Both films, one adapted from A.J. Quinnell’s novel and the other from a Marvel Comics character, center around men who experience significant loss and subsequently employ severe methods to punish those at fault. They are comparable in quality; however, I feel this film is slightly better due to its greater emotional resonance and the more noticeable filmmaking style of director Tony Scott—though some viewers might find that distracting. Still, neither reaches the level of effectiveness seen in “Taken” (2008). Some people describe the movie as "schizophrenic" because it feels like two separate films joined together, but isn’t that typical for revenge narratives, which require a build-up to the act of vengeance? This one simply has a more extended and rewarding introduction. The film's length is 2 hours and 26 minutes, and filming primarily occurred in Mexico City. GRADE: B

Source on TMDB