Still, he gets help from a very intrepid Mexican newspaper reporter (Rachel Ticotin) out to expose 'La Hermanidad' (The Brotherhood), the kidnap gang responsible for Fanning's abduction. But Washington's character, though he's killing for a reason, does not particularly enjoy doing what he does.

With almost any other stock action hero (Schwarzenneger Segal, etc.), the subsequent bloodbath would be the same repetitive schlock we've seen a million times before. It is that very bond that will force Washington back into his old line of work when Fanning is kidnapped and held for a $10 million ransom, and he is nearly killed. While he and Fanning work like oil and water first (not mixing very well), he really gets to form a bond with her, encouraging her to do better at swimming, while he at the same time attempts to deal with the demons of the past. He is hired on as a bodyguard to the 10 year-old daughter (Dakota Fanning) of a Mexican businessman (Marc Antony) and his American-born wife (Radha Mitchell). Quinnell's 1980 novel (first filmed in 1987, with Scott Glenn), Washington plays a down-on-his-luck ex-mercenary who has now stooped to drinking from a flash of Jack Daniels, until his old partner (Christopher Walken) offers him a chance at redemption. 2 THE PUNISHER WALKING TALL), MAN ON FIRE works as well as it does thanks in large part to the always-watchable Denzel Washington, one of the best actors around today. Although released among a flock of revenge-minded action flicks (KILL BILL VOL.

Fire man and ice girl