The original, John Carpenter-directed ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13, memorably opens up with a little girl getting shot in the chest while eating ice cream. It’s quite possibly the most nihilistic scene in any movie, ever. And while this remake never reaches those misanthropic highs, ASSAULT is still one full frontal assault on the senses. It’s dark, it’’s intense, it’’s violent as all hell and it’s the best movie I’ve seen so far this year.

Shifting the original’s location for a sweltering LA to a blizzard in rundown Detroit, it’’s New Year’s Eve as well as the last night for Precinct 13 to be open. Expecting no disturbances, they prepare to shut down early when a busload of prisoners stops to spend the night there. On board is the notorious gangster Bishop, played to the demonic hilt by Fishburne.

Due to a deal gone bad with some crooked cops, said cops want Bishop dead, taking the Precinct under siege and killing everything that gets in their way of Bishop. Drug-addicted Sgt. Roenick (Ethan Hawke) has to team up with Bishop to fight back against the cops on the outside.

Fishburne is excellent, but, as with everything he’s in, Ethan Hawke leaves a lot to be desired. Maria Bello is non-existent, Gabriel Byrne continues to annoy me and Drea de Matteo, I believe, may be a transsexual.

While I would of much rather have had Carpenter direct this himself, French director Richet does a great job, filling the screen with bullets to the head aplenty.  Fun for all!