a5c7b9f00b Walter Weed is an unassuming desk jockey at the FBI when the Bureau uncovers a plot to assassinate him. A team of degenerate, psychotic assassins dispatched by mystery man Hal Leuco to win a huge bounty includes a resourceful beauty who has a unique method of killing her prey, a power-tool wielding psychopath and a deadly master of disguise. This movie is not bad at all. For starters, I was well aware it was a straight to video movie. IMDb makes that clear with the (video) annunciation in the listing. So I didn't expect the production value to be anywhere close to the original. Also, it is not a *sequel*. Early on you realize this is in fact, a prequel.<br/><br/>I was a huge fan of the first one; very good action movie. I expected a lower budget form of it in this. That is essentially what you get. The styling of the movie is different. That doesn't mean it is bad.<br/><br/>If you are someone who actually pays attention to detail, you will probably enjoy a few things in this movie. There is more connections made in this movie than just the title name and the appearance of Lazlo Soot (apparently the majority of reviews think those are the only connections).<br/><br/>There is mention of both Buddy Israel and Primo Sparazza, just for names-sake. Yes, Lazlo is in fact, in it. You learn a little bit about Lestor Tremor's (one of the three Tremor Brothers from the first) past. You also find out some interesting details about Beanie (from Israel's entourage.<br/><br/>Really, they are all small details that neither make nor break the movie. Those are more there to make you smile as a fan of the first one.<br/><br/>The movie is a solid 6 for a relatively mindless action w/ a few decent twists and laughable parts. Especially given it being a straight to video movie. With that in mind, it is actually really good for what it is. Pretty much the same plot as the first one. Someone has put out a hit on another person and dozens of highly skilled assassins are called in to take him out. Bullets fly, bodies fall and the story doesn't seem all that it was suppose to be. <br/><br/>I'm one of a few people who really dug Smokin Aces. It had great quirky characters, good action when it was actually happening and it showed Ryan Reynolds can do more than just comedy. People seemed to complain that it was thin on story, needed more action, and deserved a better twist. Well, I am putting all those complaints to the second film, which is actually a prequel. <br/><br/>Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins Ball is a cheap direct to DVD cashing in on the name, quick and dirty film. The production values are pretty low rent and the acting suits it. Vinnie Jones is the biggest name draw and he is hardly in the film. They plaster his face all over the poster and he honestly doesn't belong there. In fact, one of the main characters isn't even on the poster. He's not recognizable enough. Tom Berenger plays the character who has the contract out on him and a special team of agents must protect him. So they take him to a vault, highly protected and assure him no one can get in. Sure enough, dozens of crazy hit men show up and that's when things go from bad to worse. <br/><br/>The Tremor family makes a return, minus Captain Kirk and Martin Keamy (Star Trek and Lost fans can attest). They kept the least interesting brother, the one who obviously needed the money, and introduce three new Tremor characters. The crazy sister, the dumb bigger brother and the hillbilly father. None of these new tremor characters are as interesting as the two missing. The film tries to fill that void, but it fails. Instead the fans get a poor imitation of one of the better aspects of the first film.<br/><br/>The action is lame and never feels as frantic as it should. The cheap explosions are goofy and laughable. We never get a chance to connect to any of the characters. In the first film, I was picking my favourite hit men, this one I had none. None of them are as cool, or as memorable. <br/><br/>The twist is lame and makes little to no sense. The writing of the film was slacking and obviously written so quickly to get the film into production that people must have really not read it. The director P.J. Pesce, seems to specialize in direct to video films. It shows, since he has no theatrical vision and the film feels very confined to its obvious production costs.<br/><br/>If you hated the first film, thought it was decent or just liked it, I would advise you to skip this one. I only recommend it if you are truly a die hard fan. Even then, I say proceed with caution. This film was supposed to be mainly about the Three Tremor Brothers, who are Darwin, Lester and Jeeves, yet only one has yet confirmed there return, who is Maury Sterling reprising his role as Lester Tremor. Nothing official has been confirmed by Chris Pine. But Kevin Durand who played Jeeves, has already passed on it. On Janurary 13th, a casting call sheet was posted on spoiler websites containing information that only Jeeves and Lester will have a cameo and they will be led by their sister named AK-47, played by Autumn Reeser. Another Tremor family member, supposedly named "Papa Tremor," will be played by Michael Parks. Although in fact this may make no sense because the Tremors history involves the phrase, "Same Skank mom, different deadbeat dad," which would hold true to the characters not knowing who any of their fathers were. First of all the Unrated Version runs approx. 140 seconds longer than the R-Rated version. These new scenes feature more violence and sex making it a logical Unrated version.