Elizabeth Akintomide / Staff Writer

The Takers Movie Poster

In a summer filled with so-so, lack luster movies, “Takers” starring rapper T.I. and directed by John Lussenhop breathes new life into the traditional action packed summer blockbusters we have all come to love and expect.

With its all star cast and its intense action packed sequences, “Takers” will be sure to leave audiences on the edge of their seats. The movie centers around a group of notorious bank robbers (Idris Elba, Hayden Christensen, Chris Brown, John Walker, and Michael Ealy) who are able to pull off amazing bank robberies in a matter of minutes.

And they are good at what they do. They are able to get in and out without leaving a trace of evidence behind. It is through their meticulous planning that they are to pull of these lucrative heists. But when a former colleague gets released from prison (played by T.I.) and proposes an armored car robbery with more money at stake than ever before the thieves throw caution to the winds.

However their reunion is not a happy one and the tension among the members is almost palpable. It is this, and the fact that they must also contend with a group of Russian thugs who want in on the action and two hardened detectives played by Matt Dillon and Jay Hernandez who are hot on their trail that give the audience a sense of foreboding and that these bank robbers are headed for trouble.

The plot is formulaic at best but has enough juicy twists and turns and character depth to keep audiences entertained. The all star cast also helps liven up the material. Dillon is perfect as the cynical and at times brutal cop who will stop at nothing to see the criminals apprehended, Elba embodies the role as the leader of the pack almost effortlessly and likewise T.I. is very convincing as the ruthless, violent ex-con that threatens the cohesiveness of the group as a whole.

This action packed joy-ride of a movie is one that I thoroughly enjoyed and I have to say that the stunt work in this movie was absolutely amazing. Although it is reminiscent of other bank robbing movies such as Set it Off and The Italian Job—it has enough originality to set it apart from other movies in its genre. Overall, this is a movie that I would recommend people go and see if you’re seeking action and adventure.