Going into Ladder 49 I'll admit that I couldn't possibly ignore the comparisons in my head between what this movie appeared to be and what Backdraft was 13 years ago.

How many movies about fire fighting did there possibly need to be? As it turns out, one more wasn't such a bad thing.

I think Ladder 49 is the antidote for people who did not enjoy that other fire movie and here's why: it's a tale about firemen, pure and simple.

There's no mysteries, no conspiracies, no extra icing on the cake; this is a movie that will finally satisfy the demands of the real-life heroes out there who have never felt true justice done by Hollywood.

I personally have never been in a fire station and I have no clue where someone can get the guts to go into a burning building, but after watching Ladder 49, I have a better idea.

There is emotion behind every scene in this movie, and there is a lot of heart in every major character involved, specifically the main characters Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) and his wife Linda (Jacinda Barrett).

Phoenix has the kind of movie role here that will make all of his fans forget about The Village, and it's easy to see that he's enjoying himself a lot more in this film.

The other star of the movie is John Travolta, who plays Captain Mike Kennedy. Taking what could have been a throwaway role, he too invests himself deeply into being the leader of the firehouse. The key to any movie is a story that actors can believe in, and Ladder 49 is lucky enough to possess one of those.

-- Reviewed by Tim Wright