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From Amazon.co.uk
Smart casting and sensible plotting make Behind Enemy Lines an above-average military thriller. Perfectly timed to bolster US patriotism, the film is partly set (during a hypothetical "day after tomorrow") on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, which was on alert status in the Persian Gulf when this film was released theatrically in the States. Proving his versatility as an unconventional movie star, Owen Wilson plays a navy navigator who is shot down over Bosnia during a reconnaissance mission. Pursued by rebel Serbian forces, Wilson must fight for survival while his commanding officer (Gene Hackman) plots a daredevil rescue.
After a successful career in TV commercials, Irish director John Moore makes a promising feature debut on Slovakian locations, borrowing a few techniques from Saving Private Ryan while adding impressive flourishes of his own. The gung-ho ending's a foregone conclusion, but it works like a charm after the movie's exciting game of cat and mouse.--Jeff Shannon
Product Description
The war was supposed to be over, but the battle to survive has only just begun, When U.S. Navy pilot is shot down over a recon mission over Bosnia, he must fight to stay alive and evade hostile Serbian forces.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By Pete Murphy
Format:DVD
Although it's possible that there's some politically correct people out there that can't enjoy a film if it uses stereotypes, gratuitous violence (most of which ended on the cuttingroom floor anyway), or "typical" Hollywood hamfistedness when tackling issues of recent times that they don't fully understand, Behind Enemy Lines is *still* a great deal of fun. It's pure Saturday night in popcorn entertainment. It's brash, it's loud, there's a ton of explosions, and deep down in there there's something of a message, although to be honest you'd be hard pushed to find it.
The film follows a disillusioned Navy fighter pilot, on the verge of leaving the service as he's lost track of what it is that he's supposed to be fighting for, who then gets shot down over Bosnia during a routine surveillance mission on Christmas Day. He has to evade capture, and eventually try and get to a pick-up point where he'll be lifted to safety by a rescue team from his aircraft carrier. Throw into the mix a bit of genocide, executions, a long chase a la The Fugitive, political wrangling and a surprising amount of tension and suspense and you've got the recipe for a great night in.
Owen Wilson makes for a decent hero, and the film is edited in a flashy style that's both visually appealing and moves along at a fair old pace. Gene Hackman sleepwalks through his role as "The Admiral", chewing on scenery and barking just like you think he will when you see his name in the opening credits.
The film follows a disillusioned Navy fighter pilot, on the verge of leaving the service as he's lost track of what it is that he's supposed to be fighting for, who then gets shot down over Bosnia during a routine surveillance mission on Christmas Day. He has to evade capture, and eventually try and get to a pick-up point where he'll be lifted to safety by a rescue team from his aircraft carrier. Throw into the mix a bit of genocide, executions, a long chase a la The Fugitive, political wrangling and a surprising amount of tension and suspense and you've got the recipe for a great night in.
Owen Wilson makes for a decent hero, and the film is edited in a flashy style that's both visually appealing and moves along at a fair old pace. Gene Hackman sleepwalks through his role as "The Admiral", chewing on scenery and barking just like you think he will when you see his name in the opening credits.
Behind Enemy Lines is actually a lot better than you'd think it would, or probably should, be and even though you get the rousing flagwaving anthemic music during the final action sequence, this isn't enough to detract from everything that went before it.
The DVD is a good example of what could have been without too much interference by the US rating board. All the footage that was considered "too graphic" for public consumption appears in the deleted scenes (with optional commentary) - basically more violence during the battle in Hac, and more footage from the mass grave Owen Wilson discovers whilst trying to evade capture. It's grim, but the film could have benefitted from it's inclusion as it lends itself to a darker, more fitting tone. There's alternate takes on various sequences, sfx breakdowns, commentaries, plenty to keep you occupied after watching the film.
The film itself is a stunning presentation, visually it's flawless and the audio, in either Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1, will literally tear your livingroom apart during the action sequences, although it's just as impressive with ambient effects during quieter moments, creating a full 3D soundfield that's amongst the best I've heard.
Very entertaining and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone that can happily remove their brain when they watch these kind of movies
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
I watched this movie on blu-ray and was staggered by the quality of the picture and the sound, I would use it to show off my system to anybody interested. Even my wife enjoyed it and she isn't into this type of film usually.
The flying sequences are brilliant and (honestly) my sofa actually shook when the planes take off, and the explosions and gunfire are frightenly realistic.
We are all entitled to our own opinions, but sometimes I just can't understand how such a good movie can be given a 1 star rating and the picture quality criticised when it is so superb. Maybe the whole thing is down to the equipment being used, or dare I say a bad copy.
The flying sequences are brilliant and (honestly) my sofa actually shook when the planes take off, and the explosions and gunfire are frightenly realistic.
We are all entitled to our own opinions, but sometimes I just can't understand how such a good movie can be given a 1 star rating and the picture quality criticised when it is so superb. Maybe the whole thing is down to the equipment being used, or dare I say a bad copy.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
I disagree with the 1 star rating this movie is a good film not great but good fun! The picture quality is good aswell far better than the dvd and the sound if your listening it on surround sound you feel like your in the film. This is worth buying if your just starting your collection!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good fun; Wilson's best film by a country mile
There have been a huge number of films about the morally ambiguous wars of the last couple of decades (that assumes you agree with me that there are morally unambiguous wars). Read more
Published 7 days ago by fat man on a bicycle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!
Always thought this film was brilliant. Action all the way through! That's why we bought it in Blue Ray which doesn't disappoint. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Reckless
4.0 out of 5 stars
Behind Enemy Lines on blu-ray
Good action modern war film which highlights the Balkan struggle of the 90's.Excellent video and audio on a decent AV set-up. Recommended.
Published 10 months ago by djw19
1.0 out of 5 stars
A Very American View of War
You could probably excuse Gene Hackman's role in this - presuming he's taken the Michael Caine route, of course, and decided he's done enough 'quality' work and deserves the right... Read more
Published 18 months ago by jijiandnoah
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fast-moving post-war thriller
Generally, I'll watch films with Gene Hackman's name in the credits and, alhtough this is not one of his best roles, indeed it is not a lengthy role compared with the film as a... Read more
Published 18 months ago by RR Waller
2.0 out of 5 stars
These americans are good
Clearly this US pilot was no US pilot but some sort of super commando. Even Arnies Commando would have trouble with the ending to this. Read more
Published on 25 Nov 2010 by Will
4.0 out of 5 stars
ACTION MEN
HACKMAN AT HIS USUAL BEST, A VERY CONVINCING ROLL, AND OWEN WILSON TAKING ON A ALL ACTION ROLL, A BREAK FROM HIS COMEDY PARTS,A REALLY GOOD COMBINATION, AND EXCITING MOVIE!!!
Published on 10 July 2010 by Mrs. Flora Holmes
5.0 out of 5 stars
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
GREAT ACTION PACKED FILM FROM START TO FINISH. ANY FILM WITH GENE HACKMANN IN IT IS ALWAYS GOOD. RECOMMENDED
Published on 10 Mar 2010 by Mr. G. Honey
2.0 out of 5 stars
By The Numbers Fugitive War Flick That Is Sometimes Stupidly Funny
Not even good old Gene Hackman can save this turkey.
You could watch it once but not twice. Read more
You could watch it once but not twice. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2010 by Philoctetes
1.0 out of 5 stars
TWODDLE!!!
I agree with the other people that have slated this film.It is absolute utter rubbish.I love Gene Hackman,I think he is one of the greatest actors of our time,but this? Oh Dear! Read more
Published on 11 Nov 2009 by W. Lomas
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