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Amazon.co.uk Review
Rules of Engagement opens strongly with a Vietnam battle sequence that sets the stage for the rest of the story. But then director William Friedkin knows a thing or two about staging harrowing action sequences, and if you don't believe that, you've never seen The French Connectionor To Live and Die in LA. Unfortunately, Friedkin can't do much about the implausible plot that follows, in which the Marine commander, played by the always-terrific Samuel L Jackson, is accused of slaughtering innocent civilians (who actually were shooting at him and his men). He must rely on an old Marine buddy--a lawyer played by Tommy Lee Jones--to get him through the jury-rigged court martial. But the central premise--that an evil presidential aide would perjure himself and destroy evidence simply to maintain good relations with US allies in the Middle East, rather than defending a highly decorated Marine colonel who risked his life--is inevitably hard to swallow. And the ending is even flimsier. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com
Video Description
DVD Special Features:
Featurette
"A Look Inside" Cast and Crew Interviews
Commentary by William Friedkin
Language Choice: English, French
Subtitles: English, English for the hearing impaired, French.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a good film if you don`t have great expectations before watching it. William Friedkin has directed some of the finest movies in history including the french connection and the exorcist so as long as you`re not expecting this film to be as good you will enjoy it. While Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel Jackson are solid enough the week link is Guy Pearce as the prosecutor. The story revolves around a soldier accused of firing into a crowd of people in the Middle east and the lawyer who defends him. The movie plods in parts but it`s still worth watching.
11 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I've never been one to look out for court room dramas but whenever I've caught one I've enjoyed it. A Few Good Men is one of the best of the bunch. Rules Of Engagement isn't quite there but it's a very entertaining movie. Tommy Lee Jones, Sam Jackson and Guy Pearce are three of the best actors around, without them the film wouldn't really be that good. In the hands of a lesser director this would be at best a boring tv movie, but William Friedkin (The Exorcist, The French Connection) is one of the greats. The opening Vietnam sequence is superb and there are a lot of disturbing images throughout the movie (the massacre in Yemen being one of them). The film is quite predictable but it never gets boring, it's well worth watching for the odd superb set piece and to see all those fantastic actors doing their stuff.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The real satisfaction with this movie is the ambiguity of the situation; whether you think Samuel L Jackson's Marine Colonel should be convicted of the killings of potentially innocent civilians. No need to cover the plot-it's all there on the cover.
Some of this is brilliantly, if a tad heavy-handedly done as evidence is released not only to the Court but also to the audience throughout the film, making the final sentence, one hopes, inevitable.
Jackson is as solid as ever, Tommy Lees Jones is Tommy Lee Jones, which is more than enough. I agree with another reviewer that Guy Pearce was less good as the Prosecutor.
The second, equally important element of the film is how the Government who put the man in an impossible position in the first place were ready to lie and swindle to ensure he took the blame, not only for their Country, but for their own personal ends- very resonant in the light of relatively recent examples. Once again, we see the risk of a man being judged by those not qualified to judge him, as happens too often today.
My own feelings for Jackson's character- early on, I thought he would burn, and probably on the evidence at the time, with some justification; later, it became clear that he was in a no-win situation, more evidence came in and if he was not truly innocent, he was assuredly not wholly guilty either.
One of the more thoughtful films to come out of recent military issues, and if not perfect, still very well executed, and it feels a good deal shorter than it is.
All in all, a damned good film.
Some of this is brilliantly, if a tad heavy-handedly done as evidence is released not only to the Court but also to the audience throughout the film, making the final sentence, one hopes, inevitable.
Jackson is as solid as ever, Tommy Lees Jones is Tommy Lee Jones, which is more than enough. I agree with another reviewer that Guy Pearce was less good as the Prosecutor.
The second, equally important element of the film is how the Government who put the man in an impossible position in the first place were ready to lie and swindle to ensure he took the blame, not only for their Country, but for their own personal ends- very resonant in the light of relatively recent examples. Once again, we see the risk of a man being judged by those not qualified to judge him, as happens too often today.
My own feelings for Jackson's character- early on, I thought he would burn, and probably on the evidence at the time, with some justification; later, it became clear that he was in a no-win situation, more evidence came in and if he was not truly innocent, he was assuredly not wholly guilty either.
One of the more thoughtful films to come out of recent military issues, and if not perfect, still very well executed, and it feels a good deal shorter than it is.
All in all, a damned good film.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An excellent true to life drama
Sam jackson plays a solider who after saving the life of the U.S Ambassador and his family is hauled before a military tribunal for crimes he did not commit. Read more
Published 13 months ago by ekb
Great film but it jumps
Love this film but about 5mins of it is missing due a jump in the cd !! but what can you do it cost very little !!
Published 15 months ago by Dwayne Conlon
Great Military Courtroom Drama
Firstly great price for a very good film, Tommy Lee Jones never disappoints this with a great story and Samuel L Jackson as a feisty commander who makes a seemingly controversal... Read more
Published 18 months ago by G. James
Amazing!
This DVD is incredibly interesting and gripping from the start. The quality was amazing and the delivery was also very quick.
Published 21 months ago by Jet
great film
Saw this film on TV and had to buy it. Terrific storyline, great excitement, and superb acting. Not for the faint-hearted.
Published on 1 May 2009 by D. Hull
Entaining, but dangerous anti-Arab propaganda
As a film, this is good entertainment both in the Yemen action and the courtroom drama, BUT BEWARE its message. Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2005
The meaning of the International Law
The International Law of War on Land says about qualification of belligerents: "Article 1: The laws, rights, and duties of war apply not only to armies, but also to militia and... Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2004 by Hiromi
Great actors star in great film.
Just from the actors I could tell this film would be good. With such film greats as Samuel L Jackson (Pulp fiction, Jackie Brown), Tommy Lee Jones (MIB, Batman forever) this film... Read more
Published on 14 Jun 2003 by "grid444"
Over-rated military legal drama
With such an outstanding cast and director I expected much more from this. I'm afraid if you want to see how this kind of film should be done, buy "A Few Good Men" - that... Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2001
Absolute Brilliance
This is a fantastic movie by samuel jackson and tommy lee jones. The graghics and the visual effects were phenominum. The court marshall of a great marine officer against the U.S. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2001
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