Reviews: Behind Enemy Lines

[JoBlo]

JoBlo's 7/10 review of BEHIND ENEMY LINES can be found here: http://www.joblo.com/behindenemylines.htm

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[This message has been edited by JoBlo (edited 10-24-2001).]

[The Arrow]

Well I just saw the film and it was very entertaining. It isn't by any means an "Oscar" movie but it sports kickass action sequences, crazy stylish directing, a booming soundtrack and Gene Hackman playing an army officer bathed in blue lighting again. Its harmless, very patriotic and in the wake of September 11 it made me feel real good. Fo what it is (a good times action flick) I'd give this one a 7/10

[ilovemovies]

Whoa! I can understand you not liking it but 0/10? I haven't even seen anything this year that deserves that low (then again I haven't seen Freddy Got Fingered or Pootie Tang yet). This movie wasn't meant to be a serious war movie like Saving Private Ryan and I don't think anyone will ever mistake this for being anywhere near as good as that movie was. What this movie WAS meant to be is a kick ass rockem' sockem action adventure and pure escapism. And, on that level, this movie delivers. There is some pretty spectacular action and I found this movie to be pretty exciting. I also disagree with you on Owen Wilson. I do not think he was miscast, I thought he was perfect for the part. And Gene Hackman was great too. So overall, I think this movie delivers exactly what it promises to and I had a really good time.
Grade: B+

[idealdiscountdude]

WHOA...Kindolarue's review was extremely harsh and I don't think he/she realized that this isn't a "serious" film, rather just a movie meant to entertain....

My review:


Behind Enemy Lines is a solid and entertaining action film. Owen Wilson stars as Chris Burnett, a U.S Navy Fighter Pilot who is shot down along with his partner "Behind Enemy Lines". Owen Wilson is fantastic, he's one of my favorite actors and he is just cool and collective as Burnett, showing emotion and rage, he gave a great performance. Gene Hackman is his commanding officer trying to save him. As always Hackman is GREAT.

Behind Enemy Lines is very well directed and very fast paced. At times suspenseful, the film will leave you on the edge of your seat. All in all Behind Enemy Lines is a very good film, one of the most fun films I have seen this year!

8.5/10

[Puck Bond]

Behind Enemy Lines 7/10...

Behind Enemy Lines is an rip-roaring entertaining action/war film...with some great action sequences, a likeable and believable hero and not much else...Owen Wilson is very good as the hot-shot, fast talking Navy Pilot, who gets shot down while on a recon mission over war-torn Bosnia. The aerial scenes with the fighter jet and the SAM's (surface to air missiles) are brilliant and very exciting...Once on the ground Wilson is chased by a renegade army and a villain who is hell-bent on killing Wilson. Gene Hackman is also solid as usual as the Naval Commander who struggles with his superiors to send out a rescue mission to retrieve Wilson....Some great action, sequences, kinetic direction and harsh, intense locals, and a patriotic feel made this an enjoyable action/war film and not much more.

[Roberto]

Behind Enemy Lines made me mad from the beginning. I could never get Owen Wilson's distorted nose out of my head. This could be the cause of my dislike for the film. The movie goes like this. When flying on a holiday mission Wilson and his partner are shot down when they see something that they shouldn't have. After that, his partner gets shot, and he runs around dodging bullets from the worst sniper in the world. Then he is saved. The End. I will have to say that the surface-to-air missile scene looked really cool, and Gene Hackman gave a pretty good performance. Other than that I see no point in anyone seeing this film.

[27Bstroke6]

Behind Enemy Lines is not a bad film, granted its not a great one either. I spent the first 20 mins of the movie trying not to think of Owen Wilson as Hansel. Once i got over that and past his bad "surfer dude" voice, i mostly enjoyed the film.Ilove Gene Hackman but, i wished he would get into some A List movies. Were talking about Popeye Doyle here! It seems like lately all we have seen him in is middle of the road so so movies. If your in the mood for a good movie that isnt out to change the world, Behind Enemy Lines may be for you.

[bskutle]

"Behind Enemy Lines"- B
Are audiences ready for realistic war and political movies, post 9/11? Judging by the opening weekend numbers for this thriller and "Spy Game" (B+), they are. Though not as good as "Spy Game," "Behind Enemy Lines" does pose a compelling story, about a Navy pilot (Owen Wilson) who- while making a recon pass over a military installation in war-torn Bosnia- is shot down, and chased by the opposition after his co-pilot is executed. His superior- Gene Hackman (in commanding "Crimson Tide" mode)- wants to go in after him, but NATO fears doing so will put a major dent in peace talks. The cat-and-mouse with Wilson's pilot is tense and reasonably exciting (and worth caring about, thanks to Wilson's capable performance, a far cry from his usual comedic work ("Meet the Parents," "Bottle Rocket")), especially due to the complex issues Hackman has to face in ordering his rescue. Overall, I liked the story a lot (and it's well told), especially due to the fact that it's all too believable, with little to make it implausible. My main complaint is the direction of John Moore, and his over-reliance of quick cuts and what appears to be hand-held cinematography. It's obvious he's seen the paralyzing D-Day sequence in "Saving Private Ryan" way too much, trying to incorporate that cinema vierte style for his film's duration. Not smart. Luckily, the story he's telling is, and that intelligence- and timeliness- makes it worthwhile.

[The1TrueFrog]

Behind Enemy Lines - 7/10.

http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/twentieth_century_fox/behind_enemy_lines/owen_wilson/enemy14.jpg

Ironically, I have most often seen Owen Wilson used as the poor patsy that gets wasted (The Haunting, Anaconda). Here, he's the one dodging all the bullets, not to mention smartbombs, fighting to stay alive! And since he's the star here, he actually gets to make it! (there's no cue for "Oh My God! They killed Owen Wilson! You bastards!) And he even manages to bring the evidence home! Shouldn't he be rewarded with a nose job for this? hehehe.

Gene Hackman's last role that I can remember was as the dimwitted, cigar-smoking old man from "Heartbreakers". Don't let that fool you - he is in control here and very intelligent and powerful. He's actually like the anchor of this movie that hangs out in the background to help out the old buddy that he scorned.

Altogether, it's a war movie - but not your average, cheezy, gory war flick. It's in the tradition of "Die Hard" or maybe even "Cast Away" (to which there was even a reference). A story line which would be summarized on the trailer something like "In the face of danger, one man lives to face the ultimate battle of evil..." yeah, something like that.

You get great battle sequences, some top-notch characters, realistic missles, a maze of smart-bombs, and a gripping escape. The movie was quite exhilirating!

[Chip_4321]

My numbers aren't very accurate, but I give it a 9/10. I rented this movie adn watched it about 10 times within 3 days. The missle scene being one of my favorites, and the movie was almost something that could possibly happen, which I always like to see. It had two stories in one, the political battle and the military battle which both were complex in the fact that they were intertwined, if that makes any sense. http://www.joblo.com/ubb/smile.gif All in all, this has become one of my favorite movies. Though most of you are recommending Saving Private Ryan for a war movie, I've yet to see all of it, so maybe I'll like that even more. I think I need to see Top Gun.. seeing as I like fighter jet scenes and if I'm rememebring right then that's based on an F-14.. I recommend to anyone that they see Behind Enemy Lines as soon as they can. http://www.joblo.com/ubb/smile.gif

[James Logan]

BEHIND ENEMY LINES
a John Moore film

I was happily surprised by this flick. I thought it would be a stupid, dumbass, overly cheesy action flick with nothing interesting in it, but I turned out to be wrong for everything, except the cheesy part. :)

The story is your basic action movie one, and you gotta face it, it's kind of predictable. But who cares? The rest of the flick is just fine. The acting isn't bad at all (Owen Wilson and Gene Hackman especially...I don't think the flick's got any other main characters :p ), the action scenes are MOST IMPRESSIVE, and Moore's directing is witty and inventive. He uses virtually every camera and editing trick there is, and it's real fun to watch.

Oh, and about the ending...yes, it's overly patriotic (I'm not American, btw), but it's action-packed and it's fun to watch, so it didn't bother me all that much.

7/10

[Dude]

Entertaining flick! Owen Wilson continues to prove himself in ALL genres, and once again, Hackman delivers the goods. I also gve this one a SOLID 7/10.

[quoth_the_raven]

there are three things in this world i am sucker for. big weapons, big explosions and one man taking on his enemies with little more than his wits and a very small pistol.

luckily for me this movie has all three, and in abundance. ok, its not original. but, damn, christ almighty is it fun. the whole thing fair zips past in a blur of booby traps, bullets and blasts.

Owen Wilson, not normally a guy i rate, put in a sterling performance and once again, Hackman kicked a hell of a lot of ass.

ok, its not Solaris, its not really a thinking sort of a movie. no, this is fast paced action all the way.

7/10

[Dude]

Lite escapist fare, but well acted and directed with good production values.