Basic

Rating:
Summary: Suspension of logical reasoning required
Review: This movie caught my attention as soon as I saw the previews and I was excited to see it. Unfortunately, I saw it and ruined my impression of it.

It had the potential for a great movie. Basically a group of Army Rangers go on a training exercise into the jungles of Panama. When they fail to report in on time a search helicopter is sent out to locate them. What the searchers find is shocking: they catch sight of a Ranger running through the trees carrying a wounded soldier over his shoulder while being pursued by another Ranger. A brief firefight ensues and the pursuer is killed. The rest of the team is missing, including the instructor (Samuel L. Jackson) and all are presumed dead. One of the recovered soldiers is in the hospital for a gunshot wound and the other is refusing to speak. That's when former Ranger and talented interrogator John Travolta is called in to find out what happened out there. As the mystery begins to unfold, the only thing revealed is more mystery right up until the very end.

I got the impression that the script for this movie was written fairly hastily and filmed even faster. When the movie is over and you think you have some grasp of what it was actually about, you realize that half the movie made no sense in the context of the ending. If that doesn't make sense, then the movie won't do you much good either.

The other thing that bothered me (probably because I'm former Army) is the lack of research that went into making this film. Call me nitpicky, but there are a number of small details that cause the film to lose credibility, things the director really should have caught.

WARNING: ONLY FOR THE NITPICKY AND MILITARY-MINDED

- Samuel L. Jackson plays the lead instructor for Ranger training. The first time we see him, he's wearing Specialist (E-4) rank rather than that of a Sergeant First Class. He also runs around in the field with a sweater on rather than his BDUs.

- One of the "Rangers" shows up for their field exercise wearing a burgandy beret, which is Airborne (Ranger is black) and berets aren't normally worn in the field anyway.

- There is a woman on the Ranger team, despite the fact that women are not allowed in infantry combat roles which includes the Rangers.

Despite my extra sensitivity on the military issues, I was disappointed in the movie because it was hard to follow (and I rarely get confused by plot twists) and because, once I understood the ending, I realized that none of rest of the movie was really all that logical in that context. Or, perhaps, I just haven't spent all that much time since watching it trying to figure it out.

Rent it. Don't go to the theater to see it.

Rating:
Summary: Almost Made It!
Review: I will confess right now: the only reason I went to see this movie was because of Giovanni Ribisi as Kendall. I didn't really like John Travolta and I cannot stand Samuel L. Jackson, but my faith in my Gio led me into the theatre with my mother anyways. Well, simply put, it renewed my faith in watching movies just for the actors!
I'm an action chick; anything with explosions, guns, and a hot guy or two will make me happy, and this one had it pretty much down. The first thing I noticed was that Giovanni Ribisi was hardly in the movie, but that was okay, because my faith in John Travolta had been restored.
It has a couple too many twists, but it rocked. I'd give it 5 stars if it hadn't been so damn confusing throughout the entire thing, and if they'd gotten me to like Samuel L. Jackson (I don't think that's possible though).
They also could have given Giovanni a little more screen time! ;-)

Rating:
Summary: Great suspense and ingenuity
Review: Basic is anything but that - it proves to be the very antithesis of its title with its bizarre and constantly twisting and changing storyline. I believe Newton once said: With every cause, there comes an equal or greater effect. Well, while watching this movie you're constantly refiguring the outcomes when the variables continue to change - so much so that it almost makes you dizzy! Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson are dead on as Army Rangers - the supporting cast is superb as well. I was pleasantly surprised by the cleverness of the plot and the good acting.

If you mix Black Hawk Down with The Usual Suspects you come out with Basic. Worth a look-see for all military buffs - just be prepared to pay VERY close attention to detail. One of the best movies I've seen in a while. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Didn't work at all
Review: This film tried hard, but it kept missing. The pacing of the film is way, way too fast. The twists and turns of the story are fired at you bullet-style and I just couldn't keep up. When the end finally arrived, I STILL didn't know what exactly had happened. There were critical scenes missing which would have tied it all together. Too many things didn't add up. Inconsistencies galore. And I don't know what the other reviewer meant by John Travolta being "slim and trim" here-- he looked fat and bloated to me, and showing his age. He always plays the young cocky guy in every one of his films, but in this one he is the washed-up, ex-cocky guy, which I guess is perfect since he can't keep up with the younger crowd now. Jackson plays the usual loud-mouth character, so there wasn't any real surprise there, either. All things considered, I recommend skipping it entirely. There are far better "thrillers" out there.

Rating:
Summary: John makes it better then it is
Review: And so does Samuel L. Jackson. It's a fairly good movie, about Samuel L. Jackson's character missing in combat. Kinda like the General's Daughter in the sense that they get answers from witnesses and even killers. The major difference, Tom Hardy(John Travolta) is actually a suspect, compared to his character in the General's Daughter. I kinda liked the other movie better, but this is still good!! Two thumbs up!!!!

Rating:
Summary: The 8 Ball
Review: John McTiernan's 'Basic' is very loud: 80% of the dialogue is shouted; a hurricane is blowing during most of the movie and the lighting and set décor screams Army camouflage at you relentlessly.
But I suppose if you were going to cast any two actors to scream and yell their heads off during an entire film, no two actors could do that better than John Travolta (looking slim and trim) and Samuel L. Jackson.
The plot is intriguing for about 60% of this film until the incomprehensible twists and turns and twists and turns again start to make it seem like a poor man's version of 'The Usual Suspect.'
Travolta and Jackson's charisma makes up for the lack of a coherent screenplay for a while but even they are not able to make this thing work 100%.
Chalk 'Basic' up to a good try but no cigar, guys.

Rating:
Summary: You think you know....but you don't
Review: Best movie I've seen in the first quarter of 2003. This movie twists and turns like no other. If your a fan of movies like The Usual Suspects, you'll love Basic. I'll definately be adding this to my DVD collection when its released. I highly reccomend coughing up the[money] to see this film in the theaters, its worth it.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic mind-bender of a movie
Review: This is a movie that requires patience and attention. It twists back on itself much like memento or the usual suspects. The plot is self-explanitory but the resulution is complex. This was a great role fo travolta. If you liked the complexity of the Usual Suspects you will love this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Okay!John Travolta and Samuel L.Jackson
Review: Well, i have already lose my hopes of watching John Travolta in a big hit again but this movie is okay.
The story is about John Travolta, who investigates the disappearance of a legendary Army drill sergeant (Samuel L. Jackson) and a squad of his cadets after a training exercise in Panama.
You will think ''I have already seen that in another movie before''. It tries to twist and turns everytime, and it kind of works. the thriller is not that intense but its worthy anyway!

Rating:
Summary: A thriller in the spirit of No Way Out
Review: This movie sets up in the beginning like your typical army action flick that is heavy on violence but light on plot lines or character development. Surprisingly the opposite turned out to be the case. If you like to be surprised a la Costners' No Way Out, then you will really like this movie and the stories within stories. This movie could easily be the surprise of the winter season.