Rating: 
Summary: Rules of Engagement
Review: This was an awesome movie! Plenty of action and suspense, excellent actors. A believable military trial, representing both sides well. Very satisfying to watch...I would recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie, a must see!
Review: Interesting movie with plenty of drama and suspense to keep you on your toes! Uncovers a great dilemma we service men have, which is, would the government stand behind us if we were in the same situation?
Rating: 
Summary: Directorial Ambush
Review: Directorial Ambush | Filmiliar Cineaste A marine of 30 years' exemplary service and much combat makes a decision during a modern-day operation to extract a U.S. ambassador from a highly threatening demonstration at his embassy in Yemen. That decision becomes controversial, a bomb to U.S. relations in the arab world and results in a court martial that is the main set piece of this story. This is controversy galore. Where, in fact, is one to start? With images of marine fidelity to the colors mixed with a muslim bloodbath one has much to choose from, including but not limited to, ethnic insensitivities. The action, in the jungles of Vietnam, where the story begins, and on the grounds of the U.S. embassy in Yemen, is extremely well staged and acted. It's rich with testosterone enhancements as the power of men and armaments are utilized. This power transfers to the courtroom when Hays Hodges (Tommy Lee Jones) comes up against the marine prosecuter (Guy Pearce) in defending the critical decision made by Major Terry Childers (Tommy Lee Jones) in his role as leader of the extraction detail. What's unfortunate about the presentation is that, despite our seeing the action that inspired the decision in question, several vital details are withheld from the audience until the payoff. As a result, the audience is cheated on behalf of a contrived dramatic device. Why did he decide to fire into the crowd in the courtyard when, what we saw, was his marine crew being fired upon by snipers on nearby rooftops? The answer turns out to be that we are deceived by the filmmaker. We aren't allowed to see a slice of time that's completely crucial to the plot and to the character of the accused. So, we're left to wonder, along with the U.S. government, marine hierarchy and almost everyone else, why he would shoot unarmed civilians. Bosh and double-bosh. It was a directorial miscalculation to think that he'd have no story if he didn't mislead the audience. William Friedken ("The Exorcist", "The French Connection", "Twelve Angry Men") who directed, should learn a thing or two from the films of Alfred Hitchcock, if not from his own early successes. Most importantly, he should learn not to disrespect the audience's intelligence. It's not until we see a secreted security videotape that we are made to understand what really transpired on the fateful day -- that the crowd wasn't just peacefully "demonstrating"! The film is deceptive on other scores, as well. Major Hays, who turns out to be more than just a retired combat veteran, but an attorney, expresses to his own family how inadequate he feels about defending anyone, let alone one of his best buddies and the man who had once saved his life. He's not saying it just to the court or to his legal antagonist as a strategic ploy -- rather, it's presented as his true feelings. Then, it turns out that he's a fierce defense lawyer who never misses a cue to object to a bad prosecutorial question and knows every trick in the strategic legal playbook. Why was I not surpised? Surprise is an important element of drama. But surprise manufactured by witholding details of an event or by mischaracterizing a player is like a lie. Dramatically, it's inadequate. It doesn't work to the benefit of the story because it incurs audience resentment. Then, there's the problem of depicting children as potential killers, even though justified as the product of fundamentalist brainwashing. He would have been better advised to simply avoid this thematic and morally questionable thread because he surely didn't pull it off very well. Despite these directorial ambushes, it should be added that the photography is excellent; the stunts are as real as they come; and the helicopter staging is great. One directorial achievement here is in conveying the sense of danger and impending disaster in the rescue operation, where anything could go wrong for the good guys. I haven't felt the hardness of bullets being fired so realistically since I held a rifle in my own hands. Besides the strong performances by the lead players --notably Guy Pearce-- Ben Kingsley is fine as the ambassador who values his continuing career above his gratitude to the marine who saved his life and honor. Anne Archer was up to her role as the ambassador's wife and protector. Rated D, for Deceitful. ~~ The Filmiliar Cineaste
Rating: 
Summary: A Weak-Performance Movie
Review: Well, after watching this movie, especially considering that it contains two super stars (Jackson and Jones, I was surprised with the weak performance actors and the director (Friedkin), as well as the non-original script. In fact I'm wondering how such a major production company come up with this disappointing film.
Rating:
Summary: Predictable but it kept me engaged
Review: Starring Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones, this war movie keeps the tension high and the action going. Too bad its predictable with a silly plot. There's fine acting here and some interesting moral questions are raised. But the film just doesn't go far enough to make it seem real. I must say I enjoyed it though. Sometimes the act of going to a movie and letting the action on the screen keep me engaged for a couple of hours is all I really want.
Rating:
Summary: 3 1/2=Above Average
Review: This movie was based on James Webb's experience as a Marine infantry officer in Vietnam, as a law student at Georgetown trying to defend a black Marine wrongfully accused of slaughtering innocent villagers, and as an Emmy Award-winning journalist in Lebanon and Secretary of the Navy (see Bob Timberg's book, THE NIGHTINGALE'S SONG for details). Throughout the movie, there are parallels to Mr. Webb's life. The story line is very cogent and its premise very believable. Both Jackson and Jones gave an incredible and intense performance as textbook model Marines that Mr. Webb once was. If there was one thing that the movie has successfully portrayed, it was the warrior ethos of the Corps as embodied in the Jackson character. Col. Childers aptly fits into the stereotypic image of a hot-headed impertuous Marine warrior, in sharp contrast to the DeNiro-emulating Marine prosecutor--"some Star Bucks drinker who's never been shot at." The character sketch, ironically resembles its counterpart in A FEW GOOD MEN. Being familiar with Mr. Webb's writing, I suspect that the parallel was coined by one his script editors to make it commercially attractive. Moreover, I was put off by other silly distractions, such as the fist fight, and some dumb remark about the average life expectancy of a 2ndLt in a hot LZ (landing zone) towards the end. Also, it was rather disappointing to have the movie abruptly end with a predictable ending. Having been somewhat disappointed by the aforementioned flaws, I would rate this 3 1/2 stars or above average.
Rating:
Summary: Very Powerful Highly Charged
Review: Just saw this movie and i loved it. It's about a marine officer played by the always great Samuel l Jackson is sent to Yemen where a angry mob of people is surrounding the american embasy. Cornel Chillers(Jackson) and his marines are sent to get the ambassador and his family out of there. When he arrives back in the states he is accused of firing into the crowd of innocent people. There is where Tommy Lee Jones comes in he is asked to represent him in court. We find out that Cornel Chillers fired into the crowd because they fired fisrt and he did not murder innocent people. Directed By William Friedkin who's last movie was the 1995 flop Jade. He makes a good come back showing this highly charged drama about military cover ups. In the same lines of A few Good Men although if you ask me a better cast. Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones work great together and both are great actors. Guy Pearce in a very good supporting role. Seen last in the black comedy flop Ravenous. Very powerful and highly charged sure to be hit and i'll bet you will come out really enjoying this movie,
Rating: 
Summary: Worth Your Contemplation
Review: This movie will make you think. What exactly are "rules of engagement" in battle? Can rules even apply to conflict? Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson are both excellent as veteran Marine soldiers fighting the battle of their reputations. Incidents occur in Yemen that unfortunately result in civilian deaths. So who takes the blame? Soldiers. This film brings to light the willingness of civilian judgement against someone volunteering to fight for his country. I don't think a bunch of desk jockies should have that right considering they have never faced a loaded gun and a moment to make the decision of their lives. This film will make you think about your own judgement and about the information you receive. William Friedkin directs this film with an easy hand, allowing the actors to carry the movie rather than a bunch of guts and glory. Although it was released in 2000 the events are very much related to today. Consider the court marshalls currently taking place against our soldiers in Iraq. Who is to say what rules exist for a young man or woman prepared to die. We know scapegoats exist if only politicians would take their share of the blame. Is it even possible to have rules when some people are immune to following them? Soldiers aren't playing a game that can be replayed for fairness, if they were none of them would ever die would they?
Rating:
Summary: Osama probably uses this film to encourage his men
Review: Ha,ha,ha... I cann't understand why americans ask stupid question such as why Muslims want to kill them. This film is the answer.
Rating:
Summary: racist claptrap
Review: Great movie if you want to see 'wogs' getting shot by good 'ol downhome rootin tootin all american 'heroes'. A load of old tosh if you want historical accuracy or a reasoned balanced view of the world outside the US borders. Oh well, keeps the patriots happy I suppose.
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