Rating: 
Summary: Bummer!
Review: I am so dissappointed! This film put my favorite actors together and it didn't live up to its potential. The first half was absolutely lousy, and deserved zero stars. The second half was better, but not enough to redeem this one. Rules of Engagement did not satisfy me. It was corny, unrealistic, predictable, and it lacked intensity. What a waste of a good cast. Its R rating reflects war violence, and some language. Leave this one on the shelf. Let the previews satisfy you, because the movie will only let you down.
Rating:
Summary: Completely unbelievable and inaccurate courtroom drama
Review: Although the acting is top notch in this movie, the unbelievable and inaccurate storyline overshadows the performances of Jackson and Jones. A commanding officer in the situation presented would never act as Jackson does here, moreover a marine as hotheaded as Jackson would never rise to such a command, much less the rank of colonel. Moreover, the courtroom scenes are ridiculous as they in no way resemble the procedure of an actual courtmartial. Improper argument during opening statements, questioning an ambassador as to how he would give orders to troops if he were a military commander, constant cussing during testimony etc. It would never happen. Moreover, it is unbelievable that the National Security Advisor and ambassador would conspire to frame a soldier and destroy evidence in this way. There is too much to risk and little realistically to gain. It makes the movie hard to enjoy. Don't bother.
Rating:
Summary: Where to Start?
Review: I trashed this film when it first came out because I thought it was completely implausible. "Yemenis are our allies!" I pleaded. "That could never happen...!"Well, I guess I was wrong about that. In just a few years, we're at war with practically the whole Islamic world. So why doesn't "Rules of Engagement" hold up today? Well, it isn't a very good movie. I was disappointed because Friedkin is one of my favorite directors of all time. Nothing was really thought out. For example... Who thought a 50 year old Tommy Lee could pass for a 20 something year old just by putting a hat on him? Please. They could have hired younger actors to play the younger versions of Lee and Jackson's characters! If all those people in the crowd had guns, why didn't we see any in the beginning? Why didn't the Marines focus on the snipers in the adjacent towers? Surely, they were a more viable target than a few shooters in the crowd down below. Why was the State Department guy SO concerned about our ties to the Arabs? And there's more. Much more. "Rules of Engagement" has potential but feels like a B-movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Powerful and believable.
Review: This is a powerful movie that closely examines the problem faced by every trial lawyer: how do you bring the reality of what really happened into a courtroom. Facts appear different in court. And of course often one side does everything it can, and more than it should, to distort "objective truth" to the extent that it exists. That is what this movie is about. The movie deals with a combat marine (Samuel L. Jackson) who rescues the staff of the besieged American embassy in Yemen. Things get ugly and people die. Was he a trigger-happy war criminal, or was he doing his duty in a damnable situation? That is the question that the movie examines. Tommy Lee Jones is very good as the defense attorney, and Jackson does his customary excellent job. The premise is unfortunately very believable. There are many technical defects in the court-martial that will offend any trial lawyers watching the movie (during opening and closing Jones makes many personal references to himself and his personal knowledge of the defendant, for example). But put these defects aside. The real issue here is how to bring reality into the courtroom in the face of a determined attempt by the government to deceive and obfuscate. The DVD is of very high quality, both audio and video. It is a pleasure to watch. I am not much of a Tommy Lee Jones fan, but he was pretty darned good in this movie. Samuel L. Jackson is very authentic and reminds us that there are tough, good soldiers and marines out there putting their lives on the line to protect us. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Don't bother
Review: I am a HUGE fan of Tommy Lee Jones and I only advise you to see this if just seeing him makes you happy. This movie felt like something you would see on TV on those womens channels. It is slow moving with so many unnecessary flashbacks it gets annoying. Looking at the cast you would think it would be great but it simply isn't. It has a week script and the actors even look bored. If you have to see it to get your own opinion go to the library and check it out for free.
Rating: 
Summary: From day one a true to life war thriller ....
Review: What a marvellous picture ..... and .... true to it's title does convey the inexorable dilemma of today's fighting men in the US armed forces where rather than strapping on a flak jacket most would probably rather strap on a lawyer! It's not just get your gun an kill the enemy any more when we see the enemy practically hiding under the skirts of women or behind the swadelling clothes of unfed babies. Of course, when fighting that kind of a war a coward invariably comes out on top while the real soldier finds himself in a bind for doing what is morally right at the moment when your men around you are being splatted like bugs on a wall ..... Sure there are parts of the movie that seem implausible to the viewer .... but like all great movies or plays the frustration is that what we the audience know and see is either unknown or ignored by the actors .... thats the spice of the whole thing for goodness sake ....
Rating:
Summary: It Has It All
Review: Great actors, excellent acting, intriquing storyline, action, moves at a good pace, keeps you interested, entertains....and the sound quality of this DVD is one of the best. What more could you ask for?
Rating: 
Summary: Is this for real?
Review: Is this supposed to be a true story? The way the "oh no we've ran out of film" ending suddenly comes up, with all the text about "what happens next", you get the impression that it is. But it's not, is it? As another reviewer says, the implausible plot makes fools of some good actors trying their best. Would have been better if it had gone the "A Few Good Men" direction and placed Jackson as a man doing what he needs to do but not following the rules as they are written down. disappointing, dismal, dismissed.
Rating:
Summary: You can't handle the truth
Review: I enjoyed this film. Sam Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones are always excellent and they are here as well. I even liked Guy Pearce. It works well both as an action movie and a court room drama. I have to laugh the reviewers saying the action scenes were unrealistic. "When have you seen a 6 year-old firing a pistol?" Read Blackhawk Down sometime. Watch the film clips on the website of 10 year old children with AKs charging a downed helicopter. Read about the Somalians using their women and children as human shields. You know why you don't see this in the movies normally? Because they don't want to make any interest groups mad. You want the truth? You can't handle the truth.
Rating:
Summary: Great film involving military justice
Review: JAG, Men of Honor, A Few Good Men, Nuremberg - what do these films/television shows have in common? Each of these classically depicts some aspect of military justice. One more of such plot should also be added to the list. That film is Rules of Engagement. Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson portray Colonels Hodgins and Childers of the US Marine Corps. Childers, accused of the murder of 83 "innocents" in Yemen during the evacuation of a US ambassador, played by Ben Kingsley, turns to an old Vietnam war-buddy, Colonel Haynes Hodgins of the US Marine Corps, to defend his case. Hodgins, an attorney reaching the end of his military career, takes his friend's case, and defends him. What remains is a plot of corrupt National Security officials, a trail of unanswered questions, and a trial which rocks the nation. I encourage all moviegoers to witness this timeless war-legalities film and learn a little more about the US system of justice, along with several aspects of edge-of-your-seat anticipation.
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