During a long space war, the lives of two wounded enemies become dependent on their ability to forgive and to trust.During a long space war, the lives of two wounded enemies become dependent on their ability to forgive and to trust.During a long space war, the lives of two wounded enemies become dependent on their ability to forgive and to trust.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 8 nominations
Lou Michaels
- Wilson
- (as Lou Micheals)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaLouis Gossett Jr. said in a television interview that he had talked while gargling saliva as a kid as one of those kid things. He told Wolfgang Petersen that he thought that it would add a good touch to his character. Gossett performed the odd vocalizations all by himself (no mouth prosthetics or post-production effects), and often does "the Drac voice" at convention appearances.
- GoofsZammis speaks as if English is a second language. Being a member of an alien species, it's possible that he might appear to have an "accent" because of differences in his physical vocal structures. But his vocabulary and syntax should be the same as that of Willis Davidge, his only teacher.
- Alternate versionsThe UK cinema version had been shortened by the distributors before release following negative reviews in the US and was then cut by 27 secs by the BBFC for a PG certificate with edits made to the severed ear sequence. The cuts were restored to the 1987 15-rated video release and the full US version was released on DVD in 2002.
Featured review
I saw this movie way, way back then - in the "before" time. Before there were computer generated special effects that took over everything and anything about a sci-fi movie. When I watched it then, I really enjoyed it. Having just watched it again, I still enjoy it. It's a well done piece of sci-fi. In fact, it certainly has to rank among the better sci- fi movies of the 80's if only because it's so different from most, and much more thoughtful. Outer space movies tend to be be heavy on inter- stellar battles between space ships, and futuristic weapons - and usually it's at the expense of story. "Enemy Mine" limits those and focuses much more heavily on story line and character development and becomes much more satisfying as a result.
The two leads are great. Dennis Quaid is the lead character, as Willis Davidge - he's a space fighter pilot who crash lands on a strange world after a battle and finds himself stranded with one of his opponents - a lizard-like Drac named Jeriba, played by Lou Gossett, Jr. Humans and Dracs have been at war with each other ever since humans started exploring the galaxy, and discovered the Dracs already there. Davidge and Jeriba are hostile to each other at first, seeking to capture and/or kill each other, but gradually they realize that to survive in this hostile environment, they're going to have to learn to co-operate, and eventually co-operation turns to friendship between them. You really couldn't ask for better performances than those given by Quaid and Gossett.
Set in the late 21st century, the movie nevertheless alludes to older problems. You think of racism as you see human "scavengers" enslaving captured Dracs, and there are clear shades of the Cold War (this was the 80's, after all) in the idea of two resolutely opposed individuals trying to learn to get along with each other. "Enemy Mine" is sometimes sad, but almost always hopeful, as it demonstrates that even between the fiercest and most seemingly dissimilar of foes, there's usually not that much difference. Truly a must-see from the 80's. (7/10)
The two leads are great. Dennis Quaid is the lead character, as Willis Davidge - he's a space fighter pilot who crash lands on a strange world after a battle and finds himself stranded with one of his opponents - a lizard-like Drac named Jeriba, played by Lou Gossett, Jr. Humans and Dracs have been at war with each other ever since humans started exploring the galaxy, and discovered the Dracs already there. Davidge and Jeriba are hostile to each other at first, seeking to capture and/or kill each other, but gradually they realize that to survive in this hostile environment, they're going to have to learn to co-operate, and eventually co-operation turns to friendship between them. You really couldn't ask for better performances than those given by Quaid and Gossett.
Set in the late 21st century, the movie nevertheless alludes to older problems. You think of racism as you see human "scavengers" enslaving captured Dracs, and there are clear shades of the Cold War (this was the 80's, after all) in the idea of two resolutely opposed individuals trying to learn to get along with each other. "Enemy Mine" is sometimes sad, but almost always hopeful, as it demonstrates that even between the fiercest and most seemingly dissimilar of foes, there's usually not that much difference. Truly a must-see from the 80's. (7/10)
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Neprijateljski rudnik
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $40,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $12,303,411
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,594,702
- Dec 22, 1985
- Gross worldwide
- $12,303,411
- Runtime1 hour 48 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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