This fluid, adrenaline-fuelled addition to the recent wave of war films to hit our cinemas in the wake of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN is less serious than most, instead preferring to simplify the characters and situations of the (real-life) war situation - and using them as a basis for what is pretty much a straightforward action offering, utilising the old-fashioned "chase" style plot as a basis for the continuous shoot-outs and battles between enemies. In fact the film has a minimalist style, preferring to keep things low key, as a sole man - played by Owen Wilson - must try and make it to safe ground before the stereotypical bad guys shoot him dead. BEHIND ENEMY LINES may not be a work of art, but as an action film it exceeds all of our expectations. The pacing never flags for a second and the action is plentiful and exciting.
The highlight of the movie is undoubtedly the super-impressive airborne chase between our heroes in their Navy jet and two surface-to-air missiles sent to destroy it. Utilising modern digital effects, this air battle is portrayed as never before and extremely entertaining. From then on, the rest of the action is surface-based and concentrates on massive amounts of gunfire, explosions, tanks and even a sniper or two sent to obliterate our American hero before he can escape. Critics complain about the clichéd nature of the plot and the patriotic flag-waving from the US, but when the action is this good such trappings don't really matter. Watch out for an ambush in a minefield which is also a highlight of the movie.
Stylistically, director John Moore is one of those MTV graduates desperate to pack the movie with as many camera styles, pans, tricks, sweeps and spins as possible. The widely contrasting methods of filming do become a little too frenetic and overwhelming but on a whole they're adequate and add to the realistic feel of the action. Owen Wilson has now matured from lame comedy and bad acting in THE HAUNTING into becoming an adequate leading man and the viewer gets to engage with his good-natured character as he narrowly avoids the enemy time after time. Gene Hackman is there for name value as a gruff admiral back at the base, who barks orders like there's no tomorrow and eventually proves to be a good chap after all (I told you this was clichéd). Despite whatever shortcomings, BEHIND ENEMY LINES is a fine piece of light-hearted cinema, an old-fashioned adventure with little or no moralising to get in the way. Shallow but very entertaining.
The highlight of the movie is undoubtedly the super-impressive airborne chase between our heroes in their Navy jet and two surface-to-air missiles sent to destroy it. Utilising modern digital effects, this air battle is portrayed as never before and extremely entertaining. From then on, the rest of the action is surface-based and concentrates on massive amounts of gunfire, explosions, tanks and even a sniper or two sent to obliterate our American hero before he can escape. Critics complain about the clichéd nature of the plot and the patriotic flag-waving from the US, but when the action is this good such trappings don't really matter. Watch out for an ambush in a minefield which is also a highlight of the movie.
Stylistically, director John Moore is one of those MTV graduates desperate to pack the movie with as many camera styles, pans, tricks, sweeps and spins as possible. The widely contrasting methods of filming do become a little too frenetic and overwhelming but on a whole they're adequate and add to the realistic feel of the action. Owen Wilson has now matured from lame comedy and bad acting in THE HAUNTING into becoming an adequate leading man and the viewer gets to engage with his good-natured character as he narrowly avoids the enemy time after time. Gene Hackman is there for name value as a gruff admiral back at the base, who barks orders like there's no tomorrow and eventually proves to be a good chap after all (I told you this was clichéd). Despite whatever shortcomings, BEHIND ENEMY LINES is a fine piece of light-hearted cinema, an old-fashioned adventure with little or no moralising to get in the way. Shallow but very entertaining.