Scanialara You won't be disappointed!

Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

NiWi In one sentence, I'd say this film was a "absolutely Brilliant delivery and reliable plot twist"When they say 'keep them guessing', this film will officially come up in my memory, because it send me on sooooo many curves and circles. But without spoiling, the ending was by far the biggest circle out of the whole film.I must admit I did slightly find it interesting to see John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in the same movie. Both our there performances were great, can't say the same for the female protagonist, her acting was flat and just there as a place holder.I enjoyed this film and the only think that made me take away a star is the constant inappropriate comments in the beginning.(Could have done without)

geneguerrero This review is about 13 years late but I really have nothing better to do right at this very moment. I've seen the trailers at the time when this movie came out and was intrigued but never got to the theater or rental store to check it out. I did however find this at a pawn shop for $1 and thought "Oh what the hey. May as well check it out". Basic, directed by John McTiernan (Die Hard) and starring John Travolta and bad muthaf*cka Samuel L. Jackson, is a movie centered around a DEA agent investigating the mysterious disappearance of a famed US Army drill instructor. One of the main selling points that fooled me into buying this movie was one of the reviews stating it was "seductive and electrifying with non stop action!". And I enjoy most of John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson's movies. But I felt none of those words in that review. It was boring and confusing. After 10 minutes, all you know is that someone may have did something bad and we as the audience will need to stick around till the end to find out why. Well I got the end and still didn't know what the hell just happened. I viewed it a second time and was bored again after 10 minutes. The writer tried to put together a military thriller mixed a little with "The Usual Suspects" style mystery but it wasn't as interesting or exciting. To me, the only cool scene in this movie was when John Travolta decided to stop messing around and took a suspect he was interrogating out to a helicopter hangar and threatened to shove the suspect's face into a moving helicopter propeller screaming "You want to see what happens when you lie!" I wanted to do the same to the person that put that review on the back of the DVD cover - "Electrifying with non stop action!" SMH. I want my $1 back.

antonjsw1 I hoped that with a dream team cast of John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson, who both tore up the screen on 'Pulp Fiction', that this film would be home run director John McTiernan. However, the overall impact of the film is one that is reasonably entertaining, it does not come close to any of McTiernan's previous films and would be best described as 'solid, but could do better'.The plot tries to be too clever, resulting in the impact that the climax feels a bit of a cheat. It is logical at one level, but feels like the audience is manipulated one step too far. You certainly have to pay attention to keep on top of what is going on, otherwise you'll get lost in the convolutions of twist after twist after twist. Also, because the experience of the film doesn't pull you along viscerally (for example Inception), you are forced into having to pay attention. This has the effect of making the viewer more detached and less involved with the characters, none of which you really empathise or connect with over the length of the story, as your brain is busy figuring out the machinations of the plot. This is despite some very charismatic performances by Jackson and Travolta, which for me were the only real strong positives in the film. It is just that the feel and atmosphere of the film doesn't allow you to connect with them on a deeper and more visceral level as the focus is on the journey of the plot, and not that of the characters within the story. Technical credits are solid. Steve Mason's photography is much better this time round than it was on Rollerball, though I wonder if some of McTiernan's previous collaborators might have done a better job. Certainly McTiernan's directing this time around is much more assured, with the clever use of Ravel's Bolero in the music's soundtrack. Otherwise though, it is nowhere near engaging as any of his previous films with the obvious exception of the mess that was Rollerball. Overall this a solid, unspectacular and unmemorable film. If you pay attention and persevere with the plot, you will get some enjoyment from watching it, even if the end feels a bit of a cheat. It clearly isn't the best movie in the procedural thriller genre, but neither is it a poor one - there have been plenty worse. I hope that now released from prison, McTiernan will be able to get hold of projects that will be able to fully showcase his talents, and if someone like Terrence Malick is anything to go by, that a ten year plus hiatus from film-making should be no barrier to McTiernan producing films at the level of his past best.

adi_2002 Sergeant West (Samuel L. Jackson) is ruthless with his soldiers, very experienced, powerful, dominator and is aware the fact that its slightly out of yarn. While on a training a storm hits the unexpected and thus they are forced to land in middle of the jungle. Everything goes wrong and ends with Sgt and cadets to kill each other but two manage to survive, one is in the hospital and the other detained for questioning. Officer Hardy (John Travolta) is sent to interrogate the soldier and to find out what really happened that night and is helped by Colonel Osbourne.For this kind is well thought out but has small glitches with the sudden twists of the situation but also an exciting moment when we find true soldier Dunbar race. Also note the good performances from John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and Giovanni Ribisi.