action a go go

Nothing has affected the United States of America more in the past two decades than the attacks of Sept. 11^th 2001. At the dawn of a new century our country was attached in the most brutal way possible and the consequences have reverberated through our society and the world ever since. You are reminded of this when ZERO DARK THIRTY begins and all you hear is a collection of recorded voices screaming, talking to loved ones, and begging for help. From that point on you are elbows deep in the hunt for one of the most notorious terrorists of our time.

Jessica Chastain in her biggest role yet.

The plot centers are a wicked smart CIA field agent named Maya, played by Jessica Chastain (LAWLESS 2012). Over the course of a decade we follow her through dead end after dead end until finally a big break emerges. Along the way we meet fellow CIA agent Dan (Jason Clarke, also in LAWLESS) who specializes in enhanced interrogation techniques. We get to know other field agents along the way as well as the CIA station chiefs and field operatives. Some are lost, others give up. Through all of this Maya perseveres until a decades worth of work pays off. When she’s with the NAVY SEALS before the mission even they bend to her latent authority. Joel Edgerton and Chris Pratt play the SEALs well.

Here we see Chris Pratt and Joel Edgerton as Navy Seals.

Instead of getting to know the team overall these two are focused on and provide us a window into just what these are about before, during, and immediately after the mission. The SEAL that has the kill shot is just a face in the crowd, as it should be.

Mark Strong gives a stirring performance.

Some performances stand out, like Mark Strong as George, a CIA higher up who struggled to convince the White House just how big this was. Kyle Chandler takes an excellent turn as Joseph Bradley. Chris Pratt does an excellent job playing against type. Jason Clarke is menacing as Dan, and Jessica Chastain is a marvel to behold. But truth be told, all of the performances are sincere and show genuine craft.

The movies greatest achievement is that it has managed to do what an untold number of movies since 9/11 have tried to do. Let me explain. As recently as SAFE HOUSE (2012) “enhanced interrogation techniques” of the Bush era were shown as what some consider them to be. Torture. We also had ACT OF VALOR (2012), a love letter to the NAVY SEALS (as well as the video game series CALL OF DUTY) that got into the nitty gritty of how they operate. THE KINGDOM (2007), BODY OF LIES (2008), and TRAITOR (2008) are all movies that dealt with battling terrorists and the moral ambiguities that arise during the hunt.

But ZERO DARK THIRTY manages to trump them all. And it’s not because it has the luxury of dealing with Osama Bin Laden head on. No, it’s because it steeps itself in the real work that goes into bringing these men down. We see agents sitting at desks pouring through books, files, and recordings. They’re spending time gathering info and putting the pieces together. They are getting inside the heads of these men, desperately trying to grasp at the only thing that matters in the intelligence field. That ever elusive thing called truth.

Moral questions and politics take a back seat while the hunt is on and the only consequence of failure is another deadly terrorist attach in this real spy world.

For Kathryn Bigelow this is a triumph and an affirmation of the incredible artist and director that she is. For what it’s worth, this is the best movie she has ever made, including THE HURT LOCKER (2008).

The writing of Mark Boal is also on point. He manages to pick highlights of the past ten years and weave them into a story that demands your attention. If this team doesn't work together again it will be a shame, as they are seemingly unstoppable together.

Of course after all that praise I have to say the movie is not totally perfect. At the beginning of the movie it really is sink or swim. As in, you commit to this movie and put the pieces together yourself or you could get lost. In that sense there is a lack of focus in the actual story itself. Also, this movie is nearly entirely told from the perspective of the Maya and other operatives. It would have interesting to see something from the vantage point of Al Qaeda. But if you could tell I am stretching things a bit.

This movie is amazing. Even more importantly, it felt like closure. I remember where I was when 9/11 happened. And I remember where I was when President Obama announced that we got Bin Laden in a raid in Pakistan. ZERO DARK THIRTY manages to connect those moments in time and put all the hard work, frustration, and desperation in focus.

For that, it is a triumph.

Go see it. It has been worth the wait.

P.S

Oh...and tradition is tradition...

Ladies and Gentleman, thank you for coming here tonight. We have an important announcement to make...WE GOT HIM! After years (maybe!) of avoiding our crack team of writers none other than Steven Seagal is ours for the reviewing! He is going to join the likes of Arnold Swarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sylvester Stallone, and a bunch of other action movie star whose names I can't spell.

And we're not just reviewing any Seagal movie, mind you. We're reviewing what is widely regarded as being the greatest movie staring the stone cold wonder, UNDER SEIGE (1992). Yes...a movie that defines the Seagal legend.

But enough talk! Has this movie stood the test of time? Does Seagal deserve to sit in the pantheon of action greats? Will anyone ever leave comments in the comments section that don't just call out our shoddy facts? (How about you leave gifs? We like gifs...)

Yes, find all this out and more below, in the ULTIMATE REVIEW OF UNDER SIEGE!!!!

THE STORY…

LOL I don't know how to cook...

It's 1991 and the legendary Battleship Missouri is going to be decommissioned. The first President Bush visited the previous day and the boat is on its way to port in Hawaii. Casey Ryback (Steven Seagal) is the Captains personal cook and is hated by Commander Krill (Gary “Wildman” Busey). Krill brings in an unauthorized band lead by William Stranix (Tommy Lee Jones) and Playboy Playmate Jordan Tate (played by actual playmate and BAYWATCH star Erika Eleniak) to entertain the crew and Captain on this last voyage.

This turns out to be huge double cross, with Stranix and Krill leading an insurrection that puts the ship, and all of its weapons, in their hands. The crew is trapped and only Ryback can put a stop to it.

Director Andrew Davis

So basically it’s DIE HARD(1988) on a boat with some extra twists thrown in. Such as instead of Ryback being a cop he’s ex Special Forces. And he’s got all sorts of tricks up his sleeve. The director is Andrew Davis, of THE FUGITIVE (1993) and ABOVE THE LAW (1988) fame. This being Davis’s second dance with Seagal, he’s perfectly suited to get the best out of the soft spoken Hollywood action star. The movie also has an excellent balance between its claustrophobic action scenes and epic battleship stuff. I know, very scientific, but my point is this isn't amateur hour. This is a well done movie that is crafted with care and will surprise you.

THE PEOPLE WHO GET PAID TO TALK….Get’s its own section this time.

I am going to kill everyone on this boat....

And that’s because there are just so many stars in the movie. But let’s start off with someone who has taken WAY too long to make it to the pages of ACTION A GO GO. Steven Seagal. I just love writing it. Born in the fires of somewhere, Seagal was one those rare birds that was a martial arts expert first and an actor second. This put’s him in the same league’s as such major action stars as Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris.

And boy, can he really kick your ass. He ran his own Aikido Dojo in Japan and became a 7^th dan black belt in the stuff. Check Out the video below thanks to YOUTUBE,

Now, here’s the tricky thing about Steven Seagal…that greatest strength of his is actually his greatest weakness. Compare Stephen Seagals style to Van Damme or Chuck Norris and it looks…boring. When you watch Chuck Norris fighting Bruce Lee below, tell me what you see.

(Sorry, video removed. But IMAGINE what it would be like watching Chuck Norris fight Bruce Lee)

That’s right, lot’s of kicking, punch throwing, and hollering as well. In other words, it’s very entertaining.

For kicks, let’s throw the Muscles from Brussels in there for another comparison. Here we see a 360 kick compilation.

So after watching these comparisons we can see what separates Van Damme, Norris, and going farther back even Bruce Lee, the godfather of karate in movies, from Seagal. There’s a certain degree of theatricality and intensity that is brought to the movie. In the post 80’s Action era Van Damme probably typified this the most, bringing all those elements to the screen in droves. But this makes Seagal’s career all the more remarkable. He won’t kick or scream or do anything overly showy because that’s the very nature of his martial art. But, thanks to the nature of the movies and the talent of directors like Davis we’re able to get inside what he’s doing and bleed some entertainment out of what could potentially be a tedious exercise in watching people fall over.

Attitude is also a big part of what makes Seagal so watchable. When other people get away with yelling and bulging eyes (looking at you Arnold) Seagal’s easy delivery and oozing machismo come across and add a healthy does of reality to what can be a ridiculous, or worse, truly unbelievable character. Sure, it can be easily lampooned, but he makes bad @ss look easy. Too easy in fact. In UNDER SIEGE this works because the main character is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and Seagal's understated demeanor fit's the role perfectly. But that’s enough of Seagal the legend. Let take a look at the other actors that litter this great film…

Which brings us to Gary Busey.

Oh, Gary Busey Gary Busey Gary Busey. To the younger among us he may be known as one of those modern day Hollywood “Crazy People”. You know the type, ravaged by what fame and success they’ve had and are now shells of their former selves that are more often than not ridiculed instead of celebrated. Well you know what? Screw that.

This guy has had a pretty awesome career as an actor in Hollywood, particularly in action movies, and this is one of his better examples. He’s plays crazy to the hilt, is deliciously nasty when he’s making fun of Seagall, and all’ve a sudden manages to get super serious with Tommy Lee Jones when he needs to. Yes, Gary Busey as Cmdr. Krill in UNDER SEIGE is nothing but top class and he holds his own with the best of them.

The other main bad guy on duty is Tommy Lee Jones as William Stranix. His back story is that the C.I.A tried to eliminate him but failed, so as revenge he’s taken over the Missouri and will do whatever he can to reek revenge. Of course, Jones gives us an incredible performance here. He goes from to be a hippie to being a cold blooded killer and back again with chilling ease. Obviously there's something special going on here because in 1993 Davis would go on to direct Jones to an Oscar nominated performance in THE FUGITIVE.

One more star is of particular importance. Ericka Eleniak as Jordan Tate is a strange if effective addition to the cast. As mentioned before, she is a playmate playing a playmate (very meta) and has one of the best “girl popping out of a cake scenes” ever. It’s probably…wait, no, it is the best. If there is a list for such things.

One of the few SFW pictures we could find from this scene...

The rest of the cast is rounded out by a stream of Hollywood regulars you’d notice from their minor roles in other projects. For instance Troy Evans is solid in his supporting role, bringing his homey down to earth charms with him.

Glenn Morshower of TRANSFORMERS (2007) and CSI fame is thrown in here as well. It’s interesting to see he’s been playing the authoritative military type for more than twenty years.

If you are a fan of the STAR TREKTV show's from the 90's you will be pleased to see that Colm Meaney takes a turn as a bad guy this time, and has an excellent time of it.

Colm Meaney taking his place at the villians table...

Last in this section but certainly not least is Damian Chapa. According to IMDB this was his breakout role, and he went on to be Ken In the classic STREET FIGHTER (1994).

Chiappa in red gets footloose in STREET FIGHTER (1994) as KEN.

So now that we got that would of the way...let's get on to the good stuff.

WHAT’S ACTION A GO GO…..

Oh…the action. The action the action the action. Davis is pretty masterful here. When I said top class, I did mean top class.

At the beginning I loosely compared it to DIE HARD and I think that comparison could be carried through here. DIE HARD maintained it’s claustrophobic atmosphere and played on McClane being a rat in a cage with only so few people to talk to.

The opposite happens here. Along the way the cast grows, and so do the stakes. This isn’t a static building that the police can surround. This ship is a moving, breathing thing that is fully armed, and does strike out at times. The stakes are raised considerably, and this compounds the consequences of failure for Ryback. Along the way, other characters step up and add some spice to what’s going on.

The Missouri also functions as a great back drop, and star, of the show. Watching an American icon going full tilt boogie is as entertaining as it sounds, and is miles ahead of BATTLESHIP (2012), a movie that tried to do the same thing but fell flat thanks to it’s lackluster plot and ridiculous ending.

Oh..and the knife play. Usually shoot outs and martial arts play are featured prominently in these movies, but in UNDER SIEGE daggers play a huge roll and it's a lot of fun to watch. Particularly the final bout between Ryback and Stranix. It's worth the wait.

WHAT’S ACTION A NO NO….

Here we see Erika Eleniak entertaining the troops...

Of course, this movie is not without flaws.

Some members of the supporting cast give campy performances. They are trying to go for all American, but instead end up sounding stupid.

There are logic holes you could drive a (snicker) battleship through.

Krill "Watcha thinking bout?" Stranix "Nothin. Just terrorist stuff."

But besides these minor flaws the movie holds up. This ain’t ZERO DARK THIRTY (2012) serious, so once you put yourself in the right mindset this movie will carry your through and those flaws will melt into the background.

THE FINAL VERDICT

Hit the play button on this one...it's ACTION A GO GO approved!!!

I got to be honest...I went into watching this movie prepared to be disappointed. I was prepared for much of it to be dated and tired. But thankfully I had no need to worry. Between Seagal, the excellent supporting cast, and the action this movie is an American classic that deserves a place on your shelf or hard drive.

I got it in a BLU-RAY combo pack myself on the cheap at Best Buy. It was bundled with UNDER SIEGE 2 (1995).

I haven't watched US2 as of yet, but I think I'm going to bring it up against DIE HARD 2 in a DUELING MOVIES bonanza. If that sounds good let us know in the comments.

So get your hands on UNDER SIEGE if you can and enjoy! Classic American action doesn't get much better than this!

PS. Apparently Steven Seagal is active in training some prominent UFC fighters and has been criticized for taking the credit for teaching some fighters everything they know. Or some such. This, of course, has been turned into a meme. Check it out.