Behind Enemy Lines (2001)

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

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

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Joaquim de Almeida (who is Portuguese, not Italian!) portrays what can be described as a villain that does his job swiftly and without notice, as a great villain does. Great performance by an actor who should be more celebrated and acknowledged than he is today.Owen Wilson shows to an audience what he can do as an actor. He can be great as a comedian but I've enjoyed this 'realistic' performance way better than others. Terrific performance, where one could feel the pressure and the stress of the character as it is forced to deal with life threatening issues.Gene Hackman as the Admiral also presents to us how hard can be to lead men. I don't care if real Admirals can't be like Father figures or they seldom do. Leading men is much more than barking out orders. Real leaders who know what they are doing should be proud to be depicted as this Admiral. Gene Hackman is a great actor and this movie (once again) proves it.Behind Enemy Lines is a great movie to watch and to feel as long as you watch it as intended - as a movie! - and not as a documentary. As for the military men who are currently serving - be safe out there!8 out of 10!

I truly enjoyed this movie, because it took a lighthearted approach to 'running for your life' while serving in the forces. I was, however, disheartened by the fact that Scott O'Grady brought down a law suit on the study for "portraying him" in a bad light. This movie was about anything else but Scott O'Grady. Note: Sorry Scott, but it's not about you...I enjoyed the way Wilson took control of his character and lived up to the expectation of what one would expect from a Navy pilot. Let's not forget Gene 'The Man' Hackman. It's difficult to imagine Hackman 'not' being in the service because he does it so 'friggin' well.The movie is suspenseful and the supporting cast is simply awesome! It's just one of those films where not enough credit was given to everyone, all around!

Thr negative reviewers must be watching a different movie. Yes it's not going to win any awards for originality. But it's still a great movie. Big fan of the cinematography used, nice hand-held footage that is not over the top. The acting is good, the action is good. There is nothing really to dislike about this movie. I think Owen Wilson did a commendable job in this movie and while he normally does comedies, I think he fits the role nicely. The bad guys are dis-likable too, not comical or over the top. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoy this movie. Worth watching.

F-18 Fighter navigator Chris Burnett (Owen Wilson) is tired of boring meaningless flying over the Balkins. On a routine Christmas mission, he gets stuck on a recon mission. They go off course to scout a target, but get shot down. The Serbs find the pilot and executes him. Chris goes on the run alone against massive forces. Meanwhile Admiral Leslie McMahon Reigart (Gene Hackman) in command of the carrier sets out to rescue the down pilot despite orders not to.There are many things going wrong with this movie. First there is no way any command would not go to Hell to rescue a down pilot. A bit of diplomacy is not going to stop any American command. The only possible excuse is logistics, and an aircraft carrier has all the logistic they need.Then there is the standard bad guys can't shot straight. Owen Wilson is bullet proof. They are blowing up the entire country and yet they keep missing the guy. It gets ridiculous after awhile.This is a blow em up action thriller disguised as a realistic military movie. If you forget any pretense of real danger, this is a good fun time having things explode.