I rented this flick simply because the DVD cover looked like it was a good flick. I was in the mood for a guy flick and the DVD cover caught my eye, the premise written on the jacket was decent and also I didn't feel like watching any films that are really deep (plotwise)at the time. Well, to my surprise the DVD Cover was the only thing redeeming about this flick.
Supposedly, this is based on a joint operations between the Philippine military and the U.S. Marines in the hunt for the Abu Sayef Brigade (thugs more like it) in the Southern Philippines (Mindanao). Well it was a good idea for a flick but very bad execution in more ways than one.
The plot is a rip off of "Black Hawk Down". How so, you may ask? Well, there was a mission (that is the capture of thug/terrorist Abu Bakkar), a chopper went down, the pilot was captured, there's a sub-mission: that is to rescue the pilot (since you know, Marines never leaves anyone behind), the bad guys die, some of the good guys die, then the heroes bury their dead etc. All that is nice and good except it was badly done even for a small budget flick. Oh yeah, did I mention the even some of the scores were very similar to BHD. Simply pathetic.
The acting is sub par. The woman who played Capt. Jennings seemed like she's reading the script rather than acting. Rutger Hauer, for such a good actor seemed like he did not want to be in this flick. Mark Dacascos performance is halfway decent. Of course, it doesn't help if the dialogues were poorly written. The dialogues simply lack realism. It's obvious the writers never had any military background. At the very least, know the basic military lingo to make the lines a little bit more convincing.
The cinematography is decent. It did try to copy BHD but it simply fell short. I could understand why, as it is not easy to shoot war scenes, not too mention working on a limited budget. This is evidenced in the set design and lack of military consultants to at least train extras on rules of engagement, weapon handling etc.
I do think that watching this flick is a waist of money (and time) but if you just happen to be in the mood for a bad flick on a cold rainy Friday night; then go ahead and rent it.
Supposedly, this is based on a joint operations between the Philippine military and the U.S. Marines in the hunt for the Abu Sayef Brigade (thugs more like it) in the Southern Philippines (Mindanao). Well it was a good idea for a flick but very bad execution in more ways than one.
The plot is a rip off of "Black Hawk Down". How so, you may ask? Well, there was a mission (that is the capture of thug/terrorist Abu Bakkar), a chopper went down, the pilot was captured, there's a sub-mission: that is to rescue the pilot (since you know, Marines never leaves anyone behind), the bad guys die, some of the good guys die, then the heroes bury their dead etc. All that is nice and good except it was badly done even for a small budget flick. Oh yeah, did I mention the even some of the scores were very similar to BHD. Simply pathetic.
The acting is sub par. The woman who played Capt. Jennings seemed like she's reading the script rather than acting. Rutger Hauer, for such a good actor seemed like he did not want to be in this flick. Mark Dacascos performance is halfway decent. Of course, it doesn't help if the dialogues were poorly written. The dialogues simply lack realism. It's obvious the writers never had any military background. At the very least, know the basic military lingo to make the lines a little bit more convincing.
The cinematography is decent. It did try to copy BHD but it simply fell short. I could understand why, as it is not easy to shoot war scenes, not too mention working on a limited budget. This is evidenced in the set design and lack of military consultants to at least train extras on rules of engagement, weapon handling etc.
I do think that watching this flick is a waist of money (and time) but if you just happen to be in the mood for a bad flick on a cold rainy Friday night; then go ahead and rent it.