S.W.A.T. (2003)

"We're going to need guns. Lots of guns." -- Neo; The Matrix

I barely remember watching the original series in the '70s, but having just seen this version, I can tell you that it was absolutely fantastic!

"The end." -- Frank Calliendo as Dubya.
July 20, 2008

FANTASTIC!!!!

I saw this on a "normal" dvd. Then I decided to see it on BLU RAY. It looks great. Has some good action. July 20, 2008

Formulaic but fun

For the life of me, I don't understand why so many dog this movie. It's entertaining, well acted, and the plot is fairly original. As far as rough and tough police movies go, this one is solid the whole way through, with believable action, all sorts of spectacular gun play, and enough machismo to fill a police station armory.

Old-school sergeant Hondo (Samuel L. Jackson) gets a chance to put together an elite S.W.A.T. team, he snatches up the rebellious Street to go along with other police force lepers Chris Sanchez (Michelle Rodriguez), Deke Kay (LL Cool J), Michael Boxer (Brian Van Holt), and TJ McCabe (Josh Charles) hell-bent on proving everyone wrong. (Absolute great casting for a tough-as-nails cop drama!)

The jist of the action revolves around Alex Montel (Olivier Martinez), a criminal who makes an on-air promise to deliver $100 million dollars to whoever frees him. Naturally, every delinquent, desperado, and dreamer sees dollar signs, thereby initiating the cat and mouse game between good guys and bad guys.

Samuel L. Jackson is superb as always, dominating every scene in which he stars, and solid performances are turned in by Rodriguez, LL, and Farrell. The ending sequence is full of intrigue and excitement, with the best (only?) car/plane chase seen in cinema history. S.W.A.T. delivers what it promises: a hyper, cop tale with plenty of fast-paced action sequences, cool, likable characters, and a pretty exciting ending. July 8, 2008

Guns Galore

S.W.A.T. DVD

Samuel L. Jackson stars as the leader of a S.W.A.T team with Colin Farrell as his assistant in a high action, thrill a minute movie with more exotic guns and other weapons than you can count. Supposedly a very realistic movie, I wouldn't know, I`ve never been a member of a a S.W.A.T team and wouldn't want to be either.

The Team escorts an international criminal to prison who has publicly offered a very large reward ($100 million) to anyone who can get him free. Highly recommended to fans of Samuel L. Jackson and S.W.A.T teams.

Gunner March, 2008
March 16, 2008

EXCEPTION TO THE RULE: TV TO BIG SCREEN DONE RIGHT

Tons of movies are being made today based on television shows from the recent past. Well, at least it's recent to me. CHARLIES ANGELS, MCHALES NAVY, SGT. BILKO and more have made the transfer over the past few years. And there are more on the way. But for now, let's look at S.W.A.T.

The old show had a hardened veteran in Steve Forest as Hondo, leading an elite team of police officers into harms way, solving situations that regular officers couldn't handle on their own. The group became known and the fans began to love each of their favorite S.W.A.T. team member.

This movie does the same thing, with one exception. Gone are the days when police officers were respected and well liked. They have been replaced with images of police beating men brutally and without mercy. They have been made out to be the bad guys more than the bad guys by the press. And with that in mind, we begin to understand the theme here, the underlying current laid out by the Capt. Fuller (Larry Poindexter). They need a team that is special, that can get the job done, but also a team that can garner the respect and admiration of the whole city.

The main story revolves around an S.W.A.T. member, or ex member, named Jim Street (Colin Farrell). When his partner goes down for disobeying orders and getting a hostage shot, Street stays on the force, being subjected to the lowest duty possible for a man of action, taking care of the cage. There, he cleans boots, checks out guns and waits for the day he'll get a chance to prove himself once more. Had he turned on his partner, he would have walked and stayed with the team. But now....this.

Six months pass and a new team is being assembled. Brought in to shake things up and train the team is Sgt. Dan "Hondo" Harrelson (Samuel L. Jackson). A veteran of the original teams in their beginning, Hondo is brought back to whip into shape a new team, the team that they are looking for to not only get the job done, but to look good doing it.

Hondo recruits his own team, putting his reputation and job on the line for them, and sets out to train his team. Included are L.L.Cool Jay, Josh Charles, Michelle Rodriquez, Brain Van Holt and Farrell. Hondo does get the team up and running and it doesn't take long for them to see action, as does the audience.

A converging storyline follows a foreign mobster who has been arrested for a broken tail light. Once recognized, he is about to be escorted to prison. Along his walk into the jail, with the assistance of the ever anxious press, he calls out that he will give $100 million to anyone who breaks him free. With most of the city contemplating the idea and with gang bangers looking for easy money, the attacks begin.

Does he get rescued? Does he go to prison? Does the S.W.A.T. team gel? Watch and see in this action packed film.
March 15, 2008

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