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Behind Enemy Lines: Axis of Evil

I really did enjoy watching the first Behind Enemy Lines. However, with this sequel, I’ll just chalk it up to a waste of 1 hour and 35 minutes of my life. I knew I should have just let my eyes close when I was feeling sleepy and that would have been a much better way to spend my time.


This little turd in a hand basket never even made it in to the theater. Hmmm…I can’t imagine why. If you’re wondering why, stay tuned….I’ll fill you in.

Let’s start with our *cough* actors. In no particular order, we have Matt Bushell who plays Master Chief Calahan. I know this guy has been on the TV side of things and I guess he figured he try his hand in movies. At least ones that make it only to DVD that is. Here’s a little free advice Mr. Bushell. If you’re good on the TV screen, stay there. The whole movie thing isn’t looking too promising right now.

Peter Coyote who plays the President of the United States. Coyote has quite an extensive list of movies in his background. Some hits and some misses. Most likely, you’ll recognize him either way. He did a half way decent job in portraying the President. Nothing spectacular by any means, but not poor either. Just average if was to try and put a number on it.

Keith David plays a Master Chief Instructor who tries his best to be tough at times and then minutes later have his eyes well up with tears. David’s role is more seen in little snapshots during training throughout the movie. It’s a rather insignificant role as well.

There are a few more main players in this movie, but honestly, they’re not even worth mentioning.

The one standout actor who had a minor role in the film, but I thought did the best job was Glenn Morshower. He plays an admiral that wants to give his SEALS a chance to do the job they were sent in for. He butts heads with a General (Bruce McGill) who simply wants all out war.

Here’s the synopsis. North Korea (DPRK) has devised a three stage missile that can deliver a standard warhead or nuclear warhead anywhere on the continental United Sates. U.S. intelligence is in an uproar over their creation and it’s mission is to destroy that particular missile. It’s decided a SEAL incursion would produce the best results after comparing the casualty estimates from a preemptive strike.

The SEAL team is flown in over North Korea and does a HALO drop off a commercial airliner. Of course, something changes and their mission is aborted. However, not before two SEALS have already HALO’d out. More want to go but get no authorization to do so. One soldier manages to punch is commanding officer and parachute in after his comrades. Once on the ground they’re ordered to find shelter as the preemptive strike is forthcoming. While they’re hiding, they’re spotted by a kid who runs in to the local village screaming his head off. Big surprise here…the North Korean army just happens to be in the same village.

If you said the next thing to happen is a fire fight, soldiers die, some get captured and then there is some torture to find out what their mission in North Korea is, I highly recommend you go out and purchase a high value lottery ticket.

South Koreans send in their Special Forces team to help out the remaining SEALS and in the end, they complete their mission. Preemptive strike diverted. World saved….hooray.

The acting displayed during the entire movie was absolutely the worst I’ve seen in quite some time. No inflection in their voices at all. It’s almost like someone was holding queue cards up for them to read off of.

The plot of the movie fared no better. You could guess the outcome of entire scenes right from the get go. No suspense, no wondering what was going to happen next. Just your typical war movie. The only twist to the movie which they should have elaborated on, was the idea of North Korea wanting us to strike first, so they could attack South Korea and unify both Koreas in to one. This interesting twist only gets a mention in the movie.

The director (James Dodson) went way overboard with cinematic effects. Let me get you thinking about two things before I go on. If you watched Saving Private Ryan and remember the storming the beach scene? The one where the camera frame rate is changed? That’s the first. The second is from Three Kings where the color is intentionally distorted to enhance the cinematic effect.

Imagine watching this during every action scene. Top that off with every single person during this entire movie that gets shot manages to get knocked way off their feet and almost do a back flip.

I haven’t seen a movie this terrible in a long time. Viewing this was a complete waste of my time and I would venture a safe guess and say it will be one of yours too, if you decide to watch this.