Fighter navigator Chris Burnett (Owen Wilson) wants out of the Navy: he was looking for something more than boring recon missions he's been flying. He finds himself the lone Christmas day mission over war-torn Bosnia. But, when he talks pilot Stackhouse into flying slightly off-course to check out an interesting target, the two get shot down. Burnett is soon alone, trying to outrun a pursuing army, while commanding officer Reigert (Gene Hackman) finds his rescue operation hamstrung by politics, forcing Burnett to run far out of his way.

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Yet the depiction of the Serb ground forces as brutal and conscienceless bogeymen is a bit overdone and not very accurate; most of the Serbs treated downed American fliers with consideration and in a very friendly manner. Of course, had this been depicted as part of the Kosovo effort, the scenes depicting the Serbs might have been more accurate. As it stands, however, the story is hardly representative of the reality on the ground during the Bosnian campaign.

Still, taken at face value as action entertainment, the movie isn't half-bad. Yet as anything like serious drama it has too many implausible elements and too many coincidences to hold water. So, while this is no "to Hell And Back', it is an exciting escapist excursion you will enjoy watching. The scenes filmed on the carrier are especially graphic and well done, and the shots of the planes coming off the deck are breath taking.

So too the aerial photography is very well choreographed and accomplished, and the action shots of the plane being engaged by ground batteries fairly realistic in its technical details. The cast is quite good, with Owen Wilson playing the downed flier and Gene Hackman the Carrier skipper who is trying to get him back. This is good stuff to wile away a Saturday evening as long as you don't take any of it too literally. Enjoy!

4 of 4 found the following review helpful:

Excellent Gene Hackman--and I don't like Gene Hackman!Jul 14, 2002
By Stephen M. Bauer
This was a surprisingly thrilling story about the rescue of an American pilot in the war in Bosnia. The pilot's mission was to take photographs of the, "Killing fields.". Upon rescue of the pilot, he also manages to rescue the photographs. The Serbs are the bad guys. There is no gray.

The movie is loaded with special effects and explosions. Gene Hackman is pretty good in this one, even I have to admit. I liked the actor, Owen Wilson, who played the pilot. He looked and acted very different than most male actors would, especially in a military role. He seemed like an average, regular guy, with a normal personality, which I felt drew a lot of credibility and sympathy from me, to his character.

The film was based on a true incident. Some of the technology shown was amazing. I hope for our sake that we really have such capability.

6 of 7 found the following review helpful:

Action packed funJun 17, 2003
By D. Schwartz
If you're looking for a movie with action, suspense, blood, and big guns, you'll love this movie. The effects are incredible, especially the first part of the film, before they get shot down over enemy territory. The acting is great and, boy... what an ending. You'll love it!

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