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		Our Rating Reviewer Nils van der Linden Rated 13V Running Time 105 mins Starring Owen Wilson, Gene Hackman, Gabriel Macht Director John Moore Screenplay David Veloz & Zak Penn, based on a story by James Thomas & John Thomas Website www.behindenemylinesmovie.com Movie Details The Internet Movie Database

Films such as "Saving Private Ryan", "Full Metal Jacket" and "Enemy At The Gates" helped introduce an element of objectivity into the war genre by moving beyond a one-sided look at conflicts. This progress is somewhat undone by "Behind Enemy Lines" which explodes back into that gung-ho, invincible action-figure territory once inhabited by the "Rambo" and "Commando" movies.

Mainly at fault for the distinct lack of realism is the screenplay — a team effort by the writers of "Natural Born Killers" and "Last Action Hero". While each of their earlier projects provided a unique twist to the action genre, their collaboration is so cliché-ridden that it could easily be dismissed as US flag-waving propaganda.

Fighter navigator Lieutenant Chris Burnett (Owen Wilson) is the true blue American hero who, albeit reluctantly at first, has to fight for his survival in the Serbian wilderness after being shot down by rebel forces. Of course Burnett is single-handedly able to evade, outwit and dodge the bullets and missiles of an entire platoon of Serb forces. Unsurprisingly these rebel troops are horribly incompetent marksmen and their commanders are little more than brutal sadists.

Cape Town-based guest writer Nils van der Linden is currently studying journalism at the University of Stellenbosch and has a great interest in the entertainment world.

In fact, by substituting the Serbs with Russians, Germans or Japanese, you are left with the same basic war story that has been repeated since the days of John Wayne. Furthermore, the broad strokes of the script completely ignore the origins of the war and Serbia simply seems to be the latest setting for US heroes to fight the enemy of the month.

Despite the simplicity of the screenplay, the filmmakers have also felt the need to spell out everything to the audience. The name and rank of certain characters are included as subtitles when they first appear onscreen, while flashbacks, rather than facial expressions, are used to further clarify some of Burnett’s actions. This sledgehammer approach is of course supported by the prerequisite swelling of anthemic, patriotic music at appropriate moments.

While elements such as these make it easy to ridicule the film for its overt American patriotism, the script does contain a few surprisingly clever touches. Along the way Burnett gets help from a Serbian teen who is wearing an Ice Cube sweatshirt and gives the pilot an introductory lecture on hip-hop music. In the outback of a war-torn country the same boy hauls out a bottle of Coca Cola when the American is thirsty.

Most surprising of all though is the blasting given to Burnett’s commander, Admiral Reigart, by a NATO commander. Reigart is verbally attacked for "displaying typical American disregard for the bigger picture" with his attempts to save Burnett that could derail the peace process in the Balkans.

These moments aren’t enough to save a film that is partially salvaged by a flamboyant directorial style. Advert director John Moore ensures that the film is very good to look at with its cool blue sheen highlighting the stark scenery and creating a hint of gritty realism.

Even more impressive is Moore’s dynamic combination of jagged music video editing and slow motion shots that give the numerous action sequences an energy that can’t be created by awesome explosions and a thumping soundtrack alone. An adrenaline-drenched sequence where Burnett’s fighter plane is chased by missiles is truly breathtaking and displays some of the most innovative camera work seen since "The Matrix".

Like that film, "Behind Enemy Lines" was probably intended to provide straightforward, unassuming mindless entertainment. If so, it succeeds completely with Moore and his screenwriters having produced little more than a Rambo for the 21st century.