FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: Basic [DVD] [2003]

Basic [DVD] [2003]
enlarge	Director: John McTiernan Actors: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Connie Nielsen, Tim Daly, Giovanni Ribisi Studio: Warner Home Video (Icon) Category: DVD List Price: ~~£13.99~~ Buy Used: £0.11 as of 21/11/2009 21:49 GMT details You Save: £13.88 (99%) New (10) Used (74) from £0.11 Seller: jons_bargains Rating: 23 reviews Sales Rank: 8887 Format: PAL, Widescreen Languages: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language) Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Region: 2 Discs: 1 Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 98 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 7321900953122 ASIN: B0000X7SL6 Theatrical Release Date: March 28, 2003 Release Date: January 19, 2004 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review IBasic/I is a military mystery that offers multi-layered deception as its dramatic raison d'etre, but with plenty of machismo attitude as befitting a semi-effective thriller from IDie Hard/I director John McTiernan. John Travolta stars as an ex-Army Ranger-turned-DEA agent, recruited by an Army investigator (Connie Nielsen) to solve the fratricide of a reviled Sergeant (Samuel L Jackson) who was allegedly killed while commanding a Special Forces training mission in the hurricane-swept rainforests of Panama. Two survivors (Giovanni Ribisi in a showboat role and Brian Van Holt) recall the ill-fated mission as the truth unfolds, IRashomon/I-style, in a series of repetitive flashbacks. Tricky enough to hold one's attention as it grows increasingly irrelevant, IBasic/I is so enamoured of its bogus ingenuity that its ultimate twist is a letdown. A second viewing might prove rewarding, if only to confirm that it all holds together. --IJeff Shannon/I

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 23 1 2 3 4 5 Next » An awe-inspiring, intellectually challenging thriller December 1, 2003 Daniel Jolley (Shelby, North Carolina USA) 13 out of 17 found this review helpful There is nothing basic about Basic. I thought this movie was superb; maybe I'm easier to please than a lot of the people who criticize the script because I found this to be one of the most intelligent, mesmerizing, blow-your-mind movies I've ever seen. It's a rare treat to find a movie that is not completely predictable these days, and Basic takes unpredictability and surprise to unheard of levels. There was one small aspect of the saga I successfully predicted early on, but the rest of the twists and turns this movie takes had me doing mental gymnastics. Every time you start to think you've seen at least a shadow of the light, this movie rips the rug back out from under you and plunges you into even darker depths of confusion and doubt. Best of all, this elaborate plot actually holds together, which is really just amazing. Basic is a movie that makes you think, and I have no problem admitting that I was often at a loss as to what was really going on; Basic did not insult my intelligence in any way shape or form; it challenged it constantly and delightfully humbled me in the process.pAt the center of the story is a Special Forces training mission that goes horribly awry. Only two of six soldiers make it out of the Panamanian jungle, one of whom is injured and the other of whom isn't talking. The base commander Styles (Timothy Daly) calls in his old buddy Hardy (John Travolta) to interrogate the witness because he feels the job is over the head of Army investigator Osborne (Connie Nielsen). Before the feds get involved, Styles wants to know why the unit leader Sgt. West (Samuel L. Jackson) and four soldiers are lying dead somewhere out in the jungle. Hardy is a former Ranger who served under and hated West, but he is now an agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency. Hardy gets the one soldier to tell his version of events, only to hear a much different story from the injured soldier when he wakes up in the hospital. So begins a quest for the truth that has Hardy and Osborne running back and forth between witnesses, discovering unexpected aspects of the case such as the existence of drug-smuggling operations being carried out inside the base and hospital, and discovering that the big fish they are striving so hard to reel in is one big whopper indeed. pDo things become confusing? That's affirmative, but I see this in a positive light. This movie makes you stop and think, turning over what you have heard in your own mind not so much to predict the future as to merely stay caught up with the twists and turns you have just seen revealed before your very eyes. In the final analysis, one or two little aspects of the presentation, which occur largely in the form of dream-like flashbacks, may have a weak leg to stand on but never come close to collapsing or falling over. Some will probably be tempted to just throw their hands up in the air and give up trying to understand everything, but those who love a challenge, especially one presented in such a theatrical and awe-inspiring way, will find themselves energized and inspired to a degree few movies can hope to duplicate. For my money, Basic is one of the most intelligent, suspenseful thrillers I've seen in a long time. Movie That Everyone Should Watch December 15, 2003 7 out of 12 found this review helpful If you liked Fight Club,Sixth Sense,Memento,Identity The General's Daughter then watch this.pSent to investigate a training mission that goes wrong,nothing is as it seems.John Travolta returns to form as a military man ( he is brilliant in General's Daughter) the very qunitessential Prince oF Cool If you think that is good then the King of Cool Samuel L Jackson is also in it.brHighly recommend as a good crime thriller great for Christmas time present Not so simple March 17, 2007 Now You Know 3 out of 6 found this review helpful hi, this is a film that requires all you're attention or you will not get one bit. it's about some soldiers dropped into the jungle for a training excercise but it all goes wrong, a murder takes place. i don't want to spoil any storyline so i won't tell you any more. it was a lot like "courage under fire". one man(travalta) trying to find out the truth. it has lots of action to keep you interested and isn't a cheesy film with a low budget. it has brilliant actors, (jackson and travalta) so don't miss this. one of my fave war/action films. p.s this does not show any major battle sequences. you won't regret it. thanks. A film that is anything but basic January 20, 2004 2 out of 4 found this review helpful When I saw this film I was expecting it to be, well, basic. However, in reality I received a pleasant surprise. Basic is one of the best films I have seen recently because it kept me entertained until the credits. Plot twists and changes keep the suspense throughout the film and the actors add to the experience. I thought the performances of Samuel L Jackson and John Travolta were incredible an the power of their parts was quite astounding. All of the actors displayed a connection with their characters which I have found to be very rare in films today. pFor this very reasonable price Basic is an excellent film that will please thriller fans no end and may even create some new followers of the genre. If you're looking a nice addition to your DVD collection, you could do much worse than Basic. Basic May 25, 2004 1 out of 2 found this review helpful Basic tells the story of a drugs scam in the U.S Army. However high ranking officers have their suspicions, and the team who are though of running it are sent of a training mission in which most of the team die, bar 2. The 2 return to be questioned on who caused the deaths, and who was behind the drugs. Great story line twists follow with an great ending, I don't know why everyone in slating it, it a great, must see film Showing reviews 1-5 of 23 1 2 3 4 5 Next »

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