S.W.A.T
The Plot:
The tables are turned when the Los Angeles Police Department's S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons and Tactics) unit must protect a dangerous criminal. A grizzled veteran SWAT officer (Jackson) is given a second chance to cobble together a new SWAT team to protect the high-profile baddie. (From Yahoo Movies)
My thoughts: (Reviewed by K-Billy)
The tables are turned when the Los Angeles Police Department's S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons and Tactics) unit must protect a dangerous criminal. A grizzled veteran SWAT officer (Jackson) is given a second chance to cobble together a new SWAT team to protect the high-profile baddie. (From Yahoo Movies)
My expectations with S.W.A.T were fairly low. After all if you watched any of the trailers it had generic written all over it. So I’m happy to say that I enjoyed the film. Don’t get me wrong, the film never really rises above the clichés that it’s ridden with or the substandard story. What it does do however is entertain the viewer. This is in part due to it’s entirely watchable stars and also because of it’s highly entertaining action and chase sequences. Of course the film is PG-13 so there’s no blood to be had and the violence has to be toned down a bit, but it doesn’t really detract from the various shootouts throughout the film. They still engage you on a purely visceral level.
As I mentioned the film wouldn’t be quite as successful without a few interesting performances. If I hadn’t known that Samuel L. Jackson was the only definite for the film before it was made I would’ve said that the movie was a Colin Farrell vehicle. He seems to be everywhere these days and surprisingly has had very few flops. Even in the mediocre Daredevil his character was interesting. As the bad boy Jim Street he plays it conservatively. It’s a character that’s been many times before, but Farrell is Hollywood’s go to guy at the moment so he makes it seem more original then it really is. I suppose that makes him a good actor. As the veteran Samuel L. Jackson is entertaining as always. He’s funny when he’s supposed to be but sometimes falls short in the serious moments. And lines like “This is where watching the World’s Most Dangerous Police Videos pays off” made me flinch. I hope that wasn’t an adlib for at least Jackson can blame it on the screenwriters. Rounding out the crew are LL Cool J who once again did a very good job. I’ve only seen him in Deep Blue Sea prior to this and enjoyed him in both. Michelle Rodriguez is the tough as nails kick ass chick, Sanchez. There’s something about her that I enjoy so I wasn’t too put off by the clichés of her character.
If
you’re looking for some sort of intelligent cop thriller then your definitely
going to be disappointed after S.W.A.T. For what it is, is a regular summer
mindless action film. Full of explosions and shootouts. Characters with little
back story and a very simple plot. However it succeeds at being entertaining
and that’s all it’s setting out to do. Well that and make money.
So on a mindless action film level S.W.A.T is a success and I’d definitely
recommend it.
Starring Samuel L Jackson, Colin Farrell, Olivier
Martinez, Michelle Rodriguez, and LL Cool J
Directed by Clark Johnson
Rated PG-13