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| Word About BiehnReviews of Michael's Work |
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| Word About BiehnReviews of Michael's Work |
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Although I personally watch Michael Biehn films only for their intellectual content (ahem), I must admit he has never looked more gorgeous, never more courageous or heroic than in Navy SEALS. Further, in the face of what was apparently an adverse film-making experience, Michael's performance is indeed commendable, and that can be said for the entire cast, whose professionalism allows none of the background turmoil to show on the screen. As a result, the viewer can just sit back, relax, and enjoy.
The story focuses primarily on the efforts of a Navy SEAL team, led by Lieutenant James Curran (Michael) to retrieve captured missiles from mid-east terrorists. Though this premise may not be very original, the film is action-packed, fast-paced, and exciting. Still, it could have been better. My primary regret is its failure to drive home Curran's guilt and his consequent determination to make amends for what he considers his grave error. In a previous rescue mission, his team had stumbled upon the Stingers but failed to destroy them, allowing the subsequent use of those missiles to take the lives of innocent people. The dialogue is there-we know Curran blames himself-but it's not sufficient to make the audience fully feel his anguish. That is due to the script and direction, however, and not to Michael, who uses what limited opportunities he has to draw the audience in and reveal to them Curran's emotional pain. He does this as he sits in the briefing room enduring the attack on him for his failure to act when he had the chance; he does it in his desperate pleas with reporter Claire Varens to help him; he does it in his despair over the loss of his friend. Drama can be created as much by character as by action. If only Navy SEALS had provided more of the former than it did, it would have been a stronger film.
Nevertheless, I do thoroughly enjoy Navy SEALS for what it is: An entertaining action flick with likable characters and, in Michael, a tremendously handsome, engaging, sympathetic, and resolute hero! And when James is wounded, how I wish I were there to comfort and care for him!
Kay
Abyss ***Aliens ***Art Of War ***Asteroid ***Blood Of The Hunter ***Breach of Trust/Crash ***Chain Of Command ***Cherry Falls ***Coach ***Dead Men Can't Dance ***Deadfall ***Deadly Intentions ***Deep Red ***Double Edge/American Dragons ***The Fan ***Fire In The Sky ***Frame By Frame/Conundrum ***Hill Street Blues ***Hog Wild ***In A Shallow Grave ***Jade ***K2 ***The Magnificent Seven ***The Martyrdom Of Saint Sebastian ***Megiddo ***Mojave Moon ***Rampage ***The Ride ***The Rock ***Seventh Sign ***Silver Wolf ***Strapped ***Susan's Plan/Dying To Get Rich ***A Taste For Killing ***Terminator ***Tiberian Sun ***Timebomb ***Tombstone
