Review of Rules of Engagement (2000) by Mickey K — 29 Oct 2009

I didn't realize this movie was almost ten years old. Yikes! I had never heard of it, so I gave it a try, mostly because of the all star cast. Well, the action sequences were very poorly directed a la the sudden slow motion death sequences (which reminds the audience that they're watching a movie).

However, I suspected this would all be cleared up once we got into the "court room" phase of the movie... and I was right. The director couldn't shoot an action sequence to save his life, but did a good job with the remainder of the film (which consisted of non-action scenes).

I was worried that there was going to be some psuedo-Hollywood twist on the film's message and was pleasantly surprised that it didn't take that stance either. I also wasn't sure if it was a true story going on, but apparently it was at least based on a true story.

Kudos to Tommy Lee Jones who was his typically outstanding self. Oh and as usual, I found a hole in the story. Most of the case was built around the fact that there wasn't video of terrorists shooting at the front of the US Embassy in Kenya.

But there was an audio tape of the transmissions which would've displayed to the jury just how heavy the artillery was coming into the Marines atop the building. I couldn't believe Tommy Lee Jones' character didn't think of it.

.. Oh well, maybe it was in the director's cut.