Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson deliver electrifying performances in this tense, superbly-directed and top-drawer drama about what happens when the rules that command a solider become the rules that condemn him.Colonel Terry Childers (Jackson) is a patriot and war hero. But when a peace-keeping mission he leads in Yemen goes terribly wrong, he finds himself facing a court martial. Accused of breaking the rules of engagement by killing unarmed civilians, Childer's only hope of vindication rests with comrade-in-arms Hays Hodges (Tommy Lee Jones), a military lawyer of questionable abilities. Together they face the battle of their lives.Directed by Oscar-Winning director William Friedkin(The Exorcist, The French Connection) and co-starring Guy Pearce, Bruce Greenwood, Anne Archer and Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley, Rules of Engagement is a magnificent movie you must see.
M**H
Propaganda?
I'm former military, and I can tell you with certainty that our country never conducts its affairs in this manner. We go around the world committing horrendous acts, but we always cover them up, and our mainstream media never reports it. Instead, we put a good face on it, call ourselves heroic, and encourage our young men to join up and be "heroes" too. One of the reasons our young men come back so messed up and don't want to talk about what they've seen is, they now know that we're not the good guys.That said, when it can't be avoided and we get caught in the media, then the government chooses someone for a scapegoat without regard for their guilt or innocence, and hangs them out for the world to see that it wasn't the government's fault, but rather the aberrant individual's. This is basically true of most governments. Some are better or worse than others, just like people.Almost everybody, at every level of society in all countries, lies, so, now that I'm retired I've gone into seclusion, I've grown so tired of dealing with it. Spiritual retreat is the best solution for honest people.
T**L
How have I not seen this movie!?!
I thought I had seen this film; So whenever the opportunity came about, I skipped it. I mistakenly connected this film with "Courage Under Fire". Which I saw and had lukewarm feelings about. This film, however, blew me away.I like all of the actors involved, the settings and pacing was fantastic, and the performances were both memorable and charming. Sam Jackson's delivery was exquisite, Tommy Lee Jones was electric in the most subtle of ways, and Guy Pierce delivered a cold, but believable hard liner. If you like war movies OR court movies, I think that you'll enjoy this movie.P.S. I started watching this on my phone while cleaning house and had to pause it for a few days so I could sit down and devote my full attention to it. I am extremely glad that I did. This movie was both engaging and captivating. I didn't want to miss a minute.
J**Y
Incomplete
The ending didn't show the final disposition of the case. Verbage was added, but without portraying the final resolution, the film missed what could have been the best part. It was incomplete. What was portrayed was a waste of the viewers time.
D**R
Promising actors, fail at the embassy.
I stopped watching the movie when the soldiers gunned into the crowd, knowing families were there. The build-up to that point mattered for more loss of credibility of script. Why did all (very many) soldiers rapidly ascend to the roof and continue to go there through opposing, dense sniper gunfire that was hitting soldiers? I cannot believe actual military would do that. Try the windows first, at least?! Or maybe get the ambassador quicker and everyone leave right away? Instead, the solution to save soldiers' lives is to shoot into the crowd. So, they stand up, there is no ill-effect from the opposing roof-top snipers that have heretofore given a non-stop barrage of rifle fire (they ran away?), and the soldiers took their time shooting into the crowd. I suggest avoiding this part of the movie (start after the embassy part) and maybe the story is good afterward.
D**R
Tommy Lee Jones is worth watching here
TLJ gave a fine performance, nobody does this sort of declaiming role better than TLJ. He is made to do work like this. Way better than the movie itself, he lends it grace and beauty. Maybe Abe Lincoln could have done better, maybe, I dunno, I never personally witnessed him speaking, but he had a reputation for it. Btw, not saying it's a bad movie, it's tolerable but without TLJ I might have quit it, and I almost did before TLJ got out of the bullpen. But, I could see him warming up, so I stuck it out, and glad I did. Jackson played his usual character, does some carpet chewing, gets the job done, but his performance definitely not a reason to watch.
I**M
Disappointing quality
The image quality of blu-ray discs is almost always higher than DVDs. But, that ultimately depends on the source material. I bought this edition of 'Rules of Engagement' because I had the DVD edition and wanted a great movie (4.5 stars for the film itself) in blu-ray quality. This blu-ray version (and there may be higher blu-ray editions out there) apparently used the original VHS tape for source material. It actually looks worse than the DVD as poorly created blu-ray editions are want to do on occasion when the producer wants the blu-ray label to charge a higher price but does not put in the work. I do not recommend this edition of this great movie.
R**I
Outstanding!
Shows the crap our troops endure with their hands tied rules of engagement and why the USA hasn't won a war since 14 August 1945 with the unconditional surrender of Japan. Don't point out Desert Storm as a victory because we had to go back.
D**E
A Superb Movie
I found this movie powerful, disturbing and inspiring. It was more than just a war story and more than just a legal drama, though it was excellent as both. But it was also a deeply moving story about friendship, honor and the frightful responsibilities we put on the shoulders of the men we send to fight our wars and to keep an often fragile and violent "peace." In ground combat nobody has "clean hands." It is legalized barbarity. But at their best, the men we send to do this dirty work have clean hearts and that's what this movie shows
M**Y
We were misled
Yes, TwoYes, two main actors at the top of their game, but the viewer is basically misled. A piece of filming replaced an actual security tape, so we were deliberately misled. Cheating an audience, manipulating an audience blows a gaping hole the drama. Mind you, if we’d seen the security tape (which was illegally destroyed - a good story here which wasn’t used) or a piece of filming that actully showed us what had gone on ... no tension, no drama and no film.
Q**U
Exellent movie with a great story and great actors
I loved Rules of Engagement. Its a great film with a very believable story and great actors. Two top actors are the main characters in this movie and they do a great job. The movie is about a decorated army officer that is asked to protect the US embassy in Yemen. While doing so he made a very difficult choice to either protect his men by giving a shot to kill order or die in combat while protecting his men and embassy staff. The US government in the other hand to save face wants him on trial over murder while destroying evidence. Very thrilling story.I wont spoil it for anyone but all you need to know the story is great. The blu ray picture quality is not the best but its not bad either. Definetly a must watch movie.
J**N
William Friedkin’s «A Few Good Men»
Great millitary film directed by one of Hollywoods greats William Friedkin - the man behind the following MUST haves: The Sorcerer, The Exorcist, The French Connection and one of the best film’s of the 80’s - To Live and Die in L.A». RESPECT.
D**B
Realistic riot scenes
The riot scenes at the beginging of the film were realistic and thought provoking. They set the scene well for the remainder of the film which was very well acted by all involved. The last third of the film did not live up to first two thirds but all in all an interesting and enjoyable film.
H**N
Great
I love this film
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