|
The Dogs of WarRating:
Release Date: 20 November, 2001 Retail Price: $14.95 OUR Price: $12.99 You SAVE: $1.96! Cast: Complete Cast (14 total) |
The Dogs of War Reviews
What a let down
As a huge fan of Frederick Forsyth and after seeing the brilliant screen adaptation of his book The Day Of The Jackal, another favorite read of mine, this film was terrible.
This adaptation butchers the original story to the point where it's almost unrecognizable.
If you've never read the book but like cheesy shoot and blowup action films this one may appeal to you.
But if you read and enjoyed the detail of the book I think you too will find this film to be a great disappointment.
Who's the villain
This film stands out because it allows the plot to be its basis, even while the bombs and bullets go whizzing by. It's a portrayl of the life of mercenaries, pawns in the larger global games of power and profits, seen through the character played by Christopher Walken. Its specific focus is a coup d'etat in Africa that must be executed by a clandestine force, necessarily commissioned outside the official channels of government; from its earliest stages, the mission is rife with mortal danger, a reflection of the political forces vying to maintain their own interests. A veteran of several similar assignments, Walken is routinely selected to organize the project, from contracting the personnel to planning the assault. But this job is different. We see a grizzled, jaded soldier of fortune who is well-trained and honed for the task but who is nonetheless hoping that this particular job may be his last, just enough reward to allow him to leave the life and pursue a more normal existence. As a result, we get a personal as well as a military story.
The other film's strengths are its aversion to stereotypes and straw men. This is not the stuff of Chuck Norris or Sylvester Stallone. We are not subjected to distorted combat scenes where the hero wins the battle with one hand and the enemy is a stupid, sub-human dreg. Instead we get a sense of the uncertainty of survival, of the stark reality of life and death under unusual and exceptional circumstances. At the same time, the lines between good and evil, hero and villain, are blurred. Who, in fact, is right? Who should win- and does it matter to people like Walken? Can he trust his employer or even the guys in his unit?
This is as good a movie in this genre as there is. Walken's performance is compelling, bolstered by an excellent supporting cast(including Tom Berenger at his unexpected best). Under expert direction, the tempo does not drag, with a generous supply of vivid action scenes. Balanced against that is often cutting, insightful and sensitive dialogue. This film succeeds at several levels and, while disturbing, also makes for great entertainment.
More Customer Reviews (16 total)
You like The Dogs of War?
|
