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Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Bat 21 is an obscure but intriguing Vietnam War movie. Avoiding the flag-waving jingoism of many other 1980s Vietnam films, it crafts a riveting tale of survival while chronicling the relationship between two men flung together by war. Hackman plays an Air Force Colonel shot down over South Vietnam, while Glover plays the pilot who guides him to safety.Glover and Hackman are both believable in their roles, but what separates Bat*21 from so many other 80s war films is its eschewing of politics. We are not treated to tirades for or against the war, and equal consideration is given to the violence employed by both sides of the conflict. Viewers are made to feel just as uncomfortable by the destruction of a village full of Vietnamese civilians as they are by an American pilot being made to march through a mine field.The main problem with Bat*21 is its lack of historical accuracy. The film takes a number of liberties with what happened. In particular, it plays down the fact that South Vietnamese soldiers were left without support during the rescue attempt, with casualties resulting. Furthermore, the final escape is played overly dramatically, with Hackman and Glover dodging American bombs while being chased by NVAs. Still, this is an entertaining, worthwhile film.

I wouldn't call this one of my favorite films, or among my favorite war films for that matter, but I did enjoy this much more than when I first saw this many years ago. Gene Hackman is the main reason I would recommend this, and Danny Glover also puts in a solid performance. If you don't know the plot by now, I'll give a short synopsis: Col. Hambleton,(Hackman) who's a passenger in a plane flying over Vietnam, parachutes to safety, and is stuck there until "Birddog" Clark(Glover)figures out how to rescue him. Jerry Reed, who's not a country bumpkin this time, plays it straight as Col. Walker, who's Clark's superior and both men try to figure out how to rescue Hambleton. It takes some time for some action to kick in, although I wouldn't call this an action film per se, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well it held up over time. There are some disturbing moments, not that many, but it should satisfy the action fans in some of us. After some painful delays and a reference to golf(yes, golf) terminology, the man gets rescued while others trying to rescue him get killed, which left a bitter taste in my mouth, although this is a true but heartbreaking story.I had just a few gripes, the first being why was Hambleton the only man parachuting to safety, while the others perished? Perhaps it was the only seat rigged to eject, as I have no military expertise. Finally, during the ending credits, only Hambleton's story is revealed in paragraph form on the screen, which says that he currently resides near a golf course in Arizona and is retired. I thought perhaps a mention of Capt. Clark's present situation would've been appropriate.

In BAT*21, Gene Hackman plays a soldier shot down behind enemy lines during the Vietnam War and in desperate need of rescue by his buddy, Danny Glover. The plot would be resurrected a few years later for BEHIND ENEMY LINES, with Owen Wilson in the Hackman role and Hackman in the Glover role. The endings are virtually identical. But this 1988 feature film looks badly dated, and the special effects are laughable. The Owen Wilson version is on the mark for its eye-popping special effects and sheer suspense. Also, BEHIND ENEMY LINES portrays the Serbian effort at genocide very close to what we were reading in the newspapers and seeing on TV at the time. Anyhow, BAT*21 is for Hackman completists only. Serious movie buffs will recognize the explosion sounds from a hundred previous war movies. Unfortunately.

This is an excellent War film, that's very moving at times, with a great story and 2 amazing performances from Gene Hackman and Danny Glover!. All the characters are great, and the story is very engrossing, plus Gene Hackman and Danny Glover are simply amazing in this!. What really made the movie work, was the great relationship between Hackman and Glover, it also has many powerful moments,the village scene for example, plus the 2 main leads are extremely likable!. I really do enjoy a good War film, and this one was excellent, and i thought, the dialog was fantastic, plus it felt very real!. It does not have a whole lot of action, but it has a great story, and fantastic performances to keep you watching, plus the supporting cast was really good as well. It has realistic war scenes as well, and i felt for Hackman's character, plus i found the ending very satisfying. This is an excellent war film, that's very moving at times with a great story, and 2 amazing performances from Gene Hackman and Danny Glover, and i say it's a must see for everyone!. The Direction is great!. Peter Markle does a great job here, with excellent camera work, great angles, and really keeping the film at an engrossing pace!. The Acting is fantastic!. Gene Hackman is amazing here, he is extremely likable, had fantastic chemistry with Glover, was fantastic in the acting department, and you really feel for his character!, he also had some very good lines (Hackman rules!). Danny Gliver is AMAZING as always, and is amazing here, he is extremely likable, is fantastic in the acting department, had fantastic chemistry with Hackman, also had some great lines, and was totally different then his Murtaugh character in Lethal weapon!, it was awesome to see him play something different!.(Glover Rules!!). Jerry Reed,David Marshall Grant and Clayton Rohner all do what they have to do very well. Rest of the cast do fine. Overall a must see for everyone!.****1/2 out of 5 (barely).