Croation theologian Miroslav Volf wrote an important book, Exclusion and Embrace, out of his own personal experiences in the
Croatian-Serbian-Bosnian war. Croatia is heavily Roman Catholic; Serbia is predominantly Eastern Orthodox; Bosnia is mostly Muslim.
It was that conflict that gave us perhaps the ugliest phrase in the English language: "ethnic cleansing," the removal of Muslims from
what was called "greater Serbia," by whatever means necessary, including massacres. Volf quotes a soldier in the Serbian army, which
at the time was raining artillery shells on the beautiful and defenseless city of Sarajevo, into public buildings, hospitals, marketplaces,
picking off the elderly, children, in what became known as "snipers alley." "There is no choice," the Serbian soldier said. "There are no
innocents."
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"See, I'm a marine. I get to do the serious stuff. You, you're navy. You get to eat jello."
Until I saw Shanghai Noon with Jackie Chan I never really knew who Owen Wilson was. Now he just seems to be popping
up everywhere. Some of Wilson’s films include ‘Zoolander,’ ‘Meet The Parents,’ ‘Shanghai Noon,’ ‘Armageddon,’ ‘Breakfast Of Champions,’
‘The Haunting,’ ‘The Minus Man,’ ‘Permanent Midnight,’ ‘Anaconda’ and ‘The Cable Guy.’ He is currently shooting ‘I Spy’ opposite
Eddie Murphy. I was actually quite surprised to see him as the leading man in BEHIND ENEMY LINES since I see him more as a
comedic actor and not an action star. This film will help his career quite a bit especially playing opposite one of my all time favourite actors,
Gene Hackman.
"I understand you want to leave the navy."
Owen Wilson plays Lieutenant Chris Burnett, a navy pilot who is sick and tired of being a glorified police officer in the sky. He joined up to be
a soldier and he feels he is not being used to his full potiential. As far as he's concerned they are just simple watchers and not fighters. He sents
in his resignation to his commander Admiral Reigart played by Gene Hackman. Reigart does not like Burnett's attitude. He feels that
Burnett has not learned what it means to be a soldier, but he agrees to hold his paper for a time to give Chris time to reconsider.
"You wouldn't know the first thing about serving your country."
During Christmas Burnett and his pilot Stackhouse (Gabriel Macht) are scheduled out on a routine photo reconnaissance mission. While
flying around they wander off course still photgraphing what they see. Their digital cameras see something they were not supposed to see. The
army of Serbs below open fire with SAM missiles. Here we get to see some tense and excellent F/A-18 Superhornet flying sequences as the
SAM's heat seeking capabilities chase down the fighter jet. They do a great job out maneuvring the missiles but eventually one takes their jet down
and they eject behind enemy lines. Their attempts to evade are monitored by the crew on their aircraft carrier.
"And yet another useless joyride costing the American public mere millions."
The two parachute safely down but Burnett finds that Stackhouse has a broken leg. When they try to call in for evac they find their radio will not work
so Burnett has to leave Stackhouse behind so that he can climb up the mountian peak higher for better reception. Unfortunately, the Serb squadron
has tracked them down and in short order Chris Burnett is on his own with a very hostile squadron after him.
"I guess I got a little rattled when I ejected at Mach 3 "
The army squadron gather up every piece of the jet to find the recon photos while another squad chases down their quarry. Admiral Reigart puts his
rescue in motion but is ordered to stand down as their intrusion into the Serbian territory could hurt treaty negotiations. Reigart has no choice but to
stand down. He communicates to Burnett to have him make his way to a different pick up point which would take him into friendly territory. Well that's
sure easier said then done after all we wouldn't have much of a movie if this was going to be easy. Reigart and his men are not happy about this
situation and formulate plans to extract Burnett even if they get in trouble fo it.
"They killed him and we did nothing, nothing."
Burnett struggles to survive the relentless pursuit by Lokar (Olek Krupa) a secret police enforcer, a deadly tracker played by
Vladimir Maskov and countless hostile troops. Chris Burnett's ordeal is a terrible one especially when he figures out why the Serbs want him
dead. He now has to fight for his life knowing that for some reason his own people are not coming. Along the way he gets some help from friendly
civilian freedom fighters. The pace is fast and furious in this film and it will keep you on the edge of your seats.
"We're coming to get you son."
There are lots of excellent sequences; especially one really spectacular scene with landmines. Everything leads to an action packed climax that keep
you on the edge. This film is not a classic but it does keep you on your toes with plenty of surprises. BEHIND ENEMY LINES will make you
think and feel saddened by went on during the Bosnian-Serbian war.
"This is why they killed Stackhouse."
Director John Moore, by giving us what seems to be a simple war survival film, has dragged us into a political drama to give us a
glimpse into the Bosnian-Serbian war. He turned what I thought was going to be a simple war drama into a statement, when he used the
the accidental photographing of mass burial graves being hidden by a Serb army. Moore does not dwell on it, but by using it as plot device
he makes you feel disgust for what happened in that war torn country. Personally I spent very little time keeping up with that war in the past.
I guess with what happened SEPTEMBER 11 we will all be thinking more about what happens around the world when it comes to terrorism and
war.
"Gentlemen. I intend to put you in harm's way. Anyone who doesn't want to go out on this mission, step away."
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