Bat*21 Reviews

Having previously been so dismissive of the movie ‘Behind Enemy Lines’, I thought it only right and proper to review the 1988 movie ‘Bat*21’, which I highly recommend as a much better alternative.

This film is supposed to be loosely based on the real-life rescue of Lt. Col. Hambleton by U.S. Navy SEAL Thomas R. Norris and team member Nguyen Van Kiet, a South Vietnamese SEAL. It isn’t, but don’t let that fact spoil your enjoyment of this entertaining escape and evasion movie.

Set during the Vietnam War, Bat*21 tells the tale of Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton [Gene Hackman], a weapons expert whose aircraft is shot down whilst travelling over enemy territory. With no ground combat experience, Hambleton must evade the People's Liberation Armed Forces using his wits alone, until American Forces can safely extract him from danger.

Because of Hambleton’s knowledge, it is crucial that he be rescued before the Vietcong get their hands on him, so it’s not long before American eyes are in the sky desperately searching for Hambleton. He is spotted by reconnaissance flyer Captain Bartholomew Clark [Danny Glover], however the task of getting Hambleton to safety is made all the harder because the enemy is listening to Hambleton's radio transmissions, and he knows it. With restricted radio contact between Clark & Hambleton, the daring pilot attempts to assist Hambleton to safety before the area is carpet-bombed.

Racing against both the clock and the enemy, this is an edge of the seat viewing experience. Gene Hackman gives an excellent performance and even Danny Glover is believable. There aren’t any plot twists or surprises, but at the same time this isn’t your typical gung-ho war movie either, enemies are not dehumanised beyond all recognition and killing isn’t glorified. An example of this comes when an air strike is called in by Hambleton and he sees for himself the result, which the character has never seen close-up and he is clearly affected by the tragic loss of life and human suffering.

At times this movie can make you hold your breath with suspense and then get your heart pounding with excitement. Even the now slightly dated cinematography doesn’t let this movie down, if anything it actually helps place this movie in the recent past and builds on the already strong atmosphere that it successfully creates.

This is not a date movie, but a recommended war movie, and far superior alternative to the drivel that is ‘behind enemy lines’.