Under Siege
It's not a job. It's an adventure! Steven Seagal comes aboard and comes on strong in a fireball of a movie. When the USS Missouri welcomes aboard entertainers for the battleship's last voyage, the visitors throw a party. A war party. Led by a rogue CIA operative and a turncoat officer, they're killer-elite commandos out to hijack the ship's nuclear arsenal. They overpower the crew. Except on man. "I'm just a cook," that man says. But he's a cook with a recipe for action. He's ex-Navy SEAL and decorated combat operative Casey Ryback (Seagal). All hands on deck, action fans!
Member Reviews
Probably his best - THEV
And just because it is does not mean that this movie was very good. Although I do enjoy watching Seagal whoop bad guys I actually likes the evil duo of Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey. As always Seagal has some corny one-liners and cool ways of dispatching of his foes.Much Better than It Probably Has a Right to be - Gregg
Casey Ryback (Steven Seagal) is a navy cook on a soon to be decommissioned Battleship, when terrorists take over the ship they discover soon as do we that Ryback is a former Navy Seal who was demoted for striking an officer and is serving out his tour. With the ship’s crew held hostage Ryback has only one ally Jordan Tate (Erika Eleniak) a stripper hired for the Captains party to help him stop the terrorists and rescue the hostages.
I have never found any of Steven Seagal's performances to be particularily impressive but the low key approach here works for the character and the film, he's better here than in any of his other films. Both Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey the principal villains are arguably considerably more talented actors and they go much more over the top with their performances, which again works for the film, although it won’t likely be cited as being amongst their best work. Not to be outdone we also have a supporting turn from Colm Meaney who apparently takes his cue from Jones and Busey
The humor and action mix from director Andrew Davis, who would go onto to make “The Fugitive” the following year is perhaps the biggest reason for the films success. Both Seagal and Eleniak neither of which is well known for their comedic talents never the less deliver some very funny lines. The effective action scenes and the setting upon a ship at sea also serve to make this an enjoyable film, as long as you aren’t looking for nuanced performances or a depth of story.
The films sequel "Under Siege 2: Dark Territory" without director Davis or any of the principles except for Seagal was far less successful and much inferior. Though it did attempt to mimic the successful formula by retaining the terrorists but changing the location from a Battleship to a train.Passable Action Flick is Derivitive Fun for Action Fans - TheShamus
Steven Seagal has his fans, but never broke into the A-list of action movie stars. This movie is about as close as he would get.
Seagal plays an elite Navy Seal who is in the "bad books" of the military because he beat up his commanding officer (because the officer lead them into a battle where most of his fellow soldiers died).
Gary Busey and Tommy Lee Jones play the "bad guys" who take over the naval battleship which Seagal is serving on as a cook (his punishment). The bad guys want to sell the warheads to the enemy for millions.
The overall story is (at best) derivative. The "bad guys" are good fun ... like most action movies of this ilk ... it is rediculous ... if you are a fan of the genre, this on is watchable.
The way Seagal drops his guns for martial arts knife combat, the way he converts a stripper into a military dynamo, the way Seagal's character makes out with the female lead although there has been no relationship development at all ... well, it all adds to the campy action of this film.
If you are not a fan of this kind of film, it's not worth a ZIP ... otherwise, something to watch on a rainy day.
/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\
Member Reviews
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Probably his best - THEV
And just because it is does not mean that this movie was very good. Although I do enjoy watching Seagal whoop bad guys I actually likes the evil duo of Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey. As always Seagal has some corny one-liners and cool ways of dispatching ...Much Better than It Probably Has a Right to be - Gregg
Casey Ryback (Steven Seagal) is a navy cook on a soon to be decommissioned Battleship, when terrorists take over the ship they discover soon as do we that Ryback is a former Navy Seal who was demoted for striking an officer and is serving out his tour. With ...Passable Action Flick is Derivitive Fun for Action Fans - TheShamus
Steven Seagal has his fans, but never broke into the A-list of action movie stars. This movie is about as close as he would get.
Seagal plays an elite Navy Seal who is in the "bad books" of the military because he beat up his commanding officer (because ...