release year: 1992
genre: action/adventure
viewing setting: home DVD, 12/7/97
what I expected: n/a (seen it too many times)
what I got: Die Hard on a battleship
synopsis: On its way to be decommissioned, the battleship Missouri is hijacked by a bunch of pros with a plan. Too bad for them that they don't know about the lone sailor who escaped their takeover: the cook, who also happens to be a Navy SEAL.
impressions: How odd, that we'd watch first The Poseidon Adventure and then this - two sea-borne adventures - on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor's bombing. Oh well - such is life. This was very similar to Die Hard, except that the hero was even more dangerous bad news for the villains. This movie had a good mix of action, explosions, death, one-liners, and even a gratuitous topless shot. Problems: after the topless shot, Erika Eleniak's role was fulfilled, and she should have been stuffed in a closet somewhere so Seagal could proceed with the mayhem. Other problem: I was disappointed with the way the SEALs attempted their rescue mission; it was unrealistic and foolhardy.
acting: This is one of Steven Seagal's better acting jobs, believe it or not. Tommy Lee Jones turns in one of his best roles ever as the head bad guy, and Gary Busey also gives in a good performance as the battleship's traitorous XO. Colm Meaney (of Star Trek fame) has a good minor role as a bad guy, too.
final word: Highly entertaining action movie set entirely on the high seas.
rating: B