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Under Siege, directed by Andrew Davis and released in 1992, is a gripping and exhilarating action thriller that showcases Steven Seagal at the height of his martial arts prowess. With its intense and well-executed set pieces, memorable characters, and a solid dose of suspense, the film remains a standout entry in the action genre.
The story centers around Casey Ryback, played by Steven Seagal, a former Navy SEAL turned cook aboard the USS Missouri battleship. When the ship is unexpectedly seized by a group of terrorists led by William Strannix, portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones, Ryback finds himself in a fight for survival as he uses his combat skills to outsmart and take down the ruthless assailants.
Steven Seagal delivers a commanding performance as Casey Ryback, showcasing his martial arts expertise and physical prowess. He brings a stoic yet determined presence to the role, effectively portraying Ryback as a capable and resourceful hero. Tommy Lee Jones shines as the film's antagonist, injecting the character of William Strannix with a charismatic yet menacing persona that elevates the tension and adds depth to the conflict.
Under Siege is notable for its well-choreographed action sequences, which blend Seagal's Aikido martial arts style with intense gunfights and explosions. The film's climax, in particular, is a standout moment that delivers an adrenaline-fueled finale. Andrew Davis's direction keeps the pacing tight, ensuring the film maintains a consistent level of suspense and excitement throughout.
The screenplay, written by J.F. Lawton, strikes a balance between action and character development, giving the audience insight into the motivations and backgrounds of the key players. The supporting cast, including Gary Busey as a treacherous crew member and Erika Eleniak as a Playboy Playmate, provide solid performances that add depth to the ensemble.
Under Siege benefits from its high production values, with well-executed practical effects and set design that effectively capture the claustrophobic atmosphere of the hijacked battleship. The cinematography captures the action with clarity, and the film's score, composed by Gary Chang, enhances the suspenseful moments and adds to the overall intensity.
While Under Siege may not delve into complex themes or offer groundbreaking storytelling, it excels as a tightly paced and thrilling action film. It successfully delivers on its promise of explosive entertainment, featuring a compelling hero, a formidable villain, and exhilarating action sequences that keep the audience engaged from start to finish.
In summary, Under Siege is an exceptional action thriller that showcases Steven Seagal at his best. With its intense and well-executed action sequences, strong performances, and tight direction, the film remains an exciting and enjoyable entry in the genre. If you're a fan of thrilling and adrenaline-pumping movies, Under Siege is well worth a watch.
His one true very good film and that's all you need. All his others were dog turd. Having Tommy Lee Jones and Gary? Busey in this helped a lot
It's definitely a Die Hard on a boat experience. I think the action sequences could well have been better and if they ever reboot this then that would probably be on top of their list. There's quite a few bits where it's just Segal and the woman wondering around the ship with no real chemistry between them.
Gary Busey just has one of those faces that make me laugh anyway but he does really well in this and puts his own spin on the character he plays, especially in his role as the inside man. Tommy Lee Jones I'm not really sure on in this, he does add a few laughs but for an ex CIA guy turned bad I think it might have been a case of a mis-cast. I might be wrong. It's a good all round action movie from the 90's, it's fun and always worth a watch. It's just over 100 minutes but it seems to go a lot faster than that so that might be a good indicator on how fast moving the movie is.
Let's take the Die Hard situation but stick them all on a big battle ship instead. That must have been the thoughts of writer J.F. Lawton when he came up with Under Siege. It was that time when one-man armies were killing terrorists and it was simply a case of just changing the cast and location.
This is though Steven Seagal's highest grossing film. Fair enough he has delivered a lot of rubbish but this one, with the support of Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey makes it one of the best action films of the early nineties. Plenty of killing skills, a bit of MacGuyver type bomb building and of course some brief titillation by female co star Erika Eleniak make this a favourite amongst action film fans.
Busey and Jones add some good moments of comedy to what would normally be a stressful situation and there are a few twists towards the end that answers any questions about the bad guys.
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