Basic (DVD)

Director John McTiernan is well known for action films such as The Hunt For Red October (1990) and Die Hard: With A Vengeance (1995). His 2003 film Basic is a thriller with a twist: not so much an action film, although there are moments of action, it being a military-based film. The Plot Tom Hardy is a Drugs Enforcement Agent with ties to the military from his days as an Army Ranger. When he gets a call from an old friend, asking for help solving the disappearance of a special forces instructor, Sergeant Nathan West, and various members of his squad. Hardy soon realises that all is not as it seems, as he has a minimum of resources and witnesses, and ...  Read the complete review

note: also appears in part on Flixster and The Student Room John McTiernan has worked on several of the best action films of all time, such as Die Hard, Predator, and also Die Hard with a Vengeance (which also starred Samuel L Jackson), and while he hasn't been so hot in recent years, Basic is a solid return to form that manages to weave an interesting mystery, even if it is one of the most contrived and absurdly convoluted films I've ever seen. The film has a core premise that is then explored from several different perspectives in a style reminiscent of Rahomon. The scenario involves Army Ranger instructor Nathan West (Samuel L. Jackson) leading a ...  Read the complete review

Basic is a new military drama starring John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson. The last time this hot double act joined forces was in the famous movie and hit Pulp fiction. Basic is based in the steamy jungle of Panama. Basic takes a lot of plot twists, which are often impossible to follow. No, I really mean impossible, and literally do not piece together. The film confuses and tricks the audience to make it appear that something is really happening, which is almost as good. Therefore, the movie, though frustrating and difficult to follow at times, is entertaining. Confused yet? Yeah, that?s what the movie will make you feel like. ---THE STORY--- The film ...  Read the complete review

One of the best onscreen partnerships has to have been Samuel L Jackson and John Travolta from Pulp Fiction, the way they seemed to gel together really added something to the film. Well when I saw they had been teamed up for the first time since for Basic I had to see it. It seemed to slip past me when it was in the cinema despite having seen a couple of adverts I didn?t realise it was out until last week in Asda I saw it on DVD and took a chance for £11.99 to see if it was actually any good. The film opens on the Panama ship canal, where a team of 6 US Rangers are on their way to a live training exercise with their training officer Sgt. Nathan West (Samuel L ...  Read the complete review

Basic Certificate: 15 Released: 2004 Ex-army Ranger and now Drugs Enforcement Agent Tom Hardy, is contacted by a friend from the past, informing him that Sergeant Nathan West and some of his men, are missing, and is asked to help solve the case. He quizzes the found members of Sergeant Wests' team, and has to work out who is telling the truth about what happened as each persons story is different. John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson star as Tom Hardy and Sergeant West respectively, with both giving excellent performances and making the film their own. There is also strong support from the other actors with all of them convincing with ...  Read the complete review