The Big Screen version of the small screen cult favorite is a pretty good thriller. No, its not the best movie in the world but a good way to spend two hours.
The plot concerns a wanted international criminal who offers 100 million to anyone who will spring him. The action is mostly realistic as are the characters. The real complaint is that the captain is too much of an ass and there are one or two bumps that don't ring true, especially at the end but its not anything that will spoil the fun. Best of all there are a couple of really good action sequences.
Recommended, especially on cable
S.W.A.T.
2003
Action / Adventure / Crime / Thriller
S.W.A.T.
2003
Action / Adventure / Crime / Thriller
Plot summary
Based off of a one time T.V. show, two Los Angeles S.W.A.T. officers Jim Street and Brian Gamble were sent in to foil an extremely violent bank robbery. Although they thwarted the robbery, they shot a hostage in the process. Street was suspended from S.W.A.T. while Gamble was fired altogether. After 6 months, a veteran S.W.A.T. officer, Daniel Harrelson or "Hondo", is told to assemble a S.W.A.T. team for his division. He chooses other S.W.A.T. officers as well as 3 rookies. However, after they pass the S.W.A.T. training, they receive a message that a French crime boss, known as Alex Montell is trying to escape from prison. This will not be easy to prevent, especially after Montell promises $100 Million to his rescuers.
Uploaded by: OTTO
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
Good action film
Good popcorn fun
LAPD SWAT officer Jim Street (Colin Farrell) is an ex-Navy SEAL. When his partner Brian Gamble (Jeremy Renner) disobeyed orders in an armed robbery takedown, Brian gets fired and Jim gets sidelined. Six months later, LAPD is under pressure and veteran SWAT Hondo Harrelson (Samuel L. Jackson) is told to assemble a new SWAT team. Along with some veterans, he picks Jim, Deke (LL Cool J),and Chris Sanchez (Michelle Rodriguez). When French crime boss Alex Montell (Olivier Martinez) gets caught after a routine traffic stop, he tries to escape with an offer of $100 million and SWAT has to stop him.
For movies like this, it's all about the action and the gunplay. The good news is that the story passes the smell test. It's not too complicated but it's also not simplistic. The characters are big stereotypes. The actors are all excellent. It's a simple popcorn movie. It does it well. Nothing more.
A Predictable Festival of Clichés
I have just watched S.W.A.T. and I am totally disappointed. Having a huge budget and a fantastic cast, highlighting names like Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell and Michelle Rodriguez, it seems that the producers forgot to buy the most important component of a film: the screenplay. The story is pure cliché, nothing is original and is totally predictable. The writer is probably a fan of Al Pacino. The beginning (the best part of the movie) recalls 'Dog Day Afternoon', followed by 'The Recruit'. The rest is the usual clichés in action / crime movies, with the good and the bad cops, car chases and hits, lots of shootings etc. Although being an action movie, I took some naps along the film, so I used the REW button of the DVD many times. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): 'S.W.A.T. Commando Especial' ('S.W.A.T. Special Command')