S.W.A.T.

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Virgo V S.W.A.T. was released in the United States on August 8th 2003 by Sony Pictures Releasing under its Columbia Pictures banner. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $207 million worldwide. S.W.A.T. is a 2003 American action crime thriller film based on the 1975 television series of the same name. Written by David Ayer and David McKenna, with the story credited to Ron Mita and Jim McClain, directed by Clark Johnson and produced by Neal H. Moritz, the film stars Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, LL Cool J, Josh Charles, Jeremy Renner, Brian Van Holt and Olivier Martinez. Like the TV series, the film revolves around a police Special Weapons and Tactics team operating in Los Angeles California. The plot follows Hondo (Jackson) and his SWAT team as they are tasked to escort an imprisoned drug kingpin/international fugitive to prison after he offers a $100 million reward to anyone who can break him out of police custody. Plans for a film adaptation of the 1975 TV series began in the 1990s, but never materialized until the early 2000s. Some say the 2003 movie S.W.A.T. has mixed reviews, with some critics finding it predictable and others finding it entertaining. Some say the movie is so predictable and lacks surprises. Others say the movie is a rehash of Top Gun. Some say the characters are generic and lack distinctiveness. Critics went so far saying it was a waste of time and lacks excitement, is tedious and boring. But I don't agree with that. Some say the villain is awkward and spends most of the movie in custody. Yeah so... where else should he be? Some say the movie is sloppy, with gangs trying to rescue the villain at the same time. I thought that was such a cool plot twist. But some do say the movie is entertaining and has a great soundtrack. It has a likable cast and fun, if not cool scenes with believable action sequences. Even Roger Ebert said "half an hour into watching “S.W.A.T.,” I realized the movie offered pleasures that action movies hardly ever allow themselves anymore. The characters had dialogue and occupied a real plot, which involved their motivations and personalities. In a S.W.A.T. team training scene, the trainees are running toward a target while shooting, and somebody asks, “No rolls?” The veteran cop in charge replies: “They only roll in John Woo movies–not in real life.” That’s the point with “S.W.A.T.” This isn’t a John Woo movie, or “Bad Boys 2,” or any of the other countless movies with wall-to-wall action and cardboard characters. It isn’t exactly real life, either, and I have to admit some of the stunts and action scenes are a shade unlikely, but the movie’s ambition is essentially to be the same kind of police movie they used to make before special effects upstaged human beings. “S.W.A.T.” is a well-made police thriller, nothing more. No Academy Awards. But in a time when so many action pictures are mindless assaults on the eyes, ears and intelligence, it works as superior craftsmanship." Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/25 Full Review Jason M D This is a good action movie I don't way it gets so much hate I for one enjoyed it Lot of good action I enjoyed the characters I love coming back to this movie Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/15/24 Full Review Jack G This movie is a slog to get through. It takes forever for the movie to get going, and by the time it does, you either turned it off or are left wondering why they wasted so much of your time. It takes over an hour for the plot to actually start, as the first hour is dedicated to building the team and getting to know the characters. However, these characters are incredibly bland and forgettable and have very little personality to them. It makes you wonder why they didn't just start the plot after the 15 minute mark and make these characters already a team to begin with. I mean how do you make me forget that Samuel L. Jackson is in your movie? During that hour, you are teased with the main antagonist of the film, but he is the most uninteresting and forgettable antagonist I've ever seen. The only thing that is memorable about him is the fact that he was brought in because of a busted tail light on his car. They try to build him up as this big threat, but everything you see of him is either incredibly pathetic or generic street level villain. It's secondary villain is introduced within the first 15 minutes, but doesn't become a major part in the plot again until past the 1 hour mark, which again, makes you wonder for over an hour why you are even watching this and why they didn't just have the team already established and move onto the next plot point and lace character moments and building throughout the film. Loading the front half of the movie with it, and leaving the back half for the plot to occur makes the pacing insufferable to get through. Especially since the plot itself is rather basic and generic once you remove all the bloat. Once the plot actually starts, the action sequences are serviceable enough, but again lack anything to make them stand out. The performances in this movie can also be described as serviceable enough. You can tell everyone is trying with the material, but the material isn't interesting enough for them to make it memorable, making them feel flat and lifeless. To say that the movie is a slow burn would imply that the fire was ever lit. It isn't interesting. It isn't thrilling. It is a waste of time. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 04/03/24 Full Review Darren D S.W.A.T. (2003) entertaining time from it's likeable cast, the goofiness & that competitive macho banter of the 80s within early 2000s time frame with it's nu metal soundtrack. Just perfect fun & action. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/03/24 Full Review Ink S Classic 2000's movie with a great soundtrack and equally great writing + acting. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/26/23 Full Review Alain M highly entertaining with Samuel L Jackson kicking ass and Colin Farrel in his haydays as a cool SWAT ex navy Seal agent. High octane entertainment, Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/11/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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