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Rules of Engagement
Decorated Marine Colonel Terry Childers (Samuel L. Jackson) is put on trial when a rescue mission goes terribly wrong. For his attorney, he has chosen Marine Col. Hays Hodges (Tommy Lee Jones), a...  View more >

Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Tommy Lee Jones

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Reviews Summary


Please Note: Reader Reviews are submitted by the readers of The BigScreen Cinema Guide and represent their own personal opinions regarding this movie, and do not represent the views of The BigScreen Cinema Guide, or any of its associated entities.

[--- See Now! ---]by  
Apr 9, 2000
These two (Jackson & Jones) actors performed their roles so well I had to remember they were acting. The best part of this movie was the color of their skin, not black not white but Marine Green. Go see it, its a great movie.
Apr 24, 2000
While not the greatest courtroom drama ever shown on film, "Rules of Engagement" does have its moments that make the movie worthwhile.

Samuel L. Jackson does a great job at depicting a distinguished Marine Colonel that has been charged with "conduct unbecoming" as well as murder for the events during his mission to rescue a U.S. ambassador and his family from a beseiged embassy in Yemen.

Tommy Lee Jones turns in a fairly good performance as the semi-retired Marine lawyer with more determination to clear his friend's name than skill in the courtroom to do so.

The beginning flashback sequences in Viet Nam are not to be missed in a digitally-equipped theater. Hearing the muffled voices and movements of enemy soldiers all around you give you the feeling that you are hip-deep in swamp water yourself with an ambush near at hand. This event provides the background for the friendship of the two Marines, and why Jones' character feels especially indebted to the accused.

Aside from the plot holes that expose themselves on the way home from the theater, the courtroom scenes lacked the "tightness" and the emotion necessary to carry this movie past average status. As a big fan of "Law & Order" I've come to appreciate how cases can be built and the trials shown, even if only in the reality of television and Hollywood. Being a fan of Tom Clancy novels, it was also hard to believe the series of events leading up to the embassy mission going downhill.

If we keep in the movie realm, stacking "Rules of Engagement" up against either "A Few Good Men" or even "Courage Under Fire" ranks it a close third in the list.

Everyone from Samuel L. Jackson to Ben Kingsley delivers very good performances, and this alone makes the movie worth seeing. It's refreshing to see Tommy Lee Jones stretching his roles a little more and being willing to play a character with faults. Be sure to set your disbelief aside for a while, and you won't be disappointed with a good movie that's worth the admission price.
[--- See Now! ---]by  
Apr 28, 2000
I had to respond to Scott's review above. In my opinion, the movie does a decent job of presenting a court-martial that is being rushed by the powers that be to cover-up a political blunder. I do agree that the plot does have it's share of post-movie hour reflection holes, but there are very few movies out there that don't; that is part of being a movie.

The opening scenes in Vietnam and the later firefight at the Embassy are what made me give this movie a "See Now!" status. If you want to have a glimpse of what it was like to hump in the muck, you need to see this in a THX theater.

I'm a big Tommy Lee Jones fan. I have been since "Black Moon Rising". This is one of the first roles in which Jones plays a weak character. He does a perfect job portraying a spirit-broken Marine; I mean your heart goes out to the guy.

It is worth the admission price to see this solid cast give a flawless performance on the big screen.
[--- Stay Away! ---]by  
May 7, 2000
Just simply a bad movie, not a courtroom drama...heck, not even a drama...so many things were left unanswered they probably were pushing a deadline and didn't even preview the movie before release.

Hire 2 "hot" and well known actors and, yes, people will probably go see their movie...don't be fooled or get ready to kiss $7.50 good bye.

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