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MOVIES / ON DVD / S.W.A.T.
S.W.A.T.

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S.W.A.T. (2003)

48%
40%
51%
N/A
N/A
N/A
48 %
Reviews Counted: 159 Fresh: 76  Rotten:83 Average Rating: 5.4/10
 
Consensus: A competent, but routine police thriller.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 57 mins

Synopsis: They’re the best of the best, the elite of law enforcement. And they’ve been recruited for their most dangerous mission ever. Inspired by the popular ‘70s television series, the explosive action-thriller S.W.A.T. stars Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell, is produced by Neal H.... They’re the best of the best, the elite of law enforcement. And they’ve been recruited for their most dangerous mission ever. Inspired by the popular ‘70s television series, the explosive action-thriller S.W.A.T. stars Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell, is produced by Neal H. Moritz, directed by Clark Johnson and features an ensemble cast that includes Michelle Rodriguez, James Todd Smith (aka LL Cool J), Brian Van Holt, Jeremy Renner, Josh Charles and Olivier Martinez. Farrell portrays Jim Street, a former S.W.A.T. team member, who along with his partner Brian Gamble (Renner), is thrown off the team in the aftermath of a controversial decision they made during a robbery/hostage standoff. Gamble quits the force in disgust, but for Street, being a policeman is his life and he agrees to a demotion, hoping to someday have the chance to redeem himself and once again wear the privileged S.W.A.T. uniform. Street gets that chance when team commander Dan “Hondo” Harrelson (Jackson) is assigned to recruit and train five top-notch cops for a new Special Weapons and Tactics unit (S.W.A.T.). The other members of the new team Hondo recruits are Deacon “Deke” Kaye (James Todd Smith aka LL Cool J), Chris Sanchez (Michelle Rodriguez), Michael Boxer (Brian Van Holt) and T.J. McCabe (Josh Charles). After weeks of demanding physical training, the new S.W.A.T. team is quickly thrown into action when a notorious drug lord Alex Montel (Olivier Martinez), audaciously offers a $100 million bounty to anyone who can free him from police custody. As they escort the kingpin out of Los Angeles and into the hands of the Feds, they are pursued by a ruthless and well-armed band of mercenaries. Columbia Pictures Presents An Original Film/Camelot Pictures/Chris Lee Production S.W.A.T. starring Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, James Todd Smith (aka LL Cool J), Brian Van Holt, Josh Charles and Olivier Martinez. S.W.A.T. is directed by Clark Johnson. The screenplay is by David Ayer and David McKenna from a story by Ron Mita & Jim McClain. The producers are Neal H. Moritz, Dan Halsted and Chris Lee. Gabriel Beristain, ASC/BSC is the director of photography. The executive producer is Louis D’Esposito. The co-executive producer is Todd Black. The co-producers are George Huang and Amanda Cohen. The production is designed by Mayne Berke. The film is edited by Michael Tronick, A.C.E. The music is by Elliot Goldenthal. The music supervisor is Evyen Klean. Christopher Lawrence is the costume designer. [More]

Genre: Action/Adventure

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Olivier Martinez, Michelle Rodriguez, Josh Charles

Director: Clark Johnson
Screenwriter: David Ayer, David McKenna, Ron Mita, Jim McClain
Story: Ron Mita, Jim McClain
Producer: Neal H. Moritz, Dan Halstead
Composer: Elliot Goldenthal

DVD Info

Release:

Jul 9, 2007

[DVD Details]

Blu-ray Disc Features:

  • Blue BD Case
  • Widescreen - 2.40

Audio:

  • PCM 5.1 - English, French
  • Subtitles - English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, Korean, Thai - Optional
  • Closed Captioned - English - Optional

Additional Release Material:

  • Featurettes - 1. Deleted Scenes (8)

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
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Ratings Image
N/A

A lively, mindless police thriller.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/20/08
Philip French
Observer [UK]
Ratings Image
3/5

Solidly entertaining without being spectacular.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/01/06
Alan Morrison
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

he high definition SWAT training footage resembles a US Army recruitment ad, appropriate since TV journeyman Johnson imagines downtown LA as an unpatrolled Baghdad, swarming with guntotin' mercenaries pursuing their share of the bounty.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/09/06
Jessica Winter
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
2/5

Reasonably entertaining for the first half-hour, after which your eyelids will be heavy.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/15/04
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

'Meat and potatoes action cinema.'

Full Review | comment Comment
12/08/03
Paul Arendt
Teletext
Ratings Image
3/5

It's just a shame there's not more substance to the style. Plenty of crash, bang. Not a lotta wallop.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/25/03
Nev Pierce
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3/5

Forgettable Friday night thriller that’s short on action set-pieces but compensates with decent characters and performances.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/04/03
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
Ratings Image
2/5

It's not a particularly original movie.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/25/03
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
Ratings Image
N/A

As summer shoot-'em-ups go, this is pretty well executed, with plenty of macho posing and gunfire.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/20/08
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
Ratings Image
2/4

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
12/27/07
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
Ratings Image
4/5

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Ratings Image
C-

Watching the wheels come off of S.W.A.T. is quite a sight.

Full Review | comment Comment
06/26/05
Bill Clark
FromTheBalcony
Ratings Image
D

Is there an actual character in S.W.A.T.? A plot? A single intelligent or exciting sequence?

Full Review | comment Comment
05/04/05
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
Ratings Image
B-

...a case of a modest workmanlike film exceeding diminished expectations

Full Review | comment Comment
01/29/05
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Ratings Image
6/10

This is an enjoyable entertainment, but I can’t really call it any more than average.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/07/04
Tony Medley
tonymedley.com
Ratings Image
N/A

There is something sneakily gratifying about all this.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/07/04
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine
Ratings Image
4.5/5

I think intentions matter. On its own terms, this vaguely retro S.W.A.T. is honest filmmaking and bang-up entertainment to boot.

comment Comment
07/02/04
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)
Ratings Image
2.5/5

I didn't pay nine bucks for this in the theater. I know which movies are worth paying for, and which barely merit an absent-minded dumping to the bottom of my NetFlix queue.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/21/04
Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com
Ratings Image
3/4

... S.W.A.T. is an action movie for those of us who want to see more than shiny cars and musclebound meathead heroes of the Vin Diesel variety.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/05/04
Greg Maki
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Ratings Image
3/5

S.W.A.T. may well be the set up for a movie franchise. Let’s hope the producers understand why this one works.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/02/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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