It's just a shame there's not more substance to the style. Plenty of crash, bang. Not a lotta wallop.
S.W.A.T. (2003)
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Reviews Counted:160
Fresh:76
Rotten:84
Average Rating:5.4/10
Consensus: A competent, but routine police thriller.
Runtime: 1 hr 57 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
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... 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]
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Olivier Martinez, Michelle Rodriguez
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Olivier Martinez, Michelle Rodriguez, Josh Charles, LL Cool J, Brian Van Holt, Ken Rudúlph, Jeremy Renner
Director: Clark Johnson
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
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Reviews for S.W.A.T.
Reasonably entertaining for the first half-hour, after which your eyelids will be heavy.
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.
Forgettable Friday night thriller that’s short on action set-pieces but compensates with decent characters and performances.
'S.W.A.T' is the perfect August release - not too much dialogue, a whole lot of action, and an easy to follow plot populated with believable characters.
The movie is an admiring salute to the men and women who protect and serve.
About as much mindless fun as you can expect from a good old fashioned American Western transplanted to 21st century Los Angeles.
The fast pace robs the characters of depth, but there's never time to be bored. S.W.A.T. is an arresting good time.
We want a little more, get a little less, and keep thinking to ourselves that we should have known better.
It's every police movie you've ever seen wrapped into one, done so stiffly that the characters are barely able to bend at the waist to collect their hundreds of spent shell casings.
...a case of a modest workmanlike film exceeding diminished expectations
Good cop; bad cop. Bad TV show; bad movie. That about sums up S.W.A.T.
Surely something more original than this could have been mined from the history of North America's largest and most professional police force.
Those who love police overkill, guns, jingoistic race-baiting, guns, macho smugness, and guns will be well served.
Latest News for S.W.A.T.
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