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Movies / On DVD / S.W.A.T.
S.W.A.T.

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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

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Reviews for S.W.A.T.

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1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

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

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
11/25/03
Nev Pierce
Nev Pierce
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Solidly entertaining without being spectacular.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/06
Alan Morrison
Alan Morrison
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
01/15/04
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A lively, mindless police thriller.

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
05/20/08
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

It's not a particularly original movie.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
09/25/03
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

'Meat and potatoes action cinema.'

Full Review Source: Teletext | comment Comment
12/08/03
Paul Arendt
Paul Arendt
Teletext

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 Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Jessica Winter
Jessica Winter
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/04/03
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Satisfying fare and worthy of a sequel.

Full Review Source: 3BlackChicks Review | comment Comment
09/23/03
Kamal  'The Diva' Larsuel
Kamal 'The Diva' Larsuel
3BlackChicks Review

'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.

Full Review Source: About.com | comment Comment
08/08/03
Rebecca Murray
Rebecca Murray
About.com

The movie is an admiring salute to the men and women who protect and serve.

Full Review Source: Aisle Seat | comment Comment
08/14/03
Mike McGranaghan
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat

About as much mindless fun as you can expect from a good old fashioned American Western transplanted to 21st century Los Angeles.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
08/08/03
Brian Webster
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide

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.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
10/29/03
Terri Clark
Terri Clark
Apollo Guide

We want a little more, get a little less, and keep thinking to ourselves that we should have known better.

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment Comment
08/08/03
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

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.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
08/07/03
Bill Muller
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic

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

Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | comment Comment
01/29/05
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Good cop; bad cop. Bad TV show; bad movie. That about sums up S.W.A.T.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
08/07/03
Bob Townsend
Bob Townsend
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Surely something more original than this could have been mined from the history of North America's largest and most professional police force.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
08/10/03
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
12/27/07
Joe Lozito
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

Those who love police overkill, guns, jingoistic race-baiting, guns, macho smugness, and guns will be well served.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
08/08/03
Ty Burr
Ty Burr
Boston Globe
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
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