The Diva's
"Rules of Engagement" Review

WARNING - SPOILERS BELOW.

Well it didn't totally suck.

I have to be honest with y'all and to the point. I just didn't "feel" this movie. I loved the fact that Tommy and Samuel were paired together. That was about the most exciting aspect of the movie.

It just really lacked "umph". As far as movies about military crimes or military court dramas go, it didn't hold a candle to "A Few Good Men", "Courage Under Fire" or "The General's Daughter". If you look at the fight scenes it is no comparison to "Apocalypse Now", "Platoon", "Saving Private Ryan", etc. It was basically very mediocre for its genre.

Colonel Terry Childers ( Samuel L. Jackson) and Colonel Hayes Hodges (Tommy Lee Jones) have been friends for 28 years. Terry saved Hayes' life in Vietnam and it forged a bond. Both were born to be soldiers. Hayes is a 3rd generation Marine, while Terry just loves being in the service.

After being in the Corps for 30 years, Hayes decides it's time to retire. He was shaken up in Vietnam and never went back into combat, instead he chose to get a degree in law. Meanwhile, Childers is sent on assignment to Yemen. Childers has been given the task of escort the American Ambassador out of Yemen because the local people hate America and things are getting rough. During the evacuation, the people begin throwing rocks and snipers open fire on the Marines. After losing 3 soldiers, Childers gives the command to shoot. After the smoke clears, 83 people are dead and 100 are wounded and they are mostly women and children.

This incident creates a fire storm. After an investigation shows that the crowd was unarmed, the government hangs Childers out to dry. Childers turns to his friend for help. With 2 weeks left in the Corps and admittedly being a poor lawyer, Hodges takes the case.

This is where the movie should pick up. But it doesn't. The court room scenes were bland and unexciting. The one stand out for me was Major Biggs, (Guy Pearce) the prosecuting attorney. He was pretty riveting. I was impressed by his characters integrity. While the government is trying to sink Childers by any means necessary, he vows to stick it to him, but only with the facts. He wanted Childers treated with the respect that comes with 30 years of service to his country, even if he disagrees with what Childers allegedly did.

You may want to rule this one out.