Critics complain about the clichéd nature of the plot and the patriotic flag-waving from the US, but when the action is this good such trappings don't really matter. From then on, the rest of the action is surface-based and concentrates on massive amounts of gunfire, explosions, tanks and even a sniper or two sent to obliterate our American hero before he can escape. Utilising modern digital effects, this air battle is portrayed as never before and extremely entertaining.
The highlight of the movie is undoubtedly the super-impressive airborne chase between our heroes in their Navy jet and two surface-to-air missiles sent to destroy it. The pacing never flags for a second and the action is plentiful and exciting. BEHIND ENEMY LINES may not be a work of art, but as an action film it exceeds all of our expectations. In fact the film has a minimalist style, preferring to keep things low key, as a sole man - played by Owen Wilson - must try and make it to safe ground before the stereotypical bad guys shoot him dead. This fluid, adrenaline-fuelled addition to the recent wave of war films to hit our cinemas in the wake of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN is less serious than most, instead preferring to simplify the characters and situations of the (real-life) war situation - and using them as a basis for what is pretty much a straightforward action offering, utilising the old-fashioned "chase" style plot as a basis for the continuous shoot-outs and battles between enemies.