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The Siege [1999] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
A high-profile action/exploitation thriller set in the late 20th century, The Siege is really a fantasy that extrapolates from major terrorist bombings, such as the one at the World Trade Centre. Denzel Washington is FBI special agent Hubbard, "Hub" to his friends, whose anti-terrorist task force must track down the terrorist cells responsible for a spate of bombings in New York. His partner is an FBI agent of Arabian extraction (played convincingly by Tony Shalhoub), proving not all Arabs are bad guys--a point the film should be lauded for making again and again. Thrown into the mix is a CIA spy (played almost kittenish at times by Annette Bening), whose ties to the terrorists appear to be at the centre of the conflicts. When the bombings escalate out of control, the President institutes martial law, sending in General Devereaux (played with impenetrable countenance by Bruce Willis) with tanks and troops to ferret out the terrorists. Echoes of Japanese-Americans in internment camps ring out as Arabs, including the son of the Arab-American FBI agent, are herded into a stadium. Periodic audio-montages of "man in the street" sentiments anchor the material in the present and show how serious and relevant the material is. But finally what we have is a taut and entertaining popcorn movie, giving itself the humanistic nod when it can. --Jim Gay, Amazon.com
Could have been more
Review date: 2008-04-06 Rating: 6 out of 10
What we have here is an average attempt at manifesting one of the possible and likely threats of our time; Terrorism. To much of an extent, the film captures this perfectly, and we learn how such people operate, they're motives etc etc... However, the film fails in its layout - the way it keeps switching from Denzel and co's personal issue's and feelings to the job in hand leaves you feeling out-of-place.
It should also be noted that Bruce Willis and a helicopter with missile cannons don't mix, when it comes to realism. The result is borderline laughable as he struts about in his army uniform.
Though its been directed and presented well, a little more thought into making the plot real would have benefited the film. Taking the American public and segregating all Muslim/Ethnic originated people into an questionably fast-built camp inside a football stadium is un-likely to happen. Unless your name is Bruce...
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Reviews
Very thought provoking, and not all that unlikely
Review date: 2007-09-17 Rating: 10 out of 10
The Siege tells a hypothetical story about terrorist attacks on New York City by Islamic fundamentalists, and how an FBI department led by Special Agent Hubbard (Denzel Washington) tries to stop them. A CIA agent (Annette Bening) is also involved, and refuses to cooperate with the FBI, at least at first. When the attacks continue and the FBI and police are unable to stop them, President Bill Clinton imposes martial law and U.S. Army units under General Devereaux (Bruce Willis) occupy and isolate Brooklyn and round up all the young Arab men and place them in an internment camp. This leads to several consequences and to a final showdown that will not be revealed here.
The Siege was controversial already in 1998 when it was released: the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and the Council on American-Islamic Relations both protested strenuously and said the movie was offensive and discriminatory. After the 9/11-2001 terrorist attacks on the United States it can be seen that the movie was in some ways prescient: it practically predicted terrorist attacks on New York by Islamic fundamentalists, a fatal lack of cooperation between the FBI and the CIA, and the imposition of measures that reduced civil liberties for average Americans.
In fact, the key conflict in The Siege is not the conflict between the terrorists and the law enforcement agencies. The key conflict is an ideological one: On one hand there are those who believe that all possible means, including the use of torture and the detention and isolation of suspects with no access to legal process, can be necessary responses to a terrorist threat. On the other hand there are those who believe that use of torture and the reduction of civil liberties can never be justified, and that if one resorts to these measures then one has handed victory to the terrorists.
It is the emphasis of this ideological conflict that makes The Siege so thought provoking and leads me to award it five stars.
Others have panned The Siege as being too anti-military, claiming that the imposition of martial law is farfetched and the U.S. military depicted as too inhumane. Here it must be pointed out that in the hypothetical situation presented in The Siege there was an on-going series of terrorist attacks with no end in sight, a far different situation than that experienced on 9/11-2001.
It's interesting to note that the script for The Siege was written by Lawrence Wright, who later, in 2006, wrote a book, The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11, and won the Pulitzer Prize for it. This book is also highly recommended.
A few words about DVD extra material. The first DVD release (2000) includes a 13-minute special feature "The Making of The Siege", which is fairly interesting but nothing very special. There is a newer DVD release (2007) subtitled "Martial Law Edition" which includes two additional special features, "The Siege: Taking New York" and "The Siege: Freedom is History". Unfortunately I haven't seen this edition yet.
Highly recommended, at least if you want more than just action and drama and enjoy thought-provoking stories.
Rennie Petersen
shameful film
Review date: 2007-09-16 Rating: 4 out of 10
this film is as bland as dishwater in truth,very pro american,anti islamic and all that mumbo jumbo,yes,but where is the films soul and heartbeat,it just never shows itself.
The film deals with terrorists who place america under siege in various attacks,fbi agent denzel washington gets help from a woman who knows more than she is letting on and army general bruce willis just wants to destroy the terrorists and with no questions asked,thats about it really.
The film asks some questions of society but doesnt really know the answers itself,dull and queasy and too much of a good thing quell this film downwards.There is a theory that i abide too that every film with denzel in is worth haveing a peek at,i may have to reserve the truth in that after this.
The seige
Review date: 2007-03-09 Rating: 10 out of 10
hi, this is one of my favourite action films for lots of reasons. the actors are absolutly brilliant and characters have depth. the storyline is a bit plane with no complexity. a nation threatened by terrorists however they delivered it very well. it also has non-stop action from start to end and clearly a high budget film. if you're any kind of action fan you will buy this now. or if you're a fan of bruce willis or denzel washington as denzel is the main character. a great film you will enjoy and won't regret. thanks.
Chillingly predictive
Review date: 2004-07-05 Rating: 8 out of 10
This film would probably do better in this day and age than prior to the invasion of Iraq as it is chillingly predictive in its portrayal of the American "War on Terror" and the subsequent civil liberties issues that have been caused a storm over the past year. It is a cut above the other terrorist threat movies because it is very well researched and does not pander to stereotyping.
The atrocities in Abu Ghraib prison, the arrests in Stuttgart, the laughable disparity and zonal tensions in the American intelligence system coupled with the erosion of civil liberties and human rights are all mirrored in this movie and makes for compelling, thought-provoking viewing. You cannot help but wonder that the film was made prior to 9/11.
The portrayal of good versus evil can be a little confusing at times as it can sometimes be unclear whether the movie is trying to polarise the matter of terrorists against American foreign policies or presenting them both as evil.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Denzel Washington
Sami Bouajila
Bruce Willis
Annette Bening
Tony Shalhoub
Creators:
Denzel Washington (Primary Contributor)
Bruce Willis (Primary Contributor)
Edward Zwick (Producer)
Edward Zwick (Writer)
Bruce Devan (Producer)
Jonathan Filley (Producer)
Lynda Obst (Producer)
Lawrence Wright (Writer)
Menno Meyjes (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: 20th Century Fox
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
EAN: 0024543433019
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: AC-3, Colour, Dolby, Dubbed, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC,
Release date: 2007-05-15
Universal product code (UPC): 024543433019
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 116 minutes
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Dubbed)