Now here's a patriotic Movie done right!

It's a true story too, loosely, about a Navy navigator shot down over enemy territory and ruthlessly pursued by a secret police enforcer and the opposing troops, all the while his commanding officer goes against orders in an attempt to rescue him.

Owen Wilson plays the main man, and though I usually don't feel like he's suited for more serious roles he did alright here, accompanied by Gene Hackman as the commanding officer! The rest of the squad I don't think I know, but they all seem authentic.

The soundtrack was an interesting mixture of the techno/trance of the time, marching music and more typical movie music... and some regular songs. It works! The movie incorporates pretty interesting angles, rapid fire close-ups and some impressive action choreography and pyrotechnics. Props too. Not all of it's aged authentically, but it shows they put a lot of work into it. It still works.

It feels like they had fun filming it too, experimental as it sometimes is. And the story? Pretty exciting. Albeit not always the most realistic it's a solid war movie from a rather unusual place, with a rather unusual person for such a role, and cinematography that's both brutal, fun, and at times: almost poetic. Great watch.

Fun fact: there's a lot of fun facts on this one! :)

 rated 4/5: fo shizzle