NAVY SEALS

US, 1990, 114 minutes, Colour.
Charlie Sheen, Michael Biehn, Joanna Whaley- Kilmer, Bill Paxton, Denis Haysbert, Rick Rossovich.
Directed by Lewis Teague.

Navy Seals is a gung-ho 1990 action adventure concerning the Seals (Sea, Air and Land, Anywhere). Established in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy, the Navy Seals are a crack squad who are able to move around the world at very short notice and perform counter-terrorist manoeuvres. This film has an eastern Mediterranean setting (Cyprus, Beirut - and Palestinian and Arab groups). The film was released prior to the Gulf War of 1991 - but is very much in that vein, especially the confident gung-ho attitudes of the American forces.

The film offers its action sequences with great vitality. The more personal sequences are less successful, tough, sometimes sentimental.

Charlie Sheen gives a performance as an obnoxious racist hawk whose conscience is ultimately challenged. Michael Biehn gives a more complex performance as the leader torn by emotions. Joanne Whaley- Kilmer is an American reporter with a Lebanese background.

There are the expected action sequences, the dangers, the deaths, the triumph of the Americans. The film is particularly American. It was directed by Lewis Teague (Alligator, Jewel of the Nile).

1. A piece of Americana of the early '90s? War, terrorism? America and its peace-keeping role? Gung-ho and hawkish?

2. The background of the Navy Seals, John F. Kennedy's establishing them? Their role in the '80s and '90s and counter-terrorism? The sequences of training?

3. Authentic locations in Norfolk, Virginia, Washington DC, Beirut and Cyprus, the Mediterranean? The range of songs, musical score?

4. The importance of the stunt work, special effects, battle sequences, fights?

5. Action in the eastern Mediterranean: the American helicopter, the tanker, the sabotage and the terrorists? Capturing American prisoners? The Seals' rescue, the discovery of the missiles, videotaping prisoners? Not exploding the missiles? The return? The plan to kidnap the informer, the danger, the precision work, parachuting in? Deaths and rescues? The final mission in Beirut, the landing, the contact with the young boy, Beirut and its devastated appearance, the shootings and the snipers, the explosions? Setting the explosions for the missiles? The dangers of the Arabs, the daylight? Injuries and rescue? The pursuit, the tank and the car in the streets, the boat, the underwater fight? Success? The submarine coming? Action material?

6. The delineation of characters: Hawkins and his hawkish attitude, Curran and the complexity, Bill and his wedding, Hawkins diving off the bridge, the ceremony and its being interrupted, the Seals going at a moment's notice, spirit amongst themselves, camaraderie? Relaxing - and the Gulf sequence? Celebrations? Deaths and pathos? Bill's death, the funeral and the salute, his girlfriend and her regrets? Drinking at the wake, the video, the fight?

7. Charlie Sheen as Hawkins, gung-ho, racist and prejudiced? His background story of Claire? Waking up on the beach, attitude to marriage, diving off the car and the bridge? Going to fight, the daredevil, wanting to pick a fight, poor at golf? The death of Bill - and his responsibility? The clashes with Curran, the wake, Curran making him take responsibility? The final mission, the final fight? A jolt to conscience?

8. Jim Curran, leader, friendship with his men, the wedding, involvement, decisions, golf and his concern about leaving the missiles, the mission, the deaths? The telling of the news to Bill's girlfriend, grief, the fight at the bar? His wounding and being rescued?

9. The team - Bill and the genial man, the marriage, the unnecessary death? The man with the bazooka, his Karma? Ramos? Leary and his looking after people's wounds? Injuries and deaths? Working together as a team? The final escape?

10. Claire, television, her book, Jim and the date, the information? Hawkins and his getting Jim buzzed, the meal, the talk with Claire, putting his foot in it, insulting her heritage, the come-on and her rejecting him? The tour of training - and the final attack? The sabotage over Madrid? Her giving information? The bond with Jim?

11. The background of politicians and their decisions, espionage, military kidnappings, the Navy and timed precision, the ending?

12. The atmosphere of secrecy and undercover action? The Navy - and links with the CIA?

13. A picture of America's perception of itself in the world of the '80s and '90s, world order, world police? Gulf and Arab conflict, espionage? Terrorism?