UNDER SIEGE
US, 1992, 102 minutes, Colour.
Steven Seagall, Tommy Lee Jones, Elena Eleniak, Gary Busey.
Directed by Andrew Davis.
Under Siege, one of the top American box office movies of 1992, was described as Die Hard on water. The location for the action is the USS Missouri, returning to Pearl Harbor to be decommissioned. The hero of the film is an alleged cook, a disgraced ex-navy SEAL, a Vietnam, Middle East and Panama veteran. He is played by Steven Seagal (Above the Law, Hard to Kill, Marked for Death). The film is a typical Seagal action adventure - although he is given some more humorous lines than usual. His director is Andrew Davis, who has previously directed Seagal and made the fine action thriller, The Package, later moving to bigger budgets with The Fugitive and A Perfect Murder. Seagal has a strong supporting cast with Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey as sinister villains, Nick Mancuso as Segal's former officer in charge, Patrick O'Neal as the captain of the Missouri. Erika Eleniak has to appear as a bunny, Miss Playboy 1989, but the screenplay gives her plenty to do in the action as well.
The action is what might be expected of a Seagal film - but it is done with a great deal of panache.
1. The popularity of Steven Seagal action? Die Hard on water?
2. Seagal as the American hero, his war background, the tough action and training of the SEALs, his martial arts abilities? The questions of exercising violence or not? Macho image or not? His single-handed success? Collaboration with others on the ship? The help from Jordan Tate? The strong man - with the touch of wit, and using his wits?
3. The title and expectations? The siege of the Missouri? The defence of the siege, the attack - on water?
4. The basic interest of the situation: the USS Missouri, its place in history, the return to Pearl Harbor, the question of nuclear missiles, the availability of the codes, the role of the Pentagon, international terrorists and nuclear sales?
5. Ryback and his career, disgrace, on the ship as the cook? His work in the kitchen, clashes? The argument with Krill? His being put in the freezer, his escape? Relationship with the captain, finding him dead? Finding Jordan Tate? His ability with satellite communications, in touch with the Pentagon, giving information, getting instructions? The fights, his strategies? Wit? His clash with Strannix? The sprinklers, the weapons systems, the SEALs' experience, the submarine bomb? His being saved by Jordan? The confrontation with Strannix and his death? The missiles? His emerging as hero?
6. The ship, the captain and his administration - and his death? Krill, his background, power? Sadistic behaviour, putting Ryback in the freezer? The relationship with Strannix, helping him, participation in the siege? Drowning?
7. Strannix, his personality, his past? The links with the Pentagon? His control being part of the negotiations and deals? The terrorist background, the missiles, his plan, the helicopter, infiltrating the men, their brutality? The submarine? His knowing Ryback? The final clash and his death?
8. Jordan Tate, her bunny background? Her being involved in the action? Helping and saving Ryback?
9. The picture of the officials at the Pentagon, conference, satellite connections? Their decisions? Breaker and his control of Strannix, the interactions with Ryback?
10. The plausibility of the plot, Mavericks like Strannix, sadists like Krill and their position on the boat, Ryback and his background, his ability to save the day? The role of government and the Pentagon?
11. Popular themes and styles and action heroes of the '90s?
