'S.W.A.T.'
(Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez / R / 111 mins / Columbia Pictures)
Overview:Based on the 1970s TV series of the same title, this film follows a squad of Los Angeles' Special Weapons and Tactics assigned to protect a drug kingpin who has offered a $100 million reward to anyone who can free him from the cops. Samuel L. Jackson plays a grizzled S.W.A.T. veteran who's in charge of the venture.
Verdict: 'S.W.A.T.' may well be a noisy, highly-charged cop actioner, but it's also a virtual assembly line of wasted opportunities! Essentially a fancied-up TV episode from the old days, 'S.W.A.T.' boasts the kernel of a good idea — but it gets buried in the chaff of half-baked plot threads, partly realized characters and unstructured pandemonium. That all said and done, the camaraderie is realistic and heartening, the escape plan is exciting, and the ladies will love it when LL flashes his abs!! Therefore, and as expected, 'S.W.A.T.' is nothing more than a standard summer action movie.
Reviewed by Russell A. Trunk
'S.W.A.T.'