Amazon.co.uk Review
A made-for-TV adaptation of Andy McNab's best-selling Bravo Two Zero--his account of a covert SAS mission in the Gulf War gone wrong. Sean Bean plays McNab, part of an eight-man team dropped behind enemy lines to sever communications lines. Things inevitably go wrong, however, and the team are captured and tortured, before making a variety of daring and amazing escapes. The story on which this film is based is certainly stirring, but it suffers from being generically at odds with the production values of a TV adaptation. The acting is wooden and the budget cannot provide the pyrotechnics or thrilling action sequences which action or war junkies may demand. At some points there are even unsuccessful attempts to blend parts of the staged drama with real documentary news footage. One might argue that the presentation of the SAS team as everyday, emotionally stunted lads, and their mission as gritty, downbeat and devoid of glamour is perhaps quite true to real-life events. It is also a huge novelty to see cinematic acknowledgement of British forces' participation in any conflict occurring in the last century. On the other hand, Bravo Two Zero undoubtedly appears quite dour when placed alongside a more flashy, Hollywood offering such as Three Kings. Nevertheless, SAS aficionados and fans of the novel will enjoy it immensely, if only to look at the way in which McNab's account presents Chris Ryan--author of a drastically different film and novel version of this incident, The One That Got Away--as a posturing, image-conscious coward. --Paul Philpott
Customer Reviews:
Really enjoyable. Not just for war & gore cohort........2008-03-09
This film could be enjoyed by a much wider audience if they don't let the image of the film put them off. (Don't judge a film by it's cover). It's a terrific story. Close to the author's own version. A good reminder of the complications of war and the dangers individuals endure. The characters aren't very realistic, but the strength of the extraordinary story carries the film. Andy McNab and Chris Ryan have both written about the same events from their own perpective. See this film then read the book The One That Got Away.
Excellent film!.......2008-01-02
I didn't really expect to enjoy this film as I thought it would be more one for blokes, but it was brilliant. The acting is wonderful, especially Sean Bean as the lead, and his presentation of Andy McNab's thoughts was very well done and did not detract from the action. The violence was moderate rather than gruesome, unlike that in many films (that completely puts me off watching them) but the terror of the patrol's situation is clearly communicated. The interactions between the members of the patrol seemed extremely realistic. The film also made me think more about the situation of soldiers in this type of war, particularly relevant since we're still in there, unfortunately.
An Absolute Must..........2007-12-18
I watched this over and over again....
It is a must buy and any action fan should buy this...
Not bad.......2007-11-02
Made in the late 90's this adaption of the true story of a doomed SAS mission that resulted in most of the SAS team being caught and tortured by Iraqi army officers.
The 15 certificate is a clear indication that the violence is not that strong, and that whilst there ordeal is terrible, the drama implies much of it without showing it.
The direction is good and the initial fire fight that starts the team members running for there lives is well done and for a TV movie holds up as well as many major Action flicks.
There is an over use of stock footage that distracts and intrudes the story somewhat, but that's a minor complaint.
Sean Bean is good in the lead role and the other actors do there best with perhaps under written parts.
It does feel a little dated now, and I suspect that had this been made in this fast cut, shaky camera era of film making that it would have a more gritty documentary style, rather than that of conventional TV drama.
Worth watching, but the best way to get this story is to read the excellent book that it is based on.
Amazon.co.uk Review
A made-for-TV adaptation of Andy McNab's best-selling Bravo Two Zero--his account of a covert SAS mission in the Gulf War gone wrong. Sean Bean plays McNab, part of an eight-man team dropped behind enemy lines to sever communications lines. Things inevitably go wrong, however, and the team are captured and tortured, before making a variety of daring and amazing escapes. The story on which this film is based is certainly stirring, but it suffers from being generically at odds with the production values of a TV adaptation. The acting is wooden and the budget cannot provide the pyrotechnics or thrilling action sequences which action or war junkies may demand. At some points there are even unsuccessful attempts to blend parts of the staged drama with real documentary news footage. One might argue that the presentation of the SAS team as everyday, emotionally stunted lads, and their mission as gritty, downbeat and devoid of glamour is perhaps quite true to real-life events. It is also a huge novelty to see cinematic acknowledgement of British forces' participation in any conflict occurring in the last century. On the other hand, Bravo Two Zero undoubtedly appears quite dour when placed alongside a more flashy, Hollywood offering such as Three Kings. Nevertheless, SAS aficionados and fans of the novel will enjoy it immensely, if only to look at the way in which McNab's account presents Chris Ryan--author of a drastically different film and novel version of this incident, The One That Got Away--as a posturing, image-conscious coward. The video also includes an exclusive 22-minute interview with the author, Andy McNab. --Paul Philpott
Customer Reviews:
Sharpe goes to Iraq!.......2006-02-24
The Amazon review does not do this drama service at all and it's a shame they couldn't be more forthright in other reviews. Saying the acting is wooden and then comparing it with Three Kings is quite contradictory given that the performances in that movie had enough wood in it to out-stock Ikea. *Drama* is the key word here because Bravo 2 Zero was shown as a two-parter on BBC1; it was *never* meant to be a movie and, of course, it cannot compete in the special effects department with your usual Hollywood war film. It is more like another one of Sean Bean's roles 'Sharpe': you never watched it for its rather low-budget battles but for the characters and plot, which Bravo 2 Zero has in abundance.
Bravo 2 Zero is telling a story about a group of SAS men trapped behind enemy lines and their eventual capture and torture. It's not about great panoramas filled with digital special effects and CGI battle scenes. If you want that you probably won't like this drama.
The characters in Bravo 2 Zero are done extremely well and the banter between the SAS men is very funny and you feel for them when they eventually get captured. It is close to the book (McNab's version) and the soldiers' torture at the hands of the Iraqi secret police is both harrowing and inhuman, a fact only touched on briefly by ITV's The One That Got Away. For example, one of the most stomach wrenching scenes in the drama is when Sean has to lick human faeces off his hands to satisfy the sadistic pleasure of his jailer. He also had to prove to his captors that he wasn't a Jew in the only way he knew how... We also see one of the group taking care to empty his bowels in a bag and stuffing it in his burgen because just doing it on the ground can give the Iraqis clues that Europeans are in the area and could give the game away. You don't get any of that in your typical Hollywood blockboster!
Great movie (and one of the few) about the Gulf War...........2006-01-28
I really enjoyed this film overall. Sean Bean is such an appealing actor that he truly elevates this tv production into theatrical territory. The action is hard and heavy as are the torture scenes later in the movie. In the states, this movie was released with a cover that makes it look like a mindless action film. That's ashame, as I almost passed over it at first. My only problem is with the insertion of the team into Iraq. It's painfully obvious that the actors are in a helicopter that is never off the ground. The "missile" that chases the chopper is also poorly done (stock footage?). Once the guys get on the ground, the movie takes off. It loses 1 star for the horrible helicopter scenes. The One That Got Away did a much better job showing the team's insertion. Overall, great movie about my favorite topic...Special Forces soldiers.
Rubbish.......2005-09-28
Watched the film as had read both Andy Mcnab and Chris Ryans books, film was not very accurate to the book castting bad special effects not special acting worst i have seen must have been one of the lowest bugget bbc films made. Read the book don't bother with the film!
Disappointed.......2005-01-12
After reading Andy McNab's fantastic book 'Bravo Two Zero', I couldn't wait to see this film. But the film was no where near as gripping as the book. The BBC budget really lets the story down. The whole story felt rushed, and the acting was pretty bad, I actually felt uncomfortable watching it.
The characters are not as strong as they are in the book, and I found myself not caring whether or not they survived.
I would recommend the book to anyone who loves an unpredictable & gripping read, but this film does not do the story any justice.
disappointing.......2003-10-10
bad movie. only telling the story of te sas bud hardly any images.
Product Description
REGION 2 DVD - DUTCH IMPORT - OFFICIAL RELEASE.
UK DVD:
- A Sense Of Freedom [1984]
- Band Of Gold - The Complete Series (6 Disc Box Set)
- Blue Velvet [1986] (David Lynch)
- Boiler Room [2000]
- Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan [2006]
- Boston Legal: Season 3 [2006]
- Bouquet of Barbed Wire / Another Bouquet - Complete Box Set
- Carrie's War [2003]
- City Of Lost Children [1995]
- Cold Mountain [2004]
UK DVD List
UK DVD
All Drama
|
Drama
|
Categories
|
DVD
|
Video
![Andy McNab - The Ultimate Warrior [1997]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00005Y43B.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Andy McNab - The Ultimate Warrior [1997]
The One That Got Away
![The One That Got Away [1995]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000UL8UUQ.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
The One That Got Away [1995]
Ultimate Force - Series 1-4
The SAS In Action
![Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero [1998]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/2127MF7W9NL.jpg)
![Stormy Monday [1988]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00004R6BS.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Sharpe's Company [1994]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00004CORI.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![A Woman's Guide to Adultery [1993] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00009XN2V.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![The One That Got Away [Region 2] [import]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21irY2zPc8L.jpg)
