Broken Arrow [1996]

If you giggled at his "Ain't it cool" line from the trailer, you're in the right frame of mind for this comedic action film. Never as gritty or semi-realistic--or for that matter as heart-thumping--as the original DieHard, Broken Arrow still delivers. If Travolta is cast against type, everyone else is by the numbers; Christian Slater as Hale, the earnest copilot looking to foil the plot, Samantha Mathis as the brave park ranger caught in the middle, Frank Whaley as an eager diplomat and Delroy Lindo as a right-minded colonel. As with his previous script (the superior Speed), writer Graham Yost moves everything quickly along as Hale and the ranger try to cut off Deakins's plan over a variety of terrains. There are plane crashes, car chases, a pursuit through an abandoned mine, a helicopter-train shootout and lots of fighting between boys. Each time Hale finds himself perfectly in place to foil Deakins, you're suppose to laugh at the unbelievable situations. That's where Broken Arrow is deceptive: its tone is right for the laughter compared to the mean-spirited Schwarzenegger and Stallone action films with laboured jokes. Hong Kong master director John Woo (TheKiller and Hard Target) pulls out all the stops--slow motion of Hale and Deakins' gymnastic gun play, nifty stunts, countdowns to doomsday. Woo may know action but he needs more guidance in creating unique and stunning special effects. This is action entertainment at its cheesiest. Travolta and Woolater reteamed for Face/Off. --Doug Thomas

The word 'cool' embodies the film's relaxed music, quirky humour, snappy one-liners and Woo's trademark visual candy. 'Broken Arrow', the US Military's term for a missing nuclear warhead, is the motivation of the plot as treachery and duels become the centre of the movie. Slater's desperatly attempts to capture his co-pilot's bounty from the wreckage though Travolta is always one step ahead of his hapless former friend. Worth a watch... and then another!


I say, goddamn what a rush!   March 21, 2000
1 out of 4 found this review helpful

I loved this film. It was a total adrenaline rush all the way through and the special effects were amazing. The pyrotechnics were esspecially worthy of mention.

It starts off by Deakins(Travolta) taking over the plane which himself and Hale(Slater) are flying. He drops the nukes, unarmed into a canyon before punching out. Hale later teams up with a park ranger(Samanth Mathis) and she helps him on his quest to stop Deak and his evil plot. There mission takes them all over Utah using several different modes of transport. Jeep chases, a train fight, and a man being sliced in half by a helicopter's rotor blades all appear in this film.

2 brilliant actors, unbelievable special effects and non-stop action make this an extremely entertaining, if a little bloody, action film.

DEFINATELY 5 STAR!


A Stonking good film   August 11, 2003
A D Plumb (Bedford, Beds United Kingdom)
Travolta ham's it up a bit but makes an impressive villain. Slater is a bit underplayed as the hero. The action is fast flowing with no disjointed bits for love scenes etc. The special effects are good and as with most modern day action movies you have to sit back and watch, tongue in cheek for the most part, letting your vision take control and ignore some of the more unbelievable bits. I have had this movie on VHS and now have it on DVD. To sum it up, a good movie to take your mind off everyday life.