BAT21 – Mitten im Feuer (1988)

BAT21 – Mitten im Feuer: Directed by Peter Markle. With Gene Hackman, Danny Glover, Jerry Reed, David Marshall Grant. During the Vietnam War, Colonel Hambleton’s aircraft is shot down over enemy territory and a frantic rescue operation ensues.

“Lt. Colonel Iceal Hambleton (Gene Hackman) is a respected, middle-aged strategist who has only seen the war from the air – and high in the air, too. During one reconnaissance mission, however, heu0026#39;s shot down behind enemy lines for the first time. Scared and out of his element, Hambleton must rely on Captain Clark (Danny Glover), a pilot, to help him keep his composure until a rescue can happen.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMost of the scenes are of just the two leads, almost making this a two-character action play. Both men provide stellar performances, with Hackman putting a decidedly different spin on his tough-guy, in-control persona. Glover is equally aces as the tireless pilot. And just in case you think thereu0026#39;s going to be more talk than action in this movie, donu0026#39;t fret. The Vietcong are around somewhere, and they know Hambletonu0026#39;s in the vicinity. Not only does Clark have to get Hambleton out of there before good olu0026#39; Charlie finds him, he has to get him out of there before U.S. forces carpet-bomb the entire area! Needless to say, there are bombs bursting galore. Jerry Reed, who plays Clarku0026#39;s commander, also turns in a fine performance – a bit above par for Reed – and served as executive producer and composed some of the songs on the soundtrack.”