Broken Arrow (1996)

Terrorists steal nuclear warheads from the US military but don't count on a pilot and park ranger spoiling their plans.

Director:

John Woo

Writer:

Graham Yost

Stars:

John Travolta, Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Travolta	...	Maj. Vic 'Deak' Deakins
Christian Slater	...	Capt. Riley Hale
Samantha Mathis	...	Terry Carmichael
Delroy Lindo	...	Colonel Max Wilkins
Bob Gunton	...	Pritchett
Frank Whaley	...	Giles Prentice
Howie Long	...	Kelly
Vondie Curtis-Hall	...	Chief Sam Rhodes
Jack Thompson	...	Chairman, Joint Chief of Staff
Vyto Ruginis	...	Johnson
Ousaun Elam	...	Lt. Thomas
Shaun Toub	...	Max
Casey Biggs	...	Novacek
Jeffrey J. Stephen	...	Shepherd
Joey Box	...	Frakes

Storyline

"Broken Arrow" is the term used to describe a nuclear device that has been lost. In this movie, two nuclear missiles are stolen by rogue US pilot Deakins, but hot on his trail is his co-pilot Hale and a Park Ranger, Terry. The action takes place in Utah's canyon country; a high stakes game of cat and mouse.

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Plot Keywords:

park ranger | desert | utah | train | stealth bomber | 

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Taglines:

Prepare to Go Ballistic

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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong action violence and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 February 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Última Ameaça

Filming Locations:

Barstow, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£2,650,343 (UK) (19 April 1996)

Gross:

£4,000,503 (UK) (17 May 1996)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Mark Gordon Productions, WCG Entertainment Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The phrase "broken arrow" is not actually used to refer to the theft, loss or seizure of nuclear weapons or components from the U.S.;that's known as an "empty quiver". A "broken arrow" is defined by CJCSI 3150.03B, Joint Reporting Structure Event and Incident Reports, as a US nuclear weapon accident that does not create the risk of a nuclear war.

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Goofs

When Riley is ejected off the railroad trestle, he falls straight down. His body should have fallen at an angle, maintaining the momentum from the forward motion of the train.

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Quotes

Riley Hale: [points a gun at Baker] You can get out now.
Baker: [points his gun at Terry] I don't know, looks like we got ourselves a stand-off.
Riley Hale: [Hale lowers his gun and shoots Baker in the leg. Baker screams and loses control of his gun]
[ramming Baker's head into the steering wheel]
Riley Hale: NO-WE-DON'T!
[Throws Baker out of the Humvee]

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Connections

Referenced in Bad Movie Beatdown: Mission Impossible II (2010)

User Reviews

Classic John Woo!

If you want an action film in which the hero has a personality, and the bad guy has an even better personality, take a look at Broken Arrow. John Woo's choreographed action is not as dramatic as the Matrix-clone films that are so common today. He is great at creating interesting relationships between heroes and villains, and this film is a good example.

John Travolta is terrific. Christian Slater breaks typecast by playing a nice, sane soldier doing his duty. The love interest isn't an idiotic supermodel playing a nuclear scientist or something, but a park ranger, also doing her duty. She is cute, earthy, and actually believable.

If you want a film that will repeat every aspect of every other military adventure film you have ever seen, you will be disappointed. If dialog bores you, skip this film. If you like action movies filmed entirely in parking garages and spooky allies, then you will not appreciate the settings in this film in America's majestic West.