G.I. Jane (1997)

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writers (WGA):

Danielle Alexandra (story)
David Twohy (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

22 August 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

Failure is not an option.

Plot:

A female Senator succeeds in enrolling a woman into Combined Reconnaissance Team training where everyone expects her to fail.

Plot Keywords:

Navy | Training | Military | Senator | Endurance

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Demi Moore	...	Jordan O'Neill
Viggo Mortensen	...	Master Chief John James Urgayle
Anne Bancroft	...	Lillian DeHaven
Jason Beghe	...	Royce
Daniel von Bargen	...	Theodore Hayes (as Daniel Von Bargen)
John Michael Higgins	...	Chief of Staff
Kevin Gage	...	Instructor Pyro
David Warshofsky	...	Instructor Johns
David Vadim	...	Cortez
Morris Chestnut	...	McCool
Josh Hopkins	...	Flea
Jim Caviezel	...	Slovnik
Boyd Kestner	...	Wickwire
Angel David	...	Newberry
Stephen Ramsey	...	Stamm
Gregg Bello	...	Miller
Scott Wilson	...	C.O. Salem
Lucinda Jenney	...	Blondell
Ted Sutton	...	Flag Officer
Gary Wheeler	...	Flag Officer
Donn Swaby	...	Yeoman Davis
Jack Gwaltney	...	Goldstein
Neal Jones	...	Duty Officer
Rhonda Overby	...	Civilian Secretary
Stephen Mendillo	...	Admiral O'Connor
Dan DePaola	...	Cook Compliments (as Dan De Paola)
Susan Aston	...	Civilian Girl
John Seitz	...	J.A.G.
Kent Lindsey	...	J.A.G.
Bob Moore	...	WNM Reporter
Harry Humphries	...	Artillery Instructor
Michael Currie	...	Commission Speaker
Steve Gonzales	...	Press Hound
Arthur Max	...	Barber
Billy Dowd	...	Photographer
Duffy Gaver	...	Instructor
Scott Helvenston	...	Instructor
Phil Neilson	...	Hostile Rat
Dimitri Diatchenko	...	Trainee
David Bruce	...	Trainee
David Overton	...	Trainee
Hashem Shaalan	...	Trainee
Chris Soule	...	Trainee
Joseph Makkar	...	Libyan Sentry (as Joseph Merzak Makkar)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rick Cramer	...	Scorpion Leader (uncredited)
Dani Englander	...	DeHaven Aide (uncredited)
Joseph Epinette	...	Commando (uncredited)
Lee Eskey	...	Treasury Lawyer (uncredited)
Rocky Essex	...	Humvee Vehicle Operator (uncredited)
Larry Guardino	...	Older Soldier (uncredited)
Rodney J. Hobbs	...	C-SPAN Technician (uncredited)
Raymond H. Johnson	...	Senator (uncredited)
Diandra Newlin	...	Jane's Neighbor (uncredited)
Jim Pearson	...	SEAL Instructor (uncredited)
Thomas Reid	...	DC Police Officer (uncredited)
Courtney Talbot	...	Bar Tender (uncredited)
Michael Wayne Thomas	...	C-SPAN Reporter (uncredited)
Scott Welchons	...	Military Extra (uncredited)
Irene Ziegler	...	DeHaven's Aide (uncredited)

Directed by
Ridley Scott

Writing credits (WGA)
Danielle Alexandra		(story)
David Twohy		(screenplay) and
Danielle Alexandra		(screenplay)

Produced by
Danielle Alexandra	....	executive producer
Julie Bergman Sender	....	executive producer
Roger Birnbaum	....	producer
Diane Minter Lewis	....	associate producer
Tim McBride	....	associate producer
Demi Moore	....	producer
Terry Needham	....	associate producer
Ridley Scott	....	producer
Suzanne Todd	....	producer
Nigel Wooll	....	co-producer
Chris Zarpas	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Trevor Jones

Cinematography by
Hugh Johnson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Pietro Scalia

Casting by
Louis DiGiaimo		(as Louis Di Giaimo)
Brett Goldstein

Production Design by
Arthur Max

Art Direction by
William Hiney		(supervising art director) (as Bill Hiney)
Richard L. Johnson		(as Richard Johnson)

Set Decoration by
Cindy Carr

Costume Design by
Marilyn Vance

Makeup Department
Diana Acrey	....	key hair stylist: California
Enzo Angileri	....	hair stylist: Ms. Moore
Kylie Bell	....	assistant makeup artist
Dorothy D. Fox	....	chief hair stylist (as Dorothy Fox)
Joanne Gair	....	makeup artist: Ms. Moore
Rodger Jacobs	....	makeup artist
Barbara Lacy	....	makeup artist
Cheryl Markowitz	....	key makeup artist: California (as Cheryl Ann Markowitz)
Cheri Minns	....	chief makeup artist
Brad Wilder	....	makeup artist
Sherri Bramlett	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Jane Alexandra Foster	....	makeup artist: end credits sequence (uncredited)
Stephen Robinette	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Daneen Lagrone Conroy	....	production supervisor (as Daneen Conroy)
Donald Heitzer	....	production manager: California (as Don Heitzer)
Michele Imperato	....	unit production manager
Pat Rand	....	post-production manager: Caravan Pictures
Michael Solinger	....	post-production supervisor
Nigel Wooll	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
J. David Brightbill	....	second second assistant director (as David Brightbill)
Hugh Johnson	....	second unit director: Washington D.C.
Terry Needham	....	first assistant director
Darin Rivetti	....	second assistant director
Adam Somner	....	second assistant director
Christopher Surgent	....	second second assistant director (as Chris Surgent)

Art Department
Chuck Askerneese	....	on-set dresser
Eric J. Bates	....	property master (as Eric Bates)
Ron Breedlove	....	construction manager: Washington D.C.
Jon Danniells	....	lead man
William Davidson	....	general foreman
Allan Gordon	....	property master: California (as Allan J. Gordon)
Thomas Minton	....	set designer
Dan Pemberton	....	construction coordinator
Virginia L. Randolph	....	art director: California (as Virginia K. Randolph Weaver)
Rob Simons	....	assistant art director: Washington D.C.
Bill Taliaferro	....	assistant art director
Merritt Wise	....	labor foreman
Karen Agresti	....	buyer (uncredited)
Jamie Arbuckle	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Kurt Beckler	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Sean Bernard	....	painter (uncredited)
Mark W. Brown	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Carl Catanese	....	leadman: Washington, DC (uncredited)
Rick Chavez	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Christopher L. Conner	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Larry A. Cornick	....	second lead man (uncredited)
Don Dalstra	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Abigail Drury	....	painter (uncredited)
Abigail Drury	....	scenic painter (uncredited)
Stephen P. Durante	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Frank M. Fleming	....	set dresser (uncredited)
William F. Gambill	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Daniel J. Gillooly	....	greens coordinator (uncredited)
Antoinette J. Gordon	....	lead set designer (uncredited)
Chris Grantz	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Sean Hargreaves	....	illustrator (uncredited)
Michael D. Harrell	....	leadman (uncredited)
Sean Hood	....	swing gang (uncredited)
Bill 'Kauhane' Hoyt	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)
Andrea Levine	....	property assistant (uncredited)
Robert Loring Jr.	....	stand-by greens (uncredited)
Maureen McGuire	....	buyer (uncredited)
Thomas C. Mentzer	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Angela O'Neill	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
James Passanante	....	paint supervisor: Washington DC (uncredited)
Jeremy Alan Read	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Ricky Riggs	....	painter (uncredited)
Courtney Talbot	....	art department coordinator (uncredited)
Dave Trevino	....	lead painter (uncredited)
Thomas R. Wagner	....	property assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Cary Whittaker	....	leadman (uncredited)
Cary Whittaker	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Campbell Askew	....	supervising sound editor
Jeremy Child	....	sound editor
John Cochrane	....	dialogue editor
Sarah Dane	....	assistant sound editor (as Sara Dane)
Graham Daniel	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Gavin	....	adr editor
John Ireland	....	foley editor
Derek Lomas	....	assistant sound editor
Ray Merrin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Randy Nielsen	....	utility sound technician (as Randy L. Nielsen)
David M. Ronne	....	sound mixer: California (as David Ronne)
Timothy P. Salmon	....	boom operator
Jules Strasser	....	boom operator: California
Adrian Trent	....	assistant sound editor
Keith A. Wester	....	production sound mixer
Laura Evans	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Philip Beck Jr.	....	special effects
Chris Brenczewski	....	special effects
Jeff Frink	....	special effects
Steve Galich	....	special effects coordinator
Ken Gorrell	....	special effects
Morgan Guynes	....	special effects
Allen Peppy Richardson	....	special effects
Jeff Sparks	....	special effects
Ray Svedin	....	special effects
Joe Barden	....	special effects (uncredited)
Don Dalstra	....	special effects crew (uncredited)
David Fletcher	....	special effects foreman (uncredited)
Mike Gerzevitz	....	underwater effects rigger (uncredited)
Michael J. Hudson	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Scott Mobley	....	special effects propmaker (uncredited)
Scott Mobley	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Howard Allen Richardson	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
David Sewell	....	visual effects artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Steve Bolan	....	utility stunts
Duffy Gaver	....	utility stunts
Scott Helvenston	....	utility stunts
Leigh Hennessy	....	stunt double: Demi Moore
G. Peter King	....	utility stunts (as Peter King)
Mark Lonsdale	....	utility stunts
Phil Neilson	....	stunt coordinator
Keith Woulard	....	co-stunt coordinator
Matthew R. Anderson	....	safety diver (uncredited)
Brian Finn	....	stunts (uncredited)
Allen Gerbino	....	stunt pilot (uncredited)
Charles Grisham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Cinda-Lin James	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Jim Pearson	....	boat stunts (uncredited)
Darrin Prescott	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hash Shallan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Keith Woulard	....	stunt double: Morris Chestnut (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ben Bardin	....	best boy rigging grip: Florida/South Carolina (as Ben A. Bardin)
Stuart Bicknell	....	electrician
Rhett Bloomquist	....	best boy rigging grip: Washington D.C.
Terry Bowen	....	camera operator
Phil Bray	....	still photographer
David Brink	....	second assistant camera
Gideon Carpenter	....	best boy rigging electric: Florida/South Carolina
Andrew Reed Conner	....	electrician (as Andrew Conner)
Bill Fiedler	....	electrician
Chuck Finch	....	gaffer
Sean Finnegan	....	grip
Will Fowler	....	video consultant
Gerrit Garretsen	....	second camera grip
Michael Goldman	....	electrician
Edward 'Gooch' Gutierrez	....	grip (as Edward Gutierrez)
Craig Haagensen	....	camera operator
Daniel R. Haizlip	....	best boy grip
W.C. 'Chunky' Huse	....	grip (as Chunky Huse)
Kevin Jackson	....	grip
Gary Kangrga	....	key grip: California
Eric Leftridge	....	additional camera assistant
Scott W. Leftridge	....	camera grip (as Scott Leftridge)
Craig Ligget	....	rigging gaffer
Steven Litecky	....	best boy electric
William McConnell	....	first assistant camera: California (as William M. McConnell)
Fred L. McLane	....	first assistant camera (as Fred McLane)
Daniel Mindel	....	director of photography: second unit, California
Steve Owen	....	key rigging grip
Frank Parrish	....	second assistant camera
Todd Ranson	....	electrician
Tony Rivetti	....	first assistant camera
Frank Ryan	....	grip
John Scanlan	....	best boy rigging electric: Washington D.C.
Richard Scarpone	....	video assist operator
Lee Shapira	....	key rigging grip: Washington D.C.
John Skotchdopole	....	first assistant camera
Jeff Sondberg	....	best boy electric: California
Robert Spencer	....	electrician
Andrew Taylor	....	grip (as Andy Taylor)
Rick Uva	....	grip
Chris Walters	....	rigging gaffer: Washington D.C.
Steve Adcock	....	first assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Willie E. Dawkins	....	electrician (uncredited)
Frank Detone Jr.	....	grip (uncredited)
Gerardo Gutierrez	....	grip (uncredited)
Brian Heller	....	aerial camera operator (uncredited)
Jason Maresch	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Greg Martin	....	rigger grip (uncredited)
David B. Nowell	....	aerial director of photography (uncredited)
Carl Post	....	pre-rigging grip (uncredited)
Tom Schurke	....	video playback supervisor (uncredited)
Jeffrey P. Soderberg	....	assistant chief lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Billy Dowd	....	extras casting
John Strawbridge	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nancy Cone	....	costumer: Ms. Moore
Ed Fincher	....	costume supervisor: California
Joe McCloskey	....	key costumer
David Rawley	....	costume supervisor
Anthony J. Lipin	....	costumer (uncredited)
Tony Lipin	....	costumer (uncredited)
Annalisa Strickland	....	set costumer: California (uncredited)
John M. 'Jack' Wright	....	set costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
John Bickford	....	laboratory liaison: Technicolor, US
Paul Elman	....	assistant editor
John Ensby	....	laboratory liaison: Technicolor, UK
Paul Ensby	....	color timer
Chris Innis	....	associate editor
Marisa Johnston	....	post-production coordinator: Caravan Pictures
Tristan Mullane	....	assistant editor
Pamela Power	....	additional editor (as Pam Power)
Mark Sale	....	assistant editor
Lee 'Flea' Shulman	....	post-production intern (as Lee Shulman)
Fulvio Valsangiacomo	....	apprentice editor
Jason Wheeler	....	negative cutter
Chisako Yokoyama	....	assistant editor
John Marston	....	assistant editor: Washington D.C. (uncredited)

Music Department
Geoff Alexander	....	orchestrator
Giles Baker	....	assistant music editor
Paul Clarvis	....	musician: ethnic percussion
Clem Clempson	....	musician: guitar
Peter Cobbin	....	additional music recordist
Andrew Glen	....	music editor
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestral contractor
Nick Ingman	....	orchestrator
Trevor Jones	....	orchestrator
Julian Kershaw	....	orchestrator
Alex Marcou	....	music editing engineer
Jill Meyers	....	music business affairs
Charlie Morgan	....	musician: drum kit
Kathy Nelson	....	music supervisor
Simon Rhodes	....	music recording mixer
Victoria Seale	....	music coordinator
Belinda Sykes	....	orchestral voice
Phil Todd	....	musician: ewi solo
Kirsty Whalley	....	synthesizer programmer
Gavyn Wright	....	orchestra leader (as Gavin Wright)

Transportation Department
Lee Garibaldi	....	transportation captain
Gene Johnson	....	transportation coordinator: Virginia
Russell McEntyre	....	transportation coordinator: California (as Russ McEntyre)
Danny Mortenson	....	transportation captain: Florida/South Carolina (as Daniel Mortenson Jr.)
Robert W. Simpson	....	transportation captain: Virginia (as Rob Simpson)
Tommy Tancharoen	....	transportation coordinator
Doug Wilson	....	driver
Gilbert Young	....	transportation captain: Washington D.C.
Don Baer	....	driver (uncredited)
Robert aaron Brown	....	driver (uncredited)
Richard Curry	....	driver: Ms. Moore (uncredited)
Bo Falck	....	transportation captain (uncredited)
William Hogue	....	driver (uncredited)
Anthony J. Mignano	....	driver (uncredited)
Ron Parsell	....	talent driver (uncredited)
Jerry Sidwell	....	driver (uncredited)
John H. Stephens	....	driver (uncredited)
Robert Van Apeldoorn	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Rick Baer	....	first assistant accountant
Andy Birmingham	....	production controller
Bonni Camen	....	office production assistant
Karyn V. Cody	....	technical advisor: Washington D.C. (as Karyn Cody)
Adam Collins	....	set production assistant
Deirdre De Tappan	....	production coordinator: Caravan Pictures
Ned Dowd	....	head of production: Caravan Pictures
Terry J. Erdmann	....	publicist
Carol Flaisher	....	location manager: Virginia
Carol Flaisher	....	location manager: Washington D.C.
Gary Gillingham	....	production accountant
Craig Glaser	....	craft service
Ken Haber	....	location manager: California
Harry Humphries	....	technical advisor
Greg Joujon-Roche	....	fitness trainer: Ms. Moore, Hollistic Fitness Corp. (as Greg Jou Jou Roche)
Greg Joujon-Roche	....	workout choreographer (as Greg Jou Jou Roche)
Jule 'Champ' Kaufmann	....	office production assistant (as Jule Kaufmann)
Luca Kouimelis	....	script supervisor
Anne Lai	....	assistant: Ridley Scott
Shari Leibowitz	....	production coordinator
Chris McComb	....	assistant accountant
John McSweeney	....	assistant location manager: Virginia
Rob Meisenholder	....	assistant accountant
Sarah Millar	....	assistant accountant
Frank Moorefield	....	medic
Mary Morgan	....	location manager: Florida/South Carolina
Mark W. Nelson	....	delivery supervisor
David Paris	....	aerial coordinator
Julie Payne	....	assistant: Ridley Scott
Carl Post	....	location contact: Florida/South Carolina
Errol Reichow	....	location manager: California
Mark Reinking	....	assistant: Ms. Moore (as Mark 'Hunter' Reinking)
Catherine Schwenn	....	assistant production coordinator
Alison Sherman	....	production coordinator: Washington D.C.
Neville Shulman	....	special consultant: Ridley Scott
Clare St. John	....	production coordinator: London
Amy Taft	....	production coordinator
Marion Tumen	....	script supervisor: California
Annette Vait	....	production associate
Tania Vujic-Powell	....	liaison: London (as Tania Powell)
Marlena Wilkens	....	executive assistant: Mr. Birnbaum, Caravan Pictures
Kelly Wroe	....	stand-in: Ms. Moore
Chris Beal	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Kathleen Beall	....	location scout (uncredited)
Jesse Russell Brooks III	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Mark Ross Edrys	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Michael J. Fowler	....	computer playback operator (uncredited)
Mitch Harbeson	....	location scout (uncredited)
Pauline Hume	....	title designer: end titles (uncredited)
Beverly Jusi	....	first accountant (uncredited)
Richard Marcinko	....	advisor (uncredited)
Jim McCarthy	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Emily McGovern	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Matthew H. O'Connor	....	marine coordinator (uncredited)
Steve Park	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Ben Pezzillo	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Vincente Stasolla	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Thomas R. Wagner	....	weapons handler: second unit (uncredited)
Sam Wells	....	stand-in: Jason Beghe (uncredited)
Howard Young	....	construction accountant (uncredited)
Garson Yu	....	title designer: main title sequence (uncredited)
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)

Thanks
Isabel Hill	....	thanks: The South Carolina Film Commission
Jeff Monks	....	thanks: The South Carolina Film Commission
Susan Simms	....	thanks: Florida Entertainment Commission

Production Companies

• Caravan Pictures
• First Independent Films
• Hollywood Pictures
• Largo Entertainment
• Moving Pictures
• Scott Free Productions
• Trap-Two-Zero Productions Inc.

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2000) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Scanbox Entertainment (1997) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1997) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista International Spain (Spain)
• Buena Vista International (Argentina)
• Buena Vista International (Germany)
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• Finnkino (Finland)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (France)
• Herald Film Company (Japan)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Roadshow Film Distributors (NZ) Ltd.
• Scanbox Entertainment (1998) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (1998) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2002) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Mill Films (I)

Other Companies

• Shepperton Studios  movie studio
• Abbey Road Studios  music recording studio
• Appleton Electric  fixtures
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Contemporary Media Music Productions  music production
• Disney Travel Corporation Inc.  travel agent [us]
• Florida Entertainment Commission  thanks
• Galt and Bros.  jewellery
• General Screen Enterprises  opticals
• Hollistic Fitness  physical trainer
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack
• Imaginary Forces  main title sequence
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Mil-Spec Military Assistance and Advisory Group  military consultants
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• On Tour Productions  transportation services
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• Renown Freight  customs/freighting agent
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Screen International Security Services (SISS)  security
• Scuba Pro  scuba equipment
• Shepperton Studios  re-recording facility
• Sinclair, Tenenbaum, Emanuel & Fleer  legal services
• Sylvia Wheeler Film Services  negative cutting
• Technicolor  color timing
• The Mill  digital film opticals
• The South Carolina Film Commission  thanks (as South Carolina Film Commission)
• Tomkats Catering  catering
• Travel Company, The  travel agency

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and combat violence

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | USA:R (certificate #35019) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Brazil:14 | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Beaufort, South Carolina, USA

Company:

Caravan Pictures

Trivia:

Ridley Scott's brother Tony Scott supplied some footage of submarines left over from his film Crimson Tide (1995).

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: At the beginning of the first course it is stated "12 minutes or less" is what is need to pass that part of the training. Yet Cortez finishes in 13:10 and Jordan finishes after him. Even with a 30 second deduction for all females in training, still doesn't put her under the 12 minutes she needs to pass the course.

Quotes:

Master Chief John Urgayle:Remember, there are no bad crews, only bad leaders.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Amy Adams/Rocket City Rednecks/Miranda Lambert (#20.36)" (2011)

Soundtrack:

The Future Is a War

Don't believe the rating

OK this is going to be a bit long... but it will be good food for discussions.

Yes, this movie is "Hollywood". The Plot line is predictable, but it is the concepts that the director explores along the way that make it interesting an thought-provoking, assuming you pay attention and didn't just rent it for the bang-bang, or a chance to see Demi in a wet T-shirt. Ridley make some mistakes, but he does some really good things too. Let me comment on what some other people have said, and talk about what I think Ridley does well with this film.

I think Mr. Scott gets a really excellent performance from Demi. I feel this is her best film, but I haven't seen to many, because she usually gets on my nerves. However, she is believable in the role of a woman who just wants to prove to herself that she can do this. I believe her when she says she doesn't want to be a poster child for women's rights... and the Commander is right in telling her that she's gonna have to wear that hat anyway.

Viggo is great too. I don't think too many people knew who he was when this movie came out, but he was even billed above Anne Bancroft. Someone said he looks embarrassed in every scene... hogwash. He looks like a very tough character in a very difficult situation. He knows that the issue is not whether a woman can make it, many can. This isn't about women's rights... this is about how men, mainly YOUNG men, relate to women in stressful situations. If all soldiers were in their late thirties, emotionally and psychologically, then the issue would be much smaller. Most of these guys are young, dumb and full of... you know the rhyme. I was there too, once upon a time. Viggo is excellent, he reacts the way many military instructors would... trying to stop the inevitable, fighting against politicians way over his head who have never been in the crap, but think they know better. Pay attention, you can just see that he respects LT O'Neil. But he believes he has to make an example out of her. Ms. Bancroft is excellent as well, some people say over the top, they obviously haven't had to deal with high level politics before. Perhaps she is a bit rough for reality, but remember, it is a movie, making a point, and being entertaining, things have to be gritty... and Senate will always be more vicious than any military training. I find her performance fun and a joy to watch.

I don't know if Mr. Scott has any military training, but he does a better job of conveying the realities of it to the screen than most. Yes, the SERE segment goes farther than real SERE training would go... but not by much. Talk to someone who's been through it. It would not have been the same group of instructors... it's a very specialized field and the instructors have extensive psychological screening and training. However, I'll give that one to Ridley, he's trying not to complicate the plot, and he needs the scene with Master Chief Urgayle. BTW Women do go through SERE sometimes... and the instructors do use them against the men's emotions.

As for other Militray stuff, much of the language, feelings about chain of command, frustration with training constraints and political a**-covering was /On The Spot/. I speak from 6 years of experience as an Army officer (some of the stuff you see on active duty is amazing, but in the end it all balances out and the US Armed Forces are still the best in the world). Even the way Ridley has to frig with the plot to put the trainees in a an actual firefight was plausible... not possible, but plausible. Remember, it is a movie, he's got to have a real combat situation to entertain the dumber audience who just came to see the boom. But Ridley even goes far enough to give the Master Chief a chance to back out. It is a group of Navy SEAL trainees, deep into their training cycle, with a buttload of prior experience (IF you pay attention you will note that one of the trainees is a US Army Ranger, one a Marine, probably from RECON, these are guys who know the job already, and this is true to reality). You are also talking about a straight forward mission facilitating extraction of US Army Rangers from the deep inland mission. Ridley even has that right, this would be a Ranger mission, and the Spec-ops community may do a joint op where the SEALS secure the sea-side extraction point.

Quite frankly... the movie is better than most people could have done. Matter of fact, I think it was a tough challenge for Mr. Scott and don't think anyone could have done much better. One bad point I agree with is that artistically, the movie is shot entirely too dark.. that's about the worst thing I can say about it though. As for plot predictability... how often do you REALLY see an original plotline?

One last comment. I was at the Army Officer's Advance Course when this movie came out. There was a group of Officer's that were gong to see this movie, ostensibly to have a good laugh. These were Ranger-qualified Infantry guys, a Marine officer from RECON, a couple guys going to or coming from SF training... all Type A's. The next day they weren't laughing... they just said "you know what, that wasn't half bad." That don't sound like much, but it's high praise from that group.

Probably why this has such a poor rating is because it isn't Hollywood enough for the lowest-common-denominator crowd.

Enjoy the film.