Today’s quick review: Under Siege. Frustrated by his treatment by his shipmates, Commander Krill (Gary Busey), the unstable executive officer of the USS Missouri, takes over the ship with the help of William Strannix (Tommy Lee Jones), an eccentric covert operative with a plan to sell the ship’s weapons. With the rest of the crew taken prisoner, the only one who can stop them is Casey Ryback (Steven Seagal), a decorated ex-SEAL serving as the ship’s cook.
Under Siege is an action movie starring Steven Seagal. The movie pits a lone cook against a ship full of terrorists. Casey Ryback must sneak through the ship, pick off the hijackers, sabotage their operation, and figure out a way to free his imprisoned shipmates before the US Navy blows the rogue ship out of the water. Under Siege is the quintessential action movie, with a stalwart hero, plenty of combat, and steady tension throughout the movie.
Under Siege follows the same formula as other action thrillers, but it does it well. Steven Seagal makes for a fun hero, an easygoing cook with a defiant streak and the skills needed to save the Missouri. Tommy Lee Jones delivers a spirited performance as William Strannix, the mastermind of the operation and something of a live wire. The action is the usual assortment of gunplay, knife fighting, booby traps, and explosives, and it holds nothing back.
Still, Under Siege misses a few opportunities. The humor is typical action movie fare, just a touch of banter to keep things light, but with more distinctive jokes, the movie could have sparkled. Stannix makes for a fascinating villain, but his arc never really goes anywhere. Ryback’s companion Jordan Tate (Erika Eleniak), an entertainer stuck on the ship during the takeover, also doesn’t receive as much development as she could have had.
Watch Under Siege when you’re in the mood for straightforward, uncomplicated action. There’s not much that sets Under Siege apart from other movies in the action genre, but its clean execution makes it an enjoyable watch nonetheless. For an action thriller in a similar vein, check out Die Hard or The Rock. For one with more comedy, try True Lies. For a nautical thriller with a serious tone, check out The Hunt for Red October.
6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for cleanly executed action.