Film follows rules and entertains

"Rules of Engagement" is one of the best movies this year. William Friedkin directed the movie and it stars Samuel L. Jackson (Negotiator, A Time to Kill) and Tommy Lee Jones (Double Jeopardy, US Marshals) as two marine officers and friends.

Their friendship goes back to the Vietnam War where Jackson's character, Terry Childers, saved Jones' character, Hays Hidges, during an ambush. Years later, Hidges is now a marine lawyer who is no longer in active duty while Childers is still on active duty.

The turning point comes when the U.S. Embassy in Yemen is under attack by protestors and Childers is sent to evacuate the ambassador (played wonderfully by Ben Kingsley), his family, and embassy personnel. But a tragic event happens and Childers is accused of murdering 83 Yemen protestors.

Though he didn't want to, Hidges takes the case because Childers saved his life so he feels  he has to pay him back.

The only evidence that exists is a surveillance tape that disappears at the hands of the evil National Security Advisor (Bruce Greenwood).
 

This movie works excellent as action pack thriller and a well-acted drama.

Jones and Jackson work well together and all their scenes are wonderfully acted. I found Jackson's character more believable because the movie revolves around his character and the personal grievance he suffers when he orders the attack.

Jones's character is good but he  needed a little more edge in his acting. He needed a better closing statement in the trial like in a "A Time to Kill" (which Jackson also played an accused killer, as well as in "The Negotiator").

The movie needed more evidence. But all the scenes around the tape were good.

The most memorable scene is the embassy evacuation because it is the only action in the movie and it really keeps you on the edge of your seat.

"Rules of Engagement" is a movie everybody should see. It is rated R, so no one under 17 is admitted. Everything in this movie is enjoyable and works splendidly with superb acting.