The Guardian
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Movie Reviews of The Guardian
Movie Review: That others may live
Summary: 5 Stars
As others have doubtlessly pointed out, there are some genuine parallels between the present movie and the 1980s Top Gun (Widescreen Special Collector's Edition). Like TG, it is about a grizzled veteran (portrayed by Kevin Costner) who is attempting to teach a young hot-shot (Ashton Kutcher) (in TG it was Tom Skeritt & Tom Cruise in these roles). There is the ubiquitous babe-in-the-bar-bet (this time played by Melissa Sagemiller; Kelly McGillis in TG). And, of course, there are the haunting flashbacks to a disaster.
That said, anyone who wishes to write this movie off as nothing more than the Coast Guard's version of TOP GUN would be sorely mistaken. This is a great movie in its own right, and the comparisons to the landmark Navy aviation flick should only be peripheral. In short, this is a terrific story that both intrigues the viewer as well as demonstrates the awe inspiring professionalism of the United States Coast Guard.
Unlike TG, this is a movie that's much more about the instructor (Costner) than it is the student. Afraid that he is on the verge of being washed up, a legendary Senior Chief takes a temporary assignment to teach a new generation of rescue swimmers. Among them is a Michael Phelps like swimmer (Kutcher) who has all the physical tools but needs to be shown the ropes of the craft.
Having watched Deadliest Catch - Seasons 1, 2, & 3 on the HISTORY Channel, I could tell that there was a remarkable degree of authenticity to the procedures / terminology / operations of the Coast Guard as they were depicted in this film. The end credits showed what I had suspected, which was that there was a great deal of collaboration with the Coast Guard during the making of this film. Some real-live USCG swimmers were even extras in the film!
The motto of the Coast Guard is "So others may live." This is precisely the same motto used by the brave Air Force parajumpers who go behind enemy lines to rescue downed pilots. This is a truly fabulous movie that is family friendly and pays homage to the gallant sailors, airmen & swimmers who are in the Coast Guard & uphold this motto as a sacred trust. This film honors the USCG in the same way that Ladder 49 (Widescreen Edition) honors firefighters. I cannot recommend this movie highly enough!
Movie Review: So others may live
Summary: 5 Stars
I wasn't expecting much when I first started watching "The Guardian" but was drawn into the drama and the story of men (and a few women) doing their best and giving their all (and enduring extreme physical stresses) to rise to the top of their profession and become USCG Rescue Swimmers.
Perhaps most importantly, I learned a lot about the Coast Guard; what they are and what they do *and* how they train their rescue swimmers. I spent nearly 40 years of my life in Portsmouth, Virginia (next door to Virginia Beach and also the home of a large Coast Guard base) but I was pretty well ignorant of this branch of our armed services. According to the bonus features on the DVD, the United States Coast Guard is the second oldest branch of military service with a history that dates back to the 18th Century.
And the bonus features are very interesting. They interviewed a handful of real-life rescue swimmers who talk about their work and the stresses and joys and the incredible satisfaction of saving the lives of souls who are perishing at sea. Some of these rescue swimmers also had cameo appearances on film.
The depiction of ocean rescues was amazing and incredible and as my daughter said, "it must have cost a fortune to film this movie."
"The Guardian" has a suprise ending and it will leave you thinking about this movie for some time. Other reviewers have said this movie is little more than "Top Gun meets the Coast Guard" and there may be some truth in that, but it's time the Coast Guard got their due. This is a well-done, enlightening and inspiring movie that presents this branch of our military in a very favorable light. There's a lot that's right with a movie that helps promote and restore faith in our country and the young people who give their lives in its service.
Movie Review: Fiction Not TOO far from Truth (4.5 stars)
Summary: 5 Stars
First, as a movie watcher who rarely likes what hits the screen these days, I truly enjoyed this film. True, it would have been better 15 minutes shorter, but it wasn't so long as to really bother me. I think the love interest for Kutcher was unneccessary. But the movie held my attention and interest and I left the theater thinking, "Man, that was good."
Now, as one of the lucky people that have one of those cool Coast Guard jobs, (a fact that does create some bias) I was suprised by just how close to reality the action stayed. There were plenty of "hollywood" moments, but many of them were necessary. I wont bother to explain them all, but the operations center of most air stations is a desk with a couple of phones. There are video monitors in some of them, but they play movies and football games...no live video feeds from the scene...sorry.
The rescue scenes are very realistic, and the school scenes are not too out-of-line with the actual training. (warning: punch an instructor in the face during an in water test and he will NOT hug you later. Get thrown in jail for being drunk and disorderly and you WILL get kicked out) The story didn't show the sometimes months of boredom between rescues or the excitement of a six hour flare sighting search called in by a drunk on the fourth of july from a hotel room...but who would pay to see that?
All in all, I think many of us in the service are proud of the film and liked it very much.
The extras on the DVD are worth the price alone. Again, I'm biased.
The Guardian is a film worth owning.
Movie Review: A Nuts-and-Bolts Lesson on the US Coast Guard
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie goes far beyond entertainment and adventure. It gives the viewer a detailed picture of the operations of the United States Coast Guard. Few people realize the enormous challenges and dangers faced by members of this elite group. I personally have come to see the Coast Guard in a new light.
The viewer learns the challenges faced by young men who want to become Coast Guard rescuers. A grueling school puts the volunteers through such rigors as treading water one hour, pushing blocks underwater as a team (while one man at a time goes up for air, and the other waits for him), enduring and operating in freezing water and the specter of hypothermia, and fighting off a rescuee who is desperately clinging to the rescuer.
The social life of the Coast Guard members is also shown. Ben Randall, one of the protagonists in this film, has a failing marriage. One of the recruits enters into a Navy bar and gets into a fight by bragging about the heroics of the Coast Guard.
There are also some action shots of actual rescues. A ship is sinking, and the captain is trapped below fallen pillars. Soon one of the rescuers himself is trapped, and his air bubble is rapidly dwindling to zero. Rescue swimmer Ben Randall has a delayed retirement forced by his participation in this rescue. Two movie endings are available relative to his fate: A though-provoking, heroic ending, in contrast to a different, happy ending.
Movie Review: The Guardian
Summary: 5 Stars
The Guardian:
The Best Movie Of The Year
Length: 2 hr. 19 mins.
Distributor: Buena Vista Distributors
Rating: PG-13
Released: September 19, 2006
The movie the guardian is about Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher) an arrogant young swimmer who learns to support his team and make hard choices in rescue situations; a lonely veteran swimmer named Ben Randall (Kevin Coshner) trains youngsters to take up his heroic legacy.
During the 18 weeks of training he goes through many adventures as he tries to make the cut for the U.S. Coast Guard. He makes many new friends he goes through a lot of abusing drills and training. He takes mean words from crewmates as he breaks records and sets new goals.
But this movie is not all about fun and games you have to watch flashbacks of the veteran swimmer and his 1 and only dying victim they are sad and very touching it frightens him and he retires because of his bad memories.
I would give this movie a rating of 5 out of 15 because the actors have put like their Whole lives into this movie but I would not recommend this movie for audiences under the age of 12 as there are scenes that are not suitable for minors in this movie. (Ex. Whiskey bottle visible, Drinking, Smoking, and fighting). But if you like emotional movie jam-packed with action you will like The Guardian.