Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Ella-May O'Brien Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Kayden This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

AaronCapenBanner Peter Markle directed this based-on-fact account of Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton(played by Gene Hackman) a weapons counter-measures expert during the Vietnam war whose plane is shot down over enemy territory. The military is desperate to get him back, but there is an unfortunate shortage of helicopters, so Air Force reconnaissance pilot Captain Clark(played by Danny Glover) makes radio contact with Hambleton, and they work out a means of secret communication based on golf course terminology. The area he is stuck in is going to be carpet-bombed, and Iceal must also deal with enemy soldiers, and gets a first-hand view of death, which he previously only saw from afar... Well-acted and directed film is also an intriguing character study as well as a rousing action piece.

stones78 I wouldn't call this one of my favorite films, or among my favorite war films for that matter, but I did enjoy this much more than when I first saw this many years ago. Gene Hackman is the main reason I would recommend this, and Danny Glover also puts in a solid performance. If you don't know the plot by now, I'll give a short synopsis: Col. Hambleton,(Hackman) who's a passenger in a plane flying over Vietnam, parachutes to safety, and is stuck there until "Birddog" Clark(Glover)figures out how to rescue him. Jerry Reed, who's not a country bumpkin this time, plays it straight as Col. Walker, who's Clark's superior and both men try to figure out how to rescue Hambleton. It takes some time for some action to kick in, although I wouldn't call this an action film per se, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well it held up over time. There are some disturbing moments, not that many, but it should satisfy the action fans in some of us. After some painful delays and a reference to golf(yes, golf) terminology, the man gets rescued while others trying to rescue him get killed, which left a bitter taste in my mouth, although this is a true but heartbreaking story.I had just a few gripes, the first being why was Hambleton the only man parachuting to safety, while the others perished? Perhaps it was the only seat rigged to eject, as I have no military expertise. Finally, during the ending credits, only Hambleton's story is revealed in paragraph form on the screen, which says that he currently resides near a golf course in Arizona and is retired. I thought perhaps a mention of Capt. Clark's present situation would've been appropriate.

j-ratcliff1 In 1969/70 I was a US Army Huey pilot in Northern I Corps of South Vietnam. I was on Hamburger Hill in the A Shau valley, flew in Laos and some in North Vietnam. BAT 21 is the first Vietnam War movie I have ever seen.The truth of the war and how it was done and flown is terrible enough. This movie is way off the mark as to who flew aircraft and how they were flown.When the UH-1N was in a left turn the the camera man made a shot out the left door showing the ground and the shadow of the aircraft, the shadow was a Bell Jet Ranger! Very poor quality. Of course the UH-1N was really a Bell 212, just look at the tail rotor. I have over 4,000 hours of helicopter time, 886 hours of which is in combat.This movie cheapened everyone in the war, I would assume it is the norm rather than the exception.From what I have read about the real Bat 21 I would say that truth is more interesting, shocking and horrible that this 10th rate film.Jimmy L. Ratcliff former US Army Chief Warrant Officer

callanvass This is an excellent War film, that's very moving at times, with a great story and 2 amazing performances from Gene Hackman and Danny Glover!. All the characters are great, and the story is very engrossing, plus Gene Hackman and Danny Glover are simply amazing in this!. What really made the movie work, was the great relationship between Hackman and Glover, it also has many powerful moments,the village scene for example, plus the 2 main leads are extremely likable!. I really do enjoy a good War film, and this one was excellent, and i thought, the dialog was fantastic, plus it felt very real!. It does not have a whole lot of action, but it has a great story, and fantastic performances to keep you watching, plus the supporting cast was really good as well. It has realistic war scenes as well, and i felt for Hackman's character, plus i found the ending very satisfying. This is an excellent war film, that's very moving at times with a great story, and 2 amazing performances from Gene Hackman and Danny Glover, and i say it's a must see for everyone!. The Direction is great!. Peter Markle does a great job here, with excellent camera work, great angles, and really keeping the film at an engrossing pace!. The Acting is fantastic!. Gene Hackman is amazing here, he is extremely likable, had fantastic chemistry with Glover, was fantastic in the acting department, and you really feel for his character!, he also had some very good lines (Hackman rules!). Danny Gliver is AMAZING as always, and is amazing here, he is extremely likable, is fantastic in the acting department, had fantastic chemistry with Hackman, also had some great lines, and was totally different then his Murtaugh character in Lethal weapon!, it was awesome to see him play something different!.(Glover Rules!!). Jerry Reed,David Marshall Grant and Clayton Rohner all do what they have to do very well. Rest of the cast do fine. Overall a must see for everyone!.****1/2 out of 5 (barely).