Under Siege (1992) – Film Review

Director: Andrew Davis
Cast: Steven Seagal, Tommy Lee Jones, Erika Eleniak
Certificate: 15

By Roger Crow

There was a time when Steven Seagal was one of the more interesting action stars on the Hollywood circuit. In the early 1990s, he graduated into the big leagues with Under Siege, a Die-Hard style thriller helmed by The Fugitive’s Andrew Davis.

It was slick, fun, and a VHS rental favourite, which proved that Seagal had a comical side as well as being an acclaimed martial artist. The plot is simple: a US battleship is hijacked by terrorists, out to steal its arsenal of nuclear weapons. The only man standing in their way is Casey Ryback, the ship’s cook, who just happens to be a former Navy Seal.

“Ticks over”

Oh, and he does get a little help from a stripper called Jordan Tate (ET veteran Erika Eleniak), who had been hired to jump out of the captain’s birthday cake. Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey have a fine time as the bad guys, and the whole thing ticks over like a Swiss watch.

I loved it back in the day, but that was 34 years ago, and though well made, it feels like hard work. However, I always have a wry smile at the star’s line: “Get my pies outta the oven!”.

“Fresh takes”

One of the major benefits on the new release is the commentary Andrew Davis and writer JF Lawton (who also penned Pretty Woman), which offers some fresh takes on the movie. The latest version scrubs up well on 4K, and there’s plenty of other extras to keep fans happy.

Okay, it’s not the most subtle movie in the world, nor was it meant to be. But whether you fancy a trip down memory lane, or just want to see the best film of Steven Seagal’s career, then this should be 103 minutes well spent.

Roger Crow( Writer )

Adopted Yorkshireman Roger Crow developed a passion for film and TV in the 1970s and 1980s. He has been a published film and TV reviewer since the 1990s; a world travel and restaurant critic since the noughties, and for the past decade has assessed the pros and cons of live gigs and theatre productions around the UK. His ideal day would involve reviewing a performance of Bat Out of Hell, followed by a Pad Thai while being serenaded by Texas on a cruise around Europe.
crowsfeat.com; nostalgiahhh film podcast

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