S.W.A.T.

A routine action flick with minimal action and without a shred of style or creative touch. Would-be sophisticated characters, would-be cool humor, zero suspense. And a bad guy who seems to still be lying in bed with Diane Lane. In what way did the makers of this film want to appeal to viewers? (09/19/2003)

I saw the film a long time ago, and after watching it a second time, it confirmed that it’s one of my favorite American action movies. The story is somewhat bland, but that doesn’t bother me. Considering the film is 12 years old, the $80 million budget is quite substantial, and it mainly shows in the action scenes, which is why I enjoy the film so much. The main roles are played by Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell, who always deliver a 100% performance, and the other actors, including Jeremy Renner and Olivier Martinez as key villains, and other members of the S.W.A.T. team, did not disappoint. I initially rated the film 85% in 2015. EDIT: As of today, I’ve probably seen the film a thousand times. It’s not really about the plot, which is quite primitive (especially with hindsight), and many scenes where the SWAT team’s actions are hard to understand. The action isn’t as abundant as you might expect given the mega-budget. What matters is that I always find it entertaining and feel a sense of satisfaction. The film features one star after another, a clear villain with clichéd lines (which doesn’t bother me at all), a cool main hero surrounded by likable characters, and an incredibly appealing soundtrack that has a special place in my heart. Even though I’m no longer a kid who would devour the film wholeheartedly, I still enjoy it. And that’s the main thing, despite the silly plot. I now rate it 83%. (07/21/2018)

Dr Interesting and Mr Average came together in one film and the result is S.W.A.T. No, I'm not talking about the actors, but the first and second half of the film. The opening action scene and the recruiting and training of the rookies were fun, brisk and well filmed, but the climactic action set-piece with the escape of the main villain was too routine, with only the snail's pace of the jet taking off being unintentionally amusing. Still, overall, I can't say I was disappointed because I always enjoy the natural acting and charisma of Colin Farrell and Samuel L. Jackson. (07/13/2004)

An unexpectedly pleasant surprise that reaches for five stars with its non-standard concept and interesting action. To receive it, S.W.A.T. would need a little drop of unforgettable experience, otherwise it could be categorized as a team action crime movie. And yet the excitement still prevails, because I haven't seen such a well-assembled unit for a long time. The suffocating atmosphere, inventive action, brisk editing, and very confident direction set the tone for action movies of the new millennium, but the producers clearly never heard. Such a shame. (06/14/2007)

S.W.A.T. has one significant flaw, it is impossible to empathize with the main characters. The direction is decent, as well as the action and editing. There are a few very interesting twists and well edited action scenes, but the distinctiveness of the individual characters is minimal. Overall, it comes across as a fast-paced intelligent action thriller that won't offend anyone, but personally, I was expecting a little bit more. (12/05/2003)