Under Siege

I remember watching the television broadcast of Under Siege. It was actually a mini-series shown over two consecutive nights. I was riveted by the story, and especially by the staccato opening theme and the opening credits, a stylized American bald eagle at first showing only its head with beak open wide, but then gradually pulling out to reveal that the eagle is tied down. The music is repeated throughout the program, with variations. I actually did find Under Siege on VHS oh, but I cannot remember if it was NTSC region one.

One of the best movies I have ever seen! A great plot and fabulous acting. After 911, I tried for years to find a copy of it, but it seemed to vanish off the face of the earth. It seemed a very unusual coincidence that another movie of the same name (a very poor replacement starring Steven Seagal) came out to replace the missing movie, in case others tried to locate it. The only actor's name I could remember was Hal Holbrook (the president), and I looked up his profile on the internet. It listed all the movies he's ever acted in, but it didn't show "Under Siege". It was then that I became convinced it had been ordered pulled from the market by the U.S. government (probably CIA) because it was so realistic, and so clearly showed just how vulnerable the country is to terrorist attack. I'm sure it was seen as a blueprint for potential terrorists. I would place bets that Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaida have seen the movie prior to 911.

Okay, I haven't seen this in years, but I distinctly remember it, in detail, from when it originally aired on TV.

The premise of terrorists wandering about bombing and rocketing things is perfectly scary, sure. And I guess if you are so inclined, you'd find it prescient of 9/11. In reality, it seemed to be an extreme version of what had happened in the past decade in Europe.

Anyway, I recall it being sorta not that good. I watched for the premise, explosions, and waiting for some law enforcement or military unit to do something useful about it. Instead soldiers hoot and holler about a girl and get blown up for their effort, and so on.

Typical TV-movie fare, really.

This often-underrated movie (the fact that Steven Segal starred in a more illustrious, but worse film of the same name does not help) was probably the first to address domestic terrorism and its resonance in the light of recent events make it a film that should be brought back and re-issued. Peter Strauss is excellent as the FBI Chief who thinks the terrorist acts are by an individual as opposed to a state, Hal Holbrook finds himself as the President considering his retaliatory response against chief suspects Iran. Top marks however go to Fritz Weaver, Mason Adams and EG Marshall the praetorian guard who form the inner circle of advisors who come into direct conflict with Strauss' more cautious approach. An above average TV movie whose storyline is somewhat similar to the more recent but more simply titled Siege starring Denzel Washington

Director Roger Young's Under Siege was shocking in 1986 and now, unfortunately, was profoundly prophetic. One of the writers for this film was Bob Woodward of Watergate fame and someone well versed in the current political situation. This movie was breathtaking and almost impossible to believe in the incidents depicted at the time. However, not only after 9/11, but in light of terrifying extremist inspired domestic attacks at Fort Hood, Chattanooga, etc., this television production turns out to have only predicted the possibilities. Now, sadly, they seem to be inevitable. In retrospect, I recall being deeply disturbed by some scenes, such as the attack on the U.S. Capitol and the depiction of terrorists casually walking through a shopping mall and tossing hand grenades into each store from a gym bag over their shoulders. It was horrifying and totally unbelievable. Now, it seems all too real and only the truth. Highly recommended for the superb acting, outstanding production, incredible suspense, and its breathtaking prophetic statement. It is overwhelming all this appears to be now happening in the U.S. in our own time.