Bat*21

Name: Bat*21
Genre: Drama, War
Released: October 21, 1988
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 58
Cast: Clayton Rohner, Danny Glover, David Marshall Grant, Don Ruffin, Erich Anderson

1988

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 5 Ratings

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 5 Ratings

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Bat 21

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Movie Details & Credits

TriStar Pictures | Release Date: October 21, 1988 | R

Starring: Clayton Rohner, Danny Glover, David Marshall Grant, Don Ruffin, Erich Anderson, Gene Hackman, Jerry Reed, Joe Dorsey, Michael Ng, Theodore Chan Woei-Shyong

Summary: During the Vietnam War, Colonel Hambleton's (Gene Hackman) aircraft is shot down over enemy territory and a frantic rescue operation ensues.

Director: Peter Markle

Genre(s): Drama, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 105 min

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Critic Reviews

Rita Kempley

With both left and right wings flapping, it is a dandy thriller for political moderates... It's smart, but not too smart, like a Chuck Norris movie if Chuck got a PhD. Read full review

Janet Maslin

It's hard to imagine what the film might have been with anyone other than Mr. Hackman in this role, for this actor's quintessential decency and ordinariness have never seemed more affecting. It's precisely the lack of bravado in Hambleton that makes him an interesting character, and a poignant anti-Rambo. Read full review

Roger Ebert

BAT*21 was shot on location in Malaysia, however, and it looks authentic and gets us involved through the energy of its performances. Read full review

Hal Lipper

Indeed, there's so much cutting between Hackman on the ground and Glover in the sky, the overwhelming feeling at the end of Bat 21 is relief that the viewer was able to get through the ordeal without a dose of Dramamine. [21 Oct 1988, p.6]

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Hackman turns in his usual solid performance, and Glover is strong as the pilot who develops a deep empathy for the officer, although the device of having the men interact almost entirely by radio limits development of their relationship. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Glover turns in a solid job but, as with Hackman, he remains one-dimensional. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Well-acted but otherwise conventional war hokum. Read full review

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User Reviews

Steven1981

Mar 20, 2020

Bat 21 is a drama/ war movie made in 1988 and has many well crafted, made and directed action scenes. There's a couple of rescue attempts and the first involving a few helicopters which sadly costs one of the pilots (David Marshall Grant) his own life as he steps on a mine then gets shot andBat 21 is a drama/ war movie made in 1988 and has many well crafted, made and directed action scenes. There's a couple of rescue attempts and the first involving a few helicopters which sadly costs one of the pilots (David Marshall Grant) his own life as he steps on a mine then gets shot and others in the chopper too. Peter Markle brings beautiful scenery and through most of the film a peaceful tranquil vibe and atmosphere which is nice but the war scenes and violence dull the peaceful atmosphere at times. There's many explosions and bombs going off in Bat 21 which look impressive to add to the violence and misery of the situation. The film opens with Lt. Colonel Iceal Hambleton (Gene Hackman) playing golf then seconds later a huge helicopter lands to collect Hackman. Moments after he is briefed on some mission or something then his aircraft goes down leaving him stranded near enemy territory but he keeps a low profile most of the time, avoiding the enemy. Not long after he parachutes out of the downed craft another aircraft fly's along and Danny Glover who's the pilot and codenamed "Bird Dog" gets a communication from Bat 21 (Hackman) and both stay in touch daily and Glover always wants a exact fix on Hackman's position. Days go by until two rescue attempts to get Hackman out of there are done but the first fails but Glover is Hackman's only chance to be rescued since he's in danger and stranded near enemy personnel. One of the best and beautiful war movies ever made with very violent scenes, blood and suspense. Bat 21 delivers top notch entertainment.… Expand

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Engdoff6

Apr 14, 2019

Good acting in this realistic story with a lot of suspense. The scenery appears to be just like Vietnam. The only flaw is that the north Vietnamese soldiers were carrying m-16's, instead of ak-47's. All in all a very good movie worth seeing again.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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