Bat*21
Bat*21

Movie spotlight

Bat*21

1988
Movie
105 min
English

Lt. Col. Iceal "Ham" Hambleton is a weapons countermeasures expert and when his aircraft is shot over enemy territory the Air Force very much wants to get him back. Hambleton knows the area he's in is going to be carpet-bombed but a temporary shortage of helicopters causes a delay. Working with an Air Force reconnaissance pilot, Capt. Bartholomew Clark, he maps out an escape route.

Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes64%
Google Users75%
Director: Peter MarkleGenres: War, Drama, Action

Plot Summary

During the Vietnam War, a reconnaissance pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Iceal Hambleton (Bat*21), is shot down deep within enemy territory. His mission is to survive until rescue, which becomes a perilous operation involving a seasoned search and rescue pilot, Captain Earl McGill. Together, they must evade Viet Cong patrols and navigate treacherous jungles while coordinating air support to ensure Hambleton's safe return.

Critical Reception

Bat*21 received mixed to positive reviews from critics, with many praising the performances of Gene Hackman and Danny Glover, as well as its tense atmosphere and depiction of the Vietnam War. However, some found the plot to be somewhat predictable or formulaic.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its strong lead performances and suspenseful execution.

  • Appreciated for its portrayal of the harrowing realities of a rescue mission during wartime.

  • Criticized by some for not offering a particularly fresh perspective on the war genre.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's action sequences and the solid acting from its veteran cast, finding it to be a competently made war film that delivers on its premise. Some noted that while not groundbreaking, it was an engaging and well-crafted movie.

Fun Fact

The character of "Bat*21" is based on a real-life incident involving Lieutenant Colonel Iceal E. Hambleton, who was shot down in Vietnam in 1972 and spent 11 days behind enemy lines before being rescued.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
kevin2019

kevin2019

"BAT*21" is above all an exceptionally well made and very worthwhile film based upon a remarkable true story. The action sequences have been brought to the screen with the deliberate intention of not glamourising the necessary depiction of ...