The Guardian (2006/I)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Andrew Davis

Writer (WGA):

Ron L. Brinkerhoff (written by)

Release Date:

29 September 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

When lives are on the line, sacrifice everything.

Plot:

A high school swim champion with a troubled past enrolls in the U.S. Coast Guard's "A" School, where legendary rescue swimmer Ben Randall teaches him some hard lessons about loss, love, and self-sacrifice.

Plot Keywords:

Wager | Coast Guard | Reception | Rescue | Graduation

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Kevin Costner	...	Ben Randall
Ashton Kutcher	...	Jake Fischer
Sela Ward	...	Helen Randall
Melissa Sagemiller	...	Emily Thomas
Clancy Brown	...	Capt. William Hadley
Omari Hardwick	...	Carl Billings
Alex Daniels	...	Wild Bill
Daniel J. Molthen	...	Co-Pilot Wakefield (as Lcdr. Daniel J. Molthen, USCG)
Andrew Schanno	...	Pilot Mitchell (as Lt. Andrew Schanno, USCG)
Adam Pena	...	Benjamin Reyes
Joe Arquette	...	Co-Pilot Antunez
Gary Billburg	...	Julian Zankich (as PO1 Gary Billburg, USCG)
Joshua Mitcheltree	...	Mitcheltree (as PO2 Joshua Mitcheltree, USCG)
Rusty Tennant	...	Mover #1
James Barnes	...	Doctor #1

Runtime:

139 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | Ireland:12A | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:12 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Malaysia:U | Brazil:12 | UK:12 (DVD rating) | UK:12A (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41893) | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | South Korea:12 | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Alaska, USA

Company:

Beacon Pictures

Trivia:

60,000 pounds of ice were used on the Elizabeth City set to recreate some of the scenes that were supposed to be filmed in Kodiak, Alaska.

Goofs:

Continuity: The entire area is blanketed in snow when Fisch and Randall arrive at Kodiak, but in the cave rescue scene there is no snow anywhere on the cliffs or on the bluff above the cave. That is because the scene was filmed near Cape Disappointment, Washington, not Alaska.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ben Randall: There is a legend of a man who lives beneath the sea. He is a fisher of men, the last hope of all those who have been left behind. Many survivors claim to have felt his gripping hands beneath them; pushing them up to the surface; whispering strength until help could arrive. But this, of course, is only a legend.

Movie Connections:

References Matchstick Men (2003)

Soundtrack:

Ain't No Easy Way

Decent flick

As others that have commented around the web... I'm a 130 pilot in the Coast Guard. Having said that, and being the skeptic I am, I went expecting the over-the-top cheese factors. There was some cheese, but all in all, not much.. and the film was pretty accurate.

I watched the trailer again today. After seeing the film yesterday, I've realized the trailer gives the impression the movie is nothing but rescue after rescue action scenes. This isn't the case.

The movie is truly more character/story driven than action. The inner struggles both Costner and Kutcher are dealing with.. Kutcher's is revealed further into than movie than Costner's is.

Of course, there is a minor love story.. no surprise there. But for the most part, the movie tells the tale of two lives that come together, and after some time, help each other heal old wounds.

As girlie as it sounds, Costner and, as much as I try not to like him, Kutcher do actually work quite well together and compliment each other very well in the movie.

As critics have stated, you've seen it all before.. Top Gun, Officer and a Gentlemen, etc. But what movie hasn't been remade a million times.

I can recall only one F word being spoken.. and can't really recall any other language.

The movie is 2+ hours, and for some, may tend to get a little long towards the end.

You'll laugh, you may cry, but I can honestly say, it was worth the $4 I paid.

I hope you enjoy the movie.