Interesting idea, but used all wrong

Rating: 6/10 (8 November 2005)

Rules of Engagement has an interesting plot. The fact that the US start to take responsibility for what they've done out in the world could make an interesting movie, but this turns out to be just another one of the Col.
Col. Terry Childers, a dedicated war hero from Vietnam, Beirut and the Gulf, is sent to defend and if necessary evacuate the American embassy in Yemen due to an demonstration gone wild. He believes the crowd is shooting and opens fire, killing 83 people. In order to preserve peace between Yemen and the US he is put on trial and his long time friend Col. Hayes Hodges is the one who's defending him.
The story has it's ups and downs. It gives the characters a past and personality and does so good, but there are logical errors in there. For instance, I find it odd that there are so many children and women in a political demonstration. I also find the ending of the film and the way certain characters are portrayed very wrong. This movie had potential. It could have focused on the psychical effects of combat and how this affects a judgment or on how soldiers might break the rules of engagement during combat and show that the Devil can be unleashed even within the best man, but instead this turns out to be just another tale about a heroic soldier.
The acting is rather good. Jackson and Jones makes a good team and delivers a good performance. Jones makes a good soldier and really got the attitude. Jackson is good in the courtroom and in the embassy and makes his character a little psychopath. The others are good as well.
The cinematography is good. There are hand-held camera in some scenes there shouldn't be or it's a little too shaky. The over all impression of the cinematography is, however good.
As for the score, Mark Isham's done a nice job. It's a nice dramatic score and it supports and strengthens the mood.
All in all the movie is OK. It's a nice and entertaining story, but nothing get worked up about. The film is technically good, but it could've been better written. In my opinion it's focusing too much on the government "conspiracy" to blame Childers, making it "just another" conspiracy movie, but by all means a good and watchable movie.