The Guardian
Tags: suspenseful, action, sentimental

Plot synopsis:
The plot follows Senior Chief Petty Officer Ben Randall (Kevin Costner) and Airman Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher) at the United States Coast Guard's Aviation Survival Technician (AST) Program. Ben Randall is the top rescue swimmer who continues to work against regulation past the age of 40. Jake Fischer is a hot-shot candidate for AST who was ranked as a top competitive swimmer in high school with scholarships to every Ivy league college and university, but opted to enlist in the Coast Guard instead in hopes of becoming an AST. The movie title is introduced by a mythic tale: People lost at sea often claim they feel a presence lifting them to the surface, breathing life into their bodies while they are waiting for help to arrive. They call this presence "The Guardian."Ben, who has been juggling his home life and work as a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, is confronted by his wife asking for a separation due to his frequent time at work. During the argument, he receives a page for an immediate rescue. Out at sea, he loses his rescue team in an HH-60J Jayhawk helicopter mishap, and while waiting in a survival raft, his best friend, Chief Petty Officer Carl Billings, dies due to injury, cold, and shock. Additionally, Ben had placed a victim into the helicopter's rescue basket who was abruptly pulled under with the sinking helicopter and was never seen again. Shaken, he is forced to either retire or to teach at a Coast Guard training school to recompose in which he reluctantly chooses the latter. Here, Jake arrives as a hopeful AST candidate at "A" school. Ben is considered a legend with a countless number of saves.Actual Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers in a training exerciseBen goes against protocol as an instructor and teaches as he wills, while Jake is the usual arrogant, but good-hearted student. During the training, Jake meets a local schoolteacher, Emily Thomas, and begins a "casual" relationship, as they both know his time there is limited. Once the initial, grueling weeks of training are over, and more than half of the students dropped (the school's Commandant almost boasts of an attrition rate of more than 50%), detailed instruction begins at the academy.After sleeping at his girlfriends house, Jake arrives late to class and is confronted by the waiting Ben. Unexpectedly, Jake is not dropped, although he is punished for his tardiness. Ben tries to force Jake into quitting, but he later sees his persistence and dedication. Meeting Emily in a bar, Jake tells her about him beating all of his instructor's, Ben Randall's, records. However, Maggie the barkeep, an old friend of Ben's, tells Jake of an unbreakable record: On a rescue at a ship fire (The Aegis), Ben worked tirelessly to save all the victims. With one man left and a broken winch, Randall held the man by his fingertips for the entire flight to land, resulting in extensive injuries to his hand and shoulder, a record that could never be broken. Jake is humbled.That night, Jake and Emily are at her house and Jake proposes they go on a date. Emily denies the date with Jake to stick to their "casual relationship" but later gives in to the date and they sleep together again. Later, during instruction, Jake's friend Charlie Hodge is unable to cope with panicked victims in the water and is afraid of failing school, so Jake takes him out for a drink before his date with Emily to cheer him up. After ending up in a Navy bar, they get involved in a fight and land in jail, leaving Jake's girlfriend stood up. Jake arrives back at base beaten and bandaged where he takes the blame entirely.Ben confronts Jake as to why he left his prospects as a competitive swimmer to join the AST program, and tells Jake what he learned about Jake's past: on a late night out, Jake, the designated driver, got into an accidental automobile crash, resulting in the deaths of his high school relay team. After a moment of sorrow, Ben and Jake share common ground, now they both know how it feels like to be the only survivor. Jake asks what Bens real number of saves is; no answer is given. Instruction is nearing completion and Jake takes to the role of leader during exercises. At graduation only a handful of the original candidates remain. Emily comes to see her boyfriend graduate, but the two must say goodbye because Jake is leaving town. Jake and Emily find saying goodbye to each other overwhelming by sharing a hug and kiss, then they slowly walk away from each other.Jake is assigned to CG Air Station Kodiak, Alaska for protection of the Bering Sea, Randalls post and the same post Jake wants to be assigned to in the first place. On a mission together they are sent to rescue two kayakers trapped in a cave. Fischer enters the cave and lights a flare. This brings back painful memories as Ben flashes back to his crew's disaster. After rescuing the first victim Jake returns to find Ben locked up unable to move. Ben's victim had hit a log and had a head laceration, which reminded him of the night he lost his crew. Jake continues to rescue both the second victim and Ben. At this point Ben realizes he cannot continue. Against his commander's wishes he retires. Jake again asks Ben what the number is. Twenty-two is the answer, the number of people Ben couldn't save, the only number he kept track of. Finding his wifes house, Ben goes in to apologize. He gives her the divorce papers and his wedding ring while they both act remorseful. Ben reveals that he has retired and slowly makes his way out. Ben returns to station to clear his office when he hears the radio chatter of a rescuer needed. Jake is to be sent to rescue four sailors trapped on a sinking vessel.Three seamen are rescued while the ship's captain is trapped in the hull. While Jake refuses to leave the captain, the chopper leaves to refuel. Finally freeing the captain, the door to the room is sealed shut by water and debris. Trapped in the room the hull begins to fill with seawater. Moreover, waves hit the vessel, causing the captain to hit his head against a pipe.In addition, an oxygen tank falls on the captain's body, killing him in the process. Ben Randall is the only rescue swimmer available to save Jake. He promptly begins to gather his gear. On scene, Ben is lowered onto the vessel. Getting snagged on the mast he is forced to unhook and climb down. At this point Jake has very little breathing room. Finding the sealed door, the water is released and Jake is freed. Back on deck they both hook to the rescue cable. Halfway up, the winch jams and the cable begins to unravel. Ben, realizing it can't hold both of them, unhooks and tries to fall. Jake catches and will not let him go, holding onto him by his glove simply saying, "I won't let go." Ben understandingly says, "I know." and unstraps his glove, plummeting from a fatal height into the ocean. Desperate to go in, Jake isn't allowed, as the only cable they have is broken and are afraid to lose Jake as well; the spotlights never see Ben resurface.Then, Jake Fischer begins to narrate. "The Coast Guard conducted one of the largest search-and-rescue missions for a single man in its history, but the body of Senior Chief Ben Randall was never found. What makes a legend? Is it what someone did when they were alive... or how they're remembered after they're gone? Some people actually believe Senior Chief made the swim to the Aleutian Islands. He's standing on a distant beach somewhere with a fishing pole in his hand. But I found my answer a couple of weeks later..." Weeks later, Jake is again sent to rescue a man. Upon retrieval, the victim keeps asking where the other man is. Jake realizes that 'someone' helped him, staying with him until help came. "He never let go", the man said. Jake attributes this to Ben's presence and continues his narration. "There's a legendof a man who lives beneath the sea. He's a fisher of men. A last hope for all those who have been left behind. He is known as The Guardian (Senior Chief Ben Randall). Ben Randall always said life is about making choices. In the end, by making his, he helped me make mine."This narration Jake makes refers to being reunited with Emily for good. In saying so, he visits Emily at the elementary school she teaches at. Because her class was interrupted by Jake, Emily pauses her class, approaches him and asks, "What are you doing here?" Jake answers, "I lied to youI can't do casual." There, Emily kisses Jake happily.

Review: 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..
Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Costner did amazing acting work in this film.
Being a big fan of That 70's Show I always found it hard thinking of Kutcher as anyone but Kelso despite the great acting he did in The Butterfly Effect, but after seeing this movie I think I might be able to finally look at him as a serious actor.It was also a great tribute to the unsung heroes of the U.S. Coast Guard..
I went to an advance screening of this movie thinking I was about to embark on 120 minutes of cheezy lines, mindless plot, and the kind of nauseous acting that made "The Postman" one of the most malignant displays of cinematic blundering of our time.
The trailers looked good, but the water theme was giving me bad flashbacks to the last Kevin Costner movie that dealt with the subject - Waterworld.
You can quibble about its clichés, predictability, and rare moments of overcooked sappiness, but none of that takes away from the entertainment value.I had a bad feeling that the pace would slow too much when Costner started training the young guys, but on the contrary, the training sessions just might be the most interesting aspect of the film.
Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers are heroes whose stories have never really been portrayed on the big screen, so I feel the inside look at what they go through and how tough it is to make it is very informative and a great way to introduce audiences to this under-appreciated group.Do you have what it takes to be a rescue swimmer?
I had no idea what it was really like for these guys, and who would have thought I'd have an Ashton Kutcher/Kevin Costner movie to thank for the education?
I attended an advance screening of this film not sure of what to expect from Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher; both have delivered less than memorable performances & films.
The human frailties and strengths of their respective characters were incredibly played by both; the scene when Costner confronts Kutcher with the personal reasons why Kutcher joined the Coast Guard rescue elite was the film's most unforgettable emotional moment.
The film wonderfully, and finally, gives long overdue exposure and respect to the Coast Guard; it had the audience applauding at the end..
I was pleasantly surprised to find this movie showing as a sneak preview in my local theater.We have all seen this plot line before (Top Gun, GI Jane, An Officer and a Gentleman) but a good script still works.
The movie takes us through the rigors of the training process and the personal stories of both the Costner character and that of Jake Fischer, played by Ashton Kutcher.
I really enjoy watching a movie that makes the entire audience laugh out loud, gasp here and there, and clap at the end as a tribute to the movie.We all had a good time (despite a couple of tough moments in the movie)and, I think, you will too..
Overall, it was a good movie and I would recommend seeing it.In conclusion: Good Characters, Great Plot, Poorly Written/Edited Ending.
Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher gave convincing performances as the fictional helicopter rescue swimmer characters Ben and Jake.
You actually felt like you were taking part in a real rescue.I feel the movie could have been made without the "Hollywood" bar scene (when you see the movie, you might agree) since the real Coast Guard does not condone such behavior.
I'm not going to spoil the movie but this really follows along the lines of An Officer and a Gentleman and those moments give it a little bit of a cheesy aftertaste.Like I said over all this movie is pretty good and worth checking out as long as you can get past the clichés..
Some of the scenes were just not believable and didn't have enough story line support.Though the movie claims influence from the hurricane Katrina aftermath, there was very little (none) to that effect in the movie.Overall, I liked the fact that the movie brought forward some of what goes into saving lives from a water perspective.The special effects were pretty good and more than a little intimidating.
Not sure I'll ever go deep sea fishing again...I expected a little more emotion in the film than what was presented.Definitely a movie that could've been seen on DVD..
During the film I was recalling movies like Top Gun and The Perfect Storm, just to name a couple.Also, Costner is, quite simply, a flat actor who is devoid of character.
So my conclusion: the men and women of the Coast Guard deserve a film like this, but the movie-going public deserved a better film.The Guardian doesn't separate itself by anything other than a cool movie poster.
FIGHT for your vision to be returned to this fine movie.Okay, for the audience yet to be and I of course mean those of you outside the demographic that those soulless, visionless hacks that handle the money-side of film-making are seeking You, gentle, mature, moviegoer, let me share with you a few words of wisdom: When the late voice-over by Kutcher finishes as it was originally meant to be finished, SPRINT for the exit.
Any movie that he is in is going to be all about a studio receiving large sums of money; it is not going to be about great acting and making the film in question the best picture live up to it's full potential.
Kevin's character I just felt wasn't that sympathetic, I don't know if it was just the writing or the way it was presented, but I just wouldn't recommend this movie, it was too long and too predictable.
I knew nothing more of this film before I watched it other than it starred Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Costner (what has happened to him!?)yet I was able to spell out the entire plot including the ending after seeing the first 5 minutes.I'd watch it only b/c it's like a car crash...it's so bad but you can't tear your eyes away..
I'm not a die hard Kevin Costner fan and I think Ashton Kutcher is good, but wow!
Thus it is with men like Kevin Costner who plays Ben Randall, an experienced, senior Chief who has a myriad of dark images in his heart and mind, some of which haunt him as he assumes the title of Instructor at a U.S. Coast Guard school for "Swimmers.".
I knew Richard Gere, and I can assure you that Ashton Kutcher is no Richard Gere.This movie is so clean that the Coast Guard could use it for a recruiting film.
It tells the story of two men, Costner's character being a Coast Guard veteran turned teacher, and Kutcher's role being an ambitious up-and-coming coast Guard wannabe.
Living in a country where the seas can be very precarious and boating rescues are fairly commonplace, it is heart-lifting to see a film which celebrates the fantastic work that the Coast Guard do in a manner that does this great service justice.The premise of 'The Guardian' is rather simple.
But both are men with similarly tragic pasts, which serve to bond them as Fischer graduates and takes on a job as a rescue swimmer.Kevin Costner, who plays Randall, proves he is starting to overcome the stint in his acting career as he gives a strong, effective performance in his role, bringing to his character a quality that leaves the audience in awe of this everyday hero who, at the core, just a normal man trying to do a job he cares passionately about.
It was a film that strongly depicted the hard-work, dedication and bravery required of Coast Guard recruits and the precarious rescues those qualified have to perform.
I like Kevin Costner and do not know Ashton Kutcher's work.
(Synopsis) Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Ben Randall (Kevin Costner) is the only survivor after his helicopter is forced down and crashes into the water during a rescue mission at sea.
With Ben's training and Jake's dedication, Jake becomes the best of the best.(My Comment) This was a terrific movie about the Coast Guard rescue swimmers and the missions they perform.
Kevin Costner does a great job and Ashton Kutcher surprised me in that he was a serious actor in this film.
Buried in it's niche action of ocean rescuing however, the formulaic nature often takes a back seat to what this movie offers best- an entertaining, often insightful and realistically rendered depiction of this elite underwater training routine, no doubt guided by on-site experts, given the films surprising attention to detail.
The only thing that I would like to add for people who haven't seen this film is to not think about if like other movies like Top Gun or G.I. Jane, but think of it, like I said, as a biography to those many many men and women who gave their lives to save others, to those who are still prepared to give their lives for others, and those who support them and live their lives wondering if they will lose their loved ones.
I don't think I've ever seen a better Costner film and by the end I was so emotionally attached to the characters I felt as if we were related and if they got hurt or in trouble I physically felt worried.
It's something we don't always pay attention to and the movie has opened my eyes to this.The passion that the coast guard (Kevin Costner) shows towards the victims, and how he would go to extremes to save them is something that i admire.Ashton Kuthcer was perfectly chosen for this role.
The fact that Costner plays an "unconventional" teacher who "won't give up" on Kutcher's character, and that they have more in common and learn to overcome their dislike of each other and in the end have a mutual respect, the way the events unfold and even the lines that are used to unfold them, it's one tired cliché after another.
But I digress, the point is that the movie takes so long and yet focuses on so little besides Costner and Kutcher.
The movie follows the character development of Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher) and Ben Randall (Kevin Costner).
Continuing my plan to watch every Kevin Costner movie in his filmography in order, I come to 2006's The Guardian Plot In A Paragraph: Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher) a high school swim champion, enrolls in the U.S. Coast Guard's "A" School, where legendary rescue swimmer Ben Randall (KC) teaches him some hard lessons as he believes he is there for the wrong reasons.There is absolutely nothing new here, we've seen everything before.
But I for one find it an enjoyable movie.Almost every cliché is ticked along the way, (I think the only one they missed is Kutchers love interest not being KC's daughter) but that doesn't meant it isn't good.
Costner plays a Coast Guard legend, who, after a tragic and traumatic accident at sea, gets assigned to teaching and takes hotshot recruit Ashton Kutcher, who had been a swim champion (and who has a similar incident in his past) under his wing as his protégée.
"The Guardian" stars Ashton Kutcher as a top swimmer training for the Coast Guard and Kevin Costner as an experienced, veteran rescue swimmer as the trainer.
Costner and Kutcher are great together; it's the type of role you expect to see Costner in, and the type of role you want to see Kutcher in.I loved seeing the Coast Guard on display and although I don't know exactly what it's like, this film is probably a little dramatized but realistic enough to accept it.
The length is especially highlighted when watching it on TV, the 3 and a half hours of action/drama is a bit much even for the biggest fans.All in all, "The Guardian" is a pretty good movie, standard characters, and no divergence from the expected path, but its done well.
Casting Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher in the same film easily could scream major flop, however this movie is actually rather engaging.
Jake's constant struggle and drive to be the best connects to the audience and we get to really root for the guy.The story touches on some personal hardships that many people face in their lives and it does well to not try and solve them in a two hour time span, but rather lets them play out.There are some scenes that do drag a little and with any film with montages there can be some scenes that drag or become repetitive.
I personally don't like Kevin Costner but this movie showed me wrong.
High school all star swimmer Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher) turned down every Ivy League school scholarship to go the U.S. Coast Guard training center to be a rescue swimmer.
Kevin Costner teaches Ashton Kutcher a thing or two about saving people at sea in the goofily-named THE GUARDIAN, which is all about the Coast Guard.
Ben Randall (Kevin Costner) is the greatest Coast Guard lifesaver of all time.
There are definitely some good moments -- I liked the bar fight scene between the Navy and the Coast Guard.
I liked how there was finally a film made about the Coast Guard, which has to be like the only major force never appearing in movies.
I guess there WERE some moments in it that were very moving, but based mainly on the rather surprisingly good job that Ashton did (I'm NOT really a fan of his, but I do think that he actually was ACTING pretty decently here compared to his earlier stuff) I didn't buy Costner's role AT ALL, not for a moment; he came across easily as the WEAKEST military type instructor in ANY related type film in existence.
Big-shot legendary rescuer Ben Randall (Kevin Costner) loses his whole crew out at sea in a rescue mission gone wrong, as well as his marriage, and is instructed to take a "time-out" to teach at a prestigious coast guard school.
Ashton Kutcher is at least not notably bad in his acting efforts, especially when the grueling coast guard training sessions demand our attention and sympathy for his character.
But it looks like he made a star out of Ashtom Kutcher.Overall, an above average film, with good actors and special effects, but the story lacks originality.
This movie shows the reality of the Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers.
Like many others, I was a little apprehensive about going to see an action movie starring Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Costner.
Ashton Kutcher plays very good, some say that he's a bad actor, this movie proves they are wrong.
This predictable but interesting mainstream movie has Kevin Costner in is usual environment, playing the usual flawed though this time heroic Coast Guard savior.
It is a tale of veteran coast guard Ben Randall (Kevin Costner) who after a tragic rescue operation and a troubled marriage is assigned to train new recruits at coast guard training school.He meets cocky Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher) a swimming champion who has joined the coast guard training and who starts a casual relationship with another teacher while in training.At first Ben and Jake do not get along but gradually come to respect each other especially as Jake opens up about his past.The film is just too formulaic, you have seen elements of it in films like Top Gun or Backdraft.
Director Andrew Davis excels in the coast guard rescue scenes but too much of the film is choppy..
Ben Randall (Kevin Costner) is a veteran Coast Guard rescue swimmer.
But just because we've seen something done before doesn't mean the same story can't make a good movie.From 2006, The Guardian is the story of Chief Petty Officer Ben Randall (Kevin Costner), a rescue swimmer for the Coast Guard who is still working despite the retirement age of 40.
I love movies that are based on real groups, like "Act of Valor" and "G.I. Jane", but what set this apart was the connection between Costner and Kutcher.
Rehash of AN OFFICER stars Kevin Costner as an aging Coast Guard rescue specialist who becomes a trainer, and takes new recruit Ashton Kutcher under his wing.
At times, this looks like a recruiting film for the Coast Guard.
It is basically the story of a washed-up U.S. Coast Guard swimmer(Kevin Costner), who loses his team in a rescue mission.
If you see names like Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher on Movie credits, many people may write off the film because of them for the best or the worst.
I always thought he was amazing actor and Director but just because of his huge success in 80's, he became a victim of his own success (Water world, Postman, Wyatt Earp that I personally adore those films) Kevin Costner plays USCG rescue swimmer turns into a teacher after he lost his team in rescue mission, and Ashton Kutcher is for his student.
Sure CGI has been done in Perfect Storm, but no one can take well written characters and great performances by both Kevin Costner and Ashton Catcher away from this film.
The performance of Kevin Costner is very realistic, you have feel that you watching a real hero not just in movie.
Well, I'm not a fan of Ashton Kutcher but he is good in this movie.
i love that Kevin Costner , although one of the main characters, is not the real focus of this movie.
I was watching this movie the other night and it showed how dedicated the Coast Guard is.
And i encourage whether your thinking of joining the US Coast Guard or just want to see a movie what there lives are like as a coastie.