Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil

Last updated
Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil
Bel2ae.jpg
DVD cover
Directed byJames Dodson
Written byJames Dodson
Produced by
  • Roee Sharon
  • James Dodson
Starring
CinematographyLorenzo Senatore
Edited by Ethan Maniquis
Music by Pinar Toprak
Distributed by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release date
  • October 17, 2006 (2006-10-17)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil is a 2006 American action war film and the sequel to 2001's Behind Enemy Lines . [1] The film was written and directed by James Dodson, starring Nicholas Gonzalez, Matt Bushell, Keith David, Denis Arndt, Ben Cross, Bruce McGill and Peter Coyote. [2] The film was released direct-to-video on October 17, 2006. [3]

Contents

Plot

The story is not linked to the first part of the series. Instead, it focuses on a fictional explanation for the Ryanggang explosion in 2004, in which an unexplained mushroom cloud occurred in North Korea.

After reconnaissance satellites detect a large, three-stage Topol intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a nuclear weapon in North Korea, which can strike anywhere in the continental United States, United States President Adair T. Manning (Peter Coyote) orders a team of U.S. Navy SEALs, led by Lieutenant Robert James (Nicholas Gonzalez), to destroy the missile and the launch site.

The Pentagon aborts the mission after receiving new information, but by the time the abort order is sent, two SEALs have already parachuted into North Korean territory. James stops the third SEAL from deploying, accidentally knocking the man's helmet against the status indicator mounted near the door. He steps onto the makeshift ramp to peer outside, returning to the doorway to inform the other men of the abort. The high-speed winds from outside rip the indicator loose and send it flying into his face. Stumbling backwards, James loses his balance and is blown out of the plane. Master Chief Neil T. "Spaz" Callaghan (Matt Bushell) disobeys orders to stand fast, strikes his commanding officer, and follows the first three, taking a radio with him. When North Korean forces led by Commander Hwang (Joseph Steven Yang) find the SEALs, they kill two in a gun battle, and Hwang and his men capture and torture James and Callaghan.

After South Korean special forces rescue the pair, President Manning and the South Korean government send the SEALs and South Korean special forces to destroy the missile site. But after losing radio contact with the SEALs, the President and his top advisers believe that they have been captured again. Under pressure from his Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, US Air Force General Norman T. Vance (Bruce McGill), the President decides to send B-2 stealth bombers to destroy the site, which would start a full-scale war against North Korea. Hwang almost recaptures the SEALs and the South Korean special forces, but a defecting officer shoots him. James and the South Koreans destroy the missile silo with a bomb before the bombers reach the missile site, which averts the bombing and prevents a full-scale war.

A tribunal convicts Callaghan of striking an officer (1 year) and disobeying an officer (10 years). Due to the mission's "black op" nature, the transcript of the hearing is deemed classified and the charges are expunged from his record, freeing him to return to his family.

Meanwhile, James meets the president in a classified meeting, bringing his mentor Master Chief Scott Boytano (Keith David) to witness James receive an award. The film closes with Boytano telling James he was not red flagged because Boytano had never seen anyone who desired so badly as James did to be a SEAL. During the credits there is a news report on the Ryanggang explosion.

Cast

Precursor

The film followed on the footsteps of a previously released title: Behind Enemy Lines , starring Owen Wilson. Although the basic theme is credited to the first film, the plot and setting are not interlinked between either films.

Sequels

It was followed by two direct-to-video sequels, Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia , which stars the professional wrestler Ken Anderson, and SEAL Team 8: Behind Enemy Lines , which stars Tom Sizemore.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axis of evil</span> American term for "sponsors of terrorism"

The phrase "axis of evil" was first used by U.S. President George W. Bush and originally referred to Iran, Iraq, and North Korea. It was used in Bush's State of the Union address on January 29, 2002, less than five months after the 9/11 attacks and almost a year before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and often repeated throughout his presidency. He used it to describe foreign governments that, during his administration, allegedly sponsored terrorism and sought weapons of mass destruction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arleigh Burke</span> US Navy admiral (1901–1996)

Arleigh Albert Burke was an admiral of the United States Navy who distinguished himself during World War II and the Korean War, and who served as Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)</span> Military award of the US Armed Forces

The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The medal was established on July 2, 1926, and is currently awarded to any persons who, after April 6, 1917, distinguish themselves by single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Both heroism and extraordinary achievement are entirely distinctive, involving operations that are not routine. The medal may be awarded to friendly foreign military members in ranks equivalent to U.S. Pay Grade of O-6 and below, in actual combat in support operations.

<i>Behind Enemy Lines</i> (2001 film) 2001 film by John Moore

Behind Enemy Lines is a 2001 American war film directed by John Moore in his directorial debut, and starring Owen Wilson and Gene Hackman. The film tells the story of Lieutenant Chris Burnett, an American naval flight officer who is shot down over Bosnia and uncovers genocide during the Bosnian War. Meanwhile, the rear admiral commanding the carrier strike group to which he is assigned is struggling to gain approval to launch a combat search and rescue mission to save Burnett. The plot is loosely based on the 1995 Mrkonjić Grad incident that occurred during the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryanggang explosion</span> 2004 explosion in North Korea

The Ryanggang explosion was a large explosion that took place in North Korea on 9 September 2004 in the northern province of Ryanggang. The nature and cause of the suspected explosion is the subject of speculation. No neighboring nations have claimed any detection of radioactive isotopes characteristic of a nuclear explosion.

<i>By Dawns Early Light</i> 1990 American television film directed by Jack Sholder

By Dawn's Early Light is an HBO original movie, first aired in 1990. It is based on the 1983 novel Trinity's Child, written by William Prochnau.

Behind Enemy Lines may refer to:

<i>Navy SEALs</i> (film) 1990 film by Lewis Teague

Navy SEALs is a 1990 American military action film, directed by Lewis Teague, written by Chuck Pfarrer and Gary Goldman, and produced by Brenda Feigen and Bernard Williams with consultant William Bradley. The film stars Charlie Sheen, Michael Biehn, Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, Rick Rossovich, Cyril O'Reilly, Bill Paxton, and Dennis Haysbert.

The Axis of Time trilogy is an alternative history series of novels written by Australian journalist and author John Birmingham, from Macmillan Publishing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autopsy of John F. Kennedy</span> Autopsy of John Fitzgerald Kennedy

The autopsy of John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was performed at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. The autopsy began at about 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on November 22, 1963—the day of Kennedy's assassination—and ended in the early morning of November 23, 1963. The choice of autopsy hospital in the Washington, D.C. area was made by his widow, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who chose the Bethesda as President Kennedy had been a naval officer during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas J. Hudner Jr.</span> United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient

Thomas Jerome Hudner Jr. was a United States Navy officer and naval aviator. He rose to the rank of captain, and received the Medal of Honor for his actions in trying to save the life of his wingman, Ensign Jesse L. Brown, during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War.

<i>Rogue Warrior</i> (video game) 2009 video game

Rogue Warrior is a 2009 first-person shooter video game developed by Rebellion Developments and published by Bethesda Softworks for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game was released on 26 November 2009 in Australia, 27 November in Europe, and 1 December in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iran–North Korea relations</span> Bilateral relations

Iran–North Korea relations are described as being positive by official news agencies of the two countries. Diplomatic relations improved following the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the establishment of an Islamic Republic. Iran and North Korea pledge cooperation in educational, scientific, and cultural spheres. Some media reports claim this cooperation extends to nuclear cooperation, though official U.S. government publications and academic studies have disputed this. The United States has been greatly concerned by North Korea's arms deals with Iran, which started during the 1980s with North Korea acting as a third party in arms deals between the Communist bloc and Iran, as well as selling domestically produced weapons to Iran, and North Korea continues selling missiles to Iran. North Korea and Iran are the remaining two members of George W. Bush's "Axis of evil", which has led to many of the concerns regarding Iran–North Korea relations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iceal Hambleton</span> United States Air Force officer

IcealEugene "Gene" Hambleton was a career United States Air Force navigator who was shot down over South Vietnam during the 1972 Easter Offensive. He was aboard an EB-66 aircraft whose call sign was Bat 21. As the ranking navigator/EWO on the aircraft, he was seated immediately behind the pilot, giving him the call sign "Bat 21 Bravo". He survived for 11+12 days behind enemy lines until he was retrieved in a ground operation. His rescue was the longest and most costly search and rescue mission during the entire Vietnam War. He received the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and a Purple Heart during his career.

<i>Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia</i> 2009 American film

Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia is a 2009 American action war film directed by Tim Matheson and starring Joe Manganiello, WWE wrestler Mr. Kennedy, Keith David and Matheson. It is the third installment in the series, following Behind Enemy Lines, and Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil. The film was co-produced by WWE Studios, written by Tobias Iaconis and released direct-to-video on January 6, 2009.

<i>Flight of the Intruder</i> (novel) 1986 novel by Stephen Coonts

Flight of the Intruder is a novel written by Stephen Coonts in 1986, telling the stories of United States Navy aviators flying the A-6 Intruder – a two-man, all-weather, aircraft carrier-based strike aircraft on missions during the Vietnam War. The main character is Jake "Cool Hand" Grafton, a naval aviator who appears in a series of sequels. The book, which was made into a film of the same name and adapted into a video game, marked the beginning of Stephen Coonts' career as a best-selling novelist.

Behind Enemy Lines is a series of war films beginning with Behind Enemy Lines in 2001, followed by films in 2006, 2009 and 2014. All four films feature the United States Navy.

<i>Full Force and Effect</i>

Full Force and Effect is a political thriller, written by Mark Greaney and published on December 2, 2014. It is the fifteenth overall entry in the Jack Ryan series and the first such entry to be published after original author Tom Clancy’s death during the previous year, as well as Greaney's second solo contribution to the franchise.

References

  1. "The very few lessons to be learned from "Behind Enemy Lines 2"". Salon. November 25, 2017.
  2. "The Behind Enemy Lines Trilogy - Reviews by David Nusair". reelfilm.com.
  3. "Movie Review - Behind Enemy Lines 2: Axis of Evil - eFilmCritic". www.efilmcritic.com.