Under Siege

The most well-received movie of Steven Seagal's career, 1992's Under Siege cast him in the role of a former Navy SEAL busted down to the rank of a cook now serving onboard the USS Missouri. While sailing to California to be decommissioned, during the ship captain's (Patrick O'Neal) birthday, terrorists take control of the ship planning to hijack the ship's missiles leaving the cook the only one standing in their way.

A slightly above-average action flick, the film is built upon Seagal taking out the terrorists, rescuing a few members of the crew and the Playboy entertainer (real-life Playboy Playmate Erika Eleniak) on hand for the party who eventually help in battle of wills against the corrupt Commander Krill (Gary Busey) and the mastermind (Tommy Lee Jones) behind the caper.

This movie is just good dumb fun. Seagal is doing his usual trademark schtick (albeit for the first time without his trademark ponytail) and both Busey and Tommy Lee Jones are having a blast as over-the-top baddies chewing as much scenery as they can get their hands on. The writing and production design are a step up from some of his lower-budget B-movies, and the setting of the ship offers a unique setup for the action sequences as well.

Aside from being an enjoyable action flick, the movie is notable as the only Seagal film ever to get Oscar nominations (for Sound and Sound Effects) and was also the film that led director Andrew Davis to being chosen to helm Harrison Ford's next project which would become The Fugitive (also featuring Tommy Lee Jones). The new remastered limited edition 4K of the film includes both new commentary and interviews from the director along with other cast and crew.

• Title: Under Siege
• IMDb: link