On Deadly Ground 67420 223871676 2008-07-06T07:23:31Z 24.18.30.169 /* Trivia */ {{Inappropriate tone|date=April 2008}} {{Infobox Film | name = On Deadly Ground (R) | image = On_deadly_ground.jpg | director = [[Steven Seagal]] | producer = [[Steven Seagal]]</br>[[A. Kitman Ho]]</br>[[Julius R. Nasso]] | writer = [[Ed Horowitz]] &</br>[[Robin U. Russin]] | starring = [[Steven Seagal]]</br>[[Michael Caine]]</br>[[Joan Chen]]</br>[[R. Lee Ermey]]</br>[[John C. McGinley]]<br />[[Billy Bob Thornton]]<br />[[Richard Hamilton]]<br />[[Mike Starr]] | distributor = [[Warner Bros.]] | released = [[February 18]] [[1994]] (USA) | runtime = 101 min | language = English, [[Inuktitut]] | imdb_id = 0110725 | music = [[Basil Poledouris]] | cinematography = [[Ric Waite]] | editing = [[Don Brochu]]<br />[[Robert A. Ferretti]] | budget = $50,000,000(estimated) | gross = $38,590,500 (USA) }} '''''On Deadly Ground''''' is a [[1994 in film|1994]] environmental [[action-adventure]] [[film]], co-produced, directed by and starring [[Steven Seagal]], and co-starring, [[Bart the Bear]], [[Michael Caine]], [[Joan Chen]], and [[John C. McGinley]]. ==Synopsis== [[Image:Groinattack.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Steven Seagal]] executes a devastating groin attack on an oil worker.]] [[Steven Seagal]] plays Forrest Taft, a specialist in dealing with [[oil drilling]]-related fires. Taft discovers that [[Aegis]] Oil, his employer, is using faulty equipment on a new refinery in [[Alaska]] and is covering up the fact. He later discovers that the reason is so that the land doesn't revert back to the [[Eskimo]] tribes, which would cost Aegis Oil countless millions in revenue. Aegis' CEO, the arrogant Michael Jennings ([[Michael Caine]]) is, like Taft, a former member of an elite military unit. Jennings puts on a facade of caring for the environment and the Eskimo people, but, in reality couldn't care less about them. Aegis engineer named Hugh Palmer ([[Richard Hamilton (actor)|Richard Hamilton]]) has also come to the same conclusion and confides to Taft, suggesting he go public with the startling information. When Jennings learns of this he hires a group of [[mercenary|mercenaries]] led by Stone ([[R. Lee Ermey]]) and MacGruder ([[John C. McGinley]]), who gets the henchman Otto ([[Sven-Ole Thorsen]]) to torture and murder Palmer. To get Taft out the way they set a trap for him. Although he is wounded, Taft survives and is rescued by Masu ([[Joan Chen]]) who's the daughter of Silook, the chief of her tribe. Silook has Taft undergo a [[vision quest]] in which he sees the truth. When made to choose between two women, [[Seagal]] opts for the elderly, clothed grandmother, forgoing the erotically-charged [[nude]] [[eskimo]] [[seductress]]. [[Bart the Bear]] plays an unnamed character during this hallucination-allegory. Silook refers to Taft as a bear (obviously in a positive way) but Taft, out of shame for what he's been part of, however unwittingly, says: "No. I'm a mouse." Silook responds: "That's what the bear would say." Taft, with Masu's help, assures that the refinery does not go on line, using Seagal's trademark blend of [[aikido]] and [[terrorism]]. === Forrest Taft as the Vigilante Environmentalist === Most of Seagal's movies are stereotypical of the action film [[genre]], especially in portraying the [[protagonist]]'s use of the classic combination of [[martial arts]] and proficiency in the use of [[firearms]] and [[explosives]]. In line with the theme of his later movies, the character played by Seagal not only displays his prowess in martial arts, but also shows a wide array of knowledge and an astounding depth of skill in weapons and demolition. Aside from his inventory of skills in [[hand-to-hand combat]], Forrest Taft is also depicted as a skilled marksman and demolition specialist. As a former [[CIA]] field operative, he has access to various firearms and [[munitions]]. Notable examples of weapons (both conventional and improvised) used by Taft throughout the movie include: * a 12-gauge [[Shotgun]], with which he dispatches the attackers in Huey's cabin; * a [[.45 ACP]] hidden in Huey's spare bedroom; * a pair of [[M18A1 Claymore Antipersonnel Mine]]s; the first used to harass the mercenaries trailing him, and the second detonated inside an elevator on the level defended by marksmen employed by Aegis Oil; * an [[M14 Rifle]], used in the battle on the Aegis-1 [[Oil Rig]]; * a [[submachine gun]] * an impressive quantity of [[C4]] and other explosives, used throughout the film, especially in sabotaging the Aegis-1 Oil Platform; * [[M67 grenade]]s, used along with the C4 to destroy the pursuing helicopter . == Criticisms == Departing from the usual [[action movie]] protocol, Forrest Taft does not have a traditional [[sidekick]]; rather Seagal's only foil is Masu, with whom he develops a romantic friendship, the norm for Steven Seagal's films. [[Image:Seagaldirector.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Seagal as director and star of the film. This was Seagal's directorial debut.]]Male anatomy takes center stage, but is strangely showcased without any (intentional) humor: Overdubbed sound portions of the first [[fight scene]] are notable for Taft's victims calling out the injured portions of their bodies ("''my [[Groin attack|nuts]]!''" and "''my [[Groin attack|balls]]!''"), as Taft puts them in their place. These voice tracks do not match the film, as the victims are either dazed or grimacing, and not visibly vocalizing. During this fight scene, the [[antagonist]] also vigorously refers to his own [[testicle]]s as part of his display of confidence and fortitude. ''On Deadly Ground'' was also criticized for using the context of an action-adventure film to promote an [[environmentalist]] message, by those on both sides of the issue. Some environmentalists criticized the film for excessive violence while some opposed to environmentalism criticized the message. The final scene, with Seagal giving a speech about the obsolescence of the [[internal combustion engine]] and the need for cleaner alternative fuels, was cut from its original 11 minute length before the film's release after audiences at initial screenings complained it was overlong and preachy. Reviewer Michael Dequina of [http://www.rottentomatoes.com ''RottenTomatoes.com''] called it "a vanity project in the strongest sense of the term, this film has it all: bad acting, bad writing, bad direction, bad action sequences." Upon release, ''On Deadly Ground'' met with generally poor critical reviews, largely because of perceived stereotyping of Native Americans and their spiritual beliefs. It earned $38.6M during its theatrical run.It has received some positive reviews showing a differrent side to action films. some critics notified that Seagal did his best at first time directing and proved to be a wonderful job. Some audiences felt that the scene of Hugh Palmer being tortured and killed was too violent and sadistic. Some film critics characterized the film as rehash of ''[[Billy Jack]]'' [http://deseretnews.com/movies/view/1,1257,1351,00.html]. ==Trivia== {{Trivia|date=April 2008}} *Was parodied in [[South Park]]'s Season 12 episode [[Over Logging]], when [[Randy Marsh]] was giving a speech telling people only to use the [[internet]] when they really need to. *Seagal agreed to appear in ''[[Under Siege 2: Dark Territory|Under Siege 2]]'' if [[Warner Bros.]] let him direct this film.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} *[[Jeremy Irons]] was originally intended to play Michael Jennings. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110725/trivia] *Originally had titles of ''Rainbow Warrior'' and ''Spirit Warrior'', but both were replaced shortly before release. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110725/] *It is rumored that the original cut of the film featured an 11-minute speech at the end by Seagal about pollution. Test audiences reportedly walked out during the closing speech and thus, the film was re-edited. [http://www.jabootu.com/ondeadlyground.htm] *The shotgun used by Forrest Taft in the assault on the refinery is a [[USAS-12]]* *Other actors who were wanted for the role of Michael Jennings were [[Anthony Hopkins]] and [[Alan Rickman]] *Libby Riddles (first woman to win the Iditarod) worked on the set as a [[dog sled]]ding coordinator. *[[Ed Horowitz]], one of this film's writers, also co-wrote Seagal's 2001 film ''[[Exit Wounds]]''. *The film was parodied on an episode of [[Family Guy]], in which Seagal fights a number seals who are polluting local water and stealing fish. ==External links== *{{imdb title|id=0110725|title=On Deadly Ground}} *[http://jabootu.net/?p=611 Review of ''On Deadly Ground''] *[http://www.evuk.co.uk/StevenSeagal.mp3 Audio of Seagal's closing environmental thoughts] [[Category:1994 films]] [[Category:Warner Bros. films]] [[Category:Films directed by actors]] [[de:Auf brennendem Eis]] [[fr:Terrain miné]] [[nl:On Deadly Ground]] [[ja:沈黙の要塞]] [[pl:Na zabójczej ziemi]] [[ru:В смертельной зоне (фильм)]] [[fi:Vaarallisella alueella]] [[sv:På farlig mark]]