"S.W.A.T."
(2003) (Colin Farrell, Samuel L. Jackson) (PG-13)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Mild	Moderate	Extreme	*Moderate	Extreme
Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Moderate	Minor	Extreme	*Minor	Heavy
Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Moderate	Minor	Minor	Moderate	Extreme

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QUICK TAKE:

Action/Adventure: A team commander assembles and trains a S.W.A.T. unit that must deal with various precarious situations including transporting a dangerous international criminal.

PLOT:

Jim Street (COLIN FARRELL) and Brian Gamble (JEREMY RENNER) are partners with L.A.'s Special Weapons and Tactics unit (S.W.A.T.) the deals with various situations too dangerous for the regular police. During a hostage standoff, they manage to save the day and the hostages, but not without breaking orders and injuring one of the hostages.

That brings the wrath of Capt. Thomas Fuller (LARRY POINDEXTER) who demotes them, prompting Gamble to quit. Street stays on, however, taking a low-profile, low-level position for the next six months until Commander Dan "Hondo" Harrelson (SAMUEL L. JACKSON) is assigned to put together a new team.

In addition to Street, he recruits and trains Deacon "Deke" Kaye (LL COOL J), Chris Sanchez (MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ), Michael Boxer (BRIAN VAN HOLT) and T.J. McCabe (JOSH CHARLES) and soon they're an efficient and successful unit, much to the dismay of Fuller. Yet, when international arms smuggler and drug dealer Alex Montel (OLIVIER MARTINEZ) shows up and takes care of family business with lethal force, it's up to the S.W.A.T. team to deal with him.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?

If they're fans of anyone in the cast or action-oriented cop flicks, they just might.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13

For violence, language and sexual references.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:

Some late in the plot developments are not noted below.

COLIN FARRELL plays an L.A. cop who rejoins the S.W.A.T. team after being demoted. He uses some profanity and is proficient at his job.

SAMUEL L. JACKSON plays Street's commander who recruits him, and assembles and trains a team. He uses some profanity.

OLIVIER MARTINEZ plays a wealthy international villain who kills and is responsible for the deaths of others.

JEREMY RENNER plays Street's ex-partner with a bad attitude who quit the force and then turns bad. He uses strong profanity.

LL COOL J plays another S.W.A.T. team recruit.

MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ plays the only female on the team.

BRIAN VAN HOLT and JOSH CHARLES play other team members, with the former always giving Street a hard time.

LARRY POINDEXTER plays Hondo's boss who uses profanity, and is upset with and holds a grudge against his S.W.A.T. unit.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

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Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

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OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a brief summary of the content found in this action-adventure film that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while many other expletives and colorful phrases are also used. Some sexually related dialogue is present, a man is briefly seen in his underwear and a young woman flashes her breasts at others (we only see a brief and partial sideways view).

Violence consists of various murders and gun battles where various people are killed (via gunfire, one from a slit throat, another from a suicide), but most of the deaths and wounds are relatively blood-free (although there is some blood and one brief vomit scene). Other fighting (some of it rather brutal) is also present, as are various forms of property damage. Some of those scenes may be unsettling or suspenseful to some viewers, while the villains all have standard-issue bad attitudes.

Various people drink, a few smoke and some imitative behavior/material is present. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

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ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE

We see liquor bottles in Jim's place.

Miscellaneous characters have champagne.

Some miscellaneous women drink while standing up through a limo's sunroof.

Hondo tells Jim that the team is going out for beers later.

The team has beer while celebrating.

Street and Sanchez order drinks in a bar (she says anything but tequila) where others, including Gamble, also drink.

We see a bottle of champagne being brought out for a couple.

A miscellaneous person holds a beer.

We hear that Alex is wanted in many countries for arms smuggling, drug dealing and other crimes.

BLOOD/GORE

We briefly see Jim vomit from a strenuous workout.

A guy has bruises on his face and Sanchez has some small razorblade cuts on her chest from an earlier altercation with him.

Alex wipes blood from a knife blade (used to slit someone's throat) on his sleeve (briefly seen).

Alex cuts Street's ear with a shard of glass (resulting in a little bit of blood).

We see some blood on the neck of a downed cop, as well as on Sanchez's hand (after tending to him).

A man has blood on his head.

Sanchez has blood on her arm and Street has blood on his head following a battle and fight scene. Street then spits out some blood.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE

Alex, his minions, and other criminals have extreme cases of bad attitudes for their criminal and murderous actions. We hear that Alex is wanted in many countries for arms smuggling, drug dealing and other crimes.

Gamble disobeys direct orders to stand down and takes matters into his own hands during a hostage situation.

Some Mormons might not like the portrayal of a Mormon cop who's always sneaking junk food in secret from his wife and religious practice.

Fuller has a bad attitude and grudge toward Street and Hondo.

Boxer has a bad attitude toward Jim in various scenes.

Gamble has a bad attitude toward Street and toward Sanchez for being a female S.W.A.T. team member.

Hondo jokes that a suspect is a "Polish hostage" since he'll probably shoot himself. Upon seeing the crazed suspect in his underwear, Hondo again jokes that he thinks the guy might be Polish.

A team member turns sides for money, frees Alex and is responsible for a comrade being shot and wounded.

FRIGHTENING SCENES

Scenes listed under "Violence" might also be unsettling or tense to viewers (mainly those with low tolerance levels for this sort of material).

Although it's just a test with paint guns rather than the real thing, a scene where the S.W.A.T. team must get inside a parked airline jet and take out the hijackers might be suspenseful to some viewers.

Team members slowly search a stopped subway train in a tunnel for villains. They then head down a shaft into a lower tunnel and nearly hit a trip-wire attached to an explosive device while looking for the villains.

Street slowly searches for a villain along some train tracks at night.

GUNS/WEAPONS

Machine guns/Handguns/Knife/Missiles/Explosives: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR

Phrases: "F*ck you," "Cocky sh*t," "Total bullsh*t," "How full of sh*t are you?" "Throwing you in the sh*t," "Sh*t list," "We don't have time for your personal sh*t," "No sh*t," "You've got to be sh*tting me," "Don't have time for this sh*t," "Smell like sh*t," "Woody" (erection), "Shut up," "Bitch" (as in be someone's) "Gonna tear you guys a new one," "Sure as hell," "What the hell /does that mean/are you doing?" "Let's get the hell out of here," "Piss away," "Ass kicking," "Hell no," "Screw up," "Kick (your) ass," "My ass," "Kiss my ass," "Punk," "Who the hell are you?" "Sucked," "Piss off," "Tight as hell," "Freak," "You guys suck," "Butt kissing," "Hell yeah," "Let's get this frog in the bird" (suspect in a helicopter), "Do not screw this up," "Knucklehead," "Loser," "Ain't this a bitch?" "Balls" (testicles) and "Shut the hell up."

All of the fighting and gunplay might be enticing for some kids to imitate.

Street has various tattoos, while his girlfriend (who wears a midriff-revealing top) has one on her lower back.

A guy has a piercing stud above his chin.

A miscellaneous woman has tattoos, while Hondo has at least one.

Gamble makes the male masturbation gesture using a pool cue stick (in a taunting fashion).

Sanchez tells Gamble that they need to make bulletproof condoms big enough for his head.

A miscellaneous woman lifts her shirt at a passing motorcade and we see a brief and partial view of the side of her bare breast.

Gamble gives "the finger" to Street.

A man holds a gun to his head and we then hear the sound of his suicidal shot (but we don't see anything).

JUMP SCENES

The sudden sight and flight of bats in a tunnel might startle some viewers.

The sudden appearance of a man might startle some viewers.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)

An extreme amount of suspenseful and action-oriented music plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)

A song has the lyrics, "Love and hope and sex and dreams," while another has the phrase, "Sweet ass."

Other songs (including one in Spanish) had lyrics that we couldn't understand, thus offering the possibility of them containing potentially objectionable material.

PROFANITY

At least 1 "f" word, 18 "s" words, 2 slang terms for sex ("get some" and "laid"), 23 hells, 14 asses (2 used with "hole"), 8 damns, 3 S.O.B.s, 15 uses of "G-damn" and 1 use each of "Christ," "Jesus" and "Oh my God."

SEX/NUDITY

Street asks another cop, "Is that a woody?" (erection) in response to the other cop looking in awe at Hondo.

A cop jokes that if he wins a bet it will mean several more lap dances for him that evening.

We see Sanchez in her sports bra.

Referring to a woman who's left a guy, a person comments that a "case of the crabs" will do that to a woman.

When asked how he knew about some secret locations on a plane, Street tells Sanchez that he's known some stewardesses (innuendo for fooling around with them).

Deke lifts his shirt and shows his "six-pack" abdomen.

Deke says that if he gets home in time he might "get some." Another team member says he might "find some."

Sanchez tells Jim that just because he bought her a drink does not mean "you get laid tonight." He then jokingly asks what two drinks get him. She then asks him back to her place and he comments on that being easy, but the scene ends there.

We see a crazed suspect in his underwear (several views, but nothing explicit).

A miscellaneous woman lifts her shirt at a passing motorcade and we see a brief and partial view of the side of her bare breast.

SMOKING

Alex smokes once, while some miscellaneous characters smoke.

One of the members may be chewing tobacco as he spits something out into a cup.

There's talk of a crazed suspect and cigarettes.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES

Hondo briefly states that he's had three divorces.

After implying that he killed his own father (to take control of the family business), Alex slices his uncle's throat (no blood), killing him.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT

Real-life S.W.A.T. units.

Team work.

Media coverage of breaking news stories.

How large sums of money can make people act in ways they normally wouldn't.

VIOLENCE

Gunmen open fire with machine guns on people and property on the street, riddling cars and hitting one person (no blood). Police shoot back at them, resulting in a large scale gun battle. Gunmen also shoot at helicopters that are hovering nearby. Various S.W.A.T. team members then enter an adjacent building where two more gunmen are holding people hostage (and one gunman grabs a hostage by her hair and holds a gun on her). The team members then slowly make their way toward the edgy gunmen while the gun battle outside continues (and both exterior gunmen are finally shot and presumably killed -- one by a sniper -- but with no blood). Gamble then shoots and wounds one hostage and the two gunmen are then shot dead, with one falling back through the plate glass window (no blood).

After being demoted, Gamble goes at Fuller and pushes him, with Street then having to restrain him.

Gamble grabs Street and pushes him back into a wall mirror that breaks upon the impact.

A woman throws a metal frying pan at a cop (it hits the wall near him but causes him to fall to the floor), while Deke chases after a fleeing suspect. After a brief foot chase, the suspect turns a corner and Hondo punches him in the face, sending him to the street (where Deke kicks him and then manhandles him during cuffing and placing in the car).

Street pushes a belligerent suspect's head after that man is disrespectful.

After implying that he killed his own father (to take control of the family business), Alex slices his uncle's throat (no blood), killing him. He then wipes blood from the blade on his sleeve (briefly seen).

Street and Boxer struggle and Deke tries to separate them.

During a training test, various S.W.A.T. team members shoot "hijackers" with paintballs (to represent gunfire).

Gamble purposefully breaks the glass on a framed picture of him and Street.

The team uses a harpoon-like device to yank a wall open.

One of Alex's men shoots two transport guards dead (no blood) and frees Alex.

A gun battle (machine guns, handguns) breaks out on the street resulting in some car crashes, other property damage and Hondo shooting one gunman (no blood). Another suspect is shot and Alex then cuts Street's ear with a shard of glass (resulting in a little bit of blood).

A transport helicopter is shot twice with a large caliber weapon, sending it careening out of control. Its blades nearly hit the S.W.A.T. team and it then crashes to the street where it explodes, presumably kills those onboard, causes a car crash and shatters nearby windows.

Various people open fire on a motorcade with machine guns, riddling vehicles with gunfire and hitting one person. Various vehicles crash and a large truck crashes into smaller vehicles. Missiles are then fired into several vehicles, causing them to explode. During this coordinated attack, various people are shot and presumably wounded or killed.

Boxer elbows Alex.

A team member is shot and wounded, while a person punches Street and there's a vehicle crash. Street then kicks out a window to get out.

A guy holds a gun on a subway train driver.

Street shoots an explosive device attached to a locked gate (to blow it open).

Men grab a man (whose hands are tied together) and throw him from a parked plane to the street below.

Men open fire on a limo (containing S.W.A.T. team members) with machine gun fire, and two SUVs explode as the limo passes between them. The members then shoot back at the villains (resulting in the limo and a jet being riddled with gunfire). The limo then repeatedly rams the small jet as it tries to take off from a bridge and another gun battle breaks out, with several people being hit.

Deke tackles Alex.

A man stabs something down through Street's hand, impaling him to a train car (no blood seen and he frees himself).

A man holds a gun to his head and we then hear the sound of his suicidal shot (but we don't see anything).

A man repeatedly hits Street with a pole and the two then struggle and fight, with many punches and other hitting occurring. One nearly hits the other with a large barrel, and the two then struggle over a gun, with it being fired once.

A person is run over (or at least struck and killed) by a slowly passing train (no blood).

Reviewed August 4, 2003 / Posted August 8, 2003

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