Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil

An expectedly inferior sequel, Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil follows several Navy SEALS (including Nicholas Gonzalez’s Robert James and Matt Bushell’s Neil Callaghan) as they find themselves trapped within North Korea’s hostile borders after their mission is abruptly aborted. Writer/director James Dodson’s consistent efforts at emulating the style of the first Behind Enemy Lines ultimately leads to the movie’s downfall, as the filmmaker’s use of ostentatious visual tricks (ie slow-motion cinematography, ultra-shaky camerawork, rapid-fire editing, etc) effectively transforms each and every one of the action interludes into an incoherent jumble of images. It’s consequently not surprising to note that the film is at its best during its more overtly low-key moments, with the behind-the-scenes battle for control of the snafued mission generally faring a whole lot better than the high-octane battle sequences. The presence of inherently compelling performers such as Bruce McGill, Peter Coyote, and Glenn Morshower within the dialogue-based stretches proves effective at sustaining the viewer’s interest, and it’s worth noting that the film’s mildly-watchable atmosphere is due primarily to their collective efforts. Dodson’s almost uniformly misguided directorial choices (operatic vocalizing? Really?) pull one out of the proceedings on an all-too-regular basis, however, and Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil finally boasts the feel of a typically overblown direct-to-video actioner.

*1/2 out of ****