A Navy cook has to take down terrorists when his battleship is hijacked in Andrew Davis’s crackerjack 1992 action film, Under Siege: now on a new 4k UHD and Blu-Ray from Arrow Video.
I’m not the biggest action film fan; that’s more Emilie’s purview. That’s on me, as much as I could watch some nameless slasher tear out the hearts of teenagers, burly guys fighting their way through a trouble situation is often a big hump to get over. We like what we like, so it’s cool. However, I am unabashedly a fan of the “Die Hard on a Blank” sub-genre. Directed by Andrew Davis, Under Siege, as “Die Hard on a Navy Ship,” is a lot of fun with great action, wild performances by our villains, clever use of the location, loads of tension, and is all around a solid popcorn action flick. This is my first time watching the J. F. Lawton-penned film, and I liked it so much I’m tempted to go out and watch Die Hard on a Train, aka Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, soon.
The particulars to set up the action: the USS Missouri (of WWII treaty fame) is about to be decommissioned, but still has a decent complement of weapons. Under the guise of caterers, Tommy Lee Jones and crew take over the ship with the help of inside man Gary Busey. With the crew locked away or dead, the bad guys attempt to acquire some of those weapons, cause destruction, and become the ultimate sort of villains. Seagal, locked in a fridge at the time of the attack, teams up with left-behind “Miss July ‘89” Erika Eleniak and other sailors to take down the terrorists and win the day. It all plays out as expected, but with zest and energy. It’s a fun sort of popcorn entertainment in the best way. 
It’s a very fun back and forth as Segal and crew get larger, and Jones’s is diminished thanks to the cook’s actions. With the Navy ship (fun fact: I was in the Navy; fully on land though), Davis works with a tight, unique location to gain some great sequences. I appreciate the matter-of-fact method of shooting the action. It never feels showy, just as it is, letting it stand for itself. I appreciate not going overly choerogeraphed and keeping just ridiculous enough to keep it going. It’s a tempered insanity, giving it an interesting quality. Davis would use this same steadiness to make his next film, The Fugitive, to a bigger effect with highly controlled thrillers. While Davis’s career has been shaky, I appreciate the workman quality. Young adult flick Holes remains his best, but Under Siege is close.
Jones is having a blast trying to out crazy Busey. But no one out crazy’s Busey, so of course, Busey’s gotta up it another level. Seagal has never been a good actor, but Davis knows how to use him well in Above the Law, four years before (that movie is… iffy, but it’s one of Seagal’s better efforts). Per the features, Davis might have been chosen to help temper the increasingly egotistical Seagal. It works. But he’s not taxed in trying to have a character or arc, just gotta do his job and take down the villains. Keep it simple, and it works. I found Erika Eleniak surprisingly good; she had a nice charm. Unfortunately, since she’s opposite Seagal, the energy she’s giving isn’t quite given back in response, but it hits the audience (and for the 13-year-old young man in all of us, she does have a topless scene). I always love to see Colm Meaney and Bernie Casey.
Under Siege is one of the better Die Hard clones, with well-done action beats that build up well in J.F. Lawton’s script, scenery-chewing villains, and good uses of the unique setting.
The Package
Arrow Video offers Under Siege in either 4k UHD or Blu-Ray options; each containing a single disc of the format in the standard plastic case. It has a reversible sleeve, one side with the Seagal heavy poster, the other with the ship-heavy poster. It contains a booklet as well. All are packaged with a slipcover featuring the more well-known Seagal poster.
The Presentation
The video is via a new 4k scan from the original 35mm, approved by Andrew Davis. A great look, servicing the location and its look well. With a tightly controlled depth to the visuals, in busy locations one can see the fine detail, and nothing is lost. Even in the darker scenes, in and around water, the fidelity is kept. The audio is available in original stereo and new Dolby Atmos. The subtitles are English SDH
The Features. All features, save the trailer, are new to this release. The previous Blu-ray of the early days of the format only had the trailer.
Commentary
Director Andrew Davis and writer J.F. Lawton provide a very informative commentary. I always love to hear how a film shifted and changed from page to screen, based on what’s needed, what’s available, and the powers that be. That’s how Under Siege floated. Interesting how they talked around Seagal’s ego. But it’s a good track of two industry workmen on the ins and outs of making a mid-budget, but well-done thriller action film. However, they are a little soft spoken and quiet down for long periods of time, a little droning in voice, blending into the soundscape of the film.
I’m On a Boat (With a Bomb!)
This interview with Andrew Davis continues the thoughts of the commentary, focusing in further detail on some fronts. Here, Davis is a little more open about working with the increasingly controlling Seagal (interesting to see across the features people talking around it a bit). As it was above, it was cool hearing about the travails and details of shooting on a real ship – the USS Alabama. (19m)
One of the Guys
Erika Eleniak talks about her career up ot and after Under Siege and working on a very guy-heavy cast and crew. She’s fun and funny, and like in the movie, incredibly charming. (14m)
A Tight Ship
Character actor Damian Chapa talks about the movie, working with Seagal (see other notes), and his career. I like seeing the small part actor’s point of view of a big set with lots of moving pieces. (19m)
The Intravision Files
If you have the recent Outland release, this is not the same feature, despite the same title. It’s more of Will Mesa of Intravision talking about how this company’s very specific way of creating movie magic worked, especially on Under Siege. It’s kinda a sequel to that feature, as we’re picking up the process a decade after Outland. I love seeing the seamless use of various effects by background and foreground, set and still melding and others. Fascinating, and honestly, the effects used in this way absolutely get me. As it was on Outland, I can listen to Mesa talk (and show via archive footage) about the process all day. (31m)
Final Thoughts
Under Siege is a fine, fun, popcorn action flick in the Die Hard mold. One of the best of its kind. After a history of lacking releases of the title, Arrow gives the Andrew Davis-directed 1992 film its due with a great transfer, a commentary, and some nice interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. But admit it, you’re just here for Gary Busey in drag… in FOUR K!