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Defending Your Movie: Spartan

Mamet's special forces thriller was a financial loser, but is still worth checking out if you're a fan of snappy dialogue.

Video posted by JoeyF on Dec. 7, 2011

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Dig Deeper into Spartan

The president's daughter, Laura Newton, is missing. Scott, a secret U.S. Government agent, is sent to follow the trail and get her back alive.

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49 Comments
Haceon Dec. 7, 2011 at 11:12 a.m.

I do like that movie, somehow a tense action movie hides the mametesque dialogue that i usually have some problems with.

snide staff on Dec. 7, 2011 at 11:13 a.m.

Hard to pick a favorite Mamet, but this is up there.

dvorakon Dec. 7, 2011 at 11:15 a.m.

Wow, this one must have flown completely under my radar.

Rorie staff on Dec. 7, 2011 at 11:21 a.m.

@Hace said:

I do like that movie, somehow a tense action movie hides the mametesque dialogue that i usually have some problems with.

You might have fewer problems if you just told me WHERE'S THE GIRL?

PatVB moderator on Dec. 7, 2011 at 11:24 a.m.

I can't stand Val Kilmer, but I really like Mamet. I think I'll give this a try.

mbkishon Dec. 7, 2011 at 11:33 a.m.

Never even heard of this until someone mentioned it the other day in a post. Totally going to check it out.

JuMPon Dec. 7, 2011 at 11:36 a.m.
I randomly rented this one when it first came out on DVD, knowing nothing about it. I loved the way it provided almost no exposition and that you're expected to keep up with the action. The dialogue of course is the movie's strength, and Val Kilmer is good in a way that I only think is rivaled by his performance in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. It's definitely worth checking out.
Swabbleflangeon Dec. 7, 2011 at 11:55 a.m.

This movie is genuinely great, but one of those that I always have a hard time convincing people to check out for some reason.

KirePDXon Dec. 7, 2011 at 12:23 p.m.
Spartan definitely has a lot of flaws, but it is one of my 'go-to' movies if I want to put something on that I know I'll enjoy. That puts it in the same camp as 'Way of the Gun,' and I think there are a number of parallels between the movies. Most notably is the way that they try to present action scenes with some semblance of tactical logic (with plenty of caveats for entertainment). I think it's an extension of both movies assuming that the audiences are smart enough to keep up. It's worth noting that Kilmer's commentary track is insufferable.
skrutopon Dec. 7, 2011 at 12:24 p.m.

I caught this after thinking it was a different movie (which turned out to be Basic). What a pleasant surprise.

StormtrooprDaveon Dec. 7, 2011 at 12:33 p.m.
I got mixed up with meet the spartans
Moviemaniacon Dec. 7, 2011 at 12:54 p.m.

I don't see the point of this? Just because a movie flops, doesn't mean it's bad.

LiquidSwordson Dec. 7, 2011 at 12:54 p.m.

Me and my friend consider this the official unofficial sequel to The Salton Sea

AlKusanagion Dec. 7, 2011 at 1:15 p.m.

I have literally never heard of this movie until this video.

Kratchon Dec. 7, 2011 at 1:17 p.m.

I always really liked this film. It's a super-spy/badass military dude movie that, outside of its plot, manages to avoid cliches and make a spy movie exciting again.

Rorie staff on Dec. 7, 2011 at 1:27 p.m.

@KirePDX said:

Spartan definitely has a lot of flaws, but it is one of my 'go-to' movies if I want to put something on that I know I'll enjoy. That puts it in the same camp as 'Way of the Gun,' and I think there are a number of parallels between the movies. Most notably is the way that they try to present action scenes with some semblance of tactical logic (with plenty of caveats for entertainment). I think it's an extension of both movies assuming that the audiences are smart enough to keep up. It's worth noting that Kilmer's commentary track is insufferable.

The only real issue I have with any of the movie's action is the sniper on the boat scene. Sniping from a good quarter-mile out on a boat that's going up and down in the sea and having pinpoint precision? That's some pro shit right there, although I guess it's possible...

evilmonk3yon Dec. 7, 2011 at 2:36 p.m.

Never even heard of this before, will definitely give it a watch.

Funky_Pasta_Tommyon Dec. 7, 2011 at 3:08 p.m.

I haven't checked this out, but will give it a go. Wen Kilmer delivers he's worth watching. When he doesn't it's like watching a block of wood.

Atwaon Dec. 7, 2011 at 4:32 p.m.

Holy shit, is that al bundy?

Naxwellon Dec. 7, 2011 at 6:27 p.m.

I like that this guy is just named "Scott". Not Roll Fizzlebeef or Rock Diggler, just Scott.

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