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The General's Daughter

The General's Daughter

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Suspenseful and Engrossing
Review: John Travolta gives a powerhouse performance in this twisty crime story from director Simon West (Tomb Raider, Con Air). It is a story about the brutal murder of Captain Elisabeth Campbell (Leslie Stefanson), who just happens to be the daughter of General Joseph Campbell, a high ranking and very politically visible General. The investigation that follows takes on a life of it's own as CID Officers Paul Brenner (John Travolta) and Sara Sunhil (Madeleine Stowe) uncover the victim's shocking secret life and the even more shocking reason for it.

Things become more dangerous as Brenner and Sunhill uncover more than anyone wants made public and Brenner must use the full powers of his position to shake up the Military structure he is a part of and uncover the truth, no matter the cost. Whether he is a soldier first or a Police Officer may have a bearing on what he does with the truth once he has it in this compelling and complex mystery.

Leslie Stefanson gives a nice performance as the very messed up General's daughter. Her dalliance into S&M with high ranking members on the base becomes sad and heartbreaking as Brenner and Sunhill slowly get closer to the truth, and the real reason she was mudered. James Cromwell (L.A. Confidential) gives another solid performance as the politically ambitious General and Clarence Williams III of Mod Squad fame has a nice turn as his loyal to the death aid.

Everyone from Col. William Kent (Timothy Hutton) to Col. Robert Moore (James Woods) has something to hide in screenwriter William Golden's (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) story. Brennan and Sunhill's relentless pursuit of justice for the General's daughter makes for a terrific time at the movies. The ending may suprise you, as may the reason for the brutal crime and the events that preceeded it.

This is a marvelous Military mystery that works because of the fine performances and the sure handed direction that never lets your interest wane. You'll want to own this one as it begs for repeated viewings. This is a very good film all the way around and one you have to see.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good movie with some qualms
Review: I give this movie 4 stars but it is only because I can't give it a 3 1/2.

The thing I like about it is that it keeps you on the edge of your seat. The action keeps rolling along and you won't find yourself bored for one second. John Travolta does a very good job as a CID Officer and Madeleine Stowe always amazes me with her beauty and grace.

The biggest qualm I have with this flick is with Elizabeth Cambell (the General's Daughter). Here is a young woman who has been savagely gang raped. Her father, the General, refuses to press any charges and tells her to "forget about it" as it would destroy the Naval Academy. She winds up becoming filled with self torment, finding herself unable to fulfill any relationship with a young man as her rape has caused tremendous psychological damage. She sleeps with what seems to be almost half of the men stationed in camp.

When we see Leslie Stefanson (Elizabeth Cambell, the General's Daughter) changing Paul Brenner's (John Travolta) flat tire at the beginning of the movie we see a young, vibrant, very beautiful, bubbly, even perky young woman. When we see her afterwards she continues to act this this way, as if she were the happiest person in the world.

Now, if you were hiding dark secrets like being gang raped and were having sex with half the members of your camp, and happened to also be the General's Daughter, and was so tormented, that you were on the verge of spilling the beans to the entire world, wouldn't it be difficult to behave so happy and so perky?

I think Gina Gershon would have done a better job. She has kinda of a dark, sexy, beautiful, mystical, naughty kind of disposition. And if called upon, she could probably act like she was living as if she were hiding something.

I don't know whether or not to blame Leslie Stefanson or the director as he should certainly have seen that she wasn't playing the part right. In any case, in my humble opinion, it's a major oversight. You don't have happy, perky, people, who are supposed to be hiding dark, deep, secrets. Especially when the movie is named after your character.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Alternative Ending is the Best!!
Review: In the special edition at the end of the tape, they show an alternative ending. It is much better than the original ending.

As usual, Travolta stands out. He does an excellent job of portraying a Warrant Officer and puts military, officer B.S. in its place.

As good as the movie is, the book is better.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Contrived military drama.
Review: It's fair to compare this with "Three Good Men", just another branch of service involved here, Army not Navy. (Also, in Three Good Men the incident takes place in Cuba, outside of FBI jurisdiction and what might be termed as a hostile environment). Nonetheless, they are both about an investigation, but 3GM ends up in the courtroom for a suspenseful finish, while General's Daughter ends with special effects. It boils down to a question of tatse, if you like SFX centre stage and acting on the side this movie fills the bill. As good as I think Travolta is, and he really isn't bad in this movie either, he delivers a cooky cutter performance. The location or venue is interesting - an army special ops training ground (attention has been paid to make the film realistic). Further, the film does have its moments of suspense, but it becomes pretty clear how it will end - early on. Travolta plays a sergeant who happens on to a murder while investigating arms smuggling from the base. He's a sort of Rambo character in the CID division (Criminal Investigation Dept), and his beligerant attitude with senior officers is somewhat amusing if not realistic. He meets the girl who is murdered, naturally likes her, finds somethings upseting about her in his investigation, and goes gunning for the murderer with a few "Sirs" thrown in to remind us of his rank! It's worth seeing, once.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: John Travolta finally shows acting ability.
Review: This movie was fantastically cast with a superb plot that will keep you guessing until the very end. Actor John Travolta has not played this good a part and in such good a fashion since he starred with Olivia Newton John in Saturday Night Fever.
John Travolta is with the investigating team in the army when the General's daughter is murdered. The problem is, the murder is made to look like a rape, yet clearly isn't. The maze of twists and turns this movie takes you down will have you on the edge of your seat. I like the line "There is a right way, a wrong way, and the Army way" because John Travolta must risk his career and all he has going for him to choose which way he will take. Rent or buy it today - you won't be sorry.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A strained plot but good performances
Review: Not a great movie, but still entertaining. I especially enjoyed the characters and performances of Travolta and James Woods. The nudity and S&M in the film is disturbing, as it was probably intended to be, but its so in-your-face that it threw me off from fully immersing in the experience, making me feel like I'd stepped into the wrong movie. Stowe was underused, her role as a romantic foil for Travolta forced. You have a pretty good idea who the bad guys are going to be by the middle of the movie, if not earlier, but there's still enough doubts and twists to keep you second guessing till near the end. I didn't like the same old portrayal of the military. From this film you'd think most of the officers are sexual or moral deviants without integrity or honor. But I guess it wouldn't have been much of a who-done-it if you can't suspect everyone. Watch the film, but don't let your expectations get too high.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Save your money, buy the book!
Review: The engrossing Nelson DeMille novel was turned into a boring, hard to follow, predictable movie. The book draws you into Ann Cambell's world, the movie never does. It is a complicated story with many twists and turns and there is no way a 2 hour movie could do it justice.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: OK
Review: Pretty good movie. James Woods did a great job (as usual) and John Travolta did a pretty good job. It definitely keeps you 'on the edge' and keeps you interested and guessing until the end....There is one disturbing rape scene that I wish I had known about BEFORE I saw the movie.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Disappointing!
Review: There was some good acting in The General's Daughter. John Travolta, James Woods and James Cromwell as usual acted very well but still this movie was flawed, it was very uneven and seemed so forced and rushed that I was left with a feeling of disappointment and that this could have been better and it's not a movie I would want to buy or even rent to watch again.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: I Didn't Like It!
Review: I like John Travolta so when my sister went to the video store and rented a tape of The General's Daughter I watched it with her but I didn't like the movie at all, it was very disappointing and my sister who usually has different tastes in movies then me didn't like it either. Maybe the book is better but after watching this terrible movie I have no desire to read the book.


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