Second in Command (2006)

Amazing piece of rubbish. Van Dams less than finest hour. I suspect any Marine who served on embassy duty couldn't watch beyond about fifteen minutes. The quality of acting was far below scale. The cinemaphotography must have been done by an amateur bird watcher. The script and direction could only have been done by someone who was never a boy scout, let alone in the military.If you are looking for action, try an early Disney movie.

I see a lot of mixed reviews, but to me, it was not as corny as those T.V. shows with all those "PC super troops" pulling off impossible tasks that just want to make me wretch it is so very phony! This shows the Spirit of U.S. Marine's in an uncompromising light. I never watched a lot of Jean-Claude Van Damme movies, but apart from his liking news reporters - I thought it was a good plot and full of action!From the cover, I expected ships at sea, but I was not disappointed.

Good, fun action movie. Not looking for a new invention in movies, but this is still interesting for a easy watch.Did not like the girl - she was stupid and always causing problems - does nothing for women in war zones.People complain that it was predictable, well, I think real life situations like this can be predictable - always someidiot who is looking for an easy out, has desk experience and wants to run the defense. Grab some popcorn or pizzaand soda pop, then sit back and relax watching this film.

Very unrealistic and failed to immerse me into the movie. I was particularly aghast when a CIA agent did not ensure people were swept for bugs....really? Further, the mere idea that a 3rd world thug could acquire a CIA built bug capable of circumventing an embassy's jamming/monitoring (which they fail to mention) is just implausible. When they went on to announce they found the bug before deactivating it (or trying to use it to plant false information), I stopped watching. The military tactics were worse than I've seen in cartoons even before the bug scene.All in all, it's not worth the time.

I know some guys who liked this movie. They are animal low life. Having said that this is a real bad movie....the script is nonsensical, Van Dam can not act, the story line is pitiful and the action is merely loud.I must admit I am not a Van Dam fan but I thought I would give this one a chance. I don't understand who would capitalize this kind of stupid movie.

twist and turns were good ...they needed a military consultant or they should have reviewed the screenplay .. jargon was not right.... Marines sent in and then they say army choppers.. Marines don't call a gunny sir... small things and a bunch more... but it was enjoyable

This movie is the foretelling of what is to come for we are actually living in this today. Know this that this was a movie that was telling us to be prepared for the same thing to come at our doorsteps! Pray for mercy.

Action packed, however, it was obvious there was no one who had military expertise, no snipers, and no combat knowledge.Just another shoot em up fantasy depicting the new world order mentality..

Van Damme plays Commander Sam Keenan that arrives to his new post in a Eastern European troubled place with riots and the heavily armed rebels which are trying to overthrow a new President. Keenan has to find a way to destroy the rebellion. The rest you will have to watch it for yourselves. Its a fairly decent movie with lots going on. Lots of fire power. Its not one of my favourite Van Damme movies but an average one. Worth having a look. Great seller as always and fast delivery. Thank You.

Apparently I have to write something here about this dull, formulaic plodder, otherwise my star rating won't register. :)

First Class film, enjoyed watching the hole film

Fantastic film to watch

Following his release of Hard Corps,Van Damme starred in this 2006 film Second in Command.The production values are high(as have been most of his more recent works) and Van Damme comports himself well in this role.In this film Van Damme is a Navy SEAL Commander Sam Keenan,who arrives in Moldova(a real country by the way)to attend the US Embassy there.Unbeknownst to him he has arrived at a bad time,when the country is in upheaval.Foreign reporters are killed and the situation goes quickly from bad to worse.The US ambassador makes Keenan unofficially second in command,and immediately taking control of the situation he leads a team to retrieve that country's President.Back in the compound the embassy itself comes under attack from rebels.A call to the Pentagon for help elicits two response teams,each about six hours away;the US Marines in choppers and members of that country's armed forces out on patrol in the countryside.The attacking forces pummel the embassy and at any time it could be over run,if not for the smarts of Keenan.However a rocket attack kills the ambassador and the Pentagon,without having received any "official" word Keenan was made second in command,turns that job over to an attending CIA agent.The agent,against Keenan's wishes who elects to remain behind,forms an escape plan for the embassy's staff.He enlists the help of a local citizen supposedly loyal to the US,to provide a bus to take them to safety.They utilize a secret tunnel to escape but the supposedly "loyal" citizen double crosses them and tips off the rebels.Just before the bus is full and the Moldovan president is on board the bus blows up,killing all aboard.The rebels attack and the remaining group are forced to retreat back into the embassy,with the rebels hot on their trail.The tunnel entrance is sealed and now the rebels bring all their pressure to bear on the embassy and its remaining occupants.Just as things are getting unbearable the rebels pull back,just as the Moldovan army finally enters the town.Everyone inside cheers as the commanding CIA agent goes out to greet the General of the army.Cheers turn quickly to alarm as the rebels appear from behind the army column and they realize its a trap.The CIA agent is killed and everyone is forced back into the embassy as the rebels enter it and the army big guns pound away at the outside.When it looks as though all is doomed the Marines finally arrive at the scene in choppers and proceed to cut down the rebel and army forces.Keenan confronts the rebel leader inside the embassy compound and it's a fight to the death.After the terrible battle and the bloodshed the country's president returns to the palace to restore order to the country and Keenan sits,contemplating his next move.The film starts off a little slow as it sets up its storyline but as the action heats up so does the pace.The film is at its best when the embassy is under siege and a pall of claustrophobia falls over everything.The film also takes advantage of the vantage point of two reporters on the scene,a lady who knows Keenan intimately and especially her male counterpart,a cameraman.To give a you-are-there feel to the film,a few scenes of the on going battles are taken from his camera and the main camera(our fixed vantage point of view),periodically zooms quickly in or out as if being taken by an on the spot news reporter.To add to the mood,the film colour is slightly off colour;almost sepia in nature.Van Damme is in good form here as well as his fellow cast members.Technically the film has been transferred quite well and is in its' original a/r of 1:85:1.Except for the trailer there are just previews of vintage 2006 movies and nothing else.While not original in plot the story still intrigues,even though getting off to a slow start.The action soon heats up and is at its best when the embassy is under siege.JCVD is good as our protagonist and he is supported well by his fellow cast members.3 1/2-4 stars and recommended.