The Marine (2006)

Director:

John Bonito

Writers (WGA):

Michelle Gallagher (story)
Michelle Gallagher (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

13 October 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A group of diamond thieves on the run kidnap the wife of a recently discharged marine who goes on a chase through the South Carolinian wilderness to retrieve her.

Plot Keywords:

Hostage | Murder | Female Nudity | Highway Patrol | Kitchen Scene

Cast

John Cena	...	John Triton
Robert Patrick	...	Rome
Kelly Carlson	...	Kate Triton
Anthony Ray Parker	...	Morgan
Abigail Bianca	...	Angela
Jerome Ehlers	...	Van Buren
Manu Bennett	...	Bennett
Damon Gibson	...	Vescera
Drew Powell	...	Joe
Frank Carlopio	...	Frank
Firass Dirani	...	Al Qaeda Leader
Remi Broadway	...	Marine #1
Steve Harman	...	Marine #2
Damien Bryson	...	Marine #3
Robert Coleby	...	Braun

Also Known As:

Marine (Australia)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violent action, sensuality and language.

Runtime:

Argentina:93 min | Philippines:90 min | USA:93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Arabic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

UK:15 | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:13 | Germany:16 | Australia:M | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42214) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | USA:Unrated (DVD release) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB)

Filming Locations:

Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Company:

WWE Films

Trivia:

According to a televised interview given by WWF owner Vince McMahon, this film was originally written to star Steve Austin, but contractual negotiations fell through.

Goofs:

Factual errors: South Carolina does not require front plates on vehicles. All the cars show a rear and front plates from South Carolina.

Quotes:

Morgan: Hey man, you said there were no crocodiles in these marsh!
Bennett: Those are alligators.
Morgan: Are they hungry?
[looking at alligators eating the body]
Bennett: Not anymore!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Mad TV: (#12.3)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Dueling Banjos

Dios mio.

I am a huge John Cena fan, so I'm not writing this just to pick on him. But "The Marine" is the worst film I've ever seen, and I've made a habit of seeing bad films.

*May contain SPOILERS* The short version: See John shoot. Shoot, shoot, shoot. See John run. BOOM! Run, John, run. See John drive. See John swim. Swim, swim, Boom! Run, swim, hit, BOOM, hit, hit, kiss - The end.

The long version: I'll skip the cheesy opening credits and the bizarre soundtrack (which at more than one point seems to be channeling Celine Dion). The movie was supposedly directed by one John Bonito; I wouldn't say that the movie was directed so much as it wandered along aimlessly, occasionally bumping into scenery. Even the scenery refused to "act" (Queensland, Australia is NOT South Carolina, Mr. Bonito). Mr. Cena ambles along through the famous jungles of "South Carolina," occasionally stopping to glance around, never conveying the slightest hint that he might actually be thinking something. Five minutes into the movie, I apologized to the friend I dragged along with me to see it. Ten minutes into it, I officially began imagining a completely different movie. By the end, I no longer cared who lived. I wouldn't have minded if the characters had simply begun shooting themselves, just so that we'd all be put out of our misery.

I wanted this to be a fun movie - I like a fun, cheesy action film as much as the next person - but this movie didn't even try. I was so disappointed ... Mr. Cena, you owe me $9.50!