| The Guardian [2006] | ![The Guardian [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SwPsWyx7L._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Andrew Davis
Actors: Ashton Kutcher, Kevin Costner
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
Category: DVD
List Price: £17.99
Buy New: £2.85
You Save: £15.14 (84%)
Buy New/Used from £1.99
Avg. Customer Rating:   (19 reviews)
Sales Rank: 2441
Format: Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Media: DVD
Running Time: 133 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 8717418111045
ASIN: B000M2E7K0
Release Date: February 19, 2007
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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Amazon.co.uk Reviews
The Guardian offers satisfying entertainment with a no-nonsense combination of Hollywood formula and good old-fashioned star power. While honoring the men and women who serve as rescue swimmers for the U.S. Coast Guard, this predictable yet appealing drama is a well-crafted showcase for Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher, who bring welcome depth and dimension to their formulaic roles. It's basically Top Gun for the Coast Guard, with Costner playing a legendary rescuer haunted by recent tragedy and the impending break-up of his marriage, and Kutcher as the hot-shot recruit whose bravado is tested when Costner takes over a grueling 18-week basic training course, where a 50% attrition rate ensures that only the best will make the grade. There's nothing particularly inventive about Ron L. Brinkerhoff's screenplay, but it's intelligently written and well-directed (by The Fugitive helmer Andrew Davis) as it shows how seasoned veteran and troubled but talented trainee build mutual respect while sorting through the trauma of accidents that left each of them as sole survivors, tormented by self-doubt and guilt. Bolstered by a strong supporting cast including Neal McDonough, John Heard, Sela Ward and Clancy Brown, The Guardian is a bit on the long side (137 minutes), but it never feels slow, and a romantic subplot (with Kutcher wooing a schoolteacher played by Melissa Sagemiller) blends nicely with thrilling ocean-rescue sequences incorporating a seamless blend of CGI and footage shot in a 750,000-gallon water tank. Music fans will welcome the scene-stealing appearance of veteran singer Bonnie Bramlett as the owner of a jazz/blues club near the training base, where The Guardian serves up yet another staple of its genre: the barroom brawl. Although Hurricane Katrina prevented The Guardian from being filmed in New Orleans in 2005, real-life footage during the closing credits makes it clear that the Coast Guard was essential in Katrina's aftermath, and this rousing drama pays overdue tribute to those who risk there lives (to quote the Coast Guard's motto) "so that others may live." --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...
 Awesome Ashton Kutcher! April 6, 2008
I Dont normally go for Water movies, I Wouldnt of botherd with this one unless a cousin recomended it, But what a brilliant movie, had me hooked from beginning to end, the End made me go cold, especially when the last guy you see rescued says that he was with someone the whole time, "He never let go" you have to watch the movie or have already seen it to know what I Mean there, The Guardian of the sea,
Ive always liked Ashton kutcher, being a fan of that 70s show, and loving the butterfly effect, but this performance couldnt be any further from the dumb idiot guy from that 70s show, its a Masterful performance, and this guy deserves to be a Big star, Im sure he will, Superb stuff!
 Worth a Watch!!!! March 14, 2008
I really enjoyed The Guardian. It has some parallels with Top Gun, An Officer and A Gentlemen and even Full Metal Jacket at times, all the time following the torch-passing tale format to a tee. Costner, enjoying a return to frown-faced form, plays a world-weary rescue swimmer who faces tragedy and divorce in one wave of misery. This in turn leads him to a training academy where fresh faced-youths look to join the coast-guard. Ashton-Kutcher (the new Tom Cruise?) commits himself fully as the cocky-hot-shot, who briefly exposes himself as a decent actor during emotional moments with Costner mid-way in the movie. Like Costner he's guilty of churning out a few turds, but this movie is something they can both be semi-proud of. There's a lot of chest-pounding, bully-beating and love elements that all serve to add depth to the moments of peril. The training moments are predicatable, but enjoyable. All the boxes are ticked: Costner's hard edge on the recruits, picking on Ashton, desputing the program to install his own techniques. There's the weedy one who needs ashton's help to overcome bullish teachers and a beefy bodybuilding recruit. Ending with emotional exchanges between Ashton and Kev. After the survivors of the training graduate the sheer weight of the movie lands on Kevin and Ashton to bring the film to it's finale. If there's anywhere the movie shakes, it's here. There's an odd chemistry between Costner and Ashton, which doesn't justify their 'connection' but this feeling is soon shaken off to make way for the finale action set piece. The hurricane Katrina that struck during the making of the movie adds weight to the film - thanks to the efforts of real-life Coast Guards on the scene. But without that in-mind it's still a very enjoyable action movie - celebrating the heroism of the real-life coast-guards and delivering a thrilling ride. I think this a perfect DVD online rental for action fans.
Great Film December 27, 2007
This is one of my favourite films, have watched it many times and plan to continue doing so. I highly reccomend this film!
 an interesting but rarely exciting film November 4, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The action scenes in the Guardian are really good and so is the acting.
The storyline is mundane for the most part but that is because this film is about real life coastguard helicopter crews who helped make the film over a two year period.The thing I didn't like about the Guardian was the overemphasis on the training scenes which because officers spoke to trainees,as you will have seen so many army officers do in war movies,just seemed too familiar and plain.However,I would recommend the Guardian to you if you've got two hours to kill and want an insight into just how fit,strong,disciplined and brave these rescue people are.
Surprisingly good. August 23, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Apparently this is like Top Gun but with coastguards.Having never seen Top Gun I can't comment,but I can say I found it genuinely engrossing pretty much from beginning to end.Costner does what he does best;he plays a solid working man who just wants to be left alone to do what he does best.Kuchter's okay,bearing in mind I'm a middle aged man and not swayed by looks.
Basically Costner plays a top Coast Guard who is haunted by the deaths of his team when a rescue he insists on goes wrong.Once the best there was he is reduced to training others,among them Ashton Kutcher a cocky young recruit.
It's cliched,the characters are largely 2 dimensional and a fair bit of the excitement relies on CGI,and I suppose the only new twist was setting the action amongst Coast Guards,but despite all of that I found it surprisingly enjoyable.I suspect that if you like Costner when he's good;Dances With Wolves, Open Range,Tin Cup,A Perfect World,etc then you'll like this.Despite it's length it moves along at a brisk pace and is definitely the best film I've seen directed by Andrew Davis since The Fugitive.
I may have no great desire to watch it again,but I enjoyed it whilst it was around and for a film like this that's good enough. Recommended.
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