This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.
Head of the Class
Plot Overview
“The A–Team” movie opens with the story of their origins, which—intentionally or not—tracks with the legend of 1930s bluesman Robert Johnson (1911–1938.) Johnson was a mediocre guitar player at best, in Clarksdale, Miss., who departed for a time and when he returned he was extraordinarily talented, preternaturally so. Nobody could play the way he did. He was a rock star before their time, with a mistress in every town. He played all kinds of music better than anyone else.
A legend sprung up about him due to his transformation and derived from some of his lyrics, that he had made a deal with the devil at the crossroads, selling his soul for musical talent. Probably, since the name is common, there were two R.J.'s, the second being some kind of prodigy, but who knows? He died at age 27, poisoned by a jealous husband.
“The A–Team” opens in Mexico with captured and tortured Army Ranger Col. John ‘Hannibal’ Smith (Liam Neeson) passed out on the floor being left for the hungry Rottweilers to finish off as his captors split. He escapes his cuffs and uses some occult means hidden in shadow to subdue the dogs. Then he runs after the Mexicans in the desert using a tracking device and happily crosses paths with another ex-Ranger Sgt. Bosco Albert ‘B.A.’ Baracus (Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson) and coopts him (“Can you drive?”) for a lift to rescue Lt. Templeton ‘Faceman’ Peck (Bradley Cooper) who'd jumped the gun on a planned damsel rescue and was about to be burned to death by the jealous husband.
They will pick up their fourth
number: eccentric pilot Capt. H.M.
‘Howling Mad’ Murdock (Sharlto Copley) from Hospital San Vicente de Paulo, whom the
director of the institution characterized as “a functioning
lunatic,” and that was before he got struck by lightning. Together
they form “the best clandestine unit in the four
branches” and after 80 operations in 8
years, they are being sent on another mission impossible where they will
perform so well (amidst competition and betrayal) that one wonders how they
can even do all those wall-to-wall stunts. There's no way the army
can take a raw recruit and train him for it, no more than Robert Johnson
could learn to play the way he did in some music school.
Ideology
The ‘how was that done’ theme has its counterpart in (Prov. 30:18-19) “There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.” The eagle in the air here is Murdock who can fly any and all aircraft, though not in a way we'd be comfortable riding in.
The serpent upon a rock is the driver B.A. whose answer to Smith's question, can he drive, was, “Yes, sir. Better than anybody you've ever seen.”
The way of a ship in the
midst of the sea, is a nautical reference corresponding
to Col. Smith who subdued the dogs
as easily as the Lord calmed the storm in Matt. 8:23-26. (Matt. 8:27) “But the men marvelled,
saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea
obey him!” He is a master planner like a chess player who always
“plans two to three steps ahead.”
Peck is the lothario whose way with a maid assures him of women's cooperation, sometimes despite themselves.
Production Values
“” (2010) was directed by Joe Carnahan. It was written by Joe Carnahan and Brian Bloom with input from three other sources. It stars Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton Jackson and Sharlto Copley who comprise the A–Team. The acting consisted mostly of running and shouting, which they did athletically well, or their stunt doubles did.
MPAA rated it PG–13 for intense sequences of action and violence throughout, language and smoking. It moves fast enough that we don't have time to ponder the plot, which is just as well. This is the big screen adaptation of the popular 1980s TV series “The A–Team” created by Frank Lupo and Stephen J. Cannell.
Review Conclusion w/ Christian Recommendation
This is a fun, action movie par excellence. It requires but a prodigious suspension of disbelief. Expect nothing more than the popcorn movie version of the original series.
Movie Ratings
Action factor: Edge of your seat action-packed fun. Suitability for Children: Suitable for children 13+ years with guidance. Video Occasion: When you've nothing better to do. Special effects: Absolutely amazing special effects. Suspense: Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Overall movie rating: Four stars out of five.
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