Wehrlos - Die Tochter des Generals

'The General's Daughter' got a fair bit of flack from professional movie critics in it's day, but I think a lot of it was unwarranted. Sure it's a glossy Hollywood pic with an established director in Simon West and a treasure trove of a cast headlined by John Travolta & Madeleine Stowe, but it's also a crackerjack mystery with fine pacing, editing. The military element gets put to good use delivering equal parts shock & awe. My only complaint is I can't go back in time and have the surprises, reveal hit the same way like it did the first time.

CWO Paul Brenner (Travolta) a CID MP is on assignment at a military base in Georgia when Cpt. Elisabeth Campbell (Stefanson) is found dead in what appears to be a grisly rape/murder scene. Joined by WO1 Sarah Sunhill (Stowe) to whom he has a complicated past, they're now tasked with finding who's responsible & giving justice to her father LTG Joe Campbell (Cromwell). However for every shred of evidence they gain, another suspect comes to light. What seems simple one moment isn't the next until every secret is revealed, no truth is left unturned.

I have no issue if anyone - critic or otherwise - feel the plot is a bit over the top / relying too heavily on conspiracy, lies. However unless I've zoned out every time I've watched it ... it all makes sense. No wtfs, no huge gapping holes to the story. The journey is a fine one start to end, slick and entertaining with some characters that really rise above. No it's not perfection, but it's also not a bad trip like some want you to believe. Travolta fans in particular will be impressed and he gets some real zingers for lines.

It also goes without saying I'm a sucker for big casts full of faces. That alone doesn't make a movie great, but when they're given good dialog it ups the ante. Timothy Hutton, James Cromwell, Clarence Williams III, James Woods, Boyd Kestner & Leslie Stefanson as the titular daughter. Cromwell, Williams stand out, but Woods gives a masterclass in subtle efficient acting and tangos well with Travolta in limited screen time. The requisite bursts of action or fisticuffs are here of course and a joy too.

Some who serve in the US military (past or present) or their relatives take offense when movies don't portray it in a positive light, get lingo, uniforms, procedure wrong. However if you're willing to let things slide, tune in for entertainment and don't need movies to fulfill your idea of reality 'The General's Daughter' delivers where it counts & as intended. Never once did it's dramatic license bore or lose me along the way and the musical score is worth a mention as well. Recommended.

THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER is movie that has been done before. But it knows this and is able to look past it's cliché's and have fun with the genre. A cop(Travolta) is called to an army base to investigate the death of a general's daughter after she has been raped and beat to death and left naked and tied to the ground with tent stakes. It's a ghastly sight and everyone wants him to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible. The problem is that EVERYONE has something to hide or is hiding someone who has something to hide. This has an all-star cast and they are terrific. The story is well written and the cast has some fun with it along the way. Director Simon West knows how to tell the story with a slight tongue and cheek flavor and still maintain the very serious nature of the subject matter. The action sequences are very well choreographed and the climax is pretty intense. So if you are looking for a familiar but really good, intense, and exciting action murder mystery THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER is well worth seeing. No matter if the critics thumbed their elitist nose's at it. They're loss is our average Joe's gain. ***1/2 out of 4.

The General's Daughter turned out to be the kind of movie we like to watch, in that there are mysteries to be solved and as a viewed you are continually adjusting your theories.A central theme is how a military coverup can obscure the truth. However, Travolta's character will have none of that, using all the cunning and "bully" tactics at his disposal to finally get to the truth. There is a good moral, about betrayal of trust in family relationships. Much of the dialog is flawed, overly melodramatic at times. However the main characters, played by such established actors as James Woods, Daniel VonBargen, John Travolta, Madeline Stowe, Tim Hutton, Jam4es Cromwell, come across very well. I rate it 7 of 10.

John Travolta stars as Paul Brenner, a charismatic man in the Army's C.I.D. unit. Paul is called upon to solve the strange rape & murder of the title character, Elizabeth Campbell (Leslie Stefanson). Paul gets paired with a rape investigator named Sara Sunhill (Madeleine Stowe), who just happens to be a former flame of his. As Paul and Sara work the clues, they discover a string of characters who all have their secrets to hide. And it becomes apparent that the Army's main concern is keeping things quiet and maintaining the public image.

While far from a great story, this is still an absorbing one. There's a very tragic and somber arc that stems from the Elizabeth Campbell character being a *very* troubled individual. The story isn't always too believable, but director Simon West keeps the plot progressing in competent enough fashion, with a couple of twists along the way. The more serious and sordid elements are sometimes contrasted with not terribly amusing banter between Travolta and Stowe.

The exemplary supporting cast is the main reason to watch. Travolta lays on the goofy charm a bit much at first (and does a deliberately bad Southern accent for too long a time), but as the movie goes on, the better his performance gets. He and Stowe are able to create some chemistry. Stefanson is effective as the victim, and James Cromwell as her general father is completely convincing. Clarence Williams III also scores strongly as the generals' comrade, who's loyal to the core. The real standout is the always dynamic James Woods, as Elizabeths' mentor; the scenes where he and Travolta are attempting to outwit each other are just about the best in the movie.

Well shot (by Peter Menzies Jr.) and decently paced, "The General's Daughter" manages to be watchable for a little under two hours.

Seven out of 10.

It is a must seen movie :

• First time viewer will be surprised by the ending. - second time viewer will be a woman considering that the road is still long to fairness and that everyday is a challenge.

• Relation between daughter and fathers are exploited on a very personal level.

Travolta is very convincing and suitable in uniform.

Inspiring film for those who see it : if the message does not hit you, it will leave an impact.

Big plus is the sound track very adapted to the story.

LyLy