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Semper Fi

  • TV Movie
  • 2001
  • 42m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
488
YOUR RATING
Scott Bairstow, Alex Burns, Steve Burton, Bianca Kajlich, Michael Peña, Vicellous Shannon, and Tammy Townsend in Semper Fi (2001)
ActionDrama

Cliff Truckee refuses a privileged start in life at a top college while other young men are enlisting. On the bus out of Chicago he meets a girl on her way to join the Marines, falls in love... Read allCliff Truckee refuses a privileged start in life at a top college while other young men are enlisting. On the bus out of Chicago he meets a girl on her way to join the Marines, falls in love and decides to do the same. Paris Island is physically tough, but it is troubles that are... Read allCliff Truckee refuses a privileged start in life at a top college while other young men are enlisting. On the bus out of Chicago he meets a girl on her way to join the Marines, falls in love and decides to do the same. Paris Island is physically tough, but it is troubles that are brought from home that endanger some recruits success, in an extreme case even a life. Te... Read all

  • Director
    • Michael W. Watkins
  • Writer
    • Jim Uhls
  • Stars
    • Scott Bairstow
    • Steve Burton
    • Vicellous Shannon
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    488
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael W. Watkins
    • Writer
      • Jim Uhls
    • Stars
      • Scott Bairstow
      • Steve Burton
      • Vicellous Shannon
    • 16User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

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    Top cast54

    Edit
    Scott Bairstow
    Scott Bairstow
    • Cliff Trucker
    Steve Burton
    Steve Burton
    • Steve Russell
    Vicellous Shannon
    Vicellous Shannon
    • Keith Maddox
    • (as Vicellous Reon Shannon)
    Alex Burns
    • Alex Kosegin
    Bianca Kajlich
    Bianca Kajlich
    • Sharon Exler
    Michael Peña
    Michael Peña
    • Douglas Cepeda
    Tammy Townsend
    Tammy Townsend
    • Maria Velez
    Terry O'Quinn
    Terry O'Quinn
    • Cliff's Father
    Greg Serano
    Greg Serano
    • Garza
    Sandra Quarterman
    • SSgt. Hovis
    Joseph Latimore
    Joseph Latimore
    Lana Parrilla
    Lana Parrilla
    • Female Series Commander
    Kathryn Lewis
    • Drill Instructor
    Keith David
    Keith David
    • Gunnery Sgt. Brinkloff
    Freddie Joe Farnsworth
    • Sgt. Fante
    Bruce McKinnon
    Bruce McKinnon
    • Bus Driver
    Andre Armstead
    • Receiving NCO
    Ann Hubbard
    • Receiving NCO
    • Director
      • Michael W. Watkins
    • Writer
      • Jim Uhls
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews16

    5.2488
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    Featured reviews

    9MovieBuffMarine

    This movie brought back a lot of good and bad memories of recruit training

    This is one of the most accurate depictions of USMC Recruit Training ever put out by Hollywood. Other than "Full Metal Jacket" (which put a out an accurate portrayal of Boot Camp from the late sixties) you will not find a more accurate portrayal.

    I went to Boot Camp in 1990. This portrayal depicted training during the turn of the Millenium, but it still brought back a lot of good and bad memories. The Crucible which was accurately portrayed in this teleplay was the only thing that I did not experience--the Crucible did not come into recruit training until after October 1996. In my platoon we had someone who tried to kill himself, and we had another who decided he couldn't take it anymore and ran--both depicted real well in this TV movie.

    As for the Drill Instructors, I second some of the comments that they were too fake. A DI cannot be faked accurately, no matter how good an actor is, (unless of course they were a DI before like R. Lee Ermey of Full Metal Jacket fame). But I credit them for carrying themselves well (i.e. Mannerisms. One of the actors portraying the DI's, Buddy Joe Farnsworth was a former Sergeant of Marines, but obviously was not a DI).

    This was scheduled to be a regular series on NBC. It's a shame they canceled this series before it even got off the ground because it would've been stories about enlisted personnel (instead of officers which shows like JAG is about), which is seriously rare both in the movies and TV. The majority of shows and movies which the officers are the main characters are great, but they (Hollywood) needs to do more work about the men and women that officers lead---the enlisted force! Semper Fi could've done that.

    EDIT (05/24/2021): while I still have a lot of praise for this movie, looking back, it would not have lasted long as a series. Why do I say that? Only Marines would be able to understand the plight of the characters. While I appreciated the accuracy of the movie, a little artistic license wouldn't hurt it too much. Think the military drama JAG; many liberties were taking in that program that it lasted ten seasons, both military members and the general public at large enjoyed it. Semper Fi would have a larger audience if a little artistic liberties were taken.
    5Good2Go

    Semper Fi needs to spend a little more time at boot camp

    This TV pilot showed various males and one female character going through the rigors of Marine Corps recruit training. I can understand why no network wanted this trash for a weekly series. As a former Marine, I was very disappointed in the way the recruits were portrayed. It was very unbelievable in many aspects, including the order in which some of the training took place (In real training, recruits qualify on the rifle range before going to the gas chamber and rappel towers, unlike how it was showed in this movie). Considering the power behind this production, it was shocking to see these glaring errors. I mean, come on, only one recruit knew his general orders?! All of their recruiters should be fired! Nearly 90 percent of the recruits I went down to recruit training with knew all 11 general orders before they arrived at Parris Island for training -- including me. Steven Spielberg executive produced this debacle, and former Marine Capt. Dale Dye's involvement makes it even more amazing how poorly this was put together. Both Spielberg and Dale were together on the masterful Saving Private Ryan, yet there was no saving these privates-to-be. Despite my reservations about its accuracy, I rated Semper Fi a five out of 10 stars simply because it was fun to reminisce about being at Parris Island again and seeing the drill instructors, the squad bays, and other memories of my three months at PI. OOHRAH! To get a more realistic portrayal of boot camp at PI, check out Full Metal Jacket. It takes place in the 1960s, but it's much more accurate than this hokey mess.
    8BThomas92485

    One of the best boot camp movies ever

    Being in the Marine Corps I happened to catch this movie on the Armed Forces Network. Since I had been through boot camp I wanted to see how accurate the movie was and compare it to Full Metal Jacket, the greatest Marine movie ever. As I watched memories of boot camp returned and I found myself identifying more and more with the characters. The actors portray the recruits and drill instructors so well that until the end credits rolled I believed I was watching an actual platoon and actual drill instructors. If you are interested in how civilians become Marines and want to see an accurate portrayal of boot camp this movie is for you. I would recommend it to any military buff or any Marine fresh out of boot camp or retired for twenty years, it will bring back memories both good and bad, and remind you of why you chose to become one of the few, and one of the proud. Semper Fi.
    1SciFiGal

    this sucks. marines are not guinea pigs to be displayed as guinea pigs

    Every marine should see this movie? This was the same horrific crap that television execs put out every weekend. The real Drill instructors were very realistic of course. But the senior drill instructor was obviously an actor and not a good one at that. This movie was somewhat realistic but that ain't good enough. No movie can break down recruit training to the bare essentials in two hours, unless it was directed by me. The fake cheesy corps values that were portrayed were an insult to all marines. You are Dismissed recruit.

    lcpl Luevano (writer/director extraordinaire)
    Sznfctm

    Entertainment for marines and wannabes

    I'm just watching this movie, but I don't really like it, especially after I read the other comments. I mean, come on! Who'd be entertained to see the training of US Marines, no matter how accurate it is? As the only plot for a movie, it's sadly weak. You can find anything almost this accurate and heroic, with some action, real actors, even historical background, so why make this? The only reason I can think of is to recruit people to the Corps, especially when I see the moments where the instructors get 'soft'. This is like saying: "Join today, behind the strong, brave, heroic outlook, we are family." So - my advise is: if you want to join, see it first, and get tuned on to the task. If you have no such intentions, you might as well skip it for something less real, with more action - you'll hardly find any entertainment here.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Originally set to air in Fall 2000 on NBC with a commitment to a 13-episode series. NBC passed on the project, but took the $5 million dollar, two hour pilot, and decided to air it as a TV Movie instead.
    • Connections
      Referenced in The Dialogue: An Interview with Screenwriter Jim Uhls (2006)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 1, 2001 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A kiképzőbázis hősei
    • Filming locations
      • Parris Island, South Carolina, USA
    • Production companies
      • DreamWorks Television
      • NBC Studios
      • Peculiar Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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