Under Siege 2: Dark Territory

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995)

Genres - Action, Adventure, Spy Film, Thriller  |   Sub-Genres - Action Thriller, Martial Arts  |   Release Date - Jul 14, 1995 (USA)  |   Run Time - 100 min.  |   Countries - United States  |   MPAA Rating - R
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Review by Aubry Anne D'Arminio

A fired government techie (Eric Bogosian) wants revenge. He hijacks a passenger train and commandeers the top-secret satellite weapon that he designed for the U.S. He demonstrates his device, which is capable of generating Non-Terrestrially Originated Seismic Events (man-made earthquakes), by destroying part of China. He targets the States, but a hero stands in his way. Under Siege 2: Dark Territory is the return of Casey Ryback, Steven Seagal's fearless Navy Seal-turned-restaurateur. A passenger on the captured train, Casey saves the day and helps make Under Siege 2 as entertaining as an action sequel should be. Its good guys are tougher. No time is wasted on "the cook who's really a martial artist" jokes. Casey is respected as a well-trained killing machine from start to finish. His sidekicks -- his aikido-trained niece (Katherine Hiegl) and a loquacious porter (Morris Chestnut) -- are both capable and sympathetic. Its bad guys are meaner. Eric Bogosian's vainglorious villain is the quintessential megalomaniac, complete with a sadistic team of underappreciated henchmen (one can use mace like breath spray, another has two sinister sleepy eyes). Most importantly, its action is better. Director Geoff Murphy cleverly uses the confines of a train -- the baggage car, the dumbwaiter, and, of course, the kitchen -- for each trick and fight sequence. The final battle (involving a helicopter and another train) is thoroughly exciting, if entirely unbelievable. Under Siege 2 may not be Under Siege, but it lives up to expectations.