Pretty Good

Must See Movie...

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

I saw this movie many many years ago and loved it. I was very young when I first watched it and then i could not find the movie again and recently i had finally found this movie again. This movie is still just as amazing when I first saw it! Wolfgang Petersen's all time classic! A Movie that will never be forgotten! My favourite sci-fi classic from the 80's.

This 1985 sci-fi film combines the plot of Robinson Crusoe with TV's Odd Couple and the Star Trek episode "Arena"( #19). The story takes place during the late 21st century when there's an interstellar war between humans and Dracs (reptilian humanoids). After a space dogfight, a human (Dennis Quaid) and a Drac (Louis Gossett Jr.) crashland on a barren alien planet. Quaid's intentions are originally hostile toward the reptile man but a friendship slowly develops as they work together to survive.I read some good reviews about this film, some even giving it a stellar 5-Star rating, so I thought I'd better check it out. Well, I was quite a bit let down. Don't get me wrong, it's an okay sci-fi film and the message is a good one, but it's certainly not a 5-Star classic (or even 4-Star).What piqued my interest was that it was described as a "character study" more so than a juvenile space dogfight flick. Yeah, there's a little character study but it's nothing deep. You'd do better to watch practically any of the original Star Trek episodes as far as that goes. Take for instance the episode "Arena" (which the movie heavily borrows from) where Capt. Kirk is stuck on a deserted planet with a reptilian alien called a Gorn. Kirk doesn't develop a friendship with the Gorn but he does refuse to kill him at the end, which opens the door for warmer relations down the road. This episode is better than "Enemy Mine" on practically every level with the exception of F/X, which are a bit better in the film, comparable to the F/X in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.The so-called character study in "Enemy Mine" is on the level of TV's Odd Couple, with Quaid in the Oscar role and Gossett in the Felix role. Too cute.In addition, there are numerous awkward moments in the filmmaking, plus a character dies prematurely (so much for the character study) and then there's a cringe-inducing pregnancy/birth sequence, believe it or not.They try to beef-up the sci-fi at the end but it fails to create much suspense. The story simply isn't very captivating.BOTTOM LINE: This is an okay mid-80s sci-fi flick, nothing more. It's too derivative, too light, too awkward, too saccharine and not very compelling. The message of the film is good but that itself can't turn something mediocre into something good or great.Most fans of this film are likely people who originally saw it as kids and now view it with nostalgia-tinged glasses.GRADE: C- or D+

I saw this movie way, way back then - in the "before" time. Before there were computer generated special effects that took over everything and anything about a sci-fi movie. When I watched it then, I really enjoyed it. Having just watched it again, I still enjoy it. It's a well done piece of sci-fi. In fact, it certainly has to rank among the better sci- fi movies of the 80's if only because it's so different from most, and much more thoughtful. Outer space movies tend to be be heavy on inter- stellar battles between space ships, and futuristic weapons - and usually it's at the expense of story. "Enemy Mine" limits those and focuses much more heavily on story line and character development and becomes much more satisfying as a result.The two leads are great. Dennis Quaid is the lead character, as Willis Davidge - he's a space fighter pilot who crash lands on a strange world after a battle and finds himself stranded with one of his opponents - a lizard-like Drac named Jeriba, played by Lou Gossett, Jr. Humans and Dracs have been at war with each other ever since humans started exploring the galaxy, and discovered the Dracs already there. Davidge and Jeriba are hostile to each other at first, seeking to capture and/or kill each other, but gradually they realize that to survive in this hostile environment, they're going to have to learn to co-operate, and eventually co-operation turns to friendship between them. You really couldn't ask for better performances than those given by Quaid and Gossett.Set in the late 21st century, the movie nevertheless alludes to older problems. You think of racism as you see human "scavengers" enslaving captured Dracs, and there are clear shades of the Cold War (this was the 80's, after all) in the idea of two resolutely opposed individuals trying to learn to get along with each other. "Enemy Mine" is sometimes sad, but almost always hopeful, as it demonstrates that even between the fiercest and most seemingly dissimilar of foes, there's usually not that much difference. Truly a must-see from the 80's. (7/10)

I have to say, this is one of my all time fave movies, but I really don't know why! I just love it. It has everything.It has spawned so many copies which haven't worked in quite the same way. You know, enemies become buddies - let's work together blah blah. Cheesy garbage - but this movie just works. Quaid has never been one of my favourite actors, but he's very good in this. And Lou Gosset is just great.I don't know what to say really. This is just one of those films that works when it really shouldn't. Maybe it's the genius of Wolfgang Petersen? All I know is I love it, and in 2012, my grandson adores it and hassles me to put it on the DVD player every time he's round. That could be the best tribute to a very underrated film.