Blueghost I'm not a huge fan of this film, and I'll try and be as objective as possible here. I think it's an okay sort of run-in-the-mill movie that was striving for more, and probably hit a few chords with die-hard "watch anything" science fiction fanatics.It's reasonably shot, but has that 1980's Hollywood gloss to it that's somewhat reminiscent of the look for Spielberg's films; lots of light and colors. Which I think is okay, but for some reason the film doesn't hit me as being too interesting. It's interesting enough for what it is, but it's not a film I have in my collection.Quaid and Gosset make for an interesting duo, but Star Wars this movie isn't. The thing that strikes me about this movies is that Gosset isn't alien enough, and how the two characters develop strikes me as being Hollywood being Hollywood. Two different species probably wouldn't get along so well, much less be able to communicate so easily.The other thing is that the film has a very studio look to it. A few location shots out in the desert someplace would have helped this film a great deal, as well as perhaps tweaking the script some. That is to say the premise is interesting enough, but I don't think the film went far enough to make the social rift between two species alien to one another more apparent. I could geek out on it, but I'll refrain.All in all it's okay for what it is, but I think there's a better scifi film to be made.Take that for what it's worth.

Leofwine_draca ENEMY MINE is a movie that walks a fine line between being good and being not-so good. Half of the time, it has an intelligent story, more original than most and with a nice moral message which cries out against prejudice - it's no coincidence that the actor playing the alien is black. The film remains unpredictable throughout and thanks to strong characterisation you learn to sympathise with the two leads and their predicament. But, unfortunately, the script isn't so hot. Dennis Quaid is resorted to acting like an idiot and using childish insults for the first half before his character "matures", and then when we learn that the alien is having a baby, the screen is suddenly awash with sentimentality and schmaltz. This intensifies once we're introduced to the incredibly annoying alien kid, but then it's okay because things quickly change track for an action set-piece finale.The direction is steady under the hand of Wolfgang Petersen, who handles the various action sequences with some aplomb (remember, this is the guy who breathed life into the cat-and-mouse antics of aircraft hijack thriller AIR FORCE ONE in 1997). As for the special effects, well they look just like that, effects, and are pretty dated, but I did like the hostile alien landscape and the excellent meteor showers that take place. As for the various monsters and alien bugs inhabiting the planet, well they're about the same level of quality as STAR WARS, so can be enjoyed for what they are. Keep an eye out for the pit-dwelling beastie which drags victims to their death with a nasty tentacle/tongue - amusing stuff.As for the acting, well Dennis Quaid is just Dennis Quaid, as always, and mildly likable when he's not being a jerk. Louis Gossett Jr manages to deliver a good performance despite being hidden behind an alien reptile mask. Brion James shows up briefly and goes way over-the-top, as per usual, as a scarred psychotic villain. The film's finale is odd and more than a little jarring. After a relatively slow-paced running time (a little overlong, incidentally), we're suddenly treated to a cheesy action-fest as Quaid single-handedly invades a mining camp and takes down the sadistic guards who rule it. This bit is fun thanks to the imaginative deaths for the villains (which are pretty unpleasant, although bear in mind this is only a PG-13 film), including a nice arrow through the throat, a guy falling in a crusher and another man falling into a vat of molten steel - "frying tonight", indeed. The final outcome is more than a little predictable, however. Despite the many flaws, Enemy Mine is a watchable slice of family science fiction and it's a film which has its heart in the right place, and as such deserves credit.

Rainey Dawn Enemy Mine is an unforgettable tale about two enemies (Human and Drax) that are forced to get along with each other in order for both to survive the harsh environment of the planet Fyrine IV. As the film progresses, they find themselves becoming friends then (as the film poster reads) 'brothers' in the end. This movie really is a pure science fiction classic.If you like this movie you might like other classic sci-fi films such as: 'Dune', 'The Last Starfighter', 'Starman' or "Close Encounters of the Third Kind'.I have to say that Enemy Mine is a underrated film that is an enjoyable sci-fi drama.9/10

sddavis63 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)