SimonJack One thing that sets this film apart from the modern mayhem movies that it resembles is its basis. "Killer Elite" is based on a 1991 supposedly non-fiction book, "The Feather Men," by Ranulph Fiennes. Sir Fiennes himself is a fantastic story, which viewers may find of interest. So, I'll give some more on him later. How much of this story is true, is anyone's guess. Sir Fiennes in 2011 referred to his book as "faction" – his word for facts and fiction. But he later said that the story was all fiction, even though the characters and many incidents are facts. Whether fact or fiction or a mix, the story comes out of real events. And that's what gives it substance for a plot. The book and film are about a small group of expertly trained mercenaries who are hired to kill four expertly trained members of Britain's elite SAS. SAS stands for Special Air Service, but it is referred to "in the trade" as Special Assassination Squad. The four were members of an SAS squad that served in a clandestine operation in Oman in the mid-1970s. They trained and fought with the reigning sheik's military in the Omani civil war (1963-76). The insurrection was a Communist-led effort, supported with Soviet Union arms and equipment. The Soviets wanted to get control over the Middle East oil supplies from the Persian Gulf that passed through the Gulf of Oman. The movie apparently switches the focus of the story. Where the book's focus is on the SAS efforts to stop the hired assassins, the movie's focus is on the team hired to do the contract. The elite killers were to get revenge for the sheik's three oldest sons who were killed by SAS members. The movie doesn't go into detail about the SAS operations for the Sheik, or about the civil war. But, apparently, the SAS methods against the guerrillas also killed some innocents, including the sheik's three sons. The sheik initially refused to avenge his sons' deaths, which was required by his nomadic Arab culture. So, he was exiled from his country. But now, he wants his last son to be able to return to rule his sheikdom; and in order to do that, he must avenge the deaths of his sons. He would jeopardize himself and his country to do it openly, so he hires trained experts for the job. They are to get confessions of the killers on video tape and then kill them. According to the book, the revenge killings take 17 years and the last one is foiled when the Feather Men come to the rescue of the SAS members. The movie has a different ending, and the film credits postscript reads, "The fate of Danny Bryce and other covert operatives remains unknown or undisclosed." While this is a tough movie to watch for the cold-blooded killing, the film pushes the audience toward siding with mercenaries. The actors all are quite good. Jason Statham is Danny, Robert De Niro is Hunter, Dominic Purcell is Davies, Aden Young is Meier, and Clive Owen is Spike. Spike is the former SAS member who discovers the assassination plan and sets out to stop it. He probably is the principal hero of the book.One thing that comes up a number of times in the dialog is the Battle or Mirbat. That's a real event of July 19, 1972, in which nine SAS members held off 400 guerrillas who had better and more combat arms and equipment. It's interesting that the same year this movie came out another book by an SAS member was published. "SAS Operation Storm: Nine Men against Four Hundred in Britain's Secret War" was written by Roger Cole and Richard Belfield. It tells about the Battle of Marbit, of which Cole was a part and one of the few survivors. There's a good deal more information now available on the Omani civil war, the British involvement in it, SAS operations and the movie and the books. As for Ranulph Fiennes, he is of British royalty, and served in the SAS, including two years in Oman during the civil war. Fiennes is a long-time promoter of worthy charities. He usually supports them with daring and challenging feats. Although prolific writer and poet, he also is a prominent English explorer. He holds several records. He has climbed notable peaks, including Mt. Everest in May of 2009 at age 65. He is the first person ever to cross Antarctica on foot and one of the few ever to visit both the North and South Poles. His life would make an interesting film. This film rightly has an "R" rating, mostly for the violence. It's not a family movie, and it's not for everyone. The modern mavens who can't sit still for a good drama or other film will enjoy this film. It's action is augmented with snippets of the planning and details that go into making efforts work. For that look at the world of mercenaries, and its placement in a significant period and events in history, it should appeal to those who study history, and those who enjoy espionage, military and related topics.

loader898 Expecting your standard Statham Thick-Ear action flick? Well, that's what you get....sort of. The USP is that it is set in 1980 with all that implies in terms of cars and haircuts ( esp Dominic Purcell! ).Welcome to the movie that "The Professionals" could have been. From the dodgy right-wing worldview to classic UK motors screaming round corners, it's all there. With a Daily Express world view and A Daily Star view of women ( mostly slappers with one exception ) one half expects Cowley to show up.Of the talent Statham is Statham - there's an attempt to tire-lever in a love angle but it just makes you miss the shooting. Robert De Niro takes yet another pay packet for phoning it in. Clive Owen glowers and postures and looks faintly embarrassed to be in this codswallop.A Friday night pizza action movie with classic motors, dodgy politics and Jason Statham.

Sankari_Suomi Jason Statham muddles his way through yet another formulaic mess. A retired killer seeking to escape his past something something something SAS, something something British government and a secret society, something something oil in the Middle East. Or something.It's all so tedious, you won't even care who's who or why they're doing whatever they're doing. Most of the characters are completely interchangeable, there's no development, and the entire plot is just a handful of adjectives strung together with verbs. I rate Killer Elite at 13.32 on the Haglee Scale, which works out as a dull 4/10 on IMDb.

Phil Hubbs 'This is the best special forces unit in the world, they make the Navy Seals look like a bunch of cupcakes'Possibly the best line of the film or any film for some time. Based on a controversial novel by Sir Ranulph Fiennes called 'The Feather Men' this is a ripping story based on assassins and major undercover ops within the British Empire surrounding our Special Air Service unit.What makes this so intriguing is the fact its supposed to based on or around fact and the author, Fiennes, was actually one SAS serviceman almost killed. Whether this is all accurate or exaggerated is questionable but makes for a great film. Of course the Ministry of Defence denies all actions undertaken within the book, naturally, but the events all surrounding the control of oil in the Oman area is highly possible and the British Empire are highly skilled at cover ups and keeping things hush hush. What is surprising is the use of SAS servicemen for the fall seeing as they are the best of the best are most definitely not disposable.As for this film I can't quite understand why it has received such negative reviews, it has excellent action, stealth, espionage of sorts and has the 80's recreated very well. The title doesn't help of course, to read it you'd think its some kind of blistering non- stop explosion filled gun fest much like 'The Expendables'. With the casting of Statham I can also understand the confusion with this notion as he's not exactly a subtle actor for a sensible film. The fact is there is really a very very good espionage thriller here...underneath the dreadful fact Statham has been miscast. Obviously this is to give the film a much bigger impact and attract more of an audience with the action man vibe. Unfortunately this gives the film a completely upside down outlook and messes up a possibly intelligent film.Everyone else in the film is cast well and makes for a sensible exciting thrilling ride. Alas Statham brings his typical kind of dumb invincible super soldier theme into the mix which takes most of the believability away sadly. Think 'The Bourne Identity' but with Statham as the lead but also add in a hint of 'Ronin' (a better film I might add).Its still a fun film with great set pieces, hard to believe its all fact I must admit. I haven't read the novel so I can't compare but its hard to think a few mercs could take down experienced SAS servicemen. I wonder if Fiennes likes this Statham vehicle adaptation, decent enough but a missed chance for a real classic.7/10