The A-Team [Unrated Extended Cut] [DVD] [2010]

We have watched all the A-Team episodes in an attempt to introduce our kids to what TV was like when we were growing up (unrealistic and over-the-top??) and they loved the show. We considered an episode to be truly stellar if the A-Team: built a tank, flew a plane or helipcopter, any vehicles were launched into the air, and something was blown up, but we would settle for three out of four of those. Also, points were given for Mr. T throwing someone and bonus points if one of the characters did it, although it would usually take two of them to do the same thing. And really, almost all the episodes are the same: bully picks on weaker person(s), weaker person(s) try to fight back and lose, the underdog contacts the A-Team, the A-Team verifies they aren't the military and then helps them overcome the bully while also evading the military police. So now what, I mean, how long can they stay on the run?? I wasn't sure how the movie was going to live up to my childhood TV series, complete with cheesy lines, expectations, but it turns out to be the Prequel to the TV series and as such, it actually answers a few questions, including where and how some of those cheesy lines got their start. I also wasn't expecting any deep character development or for anyone to look or sound just like the original characters, but the casting was pretty spot on, with perhaps the exception of Mr. T, but come on, it is difficult to replace the original, and in the end, I liked him after all. Liam Neeson is probably nicer than George Peppard ever was and he definitely comes off as older and wiser in the film and Face is actually smarter in this movie (he can truly be rather dumb at times in the TV shows if there's a woman around). And my biggest concern was over who was going to play "Howling Mad" Murdoch, because he's the favorite and the casting for Murdoch was probably the best of them all. For our family of four (includes two teenagers), we liked this movie for just the pure entertainment value and not trying to make any sort of reality out of it. Favorite scene: flying the tank Favorite stunt: the wall gliding. So it earns our respect for a tongue-in-cheek action film that stayed rather true to the TV series. Great rental and here's wishing everyone would do this well on a movie remake.

Liam Neeson (Hannibal Smith) leads a determined team of paramilitary soldiers on a mission to recover a group of $100 counterfeit plates and close to a billion dollars in phony dollar bills. Hannibal takes along Bradley Cooper (Face), Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson (B.A. Baracus), and Sharlto Copley (Mad Man Murdock) to accomplish this highly improbable mission. The full drama kicks in after they successfully retrieve the plates and money and an explosion occurs that destroys the money. They are quickly arrested, jailed and stripped of all their military credentials. Hannibal is a man who never walks around without a plan and soon works out a way to reunite the team to clear their names. Patrick Wilson plays an ambitious and corrupt CIA official and Jessica Biel, who plays a military officer and has a romantic past with Face is steadfast in her attempts to capture the team and return them to justice. The action is fast paced and over the top but mostly fun including Mad Man Murdock’s flying a tank. Finally it’s Face who puts together a clever plan at the docks to thwart Patrick Wilson. The A-Team is an all around fun movie.

Sure it's silly, overly-violent, filled with bad jokes, little-to-no character development, and riddled with cliche. But look at the original source material? An inter-agency cover-up condemns four soldiers to a life in prison for a crime they didn't commit. But Jessica Biel shows up and springs them, sending them on a fool's mission. The casting is high caliber, with a great performance by Liam Neeson as the team's leader, John "Hannibal" Smith, and memorable turns by Bradley Cooper as the charming, smarmy Templeton "Face" Peck, UFC lightweight champ Quinton "Rampage" Jackson as BA Barracus (the memorable Mr. T role), and Sharlto Copley as the insane H.M. "Howling Mad" Murock. Gerald McRaney ("Deadwood"), Patrick Wilson ("Watchmen") and Jessica Biel ("Chuck and Larry") round out the cast. This is not "Hamlet," don't get me wrong, but it's not "50 Shades of Grey" either. A fun watch, if you put your tongue in your cheek first.

Having liked the TV series as a kid, I didn't want to see a remake, but when I went to the theater, I was happily surprised. The entire film was excellent. Incredibly entertaining and a great story. Now they've done it again. The extended version in US stores is not just a couple things added. It's over 15 minutes longer, and there is a great deal of character development added back into the film. It really is fantastic. I wish Hollywood would stop cutting the heck out of these films for the box office, when it usually seems that the director's extended cuts are much better. People will stay for longer movies. Bravo A-Team! What a great Blu-ray. I hope there is a sequel.

I loved the A-team growing up. LOVED them. I was worried that like GI JOE and Transformers a movie version was going to destroy my happy childhood memories. My biggest fear was when I saw that "Rampage" Jackson was being cast as BA. I generally enjoy Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper movies so I wasn't worried about those two roles. However I was dreading BA and Murdoch characters being butchered on the big screen. 1. Laim Neeson was awesome as hannible. 2. Bradley Cooper was hilarious as Face. 3. The guy who played Murdoch was FANTASTIC lol Made me laugh alot. 4. Rampage actually did a decent job as BA. I was most surpirsed, plus I thought his chemistry with Murdoch was spot on. If you can endure some of the far fetched scenes it is an awesome movie. I put this in anytime I am looking for an adrenaline fueled laugh -a -thon.

By Pfillip D. Tepper - August 11, 2010 The A-Team is what movies used to be and should be now: fun. We used to herald the mindless summer blockbuster back when the explosions were fire and not CG, when Bruce Willis was all you needed to make a movie great, and an excellent plot was something you only expected to find in dramas filled with stuffy British accents. Yes, the majority of film has always sucked but we didn't care because we weren't paying $12.50 to see what's being shuffled down our throats today. As indie film has taken over the mutliplexs, the only escape we have to someplace fun is through stuff with Shia Lebouf in it. Disgrace, I tell you! But not all is lost. We have people like Joe Carnahan who still know how to make a night at the movies a blast.

First let me state that I was a fan of the original TV show growing up. Of course, looking back at one's memories, you always have a fondness for the original. I waited until this came out on Blu-Ray and decided to purchase it without reading any of the movie reviews. It's a good action movie with a great cast ensemble. The actors work well and it was a well done re-imaging. The action sequence and pace are just right for the movie. This is not your 80's version which could never be duplicated in the Big Screen and with today's on-air standards. Watch it without looking back on the original and you will enjoy it. I have yet to view any of the extras but wanted to put my initial review down.

This was the first movie based on a old TV series, that I actually could compare them both, and this movie complimented the TV series in everyway! This was the most action-packed movie I've seen since "Live free or Die Hard"! The cast of characters was great (esp. Sharlto Copley playing H.M. Murdock), and Jessica Biel was a great actress as well as eye candy, and my question from the original series (How could B.A. be part of a special-ops unit, if he's afraid of flying?) was finally answered! All and all A-team was a great movie for old-school fans and people whom never saw the series!