Product Details

• Actors: John Travolta, Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis, Delroy Lindo, Bob Gunton
• Directors: John Woo
• Writers: Graham Yost
• Producers: Allison Lyon Segan, Bill Badalato, Brad Lewis, Christopher Godsick, Dwight H. Little
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Letterboxed, THX, Widescreen, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: January 21, 1997
• Run Time: 108 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (116 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304303610
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #413,639 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

John Travolta is Vic Deakins, a bomber pilot who launches a devilish plan to hijack two nuclear missiles for big-time extortion. Vic never sweats, spews out great one-liners, knocks off money men with glee, toys with killing half a million people... he even smokes!

If you giggled at his "Ain't it cool" line from the trailer, you're in the right frame of mind for this comedic action film. Never as gritty or semi-realistic--or for that matter as heart-thumping--as the original Die Hard, Broken Arrow still delivers. If Travolta is cast against type, everyone else is by the numbers; Christian Slater as Hale, the earnest copilot looking to foil the plot, Samantha Mathis as the brave park ranger caught in the middle, Frank Whaley as an eager diplomat, Delroy Lindo as a right-minded colonel. As with his previous script (the superior Speed), writer Graham Yost moves everything quickly along as Hale and the ranger try to cut off Deakins's plan over a variety of terrains. We have plane crashes, car chases, a pursuit through an abandoned mine, a helicopter-train shootout, and lots of fighting between boys. Each time Hale finds himself perfectly in place to foil Deakins. You're suppose to laugh at the unbelievable situations. That's where Arrow is deceptive: its tone is right for the laughter compared to the mean-spirited Schwarzenegger and Stallone action films with labored jokes. Hong Kong master director John Woo (The Killer, Hard Target) pulls out all the stops--slow motion of Hale and Deakins's gymnastic gun play, nifty stunts, countdowns to doomsday. Woo may know action, but he needs more guidance in creating unique and stunning special effects. This is action entertainment at its cheesiest. Travolta and Woo later reteamed for Face/Off. --Doug Thomas

From The New Yorker

In John Woo's new movie, John Travolta plays a disgruntled Air Force pilot who hijacks a couple of nuclear warheads. This is not, however, a standard-issue doomsday thriller, but a spectacularly nutty and entertaining chase picture: like "North by Northwest," it wants to cover as much ground, in as many different ways, as it possibly can, and it's disarmingly aware of its own absurdity. Woo-who is best known for his delirious Hong Kong gangster movies-tosses off risky stunts and eye-popping effects like one-liners, with a rapid-fire rhythm that lets us know that he's got a million of 'em. The hero and the heroine, played by Christian Slater and Samantha Mathis, are likable, but in a Woo picture the character to watch is invariably the chain-smoking guy in shades. Here that guy is Travolta, who brings a refreshingly all-American exuberance to action-movie villainy. Also with Delroy Lindo, Howie Long, Kurtwood Smith, and Frank Whaley. Screenplay by Graham Yost (who also wrote "Speed"). -Terrence Rafferty
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Travolta's Ultra-Cool Villainy, February 13, 2009

By 

Scott T. Rivers (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Broken Arrow (DVD)

A vast improvement over "Hard Target" (1993), director John Woo finds his Hollywood niche in this fast-paced thriller. Though it doesn't match the kinetic flair of Woo's Hong Kong epics, "Broken Arrow" (1996) delivers plenty of serial-style action while utilizing the Southern Utah landscape to striking effect. The film's raison d'être lies in the charismatic villainy of John Travolta - who has a wonderful time playing a traitorous military pilot and nuclear blackmailer. Christian Slater's efficient heroics are a good match for Travolta's diabolical cool. "Broken Arrow" is cheerfully preposterous and endlessly entertaining. Classic dialogue: "Would you mind not shooting at the thermonuclear weapons?"

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Non-stop ACTION & SUSPENSE, January 23, 2002

By 

Coyote (South Dakota, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broken Arrow [VHS] (VHS Tape)

If you love action and adventure, this is a definite must-see! Christian Slater and John Travolta make a perfect good guy vs. villian mix, and while the plot may be a bit far out, you will never notice. The action will draw you in and keep you spellbound until the last scene. Mathis's role as the park ranger helping Slater save the day is a bit strained at times, but the effort is valiant, and by the end she's an old pro. Travolta's one-liners definitely make the movie. If you're going to be the bad guy, you've gotta have a stack of suave comebacks and wisecracks, and boy, has he got it! ...."Please try NOT to shoot at the thermonuclear weapons" from behind clenched teeth gets me every time. It's clear that though this is an action movie, it's also a mind game. Travolta's comments let the viewer inside his head, to feel like you are really there.

..."You're out of your mind!"...

..."Yeah, ain't it COOL?"....

You bet it is -- and the stunts will leave you gasping in wonder. From Mathis's near disembowelment by a thwocking chopper blade to Travolta's frantic attempts to catch his getaway pilot's attention, it's all fantastic. Howie Long is also fantastic as Kelly, one of Travolta's goons.

All in all, quite spetacular. I recommend it to everyone, but get your snacks before it starts because you won't want to miss a minute!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a hell of a Bang, August 23, 2000

By 

Martijn Langenhuijsen (Berlicum, NB Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broken Arrow (DVD)

Great movie. The action scenes are intense and perfect. John Travolta as Deakins is magnificent because of his mimic and fantastic acting. The special effect are very good. And last but not least the explosions are great, big and a great sound. If you have not seen it rent it on DVD because of the sound,- and picture quality. Have fun!