User reviews

I hate being nostalgic about movies, but I do remember a time when imagination was evident in every part of a production, when film posters were dynamic, visceral and iconic, when films looked like they were shot on film and not an HD camera with a sunset tint, when scores were done by orchestras instead of synthesizers and death metal guitars and, most important of all, when the lack of CGI technology forced the filmmakers into achieving visual effects through more practical means. The 1980s were filled with such movies and, looking back, I am glad that I grew up in that decade. Children now are exposed to altogether soulless movies.

Set in the late 21st Century, Enemy Mine has humans reaching out into the depths of space after achieving world peace. But a rival species, the alien race of the Drax, don't take to kindly to humans poking about the galaxy and an interstellar war kicks off. A human pilot (Dennis Quaid) and a lone Drac (Louis Gossett Jnr.) crash land on a remote desert planet and learn, the hard way, to stick together if they want to survive. Despite their ultimate conflict they discover that they are not all that different from each other and neither yet both are to blame for the war.

Enemy Mine suffered from severe problems during production. Apparently the original director, Richard Longcraine (Wimbledon, Richard III), shot the entire film on location in Iceland before being replaced by Wolfgang Petersen who re-shot the whole film all over again but changed the story somewhat in the process. So, in reality, there are two completely different versions of Enemy Mine. One which was released into cinemas that has become a classic in its own right and another that only exists in the vaults of Twentieth Century Fox. I would love to see this alternate cut.

The fantastic photography and production design look very, very good for a film from 1985. Some of the effect shots and matte paintings are simply gorgeous and the cutting between desert locations and desert sets is almost seamless. This isn't like an episode of the original Star Trek series in which the cast simply take a half hour drive to a bit of desert outside of LA, the desert locations with the matte painting backgrounds look utterly authentic.

If you like the look and feel of films like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth then you'll appreciate the fantasy of Enemy Mine. I know I am going to sound like an old coot but they just don't make films like this anymore. Everything these days seems to be geared towards the average ASBO teenage boy. In ten years time I honestly think that films will be no more than a test card that offends and stimulates no one.

I will consider myself lucky that films like this were once made and that they were a part of my formative years.

This outer space-opera buddy movie deals about earthlings and aliens facing a fierce fight . Two futuristic contenders a Draconian(Louis Gossett Jr) and a human(Dennis Quaid) dogfighting over the skies in their aircrafts .When the mortal space enemies are gunned down, they are stranded together into a faraway barren planet. They're forced to become friends and rely on one another in order to survive. The enemies, earthman and reptilian alien survive on hostile world facing enslavers foes(usual nasty Brion James).

This warmhearted Sci-Fi story packs noisy action, intrigue, space battles and good feeling . The cuddly story relies heavily on the continued relationship the two protagonists, however is quite amusing. Sensational and perceptible acting by Louis Gossett in spite of the mask and makeup by Chris Wallas(The fly), furthermore he must speak with purring. Spectacular production design by Rolf Zehelbauer(Cabaret, Odessa file, and he's Fassbinder's usual). Colorful and appropriate cinematography by Tony Imi. Wonderful music score by Maurice Jarre, though uses synthesizer, he's a classic musician and habitual of David Lean(Laurence of Arabia,Dr. Zhivago,Ryan's daughter). The motion picture is directed with sensibility by Wolfgang Petersen , a German working in Hollywood who achieved many hits, before(Das boot,Neverending story), like after( Troy, Perfect storm,Airforce one,Outbreak). Rating: Good, above average.

I always forget that Dennis Quaid was in this. Possibly because he seems to have been born to play gruff, middle-aged characters and I sometimes forget he was ever young! Just like a lot of people seemed to have forgotten about 'Enemy Mine.' I know that a sci-fi film without wall-to-wall light-sabre action doesn't always appeal to the masses, but I'm hoping there are enough people out there who still appreciate this - quite uplifting - character-driven piece.

In the far future us humans are having one hell of a war with an alien species about who owns what in the cosmos. Casualties run deep on both sides and our plucky young space pilot, played by Quaid, ends up shooting down a rival alien on an uninhabited planet, only to find himself stranded there, too.

What follows is effectively a two-man show, Quaid portraying the 'good guy' and Louis Gossett Jr heavily made-up in full reptilian garb as the alien. However, seeing as there's no way off this rock, the two of them are going to have to do their best to work together in order to survive. Both actors play their part in elevating this film from just a run-of-the-mill sci-fi B-movie into something much deeper. You'll get to know the two people and learn that our enemies aren't always the bad guys.

Besides the delight in seeing great (alien) make-up and practical effects, there's a decent enough amount of humour which comes in the form of 'banter' between our two culturally-opposed leads. This humour never feels forced and comes from the natural misunderstandings that arise between them and lightens the tone enough for you to enjoy the film without feeling it's making light of their situation.

There are a few plot points I won't go into in case you haven't seen this, but if you don't mind a less action-packed film which relies on character over set-pieces, definitely don't let this one pass you by.

A funny thing happened to me on the way to the video store...I ran across a sci-fi film that didn't rely on space battles, incredible special effects, or magnificent sets and costumes. Instead, it relies on a touching and compelling human story of survival, hate and conflict - and of bitter enemies becoming unlikely allies and, eventually, close friends.

"Enemy Mine" is one of the ten best "forgotten" sci-fi classics - those rare little gems that got overlooked on their initial release, but live on in video release.

Practically abandoned at the box office, "Enemy Mine" found new life on video among fans of the kind of science fiction we only read about as kids - stories that expanded our horizons and made use look at the world in a whole new way, not just wowing us with their dazzling effects.

It is the story of hotshot starfighter pilot Willis Davidge (Dennis Quaid) who, after a dogfight with the reptilian, alien Drac, is stranded on a hostile planet with one of the enemy. At first blinded by their hatred of each other, the pair soon learn that they can only survive by working together. By doing so, they develop a strange friendship that helps break the wall of distrust between enemies.

If you get the chance to check out "Enemy Mine", give it a chance. It's not likely to go down in history as the best sci-fi movie ever made, but it does have heart.

"Enemy Mine" takes place in the future, when humankind no longer wages war among its own, but now does battle with an alien race called the Dracs. Dennis Quaid is Davidge, a fighter pilot who crashes on a remote planet while engaged in battle with a Drac (Louis Gossett, Jr.). The Drac has survived its own crash landing, and the two opponents are initially hostile and mistrustful towards one another. But they realize that they will have to rely on each other in order to continue surviving. Over time, they become friends.

An unfortunate box-office flop in its time, this charming, likeable film can be seen as an 80s sci-fi update of the 1968 classic "Hell in the Pacific". Its themes come through loud and clear: we should at least try to appreciate each other, and celebrate our differences, and not be quick to make judgments. The story can be seen as a metaphor for any sort of bigotry, and the path to understanding. Ultimately, it can't help but become a little too precious; still, it's solidly entertaining as it manipulates the emotions and delivers the thrills.

Quaid and Gossett play this superbly. Reunited two years after "Jaws 3-D", they share a great chemistry all the way down the line. They make their scenes alternately tense, touching, and also humorous. Yes, the film does have a light touch at times, especially when the Drac (whom Davidge nicknames "Jerry") is led to believe that Mickey Mouse is some great mind back on Earth!

Wolfgang Petersen does a commendable job with the direction, as he follows up his smashing North American debut feature, "The NeverEnding Story". But the two gentlemen who really need to take a bow are production designer / art director / matte artist Rolf Zehetbauer and makeup effects creator Chris Walas. Zehetbauer creates an amazing look for this production; filmed both in German studios and on location in the Canary Islands, it actually looks like it's taking place on another planet. And Walas' reptilian-like makeup is most impressive.

With soaring music by Maurice Jarre, a typically fun supporting performance by notable screen heavy Brion James, two cool creature species (one predator, one prey), and excellent widescreen photography, this makes for quite an engaging show. At least it did manage to find an audience later on video.

Seven out of 10.

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)

Wolfgang Petersen (acclaimed director of "Das Boot" and many others) brings us the story of a future where Earth no longer battles itself, but must fight other entities (the Dracs) in order to get resources from unclaimed planets. After one dogfight, a human and Drac land on the same planet and aren't sure whether to help or destroy each other.

The casting of this film was by far the best part. Science fiction films in general often suffer because they are harder for an audience to believe and accept. But Louis Gossett Jr. and Dennis Quaid are both actors who are able to make anything seem plausible. Gossett is particularly amazing, going so far as to manipulate his speech and appearance to the point of being unrecognizable. I will say that any actor who does well when we can't even tell it's him is a man to be respected.

There are some flaws with the film. I, for one, found it unusual that a peace-loving Earth would be so quick to fight other aliens, rather than pursue some diplomatic relationship. But I guess I shouldn't assume humans are logical. I shared a concern with Roger Ebert, who said that the film "gives us an alien that is too human, too familiar. It takes that amazing planet and gives it food, water, gravity and atmosphere that are suitable for both humans and Dracs... Why couldn't the Drac be truly alien in this film?" I don't mind that the planet was an M-class planet, but I did find it sad the alien was so humanoid in nature, particularly after they explicitly stated there's nothing human about them. Ebert, in his review, actually goes on about this concern for some time, referencing other science fiction stories (which I will not do here).

Ebert also ponders, "As the slavers stood over their captives with whips, I found myself wondering how cost-effective it would be to transport manual laborers millions of light years. Surely a technology capable of arriving at the planet Fyrine IV would have figured out a better way to mine its ores?" I guess he thinks about this sort of thing far more than I do, as I had no real problem with the slave traders or any of the subplots. The film was a "buddy film" at heart, and a commentary on racism. But it was also an action film, and any good action film requires some senseless fight scenes and killing. Action movies are generally not Oscar-worthy in their writing, but that's because they cater to the primal urges and not the mind, which isn't always a bad thing.

Ebert's last concern is that this "is a movie that made no compromises in its art direction, its special effects and its performances - and then compromised everything else in sight." I have already addressed why the action scenes work for me. And yes, I suppose their was a cheesiness to raising an alien child to like American football. But this wasn't an Asimov or Crichton science-rich story -- it was a fun story. And it was a 1980s film, for goodness sakes.

He is right about the art direction and everything he praises. The directing, acting and scenery were amazing. I forget where this was filmed, but it serves very well as an alien landscape. My only bother with the art was that I felt the film had a bit much influence from "Star Wars". I know this is a film from the same era, so it's hard not to be influenced. But there is a creature that is very much like a Sarlacc, and the spacecraft shown in this film had George Lucas written all over them. Maybe I'm just picky, though.

All in all, i really enjoyed this film. It was at a good pace, it had great acting from two of the better performers out there, and it comes from Petersen, who refuses to make low-quality pictures. Ebert might be overly concerned with the technical aspects of this universe, but for all the shortcomings this film had in that regard, it more than made up for with sheer pleasure.

I loved it! It came on AMC and there was nothing else I cared to watch, so I left it on, thinking to go to bed shortly. I ended up watching the whole thing. It kept me rivited from beginning to end. Dennis Quaid is one of my favorite actors and I didn't know Lou Gossett was the lizard, but I guessed it from his voice. When I checked the credits at the end, I was right! He was soooo good. I can't describe it, you have to watch it. I shed a few tears toward the end. Won't tell you if they were happy or sad tears tho! You'll have to see for yourself!

This is a sci-fi film with a heart as big as all outdoors. It also (refreshingly) sticks very closely to it's source material (a short novel with the same title by Barry Longyear.) The plot synopsis gives the broad outline of the film, but what I really love about this film is how it deals with the issues of the insanity of war, and prejudice. It is this that raises it above most other sci-fi films, good as they may be. If you like intelligent sci-fi, watch this (or try reading it!!)

While nostalgia can be the main reason for most people to enjoy this slightly cheesy 80's sci fi film. Having just watched this for the first time today, i can assure you there are many more reasons to enjoy the film. While it has a few crucial errors keeping it from being great, the interesting costume design, odd alien interactions and visually engaging set design. Enemy Mine is still very much enjoyable to this day.

This is one of those films that I loved as a kid, and which I jumped at the chance to view again on DVD the other night - although my fiancée groaned, she relented as there was nothing else on. I remembered a quirky, dry situation movie with a strangely brutal finish.

What I got was a sappy, immature and poorly-paced piece of sci-fi schlock with a payoff that's really too violent for the under-twelves market the storyline appeals to. What a shame. It did have its plus-points - the matte backdrops were wonderful and such a pleasant change from the CGI tosh we've all grown accustomed to, and Dennis Quaid is actually a good actor - but the script was appalling, with a mix of bad jokes and the pretentious over-seriousness that generally hampers the sci-fi genre (including all the STAR WARS films and the STAR TREK series bar the originals).

The racism metaphors were both obvious and unambiguous; the death scene interminable; the acting, for the most part, abysmal. The final scene, which features a hammy voice-over struggling to compete with what sounds like four or five people gargling mouthwash, was laugh-out-loud ridiculous. Some childhood memories are best left as just that ... memories.

Maybe I'm dating myself here, but this movie is more than just a movie for me -- it's a childhood memory. My dad (Who raised me on a steady diet of scifi) and I probably watched this movie eight times together before I turned nine, and so part of my love for it stems from the memory of those times together.

But "Enemy Mine" has a lot more going for it than just fond memories. Sure, the effects are pretty bad by *today's* standards (it was the 80's, 95% of Americans didn't even *have* personal computers yet, and by the standards of the day those effects were pretty darn impressive!) But the story of two people who were trained to be enemies slowly becoming not just friends, but brothers, rings true despite the passage of time. (As Jerry [Lou Gossett, Jr.] says, "Truth is truth.") Lou Gossett, Jr. and Dennis Quaid are delightful, as always. And the scenes of Davidge (Quaid) interacting with Jerry's "son" are priceless.

People tend to knock 80's movies, especially 80's scifi movies, as being frivolous, self-centered and silly (like the decade they came from). But "Enemy Mine" definitely doesn't deserve this fate. It is a well-acted, well-meaning movie with a message we could all benefit from listening to.

Skybright's Score: 7.5 out of 10

If you are a sci-fi fan (I am), Enemy Mine is watchable, but it maintains an odd balance between the laughable and the melodramatic. There should be originally some pretense of a content message behind it, but what passes out is pure superficiality. More than US$33 million was spent on this futuristic version of Stanley Kramer's Defiant Ones - a much superior movie - with touches of John Boorman's Hell in the Pacific - also quite superior. Critic Gene Siskel, however, liked it and gave it his thumbs-up. His partner Roger Ebert gave it thumbs-down arguing that it had the potential to be a truly great space thriller with a mind and a heart, but instead only gave us an alien that was too human, and too familiar... Director Petersen always created films without an identifiable style or subject of his own. He was able to keep up with the suspense in The Boat, In the line of Fire and The Unending story, but had no epic vision (as Troy proved). This was a huge waste of money. Its anecdotal premise was older than old.

Simply a masterpiece, and due primarily to the masterful FX on Lou Gossett and his inspired, magnificent performance. Most sci-fi fans have never heard of this one, but I've found very few who have seen it who weren't impressed.

This film is a perfect example of how totally bankrupt the film awards (every one of them) really are. Gossett should have walked away with Best Actor on this one, hands down, yet I doubt this film garnered even a single nomination.

"Enemy Mine" is a childhood favorite of mine and I try to regularly watch it again because it's one of the films that sparked my interest in Sci-Fi, horror and cult cinema. Of course, back when I was a kid the allegory on friendship and interstellar discrimination was completely lost on me and I simply stared at the screen because Louis Gossett Jr.'s make up looked so incredibly damn cool and because this was the film that featured the awesomely cool monster which emerged its eerie tentacle from the soil and dragged the victims underneath. I swear that monster deserves its very own horror spin-off and should be as popular as "Tremors". Nearly twenty years further on and through the eyes of an adult viewer, I'm somewhat reluctant to admit that these exact same elements are still the main trumps of "Enemy Mine". The typical "buddy" aspect of the screenplay is rather cheesy and mundane, and in practically every scene it is the bleak and depressing planet scenery that steals the show. During one of the many ongoing battles between humans and the Dracs, with the purpose of colonizing the galaxy, human fighter pilot Davigde and Drac warrior Jeriba crash-land their spaceships on the abandoned and uninhabitable planet Fyrine IV. The planet regularly suffers from meteor storms and homes some incredibly vicious monsters, so the competitive and patriotic men realize they need to put their differences aside and rely on each other for survival. The ordeal becomes even more significant when Davidge learns a thing or two about the Drac's method of reproduction and when they run into sleazy human mine explorers. The acting performances of both Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr. are stupendous, but the situations and dialogs are too grotesque in order to evoke any real sentiments of compassion, sadness or sympathy. It may sound shallow, but the highlights of the film are undoubtedly the action sequences. Thank God the adrenalin-rushing finale, with B-movie regular Brion James as the sleazy Drac-hater Stubbs. "Enemy Mine" was the first US film of Wolfgang Petersen, whose "Never Ending Story" was another childhood favorite of mine. After this he only did mainstream productions.

When I was a child I watched this movie with incredible fascination, I hadn't been exposed to the themes quite as regularly, the effects were par for the time, and of course the music is 80's.

Today I found it and watched it again as an adult.and even though I've long since gotten exposed to all of the racial themes, and newer graphics, I can still put myself into the seat I sat in as a child and enjoy the movie for what it is.

I love the object lesson that was designed to teach beyond race, the themes and messages within still hold just as true today as they did back then, the movie for it's time was forward thinking, and I'm glad I watched it again.

Enemy mine is a very enjoyable movie with great performances and a surprisingly heartfelt and emotional story.

A hundred years in the future mankind is at war with an alien race called the Drac.

During a space battle a human pilot and a drac are both shot down and crash land on a desolate planet and have to work together to survive and they eventually become close friends.

The special effects are pretty dated by today's standards but for the time the movie was made they look decent, there's some very nice matt paintings and Louis Gossett Jr.'s alien makeup looks really good and convincing, Dennis Quaid and Gossett Jr are excellent together and their friendship and the things they go through really made me care for the characters, they did a great job.

Also Brion James is in it and he plays a bad guy because of course he does.

The movie could have done with having some extra scenes to flesh the story out a bit more especially towards the end because it felt a bit rushed but overall this is well worth seeing if you enjoy sci-fi and 80's movies.