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  Average Rating for Strike Back - 4 out of 5

  
  (based on 1 user reviews)
• Strike Back

  Paul 29 October 2011

  

  Strike Back is based on former SAS soldier Chris Ryan's book. It tells the story of veteran special forces soldier John Porter, discharged in disgrace followig an incident at a hostage rescue in Iraq in 2003. Porter eventually ends up working for former comrade Hugh Collinson, who was on the same mission, and is now running Section 20, a secret intelligence division for the British Government.
  Over the course of three different missions, the truth of what happened in Basra in 2003 will come out.
  Originally made for Sky tv, and transmitted as six episodes, the series is now presented as three 90 minute movies over two discs; three short documentaries appear on the first disc (a making of film, a guns and stunts film, and a very short piece about location filming).
  Put aside any misconceptions that "made for satellite" means cheap and cheerful; this is an epic production, as glossy as a feature film. Filming in South Africa means that production money went further, and the producers made full use of the scenery. The first story is set in Iraq, both in 2003, just before the initial attack on Saddam Hussein's regime, and in 2010 in the post-liberation era. A tv journalist is kidnapped and Porter sets out to rescue her, whilst events form the past unravel. This concludes with a desert chase and shootout.
  The second story is set in Zimbabwe, with Johannesburg sitting in for Harare. This time Porter has to rescue a prisoner from a Mugabe regime prison, with plenty of twists and turns, betrayals and shifting loyalties, and a chase through the jungle, with a violent standoff.
  The third story is based in South Helmand, Afghanistan, and in the Afghan-Pakistan lawless tribal lands. Here Porter has to track down a rogue weapons software hacker. This it's a battle amongst the mountains and rocky passes of the Afghan terrain, with a final revelation of what happened in Basra years ago.
  South Africa stands in very well for these varied nations, though the brief scenes set in the UK aren't quite so convincing (check out those dodgy UK licence plates in some scenes). It's certainly more convincing than the Afghanistan/Iraq scenes in similar military shows like "The Unit" (all done on California hills and backlots) or "Ultimate Force" (whose Afghan hills were shot in a UK quarry).
  Whilst there is plenty of thrilling, often bloody action, there is also room for plenty of character moments, and the acting generally first rate.
  On the minus side, the dodgy villainous CIA character is a horrible cliche, and the anti-Americanism, is somewhat grating. Vehicle purists will probably be horrified that having provided a GMPG armed Land Rover in the final episode, Porter calls it a "jeep" in one scene!
  Overall, a fabulous piece of work, let's us hope that more people discover it on DVD than were able to do on Sky, this is one satellite show that blows the mainstream channels "action/spy" out of the water (yes, I'm talking about you, Spooks!)
  
  
  

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Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 or region free DVD player in order to play Based on ex-SAS man Chris Ryan&39;s bestseller Strike Back is a story of deception redemption and revenge all played out in the interlinked lives of two former soldiers; Major Hugh Collinson and discharged veteran John Porter Their paths last crossed seven years ago Now amidst a new hostage crisis in the Middle East their lives are about to collide again It’s 1993 Basra City and Porter leads a team to rescue a kidnapped British businessman The decisions taken on that night inexorably unite the fate of both Porter and Collinson Porter bares the burden of guilt and the repercussions haunt him for years until an opportunity presents itself for him to return to Iraq and redeem himself

All six episodes of the war drama series based on the novel by former SAS soldier Chris Ryan. The paths of former soldiers Major Hugh Collinson (Andrew Lincoln) and discharged veteran John Porter (Richard Armitage) last crossed seven years ago. Now, in the midst of a fresh hostage crisis in Basra, Iraq in the mid-1990s, they are about to be reunited once again. Jodhi May, Orla Brady and Ewen Bremner co-star.