On Deadly Ground

This particular Steven Seagal movie is the one where, in addition to shooting people and blowing things up, he also preaches about environmentalism. He knew that, if his fans loved high-octane action sequences, they would also enjoy self-congratulatory activism. The Earth is very important to Seagal - as a Buddhist, he believes in the sanctity of all living things. Except when the living things are people standing in front of his gun. Those living things need to be murdered.

Absolutely hilarious. One of the greatest comedies ever made. Vision quests, environmentalist speeches, and groin hits abound in Seagal's directorial debut (and likely finale).

While I appreciate, and honestly respect, that Seagal was certainly ahead of his time promoting environmental consciousness I just can't but laugh at the concept of the film. Seagal's going to promote recycling and waste reduction and he's going to kill thousands and blow up hundreds to prove it.

If I was in charge of cinema, Segal would be forced to make an environmentalist action film every goddamn year.

What does it take..(dramatic pause) what does it take to change the essence of a man? Seagal's humorous foray into directing his own film turns into a 2 hour preachy soapbox about environmentalism and the evils of oil. There's also some rather amusing lines by heavyweights Caine and Billy Bob Thornton. There's even a 10 minute sequence where Seagal visits the astral plane or something. This is self indulgent macho man garbage that goes off the rails from Stevey's ego but it is hilarious trash.

Bad even for Steven Seagal.

The film that started Seagal's continuing downward spiral. it's a recipe for disaster with an unbearably pompous script that combines condescending environmentalist pap with lame, overly obscene dialog, cartoon villains, and a completely invinclible "hero", amateurish direction, unnecessarily brutal violence, and career worst performances from all involved (including the usually welcome Caine and McGinley).

the oil crisis could have averted had they just drained michael caine's hair. why bother buying hair dye when there's a perfectly good bottle of soy sauce in my fringe? greta thunberg could learn a thing or two from steven seagal.

BEST MOVIE EVER! actually no not even close the actions pretty good but the dialog is hilarious unless its supposed to be serious in which case its terrible

The beginning of the end for Mr. Seagal. The environmentalist speach at the end left a stain on the whole movie, not that there was anything shining to begin with.

Fuck these animals.

Typical

Bizarre Steven Seagal vanity project full of unintentionally hilarious scenes. Seagal's voice sounds like a thirteen-year-old's attempt to sound cool and I just can not get over that - not that his acting's any better. Hell, nobody else gives a good performance either, and the film tries its best to undermine its own message. Yes, blowing up oil rigs and refineries is the best way to save the environment. And respect walking, talking Native American stereotypes.

Viewed May 29, 2021. Seagal's purest mission statement. Oddly, the movie's climactic speech about corporate corruption and the environment is much more interesting than any of the action parts. Good bar fight, though.

Watch Michael Caine get a paycheck and some fat lazy slob break random appendages. For the environment!

O.D.G is the perfect showcase for Seagal's shallow politics, empty spiritualism, moronic machismo and complete lack of self awareness. Even Sly occasionally paused to contemplate the tragic inevitability of violence. Not Seagal. He takes on an oil corporation and causes enough environmental damage to render an entire area uninhabitable while preaching to audiences about the importance of conservation. The dialogue is laughable and the action scenes are clumsily staged.

Did you notice this was directed by Steven Seagal? Wow. Well, that changes things, as I have to grade this one on a curve. I'll note that R. Lee Ermey is in it, and Billy Bob Thornton has a pretty funny cameo...oh, and somehow they got Michael Caine.

Those indians sure know how to trip balls.

On Deadly Ground is one of the most bizarre films I've ever seen. This was a sudden decline for Seagal who stars and somehow directs this strange film about saving the environment, spiritual Eskimos and Aikido thrown in for good measure. It's so preachy and self indulgent, god knows how WB gave the green light for this mess. The whole concept is flawed. And why the hell did the great Michael Caine involve himself in this? But his wobbly accent is unforgivable. Qualifies as a good comedy though.

Variation on "Pocahontas" used to thematise environmental destruction. Riven with contradictions of course, and certainly not good, but the general derision it has received seems less about the quality of the filmmaking (is it really worse than the standard fare for this type of thing?) than resentment at the "vanity" of a star directing himself in a role where he is less hero than saviour and presumes to have a political message worth the audience's attention, à la K. Costner or M. Jackson.

I think this is wrongfully reviled, as it is everything a Steven Seagal movie can hope to be.

ok

So bad that it's fun tow atch

Amusingly dumb action cinema is one thing, but Seagal's only directorial work crosses the line by going beyond 'Save the Earth' moralising to becoming a diatribe, making it dubious, hypocritical and obnoxious in its tone, taking an understandable message and shouting it at you until it puts you off. That Seagal drops most of the martial art fighting that made him famous for this tone pretty much damns this film aside from a chuckle or two from seeing a pop bottle as a silencer and such antics.

Sorry environment. If you really want to win the fight against humanity you're going to need Norris on your side. Nice try though.

good story. i know, because i live in alaska and we are dealing with this problem all the time! sad is, steven seagal just can't act and that ruins a lot of the movie!

oil is actually pretty good and useful

It was an ok movie

what the frig was Michael Caine doing in this?

not his best but then what does it take to change the essence of a man...?

I hate this movie so much I'm rooting for the villian to pop a cap in Seagal's ass so that the movie will be done with!

Poor.

I want a Steven Seagal voodoo doll for Christmas.

The script for this movie is beyond ridicules! Steven Segal is laughable and someone needs to explain why Michael Caine is in this poor excuse for a film?

The Segal vehicle had already run its course.

bad movie

A pro-environmental bloodbath, as enlightening as having your neck broken.

Typical '90s Seagal rubbish, best viewed while busying yourself with something much more important. Like a crossword. The concluding (and still apt) five-minute speech is better than the entire film that precedes it, even if it does feel crazily out of place. Only continued watching to figure out if Caine was occasionally dropping into a bad American accent. I'm still none the wiser.

The movie have a real message that every people should think of. Sadly the dialogue and directing is so bad that you can't even have the guilty pleasure of watching this movie. If I remember right Steven did many movies like this. This is probably best of them 'cause he really wants to say something.

A yawner

This is one of the funniest films seagal has made.

The thing I like about these Seagal movies is that none of the bad guys can even touch him. Even Arnold in Commando has to take a punch. This guy just dominates from start to finish.

Idiotic, ego-stroking pet project for Seagal. The dialogue is so bad that it is beyond belief.

Awful. Pitiful. Abysmal. Mystical BS combined with bad writing. Avoid!

pretty bad movie