Steven Seagal is something of an action-movie paradox. These days, he’s often the punchline of jokes, but back in the early ’90s he was a genuine box-office force. At his peak, Seagal delivered action films that felt tougher, meaner, and refreshingly different from the muscle-bound norm of that era.
Released in 1992, Under Siege landed right at the height of his popularity—and it remains one of his strongest outings. The setup is classic, high-concept action: a group of mercenaries hijack the USS Missouri during its farewell voyage, planning to steal nuclear warheads and hold the world hostage. Small problem for them: they underestimated the cook.
Casey Ryback may be serving up meals below deck, but he’s also a former elite operative and, basically, a one-man army. What follows is a steadily escalating battle through the ship’s corridors, blending gunfire, explosions, and Seagal’s trademark Aikido bone-snapping martial arts.
A big reason Under Siege works so well is its supporting cast. Gary Busey and Tommy Lee Jones clearly have the time of their lives, chewing the scenery and elevating the villain roles far beyond standard action-movie fare. Jones, in particular, is gleefully unhinged.
Director Andrew Davis keeps everything tight and propulsive. He went on to make the massive hit The Fugitive, and he brings a clean, no-nonsense style that ensures the action never drags and always hits hard.
It’s essentially Die Hard at sea—but that’s hardly a complaint. The action is fast-paced, well-shot, and occasionally brutal, balancing heavy gunplay with Seagal’s martial arts flair.
Fascinating fact – In the opening scene, the ship filmed at sea is the actual Missouri, as it had not been decommissioned yet at the time of filming. After that, all shots of the ship’s interior and exterior were filmed on the U.S.S. Alabama.
It’s a smartly made, crowd-pleasing thriller that still delivers the goods—and stands as one of the best films of his career.
This has the usual Arrow trademark of a superb remaster with a solid image; this is the best it has ever looked. Audio gives you the original 2.0 stereo plus a pleasing Dolby Atmos track.
Extras are good with some new interviews and retrospectives –
Brand new 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative by Arrow Films approved by director Andrew Davis
High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
Original lossless stereo audio and a brand new Dolby Atmos mix
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Brand new audio commentary with director Andrew Davis and writer J.F. Lawton
I’m on a Boat (With a Bomb), a newly filmed interview with director Andrew Davis
One of the Guys, a newly filmed interview with actor Erika Eleniak
A Tight Ship, a newly filmed interview with actor Damian Chapa
The Introvision Files, a newly filmed interview with visual effects supervisor William Mesa
Theatrical trailer
Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options
Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Vern and a serial fiction by Martyn Pedler
FILM – 7.5 PICTURE – 9 AUDIO – 8 EXTRAS – 7
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