MovieChat Forums > Broken Arrow (1996) Discussion > My biggest problem with this move.

My biggest problem with this move.


It may have been addressed before, but the thing that bothers me most in this movie is the park ranger’s actions when she first meets Hale. Let’s examine her actions;
A park ranger is out making her rounds in the park she is assigned to, (Her front yard, so to speak.) She sees an aircraft go over at an insanely low altitude and then crash into a mountain. She then spots a crewmember falling from the sky on a parachute. When she reaches this crew members landing location she immediately points her gun at him and attempts to arrest him. WHY, WHY, WHY??? At the time of her first encounter with this unknown air force officer she has no reason to suspect anything other than this is a tragic accident and he is a lucky survivor. If an aircraft crashed in your neighborhood and a crewmember landed in your front yard on a parachute would the first thing you do be run out and point a gun at him? This is one of the stupidest reactions by a law enforcement officer I have ever seen. Had I have been Hale I would have probably shot her for being so stupid! I can excuse scientific mistakes made by writers because writers by their definition are not scientists and often things are done for on screen effect. But if you are a writer or director at least have your people act reasonably for their character. Now I do understand than under extreme circumstances sometimes people act unreasonably. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE TIMES! The correct reaction for her character would have been to offer assistance to the unfortunate crewmember instead of pointing a gun at him.

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I haven't seen the movie in a while, however didn't the park ranger receive reports of suspicious activity or shootings before she came across the downed military pilot?

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as far as she knows Hale could have been a terrorist that parachuted out or something.

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[deleted]

If it were up to me, there wouldn't be a park ranger unless Hale meets an older MALE park ranger who doesn't carry a gun and says "You all right son?", recognizes the uniforms from his days in the army then offers the 'son' his car radio to call for help then the old man is an innocent civilian killed by Travolta's character.

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Which is why you aren't writing sold movie scripts. Scenes have to be near to on an edge to give them an interest.

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