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Are your sure your clothing hasn't been bugged? For example, do your jockey shorts also contain a homing device? Better check. Someone maybe listening to you do your bathroom business.

Enemy of the State, starring Will Smith and Gene Hackman, concerns the abuse of government power, especially the abuse of power through technology. Every possible electronic eavesdropping, recording, and spying device is on display here. The plot gets a little thin, but the sense of paranoia all the technology inspires is just the atmosphere you may be trying to create in your conspiracy or horror game.

Will Smith is a lawyer, who through unwise selection of investigative help, becomes the target of a CIA investigation tied to the murder of a powerful Congressman (a brief appearance by old pro Jason Robards). After refusing to turn over evidence he has unwittingly acquired, the CIA puts the electronic screws to him. Smith, not knowing who or why someone is out to get him, goes seeking help from a sort of anti - government intelligence underground. This is how he gets hooked up with Hackman, who is dead on as a former CIA operative gone to cover. He is rightously pissed with Smith for dragging him into the mess, and the chase is on. What follows doesn't always hold up to plot scrutiny, but is one hell of a lot of fun.

What really makes this thing work, and covers for the thin plot,is the omnipresent electronic surveillance. Man, it is everywhere! Can the government really access convience store security camera tapes so easily? I don't know, but it is scary to think about. The list is endless. I was ready to pull the plug on all our electronic gadgets, but my wife drew the line at the coffee maker. Seth Green, taking a break from waxing vampires on the Buffy series, shows up as the head tech geek running the surveillance on Smith and Hackman.

As I said, Gene Hackman is excellent as the ex - CIA officer gone to cover. The female leads don't have much to do except look good, but they do that quite well. Will Smith seems miscast as the lawyer. He just lacks the cool for the part. I kept seeing the CIA chasing The Fresh Prince of Belair. I mean, why bother with this weasel? Put Samuel L. Jackson here, though, and you would have someone for the CIA to be concerned about.

The climatic fight is very confused, and would have benfited from a little more early plot development. The stunts and special effects are excellent, and the jumping from one form of surveillance to another heightens the sense of Big Brother knowing what you had on your toast this morning.

All in all, an excellent rental, and useful for adventure hooks in your conspiracy, horror, or espionage game. And when you are next watching TV, take the time to wonder if someone is watching you through the screen.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 3 (Average)

Enemy of the State
Author: na Category: video Company/Publisher: na Line: na Cost: $3 - $5, local cost of a video rental Page count: na ISBN: na SKU: na Capsule Review by Keith Burkhead on 12/13/99. Genre tags: Modern_day Espionage Conspiracy	Are your sure your clothing hasn't been bugged? For example, do your jockey shorts also contain a homing device? Better check. Someone maybe listening to you do your bathroom business. Enemy of the State, starring Will Smith and Gene Hackman, concerns the abuse of government power, especially the abuse of power through technology. Every possible electronic eavesdropping, recording, and spying device is on display here. The plot gets a little thin, but the sense of paranoia all the technology inspires is just the atmosphere you may be trying to create in your conspiracy or horror game. Will Smith is a lawyer, who through unwise selection of investigative help, becomes the target of a CIA investigation tied to the murder of a powerful Congressman (a brief appearance by old pro Jason Robards). After refusing to turn over evidence he has unwittingly acquired, the CIA puts the electronic screws to him. Smith, not knowing who or why someone is out to get him, goes seeking help from a sort of anti - government intelligence underground. This is how he gets hooked up with Hackman, who is dead on as a former CIA operative gone to cover. He is rightously pissed with Smith for dragging him into the mess, and the chase is on. What follows doesn't always hold up to plot scrutiny, but is one hell of a lot of fun. What really makes this thing work, and covers for the thin plot,is the omnipresent electronic surveillance. Man, it is everywhere! Can the government really access convience store security camera tapes so easily? I don't know, but it is scary to think about. The list is endless. I was ready to pull the plug on all our electronic gadgets, but my wife drew the line at the coffee maker. Seth Green, taking a break from waxing vampires on the Buffy series, shows up as the head tech geek running the surveillance on Smith and Hackman. As I said, Gene Hackman is excellent as the ex - CIA officer gone to cover. The female leads don't have much to do except look good, but they do that quite well. Will Smith seems miscast as the lawyer. He just lacks the cool for the part. I kept seeing the CIA chasing The Fresh Prince of Belair. I mean, why bother with this weasel? Put Samuel L. Jackson here, though, and you would have someone for the CIA to be concerned about. The climatic fight is very confused, and would have benfited from a little more early plot development. The stunts and special effects are excellent, and the jumping from one form of surveillance to another heightens the sense of Big Brother knowing what you had on your toast this morning. All in all, an excellent rental, and useful for adventure hooks in your conspiracy, horror, or espionage game. And when you are next watching TV, take the time to wonder if someone is watching you through the screen. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 3 (Average)