Behind Enemy Lines II
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

''Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil'' is a 2006 American action war film and the sequel to 2001's '' Behind Enemy Lines'', it is the second installment in the ''Behind Enemy Lines'' film series. The film was written and directed by James Dodson, starring
Nicholas Gonzalez Nicholas Edward Gonzalez is an American actor. He is best known for portraying the roles of Alex Santiago on the Showtime television series '' Resurrection Blvd'', Dr. Ben Douglas in Anacondas (2004) and Dr. Neil Melendez on the ABC television ...
, Matt Bushell,
Keith David Keith David Williams (born June 4, 1956) is an American actor. He is known for his deep voice and screen presence in over 300 roles in film, stage, television, and interactive media. He has starred in such films as '' The Thing'' (1982), ''Pla ...
,
Denis Arndt Denis Leroy Arndt (February 23, 1939 – March 25, 2025) was an American actor, best known for his starring role as Alex Priest in the play '' Heisenberg'' for which he earned a 2017 Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play. Life and care ...
,
Ben Cross Harry Bernard Cross (16 December 1947 – 18 August 2020) was an English actor. He was best known for his portrayal of the British Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams in the 1981 film ''Chariots of Fire'' and for playing Billy Flynn in the or ...
,
Bruce McGill Bruce Travis McGill (born July 11, 1950) is an American actor. He worked with director Michael Mann in the films '' The Insider'' (1999), '' Ali'' (2001), and '' Collateral'' (2004). McGill's other notable film roles include Daniel Simpson "D-D ...
and
Peter Coyote Peter Coyote (born Robert Peter Cohon; October 10, 1941) is an American actor, director, screenwriter, author, and narrator of films, theater, television, and audiobooks. He worked on films, such as ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' (1982), '' C ...
. The film was released
direct-to-video Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, television series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strat ...
on October 17, 2006.


Plot

The story is not linked to the first part of the series. Instead, it focuses on a fictional explanation for the Ryanggang explosion in 2004, in which an unexplained mushroom cloud occurred in
North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...
. After
reconnaissance satellite A reconnaissance satellite or intelligence satellite (commonly, although unofficially, referred to as a spy satellite) is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications. The ...
s detect a large, three-stage Topol
intercontinental ballistic missile An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a ballistic missile with a range (aeronautics), range greater than , primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery (delivering one or more Thermonuclear weapon, thermonuclear warheads). Conven ...
carrying a
nuclear weapon A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon), producing a nuclear exp ...
in North Korea, which can strike anywhere in the
continental United States The contiguous United States, also known as the U.S. mainland, officially referred to as the conterminous United States, consists of the 48 adjoining U.S. states and the District of Columbia of the United States in central North America. The te ...
,
United States President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed For ...
Adair T. Manning (
Peter Coyote Peter Coyote (born Robert Peter Cohon; October 10, 1941) is an American actor, director, screenwriter, author, and narrator of films, theater, television, and audiobooks. He worked on films, such as ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' (1982), '' C ...
) orders a team of United States Navy SEALs, U.S. Navy SEALs, led by Lieutenant Robert James (
Nicholas Gonzalez Nicholas Edward Gonzalez is an American actor. He is best known for portraying the roles of Alex Santiago on the Showtime television series '' Resurrection Blvd'', Dr. Ben Douglas in Anacondas (2004) and Dr. Neil Melendez on the ABC television ...
), to destroy the missile and the launch site. The Pentagon aborts the mission after receiving new information, but by the time the abort order is sent, two SEALs have already parachuted into North Korean territory. James stops the third SEAL from deploying, accidentally knocking the man's helmet against the status indicator mounted near the door. He steps onto the makeshift ramp to peer outside, returning to the doorway to inform the other men of the abort. The high-speed winds from outside rip the indicator loose and send it flying into his face. Stumbling backwards, James loses his balance and is blown out of the plane. Master Chief Petty Officer, Master Chief Neil T. "Spaz" Callaghan (Matt Bushell) disobeys orders to stand fast, strikes his commanding officer, and follows the first three, taking a radio with him. When Korean People's Army, North Korean forces led by Commander Hwang (Joseph Steven Yang) find the SEALs, they kill two in a gun battle, and Hwang and his men capture and torture James and Callaghan. After South Korean Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command, special forces rescue the pair, President Manning and the South Korean government send the SEALs and South Korean special forces to destroy the missile site. But after losing radio contact with the SEALs, the President and his top advisers believe that they have been captured again. Under pressure from his Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, United States Air Force, US Air Force General Norman T. Vance (
Bruce McGill Bruce Travis McGill (born July 11, 1950) is an American actor. He worked with director Michael Mann in the films '' The Insider'' (1999), '' Ali'' (2001), and '' Collateral'' (2004). McGill's other notable film roles include Daniel Simpson "D-D ...
), the President decides to send Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, B-2 stealth bombers to destroy the site, which would start a full-scale war against North Korea. Hwang almost recaptures the SEALs and the South Korean special forces, but a defecting officer shoots him. James and the South Koreans destroy the missile silo with a bomb before the bombers reach the missile site, which averts the bombing and prevents a full-scale war. A tribunal convicts Callaghan of striking an officer (1 year) and disobeying an officer (10 years). Due to the mission's "Black operation, black op" nature, the transcript of the hearing is deemed Classified information in the United States, classified and the charges are expunged from his record, freeing him to return to his family. Meanwhile, James meets the president in a classified meeting, bringing his mentor Master Chief Scott Boytano (
Keith David Keith David Williams (born June 4, 1956) is an American actor. He is known for his deep voice and screen presence in over 300 roles in film, stage, television, and interactive media. He has starred in such films as '' The Thing'' (1982), ''Pla ...
) to witness James receive an award. The film closes with Boytano telling James he was not red flagged because Boytano had never seen anyone who desired so badly as James did to be a SEAL. During the credits there is a news report on the Ryanggang explosion.


Cast

*
Nicholas Gonzalez Nicholas Edward Gonzalez is an American actor. He is best known for portraying the roles of Alex Santiago on the Showtime television series '' Resurrection Blvd'', Dr. Ben Douglas in Anacondas (2004) and Dr. Neil Melendez on the ABC television ...
as Lieutenant Robert James, United States Navy, USN * Matt Bushell as Master Chief Neil T. "Spaz" Callaghan, USN *
Bruce McGill Bruce Travis McGill (born July 11, 1950) is an American actor. He worked with director Michael Mann in the films '' The Insider'' (1999), '' Ali'' (2001), and '' Collateral'' (2004). McGill's other notable film roles include Daniel Simpson "D-D ...
as General Norman T. Vance, USAF, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff *
Denis Arndt Denis Leroy Arndt (February 23, 1939 – March 25, 2025) was an American actor, best known for his starring role as Alex Priest in the play '' Heisenberg'' for which he earned a 2017 Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play. Life and care ...
as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, CIA Director Weylon Armitage *
Peter Coyote Peter Coyote (born Robert Peter Cohon; October 10, 1941) is an American actor, director, screenwriter, author, and narrator of films, theater, television, and audiobooks. He worked on films, such as ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' (1982), '' C ...
as President Adair T. Manning * April Grace as United States Secretary of State, Secretary of State Ellie Brilliard * Glenn Morshower as Admiral Henry D. Wheeler, USN * Joseph Steven Yang as Commander Hwang * Kenneth Choi as Ambassador Li Sung Park *
Keith David Keith David Williams (born June 4, 1956) is an American actor. He is known for his deep voice and screen presence in over 300 roles in film, stage, television, and interactive media. He has starred in such films as '' The Thing'' (1982), ''Pla ...
as Master Chief Scott Boytano, USN *
Ben Cross Harry Bernard Cross (16 December 1947 – 18 August 2020) was an English actor. He was best known for his portrayal of the British Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams in the 1981 film ''Chariots of Fire'' and for playing Billy Flynn in the or ...
as Commander Tim Mackey, USN * Mykel Shannon Jenkins as Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence Meideros, USN * Laura Giosh as Annabelle


Precursor

The film followed on the footsteps of a previously released title: '' Behind Enemy Lines'', starring Owen Wilson. Although the basic theme is credited to the first film, the plot and setting are not interlinked between either films.


Sequels

It was followed by two direct-to-video sequels, ''Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia'', which stars the professional wrestler Mr. Kennedy, Ken Anderson, and ''SEAL Team 8: Behind Enemy Lines'', which stars Tom Sizemore.


See also

* List of films featuring the United States Navy SEALs


References


External links

* {{Behind Enemy Lines Behind Enemy Lines (film series) 2006 films 2000s action war films 2006 action films Films about United States Navy SEALs Films scored by Pinar Toprak Films shot in Bulgaria Films set in 2004 20th Century Fox direct-to-video films Direct-to-video sequel films American action films American action war films American direct-to-video films Films about nuclear war and weapons Films about fictional presidents of the United States Films about the Republic of Korea Armed Forces Films set in North Korea Films about the Korean People's Army 2000s English-language films 2000s American films English-language action films English-language war films