massjazzfan I am extremely impressed with this movie, and I feel like it is under-appreciated. This movie is not the fast-paced action movie that we are used to with military films. Instead, this is an inspirational story about overcoming the challenges in one's life. The movie follows the character development of Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher) and Ben Randall (Kevin Costner). In the movie, both characters are facing similar struggles, and when they first meet, they are dealing with they're ghosts in different ways. But, together they overcome them and become the heroes that they need to be. I love this movie because it helps to inspire people to become better. These characters are rescue swimmers or training to become rescue swimmers, and they must overcome their own personal struggles to be able to help save others. You gain a deeper appreciation for real life coast guard swimmers. You also feel as if you yourself are able to make a difference in the lives of other people. This movie is a great representation of overcoming one's self to become a person that will make a difference in the lives of others.

declan-bebbington-10 Ashton Kutcher & Kevin Costner. Kelso & The fish dude from Waterworld. What an odd but perfect combination.I've always been a fan of Kutcher, but this excels him into new heights. The way he captures the emotion his character explores is like the star on a Christmas tree, gorgeous.I never went into this film with expectations of a classic however I was left in awe as I turned off my DVD player and my mind remained blown. Perhaps I am overselling this, but it is arguably my favourite movie of all time. So..Deal with it.Simply brilliant.

jcook56050 As you watch, please remember "The Guardian" is a motion picture – a lot of the scenes are played in a way that will elicit certain emotions. Some of the scenes are just plain fantasy. However, that being said, please also remember that there are thousands of individuals who serve their country daily in the U. S. Coast Guard, a military service now under the Department of Homeland Security, but previously directed by the Department of Transportation. They serve at sea, on land and in the air. Much of the drama and danger depicted in the film is more than real. These situations happen far more often than you would imagine. How do I know? I served in the USCG from 1976 to 1984 several decades prior to the approximate time of the motion picture. The video training footage is real. And, it's simply amazing that many people are actually saved from some of those hopeless situations.I almost lost my life on several occasions while tending to routine duty. Had it not been for our CG training and attention to detail, both before and during our missions, I would not be writing this review today. I served in every location depicted in the film, including Alaska, which can indeed be a brutal environment. The major portion of my small boat duty happened in the Gulf of Mexico. As we used to say while on small boat duty, "we are required to go out to sea, but we are not required to return." On the other hand, none of us was given permission by our commanding officer or chief to get hurt of killed.I used to get somewhat miffed at the amount of publicity and attention that those in the aviation branches get over the much larger force of seagoing officers and enlisted sailors who take care of the daily drudgery and human drama that happens far too often while people are attempting to earn their living from the ever changing and unforgiving environment of the sea. But, the media likes that kind of high visual drama. The Officer of the Day won't spend a dime of the money it takes to fire up a sophisticated, multi-million dollar aircraft and risk a group of highly trained aviation personnel without some definite attainable mission. When things go wrong out there in the middle of nowhere, they can go wrong very fast. Many times a radio call to the USCG is all that stands between Davy Jones' locker and some more time spent on this earth with your family and friends. How much is it worth? Just ask any victim of circumstance who has spotted the red, white and blue stripes of a Coast Guard rescue. There are no words to describe it when a set of strong hands reaches for you and you hear those welcome words, "I'm with the U. S. Coast Guard. I'm here to help you." The relief is overwhelming.When USCG pilots and enlisted swimmers go to sea, they have only a very limited time to affect a rescue, usually governed by fuel, load, weather, and yes, sometimes even luck. The job they do out there is supposed to be mostly routine. But, when the pilot announces it's time to leave the scene, you leave the scene. There is no question. It's either that or the people in the aircraft face a high risk of death. Every move the crew makes is full of life and death decisions that will determine the fate of not only those they are rescuing, but the personnel on the aircraft as well. Just one small error is all it takes for everyone in an operation to have a very bad day. So, all Coast Guard training is intentionally difficult to account for those variables.This motion picture, "The Defection of Simas Kudirka (1978)" and a hand full of other films are a testament to the training, dedication to duty and the constant attention and work by the maintenance personnel that keep the helicopters, airplanes, small boats and cutters operating smoothly and safely to accomplish the over 200 mandated missions of the U. S. Coast Guard every hour of every day.

Matthew McNaughton It's rare for a movie to actually make me feel good, but damn did this one. Kutcher is a staple in comedy, but he's just as good in serious roles (see: "Butterfly Effect"). He and Costner were an excellent pair, working together and against one another at the same time it seemed. Kutcher's classmates were also great, especially Hodge and Lindsey. I recognized Clancy Brown from "The Shawshank Redemption" but I think I prefer this character more.I believe that "A" School is difficult, but seeing it in the movie did help a little. I love movies that are based on real groups, like "Act of Valor" and "G.I. Jane", but what set this apart was the connection between Costner and Kutcher. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to see what the Coast Guard goes though on a weekly basis.