"Popular resistance to a series of unpopular dictators was growing in Nicaragua for over 50 years. By the spring of 1979, Nicaraguans rom all walks of life joined together in a final attempt to overthrow President Anastasio 'Tacho' Somoza."

The movie "Under Fire" is about a photojournalist named Russell (Nick Nolte) who was in Nicaragua trying to capture the fighting via camera. In 1986, a similar movie was released titled, "Salvador," with James Wood and Jim Belushi that was about the civil war in El Salvador. I thought "Salvador" was a lot better. Woods and Belushi were more entertaining characters than an old Nick Nolte and Gene Hackman.

"Under Fire" got a little bit into the politics of the situation and, of course, the depravity of war, but it was never as intense as it could've, or should've, been. Plus, the love triangle between Russell, Alex (Gene Hackman),and Claire (Joanna Cassidy) was nauseating. It was such an unnecessary distraction. Russell was the main character, I know, but it was almost like his life was the main story with a civil war as a back drop.

I worked in Nicaragua from February, 1971 to May, 1979. I also owned an Island off the Southeast Coast of Nicaragua near Monkey Point.

The "popular" view by most filmmakers and "news people" of the time, viewed President Somoza as an evil man. What was thought to be a "saving Grace" for Nicaragua was a new Government.

What everyone there GOT was a Socialist/Communist takeover fueled by the Left and (then) President- Jimmy Carter, who even blackmailed Israel into not helping the Contras and President Somoza.

I always fume when I see "stories' of people and places written by people who were NEVER THERE. I WAS THERE. I SAW it FIRST HAND.

President Somoza wasn't perfect. No one IS. But what they got was FAR WORSE.

Nicaragua has been in my Family since 1928, when my Father and the U.S. Marines went there to help prevent Augusto Sandino from taking the country. My Association with my beloved Nicaragua ended in 1995.

"Under Fire" is a war movie, but the real tension doesn't come until the third act. Right in the middle of a lull, BAM! a major character is killed. Which is actually more sad than suspenseful, even though it happens in an action scene. I just thought that was unusual. Most of the gunfire up until that point is just used to set the atmosphere (and the movie does a great job of that),and lay out thee conditions of the environment . . . which are less than ideal,to say the least.

Ultimately, this is a movie that rests on its three central characters (and the solid casting choices thereof). They do a great job conveying the cynicism of news people who deal in this bloodshed for a living.

6/10