Burn Notice: THE FALL OF SAM AXE, Free on Hulu

Burn Notice: THE FALL OF SAM AXE, Free to watch on Hulu

USA Network has quickly added Burn Notice: THE FALL OF SAM AXE to Hulu for free, so if you missed it or would just like to watch it again, here is the link:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/233198/burn-notice-the-fall-of-sam-axe

The prequel film to USA’s smash hit series Burn Notice and takes place in Colombia 2005 when Lieutenant Commander Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) is sent to advise a local military platoon. It’s there he discovers deep layers of deception and ultimately realizes he may be allied with the wrong side. Shot on location in Bogota, Colombia, the two hour movie is directed by Burn Notice star Jeffrey Donovan.

Sam Axe is a former Navy Seal, Military Intel Operative, and all-around Cold Warrior. In his prime he was point man on an array of armed conflicts the world over. He worked with Michael Westin many times during those heady days. When Michael reconnects with him in Miami, Sam has embraced his post-espionage days by letting loose. Once, he loved the threadbare world of secret surveillance in the communist bloc, or forward recon in the touch-and-go Middle East.

Now, he has moved on to mojitos, Sugar Mommas and bikini watching in the bars and on the sands of South Beach. He’s reliable and consistent, in the way that you can count on a former spy to dig up solid intel and execute missions with stealthy aplomb. Despite his predilection for rich divorcees and cocktails, he is an asset to Michael, even when he becomes an informant for the FBI. Though the Feds have Sam keeping an eye on Michael, he needs Sam’s friendship, partnership, and expertise, now more than ever.

Burn Notice: THE FALL OF SAM AXE also stars RonReaco Lee (“The Good Guys,” “Madea Goes to Jail”), Kiele Sanchez (“Lost,” “The Glades”), John Diehl (“Miami Vice,” “Stargate”) and Chandra West (“John From Cincinnati,” “The Gates”).

The prequel is written and executive produced by Burn Notice creator Matt Nix. Jeffrey Donovan and Bruce Campbell also serve as executive producers on the Fox Television Studios project alongside Burn Notice Mikkel Bondesen.

Burn Notice: The RISE of Sam Axe, Winner for USA Network

Burn Notice: The RISE of Sam Axe!

The “The Fall of Sam Axe, begins with a rather enjoyable bait and switch. You think that it is going to be that dark, brooding back story that gets real annoying, real fast. But then Sam has trouble with a front gate and all becomes right with the world of Burn Notice once again. Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) is at his best when is just being accidentally funny or intentionally cool, and there’s plenty of that in The Fall of Sam Axe.

Take the scene in which Sam is leading a convoy through the dirt roads when he’s stopped by a fallen tree. Now, the shit-gets-real Sam Axe would say “It’s trap! Everyone fall back!” But good ol’ Sam Axe is of the mind set “weeellll, maybe, maybe not.” Which then leads to a wonderful bit involving a chain saw that all Bruce Campbell fans should love.

What also really works in the film’s favor is the lack of an overbearing love interest. Yes, there ‘s a love interest, I’m not denying that. But she’s dismissive towards Sam’s far from subtle advances till the very end, and even then it’s not like her and Sam get it on. They kiss, hug and then go there separate ways. It wouldn’t be surprising to learn that Sam was watching the 1945 version of Mildred Pierce right before heading to Columbia, and was channeling a bit of Wally Fay throughout the mission.

The point I’m trying to get across is that Matt Nix knew exactly what story he was telling, and there was plenty of Burn Notice, USA Network cheese to go around. He even managed to sneak in a tiny Michael Weston cameo from Burn Notice, which Jeffrey Donovan, (who also serves as the film’s director) delivered perfectly and without hesitation. “It had to be a General’s wife?” Yes Michael, because when Sam Axe does something, he goes in balls deep.

The only real downside is there isn’t much to say story-wise, because we all know how this story ends up. Sam Axe chills in Miami for a year or two and then has Weston dropped back into his lap, thus bringing us back to present day. Of course, it was also confirmed by Bruce Campbell himself that some of the characters from the film will be appearing in the upcoming season, so keep your eyes open for that.

Best final thoughts: Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe is one of those few TV movies that totally gets the audience it’s playing to. If you love Burn Notice, than Sam Axe fall from the ranks of military, is probably exactly what you were hoping for!

By Merrill Barr

Bruce Campbell co-stars: Kiele Sanchez (“The Glades”), RonReaco Lee (“The Good Guys,” “Madea Goes to Jail”), John Diehl (“Miami Vice,” “Stargate”) and Chandra West (“John From Cincinnati,” “The Gates”).

“The Fall Of Same Axe” Video on YouTube

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Review: Bruce Campbell performs in USA's 'Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe'

Kiele Sanchez, "Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe"

Burn Notice: THE FALL OF SAM AXE is funny at first, but not so funny later tryst with a woman lands Sam in hot water. That was the beginning of the The Fall of Sam Axe, a fan-favorite supporting character from the hit USA spy game, Burn Notice. Due to popular demand, the producers of Burn Notice decided to give Sam (Bruce Campbell) his own spotlight, a prequel of sorts to learn the story of how he came to Michael Westen’s (Jeffrey Donovan) aid and how he became unemployed by the US Government. Burn Notice creator Matt Nix wrote the film and executive produced with Donovan (who also directed The Fall) and Bruce Campbell.

It turns out the woman Sam was sleeping is Admiral Gregory Maitland’s (Alex Fernandez) wife, Donna (Chandra West, The Gates). In a case of out of sight, out of mind, Sam is jettisoned to Columbia assign to a piss stain assignment helping the local platoon clean out the jungle of an uprising terrorist group that call themselves El Espada Ardiente or “The Flaming Sword.” As usual Sam comes unprepared, unexpected of the scale of trouble he’s about to start.

Sam Axe is debriefed that the Flaming Sword is planning to take over a free clinic called “Doctor For All” set near a rural town based on suspicions that a takeover of said civilian site would help control that area. Colonel Veracruz (Pedro Pascal, Lights Out) takes Sam out through the rural areas of Bogota to see first hand what the Flaming Sword is capable of. Veracruz and Sam meet with the Food Aid rep at the clinic, Amanda (Kiele Sanchez, The Glades, LOST) and a bushman doctor, Ben Delaney (RonReaco Lee, The Good Guys) who refuse their help and deny any potential danger with the Flaming Sword.

As we’ve come to know about Sam it’s that he discovers more when he conducts his own investigation and it appears that Veracruz is not at all what he appears to be and hopes to use Sam’s corpse as a way to get more military aid from the United States. That’s right, I said corpse. Sam is unwanted from every angle. The Flaming Sword? Well, let’s just say they’re definitely not what anyone is expecting.

I’m a big fan of Sam Axe and Sam Axe-heavy episodes of Burn Notice, but The Fall of Sam Axe is just too much of The Chin without the rest of the Burn Notice gang. I need Fiona building a bomb. I need Madeline filling the screen with her smoke. I need… yogurt, dammit! Sam toys with Amanda, and the leader of the Flaming Sword, Beatrice (Ilza Rosario) but it’s not the same as Michael or Fi. However, Michael does make a cameo but about two thirds of the way in, you’ll wish he’d appear again for no reason. “Yogurt! Get your ice cold yogurt!” No? Trust me.

Something missing is the change of venue. In one episode of Burn Notice, the scenery changes from a club, to Madeline’s house, to Michael’s loft (Jeffrey Donovan), to a bar and then to a rendezvous point for gangsters. Here it’s Sam in a jungle camp, which cuts to a clinic in the jungle; the group moves to a small town… in the middle of the jungle. Get the picture? The story is broken up with Sam to narrate his story to the American Embassy, like what Michael does in Burn Notice. It just falls flat as compared to Michael’s terse narration.

Fans of Burn Notice won’t miss Burn Notice: THE FALL OF SAM AXE, but it’s hard not to miss the rest of the cast. Perhaps Bruce Campbell diehards will realize afterwards that in the world of Burn Notice, it’s all about Michael Westen and his friends and not the other way around. But no one character can carry at movie all by their lonesome, even Michael, but especially Sam Axe.

By Ernie Estrella

Photo Credit: John Ales

“Burn Notice: THE FALL OF SAM AXE” PREMIERES TONIGHT SUNDAY, APRIL 17 AT 9/8C ON USA NETWORK

Burn Notice: THE FALL OF SAM AXE also stars RonReaco Lee (“The Good Guys,” “Madea Goes to Jail”), Kiele Sanchez (“Lost,” “The Glades”), John Diehl (“Miami Vice,” “Stargate”) and Chandra West (“John From Cincinnati,” “The Gates”).

Bruce Campbell Hosts Burn Notice: Sam Axe Appreciation Day April 17th

Sam Axe Appreciation Day

BURN NOTICE star Bruce Campbell (Sam Axe) will host the first-ever “Sam Axe Appreciation Day” marathon featuring your favorite Sam Axe episodes of BURN NOTICE, airing all day Sunday April 17 from 9am to 9pm ET/PT leading up to the action-packed premiere of the BURN NOTICE prequel movie BURN NOTICE: THE FALL OF SAM AXE. USA delivers an interactive viewing experience, allowing fans to chat throughout the day via Character Chatter and win special Sam Axe swag through Burn Circle, such as signed copies of the script, Sam’s signature Tommy Bahama shirts and exclusive Sam Axe t-shirts.

Fans will be able to show their Sam Axe love throughout the marathon on Character Chatter at http://Chatter.fallofsamaxe.com from 6pm to 9pm ET/PT. The fan “Chatter” will scroll across the television giving Sam Axe fans the opportunity to see their own comments live on screen. This combined on-air and online partnership gives Sam Axe fans a 360 BURN NOTICE experience leading into the exciting debut of BURN NOTICE: THE FALL OF SAM AXE.

BURN NOTICE: THE FALL OF SAM AXE, the prequel film to USA’s smash hit series takes place in Columbia 2005 when Lieutenant Commander Sam Axe (Campbell) is sent to advise a local military platoon. It’s there he discovers deep layers of deception and ultimately realizes he may be allied with the wrong side. Shot on location in Bogota, Columbia, the two hour movie is also stars Kiele Sanchez and is directed by BURN NOTICE’s Jeffrey Donovan.

BURN NOTICE: THE FALL OF SAM AXE also stars RonReaco Lee (“The Good Guys,” “Madea Goes to Jail”), Kiele Sanchez (“Lost,” “The Glades”), John Diehl (“Miami Vice,” “Stargate”) and Chandra West (“John From Cincinnati,” “The Gates”).

The prequel is written and executive produced by BURN NOTICE creator Matt Nix and co-written by Greg Hart. Donovan and Campbell also serve as executive producers on the Fox Television Studios project.

Bruce Campbell conversation about "Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe"

Bruce Campbell is the ex-Navy Seal, Sam Axe. Campbell is exceptionally cool whether he’s sipping mojitos on the beach or roughing up gang bangers. In fact, Campbell has been so popular in his role that Burn Notice creator Matt Nix decided to give Sam Axe his own movie: Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe. The TV film, which acts as a prequel to the events of the Burn Notice series and stars Kiele Sanchez, will air on April 17th. During a press call for the movie today, Campbell talked a bit about filming in Bogota, Colombia, what it was like to play the action hero role again, and how Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe may impact the current Burn Notice plot. On the subject of filming in Colombia, Campbell said that it was “challenging,” but that it made for a more authentic film – joking that most of the time movies actually shoot in Burbank, California. When asked how Sam Axe is portrayed in the film, versus his characterization on regular Burn Notice episodes, Campbell explained that Sam gets to be a real soldier in the movie.

“Sam was once very confident, and capable, and responsible. I think Burn Notice sometimes portrays him as being a little more casual or lazy or whatever and in this movie… you get to see Sam being like a real soldier.”

Campbell then explained how the film ties into the current plot for Burn Notice, and why people will need to watch it to understand upcoming plot developments.

“Matt Nix has made it clear that because of this prequel, an event that took place five years ago, Sam Axe had a bit of a run-in with the CIA. Ironically, Michael Westen is now getting back in with the CIA, five years later. That might not be a good thing for Sam Axe… Sam knows a lot of guys, but his little run-in with the CIA might actually cause him a few glitches in the future.” He joked that if you miss the movie, it will be “just like Lost – you’ll be lost.” When asked how he felt about being the leading man for a change, Campbell joked that it was “a drag,” saying he had to get used to playing “the hero” again. Bruce Campbell gave credit to his director, Burn Notice co-star Jeffrey Donovan for doing a “great job” on the film, but jokingly called him a “tyrant” on set.

“As an actor, he’s very seasoned. He’s been around for a while. But as a director, he’s newer. He did an episode last year that I was in very heavily, and I got to work with him a lot, and we were like ‘Wow, you’re actually a good director.’ So, this came up, and he was like ‘Hey, who’s directing that Sam Axe movie?’ I was like, ‘We have a couple of guys on a list,’ and he goes, ‘Can you put me on your list?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, sure, whatever.’ So, later, it kind of worked out that he worked his way up the list and finally I encouraged everyone to support it, and we got him to do it, and he did a great job…and that’s the whole point. I’m glad that this is something that he did. It’s from the Burn Notice family. Written by Matt Nix, directed by Jeffrey Donovan. I think that folks that watch the show will find it very familiar and very fun.”

Campbell briefly talked about how the movie came to be, explaining that it was Matt Nix’s idea to “create something outside of the show, yet within the show.” Bruce said that it’s conceivable for Nix to make similar films about Fiona’s pre-Burn Notice days in the IRA or Michael’s last official mission with the CIA before being burned (though he was sure to clarify that he wasn’t sharing any spoilers about future projects). In one of the funnier soundbites from the interview, Bruce Campbell talked about his screen presence versus his real life personality. For Campbell, one big thing sticks out: He’s not heroic.

“I’m very unheroic. I saved a dog from drowning in an icy pond once, but that’s the extent of my heroics.”

Campbell did admit that he is extremely similar to Sam Axe in some regards though, such as his fondness for Tommy Bahama shirts, and that, with the exception of Sam’s military training, the two are virtually the same. Campbell couldn’t offer any insight into what will happen on Burn Notice next season (“The writers don’t tell us and we don’t ask”), but he did have one request for his character: “Keep him around. Just don’t kill him.” In a bit of news unrelated to Burn Notice, Bruce talked about the possibility of a sequel to the cult favorite film My Name is Bruce, which casts Campbell as himself in a monster movie that both praises and pokes fun at the actor’s famous on-screen personality. According to Bruce, they have a script for the sequel, but they’re not happy with it yet. Bruce elaborated, saying we’re “waiting for a script that doesn’t stink. We have one, but it’s not really worthy of our fans.” Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe airs April 17th on USA.