If I seem a little simplistic with this commentary, so be it.

      Plum Island, another novel by DeMille, was OK, and I am sure it will be a film soon, but after the crap-out ending and tortured writing that sent it into a tailspin, I just could not bear to read The General's Daughter. I had no hesitation in seeing the film, however, because the story seemed solid, and I like Travolta. And with the other stars involved, I knew they would have to work to make it bad.

     They did not disappoint. The General's Daughter is an engrossing film, on a par with A Few Good Men and other military crime dramas, sans the courtroom folderol.

     The film did what it was supposed to, the direction and visuals were interesting and at times stimulating (and not in a prurient sense you sex maniac you) and I found the plot to be sufficient.

     James Woods is only half a maniac here and turns in a strange offering as the Psychological Corps commanding officer. James Cromwell as the General of title mention is once again tight lipped but babe-less, rather tragically so. It seems his daughter was staked out and raped. Or was she? No point in telling you more.

     We sat in a full theater on a Sunday afternoon - and the crowd was very pleased with it. There is a lot of violence, nudity, and shock-value scenes that move the plot along nicely. Nothing gratuitous.

     In fact, the only fault I could find with the film is a fencing scene that seems to be pointless. They make a big deal out of setting it up for what looks like a certain red-shirt demise a-la Star Trek (You just know the guy is going to get it), but the purported victim wins the match. We asked several other audience members after the show if they knew why it was in there, but no one did. (If you know, please tell me - gpfilm@AOL.COM )

     Like Interview With a Vampire (which I was almost cast in), I liked the movie enough to go back and read the book. As soon as I locate a copy, I will delve into it to see what they changed and figure out why. Maybe the fencing scene is in there.

     There is no compelling reason to go see this film as cultural enlightenment, but it sure is entertaining. I don't think you will find anything in it particularly uplifting or mind-bending except that there are people that do bad things, and there are still people that catch them.

     In our shades-of-gray society that is not a bad thing at all, and might even be considered hopeful.