Richard Wenk, best known for penning the script to the Denzel Washington revenge thriller The Equalizer, revealed to Discussing Film he is working on a new version of the film.
The Original Universal Soldier
First released back in 1992, the film saw Van Damme and Lundgren play two deceased Vietnam vets resurrected as part of a top-secret government program set up to create a new breed of super soldier.
However, it’s not long before both men begin to experience flashbacks from their old lives and the fatal rivalry that existed between them.
Directed by Roland Emmerich, Universal Soldier was a modest hit when released back in 1992, spawning three official sequels and two unofficial ones.
The New Universal Soldier
20 years on, Wenk is looking to breathe new life into the franchise with a film he insists isn’t a remake even though it basically is.
“I will say that I’m just finishing up a re-imagining – let’s be clear about this it’s not a remake and it is not a redo – but it is a re-imagining of a movie called Universal Soldier,” he said.
“Very much like The Equalizer, it’s the title that inspired me and not the movies…I’m just about to finish [the script] and turn it in this week.”
Other Universal Soldiers
Despite the release of two direct-to-TV follow-ups involving none of the original cast and crew, Van Damme did eventually reprise his role as Luc Deveraux (which is one of UAMC’s most ultimate action hero names!) in the 1999 sequel Universal Soldier: The Return, which was a critical and commercial flop.
More recently both the Muscles from Brussels and Lundgren returned to the franchise for 2009’s Universal Soldier: Regeneration and 2012’s Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning. (The duo also joined up for Black Water (2018), which you can read about here!)
There’s no word yet on whether Lundgren or Van Damme will be involved in any future installment though it looks unlikely at this stage.
What are your thoughts on a Universal Soldier remake? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!
Actor, writer, martial arts master and occasional Texas Ranger, the one thing missing off Chuck Norris’ CV to date is a move into the murky world of politics. But that could be about to change. Well, kind of.
Meet Marcin Olpiński. He’s currently standing in the local government elections over in Poland. Olpiński is no ordinary candidate though – he’s the “Polish Chuck Norris”.
The Polish Chuck Norris
Vying for a place on the council for Otwock County near the capital of Warsaw, Olpińsk is already something of a local celebrity given his striking resemblance to Norris.
It goes beyond simply looking the part though – he also lives the full Chuck Norris lifestyle.
“I train Boot Camp, CrossFit, martial arts, I run in marathons, I practice at the gym, etc. I have perfectly controlled the famous ’roundhouse kick,‘” Olpińsk told Fakt.
The Polish Chuck Online
Olpiński even has his own website, where he brags about a vast collection of photos alongside some of the most famous names in business, sports and politics. Or their lookalikes, at least.
He also owns a proper Chevrolet pick-up truck. Whether that will be enough to see him win election is unclear.
Olpiński does not mention much in the way of policies though we’d hope they would be given the thumbs up by Norris. In any case, Otwock County residents will vote on their next council representative on October 21st.
He’s Got Our UAMC Vote
That gives the Polish Chuck Norris 11 days to campaign from the comfort of that pick-up and unleash a few roundhouse kicks on any rival candidates. In any case, he certainly gets the Ultimate Action Movie Club’s vote.
For more info on this unusual lookalike, head over to the Polish Chuck Norris’ official website.
Does this Polish Chuck Norris have your vote, or is he an imposter? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!
Skyscraper vs. Skyscraper in the ultimate Skyscraper Showdown!
1996 saw the release of Skyscraper, a movie about a hero with a humongous chest who must battle terrorists in a high rise building. 22 years later, we have Skyscraper, a movie about a hero with a humongous chest who must battle terrorists in a high rise building. And the funny thing is, the 2018 Skyscraper is not a remake.
But, they are both rip-offs of the 1988 action classic Die Hard, although Skyscraper (2018) goes the extra mile and adds a dash of 1974’s The Towering Inferno into the mix. So see? It’s totally different. Not the same at all. The 1996 Skyscraper stars Anna Nicole Smith. Yes, you read that correctly.
Someone made a Die Hard rip-off and cast Anna Nicole Smith as the hero. Ha. You know, while we’re at it, let’s cast Pamela Anderson as discount Dutch in a Predator rip-off. Or Jenny McCarthy and Traci Bingham as discount Riggs and Murtaugh in a Lethal Weapon rip-off. Because why the hell not?
And Skyscraper (2018) stars the samoan superman himself, Dwayne Johnson in his 117th movie in 3 years. Does that guy ever sleep? Anyways, let’s stack these 2 up against each other and see who turns up the winner…
Heroes: Anna Nicole Smith vs. The Rock
Skyscraper (2018)
Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson), a former FBI agent who loses his leg in a rescue mission gone wrong. 10 years later, now a security consultant.
Skyscraper (1996)
Carrie Wink (Anna Nicole Smith), a helicopter pilot who really wants a baby.
This is such a non-discussion that it doesn’t even seem fair. How do you compare an uber charismatic actor like Johnson to the block of wood that was Smith (RIP). I hate to rag on someone who is no longer with us, but I gotta call it spade of spade here. She was a god-awful actress. In fact, this may be her worst performance ever. And that’s saying a lot. Although, in her defense, she probably shouldn’t have been anywhere near a camera. I would ask why would they even hire her, instead of someone more capable like Cynthia Rothrock, but… we all know exactly why Smith was hired.
Johnson on the other hand is perfectly fine in his role. Charming as ever, but nothing spectacular about his performance. But compared to Smith, he looks like Denzel Washington. Also, Will is so much better developed as a character. A man who feels inadequate because of his life changing injury learns that he is still the man he used to be, and nothing will ever change that. Carrie on the other hand? She really wants a baby. And that’s all to her.
Winner: Skyscraper (2018)
Villains: Kores Botha vs. Fairfax
Skyscraper (2018)
Kores Botha (Roland Møller), a Scandinavian international terrorist with ties to many major crime syndicates.
Skyscraper (1996)
Fairfax (Charles M. Huber), a ruthless South African criminal mastermind prone to quoting Shakespeare.
Let’s be real, Botha is as generic and bland a villain as they come. No personality. Just a evil for evil’s sake. And yet, he’s 1000× a better villain than Fairfax. Fairfax’s endless quoting of Shakespeare grows so tiresome after the first couple of times he does it, he is positively unbearable by the climax. And the performance from Huber is just abysmal. Botha may be bland as a character, but at least Møller gives him an intimidating presence.
Winner: Skyscraper (2018)
Significant Others: Sarah Sawyer vs. Gordon Wink
Skyscraper (2018)
Sarah Sawyer (Neve Campbell), Will’s wife, the mother of his 2 children, and the doctor who saved his life. Also a military medic who did 2 tours in Afghanistan.
Skyscraper (1996)
Gordon Wink (Richard Steinmentz), Carrie’s husband and an LAPD detective.
Same as Johnson vs Smith. Character is better developed and has the much better actor portraying them. Although, to be honest, I’m probably a little bias being that Sarah is played by Campbell. She’s Sydney Prescott for christ’s sake. How can you vote against her? Also, she’s much more badass. Gordon spends a lot of time running and hiding from the bad guys, while Sarah probably kicks more ass than her husband does.
Winner: Skyscraper (2018)
Story/Plot: 1996 vs. 2018
Skyscraper (2018)
Botha and his band of terrorists take over, and set fire to, The Pearl, the high tech building in Hong Kong where the movie takes place, in order to collect a memory drive that contains information on all of his and his bosses criminal activities. Will, who was tasked with surveying the security constructs of the building, becomes an unwitting pawn. And with his wife and 2 kids trapped inside, he will do whatever it takes to save them.
Skyscraper (1996)
Fairfax and his band of terrorists take over the Zitex building, a Skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles where the movie takes place, in order to gain control of four interlocking devices that will give him ultimate power (or something like that). When Carrie, the helicopter pilot who unwittingly transports them there, gains possession of the last device, it becomes a life or death struggle between her and the terrorists.
Both plots are convoluted as all hell, but at least Skyscraper ’18 tries to make it somewhat compelling, even if they don’t fully succeed. Skyscraper ’96 could care less about their own plot, like the majority of PM Entertainment’s movies. The plot is merely an excuse to get us from action scene to action scene.
Winner: Skyscraper (2018)
The Ultimate Action Showdown!
Skyscraper (2018)
Although Skyscraper ’96is more of a pure action movie than Skyscraper ’18, which is more concerned with jumping and falling than shooting and fighting, Skyscraper ’18 is still the better one of the two. Although there is a fun set piece very early on in an alleyway, Skyscraper ’96 for the most part lacks any real ingenuity in its action sequences, going for a run and gun style of action in which both good and bad guys let off seemingly hundreds of shots at each other from guns with bottomless clips and yet manage to hit nothing at all. I guess everybody went to the Stormtrooper school of marksmanship. The explosions are great, though.
Skyscraper (1996)
Skyscraper ’18 on the other hand seems to be more interested in The Towering Inferno side of things than Die Hard. While the film does have its dust ups, they’re relatively minor in comparison to the disaster movie style action contained within the proceedings. Truth be told, there’s only one sequence (fight scene between Johnson and Pablo Schreiber) that I can really call a through and through action set piece.
This movie finds its solace in hanging, running, jumping and falling. And to its credit, it manages to induce a nice level of tension. I found a lot of its suspense sequences gripping.
Kudos to director Rawson Thurber for being able to find some semblance of tension in the oft-used and timeworn action sub genre known as the “Die Hard in/on a _____” genre. Too bad the same can’t be said for Skyscraper ’96.
Winner: Skyscraper (2018)
Well, ladies and gentlemen, there you have it. Winner on all counts: Skyscraper (2018). On its own, a very decent, enjoyable dumb summer action flick. But standing next to Skyscraper (1996), it’s a damn game changer.
What’s your vote for most ultimate Skyscraper – The Rock’s or Anna Nicole Smith’s? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!
Peek Inside Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo 5 Man Cave!
Sylvester Stallone is already ramping things up ahead of the release of Rambo 5 after posting an image of John Rambo in his very own ‘man cave’.
The term ‘man cave’ usually refers to a room or space set aside by a young male for things like darts, a pool table or maybe a pinball machine if you are feeling flush.
Sports are often watched in ‘man caves’ alongside big bowls of nachos and copious bottles of beer. It’s a little different for Rambo though.
A post shared by Sly Stallone (@officialslystallone) on
Rambo’s ‘man cave’ boasts a variety of firearms including an assault rifle and the character’s iconic rifle. There are a few old photos from his days in the military and a giant knife.
It’s not exactly warm or welcoming and Rambo probably doesn’t host soirees there for friends. Mainly because most of his friends have been killed over the course of four blood-soaked movies. In any case, the image is just another teaser from the set of Rambo 5: Last Blood.
Rambo vs. Mexico
Stallone is busy filming the fifth and most likely final instalment of the action franchise, which will see Rambo going up against a Mexican cartel.
It’s shaping up to be a very different kind of Rambo movie, with the character going full cowboy in a series of images posted to Instagram by Sly. (Read more about Cowboy Rambo here!)
From the looks of things Rambo has left behind the warzones of Burma for a quiet life in the wild west, working as a ranch hand. Something is evidently going to stir him out of retirement and judging by the array of weapons he has available to him it’s going to be bloody mayhem when he does.
Paz Vega Joins Cast
The new image comes after The Hollywood Reporter revealed actress Paz Vega had joined the cast. She will play Carmen Delgado, a journalist who teams up with Rambo to take on the cartels after her younger half-sister is kidnapped.
Currently filming in Spain and Bulgaria, Rambo 5: Final Blood is due to arrive in cinemas next Fall.
What would you give to hang out with Stallone in his Rambo Cave? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!
Sylvester Stallone’s Demolition Man Turns 25 Years Old!
On October 8th, 1993, Sylvester Stallone’s sci-fi action opus Demolition Man landed in US cinemas, bringing fans a very different kind of Sly movie. Stallone played John Spartan, a risk-taking police renegade on the tail of Wesley Snipes’ Simon Phoenix, a pathologically evil crime lord with violent mischief on his mind.
Cryogenically frozen in 1996 after a hostage showdown gone wrong, Spartan wakes in 2032 to a much-changed society. He’s been revived for one reason: to hunt down and apprehend Phoenix, who managed to break out during a parole hearing.
A favourite of Stallone fans thanks to its clever script, eye-catching action and thought-provoking themes, Demolition Man has just turned 25.
Here are 10 things you never knew about the Sly-fi classic.
Jackie Chan, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal were all approached to play Simon Phoenix. All three declined for the same reason: they didn’t want to play a villain. Chan felt playing a villain would have gone against his screen persona, while Van Damme was keen to play John Spartan but not Phoenix.
UAMC has also given Phoenix an Honorable Mention in the most ultimate action movie bad guys of all time. Read the full list here!
2) Sandra Bullock Over Lori Petty
Sandra Bullock was a late addition to the cast, replacing Lori Petty as Lieutenant Lenina Huxley. Petty, who is best known for Point Break and Tank Girl. quit over what Joel Silver described to Variety as “creative differences.”
The late Nigel Hawthorne, who played Doctor Raymond Cocteau, didn’t get on with Stallone on set, telling Page Six that Sly was “rude and arrogant” during work on the film. He’s rumoured to have clashed with Snipes too.
4) John Spartan’s Freezing
Stallone hated filming Spartan’s initial cryogenic freezing scene, admitting to AMC he “was terrified” and that “was probably the worst five hours I’ve ever had on movie sets.” That might have been down to the claustrophobic set or the fact Spartan appears to nearly drown just prior to be frozen.
5) Taco Bell vs Pizza Hut
While the US version of the film offers up a vision of a future where Taco Bell is the only remaining restaurant, in some non-American releases Taco Bell is replaced by Pizza Hut. This was mainly in Europe where Taco Bell isn’t that well known.
6) Contested Origins
Hungarian sci-fi writer István Nemere claims Demolition Man is based on his 1986 novel Holtak Harca. It centres on a terrorist and a counter-terrorism soldier who are cryogenically frozen, then awakening the 22nd century to find violence has been purged from society. He claims to have proof the plot was lifted from his book but has refused to take legal action as he claims he cannot afford to hire lawyers.
7) Toned Down Violence
A 2+ hours cut of the film was originally submitted before that version was heavily edited down. Much of the violence used by Phoenix was toned down, including a scene where he murders Bill Cobbs‘ Zachary Lamb. Some of the fight scenes involving Spartan and the band of criminals Phoenix has released from cryoprison were also cut, which explains why some of them are never seen killed. The most significant omission was a scene in which Phoenix came face to face with his now-adult daughter, who he found living in the sewer.
8) Denis Leary’s Lines
Denis Leary wrote all of his own lines. “I had to write that and pass it through their studio system to get it okayed,” he told In Contention. “It took forever. FOREVER.” He claims Snipes went around set on a motorbike along with a big entourage and that filming was delayed for a couple of months after Stallone burst a blood vessel doing a stunt. He’s still not seen the finished film either.
9) The 3 Seashells
No one is entirely sure how the Three Seashells toilet system works however, screenwriter Daniel Waters can explain the origins at least.
“There’s a scene where Stallone has to use a restroom,” he explained [via Den of Geek].
“I’m trying to come up with futuristic things you’d find in there. I was having trouble, so I called my buddy, another screenwriter across town, asked him if he had any ideas. Ironically enough that guy was taking a dump when he answered the phone, looked around his bathroom and said ‘I have a bag of seashells on my toilet as a decoration?’ I said ‘Okay, I’ll make something out of that’“.
There were originally plans for a Demolition Man sequel that would have seen John Spartan team up with his estranged and now-adult daughter. Stallone even had Meryl Streep in mind for the role but, alas, the project never came to pass. [via Projection Booth]
How do you think Demolition Man’s Legacy has aged over the years? Let us know in the comments!
Get your Rowdy Roddy Piper They Live Sunglasses Today!
John Carpenter’sThey Live ranks as one of the most inventive films of the 1980s helped in no small part by the central performance of central protagonist Roddy Piper.
Rowdy Roddy Piper played John Nada as a drifter who comes across a pair of sunglasses that wake him up to the fact he’s living in a world controlled by aliens using subliminal messages hidden in adverts and everyday products. From there Nada embarked on a one-man mission to “kick-ass and chew bubblegum” even though he was all out of gum.
They Live Lives On
A dystopian horror movie with a twist, John Carpenter’sThey Live was all about compelling people to take the power back from their dark overlords.
It’s a tale that’s as relevant today as it was back in 1988 (which you can read about in our UAMC review here)! In fact, a new start-up has just unveiled a new pair of screen-changing sunglasses that take direct inspiration from the Roddy Piper classic. IRL Glasses are the brainchild of interactive artist and filmmaker Ivan Cash.
IRL Glasses IRL
Flipping They Live’s concept on its head, while Nada’s glasses in the film revealed the hidden message behind the adverts, these shades work by blocking out the barrage of video-led advertising that can be found all around us.
“IRL Glasses put you in the driver’s seat to control when and how you engage with screens,” the Kickstarter’s campaign page says.
“The design for IRL Glasses is unique and iconic, inspired by the 1988 cult classic film, THEY LIVE, where a magical pair of glasses blocks ads.”
Using horizontal polarized optics, the glasses are able to block out LCD and LED screens. These optics work by flattening and rotating the polarized lens 90 degrees, therefore blocking out the light emitted by screens and making it appear as though “the screen in front of you is turned off.
A Kick-Ass Investment
Still in the beta stage, the glasses don’t yet filter out OLED screens found in use on some billboards and smartphones but the company behind the shades is working on fixing that.
Introduced as part of a new crowdfunding campaign, the IRL Glasses have already hit their $25,000 funding goal but are seeking further investment.
While a $49 contribution will land you a basic pair of the IRL glasses, those looking to push the boat out can pay ¢499 for a “one-of-a-kind limited edition” pair, possibly modelled on Roddy Piper’s originals.
‘Birth of the Dragon’ Doesn’t Quite Do Bruce Lee Justice.
Birth of the Dragon (2016) is a strange beast, a Bruce Lee biopic set before Bruce Lee became a global superstar. It really focuses on the, best described as legendary, encounter between the young Lee (played by Philip Ng) and the almost mythical kung fu master Wong Jack Man in 1965.
It is really a small budget movie with a big action name directing. George Nolfi, who has been involved with big budget action such as The Adjustment Bureau (2011), Timeline (2003), Ocean’s Twelve (2004), and TheBourne Ultimatum (2007). The modest budget was put forward by two large production companies WWE studios and Blumhouse Productions.
It’s this strange set of paradoxes that make the film interesting, Birth of the Dragon is a bit of a throwback to the golden days of ultimate action movies but sadly not all in a good way.
Cannon Films Reborn…Almost.
The thing that is initially attractive about this movie is that it’s co produced by WWE Studios and Blumhouse who are very much in the low budget, high entertainment tradition of a golden age production company like Cannon films.
The idea of WWE Studios co funding a movie about the ultimate martial artist sounds like a natural fit and with their calibre of high octane action movies audiences should have been in for a huge thrill ride…should have.
Man Nor Beast
The main issue with Birth of the Dragon is that it doesn’t know what it wants to be. It seems that the films subject matter is much more focused on Wong Jack Man, who is brilliantly played by Xia Yu, than on Bruce Lee.
It is set in the 60s and is supposed to be, on some level, a biopic of Lee’s pre fame life but it doesn’t really feel like a movie set in that decade apart from the occasional pop culture reference such as Lee’s upcoming involvement in the Green Hornet TV show. The action is quite well filmed but over all too fast.
Ng certainly captures Lee’s physical fluid style although he doesn’t really capture the spirit of the man. As the countdown to the final match draws close the pacing becomes tight but the first half feels like a lacklustre remake of Way Of The Dragon (1972) that is painfully slow to get going.
Controversy And Conclusions
When the film was released it was to largely poor reviews. Even Lee’s daughter felt that the movie didn’t really capture the spirit of Lee or his fighting philosophy. Just like the rest of the critical response I find it a little nuts that a movie which deals with one of the most legendary fights of all time, a fight that so much has been written about, has so much padding.
It’s also a negative point that Lee is a secondary character in his own tale. I would recommend instead a viewing of the awesome Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993) which really captures a much more comprehensive tale of the master.
What are your thoughts on Bruce Lee’s Birth of the Dragon? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!
The story behind Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ultimate classic Commando (1985).
On October 4th, 1985, Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced US moviegoers to John Matrix. A retired Special Forces colonel, he was on a one-man mission to rescue his daughter from a band of mercenaries led by former subordinate and Freddie Mercury lookalike Bennett.
The film was Commando and it would prove to be the start of something very special for Schwarzenegger and action movie fans everywhere. Though it’s not unusual for a film project to change and evolve considerably during the development process, Commando’s journey is a little different than most.
Script by Jeff Loeb
It started out as a script co-written Jeff Loeb, a writer best known for comic books like Batman: The Long Night and Hush and was markedly different to the original.
“Our story was about an Israeli soldier who has turned his back on violence. Not the movie they made!” he told Empire. Loeb’s and co-writer Matthew Weisman’s draft centered on an Israeli soldier who had renounced violence but found himself thrust back into action after his daughter is kidnapped.
They initially considered the idea of shifting the plot to America and hiring someone like Nick Nolte or Kiss’ Gene Simmons as John Matrix – but soon the decision was taken out of their hands.
The Rise of Schwarzenegger
Barry Diller had just been appointed the head of 20th Century Fox and was looking for projects that could be made for $12 million or less that they could attach Schwarzenegger to. Die Hard screenwriter Steven De Souza was hired to find a script that suited the Austrian Oak’s talents. Seeing the potential in Loeb and Weisman’s script, he set about punching it up to suit Schwarzenegger’s distinctive screen talents.
“I revamped the story to suit Arnold’s bigger-than-life persona. Then I drove to his house and acted it out for him,” De Souza told Empire.
“Then he stood up and said, ‘I like this part. I’m not a robot from the future or caveman from the past. I’m in clothes and having a family. It’s a part John Wayne could play. I do this picture.”
Commando Gets Ultimate
Out went the script’s serious tone and in came the large-scale action set pieces, one-liners and huge body county – though Rambo II can be blamed for the latter of those three.
“During the shoot, Mark [Lester], the director, saw a sneak preview of Rambo [First Blood Part 2] and realised how many people get killed in that,” De Souza said.
“He said, ‘We’ve got to have a bigger dick than Rambo. We’ve got to slay more people.’ And suddenly there were 150 extras getting killed. It got out of control.”
Made within the required $12 million budget, Commando went on to make more than five times that figure, spending three weeks at the top of the US box office charts. Commando was almost a very different movie. Thankfully, it wasn’t.
What’s your favorite memory from Arnold’s Commando? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page!
Sylvester Stallone could be about to take John Rambo out of the dark and dense jungles of East Asia and out into the wide-open spaces of America’s wild west. That’s at least one theory being put forward after Stallone posted two pictures of the iconic action movie character dressed as a cowboy. The images come as Sly begins filming on Rambo 5.
A post shared by Sly Stallone (@officialslystallone) on
It certainly fits in with the rumored plot of the film, which will supposedly see Rambo going up against a dangerous Mexican drug cartel.
In the images, posted to Stallone’s personal Instagram account alongside the hashtag #Rambo5, Stallone can be seen, as Rambo, sporting a rather fetching cowboy hat.
Sly’s choice of gloves could hint that John Rambo has returned to America in search of an easy life as a ranch hand. Alternatively, the character may simply be living his days out in the wild hunting for his food and enjoying the idyllic solitude.
A post shared by Sly Stallone (@officialslystallone) on
The second image sees Rambo riding a horse in his newfound cowboy garb.
Though there’s a distinct cowboy feel to the image, the background trees suggest Rambo could be set for more of the jungle warfare that made the franchise popular, albeit in a distinctly American looking forest.
Whatever the case, the images indicate that Rambo 5 could be a significant departure from the franchise to date, which previously saw Rambo kicking ass and taking names in places like Afghanistan, Vietnam, Myanmar and, er, Washington State.
Stallone’s Getting to Work
Rambo 5 is due to be released later in 2019 with Adrian Grunberg on directorial duties. In the meantime, Stallone will next feature in another of his iconic roles, Rocky Balboa, when Michael B. Jordan returns for Creed 2.
The Missing in Action movies introduced the world to arguably Chuck Norris’s 2nd most famous character (After Walker, Texas Ranger of course), Vietnam veteran and ex-POW Col. James Braddock. This series helped establish ChuckNorris as not only one of the premier action heroes of the 80s, but the legendary mythical badass that we all know and love. Now, here are my rankings of the Missing in Action trilogy! Beginning with…
Vietnam Veteran and Ex-POW Col. James Braddock launches a mission deep into the jungles of Vietnam to find the POW camp that he escaped from and free the Americans still held captive there.
Ohh, I know I’m gonna hear it for this one. Yes. I ranked part 1 last. No, this is not a joke. It’s nothing personal. I love part 1. I just prefer the other 2 over it. I mean, Joseph Zito (The Prowler, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter) steers the proceedings pretty good for his first time making an action movie. Not as good as his next action movies Invasion USA and Red Scorpion (where he finally learns how to shoot explosions just right), but he does ok here.
And that right there is really why I ranked this last. The action is serviceable, effective, but never reaches a level of awesome that would’ve drove this home for me. Like it’s good, but I feel if somebody else were directing it could’ve been great. Now, I’m not saying Zito was a bad choice. He did fine. But maybe if they had a director more familiar with action, instead of a director known for horror who had just come off a horror film, the sequences would’ve had a little more oomph to them.
In his defense, others have made the transition from Horror to Action successfully. Like Renny Harlin, Dwight Little, as well as all time great action director John McTiernan. But here? It was fine. And that’s it. But like I said, Zito would do much better next year with Invasion USA. I guess he just needed a bit more time to adjust. It is what it is.
In this prequel to the first Missing in Action, set in the early 1980s, it shows the capture of Colonel Braddock during the Vietnam war in the 1970s, and his captivity with other American POWs in a brutal prison camp, and his plans to escape.
I actually go back and forth on which one I like more, this one or part 3. I’ll let you know why I chose the next one over this in a second. This one and part 1 have a peculiar background. You see, this one, centered around Braddock’s time as a POW, was made first, with the first MIA intended to be its sequel. But when executives realized that part 1 was the better movie of the 2, they decided to switch the releases around so that MIA 1 would become the first one, and this would instead become “The Prequel”.
Got it? Good. Now onto the movie. I actually find this one more satisfying than the “first one”. The drama concerning Braddock and his fellow POWs was more compelling than the previous entry, and made for a more gripping conclusion when they get their revenge on their captors. Especially Braddock’s final confrontation with Col. Yin, played by the late, great Soon Tek-Oh.
He’s such an effective scumbag, and his treatment of the POWs is so horrible, you can’t help but feel a sense of enjoyment when he finally gets his comeuppance. All in all, an effective action/war drama that deserves a bit more respect.
Braddock mounts a one-man assault to free his wife and son who are still being held in a Vietnam prison camp
Ahhh, MIA 3. Now, I know you guys are wondering how I could choose this one over the other 2, especially part 1. Thinking it has to be some complex reason or the story was more compelling. Honestly, the story of Braddock going back into Vietnam to rescue his Vietnamese wife and son (For those wondering, this entry exists in an alternate universe where Braddock never became a POW) and ends up rescuing an entire group of abandoned Ameriasian children makes for a truly compelling story. But that’s not the main reason. “So… what is it?” Well, wonder no further, because here’s the reason: the action is better.
That’s right. In my opinion, this one has the best directed action sequences out of the entire trilogy. Which is amazing considering that it was directed by first timer Aaron Norris (Chuck’s little brother). Aaron had been a stunt coordinator and directed second unit on some of Chuck’s other movies, so when original director Joseph Zito backed out, Aaron was given the job. And by the look of it, you would never tell this was his first time at all. The action. The stunts. And the explosions.
Truth be told, I feel no director who worked for Cannon Films shot explosions better than Aaron Norris. It feels like these explosions were designed just for me! Those beautiful gasoline fueled orange wave explosions are my favorite type of explosions. And this movie is riddled with them! So so beautiful! I love it! I wish Aaron had made more movies for Cannon, especially when they were in their heyday.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, there you have it. Those are my rankings of the Missing in Action movies. A series of movies I hold near and dear to my heart. An everlasting testament to the awesomeness that is Chuck Norris. But before I go, let me leave you with this fact: If you can see Chuck Norris, he can see you. If you can’t see Chuck Norris, you may only be seconds away from death.
What’s your ranking of the Chuck Norris Mission in Action movies? Let us know in the comments!
