Reviews (13)

Doug Mcclure + The Lost World = High Adventure!
I loved this movie as a kid and I still love it now. Despite not having Harryhausen quality dinosaur effects, for the time, the effects are generally pretty good. Definitely better than the effects featured in many other movies of that type of the time and way above those in "At The Earth's Core". The acting is pretty good all around, especially the German captain and his sneering first mate, Dietz. And of course, no film of this type would be complete without the incomparable Doug McClure!

This movie really imparts an excellent sense of adventure as both a war drama and a fight for survival in the lost world of Caprona. They aren't stingy with the dinosaurs either as the sequel, 'The People That Time Forgot' is. All in all, this is a fun movie that really captures the essence of what dinosaur films of the current period like the Jurassic Park sequels are missing - a sense of adventure and a soul.

My Favorite When Teamed With Its Sequel!
As one other reviewer put it, I love to pay a visit to Caprona! I loved these movies in the 70's. In the eighties, an artistic producer at an independent station in Miami would show both The Land That Time Forgot and The People That Time Forgot on consecutive Saturday and Sunday late nights! Bring out the Pizza! In addition to the atmospheric qualities of the sets and settings of these two films (much of which is on-location) they have another timeless quality: excellent music. Land Time Forgot has a distinctive moody tone to its score. People Time Forgot has a dynamic opening and closing theme which is used re-currently throughout the film. Doug McClure is perfect as Bowen Tyler, and yes, he is in the sequel, which anchors the two films perfectly. Supporting casts in both films are excellent, and hey! I thought the dinosaurs were great! The submarine special effects are worthy of Derrick Meddings, and the Amphibian Plane effects in the sequel are equally impressive. The "Forgot" part of the titles are eloquently staged in "Land" when the submarine steams upriver; and in "People" when the pilot, Hogan, starts to go stir-crazy back at the Ampibian campsite. BTW, Patrick Wayne and Sarah Douglas shine in the sequel as much as our heroes do in the first flick. I agree with others: It's time for these two to come out in wide-screen DVD--preferrably together! One more note: READ THE BOOKS! They are available separately or together. And surprise! They are actually a trilogy: The Land That Time Forgot, The People That Time Forgot, and Out Of Time's Abyss. Thanks, Mr. Burroughs!

Brilliant Characters and Wonderful Story
I love this film. I wish they would release it on DVD. Yes the special efects are laughable, but this film has a lasting appeal because the characters are very well developed and well defined, and the story is wonderful and mesmerizing. This film has an intagible quality about it that makes it perfect escapist fare, and whenever I watch it I go back into my childhood "comfort zone" so to speak. If you're ever weary of the world and the pressures of work and life, pop in this film and escape to another world of wondrous imagintation.

It is also very educational for a child. I love it when von Schoenhertz and the English girl (who is very pretty by the way) who is a botanist are discussing the bacteria they found on Caprona. It succinctly presents the difference in perspectives between "German metaphysics" as she says, and "British empiricism" as von Schoenhertz says. Then they get into an argument over conduct of the Great War. She accuses the Germans of brutality, but von Schoenhertz presents his very Germanic, Neitzschean rebuttal by going off on how she is naive and "life is founded upon killing and destruction" and "the sea is teeming with living things that prey upon one another to survive." That's very philosphical stuff for such a movie, and a great way to get kids interested in these things. It's cool too because Dietz represents the brutal German the English girl accuses von Schoenhertz of being, when in fact von Schonehertz is actually more the reflective, scientific German in the vein of Schopenhauer, Freud and Jung and he is in many ways more civilized than anyone else in the film. He is the elder, wise father figure. The British are portryaed as pragamatic, rational and generally compassionate -- the diplomats. But who Burroughs really exalts above all others is Mr. Tyler, the American. He is the brash, young (as America itself is comparitively) man who exudes the physical, masculine side of life -- he is the virile Alpha male who acts and leads, the hero. Despite his basically boorish character, the English girl cannot help but to be very attracted to him even though she has much more in common with von Schoenhertz, the Thinker.

It's an interesting position that Rice Borroughs takes, namely that in his day and age, the value of the alpha male hero and his "animal magnetism" exceeds that of the more introverted, reflective man of von Shcoenhertz. This is understandable given the feeling in Britain at the time that the manliness of the nation was ebbing away and they had better recapture that masculine spirit or fade away. It's also interesting that Burroughs sees the American Tyler and hence America itself as a possible saviour of the Anglo-Saxon "civilization" or "race" or more specifically the old and tired mother of Great Britain which in its perceived malaise was losing ground to and being threatened by the more brutal, energetic and meticulous Germans. It's all very metaphorical. Given what happened in the Great War and then some 25 years later in WWII, he seems to have been very prophetic.

In any event, there is a huge subtext to this seemingly simple film, and a rich thematic exposition. It presents archetypeal themes and perspectives, and this is why I believe the film (and the book) holds up so well and is even a testament to history DESPITE the lame special effects, which, when compared to such heady stuff as the themes presented, are inconsequential to the value of the film.

God Save the Queen! Sorry, my Anglophilia carried me away there:-)

An Edgar Rice Burroughs adventure with man eating dinosaurs
It is rather amazing that having used Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan of the Apes for dozens of movies over the course of almost the entire century, Hollywood finally went back to ERB's novels to find another property for a film and ignored the John Carter of Mars series and went for "The Land That Time Forgot," a rather second-rate potboiler. But if you forgive the cheap special effects (be kind, it is a 1975 film) this is not a bad adventure story. Burroughs basically wrote his own version of "The Lost World" as a German U-Boat sinks a British ship whose crew manages to take over the submarine. Traveling to South America they find a lost continent where there are dinosaurs and cavemen (ergo, "The Land That Time Forgot"), neither of whom has any respect for civilized human beings.

Doug McClure stars as American adventurer Bowen Tyler in this British production. McClure and director Kevin Connor would make two other similar films based on Burroughs novels, "At the Earth's Core," from the more ambitious Pelucidar series and a sequel to this film "The People That Time Forgot." Along for the ride are the beautiful and brainy biologist in distress, Lisa Clayton (Susan Penhaligon), U-Boat Captain Von Schoenvorts (John McEnery) and his cunning second in command Deitz (Anthony Ainley), along with a savy Brit named Bradley (Keith Barron) who manages to be put off by being eaten by the dinosaurs longer than most of his mates. Of course not only do these people have to watch out for dinosaurs and cavemen, they have to watch out for each other. "The Land That Time Forgot" is a film that teaches its young British audience that even during World War I when the Germans were not Nazis you still could not trust them.

The story is basic adventure, with Tyler and company facing one peril after another. The script is decent, given the going ons; Michael Morcock worked on the script along with James Cawthorn, so there is an inherent assumption that all of the good stuff belongs to the noted fantasy writer. There is an attempt to get into some of ERB's reasoning for the existence of "Caprona," as the lost continent is called, but it only muddles the film until the action gets going again. The cast takes the situation seriously, which is a prerequisite in any film like this, but while the action is above average the special effects are tacky. The dinosaurs are laughable and the miniatures are not much better. Still, you get an indication of how much fun the action-adventures elements are (for this particular genre and this particular time) when the film still gets 4 stars despite the hokey dinosaurs.

A real classic
Whenever I read reviews in movie guides I am saddened to see this film is given a hard time. Alright, so the dinosaurs aren't Harryhausen/Jurassic Park fare, but they're certainly a lot better than most other low-budget dinosaur/monster movies of their time (or since then, for that matter). A group of shipwrecked WW1 navymen board and take over the German U-boat which sunk their vessel. Before long, however, they are hopelessly lost, are forced to co-operate as they come across a lost island.

What really makes this film stand out is its superb atmosphere, its sense of drama, its believable characters, its well-staged battle sequences (both human and prehistoric), and its storyline involving an island as a living thing. A real classic, and one in the eye for those who scoff at the British film industry. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Peter Bogdanovich directed this sensitive and moving story about a teenage boy, Rocky (Eric Stoltz), who lives with severe facial deformities and poor prognosis for survival beyond childhood. The film concentrates on that threshold-of-adulthood period familiar to past and present 16-year-olds, folding together common experiences of youth (love, hassles with mom, a desire to travel) with the special burdens endured by the hero. Stoltz, absolutely unrecognizable under lots and lots of prosthetic makeup, is quite good, as are Cher (as Rocky's mother) and Sam Elliott (Rocky's father figure). More than a tearjerker, the film is a genuine celebration of all that is most precious in life, even more to those who have nothing to take for granted.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Real and Moving
Mask is one of those rare "true story" movies that remains that way when it hits the big screen. It also houses an absolutely fabulous performance by Cher, as well as by Eric Stoltz.

Mask is about a boy named Rocky Dennis who is well above average in every way. If it weren't for a degenerative disease that horribly disfigured his face since birth, the world would probably see him that way. At first, those that meet him are understandably nervous and scared, but with an airy confidence, he wins his classmates and peers over.

That confidence comes from his mother, played by Cher. She is an attractive, drug addicted single mother with an on again, off again fling with Gar, played by Sam Elliot. Cher convincingly and movingly plays a mother riddled with insecurites, but in love with her son, who represents to her all she wishes she could be. She was born with the huge advantage of being beautiful, she dropped out of school and got pregnant. She lookes at Rocky and sees someone who was born with every disadvantage (a disfigured face and a short life) and who is confident, responsible, hardworking, and happy. He is also valedictorian of his high school class.

Ever since she had Rocky, she has been strong and tough, making it clear that Rocky will not be treated any differently than anyone else. Rocky takes from that confidence and gives it back to his Mom with the way he lives his life...getting up every morning, facing the world, being happy, taking care of himself, and preparing for and dreaming of a future that he may never have. Her hatred for herself is transcended only by her pure love and open admiration for her son.

I have seen Mask a number of times over the years, but I have to say it gets me every time. It is a movie that deals, realistically and truthfully with a disease that seems almost unreal. But the lessons learned and the topics raised have little to do with the "Mask" and more about the connection between a mother and her son.

Will tug at the heart-strings
Even someone with a heart of stone will feel for the characters featured in this film, which is based on a true story.

Both Cher & Eric Stoltz give moving performances, as a biker babe mother 'addicted' to drink and drugs, and a son, who can't get a girl, and is severely facially deformed.

I originally saw this movie quite a few years, and only remembered the scene where he's in high school, and he talks about being from Planet Vulcan.

Of course, the facial disease Rocky Dennis has is fatal, so obviously, you know what the ending will be. And the tears ended up tripping me - this is another film that I can add to my "Films I Cry At" list. My mum grabbed it, as she loves true stories, and it's not a film I will ever watch again - I hate crying at films!!! It's only a story is what I keep getting told, but it doesn't work. But you feel for the characters so much.

The real Rusty Dennis apparently was a consultant to the great Cher on this movie, and is now rumoured to be battling a drink & drug addiction - and can you blame her? The Cher gave when she found Eric Stoltz had died in his sleep, was almost too realistic.

Cher gives a great performance in this movie. It's one of the very rare movies where she isn't wooden - although she does advertise her plastic surgeon a lot. This is a movie to watch purely for Cher, to see her before she overdone the plastic surgery, and is does a farewell tour every couple of years.

Eric Stoltz is unrecognisable in his role of Rocky. He must have had a very boring time sitting for so long in make-up!

A very moving film, and totally worth watching!

I like this movie but it is pretty sad
I think its pretty sad like he dies at the end.Me and my 3 other 11 year old friends watched this movie and we first couldn't look at his face because it looked so weird.And we thought he only had a mask on.But I like this film.His mum has a angry managment and takes drugs.Well but I still recomend this for all ages.

unforgetable
IN 1987 i sat,totally engrossed,watching the heart-wrenching story of a boy suffering with facial deformity, a boy who was not expected to live beyond a teenager. At least that was the write up. What i saw,was not only his torment,but his mothers. Cher played this role so believably i still feel the character when i see her now. Her heartbreak,her own battle with drink and drugs, and her stuborn determination and humour when faced with authority. Also this was the point in time that i fell in love with Sam Elliot,and his voice. The man is a god. His character as Chers biker boyfriend was brilliant. Supposedly tough,but a sweetheart with a reassuring and patient relationship with the young man with dreams for the future. The three of them carried this film through every emotion you could think of. Shock,disbelief,laughter, tears, heartbreak and horror to name a few. Truly one of the most memerable films i ve ever seen. In fact here we are 16+ years on and i can remember it as vivdly as if i'd seen it an hour ago. How long is it since i ve seen it? Well i met my husband in 1988 and some 6 months after he ''borrowed'' the reel from inside the video case and never rebuilt it! The other reel with the film on?????? That was ''placed somewhere safe!'' So, i have looked for a replacement for a long time,and thought i'd found it here. Except i'm in england and your vhs wont play on my vhs. I'll just have to keep digging. In fact ''I COULD DIG SO DEEP I COULD END UP IN F¬`*=^+G CHINA!!!!!!'' Good night x

High schoolers find Mask moving
I recently showed Mask, based on the true-life story of Rocky Dennis, to my high school English class. Even today's teen-agers found the relationship between the disfigured Rocky and his blind girlfriend to be sweetly touching. The two sides of Rocky's biker-chick mother (in an outstanding performance by Cher) led to fruitful writing assignments about a parent struggling with addiction who can also be an incredibly supportive mother to her son. The students were also impressed with Rocky's exemplary personal qualities. Not only was Rocky Dennis an intelligent and sensitive human being who copes with his rare disease with humor and courage, he often has to "parent" his mother, and sets challenging goals for himself despite the death sentence hanging over his head. This film gives a strong message to teens (and adults) that -- despite bad examples sometimes from parents and peers -- having a strong sense of respect for oneself, nurturing long-range personal goals and healthy interests, being kind and decent to others, and maintaining a sense of humor can get us through even the worst challenges life deals us. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Awesome Awesome Ending
This is michael dudikoff's finest movie slightly infront of american ninja 1 just because of the final scene. i remember staying up to see this movie on cable in like 1993 when i was seven and loving every second of it. the end fight scene is one of the coolest battle scenes ever. a manhunt with awesome results. make sure you watch it at night. and remind yourself that it was made ages ago.

Avenging Farce
I give this movie three stars because it is so bad, that you enjoy laughing at it. It is a story of a retired agent who is being hunted by rich guys with nothing better to do (boy, that is an original story.) Like most Dudikoff films, this blazing adventure is full of gems. Apparently in his secret agent days, he aquired a pair of "stealth cowboy boots" that allow him to run around metal fixtures and not be heard. He uses these boots to sneak up on bad guys and throw them on the ground to destroy their legs. Another great scene is when Dudikoff and a boy fall off of a roof, the dummy that they use in place of the kid is amazing. It looks like a life size Gary Coleman doll. The foley used for the sound effects is just as fabulous. Finally in the end, Dudikoff fights the main bad guy (who earlier was sporting a bird mask) with exotic weapons. The stand in for the bad guy is terrible, it looks like Ricardo Montalban with a bad wig. They reuse the same foley scream in the final fight twice, and it was not even good the first time. I have watched this movie many times and still laugh till it hurts everytime I see the kid fall off the roof and the many other wonderous things contained in this gem. So, if you want to watch a movie that will make you laugh hysterically at how bad it is, buy this movie.

A Very Good Movie!
A movie that I really got into. Dudikoff is forced out of retirement to protect his friend whi is running for public office in Louisiana. The action really picks up when his sister is kidnapped. This forces our hero Dudikoff to track through the swamps of Louisiana. He shows that he well up to the job of combatting the forces of evil. This film has plenty of good action. Dudikoff plays an excellent hero and Ryan is an outstanding bad guy. The movie wraps up in a palatial estate in Louisiana. A very good movie. It certainly bears watching.

Michael Duddikoff
What a wicked film. Saw it when I was a kid - loved it then, love it now. He's great great, Steve James is great, it's all great. Anybody know where I can get another copy ? Mine's wearing thin now ! No, seriously it is.

b movie with good action and script
great movie with alot of action its a movie overlooked by alot for b actors yes it has b movie acting but the script is there and the action is there so if your looking for action, this movie is a way to look, if you dont mind ok acting ... Read more

Reviews (6)

OhmeGod, what a joking movie!!
Totally ridiculous, wasted a lot of money on the meaningless dynamite, gasolin and the explosions are absolutely unnecessary. The movie script is done by a 5th grader I think, so funny, shallow and so clueless, wasted Walken. The problem of this actor is that since he won the best supporting actor in the Deer Hunter, all the movies he decided to play a role... big time, no matter it's a mob story or anything else, except one movie that was seriously enough to be treated as a not bad movie, The Dog(s) of War.

McBain Is Definetly No Rambo!
In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, a group of rangers led by Santos risk their lives to rescue POW Robert McBain.

The beginning is basically the only good part of the film. The rest is kind of dull. It seems like one of those stories I made up when I was in grade five. There is not enough of the U.S. involved to call them "American Soldiers". You would think they would be fighting people like this in Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia, not colombia. If you look in a tv guide and see this movie's listing, you will notice it only has one star. I gave it two stars because I don't find it completely awful. There are some good parts to it. Mostly the war scenes.

There are a lot of action movie heroes like John Rambo, Snake Plissken, Darkman, and many characters played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. McBain is nothing like them. In fact this movie should have a different title with a character named Robert McBain in it. McBain ain't even popular.

I really can't tell you if you should rent this or not. I didn't find it that bad, but the other viewers hated it. They made good points on why the movie was awful. So my only suggestion is that you rent it on a two-for-one night. I got it free at the library, so I didn't have to pay.

If you want real action, I would try either FIRST BLOOD or DIE HARD.

I hope my review was helpful to you!

WHOLY SHEET
I know Christopher Walken is a great actor and all but heres my quick input on McBain:

McBain could have been really cool, had the charater McBain ACTUALLY DONE SOMETHING.

Basically it's Walken, walking around with his pants pulled way up to his chest giving orders out to other middle-aged men who end up dying. Even though he is giving out all these orders he only has about 4 min of dialogue in the film, and around 6 min of on-screen acting. Yeesh. If they were to put the damn credits in 'order of appearance', Walken ought to be dead last. After letting so many of "his men" die he shoots the president in the end and everyone cheers HIM. Yeesh. And I haven't even mentioned the plot. The only reason why I give this movie 1 star is because it has a cool name and is unintentionally hilarious.

(Especially the scene where McBain and one of his friends are in a truck with rigged explosives, and McBain jumps out of the truck and leaves his friend to die. What a hero! Hail McBain)

Rent this movie if you want the unintentionally-funny yet boring complete-opposite of Rambo.

Usual Midless Glickenhaus Excess
I'm very glad James Glickenhaus hasn't made any films lately (although I haven't checked). This movie, much like his other ones, are so amatuerishly written that they don't even have a leg to stand on. I can't really tell if every film is tongue in cheek, or if he is even making an attempt at any sense of realism. Executioner, Shakedown, and now McBain, these are all basically the same movie. Man is driven over edge, man gets gun, man kills all the bad guys, the end. Nothing new nothing worthwhile. I am especially upset with this film, due to the presence of Christopher Walken. A great actor who puts in a good performance, but is given the dialogue of a block of wood. lots of things blow up, lots of people get shot, but in the end it doesn't add up to anything. Check out Christopher Walken in the King Of New York, for a great display of his talents, and a good script to back it up!

One of the greatest action movies
mcbain is one of the greatest action movies I have ever seen. Christopher Walken ist very, very cool. Rambo, be careful...! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This typical but well-made action movie, which spawned numerous sequels, means to combine the best elements of the disaster movie with the hard-boiled attributes of traditional action-adventures. When a plane is hijacked to the Middle East by Palestinian terrorists, the Pentagon calls into action the Delta Force, an elite squad of highly trained commandos led by tough guy mainstay Lee Marvin and karate-action-star Chuck Norris. Their mission is simple: to thwart the terrorists and rescue the hostages, and the plot concentrates largely on just that, as the team uses its experience and fighting skills to get the job done. Its sometimes preachy patriotic bent occasionally gets in the way of the action, and Norris is a one-dimensional figure who at times takes himself too seriously, but his rapport with easygoing veteran Marvin moves the film over some implausible rough spots. While not a groundbreaking contribution to the genre, Delta Force impresses with its straightforward tough-guy style. --Robert Lane ... Read more

Reviews (65)

I LOVE THIS MOVIE !!!
"Delta Force" is a classic of the Action/Adventure genre. Karate champ Chuck Norris has been in some pretty cool movies, like "Lone Wolf McQuaid" and "Missing in Action," but this is probably his best one. He's also been in some really crummy ones - the other day I watched a Chuck Norris movie called "Firewalker," and boy was it lame! Anyway, back to "Delta Force." As I was saying, it's a really cool movie. The plot is nothig creative: Norris plays a commando on the trail of a group of Palestinian terorrists who have hijacked a plane. What makes the story so great is that it is grounded in reality. For example, in the beginning of the movie we find Chuck and his Delta Force buddies trying to escape from Iran after a botched attempt to rescue the Ameriocan hostages bveing held there. As you probably know, this episode actually happened in real life (minus Mr. Norris, of course). Another thing that makes it great is the way it shows Middle Eastern terrorists as cruel, Jew-hating cowards, which they in fact are. These days, movies have to be politically correct when they are dealing with Middle Easterners. Actually, I haven't seen a movie since 9/11 that even deals with Middle Eastern terrorists. Bad guys in action movies nowadays have to be white boys so that Middle Easterners will not be offended. In Tom Clancy's book "The Sum of all Fears," the terrorists were Arabs, but when they made the movie they changed them into neo-Nazis. Fortunately, "Delta Force" was made long before all this PC stuff materialized.
As for the action scenes, I think that they can be summed up with the two words "Totally Awesome." "Delta Force" has not only action, buts lots of drama. The acting is very good - alright, so it's nothing that should have been nominated for an Oscar, but it's much better that you would expect. The actors and actersses manage to create scenes that are chilling, adrenaline pumping, and heartbreaking. Chuck Norris plays the hero really well, the dudes that play the terrorists do that really well, but I must say that the hostages steal the show.
So, that's what I think of "Delta Force," and I don't care if anyone tells me that it is corny or overly-patriotic. It's great to see Delta force kicking the butts of the wimpy terrorists, especially after 9/11. Thank you to Amazon.com for offering "Delta Force," thank you to Chuck Norris for doing a cool movie, and thank you to the real-life members of Delta Force for defending the USA.

Very modern for its time
The military weapons they used are very up to date. This movie loves blowing stuff up. Chuck Norris uses about 5 motorcycle missiles, 3 bazookas, a bunch of guns, and these weapons no one has ever seen in movies but that the military has. After watching the movie on tape I wanted to join the delta force and blow some things up too. Unfortunately it doesn't exist anymore. I am stunned that Robert Forster played the head terrorist so well. The movie was stocked with great actors. I wonder how much money was spent on it and how much the movie made. It was made in '86 and I was 6 years old so I don't remember it. But since its on USA Network, and TBS everytime there is a 'men of steel' week or action week I guess it is a classic. This movie is totally original and its a shame that these crappy 90's airplane movies steal some of Delta Force's scenes.

Delta Force is the best action film of all time.

Good in it's day, inappropriot now
"Delta Force" stars Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin as senior officers of the Army's special forces group. They are called into action when an American commercial airliner is hi-jacked by Middle Eastern terrorists. "Delta Force" has spawned many sequals over the years, but this is by far the best. That is not, however, saying a lot. After recent events in America, this movie looks extreamly racist by depicting all Arabs as complicient in terrorism. I know that it was a completly different time when it was made, but you still can't ever forget current events. Taken as an action movie, it isn't bad, a lot of testosterone being splashed around, but that was a big thing in the 80s. The action scenes were very good, the best part of the movie. It looks like to me it was cast with two different movies in mind. The two tough guy leads (who work very well with and off each other) are Chuck Norris (who is actually at his best 'Norrisian' acting, just a notch above, say, David Hassolhoff, though not as bad as he would become on "Walker, Texas Ranger"), Lee Marvin (basiclly re doing his role from "The Dirty Dozen", but otherwise pretty spry for 80. Won't the Army let him retire?), and Bo Svenson (Svenson, well, you know what you're getting, at least he dosn't have that huge baseball bat this time) who are, for better or worse, action stars. And then you have the almost laughable cast of Goerge Kennedy (actually not too bad this time around, reminding me he was really good in "Cool Hand Luke") and Shelly Winters (guess they ignored the plane's weight limit) who are most known for their disaster movies. I wasn't sure if the Army was going to rescue them, or if a granade was going to go off while the plane was in flight. Anyway, this movie really suffers from post 9/11 American attitudes towards Middle Easterns right now, I think too many people are going to think that the cardboard villians are acurate portreyments of Arabs.

When will the Force be with us?
When this initially came out, it struck me as an unveiled propaganda movie, like those produced during World war II. It was a simple good guys versus the stereotyped bad guys movie with a bland ho hum plot. However, in the light of recent terroristic activities worldwide, this film now has a tinge of truth in it. Bad guys do exist and they do commit terroristic acts and they MUST be eliminated. Thst is the reality portrayed here. The fantasy is that there is a Delta Forcee that can obliterate these bad guys. Well, they haven't done it yet. Lee Marvin provides his usual inebriated acting in this one. However, Chuck Norris is statuestic. His acting is pretty much mundane here. The inclusion of so many prominent stars does not make this a classic. But this may eventually end up being a cult film if the situation where terrorists are not destroyed in the real world persists. At least in this movie, they get their lickings.

Fact, fantasy, and exploitation combine.
This 1986 offering from The Cannon Group recreates an actual hijacking and then sends a fictional delta force team (headed by Lee Marvin and Chuck Norris) out to fix things. Studio head Menahem Golan stepped behind the camera to direct and the result is a bit of a bloated movie. The action is well over an hour in coming and the first half is pretty over the top in its melodramatic manipulation. Nonetheless, it will entertain fans of the Cannon studio movies (they do exist) and Chuck Norris. Nothing classic, and it lacks the punch of realism (the delta force drives dune buggies into combat?) to help make anything other than an average exploitation melodrama. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

THE SEQUEL'S BETTER
I first rented this when I was about 15 & my mum went apes**t. A movie about a guy who kills people with a blowtorch. COOOOOL! However the blowtorch isn't that big a player in the movie. This is your typical Vietnam vet revenge story ad nauseum. Vet Ginty seeks revenge on the creeps who ripped up his best friend with a clawhammer (Steve James- who briefly adds "life" to the movie). There are some hilariously bad gore scenes, including the decapitation in the opening scene which has to be seen to be believed, and how could I forget the sequence with the meat grinder? I'd advise you not to eat a hamburger while watching this movie. Worst of all though is the godawful country-western song which plays during the opening credits. Yeech!

A Cult Classic
Out of anyone who played in the film I think George did the best job out of anyone; followed by Gintry. Those who've seen the sequel as well will notice what a superior director Glickenhaus was to whoever directing the sequel that he didn't stick around for. Though it is a rather cheaply made film it's still gritty and effective, yet still can't live up to the fame of Bronson's Death Wish, which is the grandaddy of all vigilante flicks bar none.

Not a bad Death Wish knock off!
It has a low budget and a cast of actors that anyone outside of the B Movie fan circles is unfamiliar with but that doesn't stop it from being one of the better revenge movies from the 80's. It's outlined by a simple plotline about a vietnam vet, played by Robert Ginty (the Paperchase guy), whose friend is paralyzed by wild gang members in the New York City wildlands. Fed up with the justice system, he takes matters into his own hands.

The biggest appeal of this movie is the minimalist style of the scenery. It's very gritty and grimy and has all the earmarks of a great grindhouse movie. The violence, which is unfortunately spaced too far apart to be consistent, is unbelievably brutal for an American made movie with an R rating. Also, most of the press from the time pushed the imagery of the flame thrower. While it's an essential element of the sequel, which badly needs a quality DVD release, it only makes an appearance once in this offering.

If you're a fan of cheesy movies and exploitation, don't pass this one up.

we need the sequel on DVD
Exterminator is good entertainment, but Exterminator 2 is more fun. He doesn't just hunt down criminals HE MELTS THEM! He gives vigilante Bronson a run for his money in that one as he leaves charred smokin scum corpses for the cops to find! The idea of a masked vigilante with a flame flower is just too much fun to watch. His nemesis is the evil "X" played be Mario Van Peebles too! Now that Exterminator is on DVD we need Exterminator 2!

we need exterminator 2!!
Exterminator is great, but the sequel was even better! The idea of a vigilante not just killin his victims, but burning them up and leaving their charred smoking corpses behind for the cops was bad *ss! That made him a vigilante that even Paul Kersey would admire. Buy Executioner and then tell Anchor Bay you want the sequel. Hell it's even got Mario Vane Peebles as the Exterminator's nemesis "X"! It's a B-movie vigilante lover's dream! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Gives 80s Teen Movies A Bad Rap
I saw this movie because I love 80s teen movies and I also like Anthony Michael Hall...but I have to say that this movie sorely disappointed me. Though it does have it's moments, it is nothing near some of his other 80s films such as "16 Candles" and "The Breakfast Club." If you're looking for a cheesy but fun 80s movie, try "Love Bites," a very funny and silly vampire movie with Adam Ant.

OK, maybe I shouldn't complain about being disappointed...after all, the premise of the movie isn't very exciting. Johnny is a highschool senior and football star who has all the top football schools after him. Basically the movie is about his visiting the different schools and the various ways they try to "bribe" him to go there. Meanwhile, there is a tiny amount of conflict with his girlfriend, played by Uma Thurman (this is her first role), about his going to State with her. Johnny's friend, played by Robert Downey, Jr., is supposed to add some more comedy to the movie (at least I think so), but he is so bizarre it's hard to even laugh at him.

Basically my problem with this movie is that it really isn't all that funny; and it doesn't have much of a plot. I know, I know, what do you expect, it's a cheesy 80s flick. Basically, I think there are many more great 80s movies out there than this one, even though I do have to admit that seeing AMH in that silly purple outfit is sort of funny.

Classic... but edited!
Hey, I know it's not Citizen Kane, but it was never intended to be. Anthony Micheal Hall is actually the cool guy in this one... enough said. It is truly one of the most overlooked 80's film ever (this and Emilo Estevez's brilliant directorial debut, "Wisdom")and actually contains one of the 3 inspired performances Robert Downey Jr has commited to film (Johnny Be Goode, Less than Zero and Weird Science).
I was extremely glad to see this finally released on DVD, but MGM has mislabled this version as "R" rated. This is a glaring and lazy oversight. This DVD version is actually the "PG-13" theatrical version. Once "Johnny Be Goode" came out on video, it was released with extended footage in an "R" rated version. It contained more nudity and showed a great deal more footage of Johnny's visit with "Ole Tex". I know this sounds crazy but this particular version of the movie helped enhance the other "Ole Tex" candidates roles quite a bit and showed why they backed Johnny's ultimate decision towards the end of the movie.
I believe MGM should correct this lazy mistake by either releasing the actual "R" rated version or re-labeling this version as "PG-13".

warning the DVD movie is censored
I've been a big fan of this movie since it first came out, with that said I give the movie alone a 5 star rating. However, the MGM DVD release is edited, which brings the score way down. There's a scene in the movie where Johnny is playing football to win back his girlfriend from her father, during the game 3 cheerleaders flash the cops to distract them. This has been edited and all that is shown is them starting to lift their shirts then it cuts quickly to the next scene. Now I didn't buy this movie for the nudity but censorship in any form is just unforgivable especially when it's unnecessary because all the other scenes containing nudity (that I can remember) are intact. Though more scenes could have been edited I'm not sure. The DVD extras include only one trailer for the movie, so it's basically barebone which I expected it to be. I still suggest you buy this DVD the quality is excellent just a little warning it's not the original.

so bad, it's not good
A truly horrible film. Not bad in the Ed Wood sort of way which is both horribly bad and so bad it's actually funny, JBG is simply consistently un-entertaining. Johhny (Anthony Michael Hall looking pumped up from his geekier "Breakfast Club" and "Sixteen Candles" days) is a star football player, so good that he's got every college in America lined up to offer him an athletic scholarship. (Though such scholarships probably gave many HS athletes a chance at college that ultimately helped them and proved beneficial to society, JGB pretty much disses them: a hardy team of NCAA investigators is barely able to keep schools from engaging in various unethical recruitment practices; the players themselves, though eagerly sought by schools are all-but entirely discarded by them once their better-playing days are behind them). Johnny promises his girlfriend to join her at a state university, where he'll have none of the perks offered by bigger and richer schools. Nevertheless, he can't resist the partying that the big leagues throw just to convince him to come to their side. Will he fall for the lure of the big school teams?

I remember sitting through this flick with almost nary a laugh. It was supposed to be funny, but it never was. It tried to tackle a serious subject, but it never did (it's as clearly enthralled by the world of college football as "The Program"). You keep thinking that it will develop, but it never will. The only entertaining scene? While sneaking away from the press, Johnny and his girl catch a drive-in movie, which turns out to be the fun/horrible movie that JBG couldn't be, centered around a horrifically and hysterically awful love-ballad. I should have left the multi-plex at that point, and quit while I was ahead.

Great Football Flick
It's a great football story with an excellent ending.
Johnny Walker is a sought after Senior Quarterback who has College Universities looking to sign him to a commitment under "any means necessary", and that means breaking all the rules.
Meanwhile Uma Thurman plays his girlfriend who helps Johnny reach for the stars, but keep his feet firmly on the ground.

The ending has a wonderful message too. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

YOU CAN'T HELP BUT LIKE THIS FILM...
[w]ith dialogue as: "You have 2 choices, duck or bleed!" This isn't intended to be anything more than time wasting fare, yet there is a time accurate political element to the film proposing that the USSR was threatening to detonate a nuke in the Mid East oil fields in 1982. The film was released right around the time of Al Haig's exile from D.C. so there may have been more truth here than not. That aside, James Glickenhaus was the master of comic book violence in the early 1980's and you can see some of his influence in Quentin's first works. This is a good Saturday afternoon B flick the way the studios used to churn them out.

Trashy but fun
Stereotypical spy/action movie directed by James Glickenhouse, a protege of Peckinpah. Tangerine Dream fans will want to view this as much of the TD soundtrack was actually recycled for the soundtrack for Thief.

Ken Wahl starred in this movie before he became famous in the TV series Wiseguy. The plot and action are not particularly original but its still fun to sit back and watch and the music, if you are a TD fan, provides significant compensation. Break out the popcorn and enjoy!

My favorite cheesy movie
Granted, this flick is intellectually devoid. So why do I like it? Well, inspite of its many flaws (i.e., the ducks-in-a-row ambush/chorus line at the beginning [each man with a different weapon of incompatible ammo], recoiless MAC-10's that never run out of ammo, reloadable LAWs rockets, CIA headquarters being in Washington and not Langley, shall I go on....?), I think that it helps to watch it as less of a movie and more of a Tangerine Dream video. I first saw this movie in '82 when it was released (I was 15 then). Back then, my high school newspaper would editorialize about how Reagan and Haig would lead the human species to nuclear extinction. Unlike my whiney, Berkley-bound peers at the time, this movie helped me crash through the HANDS ACROSS AMERICA THE DAY AFTER I saw it and regard the possibility of global calamity as, well, exciting (the town I grew up in kind of sucked). This film does max out the intrigue of the day by way of its touching the realistic nerve of the oil matter local to a time of mile long fuel lines in America in collusion with the red menace moving northward (at least, that's what THEY said) from Central America. It has some noteworthy effects: the ski jump and the sawed-off-under-the-sleeve (Charles Bronson would've won the Oscar if he was depicted plugging some low-life that way in "Death Wish"). Oh yeah, look for a young Edward R. Rooney as the President's National Security Advisor. For those of you who still don't get it, at least respect this film for having starred "Wiseguy" Ken Wahl instead of someone like, oh, I don't know......"Navy Seal" Charlie Sheen (THEN IT REALLY WOULD'VE BEEN CHEESY!).

A good Saturday afternoon flick
I saw this movies many years ago, and was reading a novel on a mid-east terrorist plot and automatically know where the guy lifted it from, so when I found out that I could get the movie I bought it!

1 very happy customer

Not A Good "Soldier"
I saw this picture a few times in the theaters when I was a big fan of violent action movies. "The Soldier" is merely another violent B-movie.

An antiterrorist(A pre-"Wiseguy" Ken Wahl) and his team set out to thwart a Soviet plot to detonate a nuclear device in the oil fields of the Middle East.

"The Soldier" is simply another forgettable low-budget action movie. The film is extremely violent. Viewers who merely want to see blood and gore will not be disappointed by this picture; the film graphically shows people being shot or burned to death. In one particularly offensive scene, the movie literally shows the audience how to make an electrically-charged incendiary device. The picture isn't particularly exciting or suspenseful. The dialogue between the characters sounds unrealistic. Klaus Kinski is completely wasted in a cameo appearance as a treacherous foreign agent.

"The Soldier" is simply another trashy and forgettable action movie. The film is only for those who merely want to see violent action. For a superior antiterrorist thriller, see John Frankenheimer's "Black Sunday." ... Read more

Amazon.com

Yeesh. The dead guy fromWeekend at Bernie's is back for the gratuitous sequel, still flopping around in his lifelessness like a wet noodle and getting dragged, stuck, bumped, and subjected to all manner of undignified things the living would never tolerate. Jonathan Silverman and Andrew McCarthy return as hapless businessmen who flee to the Virgin Islands after being accused of embezzlement. For reasons we won't go into, they need Bernie's corpse to get out of a jam. McCarthy is annoyingly mannered, Silverman is on auto-pilot, and the visual jokes--all based on one form of desecration or another--do not strike any resonant black-comedy chords.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Spend the Weekend with Bernie .. AGAIN :)
I don;t know how to say this in an un-bised way. I am a huge fan of both of these movies. ILOVED THIS ONE it is JUST AS GOOD as the first one! How can I put this. This movie is awesome. I had so much fun laughing at ALL FOUR main charaters get in trouble yet again, because of BERNIE. and he's dead. Or is he? This movie is genius and I wish I could watch both movies every day! You gotta love WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S 2!

Overall, A GOOD MOVIE!
This movie was ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS! I think Andrew McCarthy is very good actor and he backs it up with his performance in this movie. Buy both of the Weekend at Bernies movies if you can. IT's Worth it from all the laughs you will get from it!

LAME
I suffered through this movie at work the other day, because we had some down time, and I didn't have a book with me. It must be a big hit with severe head injury survivors, but I don't know who else would waste their time with this crap.

The movie has two jokes than run the entire length, and neither are funny. Watch Bernie's corpse slam into things, and worse, watch Bernie come to life and dance when music is playing. Ho ho. Perhaps our military would find this film useful in interrogations.

If your idea of great comedy is watching a middle aged man dance the limbo for two hours, occasionally falling down, or banging his head into something, then this movie was made for you.

The opportunity for a good sequel was there.......
....but all hopes were dashed when they said, "Action!"
The first "Weekend at Bernie's" was an absolute hit. A cult classic comedy loaded with humor, crazy situations, and kept the audience involved the entire time. "Weekend at Bernie's Part II" had some great moments, but this movie seemed to go in the wrong direction.
To make a sequel enjoyable, the viewers need more from the first film to make a connection. Only Richard, Larry, and Bernie were back. Where were many of the major characters from the first film?? The mob boss, the girlfriend who was fooling around with Bernie, and Gwen, who was Richard's love interest, should have been back to build the story. Even some of Bernie's beach pals (remember the nut who wanted his car?) could have made cameos.
This time, however, things changed for the worse. Barry Bostwick was essentially the "new" Paulie (who was the hit man in part I) and did a horrible horrible job. Paulie should have returned in some way or form. Can you say prison breakout?
Instead of Richard having a love interest or continuing things with Gwen, this time it was Larry trying to make it with the girl on the island. HUGE mistake, as there was no chemistry or any sense that the relationship might have worked. Larry seemed way to silly to even attempt date or romantic scenes!! Not even close to believable.
I fully agree with one viewer who suggested that Terry Kiser (Bernie), who was hilarious when he was alive, should have been in Part II in a flashback mode or something playing the part of the living Bernie. He was great in the first one and had very little chance to improve the part this time.
The two clowns who were chasing Bernie's body around and carried out the voodoo were terrible. The whole idea of voodoo was super silly, except for it giving Bernie a chance to move around a bit and not be a lifeless corpse the whole time.
Also, the soundtrack for Part II was awful! The first one had great party/beach music. Why not capitalize on that? Who could forget the "some like it hot/cold/never know" song from the first one? Just another example of how the writer-turned-director (he wrote the first and directed this one) helped make this movie tumble.

WAB fans should still see it but true comedy happened in the first film.

BEST MOVIE EVER
I loved this movie. If you really want to see a funny movie you should rent it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

From Keenan Ivory Wayans, the man who brought us Jim Carrey (initially just one of the bunch on Wayans's television comedy-sketch show, In Living Color), comes I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), a comedy spoof on the blaxploitation films of the 1970s. Wayans plays Jack Spade, an army private just returning from the service. He comes home to find his younger brother June Bug dead of a overdose of gold chains (an "O.G.") He vows revenge, and with the help of some of the neighborhood's old school heroes including Flyguy (Antonio Fargas), Kung Fu Joe (Steve James), Hammer (Isaac Hayes), Slammer (football star Jim Brown), and John Slade (Bernie Casey), Spade wages a war against Mr. Big, the neighborhood crime lord.

In the tradition of Airplane! and Naked Gun, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka pokes fun through satire and offensive comedy. The film also features some of the players that would end up on In Living Color and has appearances from such varied actors as Clarence Williams III, Eve Plumb (better known to most as Jan Brady), and Chris Rock as a rib-joint customer. --Shannon Gee ... Read more

Reviews (29)

SHE'S THE DIRECTOR'S SISTER
I'M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA is one hilarious film; even though many of the jokes fall flat at times, the whole is superlative tongue in cheek satire. A broad humored satire of those wonderful 70's "black exploitation" films, Wayans and crew serve up scene after scene of hilarity. For instance: a sleazy girl is singing a sultry version of "When the Saints Come Marching In," and when Wayans asks who she is, the waitress says "She's the director's sister." (She is!). When ex-football star Jim Brown asks Wayans why he thinks he's qualified to be a black hero, Wayans tells him "I'm an ex football player." When Dawnn Lewis as Wayans' sweetie gets the cramps, she really gets cranky!! John Vernon as Mr. Big spouts off why shouldn't he be in a black exploitation movie, other actors have! There are so many scenes like this that one can't help but laugh and laugh again.
Featuring a cavalcade of black and white actors, including Clarence Williams III, Isaac Hayes, Ja'net Dubois, Antonio Fargas and Steve James, I'M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA is a hoot to watch!

I'M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA!
I'M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA! is a spoof an blaxploitation films of the 1970's. This is the first film written, directed by, and starring Keenen Ivory Wayans. Jack Spade is an Army secretary who returns home to find out that his brother has died of an O.G. (an overdose of gold chains). Jack gathers up an army of some local neighborhood hero's (Bernie Casey, Antonio Fargas, Steve James, Isaac Hayes, and Jim Brown) to help him fight and defeat Mr. Big, the crime lord responsible for his brother's death. This movie has many funny moments, especially one that has Chris Rock making an appearance as a rib joint customer. This is a film for both action and comedy fans! Keenen Ivory Wayans would go on to direct SCARY MOVIE and SCARY MOVIE 2!

hilarious
one of the great films of the 80s (or was it 90s?).

I love Blaxploitation...but this was ok
This film does have some very funny moments like the rib joke but I felt a wee bit let down that the script and story line was not as good as it could have been. It nice to see the old boys back (Hayes,Brown etc...) but where were Pam Grier, Fred Williamson and Richard Roundtree !!....now that would have been excellent. I love Blaxploitation but I wish this was better.

Great Film, Funny as hell
The title caught me, but the film got me hooked. Its all silly. THe plot, the characters, and even the tongue in cheek looks at the camera. But it works. Funnier than Scary Movie and all the other spoofs by the Wayans. You must check out this sh*t, yo. Best scene was with Kung Fu Joe and the cops. I fell off the couch laughing. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

G.I. Joe packs a punch and a smile!
American Ninja is basically a star vehicle for Canon films hot young property Michael Dudikoff. While he is no Chuck Norris he has some cool moves and a warm smile. He rescues his Colonels pretty daughter from an ambush of ninja warriors. They escape by jumping in a river. Of course, they both are soaked to the skin but they dry off together in the woods before returning to civilization! Using his own martial arts skills he learned as a child from his foster father, a ninja warrior, he foils dastardly plots that are brewing and gets the girl.

While that sums up the plot, Michael Dudikoff, ably assisted by another rising star Steve James, makes this action movie work well enough to spawn a series of sequals. While no nominations are in order, the movie certainly is more entertaining then many higher budget action films are today. The DVD is in Widescreen with an aspect ratio of about 1:85:1. It includes a trailer sporting a pre-release working title for the film. The VHS editon enhances action in the center of the screen which has its advantages as well. Both releases are Closed Captioned. So make a bowl of popcorn and enjoy the show. Best Wishes, CAL

US armys Joe Armstrong kills a smuggler & hundreds of ninjas
This movie is the chop sockiest ninja flick since Jackie Chans fests. It centers around Joe(The none too articulate Michael Dudikoff),a ninja with amnesia who joined the army after nearly killing someone. After getting into a fight with smugglers,he causes the death of 4 soldiers,(By ninjas)putting his reputation at stake.Joe rescues the colonels daughter and falls in love with her.After scrapping with Curtis Jackson(The too articulate Steve James),a corporal,they become friends.It turns out a smuggling operation is going on,and they want Joe dead for he knows too much. The black star ninja (Tadashi Yamashita) nearly assassinates him on several points. Eventually Joe learns the secrets of his past and.....watch the rest yourself! Its a great martial arts movie,and so was #2. Unfortunetly,3&4 are not worth mentioning. "He possess great skills!" END

Dudikoff, baby!
Our buddies at Cannon figured they should strike while the iron was hot and get a little more out of their successful ninja franchise. Having found success with already established action stars, they tried to make their own in the form of MICHAEL DUDIKOFF-THE AMERICAN NINJAAAAAA! Well, Dudikoff never achieved superstardom, but he'll always be recognized as "Joe". His screen presence isn't bad at all. He's got a boyish look and a rather soft spoken demeanor different from most action tough guys. He plays a soldier who, like Rodney, gets no respect. When he finally beats Steve James(a cool sidekick I might add) in a fight, he becomes rather popular. He takes on an army of evil ninjas that threaten the fate of the world! Ther lead ninja is a mean brute who kills his fellow ninjas during routine practices. This movie's fun.....very fun. Sure it's lame as all hell, but someone must have liked it coz it spawned four sequels.

THIS WAS A GOOD MOVIE, SCREW WHAT THEM CRITICS SAID!
IN THIS CULT CLASSIC, AN ARMY RECRUIT [MICHAEL DUDIKOFF] MUST STOP THE ARMY FROM DOING A MAJOR WEAPONS DEAL WITH SOME RICH BAD GUYS. THOUGH THERE REALLY ISN'T MUCH TO THE MARTIAL ARTS THAT'S DISPLAYED HERE, IT'S STILL A FUN MOVIE TO WATCH, DESPITE THE BAD THINGS THAT ALL THE CRITICS HAVE SAID ABOUT THIS MOVIE AND ITS SEQUELS, I'LL ADMIT IT, I REALLY ENJOYED THIS MOVIE. SCREW WHAT ALL THE CRITICS SAY, GO PICK UP THIS MOVIE NOW. MICHAEL DUDIKOFF AND STEVE JAMES HAVE AMAZING CHEMISTRY. FOLLOWED BY FOUR SEQUELS.

a cult was born
one of the best ninja and action films of the 80's.
michael dudikoff at one of he's best, good fightscenes and fantastic music.
the reason for only 4 stars: it's very tragic thats the film only is in widescreen! ... Read more

Reviews (22)

'Brother' is a Gem
'Brother From Another Planet' is a gem of a movie from director John Sayles. Yes, it's low-budget (typical Sayles), and yes it sounds like b-grade science-fiction at first (alien lands on Earth, pursued by other aliens), but it's so much more than that. First off, the alien (played by Joe Morton, who does not utter a word througout the movie) is black and, luckily, lands in Harlem. Slowly but surely, he finds a way to not only make a living (by fixing electronics), but also manages to help out those who live around him. No offense meant to Mr. Morton, but this is probably his best performance to date.Meanwhile, he's pursued by the two other aliens, who are white (one of whom is played by Sayles himself), and have their own interactions with the Harlem community.In this little, very underplayed film, Sayles manages to say a lot about community, race, charity and mankind itself. Endnote: Keep your eye out for the 'eye out' scene.

Don't be fooled--widescreen is the way to go
A certain reviewer on this page tells us that the fullscreen version of this film is superior to the widescreen. Having seen both, I can testify that the mental competency of this reviewer is very much in doubt.

The fullscreen is one of the worst stateside dvd transfers in existence. Many night scenes seem to be taking place in a storm of dust. The day scenes aren't much better; each one looks like it was filmed after sundown. The glorious color cinematography of Earnest Dickerson is ruined, both by the muted color and by the 4:3 remframing. Though not nearly as vibrant as Dickerson's later work on Do the Right Thing, this is still a suprisingly compelling movie from a visual standpoint. If you get the fullscreen, you'll never know.

And at last, you can see every nuance of Joe Morton's face! His great performance as the brother, which has not one single spoken word, is finally visible in all its complexity. So are the faces of the residents of Harlem, both good and bad, that we encounter throughout the film. As many have noted, the sci-fi effects are totally laughable (the removable eye, especially), but that's not what this film is about. It's about a new way to look at the experiece of race and community, and it succeeds brilliantly.

A final note on the pro-fullscreen reviewer: if you look up his reviews, you will note that he hates Taxi Driver and loves both Ishtar and Howard the Duck. I rest my case.

Amazing
This is one of my favorite films of all time. Like many really good Sci Fi tales, it is ultimately a very human story. I love so many of the scenes - the character interactions in the bar scenes are great. And Joe Morton is terrific.

They didn't have much budget for this and there are obvious clumsy mistakes in the movie. Some of the mistakes are even pointed out in the director's comments, but it just adds to the enjoyment. (But my DVD copy is just fine. I don't understand the quality complaints in other reviews here.)

For all the rough spots, I don't miss the million dollar effects one bit. Effects might even push the story aside too much. This DVD will always have an honored place on my shelf and I will enjoy this many more times. (And I could never say the same for Matrix Revolutions, for example.)

Buy the other version
this one is so called "widescreen." There is another DVD which has the number B000055XLV also available here on Amazon, which is fullscreen so you can really watch and enjoy this wonderful movie. Buy that version instead, and the price is much cheaper to boot!

Fullscreen and Great
This version, the Gemstone DVD--not the more recent MGM one--is fullscreen so you can really see and enjoy the movie. Contrary to the reviews below, it is truly great, and at a much better price. It is too bad that the director's interview, etc. are on the MGM DVD, but that one is so called "widescreen" only, and therefore should not be bought or supported. Buy and watch this excellent fullscreen version of a truly wonderful film. ... Read more

Amazon.com

From Keenan Ivory Wayans, the man who brought us Jim Carrey (initially just one of the bunch on Wayans's television comedy-sketch show, In Living Color), comes I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), a comedy spoof on the blaxploitation films of the 1970s. Wayans plays Jack Spade, an army private just returning from the service. He comes home to find his younger brother June Bug dead of a overdose of gold chains (an "O.G.") He vows revenge, and with the help of some of the neighborhood's old school heroes including Flyguy (Antonio Fargas), Kung Fu Joe (Steve James), Hammer (Isaac Hayes), Slammer (football star Jim Brown), and John Slade (Bernie Casey), Spade wages a war against Mr. Big, the neighborhood crime lord.

In the tradition of Airplane! and Naked Gun, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka pokes fun through satire and offensive comedy. The film also features some of the players that would end up on In Living Color and has appearances from such varied actors as Clarence Williams III, Eve Plumb (better known to most as Jan Brady), and Chris Rock as a rib-joint customer. --Shannon Gee ... Read more

Reviews (29)

SHE'S THE DIRECTOR'S SISTER
I'M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA is one hilarious film; even though many of the jokes fall flat at times, the whole is superlative tongue in cheek satire. A broad humored satire of those wonderful 70's "black exploitation" films, Wayans and crew serve up scene after scene of hilarity. For instance: a sleazy girl is singing a sultry version of "When the Saints Come Marching In," and when Wayans asks who she is, the waitress says "She's the director's sister." (She is!). When ex-football star Jim Brown asks Wayans why he thinks he's qualified to be a black hero, Wayans tells him "I'm an ex football player." When Dawnn Lewis as Wayans' sweetie gets the cramps, she really gets cranky!! John Vernon as Mr. Big spouts off why shouldn't he be in a black exploitation movie, other actors have! There are so many scenes like this that one can't help but laugh and laugh again.
Featuring a cavalcade of black and white actors, including Clarence Williams III, Isaac Hayes, Ja'net Dubois, Antonio Fargas and Steve James, I'M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA is a hoot to watch!

I'M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA!
I'M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA! is a spoof an blaxploitation films of the 1970's. This is the first film written, directed by, and starring Keenen Ivory Wayans. Jack Spade is an Army secretary who returns home to find out that his brother has died of an O.G. (an overdose of gold chains). Jack gathers up an army of some local neighborhood hero's (Bernie Casey, Antonio Fargas, Steve James, Isaac Hayes, and Jim Brown) to help him fight and defeat Mr. Big, the crime lord responsible for his brother's death. This movie has many funny moments, especially one that has Chris Rock making an appearance as a rib joint customer. This is a film for both action and comedy fans! Keenen Ivory Wayans would go on to direct SCARY MOVIE and SCARY MOVIE 2!

hilarious
one of the great films of the 80s (or was it 90s?).

I love Blaxploitation...but this was ok
This film does have some very funny moments like the rib joke but I felt a wee bit let down that the script and story line was not as good as it could have been. It nice to see the old boys back (Hayes,Brown etc...) but where were Pam Grier, Fred Williamson and Richard Roundtree !!....now that would have been excellent. I love Blaxploitation but I wish this was better.

Great Film, Funny as hell
The title caught me, but the film got me hooked. Its all silly. THe plot, the characters, and even the tongue in cheek looks at the camera. But it works. Funnier than Scary Movie and all the other spoofs by the Wayans. You must check out this sh*t, yo. Best scene was with Kung Fu Joe and the cops. I fell off the couch laughing. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

THE SEQUEL'S BETTER
I first rented this when I was about 15 & my mum went apes**t. A movie about a guy who kills people with a blowtorch. COOOOOL! However the blowtorch isn't that big a player in the movie. This is your typical Vietnam vet revenge story ad nauseum. Vet Ginty seeks revenge on the creeps who ripped up his best friend with a clawhammer (Steve James- who briefly adds "life" to the movie). There are some hilariously bad gore scenes, including the decapitation in the opening scene which has to be seen to be believed, and how could I forget the sequence with the meat grinder? I'd advise you not to eat a hamburger while watching this movie. Worst of all though is the godawful country-western song which plays during the opening credits. Yeech!

A Cult Classic
Out of anyone who played in the film I think George did the best job out of anyone; followed by Gintry. Those who've seen the sequel as well will notice what a superior director Glickenhaus was to whoever directing the sequel that he didn't stick around for. Though it is a rather cheaply made film it's still gritty and effective, yet still can't live up to the fame of Bronson's Death Wish, which is the grandaddy of all vigilante flicks bar none.

Not a bad Death Wish knock off!
It has a low budget and a cast of actors that anyone outside of the B Movie fan circles is unfamiliar with but that doesn't stop it from being one of the better revenge movies from the 80's. It's outlined by a simple plotline about a vietnam vet, played by Robert Ginty (the Paperchase guy), whose friend is paralyzed by wild gang members in the New York City wildlands. Fed up with the justice system, he takes matters into his own hands.

The biggest appeal of this movie is the minimalist style of the scenery. It's very gritty and grimy and has all the earmarks of a great grindhouse movie. The violence, which is unfortunately spaced too far apart to be consistent, is unbelievably brutal for an American made movie with an R rating. Also, most of the press from the time pushed the imagery of the flame thrower. While it's an essential element of the sequel, which badly needs a quality DVD release, it only makes an appearance once in this offering.

If you're a fan of cheesy movies and exploitation, don't pass this one up.

we need the sequel on DVD
Exterminator is good entertainment, but Exterminator 2 is more fun. He doesn't just hunt down criminals HE MELTS THEM! He gives vigilante Bronson a run for his money in that one as he leaves charred smokin scum corpses for the cops to find! The idea of a masked vigilante with a flame flower is just too much fun to watch. His nemesis is the evil "X" played be Mario Van Peebles too! Now that Exterminator is on DVD we need Exterminator 2!

we need exterminator 2!!
Exterminator is great, but the sequel was even better! The idea of a vigilante not just killin his victims, but burning them up and leaving their charred smoking corpses behind for the cops was bad *ss! That made him a vigilante that even Paul Kersey would admire. Buy Executioner and then tell Anchor Bay you want the sequel. Hell it's even got Mario Vane Peebles as the Exterminator's nemesis "X"! It's a B-movie vigilante lover's dream! ... Read more

Reviews (65)

I LOVE THIS MOVIE !!!
"Delta Force" is a classic of the Action/Adventure genre. Karate champ Chuck Norris has been in some pretty cool movies, like "Lone Wolf McQuaid" and "Missing in Action," but this is probably his best one. He's also been in some really crum