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

Reviews (3)

A chilling thriller
This movie is a classic. It will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Scott Glenn is superb as the detective and his character son, 11 year old Jessie, is impressive.
This story can be non fictional. There's a lot of demented people out there today.
This maniac that they are pursuing is so twisted. He is a monster. The things he does is horrifying. And the ending is a shocker. This film is becoming hard to find. Get it before it's too late.

Really Cool Movie
I haven't seen this movie in a while, in most part, because I couldn't find it. Anyway, I saw it a long time ago and it was so cool. I was around 13, and an avid horror movie watcher. I was never nervous to watch any type of horror around my parents, until this movie. This movie is pretty gory and very entertaining. It is very nerve racking and pretty suspenseful.

Scott Glenn can make just about any picture worthwhile
Several years ago I caught about 15 minutes in the middle of this movie on cable, but was never able to see the rest, and since Scott Glenn is always worth a watch, I finally found it to purchase. The premise of the movie is kind of clever - Scott Glenn as an FBI Profiler type of agent who tumbles to an undiscovered serial killer with the help of his very precocious son. While this is certainly not the best movie I've seen in the genre (e.g. Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon, etc.), it has some interesting ideas that are actually quite frightening when you think about just how possible something like this could be nowadays. There are all kinds of psychologically-traumatized fanatics runnings around, and this movie explores religious fervor turned deadly. If you can suspend some disbelief (like most movies require of the viewer), you will enjoy this. ... 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 (5)

TOTALLY AWESOME!
This has to be one of the best low-budget films of all time! Michelle Williams, Michael Dorn and Pat Morita are awesome! Jesse needs acting lessons, though he is sufficient for the film.

I don't think that many people will see this film. I rented it after I saw it in the video store. I have no idea why it is [$$] bucks..., maybe because it is hard to get, although I haven't tried looking for it hard.

This is a cool movie about a boy who travels through time to try and stop an evil plot by Dorn to destroy the Earth for a game. The game is kind of hard to explain. It is played for a life-giving substance called 'Blue.' Blue gives it's bearer eternal life, but if you stop taking it you die.

Pat Morita enlists Jesse to stop this game and save his parents from being prisoners of the game. The plot is very complicated, you'll just have to see this movie. It's one-in-a-million. I give it 5 stars.

The best movie
I love this movie even though it needed work it was a great science fiction film. The actors did good for being kids. It was great and the title just pulled me in.

Possibly the worst movie ever
What a mess! There was way too much that was not explained, for starters. The kid (Jesse) needs some acting lessons. Some special effects were OK, others were terrible - the outer space scenes were a joke, and when the bank blew up I swear that the guys on the balcony were in mid-air *before* the explosion *started*. Sheesh. The virtual game machines were ludicrous as well, and it was some coincidence that Jesse could just hop in and operate a seemingly complex control panel like an expert. Overall it was very difficult to follow, especially how the main characters memory appeard to be selective depending on what time they were in. The story had potential but the poor execution made it one of the worst movies I've ever seen, if the THE worst.

An incomprehensible mishmash
The kids can't act, the scenery is right out of "Mad Max", Michael Dorn is practically sleepwalking (he was better on ChIPS than he is here!) and Pat Morita should have stuck to standup comedy (they should have gotten the fabulous character actor Mako for this one). The only saving grace this movie has is Duncan Regehr, who is far too graceful an actor to be wasted like this. Unfortunately, he is not on-screen nearly enough. For Regehr fanatics, a better choice is any of the "Zorro" videos or "Monster Squad", where he plays an unbelievably evil Dracula.

Competant-but-flawed SF/YA, some surprising writing.
The Glickenhous family comes together here with a stewpot-of-everything for a decent time-manipulation story centering on Young Jesse being the only one who cares enough to convince a cynical Almost-badguy Pat Morita to help stop a future-based life-and-death-of-innocents-stakes time-manipulation competition from destroying his parents' lives. Flawed by a lackadaisical performance from Dorn, this study in how-to-produce-good-action-scenes-on-budget is great fun. Especially so the more you know your hero films. Hopping from a post-nuclear-war desert near-future to the far future to the late 1800's, it's use of remarkably good first and second-unit camera and stunt work and editing makes for remarkable emulations and dead-on copies of famous scenes and stylings. Stylistically accurate, dangerous and detailed scenes from Leone's mean Italian westerns, Mad Max, Dune, classic biker bar fights, and a stunningly accurate and exhausting Swiss spa location copy of the Bond ski chase (featuring the US free-style ski team) all come together for a demo-reel that would impress anyone. All this is tied together with the director's children in the lead roles and a story that isn;t as bad as it feels with the lethargy that seems to emanate from Dorn's tangible uninvolvement with whatever scene he's in. While Patently absurd at $80 for the tape, especially since the wide screen version is on LD, if it's comes to DVD at basic prices, it's easily worth having as an example of how to get a film done on budget and on time and give the kids a good ride. Easily worth the time and trouble to check this one out. ... 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

Reviews (19)

May be worth a look.
I have to admit I haven't actually seen this movie, but I've read something about it, and I just wanted to say that I believe this subtitled version must be the Hong Kong version that Jackie Chan made after James Glickenhouse was off the project. He reshot the actions scenes at the end, and I've heard that Jackie's version is far superior to the original American version that Leonard Maltin reviewed.

THIS MOVIE'S NOT TRUE TO JACKIE CHAN'S LEGACY!
TWO COPS [JACKIE CHAN AND DANNY AIELLO] TRY TO BUST UP A MAJOR DRUG OPERATION. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT JACKIE CHAN TRYED TO BREAK INTO THE AMERICAN MARKET. AND LIKE THE FIRST TIME [HIS FIRST AMERICAN MOVIE WAS ''THE BIG BRAWL''], THIS FAILED AT BEING A HIT. BUT UNLIKE ''THE BIG BRAWL'', THIS MOVIE WAS PRETTY BORING, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT HAS SOME GOOD ACTION SCENES. BUT, JACKIE DOES BEHAVE REALLY REALLY DIFFERENT IN THIS MOVIE, AS OPPOSED TO SOME OF HIS OTHER MOVIES. IN THIS MOVIE, JACKIE DROPS THE F BOMB [SEVERAL TIMES AT THAT], JACKIE TREATS WOMEN WITH LITTLE RESPECT, AND HE'S REALLY QUICK TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE. WHAT RUINS THIS MOVIE IS THE FACT THAT JACKIE TRYS TO BE TOO SERIOUS AND THE FACT THAT JACKIE NEVER REALLY GETS A FAIR CHANCE TO FULLY SHOW OFF HIS AMAZING MARTIAL ARTS SKILLS. FANS OF JACKIE CHAN MIGHT WATCH THIS OUTTA CURIOSITY. BUT, IF YOU DO WATCH THIS, WAIT FOR IT TO COME ON TV OR RENT IT. BUT DON'T BUY THIS.

Excellent
I don't know what's wrong with these people this movie was one of Jackie's finest and I've seen all his movies. Sure maby the fighting seens were a little off but look at his movies from 1985 and bellow they were pretty odd like Big and Little Wong Tin Bar, Rumble in Hong Kong or The Fingers of Death. Come on you gotta admit there were some pretty good action sceens. The story made good sense and everything too.

A Chan movie controlled by others is not a jackie chan movie
This 2 star, fair, movie is missing much of what makes a Jackie chan movie so much fun. The producers substitute Jackies wit and humor with Sex, Gore and Cursing the universal method of spicing up a poorly written script and mediocre direction. This is not a family friendly movie. Near the beginning of the movie Jackie uses the F@#% word and my wife and looked at each other.. we couldn't recall a Chan movie using that kind of language.

I have read that Jackie himself was so disappointed with what Hollywood produced here, he went on the make the police Story trilogy, which culminates in SUPERCOP. The music is more like the 1970's era sounding like TJ Hooker and other cops TV shows. There are a lot of good Chan movie and I think you can skip this one.

Can't Blame Jackie!
I am a very big Jackie Chan Fan! I love all his work! Even this film. But I know, for a fact, its not a true Chan film at all.

First off, the character Chan protrays is not a Chan character at all. It is merely an obvious Hollywood executive's clithe creation, handed over to Jackie. The problem was that Jackie plays a tough, almost unemotional, badass cop! With a dirty tounge, and a mean spirit. Not Jackie! This character casually swears and treats woman with little respect. Not Jackie.

BUT! I will say this, seeing that kind of charater comming out of jackie was interesting to say the least. A part of me enjoyed it very much. It was strange to see, but its the only time you will, so enjoy it if you can.

As for the movie. Its just jammed ful of your typical 80's cop flick scenarios. Kidnapping, Drug rings, boat chase, bloody shoot outs. Oh, and even one of the villians turns out to be who you thought, was a good guy. The Shock!

But all that aside. It was only Jackies second attempt at American success. But since the film was done with out much free will to explore by Jackie, it was again, a failure. And he would be the first to admit that!

But one good, no, great thing came out of this film.

It was Jackies inspiration for what would be one of his greatest achievements, the Police Story series! ... 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 (19)

May be worth a look.
I have to admit I haven't actually seen this movie, but I've read something about it, and I just wanted to say that I believe this subtitled version must be the Hong Kong version that Jackie Chan made after James Glickenhouse was off the project. He reshot the actions scenes at the end, and I've heard that Jackie's version is far superior to the original American version that Leonard Maltin reviewed.

THIS MOVIE'S NOT TRUE TO JACKIE CHAN'S LEGACY!
TWO COPS [JACKIE CHAN AND DANNY AIELLO] TRY TO BUST UP A MAJOR DRUG OPERATION. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT JACKIE CHAN TRYED TO BREAK INTO THE AMERICAN MARKET. AND LIKE THE FIRST TIME [HIS FIRST AMERICAN MOVIE WAS ''THE BIG BRAWL''], THIS FAILED AT BEING A HIT. BUT UNLIKE ''THE BIG BRAWL'', THIS MOVIE WAS PRETTY BORING, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT HAS SOME GOOD ACTION SCENES. BUT, JACKIE DOES BEHAVE REALLY REALLY DIFFERENT IN THIS MOVIE, AS OPPOSED TO SOME OF HIS OTHER MOVIES. IN THIS MOVIE, JACKIE DROPS THE F BOMB [SEVERAL TIMES AT THAT], JACKIE TREATS WOMEN WITH LITTLE RESPECT, AND HE'S REALLY QUICK TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE. WHAT RUINS THIS MOVIE IS THE FACT THAT JACKIE TRYS TO BE TOO SERIOUS AND THE FACT THAT JACKIE NEVER REALLY GETS A FAIR CHANCE TO FULLY SHOW OFF HIS AMAZING MARTIAL ARTS SKILLS. FANS OF JACKIE CHAN MIGHT WATCH THIS OUTTA CURIOSITY. BUT, IF YOU DO WATCH THIS, WAIT FOR IT TO COME ON TV OR RENT IT. BUT DON'T BUY THIS.

Excellent
I don't know what's wrong with these people this movie was one of Jackie's finest and I've seen all his movies. Sure maby the fighting seens were a little off but look at his movies from 1985 and bellow they were pretty odd like Big and Little Wong Tin Bar, Rumble in Hong Kong or The Fingers of Death. Come on you gotta admit there were some pretty good action sceens. The story made good sense and everything too.

A Chan movie controlled by others is not a jackie chan movie
This 2 star, fair, movie is missing much of what makes a Jackie chan movie so much fun. The producers substitute Jackies wit and humor with Sex, Gore and Cursing the universal method of spicing up a poorly written script and mediocre direction. This is not a family friendly movie. Near the beginning of the movie Jackie uses the F@#% word and my wife and looked at each other.. we couldn't recall a Chan movie using that kind of language.

I have read that Jackie himself was so disappointed with what Hollywood produced here, he went on the make the police Story trilogy, which culminates in SUPERCOP. The music is more like the 1970's era sounding like TJ Hooker and other cops TV shows. There are a lot of good Chan movie and I think you can skip this one.

Can't Blame Jackie!
I am a very big Jackie Chan Fan! I love all his work! Even this film. But I know, for a fact, its not a true Chan film at all.

First off, the character Chan protrays is not a Chan character at all. It is merely an obvious Hollywood executive's clithe creation, handed over to Jackie. The problem was that Jackie plays a tough, almost unemotional, badass cop! With a dirty tounge, and a mean spirit. Not Jackie! This character casually swears and treats woman with little respect. Not Jackie.

BUT! I will say this, seeing that kind of charater comming out of jackie was interesting to say the least. A part of me enjoyed it very much. It was strange to see, but its the only time you will, so enjoy it if you can.

As for the movie. Its just jammed ful of your typical 80's cop flick scenarios. Kidnapping, Drug rings, boat chase, bloody shoot outs. Oh, and even one of the villians turns out to be who you thought, was a good guy. The Shock!

But all that aside. It was only Jackies second attempt at American success. But since the film was done with out much free will to explore by Jackie, it was again, a failure. And he would be the first to admit that!

But one good, no, great thing came out of this film.

It was Jackies inspiration for what would be one of his greatest achievements, the Police Story series! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Get the NEW DVD release!
The new version of the DVD is a ton better then the horrid Goodtimes release. The disc is in Anamorphic Widescreen and the sound quality is really decent. No real extras except a trailer. Not a Blockbuster film but still decent. Hope this helps.

Great movie released by wrong company
I have the VHS tape of this movie & will continue to own it while this Goodtimes version of this great movie is on the shelf. I have not watched this movie for the fact that Goodtimes will screw up a good movie with bad quality picture, sound, & all around basics. The movie itself is great to watch with Weller & Elliott in the action scenes & the story is just all in your face. The only problem is this movie was not released by MCA Home Video, if it had been you would have a great movie on DVD instead of this blurred & muffled sound version.

Cuts???
I swear when I saw this in the cinema there was areally hot sex scene between Weller and Charbonneau, but it's been completely cut in the DVD. ...

"You cops. You're the best that money can buy."
In a year when Die Hard, Midnight Run, and Action Jackson ruled the screens lies an overlooked, underrated film called Shakedown directed by James Glickenhaus. A shining example of what a true star Peter Weller is. And here's something for you movie buffs. When Weller and Elliot are walking out of the movie theater, the two movies that are being shown (The Exterminator and The Soldier) were also directed by Glickenhaus. Great stuntwork and a nice chase scene.

Stunt-filled 80's action film!
Another winner from underrated action director James Glickenhaus. Peter Weller and Sam Elliott star as a public defender and undercover cop who team up to take down a ring of dirty cops and a drug kingpin played by Antonio Fargas. Very well written, but the dialogue comes second to the action sequences, which are great. The best are a footchase through Coney Island that leads to a fistfight on a moving rollercoaster and a motorcycle/police car chase through Times Square. The stuntmen really have their work cut out for them in this one. ... 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

Reviews (5)

Get the NEW DVD release!
The new version of the DVD is a ton better then the horrid Goodtimes release. The disc is in Anamorphic Widescreen and the sound quality is really decent. No real extras except a trailer. Not a Blockbuster film but still decent. Hope this helps.

Great movie released by wrong company
I have the VHS tape of this movie & will continue to own it while this Goodtimes version of this great movie is on the shelf. I have not watched this movie for the fact that Goodtimes will screw up a good movie with bad quality picture, sound, & all around basics. The movie itself is great to watch with Weller & Elliott in the action scenes & the story is just all in your face. The only problem is this movie was not released by MCA Home Video, if it had been you would have a great movie on DVD instead of this blurred & muffled sound version.

Cuts???
I swear when I saw this in the cinema there was areally hot sex scene between Weller and Charbonneau, but it's been completely cut in the DVD. ...

"You cops. You're the best that money can buy."
In a year when Die Hard, Midnight Run, and Action Jackson ruled the screens lies an overlooked, underrated film called Shakedown directed by James Glickenhaus. A shining example of what a true star Peter Weller is. And here's something for you movie buffs. When Weller and Elliot are walking out of the movie theater, the two movies that are being shown (The Exterminator and The Soldier) were also directed by Glickenhaus. Great stuntwork and a nice chase scene.

Stunt-filled 80's action film!
Another winner from underrated action director James Glickenhaus. Peter Weller and Sam Elliott star as a public defender and undercover cop who team up to take down a ring of dirty cops and a drug kingpin played by Antonio Fargas. Very well written, but the dialogue comes second to the action sequences, which are great. The best are a footchase through Coney Island that leads to a fistfight on a moving rollercoaster and a motorcycle/police car chase through Times Square. The stuntmen really have their work cut out for them in this one. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

May be worth a look.
I have to admit I haven't actually seen this movie, but I've read something about it, and I just wanted to say that I believe this subtitled version must be the Hong Kong version that Jackie Chan made after James Glickenhouse was off the project. He reshot the actions scenes at the end, and I've heard that Jackie's version is far superior to the original American version that Leonard Maltin reviewed.

THIS MOVIE'S NOT TRUE TO JACKIE CHAN'S LEGACY!
TWO COPS [JACKIE CHAN AND DANNY AIELLO] TRY TO BUST UP A MAJOR DRUG OPERATION. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT JACKIE CHAN TRYED TO BREAK INTO THE AMERICAN MARKET. AND LIKE THE FIRST TIME [HIS FIRST AMERICAN MOVIE WAS ''THE BIG BRAWL''], THIS FAILED AT BEING A HIT. BUT UNLIKE ''THE BIG BRAWL'', THIS MOVIE WAS PRETTY BORING, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT HAS SOME GOOD ACTION SCENES. BUT, JACKIE DOES BEHAVE REALLY REALLY DIFFERENT IN THIS MOVIE, AS OPPOSED TO SOME OF HIS OTHER MOVIES. IN THIS MOVIE, JACKIE DROPS THE F BOMB [SEVERAL TIMES AT THAT], JACKIE TREATS WOMEN WITH LITTLE RESPECT, AND HE'S REALLY QUICK TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE. WHAT RUINS THIS MOVIE IS THE FACT THAT JACKIE TRYS TO BE TOO SERIOUS AND THE FACT THAT JACKIE NEVER REALLY GETS A FAIR CHANCE TO FULLY SHOW OFF HIS AMAZING MARTIAL ARTS SKILLS. FANS OF JACKIE CHAN MIGHT WATCH THIS OUTTA CURIOSITY. BUT, IF YOU DO WATCH THIS, WAIT FOR IT TO COME ON TV OR RENT IT. BUT DON'T BUY THIS.

Excellent
I don't know what's wrong with these people this movie was one of Jackie's finest and I've seen all his movies. Sure maby the fighting seens were a little off but look at his movies from 1985 and bellow they were pretty odd like Big and Little Wong Tin Bar, Rumble in Hong Kong or The Fingers of Death. Come on you gotta admit there were some pretty good action sceens. The story made good sense and everything too.

A Chan movie controlled by others is not a jackie chan movie
This 2 star, fair, movie is missing much of what makes a Jackie chan movie so much fun. The producers substitute Jackies wit and humor with Sex, Gore and Cursing the universal method of spicing up a poorly written script and mediocre direction. This is not a family friendly movie. Near the beginning of the movie Jackie uses the F@#% word and my wife and looked at each other.. we couldn't recall a Chan movie using that kind of language.

I have read that Jackie himself was so disappointed with what Hollywood produced here, he went on the make the police Story trilogy, which culminates in SUPERCOP. The music is more like the 1970's era sounding like TJ Hooker and other cops TV shows. There are a lot of good Chan movie and I think you can skip this one.

Can't Blame Jackie!
I am a very big Jackie Chan Fan! I love all his work! Even this film. But I know, for a fact, its not a true Chan film at all.

First off, the character Chan protrays is not a Chan character at all. It is merely an obvious Hollywood executive's clithe creation, handed over to Jackie. The problem was that Jackie plays a tough, almost unemotional, badass cop! With a dirty tounge, and a mean spirit. Not Jackie! This character casually swears and treats woman with little respect. Not Jackie.

BUT! I will say this, seeing that kind of charater comming out of jackie was interesting to say the least. A part of me enjoyed it very much. It was strange to see, but its the only time you will, so enjoy it if you can.

As for the movie. Its just jammed ful of your typical 80's cop flick scenarios. Kidnapping, Drug rings, boat chase, bloody shoot outs. Oh, and even one of the villians turns out to be who you thought, was a good guy. The Shock!

But all that aside. It was only Jackies second attempt at American success. But since the film was done with out much free will to explore by Jackie, it was again, a failure. And he would be the first to admit that!

But one good, no, great thing came out of this film.

It was Jackies inspiration for what would be one of his greatest achievements, the Police Story series! ... Read more