Avenging Force (1986)

What a waste of my time!!!

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

The first hour is a build up for the hate and revenge of Michael Dudikoff's character. Actual themes like white supremacy are ever present and the corrupt villains have no mercy for no one. Even for today's standards, it's pretty violent although not graphic. The flow of the story is rather clumsy and in many ways inconsistent. It has a lot of plot holes but hey, it was the 80s. The movie was clearly designed as a starring vehicle for then B-Movie poster boy Dudikoff. Although in several european markets marketed as such, the movie has no connection to the American Ninja series. Overall it's good 80s action entertainment but thats about it.

Matt Hunter was one of the most promising operatives in Army intelligence until his parents were killed by terrorists.Larry Richards, running for the Senate, is one of Matt's best friends. Larry has become the target of The Pentangle, a racist organisation led by a man named Glastenbury, and Glastenbury doesn't want Larry to be elected.In an attempt on Larry's life during a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, The Pentangle kills one of Larry's sons. Matt lets Larry, his wife Daisy, and his other son move to the remotely located farm so they can hide from Glastenbury and the Pentangle, but the Pentangle strikes again, setting the farmhouse on fire.Matt and Sara escape as the only survivors. Then the Pentangle kidnaps Sara, sending Matt on a mission to rescue Sara from Glastenbury and the Pentangle.....Another cheesy movie from the house of Cannon, and to be fair, this one is quite brutal and relentless. Usually in these films, women and children are safe, but not in this, hell, even Steve James buys it in the second act.Dudikoff does what he usually does, runs really fast, does some random rolls across barrels for no good reason and talks in his usual high pitched voice, but the thing that his movie does, is beat Hard Target by nearly seven years, the first five minutes and the final twenty, really bear resemblance to the Van Damme movie.As with these films, there is always some comedy value to be had, such as Matt trying to rescue an obvious dummy from a house fire, the most fake looking person on fire, and the fact that half of the Pentangle are well into their fifties, but can still hold their own against twenty somethings.If you like disposable villains, very cheesy dialogue and random characters such as a tranny called Fifi, then this is for you.Just remember that this is from the studio that gave us Chuck Norris and the Bronsan of the eighties.Pure guilty pleasures.

Avenging Force (1986)-*** Directed by: Sam Firstenberg Starring: Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, James Booth, and John P. Ryan Here is a prime slice of Dudikoff/Cannon action from the golden year of 1986.It seems a nefarious, underground organization called "The Pentangle" are plotting to rule the world. In their spare time, they go into the woods and hunt human beings. The mastermind of it all, Professor Elliott Glastenbury (John P. Ryan) is a snobby, elitist racist who physically resembles Johnny Cash. Commander Jeb Wallace (Karl Johnson) is his second in command and looks like a cross between Jesse Ventura and G. Gordon Liddy. There's also crazed redneck Charlie Lavall (Marc Alaimo) and Wade Delaney (William Wallace). When they do their hunting, they wear masks - Mardi Gras Mask From Hell, S&M Leather Dude, Kabuki Ninja, and Evil Indian, respectively. The baddies even have a Dudikoff Doppelganger for their side - a blonde pretty boy! I guess they figured if they want to win, they should have a Dudikoff too, but he's no match for the original.Meanwhile, good-natured Army Intelligence Officer Capt. Matt Hunter (Dudikoff) just wants to relax on his family farm and wear his cowboy hat and Bolo tie. He's off spending some quality time with his young sister Sarah (Alison Gereighty) and of course Grandpa (Rick Boyle), as everyone calls him. When the Pentangle goes after Hunter's close friend and former Secret Service Partner Larry Richards (James) because he is a Black man running for Senator, Hunter snaps into action! After further attacks on both the Richards and Hunter families, including the kidnapping of Sarah, it's time to unleash the AVENGING FORCE of Matt Hunter! Dudikoff and James have really good chemistry in the film, and it's refreshing to see them actually working together in a friendly way, with no bickering. We liked that. Too many "team-up" movies feature the lead good guys squabbling the whole time - but not here. Larry Richards is what's needed in Washington right now - what you might call an "Action Senator"! Sure, he's running for Senate, but if needed he'll rip his shirt off and shoot bad guys! Another big plus, besides the good character development (especially between the Hunter and Richards families) is the high level production values. The movie looks great, especially when it captures the New Orleans flavor. From the Mardi Gras city scenes, to the deep-in-the-Bayou climax, everything is top notch. Director Firstenberg is an experienced action director and it shows. Once again Kane Hodder appears in the stunt department. All the actors, from Grandpa on down have unique personalities. And it doesn't skimp on the action. It's all good.Both foreign and domestic box art is awesome. Check out the detail in the U.S. VHS released by Media - you can see each bad guy's individual mask! For - dare I say - classy - 80's action fun, check out Avenging Force! For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

Michael Dudikoff and Steve James are back together in this one, again for director Sam Firstenberg and Cannon Films. Unlike most Cannon pictures, however, this one is actually good. Steve James is an ex-Secret Service agent running for office in New Orleans, and a secret racist group called The Pentangle attempts to assassinate him, as they don't want blacks in public office. James calls on his old friend Dudikoff to help him, and the two of them try to find out who is behind The Pentangle. Dudikoff and James definitely have a good chemistry between them, as they showed in "American Ninja" and both are very good in their parts. Director Firstenberg keeps the film moving smoothly, and stages a spectacular action sequence during a Mardi Gras parade. John Ryan does his usual good job at villainy. All in all, a very enjoyable little action piece.