Change Your Image
davidecasteel
Reviews
Space Marines (1996)
An observation
Hey! It had 785 muzzle flashes--that was enough for me!
Hell on the Battleground (1988)
Great muzzle flashes!
I rate movies of this genre on the number and quality of the muzzle flashes displayed. This one is almost 6 stars for number (732, 800 being 6 stars) and the quality is phenomenal! Some of the flashes are so large that one wonders how they were achieved (more than 5 feet long!). The crew certainly did not stint on the blank ammo budget.
Generally speaking, the AIP war films in the 1980s all scored very well in the muzzle flash department, but (as other raters have indicated) the movies pretty much sucked in plot, acting, tactics, etc. Because my focus is on other things, I just ignore all that and enjoy the action. It's mindless, but it's fun.
Operation Warzone (1988)
Great muzzle flashes!
This AIP war movie is a genre for which I have a very simplistic method of rating: I count the number of muzzle flashes displayed in it, and note something about their beauty. I do not expect realism, good acting, proper tactics, or even much plot. I sit back, watch the action, and enjoy myself. I do a lot of laughing, but that's what I expect and I get a good time out of it.
As for details, this film had 884 muzzle flashes, which makes it a solid 6-star movie on my scale (8 stars is max, and no actual film has ever achieved that--it takes 3200 flashes to do that). There are about 20 films that have achieved the 6-star rating or higher, but what sets this one apart is that about half of the flashes (almost 400) happen in the very first 5 minutes of the movie (and the action is at night). The flames are quite spectacular.
The plot (such as it is) has several interesting twists that I found unexpected and, therefore, interesting.
The Challenge (1970)
Also looking for copy
I remember seeing this movie a long time ago, so it was probably when it first aired on TV in 1970. No one I've mentioned it to believes me that it existed--they all seem to think I'm talking about the Lee Marvin movie. I was fascinated by the twin sub-machine-gun used by Darren McGavin, like nothing else used in movies before or since. McGavin and Mako are superb in their acting and portray a very realistic duel between opposite camps. I, too, would very much like to get a copy of this movie, which does not seem to be published in either VHS or DVD (I could handle either). I'd be willing to pay any reasonable fee plus handling charges if anyone here can oblige me.
Alien Siege (2005)
I liked it
I guess I have different priorities when I watch movies of this type from some others--my principal interest in in the level of firepower and how well it is photographed; this is the same criterion I use in non-Sci-fi action movies, as well. This movie definitely came up to my expectations in that regard, expectations that were high because of the casting of Brad Johnson and his earlier association with the successful (in my opinion) TV series "Soldier of Fortune, Inc." Although I do appreciate good acting and a well-developed plot (when they happen), I do not expect either one in this genre; by not expecting it, I am seldom disappointed. I think the plot was sufficiently different from others dealing with Alien subjugation that it was interesting and entertaining. I look forward to adding this movie to my collection when it becomes available.