[First production for David Hung's Hong Kong/Philippines company]
Director/Producer David “Hunt”/Hung Executive Producer Anjantre “Hunt”/Hung Cinematography Arnold “Adams”/Alvaro Editor John Williams 1st Assistant Director Andy "Anderson"/Andico 2nd Assistant Director Jeff Griffith Production Manager Vic Chapman Art Director Andy Vasquez Production Assistant Vivian "Anderson"/Andico Special Effects Jun Thompson Stunt Coordinator Jack Morgan Makeup Sally Kernochan, Mary Brenton Casting Director Philip Gordon Wardrobe Bruce Skerritt Set Dresser Kevin Singer, Nick Michell Camera Operator Jim Scott 1st Assistant Cameraman Keith Kleiser 2nd Assistant Cameraman Jimmy Nitzsche Gaffer John Williams Film Loader Antony Isaacs Production SoundmanPhilip Lyne Boom Man Alexander Kleiser Chief Electrician Ron Mitchell Electricians Jack Jones, William White, John Fox Key Grip Bill Morris Grips Neil Bozzone, Fred Turman Utility Larry Solomon, Gary Sanders Schedule Master Marco Baker Location Manager Sammy Interno Stills Joey Crame
Cast Jack Gilbert (John Branigan), Andrea Lamatsch (Sylvia Smith), Corwyn Paul Sperry (David Stone), Jim Moss (Mike Branigan), Buddy Norton (Luvack), Edward Burnett (Ivan), Albert Bronsky (1st Contact Man), Mike Mills (2nd Contact Man) KGB Agents Jeff Griffith, Philip Gordon, Henry "Stakaowsky"/Strzalkowsky, Nick Nicholson, Joe Fisher, Tim Timan, Miguel Romero, David Gibberson, Gerald Silvester, Helmut Brunner, John Reborra, Wolfgang Holbring, John Mosher, Gunther Wilke CIA Agent Jim Dixon
NOTE: Many of the names have been Anglicized, original names unknown
1994 - Angel Of Destruction(Concorde-New Horizons/The Pacific Trust)
[Also released as "Furious Angel"]
Director/Screenplay Charles Philip Moore Story Paul Maslak Producer Cirio H. Santiago Executive Producers Mike Elliott, [uncredited] Roger Corman Associate Producers Rob Kerchner, Christopher R. Santiago Cinematography Joe Batac Jr Music Michael M. Elliott, Elliot Anders Editors Brian Katkin, Terry Kelley Production Manager Honorato R. Perez Jr Line Producer Dulce V. del Pilar Production Designer J.B. de Jesus Music Supervisor Paul Di Franco Stunt Coordinator Ronald Asinas Stunt Players Lito Jacomina, George Vinarao, James Torres, Ike Asuncion First Assistant Director Totoy Torres Second Assistant Director Cani Celis 2nd Second Assistant Director Totoy Vinarao First Assistant Camera Jimmy Delostrico Second Assistant Camera Rene Pacheco Camera Lifter Dencio Friles Clappers Ramon Lazaro, Narding Sta. Maria Script Supervisor Gay B. Bustamante Script Supervisor Assistant Cecile Brobio Production Coordinator Ramon Mendoza Casting Director Enrique Reyes Casting Assistant Caloy Luna USA Casting Mark Sikes Sound Mixer Do Bolutano Boom Operator Dalmacio Dumigpi Gaffer Proceso Lazaro Best Boy Electrician Felix Pascual Electricians Ronnie Nadura, Pat Bice, Josh Dorsey, Victor Olguin Utility Head Eddie Fernandez Utility Assistants Lando Lopez, Pablo Lastimoso, Ogie Lopez Key Grip Ruel Dona Best Boy Grip Chris Lastimoso Grips Bong de Guzman, Cinco Nervato, Jeff Weitzel, Tony Gomez Post-Production Supervisor Jan Kikumoto Post-Production Coordinator Michael Kuge Post-Production Assistant James A. Williams First Assistant Editors Nick Edgar, Brett Hedlund, [uncredited, listed on IMDB] Travis Dultz Second Assistant Editor Allison Dean Apprentice Editors Will Leicy, Mark Sikes Art Director Ben Delina Set Director James Price Prop Master Al Abendano Prop Assistants Ferdie Suarez, Restie Peralta Set Dressers Ernesto Delina, Rene Delina Painters Tony La Torre, Baby Vivero Leadman Steven Path Swing Teresa Kelly, Ken Hawthorne Construction Coordinator Troy Bostwick Lead Carpenter Steve Sothan Carpenters Bill Lowe, Chad Baker, Harry Starr, Tim Jouet, Lisa Jouet Key Scenic Shari Minchow Costume Designer Jennifer Larson Wardrobe Supervisor Norma Cruz Wardrobe Assistants Gloria Garcia, Joey Tajanlangit, Michael Magadia Key Makeup Teresa Mercader Assistant Makeup Remy Desamparo, Nita Luna Stand-In Nene Varca Special Effects Juan Marbella Jr Production Accountant Armando S. Lacsamana Production Secretary Cynthia V. Cruz Production Nurse Vicky Banzuela Location Manager Danny Mercado Transportation Coordinator Geronimo Holandez Drivers Antolin Samson, Jim Pasewater, Tony Reynoldson Generator Driver Jose Badilla Generator Operator Jose de Leon Still Photographer Nilo Odiaman Stage Manager Tom Dolezol Catering Services Reynith Lapid Production Assistants Jef Afanador, Daniel Beck, Brian Harper, John Perkins, D.C. Dorino Interns Matt Edson, David M. Miller, Clint McCune, Joe Grube, John Dellinger, Heather Sutton, Adam Kuppersmith, Michael Singer Re-Recording Supervisor Michael Clark Re-Recording Mixer Ken Regan Dialogue Editor Butch Johnson Sound Effects Editors Ken Regan, Paul D. Carloson Foley Supervisor Georgina Spellvin Foley Recordist/Editor George Spellvin Foley Artists John Smith, Joan Smith ADR Recordist Michael Clark Sound Transfer Engineer Earl Rankin Color Timer Chuck Winston Ultra-Stereo Consultant Dan Victor Steadicam Operator [uncredited, listed on IMDB] Larry Cain
SECOND UNIT Cinematography Ricardo Remias First Assistant Cameraman Sheri Altman Sound Mixer Enteno Dona Boom Operator Lance Hedlund Script Supervisor Linda Taylor Production Assistant Tosca Philips
Cast Maria Ford (Jo Alwood), Charlie Spradling (Brit Alwood), Jessica Mark (Delilah), Antonio Bacci (Aaron Sayles), Chanda (Reena Jacobs), Jimmy Broome (Robert Kell), Bob McFarland (Sonny Luso), Chuck Moore (Chet Wailner), “Tim”/Timothy D. Baker (Tony), James [Gregory] Paolleli (Danny Marcus), Jim Moss (Sergeant Rooney), Steve Nicholson (Dino), Mark Duffy (Rodman), Henry Strzalkowski (Louis), Zenaida Amador (Mrs Kona), Paul Holmes (Coroner), John Kater (Carl Wells) Mercenaries Ronald Asinas, Manny Samson, David Smith, Nick Nicholson, Santi Laurrari [uncredited] Mike Cassey (Reporter #1), Larry Cain (Reporter #2)
Since the inception of this cathedral of bad cinema, we have sat through some really awful shit for you. Movies so bad, that Ralph Macchio himself would turn down scripts for them (actually thats bullshit, he would mow my lawn at this point in his career....which would be a nice compliment to Lorraine Gary who does my laundry currently). Today we have a Bad Movie Knight first. I have failed you. I have met my match in the form of Angel of Destruction.
To date, I have been able to view without interruption some sensational road side disasters.....but Angel of Destruction lasted all of 13 minutes before I rapidly excised it from my video player. I have not seen such awfulness since I watched the Bronx Executioner (which for the record I manage to view in total, however in fairness, I did so to get the name of the director so I could hunt him and his family down for taking those 2 hours of my life).
Angel of Destruction does of course contain some incredibly bad acting, and bad story, which are the cornerstone of bad movies, but it contains one giant fuck you to us, the viewers. The title is Angel of Destruction, which implies, yes this movie is most likely going to suck dead llama ass, but at least there will be some hot chicks and sex right? Nope. The 'Angel' is anything but. Actually she is butt. She looks like my ass. Come on. You couldn't find one attractive woman for this part? When I saw the cover, which boasted the tag line 'So hot she'll knock you out cold'.....I was immediately skeptical. She fails the hot part, and aside from passing out from sheer disgust at seeing her unclothed, there is no way this methodone clinic reject could knock anyone out.....unless her secret weapon is her breath which contains liberal helpings of whiskey mixed with the rotting smell of teeth, decaying from the over indulgence of cocaine.
Nudity. Sure there is plenty of it. And yes I only watched one quarter of an hour of this film. The nudity however, is provided by women, that should be wrapped up like mummies and buried in underground crypts for eternity. The breasts in this movie defied logic. Spanning the spectrum of natural breasts that looked like fried eggs, sunny side up style, that have fallen behind the grill onto the tile floor at some nasty greasy spoon, to medically altered franken-tits, that I could have done a better job creating with a power drill and a tube of bathroom caulk. Ladies, boobs aren't supposed to look like bottle nose dolphin heads.....unless you are trying to bang Aquaman you should obtain a refund. Back to Angel....ugh. The only way to keep from seeing her naked was to pull the tape out. I've gotten more aroused watching Faces of Death, and honestly less disgusted.
Heed this warning. This movie is bad, in a very, very, bad way. I would recommend something from our Costner collection before travelling down this highway of visual doom. Angel of Destruction. Fuck You.
1990 – Terror In Paradise(Peer Oppenheimer Production Inc/Premiere Films International Inc)
[Released on US VHS by New World Home Video]
Director Peer J. OppenheimerWriters Buzz Dixon, Matt Oppenheimer, Ron Sellz Producers Peer J. Oppenheimer, Cirio H. Santiago Co-Producer [uncredited] Michael Bershad Cinematography Joe Batac Music Matt Wayne Editor Marvin Kerner Casting Michael Bershad
Cast Gary Lockwood (Major Douglas), Joanna Pettet (Dr Fletcher), David Anthony Smith (Jason), Leslie Ryan (Vickie), David McKnight (Chuck), Michael Bershad (Randall), David Light (Babcock), Jim Moss (Luiz), Nick Nicholson (Zev), Archie Adamos (Mojo), Miguel Faustmann (Ugly Man), Paul Holmes (Frank), Trevor Kunz (Marie), Henry Strzalkowski (Nino), Barbara Jane Spake (Cashier), Mark Fullerton (Newspaper Boy)
“Jason Kirby and Vickie Evans encounter something other than paradise when their tropical vacation unwittingly meets up with a terrorist force. Soon a quiet romantic getaway has turned into a highstakes thriller of life and death.”
Anyone who has watched a New Horizons film knows what to expect prior to popping it in your VCR. However this film is coupled with producer Cirio Santiago, so the explosions and nudity are magnified.
The script is clichéd, with the terrorist leader, an extremely hammy Gary Lockwood, kidnapping famed plastic surgeon (Joanna Pettet) to alter his facial features. Lockwood has the typical inept goons at his disposal, who need a little more target acquisition training, and their subscriptions to Playboy rescinded.
The plot has a young couple(Ryan & Smith) traveling to what they believe to be a deserted island, for a romp in paradise. When Smith injures himself, they look for help and stumble across the terrorist camp. They must fight against terrorist and rescue the doctor.
This is really not worth watching, the acting is poor, and the script seems to be one of those continuously recycled B-Rate scripts. Although Leslie Ryan is extremely beautiful, and the director realized he needed to show her naked on numerous occasions for anyone to rent this clichéd yawner.
And…
Here is an example from a familiar genre: Innocent Young People Being Hunted Down By Heavily Armed Evildoers, the causes of the pursuits commonly being that the prey have stumbled upon something hidden and of which they should not have knowledge. Action begins in this incident-stuffed melodrama as Jason (David Anthony Smith) and Vickie (Leslie Ryan) rekindle the flame of a recently suspended relationship by sailing in his small catamaran, to an isolated and unidentified island that Jason believes is unoccupied, for a day of frolic and amour, only to find deadly danger waiting for them. For upon the island is reactionary and dishonoured United States Army Major Douglas (Gary Lockwood), who has jumped bail following his arrest for using overzealous techniques (including torture), of prisoners, along with a group of his followers, each of whom in turn finds the presence of Jason and Vickie to be highly intrusive. Douglas has kidnapped a renowned plastic surgeon, Dr. Fletcher (Joanna Pettet) in addition to her husband, and with the latter's survival as forfeit, the Major has compelled the doctor to create a new face for him antecedent to his leading a bombing assault upon the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, as means of influencing public opinion against perceived international "terrorists". While the carefree young couple visits the Douglas compound, there hoping to locate a source of medical treatment for a lacerated hand that Jason suffered while opening a food tin, an operative of the C.I.A. lurks about the island, taking photographs, but after his boat has been destroyed by the Douglas gang as he attempts to flee, he is washed ashore, and chanced upon by Jason and Vickie, to whom he explains, as he lays dying, details of the machinations of the mad Major. The real fun begins at this point, with farcical elements predominant, as each member of the Douglas entourage takes a crack at the young couple during ensuing scenes, employing a helicopter, Molotov cocktails, machine guns, etc., and of course with remarkably poor accuracy on display from renegade military personnel and their mercenary comrades. Even Douglas himself takes part, his face and entire head swaddled in bandages, yet apparently free from risk only hours after completion of surgery, with Jason and Vickie, as must be expected by viewers, managing to survive an ongoing series of absurdly repetitive and predictable assaults. These cause the film to be tiresome as all memory of the original plot is debased by interminable "action" sequences, with nearly every line of dialogue foretoken while the performances of the players are straitjacketed by the production. An exception is Ryan, a natural actress with ability to make something meritable of her formulaic part and inane lines as she busies herself by routing dangerous opponents.
[A Japanese production from around the same time as Watanabe’s B-Team/Above The War/Search And Destroy. The BFI catalogue lists this as a separate film – can anyone help out with any further information?]
Director Ken Watanabe
Cast David Light, Michael Welborn, Jim Moss, Anthony East, Donald Wilson, Philip Gordon
[Ninth in Concord's "Bloodfist" series, sometimes listed as "Bloodfist IX]
Director/Producer “Leonard Hermes”/Cirio H. Santiago Screenplay Michael Henry Carter Executive Producer [uncredited] Roger Corman Cinematography “Richard”/Ricardo Remias, “Jim”/Leodegario Dalawis Jr Music Abby Clutario, Francis de Veyra [IMDB credits Mel Lewis] Editors Lissa Banaag, Joseph Zucchero Production Design “Joe”/Jose Mari Avellana Sound Engineer Arnold Reodica 2nd Unit Director Bobby Santiago Assistant to the Producer Joseph Zucchero Unit Manager Arleen “Al” Gomez Assistant Director Glenn Parian Script Supervisor Nelia Garcia-Flores Bookkeeper Manding Lacsamana Field Cashier Ma. Fe Bladerma Production Secretary Babes De Leon In-Charge of External Affairs Ricky Tolentino Stills Nilo Odiaman Schedule Master Ramon “Menodza”/Mendoza Production Assistant Bembel Ubaldo [IMDB lists Amy Searles] Production Nurse Apple Pelaez Fight Directors Ronald Asinas, Popeye Art Director Alan Leynes Costume Designer NoelRibaya Wardrobe Assistants Edwin Mendoza, Joey Tajanlangit, Juvy Jorolan Makeup Artist Teresa Mercader Assistant Makeup Artist Nita Props & Setting Ben Delina, Roberto Carding Garcia Catering Nene Lopez Vehicle Rentals Efren Tibay Drivers Tex Molinyawe, Dario Utility Al Abendano Assistant AVID Editor Beng Bandong ADR Editors Addiss Tabong, Arnel Francia, Bebet Casas, Arnel Labayo, Aurel Claro Bilbao, Ric Loresto, Ross Diaz SFX & Foley Editors Addiss Tabong, Arnold Reodica, Arnel Francia, Bebet Casas, Arnel Labayo, Aurel Claro Bilbao, Ric Loresto, Ross Diaz Assistant Film Editors Anabel Magalona, Marisol Quindoyos, Evalyn Canapi Telecine Operators Ely Carangian, Roberto Nicholas Dailies Editor Jun de Guzman Post-Production Producers Mitch Nedia, Rachel Manalac, Ann Rey Bajar Laboratory Negative Processing Supervisor Jun Enriquez Laboratory Technician Liason Rick Hawthorne Film Specialist Elmer Buencamino Technical Operations Engineers Frank Chico, Nar Umali, Uriah Pypuekeng, Jun Salazar, Daye Moralita Traffic Co-Ordinators Hazel de Leon, Tanya Alda Utility Roy Tabao, Juan Nalumen, Bong Domingo [IMBD also lists Mark Messick as Sound Re-Recording Mixer]
Cast Matt Mullins (Alex Danko), Joe Sabatino (Detective Marino/Slick), Glenn Meadows (Randy Boikanovich), Beverly Lynne (Nadia Boikanovich), “Joe”/Jose Mari Avellana (MC), Monsour Del Rosario (Great Ahmed Kahn), “Jim”/James Gregory Paolleli (Johnny Danko), Joseph Zucchero (Detective Lee), Renee Rogoff (Molly), Jim Moss (Derelict), Mike Cassey (Blind man), Archie Adamos (Drug Dealer), Bon Vibar (Accountant), Cris Brewster (Bruegger), Alih Leal (Freezer Gomez), Jun Collao (Zulu Jack), “Ed”/Eduardo Torralba (Krag), Alex Cunanan (Sumo Eddie), Ronald Bing Waoel (Kemal Kevitch), Manny Distor (Waheed Kono), Goswill Emenike (Billy Rankin), Nash Espinosa (Monster), Jorge Canias (The Snake), Onchie Dela Cruz (Beast), Cris Aguilar (Killer Kane), Rey Comea (Manuu), Nico Dhaenen (Terminator), Boy Garcia (Ken GI), Robert Escutin (Red Demon), [uncredited] Philip Anthony
Bloodfist 2050 is a story about vengeance. Set in Los Angeles, CA in the year 2050, it is a story about Laker Powers (Matt Mullins) vying for the revenge of the death of his younger brother. He does so by participating in a no-rules fighting circuit where he believes he'll get clues which will lead him to the murderer.
Former Tae Kwon Do Olympian Monsour DelRosario plays the contra bida, The Great Ahmed Kahn, another fighter whom Laker suspects is the one responsible for the murder.
Directed by Cirio H. Santiago and line produced by Premiere Entertainment, the entire movie was filmed in the Philippines to achieve the setting of Los Angeles, California after a nuclear bomb attack. Main producers of the film are Concord Films, USA and Roger Corman.
Matt Mullins (www.matthewmullins.com) started martial arts training when he was 10 years old. He grew up in Chicago, USA but is currently living in Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. His previous works include a Discovery Channel special on Extreme Martial Arts.
This is the third collaboration between Monsour and C. H. Santiago. The first two films were Bloodfist 2 and When Eagles Strike. This is also the first time that Monsour is playing the role of an antagonist. He says that some of the benefits that come with playing the role of the “contra bida” are that you can “get away with a lot of things” and you can “do anything you want”.
With this role, there are no limitations when acting and fighting in front of the camera. In the past, when Monsour's roles were those of the hero, he was more limited in his actions.
Other local cast members in Bloodfist 2050 include Bon Vibar, a radio announcer on PIA, Channel 4, who plays the role of an accountant and Director Joe Marie Avellana who plays the part of the announcer during the fights.
Filled with suspense, romance, and lots of action, this movie is sure to have you on the edge of your seats!
Bloodfist 2050 was shown in the Philippines in 2005.
Bloodfist 2050 reminds me of the low budget action movies Jean-Claude Van Damme used to make in the late 1980s before he moved to Hollywood and became a total loser. In case of any confusion, I mean that as a compliment. Just like those films, Bloodfist 2050 makes no pretence about its meagre plot or wooden acting, choosing instead to focus its resources on squeezing as much action into the film as possible. The result is one of the most honest and enjoyable straight-to-video (actually, straight-to-TV) action films that I have seen in a while.
The plot is really beside the point but to summarise: Alex visits his brother Johnny, a pit fighter, only to find out that he has been murdered. Alex decides to pursue the murderer with the help of Slick, a police detective. Slick suggests that a pit fighter may be responsible, so naturally he trains Alex to become a fighting machine and enter an upcoming tournament. The same plot has served hundreds of action films over the years, and with good reason - It's the perfect vehicle for almost non-stop violence. The only real twist here is the fact that the movie is set in the future, hence the "2050".
Bloodfist 2050 really doesn't disappoint when it comes to action. From the car chase that begins the movie, to confrontations with street thugs and pit fighters, the action flows constantly. The fights are mostly brutal and the acrobatic skill of the various participants is put to good use. The violence is really only broken up by stripping routines and a sex scene. In fact, the film is surprisingly sleazy. I was not surprised to learn that some of the cast earn their livings making soft core adult movies.
The performances are uniformly bad but they serve their purpose. Matt Mullins makes a decent action hero. He may have the charisma of rotting vegetables but he looks the part and is obviously a skilled martial artist. As the stripper love-interest, Beverly Lynne exposes her breasts competently enough. Joe Sabatino also does reasonably well as Slick, particularly in the film's latter stages.
If you like mindless violence interspersed with gratuitous nudity, then Bloodfist 2050 comes highly recommended.
Roger Corman.Cirio H. Santiago.Kickboxers.Post-apocalyptic setting.Revenge plot.Tons of violence and nudity.It feels like 1984 all over again.New Concorde's BLOODFIST 2050, released in 2005, nearly a decade since the previous BLOODFIST, is the first of the nine-picture series to not star Don "The Dragon" Wilson.
This time, "five-time world martial arts champion" Matt Mullins steps in to star in a loose remake of the original BLOODFIST.Alex Danko (Mullins) arrives in seedy, futuristic Los Angeles, where his brother was jumped and beaten to death in an alley outside a strip joint.You pretty much know the rest--young kickboxer investigates murder of kickboxing champion brother, goes undercover, usual training sequences, has sex with hot stripper, lots of random fight scenes in and out of the ring.The credits play over a futuristic car chase out of one of director Santiago's '80s ROAD WARRIOR knockoffs, then that's the last we ever see of that part of 2050 society.
Once the credits end and Danko gets to L.A., society seems pretty normal, except there is an inordinately large Filipino population (BLOODFIST 2050 was shot in the Philippines).There is also a surprising amount of nudity in this movie, completely gratuitous, much of it provided by Beverly Lynne as Mullins' blond love interest.A lot of stock footage appears from previous Corman films; I think a pre-silicone Maria Ford appears as a stripper.Lynne and the guy who plays Danko's comic-relief fighter sidekick (Glen Meadows) are married softcore porn stars in real life. And it's good to see Joe Mari Avellana, who acted in the first two BLOODFIST movies (as different characters) still appearing in and wearing several hats in these cheapjack Corman productions (he also designed the crummy sets).
[original Italian title: “Trappola Diabolica”, released in France as "Mission Suicide"]
Director “Vincent Dawn”/Bruno Mattei, [uncredited] Claudio Fragasso Story Claudio Fragasso, Rossella Drudi Screenplay Claudio Fragasso Producer Franco Gaudenzi Editor Bruno Mattei Cinematography Riccardo Grassetti Music Stefano Mainetti Art Director “Bart”/Mimmo Scavia Sound Engineer Davide Piccini Dialogue Editor John Gayford Sound Effects Editors Tullio Arcangeli, Roberto Sterbini, Gjika Sotir Titles/Opticals Stefano Mafera Mixage Bruno Moreal Production Manager Giovanni Paolucci Stunt Coordinator Ottaviano Dell’Acqua Production Supervisor Rick Hasserot Accountant Mary Hope Makeup Franco di Girolamo Camera Operator John Irghins Continuity Liliane Hann Dialogue Coach Susan Adler Assistant Cameramen Ruben Hundit, Raul Mattews Makeup Assistant Angelica Raf Sound David Meel, Tom Morgan Boom Operators Clay McPaul, David Meel First Assistant Editor Rita Tryunph Second Assistant Editor Nicol Lud Key Grips Charles Kascioff, Alvit Hessar Gaffer Bert Hessar Computer Programmer [uncredited] Stefano Mainetti Master of Arms [uncredited] Massimo Vanni
PHILIPPINES CREW: Philippine Coordinator Benny Tornate Assistant Production Coordinator Ernie Barredo Location Manager Roland Taino Assistant Location Manager Edgard Taino Camera Assistant Ed Sequerada Art Director Vic Dabao Set Decorators Leonard Mediarito, Rene’ Mediarito Wardrobe Julie de Guzman Tailor Eddy de Guzman Stills Billy Carter Special Effects Rodolfo Torrente Assistant Stunt Coordinator Dante Abadessa Transport Manager Francisco Taino Key Grip Fred Marquez Gaffer Maio Ponce
Cast Brent Huff (Michael Ransom), Mary Stavin (Rosanna Boom), Richard Harris (Vic Jenkins), Mel Davidson (Kramet), Vic Diaz (Huan To), “Richard Raymond”/Ottaviano Dell'Acqua (Jimmy), “Alex McBride”/Massimo Vanni (Kelly Sellers), [uncredited] David Brass, Anthony East (Ruby), Jim Gaines (Frank, Jenkins' bodyguard), Paul Holme (Peter Roeg), Jim Moss (US Soldier), Michael Welborn (CIA Agent)
During the late 80s the Italian production company Flora Film launched quite a few action and horror films that were shot in the Philippines and were directed by the legendary trash maestro Bruno Mattei. The most famous of these films was ZOMBI 3 which Mattei took over after Lucio Fulci left production. Mattei naturally took over ZOMBI 3 as he was already in the Philippines, shooting the sequel to STRIKE COMMANDO for Franco Gaudenzi's Flora Film.
The Filipinos and the Italians shot countless commando action films in the Philippines during the late 80s and STRIKE COMMANDO is probably the most entertaining of them all. I'd go as far as to call it the mother of all Filipino-lensed commando movies. Who could possibly forget the shameless imitation of RAMBO FIRST BLOOD PART 2, the endless yelling by Reb Brown or the countless explosions or Alex Vitale's demise?
One can wonder how a film like STRIKE COMMANDO went as far as to spawn a sequel and to be honest I often wonder myself. I am not aware if it was released theatrically or not but know it did well in the worldwide video market.
The character of Michael Ransom returns in STRIKE COMMANDO 2 (TRAPOLLA DIABOLICA in Italy) but this time he is played by Brent Huff instead of Reb Brown. That is probably the most obvious and most important flaw here. Brown was severely criticized for his performance in the original but at least he wasn't annoying. Huff is probably the most annoying lead Mattei ever worked with and Reb Brown is Marlon Brando compared to him. The female lead here is Mary Stavin, another annoying actress who joined Huff and Mattei once again in the superior BORN TO FIGHT. Many wonder how an oscar-nominated actor like Richard Harris ended up in such a cheap and trashy film like this one. I don't think he is proud of this film but Mattei must be as Harris delivers the finest performance you are going to see in any Mattei film.
This time Ransom returns to Vietnam to rescue his commander (Richard Harris of A MAN CALLED HORSE) who is being held captive at a camp of drug producers. Aided by a local tough girl (Mary Stavin), Ransom is sent to get Jenkins back.
What makes STRIKE COMMANDO 2 hard to watch is Mattei's failed attempt at comedy (he has admitted himself that comedy is a genre he can't touch) which is underlined by atrocious music that is supposed to make this funny. The interaction between Huff and Stavin is also supposed to be funny but the result is just mind-numbing due to their constant yelling and inability to act.
The action is not bad and there are even ninjas here, believe it or not! Ninjas were fashionable at the time so Mattei probably thought he should spice his movie up with ninjas, no matter if their presence made sense or not. As you can expect there are quite a few explosions and Huff gets to fire a machine gun while yelling at the top of his voice, just like Reb Brown did in the original.
STRIKE COMMANDO is one of those "so bad its good" films but its sequel is sadly so bad its almost unwatchable. Actually I managed to seat through the whole film during my second attempt. Overall I had a pleasant time watching it although I am still trying to forget this is connected to one of Bruno's greatest masterpieces. Proceed with caution!
Somehow the production team managed to attain the signature to contract of superstar Richard Harris for this sequel to the highly infectious ‘Strike Commando’, who perhaps was looking to saddle up for a successful movie ride somewhat long in the wake of the ‘A Man Called Horse’ movie series. Maybe he had even been led to believe that he was to be appearing in the European version of ‘Rambo: First Blood Part 2’ or perhaps he just needed to pay off a bar tab. Whatever the reason director Mattei must have readdressed his usual thought process for film making as the tone of the final product swings from plain daft, even by his illustrious standards, to semi serious whenever Richard Harris is in frame.
The film starts with Reb Brown replacement star Brent Huff reliving a nightmare in Vietnam, with his superior officer Richard Harris pulling him out of a tight spot as explosions and gunfire sound out all around them. Setting the parameters for the style of the movie, along with the macho male bonding between the two lead stars, immediately borrows heavily from the familiar opening sequence of ‘Apocalypse Now’, but you just know that when this script is from Claudio Fragasso there really is nothing quite like the smell of a bad screenplay!
Soon the film kicks into familiar territory as Richard Harris’ character Vic Jenkins disappears after the war, to then be discovered by Huff’s soldier persona Michael Ransom to be still alive. He tracks him down, only to then see him abducted by a Russian backed militia heavily involved with drug production in the jungles of Burma. The CIA want their distinguished retired ranking officer back and are willing to pay the ransom in diamonds, as demanded by the captors, and of course Brent Huff steps up to be the man to go in after him. Chance to repay a debt of honour for Jenkins saving his life, as well as him being his friend.
With Richard Harris away from the respectful thespian duties Bruno Mattei gets to deliver what he is best at. The Action picks up and the fun kicks in with Brent Huff dominating the silly proceedings we are more gleefully accustomed to from this combination of ‘B’ movie schooling.
When bar owner Mary Stavin is introduced as Rosanna Boom she gets to do her best interpretation of Karen Allen’s boisterous character Marion Ravenwood, straight out of ‘Raiders Of The Lost Ark’. It doesn’t take long before both she and Huff are fighting a group of Ninjas along with the requisite Russian bad guy, all played out in a deliriously preposterous fashion. Brent Huff teams up with the annoyingly loud Stavin, who is outdone only by the truly awful musical composition playing throughout on the background track like a very amateur vaudeville presentation. Together armed with the diamonds they discover not only the whereabouts of Richard Harris but also the revealing truth behind the whole scenario. The drug production encampment gets breached in true ‘Rambo’ style.
Apart from maybe his career at the time the only other thing that the miscast Richard Harris gets to kill is a big bug, leaving the charismatically daft Huff to be held entirely responsible for the loss of a rain forest with his wooden acting alone.
The overall style of filming is to Mattei’s credit as the background scenery is beautifully captured and star Brent Huff is very well suited to his role. He energetically seems to get to perform all of his own stunts, as well as act without the need for a script.
The first time was for his country! And for his crew of blown up strike commandos! And for that little kid named Lao that he promised he would take to Disneyland where the popcorn grows on trees! This time though...it's personal!
Strike Commando returns with his most vengeance-filled mission ever as he beats the Philippine jungles (standing in for the Nam) looking for his mentor, the man who saved his life back when they were both fighting the Man's dirty little war!
Major Vic Jenkins has been reported killed, but Strike Commando is told by an old buddy that Vic is really alive and that his death had been faked and he is being held prisoner by the CIA or the KGB or the PTA or someone. Both Strike Commando and my reactions were immediate! Strike Commando immediately went down to the local CIA office to bust some heads while I wondered just who the hell Major Vic Jenkins was.
If you're watching Strike Commando 2, it's only because you've seen Strike Commando, so it stands to reason that you are familiar with everyone in the Strike Commando universe. There's Strike Commando himself (Rebbo), there's the evil traitor for the KGB (Colonel Radek), there's the big Russian (Jakoda) and there's Rebbo's almost-foster-child, Lao. Of course, everyone but Rebbo ended up dead by the time Strike Commando had played out, but I think I speak for all fans when I say that we wouldn't be adverse to bringing any (and preferably all) of these folks back for some old "not even death can prevent me from getting my revenge on you, Rebbo!" shenanigans.
The director and writer one-two punch that was Bruno Mattei and Claudio Fragasso have a little something extra up their sleeve with this entry though. Not content to let Rebbo rest on his laurels, they invent a whole new slew of traitorous dogs and evil Russians for him to contend with. And there's also something different about Rebbo this go around. Let me see if I can put my finger on it. Oh, Rebbo isn't Rebbo anymore! That's it!
For those of us who were raised on Rebbo, the blonde, affably violent Reb Brown will always be our Strike Commando. For this mission though, Rebbo gets made over into a dark haired, surly brute played by Brent Huff. While it's a bit like watching Timothy Dalton taking over for Roger Moore, Huffbo had already proven his metal in running around a low budget jungle when he and Tawny Kitaen humiliated themselves for our enjoyment in The Perils of Gwendoline. Though Huffbo doesn't have any scenes where he makes anguished speeches about Disneyland and the genie that lives there that will grant any wish (I wish that Rebbo would return for a Strike Commando 3!), he does manage to belt out Rebbo's catchphrase, "die you bastards!" thus throwing a bone to the hardcore Strike Commando fan.
Bruno and Claudio knew that asking Huffbo to carry this picture by himself just wouldn't be fair to him so they spent every single penny they had, borrowed money from friends, raided their kids' piggybanks, held bake sales, collected scrap metal, sold their plasma and signed up two-time Oscar nominated Richard Harris for the part of Major Vic! I haven't done the research, so correct me if I'm wrong, but this is probably the only time an Oscar-nominated actor and Bruno Mattei have ever crossed paths outside of the dry cleaners!
Yes, years before he ran Harry Potter's school, Albus Dumbledore was running a heroin operation deep in the steamy jungle! Despite Richard looking thoroughly confused as to just what he's doing in this (I heard he only did it because he loved Strike Commando so much, but that might just be a rumor I made up), inexplicably, this role was not one of the two the Academy would nominate him for!
Normally, any other Italian director would put it on auto-pilot once he secured the services of an actor that normal moviegoers had actually heard of. Not Bruno Mattei! He says, sure, I got one of the grand old men of the cinema even while he still had some good roles ahead of him, but I want to make Strike Commando 2 so much more than the sum of its Oscar-nominated and The Perils of Gwendoline-veteran parts! What if the evil Russian guy in the white ice cream suit employed a bunch of ninjas! And what if Huffbo had to make his escape in a hooker bus that he commandeered! Well, shoot, you'd have me forgetting just who the heck Rebbo ever was!
All of these antics are precipitated because of Huffbo's misguided attempt to bust Major Vic out of a CIA safehouse. The next thing we know, we're getting one of those hostage videotapes where Major Vic is saying that his captors need $10 million in diamonds or they'll hand him over to the KGB, who will extract all the secrets he knows. Since Huffbo is the only guy in the room that owes Major Vic his life, he finds himself in the jungle with $10 million worth of diamonds in his fannypack and a mission to bring Major Vic back dead or alive!
The first stop on any search and rescue mission in the jungle is the local watering hole where a fellow can pick up a drink or six and an annoying female companion whom he can bicker with constantly while they get into and out of jams of varying degree. Huffbo meets up with Rosanna, the proprietress of the Moulin Rouge while she's engaged in a drinking game with one of the natives. First one to belch loses!
Once that's mercifully over, the white Russian and the ninjas roll in and fight Huffbo and his new gal pal. When she "remembered" to tell Huffbo that she had ten sticks of dynamite under the bar, I was practically rubbing my hands together in giddy anticipation of what was just around the corner. Is there anything more satisfying in cinema than watching cheap, thatched roof dwellings in the wilderness blow up over and over and over?
Once they get Rosie's bar blown up, she and Huffbo head off to rescue Major Vic. After this is accomplished, Major Vic gives a half-hearted speech about how the war for Huffbo was still going on inside Huffbo and you're just thinking, "hurry up and turn traitor so we can get the torture scenes and subsequent bust out and revenge killings under way." And once they are under way, the movie kicks into gear with Rosie going undercover as a hooker (glad to see that cop show cliche worked into a jungle action movie with ninjas), Rosie and Huffbo's escape and their return once Huffbo finds out that Rosie left the diamonds with the trick she killed.
But what of the Strike Commando 2 you didn't see? What about all the craziness that went on after hours on the set? Actually, you did see that. It was called Zombie 4: After Death. In an effort to recoup the costs for Strike Commando 2 (thanks Richard!), while Bruno shot it during the day, Claudio used all the gear to shoot his zombie movie during the night! Even Huffbo got in on the two-for-one action when he convinced his then-fiancee Candice Daly to star in Zombie 4: After Death, so that she wouldn't miss him while he was gone making Strike Commando 2! While that sounds like a good idea in theory, in practice it must have left a little to be desired since Ms. Daly's biography shows that she married someone else that year and was later found dead at the end of 2004. The one aspect of the intersection of these two projects that remains unanswered is the one that everyone has always wondered about: Did Richard Harris ever run into Zombie 4: After Death star and gay porn star, Jeff Stryker?
I bet most of you reading this are baffled by the fact tht they made a sequel to that wretched film, Strike Commando. Well while I agree that Strike Commando was one of the worst action movies ever, it also has to be one of the most unintentionally hilarious films ever. Reb Brown's over-the-top performance and plenty of plot holes, terrible music, and stolen scenes from Rambo: First Blood Part 2 made for quite an enjoyable and memorable experience. Hence, the film was successful enough at least for producer Franco Gaudenzi to finance a series of similar rip-off action films like Double Target, Cop Game, Robowar, and eventually a full-fledged sequel.
Brent Huff stars this time around as Michael Ransom, who in a very Apocalypse Now -fashion wakes up one morning and peers through his window blinds in his shabby apartment. Of course some army bigwigs drop by to charge him with a special mission to rescue his old war buddy Richard Harris (The Cassandra Crossing). Now this is the strangest aspect about this film; how the heck did Richard Harris end up in a Bruno Mattei film? In a recent interview, Harris claimed to be retired at the time when this film was produced, but there he is plain as day! Anyway, Huff saves Harris from the CIA only for Harris to be kidnapped by a KGB agent Mel Davidson (who actually seems more like the Gestapo guy from Raiders of the Lost Ark than anything else) and his army of ninjas. Here, the plot gets downright silly as Huff tries to buy back Harris with some diamonds while he hooks up with local tough-girl Mary Stavin (The Opponent) in what must be the worst female performance I have seen! Anyway, Harris ends up working for the bad guys in the end, so that leaves Huff and Stavin to go on the war path and kill as many communists as possible while retrieving the diamonds.
Lots of well-done slow motion explosions highlight this completely typical late-80's Mattei action film with its fair share of amusing moments. Although the film does simultaneously rip off Raiders of the Lost Ark, Rambo: First Blood Part 2, Predator, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, AND Romancing the Stone, the funniest aspect has to be how Mattei cranked up the camera speed for all the fight scenes to make them look faster. The results are downright hilarious and fake-looking, with Huff and the ninjas zipping around like the keystone cops. The final battle between Huff and Davidson is particularly hilarious in this way since it looks like they recorded this scene in fast forward! Of course with every Mattei film there's a good share of ripped-off scenes, like the woman drinking-contest scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark, and one part where a big thug jumps out with a sword only for Huff to shoot him like nothing.
This film was made almost simultaneously with about seven other Bruno Mattei films, somewhere after Zombi 3 and Double Target, but before Robowar and Cop Game, judging by which stock footage appears in which film. Most of the explosions in this movie went on to be reused in Robowar and Cop Game (especially Cop Game, which was about 40% stock footage anyhow). Even though this film tries so hard to come off as serious, one can't help but laugh at the many inept moments which litter the film. Huff and Harris are good actors, but both kinda sleepwalk through their roles. The supporting cast is fairly good as well, with Massimo Vanni (1990: The Bronx Warriors, Fearless) as a CIA agent and Ottaviano Dell'Acqua (Rats: Nights of Terror, Cut and Run) as one of the bad guys. I enjoyed the movie mostly because of the good musical score by Stefano Mainetti but also in part because Bruno blows stuff up real good. The ending is unddeniably exciting once the exploding happens and doesn't let up until the cheese-fest finale.
A rare treat if you can find it, though it's not nearly as hilariously bad as its predecessor. This film does contain one of the most memorable quotes from a Mattei/Fragasso film...
KGB agent - "I hate women!" Girl - "So you're into guys then?" KGB agent - "I also hate fags!"