Inferno

"Operation Cobra" brings together several people long associated with cinematic schlock. Ashok Amritraj and Andrew Stevens were producers, Roger Corman was the executive producer, and Fred Olen Ray was the director! Needless to say, the budget is low, though since the movie was shot in India - which is a pretty cheap place to shoot a movie - the cheapness is less evident than usual. And the Indian locations do give the movie an exotic feel at times. Unfortunately, there's not much else positive I can say about this movie. The story is confusing at times, with information and key scenes seemingly missing at times. And the martial arts sequences are done in the typically boring American fashion - someone does a move, cut to another angle, another move is made, cut to another angle etc. But the movie's biggest flaw is that it's more often than not dull to watch. Even if you see this movie for free, chances are you'll feel ripped off at the end.

It kind of had different actors wearing different wigs playing different parts through out the movie, it was quite distracting to watch, I would not recomend this movie to anyone really as most of the acting was very shoddy and the main action seemed to consist of the main actor pulling a gun (from only knows where) and letting off several shots then somehow managing to take home several women in one night. st33z - -

On the surface 'Inferno' looks the part of your run-of-the-mill Don Wilson dtv cheapie. However dig deeper and you get quite a few recognizable faces, shot entirely in India and it looks a lot better than most b-movies I've watched lately. Maybe in due part because of cinematographer Gary Graver and the 1080p release it scored itself. Story wheeled out is standard and cliched, but has enough action and laughs (intentional or not) to pull off a mildly fun time.

Interpol agents Kyle Conners (Wilson) and Trevor (Rick Hill) close in on Davaad (Evan Lurie) just as he is about to complete an illicit deal. Unfortunately it goes sideways leaving Trevor dead while the target escapes. Placed on leave, Kyle then travels to India where Davaad has already set up shop hoping to avenge his partner. There he gains new partnerships including one with MI6 operative Callista (Tane McClure) who can lead him to Davaad, but only if he kills Grayson (Michael Cavanaugh) the man's powerful employer in exchange first.

Wilson was never an actor with great range, but does his physical fisticuffs here well. Tane gets to rip a spotty British accent and get naked twice. Lurie changes it up by being a soft spoken bad guy while Cavanaugh will always be Cpt. DeSoto (Star Trek: TNG) to me. Madhavan does a nice job as the local police inspector while Deepti Bhatnagar provides beauty as a mystery woman / love interest.

Most flicks from cheapo director Fred Olen Ray are crap, but he scored a winner here with 'Inferno'. Perhaps in large part due to the foreign flavor and not seeing LA for the millionth time. Of course the requisite martial arts, some female nudity and a plot twist within didn't hurt neither. If you find yourself searching for a 90's dtv actioner a little outside the norm this might be the ticket.

Picture this; Don "The Dragon" Wilson, mattress, cobra, bed sheets and a gun. Can you see it, well, director Fred Olen Ray delivers on that unbelievable image. Wilson plays an Interpol agent who ends up in India tracking down his partner's killer.

I haven't watched a lot of Wilson's films, but the quickie, low-rent "INFERNO" aka (OPERATION COBRA) is one of his better efforts. However it doesn't really have much to do with him, as he simply goes through the motions (robotically) when he's not high kicking people's faces. Watching an uncomfortable looking Wilson act, is just as awkward to watch. I'm sure there's more life and charisma stemming from his eyebrows alone. Across from him is the effortless Evan Lurie as the lethal, calmly spoken henchman. The final showdown between the two (which also involves a snake) is the best the action had to offer. This can be contributed to the spotty, lackluster choreography in most of the activity in the lead up to it. I can't say the same for Tana McClure's feisty performance, as things to do liven up when she's around. She even gets a standoff with the underused Jillian Kesner. Also making themselves known are Rick Hall and Michael Cavanaugh. Being that Olen Ray is behind the camera; in between the action are the customary, steamy soft-core sex scenes (and one of those including a water fountain and white dress).

He actually does a good job presenting the Indian locations and its local color, giving it another dimension, which the material lacks. Everything about the narrative plays out like an uninspired James Bond adventure, where it obviously steals its ideas. Even the lead is a lady magnet, just going by the out-of-nowhere "special" room service. What starts basic (buddy-buddy set-up), develops into silliness (McClure dressed up as an Indian woman) and the character's intentions do become a muddle. In the end, for entertainment, it does work out for the better.

I have watched clips of this movie many times mainly owing to Tane Mcclure's erotic moments. But after 20 years, sometime tempted me to watch the entire film (speeding up the play many times ofcourse) Some of the shocks I faced:

1. Many of the scenes were shot at Egmore museum, Chennai. Didnt realise that they came so close to home in a film where one of my favourite erotic actress was in.

2. Madhavan was in the movie! Goddam. So it seems he was trying a make a living, before he became famous, long before the rocketery days.

And yeah, many scenes from Chennai. I'll watch out for any other films by Ashok Amirtaraj. Chances are he may have filmed something in the next street.