FORMAT: DVD
Special Forces is yet another entry in the generic, but mostly entertaining “American Heroes” line of action flicks from Nu Image. It might not look like much on the surface, but it’s a cinematically important film as it was the first pairing of director Isaac Florentine and DTV martial artist extraordinaire, Scott Adkins. Although Adkins only has a supporting role, his scenes are easily the best in the movie.
A journalist is kidnapped by a crazed Eastern European general who will execute her if America doesn’t release his terrorist buddies. America has other plans though: Send in Marshall (Road House) Teague and his team of Special Forces soldiers to kick the general’s ass. Since this nefarious villain was also responsible for killing Teague’s platoon in Bosnia, he figures it’s time for a little payback. Adkins is a rogue SAS soldier who also has his sights set on revenge who joins the team.
Like most of these American Heroes movies, much of Special Forces is bland and by-the-numbers. Thankfully, whenever Adkins is on screen, the movie comes to life. You can tell Florentine is excited too because the camerawork and editing for his martial arts scenes have a lot more spark than Teague’s military grunt shootouts. In fact, it’s almost like Adkins came out of an entirely different movie. (And frankly, a much better one.) His fights have a Hong Kong type of flair to them that is the perfect antidote to the otherwise competent, but forgettable action sequences elsewhere in the picture.
I’m not saying Teague is bad in the lead. He could only do so much with what they gave him. Fred Olen Ray regular Tim Abell kind of gets lost in the shuffle too as Teague’s right-hand man. However, when Adkins is onscreen, he blows everyone else away.
Adkins and Florentine went on to work with each other a whopping seven more times.
AKA: Special Forces USA.
I thought all of the action scenes in this one were pretty awesome, this is an easy 3.5 star film for me.
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