The Octagon (1980)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Eric Karson

Writers:

Paul Aaron (story)
Leigh Chapman (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 August 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Action

Tagline:

In a world of choices, for one man there is no choice . . . he must face THE OCTAGON

Plot:

A martial artist must defeat a plan by ninjas to create a worldwide training camp for terrorists.

Plot Keywords:

Martial Arts | Ninja | Secret Base | Revenge | Karate

Cast

Chuck Norris	...	Scott James
Karen Carlson	...	Justine
Lee Van Cleef	...	McCarn
Art Hindle	...	A. J.
Carol Bagdasarian	...	Aura
Tadashi Yamashita	...	Seikura
Kim Lankford	...	Nancy
Larry D. Mann	...	Tibor
Kurt Grayson	...	Doggo
Richard Norton	...	Kyo - Seikura´s Enforcer / Long Legs
Yuki Shimoda	...	Katsumo - Seikura's Aide
Redmond Gleeson	...	Duffy
Alan Chappuis	...	Pierre
Brian Libby	...	Deadwyler
Ken Gibbel	...	Meat

Also Known As:

The Man Without Mercy (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1980) (uncut) | Finland:K-16 (1995) (uncut) | Finland:K-18 (1984) (cut) | Iceland:16 | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | West Germany:16 (nf) | Sweden:15 | Australia:M | France:-12 | Norway:18 | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

American Cinema Productions

Trivia:

When Richard Norton (as "Long Legs", not Kyo) is kicked in the Groin by Chuck Norris, he grabs himself and yelps out "Oh shit... shit!". Norton himself said that when he was assisting with the stunts on the set of "The Blues Brothers" and told John Belushi the fight he'd be in, Belushi was the one who told him to say "Oh shit!" when getting kicked in the groin.

Goofs:

Continuity: During a car chase sequence, the off-white colored car hits the pursing red vehicle that is parked in its path. The next time we see them, both cars are undamaged and not touching each other.

Quotes:

Scott: Oh my God! Ninja... ja... ja... ja...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Carl Wash (#4.13)" (2006)

Good action, not much else.

The third starring vehicle for former karate champion Chuck Norris from the soon-to-be defunct American Cinema company, "The Octagon" tells the story of Scott James (Norris), whose adopted brother Seigura (Tadashi Yamashita) is running a terrorist training camp somewhere in Central America.

Also involved is a spoiled-rotten heiress (Karen Carlson) who wants revenge against Seigura because of the death of her father at the hands of terrorists. Then there's the reliable, squinty-eyed legendary film villain Lee Van Cleef as the shady character McCarn, Canadian actor Art Hindle as Scott's hot-headed friend A.J., and Carol Bagdasarian, daughter of singer-songwriter-actor Ross Bagdasarian, as a sexy terrorist-in-training who ultimately tries to redeem herself.

"The Octagon" is clearly more ambitious and better produced than a number of similar martial arts thrillers, although its reliance on actual plot and character development tends to make it drag at times. Those who watch these kinds of films for the admittedly well-choreographed fights may have their patience tested at times.

Norris basically just does what he usually does. Carlson is fairly awful. Van Cleef probably is the standout performer in this although "The Octagon" is noteworthy for some familiar faces in small parts: B-movie and martial arts veteran Richard Norton plays both "Kyo" and "Long Legs" and a number of the faceless ninjas as well (he's joked that he must have died a total of eight times in this movie). Ernie Hudson, veteran comedian Jack Carter, Brian Libby (whose next role was as Chuck's psycho nemesis in "Silent Rage"), and an unbilled Tracey Walter all turn up as well.

"The Octagon" is really not bad for this kind of film, although since it's NOT wall-to-wall action, some folks may find it hard to sit through.

This is another of those cases where you could do better and you could do worse.

6/10