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Avenging Force (1986) More at IMDbPro »
4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Not "American Ninja in New Orleans"; good on its own merits, 28 September 1999
Author: BrianG from California
Michael Dudikoff and Steve James are back together in this one, again for director Sam Firstenberg and Cannon Films. Unlike most Cannon pictures, however, this one is actually good. Steve James is an ex-Secret Service agent running for office in New Orleans, and a secret racist group called The Pentangle attempts to assassinate him, as they don't want blacks in public office. James calls on his old friend Dudikoff to help him, and the two of them try to find out who is behind The Pentangle. Dudikoff and James definitely have a good chemistry between them, as they showed in "American Ninja" and both are very good in their parts. Director Firstenberg keeps the film moving smoothly, and stages a spectacular action sequence during a Mardi Gras parade. John Ryan does his usual good job at villainy. All in all, a very enjoyable little action piece.
4 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
A game of Tag goes way out of hand, 2 January 2000
Author: Vice-5 from Allentown, PA
Michael Dudikoff and Steve James finally find the movie of their standards in this deadly chase thriller set in the deep South. Dudikoff plays Hunter, an aptly named ex-secret service agent who goes to the aid of his buddy Larry (James). The latter is a black politician who is the target of, what else, slimeball white supremacists. Definitely way better than the rotten "American Ninja" films, "Avenging Force" is a great suspense flick that consists of great fight scenes. My personal fave fight part is when Hunter fights Glastenbury, played by big, bald John P. Ryan.
3 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
without a doubt, Dudikoff's best, 11 April 2002
Author: MichaelM24 from California
Remember the 80s, when movies had cool titles like this?
I (and many fans) consider to this to be Michael Dudikoff's best movie, and my personal favorite of all the ones he's made. AVENGING FORCE features the Dudemeister as former secret agent Matt Hunter, who's best friend (Steve James) is a running for Senate. A white supremacist group called Pentangle doesn't like this and sets out to keep James from winning, ambushing a Mardi Gras parade he's in and killing one of his little boys. Infuriating Dudikoff and James is something you don't want to do, as the bad guys will soon find out. What follows is a pretty standard plot of revenge, but it's handled nicely by director Sam Firstenberg and offers solid action and some unexpected moments along the way. The exciting final reel of the film features Dudikoff and his little sister being hunted in the Louisiana swamps by the Pentangle baddies, a la THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME. Headed by the always-fun to watch John P. Ryan, the group is comprised of some very nasty individuals who delight in hunting the innocent, a sport the group partakes in quite often just for the thrill.
Being that Dudikoff and James were close friends in real life, their screen rapport is very good, and you get the feeling these are two guys who really care about each other and have been through a lot together. Dudikoff is also very good here, playing a character who isn't seemingly indestructible like in AMERICAN NINJA and some of his other films. (Not that I have a problem with him playing those type of parts, but it is nice to seem him do something different occasionally). The beatings he takes from the bad guys in the swamp, particularly the big buffed guy, reminds us that things are serious. The actress who plays Dudikoff's little sister isn't that good of an actress, but she's not too distracting. The parade attack and truck chase/shipyard fight are exciting, as is the final confrontation between Dudikoff and Ryan in the latter's house, another element taken from THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME. I really wish this movie would get a DVD release in at least widescreen and surround sound, because it really deserves it. It's not just a good Dudikoff movie, but a good movie in general.
Very good - Dudikoff & James make a great duo, 18 April 2009
Author: g-m-f from Russian Federation
There's nothing very special in this movie.... except the main idea of manhunt. But it's working all movie long, from the first minutes 'til final fight. The concept of Pentagram is simple, but every member of this WP-society got exclusive design and stuff. Also, main actors make their roles believable and that's good too. Fight scenes at the end is more realistic than in most of such films - in this one protagonist is not an nearly invincible martial arts master, but just a good fighter who can be seriously damaged. But, I want to say it once again, the engine of film is the deadly hunt for humans which is great and very chilling show. So, if you're a 1980's B-movie fan or just want to see some good action movie - watch this and you'll not be disappointed.
1 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Dudikoff is forced into action in this violent comic book-style adventure, 14 April 2008
Author: ma-cortes from Santander Spain
This enjoyable crime chiller concerns about Matt Hunter(Michael Dudikoff), he's a former secret service agent , now retired but he goes into action when his best friend, an African-American US candidate(Steve James)suffers a killing attempt in which murdered his son during a cavalcade through New Orleans streets. His former boss(James Booth, also screenwriter) assign him the dangerous mission. The American agent single-handedly takes on an army of criminals called the Pentangle, a right-wing terrorist organization(led by nasty John P. Ryan)and dedicated to human chase guised with masks on marsh of New Orleans. One again Dudikoff metes out his own justice and moved to violence when his sister is kidnapped and wipes out a passel of heinous villains.
Michel Dudikoff is an ex-agent who encounters ample reasons and opportunity to utilize his deadly skills. Lots of shoot-outs and fighting and plenty of suspense and thrills . It's a gripping story of one man's revenge, including a graphic violent scenes. The film displays a Norris' style but Chuck does it better. Dudikoff continues to set new standards for action in this mindless but agreeable for fans thrillers films. The movie is co-starred by Steve James(1952-1993),who is watchable as ever, he usually played sidekick to tough stars, Dudikoff(three times), Norris and David Carradine, but he early died by pancreatic cancer . The motion picture is professionally directed by Sam Firstenberg. He's a martial-art genre expert, as he directed the American Ninja(I,II, The revenge,The domination..) saga with Dudikoff and Delta Force films. Rating: Above average action-revenge story.
1 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
* * * OUT OF FIVE, 9 July 2003
Author: bronsonskull72 from United States
Michael Dudikoff stars as Matt Hunter who comes to the aid of an old friend Larry Richards a Black senator who is being threatened by "Pentangle" a group of white supremists who are planning an assassination on Richards, in this strong action outing from Michael Dudikoff and Steve James. Indeed, the duo's American Ninja movies maybe mediocre, but the bottomline is that Avenging Force is a swiftly paced, superior genre outing.
0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
There's good guys... and bad guys., 6 August 2008
Author: lost-in-limbo from the Mad Hatter's tea party.
Cannon loved their action. Cheap action. Exploitative action. Especially martial arts action. For a Cannon presentation though, 'Avenging Force' is a serviceable production with dependable action man Michael Dudikoff and Blaxploitation star Steve James. Dudikoff might not have hit it really big like Chuck Norris (really Norris could've slipped right into this role and the character's name is the same one he played in 'Invasion USA'), but he wasn't too bad of an actor. A little stiff at times and didn't have that magnetic screen appeal, but a sturdy actor. However James always had that charismatic awe and also you can't go wrong with b-grade character player John P. Ryan, as he laps up the villain role with gleeful passion. He's the film's energy, and a true scene stealer. One of the industry's under-appreciated actors. James Booth appears, but looks rather bored and stone-faced. Well he's got one of those secondary roles, where much is implied than explored.
So give me action. Yes there's action, stunts, family and political speeches. Political speeches? Oh the script is a hummer. Sappy, preachy and plain ridiculous! Just listen to some of these bloated dialogues. The psychical activity couldn't come any sooner. Everything is set around those explosive, gusty action set-pieces amongst that humid southern setting (with plenty of strange excitement in the bayous), as James Booth's comic-book style story figures, but doesn't break away from its very simple, streamlined structure. Some contrived sub-plots are obvious tools for story progression and motivations, but also giving some character's certain human elements and responsibilities. Maybe excesses baggage for some. Director Sam Furstenberg's (a b-grade action deliverer) economical handling is well paced and accessibly blistering in the unsparingly cruel violence. It has that 'The Most Dangerous Game (1932)' crossed 'Southern Comfort (1981)' vibe to its opening and closing sequences. In between those passages it still stays thrilling with some traditional shootouts, chases and martial art always caught in interestingly authentic backgrounds.
Hearty low-cost, b-grade Dudikoff vehicle.
0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Forced to fight..., 23 May 2006
Author: Frank Markland from United States
A recently retired secret service agent finds himself the prey of a group called pentangle, a white supremacy organization who look to do in a black senator who is also the best friend of said ex-secret service agent, after numerous attacks, the secret service finds himself forced to survive a deadly hunt in which he's the hunted. Michael Dudikoff movies often times are inferior products that Chuck Norris passed on or Dolph Lundgren turned down, however Avenging Force was made at the height of Dudikoff's popular American Ninja (Which made him a star) and this is a vehicle which clearly has more punch than usual. Not to break up a winning formula of the American Ninja series, Dudikoff is aided by Steve James who gives a good performance and does some good martial arts routines. Also John P. Ryan's performance is a definite plus to an already superior action product from Cannon films.
* * * out of 4-(Good)
0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
A decent Dudikoff action flick, 6 January 2006
Author: davideo-2 from United Kingdom
STAR RATING: ***** The Works **** Just Misses the Mark *** That Little Bit In Between ** Lagging Behind * The Pits
A bunch of crazy guys called Pentangle (they must be crazy, they play hunting games wearing masks that make them look like Masters of the Universe characters) descend on New Orleans to take out Larry Richards (Steve James) a black man running for senator and his family. They manage to kill his boy and set him, along with family friend Matt (American Ninja co-star Michael Dudikoff) on a course for revenge against the deadly far-right organization.
Apparently Dudikoff had a screen career at least as big as Dolph Lundgren's once (so I've been told) but I've always struggled to see him as bigger than anything but a video star. But for a film of his this is a fairly slick, polished effort, with some neat action scenes and an engaging, if laughably ridiculous, plot. ***
0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
A fast paced adventure with enough action and a fairly substantial plot., 6 February 1999
Author: David Choi from New Jersey, USA
Ex-Secret Service agent Matt Hunter (Michael Dudikoff) is forced out of retirement after his best friend, a prominent Politician, Larry Richards (Steve James) has been ambushed and nearly assassinated by a group of racist, intelligent militiamen called "The Pentagle." The Pentagle is a highly organized enterprise, with connections to various businesses and implications to affluent persons. They control even many of the highest levels and parts of the government. The Pentagle believes in militarism, anarchy, persecution, and total white supremacy. Many are martial arts experts, who challenge others to games of death in the swamplands area...
In the wildernesses, mangled bodies lay strewn everywhere. The ideal theory of "survival of the fittest" comes into play. Matt Hunter, hoping to avenge the tragedy of his once (and only) trusted friend, decides to embark on his own mission of justice. Hunter though, still is weakened through, plagued by psychological problems resulting from a childhood trauma. He is afraid of confronting his past for he felt that he was responsible for his own parents' deaths by a bomb. However, Hunter must stay fit, putting the past aside and letting life go on...currently, he must amend the deeds of the true evil ones... Seeking help from an old friend, Admiral Brown (James Booth) along with the "Agency," Hunter must beat these adversaries in their own twisted game of predator and prey...
AVENGING FORCE may be a silly movie at times, granted. The cartoonish, right-wing militia-type villains are appallingly stereotyped. The acting is also a little mediocre. That, having been said, AVENGING FORCE stays as a good movie with lots of panache. Fun, energetic, and well made. Avenging certainly contains well cheoreographed stunts and sequences. The shoot-out during the Mardi Gras Parade is a thrilling spectacle! The confrontation between the scrupulous and the unscrupulous in the wetlands of the jungle are amazing as well. This violent action movie includes lots of swordfights, strange costumes, philosophies about the imminent collapse of capitalism in society, and kendo fighting.
AVENGING FORCE also briefly touches upon themes of narrow-mindedness, racism, and corruption in the highest powers of authority. Movies like these were made to appeal to action fans. Everything an action fan desires for is here to surfeit their thrist for high power escapist type movies! AVENGING FORCE is a fine motion picture worth watching for non-discriminating genre fans especially. A great amount of suspense is injected along with a solid story line and a well-to-do cast. If you can't take the heat...
RATING: **1/2 out of ****.
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