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I expected very little going into this, but it wound up blowing me away. I'm a big fan of Jim Brown's work in the 60s and 70s, including BLACK GUNN, SLAUGHTER and THE GRASSHOPPER (films that tend to get ridiculed), and I must say that I ESCAPED FROM DEVIL'S ISLAND surpasses them all in terms of all-around execution.That isn't to say that this is a Jim Brown movie. Christopher George is a very strong presence here, and even though his acting in other films tends to gravitate toward the laughable, he delivers a performance in this film that lets us know why he worked consistently in the industry: He was, at one time, quite a talent and a charismatic performer.The script is first rate, the action scenes are unforgettable (and shockingly bloody), and the suspense is high throughout. With a title like that, you wouldn't expect a top drawer piece of cinema, but that's exactly what it is.Incidentally, there is a DVD out there that is letterboxed and fully remastered, from one of the least trustworthy video labels around. That was a shock, as I expected the print to look like hell, much like the same company's release of the Jim Brown classic THE SLAMS (a film that, while being an above-average actioner, pales in comparison to this gem).See I ESCAPED FROM DEVIL'S ISLAND at all costs! It's a masterpiece of the genre.
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