Dear holy fuh! The opening 5 minutes of Avenging Force is so utterly daft, you'd be forgiven if you thought it wasn't going to get any better than that. Two injured soldiers hurry through the Louisiana swamps, trying to avoid a gang of killers dressed so fudging stupid and barking like animals, you can't help but laugh - but thankfully, it does!
Sam Firstenberg, Michael Dudikoff and Steve James had all met the year before with the first American Ninja, and with Avenging Force we see a much more polished production, with its two stars showing a more natural, on-screen chemistry between them. Firstenberg takes us on a fun action-adventure that is like The Most Dangerous Game (or Hard Target) meets American Ninja, with the film playing out like a lost chapter of the latter...
Former secret agent Matt Hunter (Dudikoff) must help his best friend (James) who is running for Senate, and receiving death threats from a right-wing organisation called the Pentangle. The same group like to hunt down humans while dressed in odd masks, led by John P. Ryan from Class Of 1999, and just happen to be adept in the martial arts. Initially written as a sequel to Invasion USA (where Chuck played Matt Hunter), the role was tweaked for Dudikoff when Norris rejected it, and at the same time, separated both movies so there was no connection. All for the better I think as Avenging Force proves to be one of Dudikoff's best, and could have been just another Chuck Norris movie.
Croyden born actor and screenwriter James Booth plays Dudikoff's boss here, as well as writing the script. Booth would go on to star in American Ninja 4 as one of the best-worst-bad guys I've ever seen. With great production value, and some fantastic action scenes (and stunts), the film moves along at a great pace for its lengthy running time. Although Michael Dudikoff still looks slightly awkward in action, he does a lot better than his American Ninja movies. Steve James is as great as always, and looks to be having a great time kicking ass and being back on screen with his old friend!
The film gets darker as it rolls along, with the assassination of James' family, including a brutal shot of Dudikoff getting shot off the roof. Obviously, the finale sees Dudikoff take place in the hunt as the hunted, taking down the bad guys on the way and a one-on-one against John P. Ryan in the weapons room...
Overall: More nonsensical 80's American action cinema, but one of the better ones!
Sam Firstenberg, Michael Dudikoff and Steve James had all met the year before with the first American Ninja, and with Avenging Force we see a much more polished production, with its two stars showing a more natural, on-screen chemistry between them. Firstenberg takes us on a fun action-adventure that is like The Most Dangerous Game (or Hard Target) meets American Ninja, with the film playing out like a lost chapter of the latter...
Former secret agent Matt Hunter (Dudikoff) must help his best friend (James) who is running for Senate, and receiving death threats from a right-wing organisation called the Pentangle. The same group like to hunt down humans while dressed in odd masks, led by John P. Ryan from Class Of 1999, and just happen to be adept in the martial arts. Initially written as a sequel to Invasion USA (where Chuck played Matt Hunter), the role was tweaked for Dudikoff when Norris rejected it, and at the same time, separated both movies so there was no connection. All for the better I think as Avenging Force proves to be one of Dudikoff's best, and could have been just another Chuck Norris movie.
Croyden born actor and screenwriter James Booth plays Dudikoff's boss here, as well as writing the script. Booth would go on to star in American Ninja 4 as one of the best-worst-bad guys I've ever seen. With great production value, and some fantastic action scenes (and stunts), the film moves along at a great pace for its lengthy running time. Although Michael Dudikoff still looks slightly awkward in action, he does a lot better than his American Ninja movies. Steve James is as great as always, and looks to be having a great time kicking ass and being back on screen with his old friend!
The film gets darker as it rolls along, with the assassination of James' family, including a brutal shot of Dudikoff getting shot off the roof. Obviously, the finale sees Dudikoff take place in the hunt as the hunted, taking down the bad guys on the way and a one-on-one against John P. Ryan in the weapons room...
Overall: More nonsensical 80's American action cinema, but one of the better ones!