Avenging Force is full stop the best film that Sam Firstenberg directed. Slick and polished in a way that nothing else, even his Ninja movies, in his filmography are. The script by James Booth is lean and mean in a way that most Cannon films are. Even stars Michael Dudikoff and Steve James feel like they’re hungry and attempting to prove something and create a friendship that feels like an actual relationship, not just two dudes doing action poses.
This clever mashup of The Most Dangerous Game and Three Days of the Condor isn’t going to surprise anyone. However, that isn’t the point. It’s in the execution that the film elevates itself. There’s a cruelty on display that is not uncommon in most of Cannon’s films but here because Firstenberg’s direction is so to the point, there’s an effectiveness to it. When people die, they’re people we’ve come to care about. There’s none of that goofy Cannon nonsense in the film.
The film feels untouched by Golan and as a result, the character work connects in the most unexpected ways (at least for a Cannon film). That goes for the action as well. Cannon films with rare exceptions have some sort of jauntiness to the rhythms of the editing in action scenes. Not here as editor Michael J. Duthie and Firstenberg find the perfect mixture of geography, kinetic action, and storytelling.
As an entire package from top to bottom Avenging Force is a crackling good B-Movie action film. It’s one of the best that Cannon ever produced.
The Transfer
Kino Lorber has done the film justice with what appears to be a new Master/Transfer. The image is sharp with a beautiful grain structure. Cannon films often were never the best shot films but here the image photographed by Gideon Porath is dynamic with colorful pop imagery in New Orleans and the green and muted colors of the Bayou. The resulting transfer is a beautiful representation of the film giving it the look of a freshly struck 35mm archival print.
The Extras
They include the following;
Audio Commentary by Director Sam Firstenberg and Star Michael Dudikoff
Intro by Sam Firstenberg
Interview with Michael Dudikoff
Theatrical Trailer
Intro by Sam Firstenberg (2:12) – discusses what he considered “the best film” he’s directed.
The archival Audio Commentary by Director Sam Firstenberg and Star Michael Dudikoff opens with that they shot in and around New Orleans and the bayous of the surrounding areas. Some of the other details include the opening title sequence was shot by the second unit; the production schedule; the involvement of Golan and Globus; how the rain and the water levels effected the production oftentimes causing major issues; the work of actor John P Ryan; Dudikoff learning how to “cowboy” for this movie; discussion of the work/chemistry/personal relationship between Steve James and Dudikoff; a larger discussion of how the Marti Gras set piece was put together – how they handled the crowds, the direction and how the scene is constructed, how they got to film in the French Quarter, the procession, the schedule, the stunts, and much more; the CIA headquarters was the only set built for the production; a larger discussion of the stunt work and action scenes, the various stunt people and crew that helped bring these to life; a larger discussion of the various actors and cast a crew – who were mostly locals from New Orleans – that made the film; and much more. Firstenberg and Dudikoff deliver a lovely and informative track.
Interview with Michael Dudikoff (11:36) – the actor begins with how he got his start with Modelling and transitioned into commercials then eventually into acting. Dudikoff discusses how he was cast in American Ninja and eventually began his relationship with Cannon Films; the criticisms at the time of the Cannon Films he did; working on Avenging Force – including some truly terrifying moments filming in the swamps of Louisiana; working with Steve James – including a hilarious story about why he went shirtless in random moments in the films; and much more.
Avenging Force has Michael Dudikoff casting off against fascist millionaires instead of ninjas in the 1980s. Kino Lorber has upgraded its Blu-ray to a full-on special edition.
The Film
Avenging Force is full stop the best film that Sam Firstenberg directed. Slick and polished in a way that nothing else, even his Ninja movies, in his filmography are. The script by James Booth is lean and mean in a way that most Cannon films are. Even stars Michael Dudikoff and Steve James feel like they’re hungry and attempting to prove something and create a friendship that feels like an actual relationship, not just two dudes doing action poses.
This clever mashup of The Most Dangerous Game and Three Days of the Condor isn’t going to surprise anyone. However, that isn’t the point. It’s in the execution that the film elevates itself. There’s a cruelty on display that is not uncommon in most of Cannon’s films but here because Firstenberg’s direction is so to the point, there’s an effectiveness to it. When people die, they’re people we’ve come to care about. There’s none of that goofy Cannon nonsense in the film.
The film feels untouched by Golan and as a result, the character work connects in the most unexpected ways (at least for a Cannon film). That goes for the action as well. Cannon films with rare exceptions have some sort of jauntiness to the rhythms of the editing in action scenes. Not here as editor Michael J. Duthie and Firstenberg find the perfect mixture of geography, kinetic action, and storytelling.
As an entire package from top to bottom Avenging Force is a crackling good B-Movie action film. It’s one of the best that Cannon ever produced.
The Transfer
Kino Lorber has done the film justice with what appears to be a new Master/Transfer. The image is sharp with a beautiful grain structure. Cannon films often were never the best shot films but here the image photographed by Gideon Porath is dynamic with colorful pop imagery in New Orleans and the green and muted colors of the Bayou. The resulting transfer is a beautiful representation of the film giving it the look of a freshly struck 35mm archival print.
The Extras
They include the following;
Intro by Sam Firstenberg (2:12) – discusses what he considered “the best film” he’s directed.
The archival Audio Commentary by Director Sam Firstenberg and Star Michael Dudikoff opens with that they shot in and around New Orleans and the bayous of the surrounding areas. Some of the other details include the opening title sequence was shot by the second unit; the production schedule; the involvement of Golan and Globus; how the rain and the water levels effected the production oftentimes causing major issues; the work of actor John P Ryan; Dudikoff learning how to “cowboy” for this movie; discussion of the work/chemistry/personal relationship between Steve James and Dudikoff; a larger discussion of how the Marti Gras set piece was put together – how they handled the crowds, the direction and how the scene is constructed, how they got to film in the French Quarter, the procession, the schedule, the stunts, and much more; the CIA headquarters was the only set built for the production; a larger discussion of the stunt work and action scenes, the various stunt people and crew that helped bring these to life; a larger discussion of the various actors and cast a crew – who were mostly locals from New Orleans – that made the film; and much more. Firstenberg and Dudikoff deliver a lovely and informative track.
Interview with Michael Dudikoff (11:36) – the actor begins with how he got his start with Modelling and transitioned into commercials then eventually into acting. Dudikoff discusses how he was cast in American Ninja and eventually began his relationship with Cannon Films; the criticisms at the time of the Cannon Films he did; working on Avenging Force – including some truly terrifying moments filming in the swamps of Louisiana; working with Steve James – including a hilarious story about why he went shirtless in random moments in the films; and much more.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Avenging Force (1:19); American Ninja (1:50); American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1:34); Platoon Leader (1:37); River of Death (2:05)
The Final Thought
Kino has delivered a great updated special edition of Avenging Force. Highest recommendations!
Kino Lorber’s Blu-Ray edition of Avenging Force is out now.
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