Excessive Force

Rating:
Summary: GRIFFITH'S BEST SINCE KARATE KID III
Review: Action superstar Thomas Ian Griffith takes on evil Italians and corrupt cops in this edge-of-your seat thriller. In perhaps his best role of all time, Griffith crafts a fascinating character unlike any ever seen before: a cop frustrated with his work and alienated from his wife. When Griffith uses excessive force to get a confession, a web of intruige and sinister alliances is slowly revealed to him. The film also features a supporting cast of seasoned veterans such as James Earl Jones and Lance Henriksen who both deliver solid performances. With plot twists you will never see coming, touching moments which will leave you in tears and the one of best guitar-solo and saxophone soundtracks ever written - not to mention explosive, glass-breaking karate action, "Excessive Force" is a 90 minute visual feast of pure adrenaline! A must-see film for any fan of good cinema.

Rating:
Summary: I wanna see the tough guy!
Review: After his partner is tortured and killed, Terry decides enough is enough. For a rather [inexpensive] movie "Excessive Force" is awesome: Great cast, Great fight scenes, and some Great lines. Thomas Ian Griffith never took off as the action hero of the 90's, but with other memorable roles in Karate Kid 3 & Vampires, he proves he's not just another Perfect Weapon, or Stone Cold. If you like the kind of action flick that is usually on [a pay channel] around 3:00 AM, then check out "Excessive Force", you'll be glad you did.

Rating:
Summary: Shoulda Been A Star
Review: Good action movie. I actually saw this in the theater(yes, it did have a theatrical release!) back in the day. This was about the time when cheap action and horror films were starting to disappear from theaters. Excessive Force would be straight to video if released today. Pity, coz it's pretty fun. Thomas Ian Griffth never became the next Seagal or VanDamme-something the producers were obviously trying to do with him-but he really does the action tough guy thing wonderfully. He even had a hand in the script. He's got the look and the moves, he's even a decent actor. He went on to do some direct to video action pics, and played the lead vampire in John Carpenter's Vampires. You may also remember him as one of the villians from Karate Kid III(the guy who teaches Daniel how to break noses). Other than that, the guy is virtually unknown. The plot doesn't offer anything groundbreaking in terms of cops/robbers action, but it's a cliched film done well. It's got a better than average supporting cast of James Earl Jones, Lance Henriksen, Tony Todd(the Candyman himself!), and Burt Young(Paulie from the Rocky movies). These guys must have also seen potential of the script to want to appear in it. Good supporting actors, a good script, and a good performance from the lead raise this otherwise by-the-numbers action movie up a few notches to something quite entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: Shoulda Been A Star
Review: Good action movie. I actually saw this in the theater(yes, it did have a theatrical release!) back in the day. This was about the time when cheap action and horror films were starting to disappear from theaters. Excessive Force would be straight to video if released today. Pity, coz it's pretty fun. Thomas Ian Griffth never became the next Seagal or VanDamme-something the producers were obviously trying to do with him-but he really does the action tough guy thing wonderfully. He even had a hand in the script. He's got the look and the moves, he's even a decent actor. He went on to do some direct to video action pics, and played the lead vampire in John Carpenter's Vampires. You may also remember him as one of the villians from Karate Kid III(the guy who teaches Daniel how to break noses). Other than that, the guy is virtually unknown. The plot doesn't offer anything groundbreaking in terms of cops/robbers action, but it's a cliched film done well. It's got a better than average supporting cast of James Earl Jones, Lance Henriksen, Tony Todd(the Candyman himself!), and Burt Young(Paulie from the Rocky movies). These guys must have also seen potential of the script to want to appear in it. Good supporting actors, a good script, and a good performance from the lead raise this otherwise by-the-numbers action movie up a few notches to something quite entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: I was not impressed
Review: Having watched this movie four times and being TIG fan, I still feel that the movie was unconvincing, poorly written, very raw in too many episodes. However, if you like handsome men kicking butt- this film is for you. Thomas Ian Griffith is an attractive wild cop with moral standards. He plays the piano relatively well and is faithful to his girlfriend. What else would a girl want to see in a movie?

Rating:
Summary: FORCEFUL ENTRY
Review: It's rare in some of these action films for the lead actor to have also written the script, and it's even rarer when it comes out this well. Thomas Ian Griffith who plays the lead role of Terry McCain also wrote the script and served as the film's producer. He plays a sort of loose cannon cop who uses "excessive force" in trying to get the goods on mafia leader Burt Young (Rocky). When his partners Dylan (Tom Hodges) and Frankie (Candyman's Tony Todd) are killed in retribution, McCain finds himself a target. There's the usual dirty cop syndrome, but Griffith's script is tight and has some pretty good surprises along the way. Lance Henriksen plays soon to be police chief and Griffith's boss, and gives his usual sturdy performance. Charlotte Lewis appears as Anna, Griffith's estranged love interest, and James Earl Jones (Great White Hope) steps out of his Darth Vader shoes to play quite nicely Griffith's mentor and buddy. Director Jon Hess keeps the action moving nicely and there are some good kickboxing/fight sequences. All in all, a well done actioner, and probably should have been more noticed during its theatrical release.

Rating:
Summary: Well it's about time
Review: This is one of those good action flicks in a long list that have taken way too long to make the DVD transfer. This is quite possibly an action fan's best introduction to Thomas Ian Griffith. Once you become acquainted with this film, you will soon realize just how underutilized this man is in the Hollywood Action scene. He combines impressive moves with decent acting chops and just comes across as a pretty cool cat. In addition, this was a fresh action film. It didn't rely on lead spraying alone. Character developement and a few twists combined with awesome casting--James Earl Jones, among other familiar and welcome faces--was obviously important in the overall spectrum of this movie. It wasn't just thrown together. We get a cop who winds up caught in the crossfire of the shadey politics of his own police precinct, finding himself alone in the struggle with no one to trust after his partner is brutily murdered. This film poses the question, "how well do you know your friends?" This is one you can share with fellow action fans that may not have had the pleasure of viewing. Griffith's movies are few and far apart but they're all worth watching. Support this man! I'm looking forward to seeing his work on the sequel to Timecop.

Rating:
Summary: Well it's about time
Review: This is one of those good action flicks in a long list that have taken way too long to make the DVD transfer. This is quite possibly an action fan's best introduction to Thomas Ian Griffith. Once you become acquainted with this film, you will soon realize just how underutilized this man is in the Hollywood Action scene. He combines impressive moves with decent acting chops and just comes across as a pretty cool cat. In addition, this was a fresh action film. It didn't rely on lead spraying alone. Character developement and a few twists combined with awesome casting--James Earl Jones, among other familiar and welcome faces--was obviously important in the overall spectrum of this movie. It wasn't just thrown together. We get a cop who winds up caught in the crossfire of the shadey politics of his own police precinct, finding himself alone in the struggle with no one to trust after his partner is brutily murdered. This film poses the question, "how well do you know your friends?" This is one you can share with fellow action fans that may not have had the pleasure of viewing. Griffith's movies are few and far apart but they're all worth watching. Support this man! I'm looking forward to seeing his work on the sequel to Timecop.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing amazing, but a decent film
Review: This was made here in Chicago and is another one of those films which is better and more interesting on the small screen. Thomas Ian Griffith plays a cop who tends to overdo the rough stuff. When a suitcase full of money disappears during a drug bust, he and his partners are the most likely suspects. There are a couple of nice plot twists, but nothing that made me want to jump up and down. James Earl Jones puts in a nice appearance as the owner of a bar.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible!
Review: This was my first time ever seeing Thomas Ian Griffith and besides being a great actor, he is also a very attractive one also. This is the best movie I have ever seen and hope to see more of him in the future.