Rating: 
Summary: Synopsis of a fun chase n' shooter (less fun on DVD though)
Review:
This is one of those films where you know what you're gonna get by simply looking at the cover of the DVD or tape. Dolph Lundgren looking tan and buff, purportedly standing in front of an explosion out in the desert, with the big block letters of the title. Luckily for me, I enjoy a lot of these B-grade action movies. Army of One is actually better than most such efforts; sure, its predictable and has some goofy moments, but the cast is pretty decent and there is plenty of action. Anyone looking for some car chases, bad guys getting shot up, and explosions shouldn't be disappointed as the filmmakers do an outstanding job where it counts.
The movie starts with Dolph driving a big truck out on a California desert highway with his buddy along for the ride. Luckily, they don't run onto the set of any other B-action movie, this being the region where about a billion such films get made. Their truck gets pulled over by a cop and the men look nervous, as they are hauling something vaguely illegal. Dolph's buddy gets out to fulfill his role as the slain buddy who will drive our hero in his quest for revenge. Dolph also gets shot in the melee and is sent to prison for apparently killing the cop in their gun battle.
Some dirty cops try to kill Dolph while he's being transported to prison, but he gets away, albeit after getting shot again. He runs out through the desert, showing relatively little ill effect from the bullet wound in his abdomen. We can already tell that Dolph can take care of himself, he must be one of those ex-something or others that all action heroes are.
The next day, we meet lovely Kristian Alfonso as she argues with her boyfriend in a diner. She leaves in a huff and heads out to her 4-wheel drive pickup truck. Dolph shows up and forces her over to the passenger side and takes off like a banshee through desert trails; for the next few minutes, we get treated to what seems like a Toyota truck commercial as we see it twist and turn all over the place. It may have been a bit more prudent to slow it down a bit, as all the dust clouds the truck is kicking up would make this wanted man fairly easy to find. He isn't found, though, and winds up at his estranged dad's out-of-the-way place. Thankfully, this family stuff doesn't turn out to be a subplot, just 2 minutes of character development.
We spend some time seeing George Segal! as the lead detective out to get Dolph, now wanted for kidnapping as well as escaping prison; George should be out to get the costumer who told him to wear that silly hat. Geoffrey Lewis is also around as a level-headed sheriff. We learn that Kristian is really a hard-nosed cop who is expert in hand-to-hand combat; she must be another one of those ex-something or others.
The plot thickens a bit as we learn more about the people Dolph is out to get and Kristian becomes more sympathetic to his cause, after the predictable cute arguing between hero and tough chick. There's a little more running and chasing and arguing, and they stop one night at a motel, where we get the mandatory shower scene for Kristian, though don't get too excited as its obviously a body-double's bazongas we get to view.
Jumping later on, we get a big shoot-em-up in a warehouse between Dolph and some Oriental gang that did him wrong. We see about 15 or so of these guys enter, though it seems that Dolph wasted about 40 of `em. We see the usual action movie traits here, guns that seemingly never run out of bullets, dumb bad guys who jump out into the open, firing their weapons out into space, conveniently placed props and guns, and guys jumping or falling through lots of crap. Don't get me wrong, it's all still very cool!
Lots of exotic-looking (though clearly replica) cars get shot up too. I was actually pleased that they weren't shooting up true exotic cars, as I would go nuts thinking about what a waste it would be. For a B-movie, this was actually a pretty cool action scene, they really made an effort in this one.
Eventually we find out who the main bad guy of the movie is (not exactly a big surprise) and we see a cool car chase between a Ferrari replica and a Lamborghini replica; things get kinda wrapped up and sorted out; I guess it turns out that you go free the moment the cops find out you were innocent of the crimes you were convicted and imprisoned for, no court stuff required. Then again, this film does benefit from its brevity; they give us just enough information that we need, not too much fluff. "Army of One", though sometimes goofy, it at least knows what its audience wants, always a good thing.
Unfortunately, Artisan often has no idea what its audience wants, the DVD is mercilessly cut down to pan and scan and the sound and colors seem rather muted, giving this film (which had excellent photography and choreography) the look of a hack TV pilot. Hopefully, someone will bring out a newer widescreen, competent DVD of this fun actioner (though I doubt that someone will be Artisan)
Movie - four stars
DVD - two stars
Rating: 
Summary: TOTALLY ACE MOVIE...
Review: ...but a terrible DVD. The sound is plain old Dolby Surround and the movie is in fullscreen. I find this very annoying.I have always like Joshua Tree and looked forward to it's DVD release. I imagined widescreen, Dolby 5.1, trailers, commentaries and motion menus. But none of that ever happened. Artisan disappointed me SO MUCH with this poor and unimaginative release.I would like to start a campaign to get Artisan to change their minds. To get them to re-release this awesome film in widescreen. They must do this as this film totally rocks. Even the current cover art is painfully awful. A moody picture of a Joshua Tree would be better. One last thing. Amazon and the back of the DVD state that the running time is 102 minutes when it is actually the unrated 106 version. This version must remain intact in the future widescreen release.
Rating: 
Summary: Lundgren a One Man Army????????
Review: Another spectacle from action star Dolph Lundgren who was made famous for his legendary fight with Sly Stallone in Rocky IV. Lundgren stars as escapes from the hands of the law only to lead them on a series of car chases and plot twists. I highly recomend you check out some of Lundgren good performances in Universal Soldier and Showdown in Little Tokyo, in which Brandon Lee rocks.
Rating:
Summary: Could have been a great DVD.
Review: But this film really is wrecked and mutilated in pan and scan. I love this movie but I won't buy Artisan's DVD which does not even have the movies real title, "Joshua Tree".
Rating:
Summary: What are Artisan playing at???
Review: Cropping an action-packed, 2.35:1 adventure movie like Joshua Tree on DVD to make it "fullscreen" is beyond my understanding. I do wish that Amazon would change it's labelling on DVD info. Fullscreen format is for movies and TV shows made in that aspect ratio. Joshua Tree here is in "pan and scan". A big difference. In widescreen this movie could have been appreciated for what it is...awesome. A decent anamorphic transfer and Dolby 5.1 sound (or even DTS too) would have made a top seller. I know I would definitely buy a copy and I would buy it as a birth prezzie for my girlfriend too because she loves this movie. But instead Artisan give us a workprint quality version of Joshua Tree with awful sound. Some of the dialogue is very muffled, sound effects seem incomplete and temporary and it even sounds a little chewn-up in places. Wait for a new version (16x9, Dolby 5.1). If Artisan ever comes to their senses. It's worth the wait. The movie gets 5 stars, but I am sorry, this DVD must get a 1 star rating.
Rating: 
Summary: Is Kristian Alfonso in this film???
Review: Does anyone know if Kristian Alfonso is in this film? If she is , is she good? Thanks! Bye!
Rating:
Summary: Is Kristian Alfonso in this film???
Review: Does anyone know if Kristian Alfonso is in this film? If she is , is she good? Thanks! Bye!
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT FILM BUT THE DVD IS VERY BAD
Review: First of all this film is called JOSHUA TREE not army of one. And second of all it should be in 2.35:1. Not 1.33:1 with the "dead space" showing dozens of goofs. That aside, this is Dolph's best movie. The plot is cliched and unoriginal but the delivery of the dialogue and that self-aware irony it has is unmatchable. Joshua Tree is way more top-drawer than you may expect and is helmed by one of Hollywood's best action men, Vic Armstrong. Action scenes are amazing but poorly presented in Dolby Surround (think of what 6.1 EX could do for it) and the film has been ruined in pan and scan. I rated the film 5/5. The DVD gets 1/5.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT FILM BUT THE DVD IS VERY BAD
Review: First of all this film is called JOSHUA TREE not army of one. And second of all it should be in 2.35:1. Not 1.33:1 with the "dead space" showing dozens of goofs. That aside, this is Dolph's best movie. The plot is cliched and unoriginal but the delivery of the dialogue and that self-aware irony it has is unmatchable. Joshua Tree is way more top-drawer than you may expect and is helmed by one of Hollywood's best action men, Vic Armstrong. Action scenes are amazing but poorly presented in Dolby Surround (think of what 6.1 EX could do for it) and the film has been ruined in pan and scan. I rated the film 5/5. The DVD gets 1/5.
Rating:
Summary: DVD MUTILATION OF EXCELLENT FILM
Review: I first saw Joshua Tree back in 1994. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the film was as Dolph was still a newbie to me then. He's pretty good in his role but is acted off the screen by George Segal who has as fun playing the villian than any other actor in a movie. What he brings to Joshua Tree is class. Not that it needed any. Vic Armstrong is one of the top Hollywood guys when it comes to stunts. If there's one guy who knows how to blow something up or throw someone off a building best...it's Vic Armstrong. You can tell he loved making this movie when it comes to that breath-taking shootout in the desert warehouse. Wow! This stuff is better than John Woo. But I don't think you should buy the DVD. Not this one at least. I'd take the advice of the reviewers below and wait for a more definative version to be released. To show a 2.35:1 film in 1.33:1 is a mutilation. Seriously. But this DVD runs at the uncut 106 not 102 like the cover says. If you are a big fan of Joshua Tree (and it's understandable how you can be) I'd buy this DVD just to see how the picture and sound quality differs from the VHS. Even the current sound is in Dolby Surround so all those gunshots and the awesome musical score get terrible justice. I hope and pray Artisan wise-up, scrap this version and release the widescreen version soon. It would get 5/5 normally but in fullscreen and in Dolby Surround I'm afraid I can only give it 1/5.
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