Rating: Summary: Nearly as good as the big-screen Review: Fun to watch. More than one more time.
Rating: Summary: Chucko kills more baddies Review: He's mean, he's lean, and he's not about to do things by the book! Welcome to the world of the action star, that social loner who won't sit idly by when the scum of the earth prey on the human race. While the rest of us live our little lives playing by the rules like the dupes we are, these guys go out and make a difference. They actually like us despite our weaknesses, amazingly enough, and take care of us out of a sense of responsibility similar to what a lord used to feel for his peons. No matter what they do or whom they kill in the process their instincts never fail them. Even when their partner, significant other, child, or anyone else close to them dies horribly as a result of the threat the action star poses to the villains, they never swerve from their core principles. Their superiors recognize the action star's godlike powers and, while complaining publicly about their reckless behavior, put them right back out on the street to kill the bad guys. No investigative committee will stop these right-wing heroes from mopping up the riffraff. Who needs lawyers or a judicial system when we've got Charles Bronson, Sylvester Stallone, or Chuck Norris? Not me.
Enter "Lone Wolf McQuade," an archetype of the loner action star film starring none other than martial artist turned movie star Chuck Norris. In this grim thriller, Norris stars as J.J. McQuade, a loose cannon Texas Ranger with a penchant for getting himself into scrapes that result in extremely high body counts. Witness the introductory scenes where McQuade single handedly slaughters a group of Mexican horse thieves in order to save several fellow officers. He stands on a cliff and refuses to flinch even when the goons throw up a volley of fire. What a guy! Then it is off to a ceremony for Dakota (L.Q. Jones), a fellow tough guy who is retiring after years of civil rights' violations. THEN we see McQuade stand down his boss and refuse to partner up with one of the very same officers he just saved from the banditos, the impressionable Kayo (Robert Beltran). After a few scenes in which we see McQuade wow Kayo with his ability to blow holes in stationary targets, we meet Jim's family. Awwww, he's got an understanding ex-wife and a pretty young daughter who loves to spend time with him! But it isn't surprising McQuade's wife left him: the guy lives like a slob in a shack out in the desert, drinking beer all day and playing with his pet wolf. A pet wolf!
Trial and tribulation looms on the horizon with the emergence of Rawley Wilkes (David Carradine) and his diminutive business partner Falcone (David Frishman). Both men are gunrunners trying to make a buck during a time when selling weapons to third world despots and miscreants was a lucrative way to make a living. Wilkes, when he isn't double crossing clients, likes to appear in public martial arts exhibitions with his beautiful girlfriend Lola Richardson nearby (Barbara Carrera). Predictably, McQuade appears at one of these outings and quickly becomes enmeshed in a fight with several of Wilkes's goons. The two men stare at one another and then retreat to battle another day. It's not too long after this confrontation that McQuade decides to bring down Wilkes's operation, which he proceeds to do with the intermittent help of Kayo and a rat named Snow (William Sanderson). The feds decide to make an appearance too, sending in disgruntled agent Jackson (Leon Isaac Kennedy) to help McQuade bring down the baddies. Off they go to Mexico and a violent, explosion filled showdown with the smirking Rawley Wilkes. Did I mention that Carradine's character likes to wear sweaters out in the desert? Not only is he a bad guy, he was apparently born without sweat glands.
"Lone Wolf McQuade" goes so far over the top and boasts so many clichés that it is easy to overlook the stylistic elements injected into what is essentially a run of the mill action movie. Director Steve Carver decided to turn this picture into a spaghetti western set in Texas during the modern day, so he hired a composer to mimic Ennio Morricone and shot a lot of scenes where we see extreme close-ups of the characters' faces. Sometimes this technique actually works, but far too often it doesn't. The movie treats us to tons of ridiculous scenes, including a "touching" sequence where McQuade mourns the killing of his pet wolf as well as an outrageously unbelievable scenario in which J.J. drives his rocket equipped truck (!) out of a giant grave. It sounds ridiculous, and it is, but "Lone Wolf McQuade" IS an enjoyable action flick. Lots of stuff blows up, car chases abound, and the body count climbs into the high double digits. Heck, even L.Q. Jones's massive coif inspires more interest than derision (although there is derision, no mistake about it). The film so aggressively indulges in its action sequences that it's relatively easy to ignore the wooden acting from Norris (bad) and from Leon Isaac Kennedy (worse). When I grow up I want to be just like J.J. McQuade.
MGM released "Lone Wolf McQuade" with an anamorphic widescreen transfer (yay!) but only a trailer as an extra. What's up with MGM and these barebones releases for old '80s action films? What, Chucko couldn't take a break from his infomercials to record a commentary track for this film? And what about Carradine? He's got some time on his hands after filming the two "Kill Bill" films, right? Anyway, give this one a shot if you like action films; it's cheesy, frantic, and imminently watchable.
Rating: Summary: GARBAGE! BADNESS + WICKEDNESS ON GRAND SCALE!!!! WORTHLESS!! Review: Hello Folks!
I strongly advice you to not care about those overpraising reviews! I watched this movie a couple of days back and I am not even fully capable of telling and enlightening about you how awfully disappointed I was/still am.
Don't waste your holy time and money! Not to even rent this rubbish in case of getting it for less than 1 $.
The acting as well as all the dialoges is truly that bad, it makes you throw up!
In case of not believing me go watch it and be as I said: DISAPPOINTED and BEING BORED THE BEJESUS OUT OF YOU!!!!
Subtract that one star I gave just because I had to to write this review!
Have a nice time without this JUNK!!!!!
Your PAL (caring about your senses)
Rating: Summary: the best film ever made !!!! Review: i saw the movie for the firsttime when i was 11 and it made a verry great inpression on me, this was the best film i had ever seen , the play of norris and carradine was absolutly impresive. and now i am 30 and i still find it the best film i have ever seen. one of the things that makes it so good is the music from francesco de masi (also availabel on cd). and ofcourse chuck norris and david carradine made the movie to what it is. now i saw the movie about 260 times (this is not a lie)sometimes i watch it every day for a week or so. this is and always wil be my faforit movie. the dvd relaese is verry good , it has a realy good picture and a good sound ,a little sad that it is in mono but ok.
Rating: Summary: Mishmash of Inspiration and Mulling Through the Motions Review: Official Actual Rating: **1/2 (two stars and a half) Steve Carter's (Big Bad Mama) 1983 extremely modest spaghetti western, martial arts, and low budget action hybrid, Lone Wolf McQuade, is by itself a rather remotely intriguing early eighties lackadaisical B-grade prime specimen of energetic action sleepwalking at it's most soothingly appealing and inversely blankly catatonic. Consider an imaginary high school athlete with the entire facility and anatomical ability to become an All-American yet with the small time desire to only be the school's custodian part time after-school and you generally get the bleak situation. In it's most coolly aloof, melodramatically sincere, and yet reclusive callow telling, the film represents nothing more than a passionate circular shift of narrative under-reaching for apathetic self-contentment that often seems to find narrative momentum however never fully follows it anywhere. The spaghetti western contexts of insurmountably acute mysticism (especially in the opening sequence) do raise Mc Quade (virtually superior to all of Norris's filmed efforts to date) above mere action exploitation that unfortunately never sufficiently pursue the true ambition of the material leaving McQuade rather land-logged residing firmly on the peak of B-film incomplete what-ifs that never quite completely come to fruition. Many attest ,along with Norris himself, that his sizable popular internationally acclaimed CBS 1990's hit television series Walker, Texas Ranger was the natural substantive continuation of the themes, spiritual issues, and ideologies first addressed here. That being the case the network television remake astronomically refined, unquestionably advanced, and palpably addressed quintessentially all of McQuade's questionable issues of detail inconsistency, dramatic impotency, and chronic characterized one-dimensionality that intensely haltered this particular effort from being nothing more than routine 1980's actual fodder. The story (what ultimately remains) revolves around the title character, renown Texas Ranger J.J. McQuade (Chuck Norris), who with typical Sergio Leone flourishes remains an all-encompassing renegade loner who's reputation retains all matter of reverence from the community, ecstatic masculine camaraderie with his former superior/best friend (L.Q. Jones, or could we say comedy relief perhaps), typically bureaucratic reservations from his new superiors, fear by his side saddled novice junior partner Kayo (Robert Beltran, of Star Trek Voyager fame) that complicates his solitary angst, and begrudging admiration from his partially aloof ex-spouse and his flourishingly attractive young daughter. As you can already speculate, McQuade is your typical Harry Callahan Alpha male on the loose for any rambling treachery or illegitimate legal disrespect that might nonchalantly mosey on down to his little hamlet of the world for some criminal jollies. The illegal gun smuggler mastermind of this piece is an egomaniac martial arts guru Rawley Wilkes who habitually taunts and impedes upon McQuade's private and professional lives at every conceivable turn that is of course until the predetermined showdown of a lyrically Fistful of Dollars reminiscent magnitude at the film's conclusion. In this case the numero uno (number one in other words) of disrespect is none other than "Kung Fu" television series martial arts cult celebrity (heavily misused significant talent) David Carradine (Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2) who makes the grandiose most of this typically campy action kitsch film by brandishing his pathologically deep eccentricities that incredibly grandly unveil misogynistic resplendent sour dimensions of sadistic grandeur to the remainder of these conventionally predictable Texan action mantra proceedings. Essentially at it's kick punctuated heroically laced center, this silver screen neighborhood of repetitious action compromises of nonexistent sweep over anecdotal embellishment summarily leave the viewer dramatically windswept towards the invariable possibilities that laid in waiting that couldn't quite trespass beyond convention onto the screen itself. As for the DVD edition of Lone Wolf McQuade, the DVD edition contains a competently serviceable 1.85 to 1 wide-screen anamorphic presentation, a flawlessly dynamic Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono audio track, the theatrical trailer, and typically no other film related options to speak of. P.S. When a group of Mexican police officers attempt to squelch a ragtag group of horse rustlers, always bring the precursory Chuck Norris along just in case.
Rating: Summary: one of my favorites Review: Ok you know what your buying when you get a chuck norris movie...lots of kick butt action. it's a very fun movie with norris as a texas Ranger way before his days as Walker texas Ranger and much better. it's not going to win any awards but it;s is one of his best and i have waited for a long time to see this on dvd, the movie is a 5 star but the disk is only a 3 star since it has no extra features9poor chuck..his movies never gets good dvds) but you want this for the movie anyway and so it evens out. and the end has a wonderful fight with the Kung Fu master himself James Carridine(sp?) and while no the best fight scene ever i loved the movie just for that! also it has some good moments like when he is buried underground by the baddies in his truck! and how he gets out in one of the great moments in action films to me....and it has more so do yourself a favor and get this. you like chucks movies or you would not be reading this so hop to it!
Rating: Summary: MCQUADE MORE RANGER THAN WALKER Review: THE MAJORITY OF CHUCK NORRIS FILMS ARE CONTEMPORARY 'B' MOVIES AND THIS ONE IS NO EXCEPTION. BUT, IT JUST MAY BE THE BEST OF THE BUNCH. FORGET REALITY AND TRY TO ENJOY IT AS ESCAPIST ENTERTAINMENT. CHUCK IS J.J. MCQUADE, RENEGADE TEXAS RANGER. HE DEFIES AUTHORITY, DRINKS ONLY 'PEARL' BEER AND LIVES LIKE A SLOB. BUT AS USUAL HE IS A WHITE HAT GOOD GUY. THE CLICHES ARE SO THICK YOU NEED A BUTTER KNIFE TO SPREAD THEM. HE CARRIES A .44 MAGNUM, DISLIKES PARTNERS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG ONES. HE IS A LONER, THUSLY KNOWN AS 'LONE WOLF.' THE MOVIE PROJECTS ITSELF AS A MODERN DAY SPAGHETTI WESTERN COMPLETE WITH A "WHAH-WHAH-WHAH" MAN WITH NO NAME TYPE OF SOUNDTRACK. DAVID CARRADINE OF 'KUNG FU' FAME PORTARYS MCQUADES ARCH RIVAL AND ILLICIT ARMS DEALER. THE CASE GETS PERSONAL WHEN MCQUADES DAUGHTER AND GIRLFRIEND ARE KIDNAPPED AND HELD AT A REMOTE WEST TEXAS COMPOUND. MCQUADE SHOWS UP AND YOU GUESSED IT, WE END UP WITH KUNG FU MEETS KARATE CHAMP. THIS FILM LIKE MOST OF CHUCK'S EFFORTS IS EXTREMELY JUVENILE AND ABOUT AS DEEP AS A CHILDS BACK YARD SWIMMING POOL. BUT IF YOU ACCEPT IT FOR WHAT IT IS, A BASIC ACTION FLICK IT WORKS PRETTY WELL ON THAT PRIMARY LEVEL. WESTERN FANS CAN LOOK FOR L.Q. JONES WHO PLAYS A RETIRED OLD SCHOOL RANGER. HIS SCENES MAKE THE MOVIE. ALL THINGS CONSIDERED IT BEATS THE HECK OUT OF THE SUPER T.V. FANTASY 'WALKER TEXAS RANGER.'
Rating: Summary: Chuck Norris as the infamous Lone Wolf Review: The movie is basically about a modern-day renegade Texas Ranger, played by Chuck Norris, who lives up to the old tales of how Texas Rangers were the "Cowboy Cops" who could out shoot, out ride and out fight just about anything that came across the prairie. Norris' character is ultimately challenged by a ban of illegal gun dealers that use the Texas border as a way to get military weapons into Mexico. The movie takes place in an desolate location in West Texas and the action moves across the border towards the end. There is a lot of action scenes where Norris exhibits his martial arts, and gun battles of the modern westerns movies. It is not a complete "Man Movie" as there is a romantic twist as well. For those who love Chuck Norris movies, will love to have this addition to their collection. Those who enjoy westerns and movies in or about Texas would also enjoy the movie. Not to mention those who enjoy martial arts. It gives the spirit of what the Rangers mean to Texas, in a round about Norris way. A preview to what would become "Walker, Texas Ranger."
Rating: Summary: Chuck Norris' best film!!!! Review: This could easily be a prelude to "Walker:Texas Ranger", but does hold its own after many years, Chuck Norris gives a very good performance as a Texas Ranger that keeps law & order any way he can, the film begins with him on patrol in the Texas desert, he soon discovers a band of outlaws running a horse ring operation, he also discovers State Marshals infiltrating the operation, soon all hell breaks loose as the bandits soon wipe out the state police officers & holds others hostage, feeling responsibilty to his fellow officers, McQuade soon creates a distraction & single-handlely wipes out the outlaws, the film then progresses to its plot where we meet Kung Fu Master David Carradine as a shady business man who is running guns to terrorist organizations all around the world, his dealings soon catch the attention of McQuade who soon realizes that Carradine's operation may have involved the murder of several Federal Officers, soon Carradine is full aware of McQuade's pursuit & attempts to cause a series of distractions, one involving McQuade's teenage daughter as well as the murder of a witness to the organization, not to mention a fellow Ranger, McQuade soon takes matters into his own hands & despite warnings from ATF officers goes after Carradine., Carradine is really good here as the villian that at one point gets the upper hand on McQuade & attempts to kill him by burying him alive, the viewer knows a showdown is inevitable, McQuade's relationship with Carradine's woman only complicates matters, but the highlight of this film has to be the final confrontation between Carradine & Norris, after McQuade destroys his operation, the two square off in a KUNG-FU -vs- KARATE fight that Carradine & Norris display quite nicely, definately one of Chuck Norrris' better films & a good action film that is rare in today's Hollywood, a must have for any Norris fan!!!, the DVD transfer of this film is one of the best I have seen, Highly Recommended!!
Rating: Summary: Great,good time Chuck film, just be sure to suspend reality Review: This is one of my favorite Chuck Norris films not because its good but because its so goofy. This whole plot of the movie is based around a final fight scene between Norris and Carradine. Its full of fun though if you can sit back and laugh at what was supposed to be a serious movie. Its got everything impossible from Chicks one-man shootemup of 12 horserustling villans at the beginning, to him driving his superchgarged bronco out from under three tons of packed dirt???!! Great fun in any case I cant wait till its on DVD.
|