A FORCE OF ONE (1979)

Two cops illegally break into a sporting goods store, where they are ruthlessly murdered by a “karate weirdo”. The police respond by enlisting the help of local karate champion Chuck Norris to train them in the fine art of kicking and punching things. He’s reluctant to help them though, since he’s busy training for an upcoming championship bout against the only other martial artist in the area capable of giving Chuck a run for his money. Hum, that’s interesting…people keep getting beat to death in karate ways and there’s only two people in town capable of that level of karate violence. Wonder who the killer could be?

As far as Chuck Norris’ early period films go, A FORCE OF ONE is about as lame and anti-exciting as the others. (Although I am somewhat fond of SILENT RAGE since it’s kinda like a slasher movies.) Slow pace, zero awesome fight scenes, weird editing, lots of overacting extras in the background, mid-level acting. Then add onto that: zero nudity, zero blood, zero gore, zero cussing and A FORCE OF ONE might as well had been a made-for-TV movie! The only thing that might be interesting for modern day movie nerds is the few, random vintage street scenes (I would love to know the name of that movie theater playing LASERBLAST, MESSAGE FROM SPACE and HIGH VELOCITY!) and the supporting cast, which features various familiar faces like Clu Gulager, James Whitmore Jr., Ron O’Neal, Jennifer O’Neill and G.W. Bailey.

Also, I don't understand the movie tagline that's featured on the poster and newspaper ads: "He hears the silence. He sees the darkness. He's the only one who can stop the killing." He must also be the only one who knows what the fuck that even means. Cuz there's nothing supernatural or overly special about Chuck's character, he's just a dude who runs a karate school. So why, on the poster, is he all naked in a glowing outer space triangle while giving double, below the waist "circle game" gang signs?

Worth a watch if you're curious and bored to death.

Oh yeah, what was the story with the woman who worked at Chuck's mojo dojo karate dojo? I didn't understand their relationship at all.

[This has nothing to do with the review, just a bonus SILENT RAGE newspaper ad featuring the art for A FORCE OF ONE.]

MISSING IN ACTION (1984)

Former prisoner of war, Col. James Braddock (Chuck Norris) is positive that there are still American POW's being held in Vietnam.  He's become a political activist and as so, accompanies an American senator to Vietnam for a conference.  While there, he sneaks off for a little personal one-on-one face time with a certain Vietnamese general.  Stuff happens and the general ends up with a knife in his chest.  Now armed with the location of a POW camp, Braddock teams up with an old war buddy (M. Emmet Walsh) to kick some ass. 

Satisfying pace, above average direction (by 80's action movie standards) by Joseph Zito, not as much action as you would expect, good acting, abrupt ending.  Overall, MISSING IN ACTION is an enjoyable film, but nothing amazing.  It's just kinda...there.  Norris and Zito would team up again the next year with the kick ass INVASION U.S.A.  Hell yeah!

Worthless observation: While watching MISSING IN ACTION for this review, I could not stop thinking about James Hong and David Tress.  Now we all know James Hong as David Lo Pan in John Carpenter's awesome BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA and David Tress as "The Whip" in the badass STONE COLD, but I couldn't stop thinking about James Hong and David Tress...together.  My handsome brain was clinking and clacking like an old riding lawnmower going down a gravel road.  Then it hits me!  They were both onscreen together on Seinfeld!  They were in "The Chinese Restaurant" episode together!

Part 2 (prequel) - Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985)
Part 3 - Braddock: Missing in Action III (1988)