Reviews (137)

Mad Max 1
I'm a great fan of the Mad Max series of films and since I'm living in Australia, I have seen the original Aussie version on video locally. It seems stupid that we can only get Mad Max 2 and 3 on DVD in Australia and not Mad Max 1 (which is only available on Video). So, because of this I bought Mad Max 1 (The U.S Version DVD) through Amazon which has the American voices dubbed over the original sound track (which I didn't know at the time). Me being Australian and having watched the original, I found the U.S version very disappointing. Also the picture quality on this US version DVD of Mad Max 1 should have been better (It's more like VCD quality). The Australian version of Mad Max 1, I would give 5 stars.

The Original Mad Max
I own the original Mad Max the way it was released in Australia and i have to say that it is a brilliant movie (although not as good as its sequel). I have never had the oppertunity to see the U.S version but would love to own it one day...The exellent chase scenes and crashes are now part of Aussie film history. The scene of Max getting his leg blown open by the gang shows why he has a leg brace in the sequel. If anyone would like to e-mail me and (hopefully swap movies) send to: pjb_3@hotmail.com no paper clips please..They will be deleted.

Mad Max : The original and the American
Mad Max is certainly not a movie for everybody especially not your Saturday night date but it has proved to be an excellent guy movie and it sucks that the good ol' USA had it dubbed,edited or how 'bout butchered. The dubbed American version has however grown on many of us and is certainly an excellent action/horror/western/biker movie. This version will probably always be available but if you ever have a chance to see the original or even own it, you are in for a true delight. The Aussie dialogue is not as difficult as "A Clockwork Orange" but can be hard to understand at times but you get what they are saying. Also, there are several key sequences that were edited that adds to the tension (hence forth the horror genre). Although, some would disagree, a director's cut is certainly deserved to this cult classic, one that restores the the original sounds and lost(?) edited scenes. MAD MAX is definitely a high energy movie that every guy should own. There is real movie magic at work here while still displaying an artistic approach(an angle rarely explored in action movies of years since its premier.)

This was how you did it back then.
For 1978/79, Miller's debut feature is tightly directed and highly engaging thanks almost to the constraints that had to be imposed because of the films amateuresque style. Gibson breaks out of his screen starting gate like a racehorse, the villain gang is well (and humourously) put together and the plot is as souped-up and humming with power as practically all the vehicles shown therein (remember that post-apocalyptic sci-fi thrillers only became well and truly cliched after the third installment of this series). Still, the real stars of the show in this picture are the cars themselves. Those Interceptors painted yellow and marked 'Pursuit' are the best thing to happen to a Datsun since the invention of the 454hp engine and scoop. Miller directs the road sequences with zest and conviction - so much so that the frenzy of the death highway comes out to stab the viewer in the eyeballs at times. There are a few funny bits with deaths etc. Most are well executed [except for the Edwin Nealesque (he's the guy who gets smushed under the wheels of that truck at the end of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre') demise of the ludicrously camp biker leader, 'The Toecutter'] but watch out for the sequence where Max runs the bikers off the bridge right after his wife and kid get splattered. Look for the guy in the red helmet and brown jacket (I think he's also wearing a white aviation scarf) who falls on the road (most of the bikers being catapulted over the railings). Found him? Okay, good. Now wait until you see the front wheel of the bike to the left of him smash him in the head and jerk his neck forward. That actor must have died! No way could anyone have lived through that without serious hospitalisation. Hmmm.... was George Miller trying to get too opportunistic with that? Anyway - it's a damned fine film given its unripe origins so go see it whether you're familiar with the trilogy or not. Scholastic work for sure.

The origanil version is comming
Good news folks. I read that the origanal version of Mad Max is being releast. First to the big screen, than on DVD. So I would wait, if I were you. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Right turn, Clyde
This is a great movie, even if it is a sequel, and even if it is a little bit on the thin and choppy side.
It opens in classic style, with Philo Beddoe (Eastwood) getting ready to take down another sucker at yet another fight, and just rolls along from there. The main gist of the movie that Beddoe is recruited for a major fight, against a man from the East who has a nasty reputation for crippling and killing his opponents.
At first Beddoe agrees to the match, but with the resurfacing of his relationship with old girlfriend Sondra Locke, he eventually decides the risks are too high. Desperate to stage the fight, and save their own rears, the two crooks running the show kidnap Philo's girl in an effort to force his hand.
The rest is somewhat predictable, but fun to watch regardless....
There are a few side stories on the go as well - particularly, Clyde's interest in the newest addition to the orangutan enclosure at the zoo, and Ma's wild ride in the pick-up truck with a car wreck hooked up to the back (at least, at the start of her trip).
Also, if nothing else, it's worth watching for the insane antics of the Black Widows bikers' gang. These scene stealers get plenty of air time, and are worth every minute of it - especially their hapless leader.
Scenes to watch for - the tar scene, and every time Clyde gets into a police car.
This is a movie to sit back and roar laughing at. Forget logic. Just enjoy yourself.

Redneck But funny
i thought this movie was really good considering clint eastwoods movies are really all the same. The famous pick up truck,the ape,bikers,g/f it all in one movie explains that this is a really good way for clint eastwood to show his other side

Addicted to This Movie
I'm a huge Clint Eastwood fan, and I enjoy watching and discussing his deep, dark movies like "The Beguiled" and "Unforgiven." But my guilty secret is: whenever "Any Which Way You Can" show up on cable TV, I get a big goofy grin on my face, drop everything I'm doing, and watch it. I realize this film is an acquired taste, but I *love* it. It's my redneck roots coming out. The overage bikers, Clyde the orangutang, William Smith, crazy old Ruth Gordon, Geoffrey Lewis, Clint crooning with Ray Charles on the soundtrack, even Sondra Locke's singing and acting (which comes off as enjoyably campy in this context)--it's all great! And I love the message of "we rustic rural types are just as interesting as anybody else" (because these *are* my people, as I've said.) I don't think Eastwood has made a more enjoyable movie.

Any Which way you can
I thought this was some of the best work that Clint Eastwood did. Than the shoot'em up and kill'em films. Clint has a notch for comedy especaly when he told clide "To strip the car." I'll never forget how far he through the parts of the car. It's a funny film for the whole entire family.

Dead meat, Beddoe. Dead meat!
The Clint Eastwood-Orangutan sequel to the amazingly popular "Everywhich Way But Loose." The Man with No Name, Dirty Harry, Josey Wales, and Will Munny is shown here cavorting around with a monkey, listening to country music, pursuing the dreadful Sondra Locke, and bareknuckle boxing.

This movie is very dumb, but still alot of fun. The highlights are the Black Widows biker gang's encounter with tar and the fight scene between Eastwood and his rival, Wilson(William Smith). On that fight scene, it is fun to note that Eastwood has never shied away from paying tribute to older films in his movies.(Pale Rider=Shane.) That final fight scene is obviously based on the John Wayne-Victor McLaglen duel in "The Quiet Man." It even includes the intermission in which the two fighters drink a beer together before resuming the fight! As Liam Neeson said to Jim Carrey in Eastwood's last Dirty Harry movie, The Dead Pool, "It's not a rip-off. It's a homage." ... Read more

Amazon.com

A lot has changed in the biker-movie genre since Hell's Angels on Wheels, and Torque may be the new benchmark of feverish chopper action. Martin Henderson plays Cary, a speed king and relatively civilized outlaw with a knack for annoying everyone, including drug smugglers, the FBI, an ex-girlfriend, and, worst of all, biker gang leader Trey (Ice Cube), who thinks Cary killed his brother. On the run from everyone, Cary survives by playing all sides against one another. But the story is less important than the frantic, over-the-top, tongue-in-cheek action surrounding it. The Fast and the Furious producer Neal H. Moritz is responsible for this crazy, violent, yet appealingly sardonic cowboys-on-wheels piece. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (34)

It's a simple math problem.
Add xXx with 2 Fast, 2 Furious, minus the great looking leading men (and women), minus memorable lines, minus originality (both in screenplay and car/bike chase scenes) and it equals the terrible Torque.

Nothing was new, original, or worth watching if you saw and liked xXx, The Fast and the Furious, and 2 Fast, 2 Furious because you will get nothing more for Torque than a good two stars lower than you rated those previous movies. This movie did TERRIBLE in the box office compared to the other three.

Ice Cube is no Vin Diesel (not even Tyrese for that matter), and Martin Henderson is a much older and more average version of Paul Walker. The only near-leading lady (if you don't count the 5 minute cameo of the pretty Christina Milian) is easily upstaged by all the extras. So obviously this copy-cat movie isn't even saved by a good looking cast.

The acting was very average, but that's to be expected since not many members of the cast have a long movie credit list. The one-liners were downright silly at times, not that there were many to being with.

The basic plot was a biker guy (after coming back from 6 months in Thailand running from the police) gets framed for a murder by another group of bikers because "Ford" (Martin, our main character) won't return the other-bikers' bikes that have drugs in them. Did I mention the man they killed is the brother of the leader in ANOTHER biker gang (this gang happens to be a -ridiculously- urban group for a gang who's in the middle of nowhere) and he goes after Ford too? The gallant Ford, his two friends and his girlfriend have to clear his name. Of course, cars are blown up, people die, car/bike chases ensue and all that jazz.

It sounds complicated because the movie (obviously) tries to hard but the movie is surprisingly (err...well not THAT surprisingly) forgettable.

I generously gave it 2 Stars because it reminded me to give even more credit to xXx and the t.F.a.t.F. and it's sequel. The blatant (and repeated) stealing of the great ending computer generated scene in xXx and it's -desperate- attempt to have more dazzling action scenes than The Fast and the Furious made three years prior to Torque.

This movie doesn't succeed, in any way. Maybe four years ago, but not after the handfuls of better action and action/drama flicks that have hit the box office in the past three.

This is not a film for the cynical.
I see no reason to not like this movie if you paid money to go see it. If you didn't realize it would be a cheesy action flick with clique driven dialogue, you are so completely ignorant on your movie selections that you disserve to be disappointed.
The plot is a so recycled I can't even remember what film should get the credit for using it originally. The dialogue is so corny that the characters even make fun of each other after delivering their one-liners. The action is such over-the-top physics-defying fluff that it comes off as a science fiction film, and a good one at that.
Martin Henderson and Monet Mauzer act extremely well with the limited dialogue they were given. It seemed as though they knew how over-the top it was and just had fun with it, which makes for a very enjoyable viewing experience. The thing that sets this film apart from movies like The Fast and The Furious, Two Fast Two Furious or Biker Boyz is that it doesn't take itself nearly as serious as those films do.
Torque is director Joseph Kahn's first feature film. His background includes a celebrated career as a music video director and it shows.
So, if you know going into this movie that it is basically an eighty-one minute music video, and that concept is not offensive, you should have a wonderful time. If that doesn't sound like your bag, don't waste your time by going to see it then further waste your time by writing a review of the film like you thought it was going to get the Oscar for best picture of the year.

I wouldn't watch it again.
I didn't have high expectations from a this movie from the start but it was far worse than I ever thought it could be. Most of the stunts are completely rediculous. I've never heard of people "bunny hopping" a 450 lb. crotch rocket 10 feet in the air or fist fighting on two bikes weaving through traffic at what appears to be warp speed (whatever that is). The only reason I would watch it again would be if I'm drunk and want to pass out.

What Was I Thinking ?
Ice Cube is one of the greatest rappers of all-time. "Torque" continues the string of cinematic evidence that he shouldn't give up his day job.

Great cinematography and incredible bikes!

Delivers action and fun
People make the mistake of going into an action/racing movie like this and expecting realism. The idea of this movie is to escape reality and have fun. If you watch this movie with that in mind then you'll love it. As an action flick it's got some great scenes and it one-ups countless previous action movies. Noone complained about MI:2 when the motorcycle tires mysteriously changed to nobbies. Why? Because it's JUST A MOVIE meant for entertainment. The action is what fans are after, even if it's a little off-the-wall. I enjoyed Torque. You will too, if you aren't looking to be a stickler about realism. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

'Modern Classic' and the Hard Road of Life
This is a much deeper more evolved movie than most realize at first glance. On the surface, its a simple action adventure movie about the little guy vs. the BIG corporation. It has enough action in it to satisfy the action movie buff many times over with everything from exploding motorcycles to jumping off of rooftops. On a more subtle level, character development is strong and quick. The internal demons that haunt Harley Davidson (Mickey Rourke) and the Marlboro Man (Don Johnson) are very real bringing these characters to life. Their moral dilemmas and loyalty to themselves, each other and their friends are believable. The movie does take the 'action' movie formula: Good Guys versus Bad Guys but includes an element often not seen in 'classic action' movies where the good guys actually have flaws. This movie is more 'classical' in that respect where the villian is the villian, but the good guy isn't perfect. For a comparative type movie, 'The Replacement Killers' is a good example: Action Movie where the 'good guys' aren't necessarily all that good but 'Do the Right' thing. Another way to view it would be 'Robin Hood' meets the 21st Century. This is must have 'Classic' of eighties film making. Amazingly deep dialog for an 'action' movie. It includes excellent cameo performances by Chelsea Field, Vanessa Williams, and Tia Carrera. The last three lines of the movie are classic in themselves: Harley: 'Hey, where you headed?', Girl: 'Nowhere Special.', Harley: 'Get on, I'll take you there'.

ride on!!!!!!!
simply put when i was 9 yrs old and heard that opening song "wanted dead or alive" while harley (mickey rourke) is burnin across the desert, i was a fan for life.... though now i wondered why they didn't pick ccr's "run thru the jungle" for the opening credits...

Butch & Sundance Adaptation
Mickey Rourke is Harley (Butch Casidy) and Don Johnson is the Marlboro Man (Sundance Kid), two struggling men who reunite to help out their friends. With crystal clear spoofs on scenes and dialog from "Butch Cassidy & The Sundace Kid", this movie is the essence of a buddy action flick from the late 80's and early 90's. A cast worthy of "School Ties" tags along, including Tia Carrera, Tom Sizemore, Dan Baldwin, Vanessa Williams, WWF Wrestler: Big John Stud, and quite a few familiar faces from likewise action movies. While it was a little sad to see two actors, both of whom at one time were considered to be at the top of their occupation, drudging along in a movie more suited for Steven Segal and Dolph Lungren, it's also fun to see them handle the parts with skill and a balance that keeps things from getting down right stupid. Tom Sizemore, who plays the bad guy steals the show as a smooth talking, sinister, drug pusher, that has zero fear of a biker and his cowboy buddy. All in all this is a great flick for those nights you just can't seem to get to sleep, which is exactly when the television stations play it.

Classic Movie - badly publicised
What a great movie! Two cool dudes, one excellent bike, great support, good story and cinematography......and then a lousy bloody trailer which probably kept the vast majority away from seeing this movie when it launched and so stopped it becoming a far bigger hit than it ever was.
Great, escapist fun. Turn the lights out, turn the surround sound to 10, couple of cold tinnies and just watch the opening few minutes...woow, what a bike! and a great opening track with Jovi at their best!

A man's movie
"Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man" is one of those frat house movis that only guys who's diet is mostly pizza and beer could like, and I ate it all up. This is a pretty simple movie; a pair of loseres rob a bank to help a buddy save his bar, except that they accedentlly stole a new designer drug. From there the two go through Los Angles's Century City to Los Vagas casinos and back again being chased by men in bullet proof black jackets. The two leads, Mickey Rourke and Don Johnson, have a very witty repore between them, raunchy, but funny, and at least as good a team as Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. So this movie is not for everyone, but it is underappriciated and should be givin a chance; although if you're a woman without thick skin, you might want to stay away. ... Read more

Description

When he loses his job, gas station attendant Poet (Academy Award-winner Jack Nicholson) falls in with a rough band of Hells Angels who terrorize Northern California in a hellraising frenzy of parties and gang fights. Choppers, drugs, sex, murder and mayhem ensue as Poet and gang leader Buddy (Adam Roarke) head down a dark road to danger. From acclaimed cult director Richard Rush (The Stunt Man) with cinematography by the legendary László Kovács (Easy Rider, Paper Moon) and music by Stu Phillips (Battlestar Gallactica, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls). ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The Original and Superb 60's Cult Classic Biker Movie!!
In Jack Nicholson's 1967 predessor to "Easy Rider",a youthful Nicholson stars as a gas station attendant who's bored with his life,and decides to join Hell's Angels on a cross country trip along the way,Nicholson tries to steal the girlfriend of the gang leader,and winds up in a biker style duel with him.This Cult Classic film boasts being photographed by the renowned photographer Lazlo Kovaks(Easy Rider,Close Encounters of the Third Kind) and features real-life Hell's Angel,Sonny Barger as one of the actors in the film along with other members of the Richmond Hell's Angels and the Sacramento Nomads Gang.An Original and Superb 60's Cult Classic Biker Movie especially for Biker Fanatics!!

Rumble in the Bay
Classical late 60's / early 70's flick with a heavy randomness to it, not really any storyline. The bikes are cool; The Hells partying and fighting seemed like forced action, but probably generally reflective of the types of things that took place.

Couple of points: the other review above says Sonny Barger is in the movie, but only for a couple of quick shots in the opening. The lead (playing Sonny/type) is WAY too sensitive a guy to be realistic (IMHO). The ending is comically abrupt and odd. Plus the factory version I bought was tapped in EP - THE WORST possible quality and horribly grainy - difficult to watch since the reproduction was so bad. It was still kinda fun as an era piece.

Adam Roarke has BIGGER Screen presence than Nicholson! !!!
This is One of Those TRUE GUILTY PLEASURES !!! This even Seems Better then Corman's The Wild Angels Which came out Earlier, This movie shows more of the True Brotherhood of what its like to be in a Real Outlaw Biker Gang !!! There are Even real Hells Angel Alums in this film Like Sonny Barger and Adam Roarke...The Ending seems a little Hurried though, thats my only Gripe...Over all a Great Ride of a Film !!! :)

Genuine Choppers
If you are into vintage old school choppers, this film has them. Great shots of original, real-deal bikes, not RUB material from the Learning Channel.

Classic Movie --
If you want to go back to the '60s then this movie is for you. Put this movie into the VCR and go back in time. Action in a classic way. But again, remember "CLASSIC". ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good movie with VERY DISAPPOINTING Ending
My husband and I really enjoyed the movie until the last 10 minutes or so. The ending leaves you hanging, but you must believe that the bad guys win, which is not what I want to spend two hours preparing for. Major disappointment and a waste of 2 hours.

Hells Angels 69: Best biker movie made!
I saw Hells Angels 69 when it came out. I was 13 and it was the first biker movie I ever saw.I have seen many since that time and there is no doubt in my mind that this is the best one made.This is a true biker flick, not some stupid poser garbage like Easy Rider. Easy Rider is just the lame story of two punks .They aren't bikers, just hippies on two wheels. Sonny Barger,former President of the Oakland chapter of the Hells Angels who was in HA 69, described Peter Fonda best when he said Fonda was a graduate of Chicken Sh_t High School.Although the acting is not great you get a feeling for how the Club actually was in those days.As a side note, Terry the Tramp and Magoo, two members of the Oakland chapter that are featured in the film, died shortly after the film was made.The Hells Angel lifestyle demands a lot and these two paid the price.The bikes and the locations make the film all the more real. The club house shown at the start of the film was the actual one for the Daly City chapter.This is the real thing.The other film in this set is so bad that it isn't worth the effort to watch it.

"The Losers" / a.k.a. "Nam's Angels"
"The Losers" was a great Drive-In movie from 1970.With actor William Smith leading his band of bikers into Cambodia to rescue
a CIA spy. The opening sequence is awesome, yet sad. The slow motion and special effects created by Director Joe Solemon are one of the best war sequences shot as well as the battle to rescue the CIA agent.The bikers do what bikers do best, party, drink, love and kick some ...They take there motorcycles and add some mean weapons to them.They also create a awesome 3-wheeler with cannon fire.This was the first war movie to bravely attempt to show a little of what it maybe be like in Viet Nam, as it was released in 1970 and our Armed Forces were still very much in Viet Nam. This movie is a classic. For the year 1970 it opened my eyes to the horrors of war and the bravery of our Amercian soldiers, whether they were military or just good-ole free loving, hell raising bikers.. Sit back and enjoy and remember the year this was released and you'll enjoy it alot better..

preposterous, but cool...
I first saw this cheesey B flick back in '69 or '70, back when movies like this were en vougue. Think about it. The CIA recruits a misfit group of Hells Angel types to rescue and return a US presidential advisor from behind enemy lines in Viet Nam. So, here come these booze drinking, pot smoking, verile heroes to the rescue. And what fun it is! Keep in mind, American GI's are not allowed to step foot where this hostage advisor is being held, but bikers are. They party hard before the battle, do lots of local women, retro-fit their choppers and off they go. What ensues is pure fictional hocum. Lots of slo-mo action with a cool 70's style score. A great nostalgic fix for fans of this genre.

Don't worry about the intricasies of the plot and story-line here. Just sit back and enjoy. I did.

Good fun
I know that most Americans find it hard to laugh at what happened in Vietnam but this film is so over the top, but hugely enjoyable, that it may shed things in a different light. the film has to be taken with a huge pinch of salt, but if you can take the First Blood/Rambo films along with anything with Chuck Norris in it then this will come across as totally believable. I first saw this film in 1970 or around that time in a cinema in Barrhead (near Glasgow) when it was a B film showing with a Dracula movie with my mate Kenny and we sat in and watched it again and again (we went to this particular cinema because they let anyone in who had long trousers on and as it was an X certificate (18)in Scotland it was the only place we could get in. The story is about a load of Hells Angels who end up in Nam with their bikes and the stunts are brilliant so who cares about the plot. It boasts one of the best songs I have ever heard for a sound track. So folks buy it, suspend belief and sit back and have a laugh. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

BORN LOSERS! BEST BIKER FILM!
WOW THIS IS THE BEST OF THE BIKER FILMS, IT IS ALSO THE FIRST FILM FEATURING THE BILLY JACK CHARACTOR PLAYED BY THE LEGENDARY TOM LAUGHLIN THE STORY CONCERNS A NASTY BIKER GANG "THE LOSERS" THAT TERRORIZE A CALIFORNIA BEACH TOWN AND ARE RAPING COLLEGE CHICKS AT THEIR CLUBHOUSE HALF BREED INDIAN/GREEN BERET/RODEO RIDER AND LONER WHO LIVES IN HIS TRAILER IN THE NEARBY HILLS BILLY JACK HAS TO FIGHT OFF THESE GUYs WHEN HE COMES TO TOWN! THE FIRST RUN IN HE HAS WITH THE GANG HAPPENS AFTER A VIOLENT SCENE WHERE A GUY BUMPS INTO THE GANG LEADERs BIKE IN TRAFFIC, WORDs EXCHANGE AND SOON THE GUY IS GETTING THE HELL BEAT OUT OF HIM, BILLY JACK GUNS DOWN ONE OF THE BIKERS IN THE PARKING LOT, BUT GETs AREESTED WITH A STIFF FINE THAT HE PAYS, THE BIKERS GET OFF WITH A LESSER CHARGE! A BIT LATER, BILLY JACK IS BUYING GROCERYS AND IS PARKED IN A SPOT IN FRONT OF THE BIKERS BAR, AND DANIEL (WHO KNOWS BILLY JACK FROM AN EARLIER TIME)THE GANGs LEADER AND HIS BUDDIES SLASH ONE OF BILLY JACKS JEEP TIRES AND START BUGGING HIM! ENTER VICKY BARRINGTON, A RICH ,SPOILED COLLEGE CHICK WHOS PLANS TO SPEND VACATION TIME WITH HER FATHER ARE CHANGED, SO SHE DECIDES TO RIDE DOWN THE COAST ON HER BIKE DECKED OUT IN TRUE SIXTIES FASHION, REVEALING BIKINI AND GO GO BOOTS! WELL SHE RIDES INTO TOWN AND THE BIKERS TAKE NOTICE! THEY CHASE HER , SHE CALLS THE COPS WHO ARE NOT TO SWIFT IN THIS TOWN THE BIKERS THEN DETOUR HER AND WANT HER TO BE "INITIATED!" WELL THIS IS WHERE THE STORY PICKS UP, SO WATCH THIS FLICK AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS! GREAT MUSIC, EXCELLENT BAD GUY VERSES GOOD GUY STORY , GOOD ACTORS! TOM LAUGHLIN- BILLY JACK RULES! JEREMY SLATE, JACK STARRET, WILLIAM WELLMEN J.R. , STUART LANCASTER, ROBERT CLEAVES, JANE RUSSELL, ROBERT TESSIER, PAUL PROKOP, JEFF COOPER, PAUL BRUCE, EDWIN COOK LOOK FOR DELORES TAYLOR IN SMALL PART ALSO GREAT SOUNDTRACK WITH MIKE CURB/DAVIE ALLEN AND THE ARROWS!

Born Losers sets tone for an era and a legend
When I saw "Born Losers" for the first time around 1970, I had a peculiar feeling that this story was not over---and I hungered for more! Then, of course, came "Billy Jack" and a legend was born. "Born Losers" set box office records for the genre at that time. It's just one of those movies that carries a quiet but mighty message: The good guy wins! On the surface, it may appear to be a simple bikers and chicks flick, but it was so much more. It carried a message of justice....... and how someone who just wants to mind his own business sometimes gets caught up in the fight for justice. I admit... Jane Russell's acting is not Oscar material, but the movie was a star vehicle for Robert Tessier, who later appeared in "The Deep", "The Longest Yard", "Hard Times" and a host of other movies and TV shows. Jeremy Slate also does an excellent job as the leader of the Biker gang too. Born Losers is a must for Billy Jack fans because it was, in most cases, unknown to fans as the precurser to the legendary film and Tom Laughlin masterpiece. And believe me.... there are still tons of Billy Jack fans out there. Check out the web site too.... it's worth it for fans.

TV version
This was never more than a cult movie to begin with and this DVD is the cut for TV version. All but the most benign nudity is gone and so is the more agressive violence. This leaves it a pathetic kiddie version of the original. Unfortunately, there probably is not an original copy left as in the old days, once the movie was cut for TV then the original was often discarded as no further use could be seen for the complete movie. Obviously it would never return to theaters and the original could never be shown on TV so what posible use could it be. VCRS and DVDS, who knew? If your looking for that raw hard cheap exploitation film that we all loved, this ain't it. Save your money.

60's Drive-In Action flick!
There is no question that "Born Losers" is a campy, 60's B-grade action flick, but it's surprisingly aged much better than its more famous sequels. "Born Losers" was the film that introduced actor/writer/director Tom Laughlin's "Billy Jack," a half-Indian, ex-Green Beret, to popular culture.

In "Born Losers," Billy Jack has returned from Vietnam and is trying to readjust to civilian life by attempting to avoid any hassles with society. However, when a vicious biker gang invades his hometown and rapes several girls, Billy finds himself being forced into conflict with the gang because the authorities are either too powerless or too cowardly act. Basically, Billy comes to the defense of one of the gang's victims, a college girl named Vicky (Elizabeth James), when the gang attempts to intimidate her from testifying against them.

Overall, "Born Losers" is a low budget film with mixed performances (Elizabeth James was very cute, but she was a horrible actress!) and an uneven script (can anyone explain why that one girl does a striptease?) However, it's a fairly entertaining film for its genre- a late 60's, drive-in, biker movie. Yes, it's campy, but, overall, it's really not that bad especially in comparison to its sequels. In those later movies, Tom Laughlin would turn quiet, loner Billy Jack into a preachy defender of hippies who punches, kicks, and shoots his way through waves of rednecks in order to make the world safe for flower power. The first of the sequels, "Billy Jack," was an enormous hit in the early 70's, yet viewed today its hypocritical message of "kung fu for peace" and absurd political statements makes it laughably dated. "Born Losers" is also dated, but because it didn't have any real political message it really stands up much better today than either "Billy Jack," "The Trial of Billy Jack," and "Billy Jack Goes to Washington."

Good movie
My review is about the review done by James A. Reynolds III. All of his reviews are worthless. He never gives insight about the game, movie, book, etc. He just spews the same Taliban-like crap from right-wing conservative morons. Leave your political views out of the reviews. If you want to continue to make these stupid remarks, go to Foxnews.com. Fox news - they lie & you comply. ... Read more

Description

Biker Cary Ford (Martin Henderson) is in possession of several motorcycles belonging to a ruthless drug dealer. Now he's putting the squeeze on Ford in an attempt to retrieve the bikes, which have something a little more valuable than gas in their tanks. ... Read more

Description

Witness director Al Adamson’s disturbing and socially significant cinematic portrait of a biker gang’s anti-social rampage! Motorcycle maniacs on wheels terorrize the southwest! After this sadistic gang wreaks havoc on the patrons of roadside diner, a waitress and ex-marine are the only surviving witnesses.The pulse-pounding suspense inscreases rapidly as the duo find themselves pursued through the desert by The Satans in a bloodthirsty chase.This seventies cult hit features chilling performances by Russ Tamblyn and Greydon Clark as "Acid." ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Life Imitates Art
This movie is a classic example of "Life Imitates Art". Many a bike club was built on the premise of this and many other 60's scooter tramp flicks like this one. Own a piece of American counter-culture and add this jem to your library!

violent and sexy biker movie
The movie starts promisingly with a couple indulged in petting suddenly interrupted by a gang of bikers. They drug the girl and rape her, then set the forcibly drugged and drunk couple in their car and roll the car over the edge of a cliff.
And the action never stops in this fine drive-in classic biker movie dubbed by producer Sam SHERMAN as the "CITIZEN KANE of biker movies". Well, I don't agree to that (in my view the best biker film of all time is the Spanish THE MAD FOXES), but SATAN`S SADISTS is great fun nevertheless.
The further plot concerns a former marine hitchhiking through the California desert, who is offered a lift by a middle-aged couple, a cop and his wife on second honeymoon. They decide to have a meal at a roadside diner. Suddenly the biker gang arrive at the diner! You can probably guess, what happens next: the bikers make trouble, molesting the waitress and harrass the cop's wife, prompting the cop to draw a revolver. Things get nasty, resulting in the policeman's wife getting raped (unfortunately we don't get to see too much nudity here) and the death of the cop, his wife and the diner's owner. The ex-marine and the waitress escape in the desert, killing two bikers in the process. One guy meets a particularly nasty end by being drowned in the toilet! The furious bikers give chase and the couple must fight for their life...

WOW! They don't make movies like that anymore. SATAN`S SADISTS is a sleaze masterpiece, full of violence, nudity, violent sex and drug abuse. The film is rather anti-establishment, like many movies of the period. And the characters are really cool! Sure, the ex-marine is a bit boring as well as his new found girlfriend, the waitress. But the bikers deliver. Particularly Russ TAMBLYN is great as the cool but psychopathic gang's boss Anchor. He delivers a nice anti-establishment speech before shooting the cop and the other victims at the diner. And his accomplices are a rather weird bunch! Two of the gang members are handicapped, a biker is one-eyed (but wears sunglasses nonetheless), another even needs a hearing aid (!). The only concern of the bikers seems to be sex and getting stoned. And the dialogue is sometimes over the top - like when the bikers encounter three girls in the desert, one of them sunbathing topless, which prompts one biker to remark "She is keeping her milk warm."
Oh yeah, I really love this movie.

The DVD itself is filled with lots of extra features. First, there is an introduction to the movie vy producer Sam SHERMAN, who talks about how cool the film is and that it has gained a cult following worldwide. This segment however looks like it was shot 100 years ago.
Producer SHERMAN also appears in an interesting interview. This guy knows some stories to tell and it is fun to listen to him. The producer also provided an audiocommentary on which I can not comment, because I did not listen to it and I am generally not a fan of audiocommentaries. However I did listen to the radio interview with Regina CARROL, wife of director Al ADAMSON and staring in SATAN`S SADISTS as "freak-out girl". It is a promotional piece and again fun to listen to. There is also a gallery of behind-the-scenes photographs, presented in a way, as if they were shown in a drive-in theatre.
Then there is the film's trailer, which is outstanding. It starts with a disclaimer: THE SHOCKING SCENES YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE ARE NOT SUGGESTED FOR THE WEAK OR IMMATURE. IF YOU CANNOT TAKE IT, WE ADVISE YOU TO NOW PATRONIZE THE CONCESSION STAND OR LOOK AWAY FROM THE SCREEN DURING THIS PREVIEW OF "SATAN'S SADISTS". The trailer promotes the film with the tagline A REBELLION OF HUMAN GARBAGE! Seeing is believing.
There are also 3 TV teaser trailers for the film as well as four additional trailers for other films, all directed by Al ADAMSON: DRACULA VS. FRANKENSTEIN (trashy beyond belief, only for diehard trash film fans), the slightly better zombie romp BLOOD OF GHASTLY HORROR, ANGELS WILD WOMEN (a promising looking exploitation flick) and GIRLS FOR RENT (titled erronously I SPIT ON YOUR CORPSE on the trailer menue) starring XXX actress Georgina SPELVIN of THE DEVIL IN MRS. JONES fame.
A great disc!

If you like entertaining, violent, politically incorrect B-movies, buy it! You won't be disappointed.

Overrated
This is the most overrated film I've seen in a while. I hoped for a violent, sexist, stark, disturbing biker film, and I got cheese. The motorcycles are awful, some of them are like dirt bikes and others no self-respecting biker would ever ride. The Satans colors look like iron-on patches. The violence is very antiseptic, with very litte gore, almost no nudity, and no realism. The plot and continuation are pathetic; could someone explain to me how the manniken-haired "good guy" got up that mountain so quick at the end to fight Firewater, or better yet, why? Also, the picture and sound quality are abyssmal, rendering whole sections of the movie unwatchable. A total waste of time and money, and completely misrepresented by anyone who gives it a good review.

from Fringe Video Fanzine Issue #005
One of the greatest biker films of all time. Very nasty, raw and violent. "...Released during the height of the biker film craze, the film made enough money to finance several more movies..." The simple western good guys vs. Bad guys type plot consists of a bike gang who "...terrorize some people at a desert diner until the gang is done in by a drifting Vietnam vet..." This is Al Adamson's breakthrough film, which propelled him and partner Sam Sherman into business with the introduction of a company called Independent International Pictures Corp. The film was intended to be the jewel which they would market to the drive-in crowd. "...not at all typical Adamson fare... It contained no footage from other movies..." Extreme for the time, the film starts with the rape of a large breasted women, and later LSD being forced to unwitting girls before they are raped and murdered. Miles away from the usual Hollywood type exploitation biker movies that regulars like Casey Kasem [Cycle Savages (1969) / Wild Wheels (1969) acted in. This is a film that strayed far away from the mainstream, and found an audience amongst the anti-establishment film going crowd who were eating up such films as: The Wild Angels (1966) or Easy Rider (1969). Said to be "...the Citizen Cane (1941) of biker films..." So extreme that many say that the film almost ruined the career of the main star Russ Tamblyn [West Side Story (1961) Twin Peaks (1990 - 91). The anti-police speech Tamblyn does, as he sits on top the car is probably the highlight of the movie. Shot in 16mm and blown up to 35mm to save money for the casting. Al Adamson managed to hire such notables as John 'Bud' Cardos [Hells Angels on Wheels (1967) / Psych-Out (1968)], Greydon Clark [Skinheads (1989)], and Regina Carrol [Beat Generation (1959) / Viva Las Vegas (1964)] who later married director Al Adamson. Audio commentary on the disc by Sam Sherman, also features a radio interview with Regina Carrol, some behind the scenes photos, and short documentary called 'Producing Schlock'

An Excellent movie!
This 60's biker movie is a lot of fun. Rampaging biker gang with psycho leader, older couple on vacation, good-guy marine and the young waitress - priceless. I could have done without the rape scenes, but the camera didn't dwell on them too long.

The acting really couldn't be much better. Excellent characters. Apparently filmed in 11 days. Doesn't get much better for b-biker flicks. ... Read more

Description

Arresting tale of apocalyptic excitement as a future cop in a post-nuclear wasteland seeks revenge against the roving outlaw gang that killed his wife and daughter. ... Read more

Reviews (137)

Mad Max 1
I'm a great fan of the Mad Max series of films and since I'm living in Australia, I have seen the original Aussie version on video locally. It seems stupid that we can only get Mad Max 2 and 3 on DVD in Australia and not Mad Max 1 (which is only available on Video). So, because of this I bought Mad Max 1 (The U.S Version DVD) through Amazon which has the American voices dubbed over the original sound track (which I didn't know at the time). Me being Australian and having watched the original, I found the U.S version very disappointing. Also the picture quality on this US version DVD of Mad Max 1 should have been better (It's more like VCD quality). The Australian version of Mad Max 1, I would give 5 stars.

The Original Mad Max
I own the original Mad Max the way it was released in Australia and i have to say that it is a brilliant movie (although not as good as its sequel). I have never had the oppertunity to see the U.S version but would love to own it one day...The exellent chase scenes and crashes are now part of Aussie film history. The scene of Max getting his leg blown open by the gang shows why he has a leg brace in the sequel. If anyone would like to e-mail me and (hopefully swap movies) send to: pjb_3@hotmail.com no paper clips please..They will be deleted.

Mad Max : The original and the American
Mad Max is certainly not a movie for everybody especially not your Saturday night date but it has proved to be an excellent guy movie and it sucks that the good ol' USA had it dubbed,edited or how 'bout butchered. The dubbed American version has however grown on many of us and is certainly an excellent action/horror/western/biker movie. This version will probably always be available but if you ever have a chance to see the original or even own it, you are in for a true delight. The Aussie dialogue is not as difficult as "A Clockwork Orange" but can be hard to understand at times but you get what they are saying. Also, there are several key sequences that were edited that adds to the tension (hence forth the horror genre). Although, some would disagree, a director's cut is certainly deserved to this cult classic, one that restores the the original sounds and lost(?) edited scenes. MAD MAX is definitely a high energy movie that every guy should own. There is real movie magic at work here while still displaying an artistic approach(an angle rarely explored in action movies of years since its premier.)

This was how you did it back then.
For 1978/79, Miller's debut feature is tightly directed and highly engaging thanks almost to the constraints that had to be imposed because of the films amateuresque style. Gibson breaks out of his screen starting gate like a racehorse, the villain gang is well (and humourously) put together and the plot is as souped-up and humming with power as practically all the vehicles shown therein (remember that post-apocalyptic sci-fi thrillers only became well and truly cliched after the third installment of this series). Still, the real stars of the show in this picture are the cars themselves. Those Interceptors painted yellow and marked 'Pursuit' are the best thing to happen to a Datsun since the invention of the 454hp engine and scoop. Miller directs the road sequences with zest and conviction - so much so that the frenzy of the death highway comes out to stab the viewer in the eyeballs at times. There are a few funny bits with deaths etc. Most are well executed [except for the Edwin Nealesque (he's the guy who gets smushed under the wheels of that truck at the end of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre') demise of the ludicrously camp biker leader, 'The Toecutter'] but watch out for the sequence where Max runs the bikers off the bridge right after his wife and kid get splattered. Look for the guy in the red helmet and brown jacket (I think he's also wearing a white aviation scarf) who falls on the road (most of the bikers being catapulted over the railings). Found him? Okay, good. Now wait until you see the front wheel of the bike to the left of him smash him in the head and jerk his neck forward. That actor must have died! No way could anyone have lived through that without serious hospitalisation. Hmmm.... was George Miller trying to get too opportunistic with that? Anyway - it's a damned fine film given its unripe origins so go see it whether you're familiar with the trilogy or not. Scholastic work for sure.

The origanil version is comming
Good news folks. I read that the origanal version of Mad Max is being releast. First to the big screen, than on DVD. So I would wait, if I were you. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Two Thumbs Up ---WAY UP!
Clearly not a big budget movie - but rather a raw, campy, no frills action flick. A "B" movie at its best. By all means worthwhile watching it with your buddies for a goof.

As good as it is, not quite up to the Boz in Stone Cold..... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

BIKER MOVIE...BIG MEN WITH THROBBING MACHINES AND THE GIRLS
Sex, violence and bikers on an action-filled ride in this raw, angry film produced and co-written by Jonathan Demme. The two stars Scott Glenn and Gary Busey, in early roles, play their parts as nasty bikers with total realism and gritty determination. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Surprisingly good.
I saw parts of this movie on HBO while flipping between channels looking for something worthwhile to watch. I thought this made for HBO movie was far from what I was looking for. After seeing parts of it probably half a dozen times and being drawn in, I finally sat down and watched it from beginning to end.

This movie has a straightforward simple plot. At a glance it looks like Hollywood stock and the average back cover synopsis at the movie store wouldn't lead you to believe different. But, this film is of higher quality. The writing is good, even witty. The acting is good. The action is a vehicle to the plot, not center stage. It is a light, benevolent, and heroic movie, with action as its backdrop.

Unfortunately I haven't seen anything else written or directed by Ken Sanzel that was worth the time to watch it. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Mediocre movie but great disc
The early 1980s produced some of the best low budget Italian schlockfest rip-offs in the history of film. It may have been the only time that that ever occurred, but that's beside the point. All that mattered was sitting down in front of the television late at night, turning on a movie channel, and sitting back to watch horribly cheap movies like "Warrior of the Lost World" and "2019: The Fall of New York." Enzo G. Castellari was one of the groundbreaking figures during this time (the others including Sergio Martino, Lucio Fulci, and Fabrizio De Angelis), a filmmaker never afraid to shamelessly base a film on "The Road Warrior" or "Escape From New York" but with one tenth the budget and talent. "1990: Bronx Warriors" is one of these films. It's actually a sort of prequel to another, equally tasteless and cheap rip-off called "Escape From the Bronx" released by Castellari in 1985. Scary, huh? How could a movie this bad merit a sequel? Three words: worldwide box office. Yep, the rest of the world doesn't have the cynical attitude audiences have around these parts. They'll watch just about anything as long as they think it takes place in the United States or something blows up. Remember how big a hit "Dallas" was a few years back? I think they're still watching that in Kiribati or some such place.

If Kurt Russell could have predicted what the Italians would do to his work in "Escape From New York," he probably would have outright refused to star in the picture. John Carpenter probably would have burned the negatives. Castellari's film follows Trash (Mark Gregory), a gang leader in the blasted remnants of the Bronx. The year 1990 hasn't been a good year for New York City, apparently. Some huge conglomerate called the Manhattan Corporation is taking over the world neighborhood by neighborhood. They own the Bronx, nominally anyway, but the various gangs really control the borough. You've got gangs on roller skates, gangs on motorcycles, kung fu gangs, and gangs that look like rejects from "All That Jazz." A powerful gang lord called Ogre (Fred Williamson) presides over the entire area. It's a wild, wacky world, the Bronx, but it's also a dangerous place to go messing around in. Wars go on all the time in this place. When a young lady named Amy turns up in the Bronx, her appearance incites a brief battle between Trash's gang and the roller skating clowns. Trash soon learns who Amy is and why she's in the Bronx, and her presence is going to cause a world of trouble.

It turns out that Amy is a key figure in the future of the Manhattan Corporation. The head of the company wants her back, so he hires Hammer (Vic Morrow) to infiltrate the Bronx and cause discord amongst the competing thugs. In the process, he'll extract Amy and mop up the syndicates for the last time. It's a good plan on paper but a poor one in execution as a movie. Nothing really happens onscreen for the entire duration of the picture. Oh sure, Trash embarks on a mission to see Ogre, requiring him to navigate a path through many rivals' territory. A bit of hand-to-hand combat, a betrayal within Trash's organization, and a conclusion involving chaotic scenes of combat are all rather tepid and poorly filmed. Even the sight of Vic Morrow laughing maniacally before meeting his maker isn't enough to raise the pulse rate. The plot sort of just lies there, slowly meandering along until the credits roll. The only question the film raises is this one: what was that guy doing out there playing drums when the gangs confabbed at the wharf?

The acting, script, and special effects are so poorly done and horribly presented that I would rather spend time discussing a feature on the extras' menu, namely the very lengthy interview (forty minutes) with Fred Williamson that Media Blasters filmed for the DVD release. The Hammer waxes on numerous topics of interest to the lover of low budget 1980's cinema. He discusses how he moved into the foreign film business, his experiences with several notable directors, and how utterly pathetic these Italian rip-offs were. Williamson talks about the highly praised Lucio Fulci, claiming that the man was not a great director because he never followed up on what was going on. Moreover, he says Fulci never had a sense of continuity in his films because he would just show up and start filming whatever he thought would work that day. Anyone who has seen Fulci's films knows Williamson tells the truth. We worship Fulci for the mind blasting gore in his films even as we cringe at the plodding pacing and sloppy plot. I think anyone who likes watching these zero budget horror and action films should pick this DVD up just for the Williamson interview.

"1990: The Bronx Warriors" does contain several other noteworthy extras. A commentary track with director Castellari graces this disc (!) along with an interview to boot. There's a stills gallery and a bunch of trailers for films like "Flesh for the Beast," "Faceless," "Flesh Eater," and "2019: The Fall of New York." Can't beat that, can you? Well, you probably could, but you get the idea. The inclusion of these sorts of extras for a forgettable potboiler is surprising yet probably an indication that Castellari's films-and by extension, other Italian hacks' films of the era-are still remembered and revered by schlock cinema fans. Here's to Media Blasters for a job well done, along with a wish for more titles from this intriguing sub genre in the future.

Bronx Warriors
The sequel is vastly superior to this cute mishmash of Escape From New york and the Warriors. However The late Vic Morrow and Fred Williamson steal the show.
The standout scene is The Viking funeral sequence, apart from this it is unconvincing early 80s badly dubbed light entertainment. It is about as futuristic as Dr Who!
The sequel has far more violence, better bad guys and the action is better staged.

highly entertaining cult movie
1990 The Bronx Warriors is a cult favorite which can now be seen uncut! This isn't just a bad film, but is a 'so bad it's GREAT' exploitation classic that provides tons of entertainment value. Bronx Warriors is a rip-off of Escape From New York and The Warriors and is an off the wall mixture of quality, crap, comic book stuff, and incredibly funny moments. Another review on this page said it needed more violence, but this film's rep was never all about violence. It was highly censored so most fans of this movie here in the U.S. only saw that highly edited version before this DVD and still loved it. What gained this film it's reputation was not just an extreme level of violence, but it's extreme level of FUN and it just gets better and better as the years go by with each viewing.

Dated Cult Low-Budgeter
17-year-old Mark Gregory stars as Trash, leader of The Riders - a motorcycle gang that survive in the Bronx of the future. Crime has supposedly risen to such impossible heights that the police have abandoned the Bronx to its own devices - the gangs now rule the streets. In reality, most of the Bronx is owned by the corrupt Manhattan Corporation who would like to develop the land. They have inflated the crime rate in order to get the government to give up control, allowing them to forcibly remove people from their homes without interference. However, they do not control the streets and to complete their plans they will have to deal with the street gangs.

The gangs largely co-exist, each staying off the others' turf, with the Ogre (Fred Williamson) ruling over all as self-styled King of the Bronx. The balance is upset when Trash encounters Ann (Stefania Girolami), a girl who has run away from civilised Manhattan, who he saves from a rival gang. The two are immediately attracted to each other, and she joins up with him and his gang. However, she is the heir to the Manhattan Corporation and has run away because she fears being used as a puppet. The men in power will stop at nothing to get her back, even bringing in the legendary mercenary Hammer (Vic Morrow). Ann is taken by another gang, and the race is on as to who reaches her first. But Trash must also prevent Hammer turning the gangs against each other while fighting to get Ann back.

Originally made in Italian (although filmed in the Bronx) as 'I Guerrieri del Bronx', this cult classic was later dubbed into English. Only recently released in its uncut version, it was notorious for its violence and suffered extensive cuts in both its original UK and US releases. It also featured a lot of real Hell's Angels as the supporting bikers. It has to be said that these days the violence in it looks quite restrained and won't shock as many as it once did. Suspension of disbelief is definitely required in order to deal with gangs who roller skate or tap dance, but the imagery of it all remains quite vivid.

DVD Extras: Just the basics with this budget single-disc release.

Extras: Picture gallery, Filmographies, Trailer. 2/10

It's Got: Lots of startling imagery.

It Needs: More violence - it's no longer living up to its reputation.

Alternatives: Bronx Warriors 2, Clockwork Orange, After the Fall of New York.

Summary: Dated cult low-budgeter that nonetheless still has something to offer to fans of the genre. 5/10

(Review by Andrea Chee) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

BIKER MOVIE...BIG MEN WITH THROBBING MACHINES AND THE GIRLS
Sex, violence and bikers on an action-filled ride in this raw, angry film produced and co-written by Jonathan Demme. The two stars Scott Glenn and Gary Busey, in early roles, play their parts as nasty bikers with total realism and gritty determination. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

BIKER MOVIE...BIG MEN WITH THROBBING MACHINES AND THE GIRLS
Sex, violence and bikers on an action-filled ride in this raw, angry film produced and co-written by Jonathan Demme. The two stars Scott Glenn and Gary Busey, in early roles, play their parts as nasty bikers with total realism and gritty determination. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

For Those Who Like Trash
One of the worst movies I've ever seen.

Having said that, "The Black Six" (a joke gift from a goofy friend), is fully enjoyable.

It looks like it was shot in a couple of days using bits and pieces of discarded scripts that had been haphazardly glued together.

The best part is watching these football legends (and they are legends, 4 of them are in the Hall of Fame) act.

Of particular interest is the hilarious method that Lem Barney uses to quell his opponents.Lem (who I don't think had one line in the movie) practices a type of martial arts that can be described as "Statue Fu").

He leans forward and places his foot on the chest of an opponent.That's it, and that seems to be enough to immobilize the opponent.

Other great awful scenes abound.

Of particular interest for Football fans is watching Carl eller in scenes where he is shirtless.Eller was considered a big man at the time and at 6' 4" and about 250, he is an impressive specimen.But 30 years later, there are wide receivers with those measurements.He would be about 80 pounds too light to make it in today's NFL.

Maybe the "Black 6" should have been chasing steroid dealers instead of southern racists.

Wonder if it's too late for a sequel?

Blaxploitation Fumble
Football players don't always make great thespians, but sometimes players will try their hand at the big screen. In 1974, six of the biggest stars of the NFL appeared in "The Black 6." San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Gene Washington stars as Bubba Daniels, a Vietnam veteran home from his tour of duty, making up for lost time with his five closest friends from the Army. They are Jr. Bro Williams (Carl Eller), Bookie Garrett (Mercury Morris), Frenchy LaBoise (Lem Barney), Tommy Bunka (Willie Lanier), and Kevin Washington (Joe Greene). One day, after completing some work on a farm with his buddies, Bubba checks his general delivery box, and learns that his brother Eddie (Robert Howard) has been killed. Moose King (John Isenberger), the leader of a motorcycle gang in Bubba's home town, killed Eddie because Eddie became involved with Moose's sister, Jenny (Cynthia Daly).

Bubba comes home to get answers and justice. The police and most of the locals know that the motorcycle gang had some involvement, but nobody's willing to challenge the gang's alibi that they were out of town when Eddie died. The only people who are willing to help are an old barfly and Ceal (Rosalind Miles), Bubba's old girlfriend who started turning tricks when Bubba didn't come straight home from the service. With their help, Bubba goes to the biker bar where Moose and his gang frequent, and Jenny works as a waitress. Bubba and Moose nearly settle the score in the bar, but the police break up the confrontation and advise everyone to leave unless they want to get arrested. That gives Moose time to meet with Thor (Ben Davidson), the leader of another local motorcycle gang, for help in dealing with Bubba on a permanent basis. Bubba's friends, concerned for their friend's safety, come to town to provide muscle for Bubba. Thus, the stage is set for the predictable showdown between the gangs and the Black 6, with equally predictable results.

First, let me give you the bad news about "The Black 6." There isn't a single credible performance in this movie. In addition to The Black 6, Moose, and Thor, several other pro football players and baseball great Maury Wills make equally thankless appearances. Neither writer George Theakos nor director Matt Cimber try to give any dimension to any character besides Bubba. The music by David Moskoe is a poor imitation of Curtis Mayfield's "Superfly" score. The title song says the guys don't look for trouble, yet it also says they love "ladies, bikes, and fighting." That confusion never ends. The climactic fight scene is horribly lit, making it impossible to distinguish the good guys from the bad. When Moose's gang is killed by The Black 6, Thor's gang decides to burn them to death with road flares. The Black 6 throw them back with hits that cause bikers to burn, and their bikes to explode. The rest of the bikers get wiped out when their attempt to play kamikaze fails.

Now here's even worse news about the film. It's as dismissive of black people as it is of whites. Most blacks are dismissed as drunks, gamblers, and hustlers, and most whites are dismissed as hateful of non-whites. The more "The Black 6" dwelled on these traits, the more vile I found the film. Thankfully, I only had to endure this filth for only about 85 minutes. The only thing that trumps the ineptitude of the film in general is its misguided, misanthropic view of human beings. I had low expectations for this DVD, but I don't want my $4 curiosity investment to make me feel as repulsed as this movie did. The movie ends with this ominous warning: "Hassle a brother...and the Black 6 will return."

"The Black 6" makes Fred Williamson films look like high art in comparison - and both cost the same price. "The Black 6" is one of the worst movie experiences I've ever had. Avoid this film, even at its cost. Nothing good will come of viewing it. This isn't just blaxploitation. This is total exploitation. Shame on the filmmakers.


Originally published on Epinions.com.

... Read more