Review: Special Forces

When an American photojournalist is captured and held hostage by a Bosnian war criminal (Eli Danker), the US response is to send in a six-man team of elite Special Forces bad arses, led by Major Harding (Marshall R. Teague) and including Tim Abell as his second-in-command. Scott Adkins turns up as a British SAS man on a separate but connected vengeance mission.

 

An early teaming of director Isaac Florentine and actor/martial artist Scott Adkins (later to pair up for the excellent “Undisputed II: Last Man Standing” and several other films), this 2003 special ops action film gives the B-grade action movie audience what it wants. Florentine knows what he’s doing and is damn good at it. This is for a niche audience, but it will satisfy that audience, an audience I’m a part of. Here Florentine is basically making a Chuck Norris movie (Nu Image/Millennium Films basically being the modern Cannon/Golan-Globus), except with more emphasis on teamwork than you’d ever find Chuck involved with. And frankly Florentine is ten times the director of action than most of the directors Norris worked under. I probably shouldn’t associate this with Norris because for one thing, this is a solid movie. Even Chuck’s best films (“The Delta Force”, “Code of Silence”, “An Eye for an Eye”, “The Octagon”) were just OK at best.

 

Florentine gives us an exciting action opener, getting off and running right away and letting you know what you’re in for. The man directs action with just enough style that it’s cool without being John Woo in “Mi2” levels of silly, overindulgent wankery. We also get introduced to our evil villain right away, with Eli Danker ordering the mowing down of innocent villagers while he chomps on a big ‘ol cigar. It’s a great entrance, and Danker is a reliable presence. What a bastard this guy is, a true black-hearted prick and I was totally here for it. Lead actor Marshall R. Teague is probably best known for being one of the henchmen in “Road House” (I think he was the one in denim if I recall), and he’s got more presence and charisma on show here than he offered up in that film. He’s kind of like a cross between Charles Napier and Sam J. Jones. A real-life Navy veteran and former deputy sheriff, he’s got that gruff, no-nonsense drill sergeant vibe and has nice chemistry with second-in-command Tim Abell, who also has a legit military background. A pre-Boyka Scott Adkins turns up here after about 25 minutes and steals his every scene. Not only is he charismatic, but he’s so impressive in full-flight here spin-kicking villains it yet again makes you wonder how he’s never quite escaped the direct-to-DVD realm. His final fight with the smarmy Adam Driver-looking henchman amongst bags of rice is epic, almost Jackie Chan-esque stuff. This isn’t the best film of Adkins’ career or his best acting, but some of his best action work is definitely contained here. At times he comes off like an uber-efficient one-man army here. The cool thing with the action here as that although these guys are special forces guys, Florentine mixes in martial arts with the gunfire. Having said that it’s almost worth seeing the film for the most OTT reactions to being shot. Even some of the main players are guilty of having overly elaborate deaths, but the bit players especially do ridiculous somersaults after being shot. It’s hilarious. I love it, it’s not a complaint. You want this shit in a B-grade action film and Florentine and co. give it to you.

 

A good B-tier action film for an appreciative and select audience. Well-directed, efficiently choreographed, and good cheesy fun. Seek this one out if you think it’s up your alley. The screenplay is by David N. White, who also scripted the “Undisputed” sequels as well as Florentine and Adkins’ excellent “Ninja: Shadow of a Tear”.

 

Rating: B-

 

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