Avenging Force (1986) Blu-ray version

Classic 1980’s action in glorious high-definition from 88 Films, starring the original “American Ninja” himself, Michael Dudikoff, OUT NOW from 88 Films and Amazon!

Trailer

Cast

Actor and martial artist Michael Dudikoff stars as “Matt Hunter”, a retired black ops agent. Dudikoff started out in supporting roles, including playing Joanie’s boyfriend in the popular sitcom “Happy Days”, and as one of Tom Hank’s friends in the bawdy comedy “Bachelor Party”.

In 1985, the legendary Cannon Films were looking to produce an action movie starring Chuck Norris called “American Ninja”. Norris turned the role down leading Cannon to go on a worldwide search to find someone who would play Private Joe Armstrong, the American ninja. Over 400 candidates auditioned for the part. Dudikoff was picked out by producer and owner of Cannon, Menahem Golan, and the film’s director Sam Firstenberg. Golan even went as far as to say that Dudikoff would be the next James Dean.

It was Dudikoff’s first collaboration with actor Steve James, who was hired to play the partner of the American ninja, a role he maintained for the first three instalments. The film proved to be hugely profitable and established the start of the American Ninja film franchise. Dudikoff become a regular action star for the Cannon Group alongside Chuck Norris, Charles Bronson, Sho Kosugi, and later on, Jean-Claude Van Damme. For the rest of the 1980’s, Dudikoff would continue to star in Cannon Group action film projects, including “Avenging Force”.

His “American Ninja” co-star, Steve James, here stars as “Larry Richards”, a former army comrade standing for election as a U.S. Senator. An actor, stunt performer and martial artist, James starred mostly in action films such as the “American Ninja” series, “The Delta Force”, “The Exterminator”, “Enter the Game of Death” and “To Live and Die in LA”. James also portrayed Kung Fu Joe in the 1988 comedy film “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka”. Shortly before his untimely death from cancer in December 1993, he completed filming the 1994 feature film “Bloodfist V: Human Target” with Don “The Dragon” Wilson.

Probably best known for his role as Private Henry Hook in the classic movie “Zulu”, English film, stage and television actor and screenwriter, James Booth plays “Admiral Brown”. Booth also co-wrote the screenplay for “Avenging Force”. A regular character actor in popular American television and film productions, John P. Ryan is the sadistic “Professor Elliott Glastenbury”, leader of the Pentangle cult. Bit-part actor William Wallace (credited here as Bill Wallace!) is Pentangle member “Wade Delaney”, whose fellow members are “Jeb Wallace”, played by Karl Johnson, and “Charles Lavall”, portrayed by Marc Alaimo. In her only credited role, Allison Gereighty appears as Matt’s sister, “Sarah Hunter”.

Plot

Matt Hunter is an ex-secret service agent trying to protect his best friend from a group of sadistic right-wing terrorists known as Pentangle. When the ruthless organisation attacks those closest to him and kidnaps his little sister, Hunter is forced into Pentangle’s barbaric manhunt, played out in the remote swamplands of Louisiana. It is the ultimate game of cat-and-mouse, as Hunter employs his awesome array of martial arts skills in a desperate fight for survival and revenge.

Action

Director Sam Firstenberg’s Best Action Film

There is an option to watch this film with an introduction from it’s director, Sam Firstenberg. He considers this his best action film. That’s some statement considering other works in his filmography include 1980’s action staples such as “Revenge of the Ninja”, “Ninja III: The Domination”, “American Ninja”, “American Ninja 2: The Confrontation”, “Delta Force 3: The Killing Game”, “American Samurai”, “Cyborg Cop”, and “Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo”. (Okay, maybe not the last one, but surely it wins a prize for Best Eighties Movie Title?).

Shades of “Hard Target”

Perhaps providing the inspiration for John Woo’s “Hard Target”, the opening scenes reveal two bloodied and battered victims being hunted down in some dense swampland. Those doing the hunting wear sinister masks and carry weapons that range from a katana to a piano-wire garrotte, and an exotic-looking bladed pincer. We are quickly left in no doubt about the R-rated violence that is to follow and the sadistic nature of our bad guys.

Impressive Stunts: Falls, Motorbikes, Jumps & Horses…

The first major set piece takes place during the famous New Orleans Mardi Gras. It is full of classic eighties-style action with blazing Uzi machine guns and stuntmen swan diving in slow motion from great heights. There are some impressive stunts, with the performers falling onto the tarmac from fast- moving motorcycles and horses.

Michael Dudikoff Establishes His Athleticism

Michael Dudikoff just has a few rudimentary punches and throws to perform initially, but there is enough here to establish his considerable athleticism. To verify that his foes will be worthy opponents, a kendo bout filmed in long, wide takes, brings with it some martial-arts authenticity. A fairly wild car chase reminded me of the old “A-Team” television series, featuring several outlandish but thoroughly entertaining stunts, jumps and crashes.

Dudikoff Perfoms Many of His Own Stunts

Aside from any fisticuffs, Michael Dudikoff is especially impressive in the performance of many of his own stunts. He leaps, swings and zip lines his way about, as he dispatches various henchmen, often in unbroken takes so we can clearly see that he is rarely doubled.

Dudikoff Dukes it Out: using Karate, Wrestling, Judo & Weapons

The finale takes place in the rain-soaked marshes and I can only imagine how tough it must have been to film in them. The action is built much more around Dudikoff’s fighting skills rather than some of the earlier shootouts. He displays a credible, versatile ability to fight with weapons, karate, wrestling, judo and good old-fashioned duking it out! With his skill set, good looks and acting abilities, it does make you wonder why he didn’t quite make it onto the A-list alongside stars like Sylvester Stallone.

Summary

It’s funny how many 1980’s American action movies are painted as right-wing political fantasies. In this movie it’s the bad guys who hold some thoroughly distasteful right-wing views, and they are, quite correctly, far from glorified.

Watching it some 34 years later, it is a sad fact that some of these beliefs still seem to exist in certain sections of society, and I’m sure this will resonate with modern viewers. In addition to their political views, these are properly sadistic, old-school bad guys. They have no qualms about cold-bloodily harming women and children to achieve their ends, or even just for kicks. It makes it much more satisfying when our hero dishes out the justice!

Michael Dudikoff is an engaging lead. He has the looks of a young Lee Majors, handles the dramatic and emotional scenes admirably, and of course can knock the action out of the park. It’s astonishing to think that he only formally trained in the martial arts for his role in the preceding year’s “American Ninja”. The supporting cast of bad guys play it so suitably nasty, you will almost find yourself booing at the screen whenever they appear.

The Blu-ray itself is another superior presentation from 88 Films, with excellent picture and sound quality, some great limited-edition postcards (first edition only), an introduction to the movie by Director Sam Firstenberg, audio commentary from Sam Firstenberg and Michael Dudikoff, as well as an interesting interview with star Michael Dudikoff.

I felt a wonderful sense of nostalgia watching “Avenging Force”. It brought back to me the joys of renting a shamelessly entertaining action film on VHS. Fans of that classic era of American action B movie, will find this to be in the top tier of Cannon’s back catalogue of such movies, making this an essential addition to their collections!

Trivia

  • Dudikoff had no martial arts training before making the first “American Ninja” movie, but he was already very athletic. Fight choreographer Mike Stone, an accomplished martial arts expert, assured the producers that Dudikoff would pick up the moves.
  • Since making “American Ninja”, Dudikoff has trained in karate, aikido, judo and in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He began his training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu with Rorion Gracie and stays connected with the Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighting circuit, including Rigan Machado, an eighth degree red and black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and former world champion.
  • “Avenging Force” was originally written as a sequel to “Invasion USA” with Chuck Norris returning in the role of Matt Hunter. When Norris declined, the role was rewritten to be younger and given to rising Cannon star Michael Dudikoff instead. Despite sharing the same main character name, the finished film was no longer intended to be a sequel or prequel to the earlier film, but its own stand-alone movie.
  • Michael Dudikoff stated that during the course of the two weeks he spent filming the closing bayou confrontations, he ran through numerous spider webs, got an ear infection, contracted a skin virus and had to endure too many cuts and bruises to count.
  • Released in Israel as “The American Ninja 2”, which caused “American Ninja 2” to be released as “American Ninja 3”, and so on. In fact, in Israel there are six movies in the “American Ninja” series.
Avenging Force (1986) -now on Blu-ray

Avenging Force (1986) -now on Blu-ray

Film Rating: 7.5/10

“Avenging Force” is OUT NOW on excellent Blu-ray, order your copy via 88 Films or Amazon!

Order “Avenging Force” on glorious Blu-ray, now!

Is “Avenging Force” among your go-to action movies from the 1980’s? Which Michael Dudikoff fight scenes do you remember best and which Cannon Films’ titles would you like to see receive a Blu-ray upgrade next? Let us know in the comments below; Like, share and join in the conversation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter & Instagram!

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Glen Stanway

Influenced by the movies of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, Glen began training in martial arts and gymnastics in 1995. He made his first of many visits to Malaysia and Singapore in 1998 to learn Chin Woo kung fu under the supervision of Master Teng Wie Yoo. Glen is the author of "The Art of Coaching" and "Fearless The Story of Chin Woo Kung Fu", and runs a kung fu & kickboxing school in Hertfordshire, England.

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