Movie Reviews: Missing in Action 2- The Beginning (1985)
Colonel James Braddock (Chuck Norris) and his men are captured by the enemy during the Vietnam War. 10 years later and Braddock and his men are still being held captive by the sadistic Colonel Yin. Yin claims that he will release Braddock and his men if he signs a confession to bogus war crimes. Braddock continually refuses to sign even under the threat of mental and physical torture. It is only a matter of time until Braddock turns the tables on his captors and find a way to take his remaining men home.
This movie and the first Missing in Action were actually made back-to-back. This movie was made first, but the highers-up at Cannon thought that what would go on to become the first movie in the series would make a better start. I can't say that I agree with them. I have seen the first Missing in Action twice and I have fallen asleep both times.
Those of you that don't like the sort of nonsense that Chuck Norris usually made with Cannon might as well pass on this one, but those of you who are like me and enjoy a dumb action movie might get a kick out of this one.
This movie isn't the best one that Norris made with Cannon (I much prefer Invasion U.S.A, but that's just me), but it is fairly tolerable. The movie does get a little grim in places what with people having bags of rats put on people's heads, but I suppose that would have bene needed to make us hate the villains more.
Colonel Yin is your typical sadistic foreign soldier type and even has a neat sideline in opium smuggling. He also works with another nasty foreign type, a typically smug Frenchman by the name of Francois.
Those of you that are aware of the usual sort of silliness that Cannon churned out in the 80's will be fully aware of what to expect. This one may not have been high art, but at least it wasn't one of those interminable Death Wish sequels. Three pointy hats.
Next time: Sudden Death
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