Rugged U.S. Marine Jack Burns (Fred Dryer in excellent hard-nosed form) defies the orders of his commanding officers by going after a band of savage terrorists who have abducted his beloved superior officer Col. Halloran (a sturdy and engagingly gruff portrayal by Brian Keith). Director Terry Leonard, working from a compact script by Jon Gatliff and Lawrence Kubik, keeps the mean'n'lean narrative hurtling along at a brisk pace, maintains a serious gritty tone throughout, really lays on the gung-ho patriotism and testosterone-soaked machismo something thick, and stages the thrilling action set pieces with rip-roaring brio. The sound acting by the capable cast keeps this movie humming: The gorgeous Joanna Pacula as crusading photo journalist Elli, Paul Winfield as a stuffy by-the-book ambassador, Peter Parros as the eager James, Rockne Tarkington as the ferocious Jihad, Daniel Chodos as the wormy Amin, Mohammad Bakri as the vicious Gavril, and Kacey Walker as the ruthless Maude Winter. The jolting moments of brutal violence pack quite a harsh punch while the picture's fiercely jingoistic sensibility radiates a certain lovably crude 80's period charm. Brian May's lively score hits the rousing spot. The polished cinematography by Don Burgess supplies a pleasing crisp look. A fun flick.
Review of Death Before Dishonor
