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Post by lostinlimbo on Feb 25, 2017 9:33:09 GMT
A group of unidentified terrorists plan to destroy the world’s oil supply unless the Israelis withdraw. So to prevent any real sort of disruption to world politics, an American CIA agent is brought in to uncover the terrorists. But this man is no ordinary agent.
Who remembers the 1980’s vigilante thriller "The Exterminator"? Well genre writer/director James Glickenhaus would follow up that cult film with the cold-war action-thriller “The Soldier”. Glickenhaus sure knows how to stage action and that’s hard-edge action. From the opening minutes, you just know you’re in for a grungy, violent treat with spectacular stunt-work and explosions galore. After the first scene, I actually I thought I was getting myself into something daring, but that's just a smokescreen. Watch how everyone just seems to pop out a gun, when needed. Throw in gratuitous slow motion and a foreboding electronic score by The Tangerine Dream. They really do set the tone with their pounding score in the opening credits. Sadly though, it started off more promising than how it ended. It’s disappointedly low-key with its reveal and ultimate pay-off. At least the pacing remains consistent, even if not finding the second half to be as riveting. And the build-ups do offer some outstanding set-pieces involving thrilling car chases, bloody shootouts and dangerous skiing. Locations have character, due to being on location and having scope with it cinematography. From USA, to Israel, Germany and Austria, it does have that grand James Bond feel to its picturesque backdrops and adventurous plotting. As for the narrative, it’s confounded with scheming and shady politics. Script remains little light on the details, but the recognizable cast does a serviceable job with the complicated material. Ken Wahl brings a quiet confidence to the soldier role and Alberta Watson is rather icy. But you know you can count on badass Steve James to liven things up. Just look how he greets his pal (Wahl) and of course taking out some drunken yokels after being at the end of “Yo nigga, I said down in front”. Now let’s move onto Klaus Kinski. It’s a very odd appearance. Simply he walks in, walks out. This for only a mere minute. Did he accidently walked onto set?! Though he came dressed, looking rather striking to turn enough heads. I thought his character was going to have bit more to him, but in the end it’s disposable. There are bit parts for William Prince, Ned Eisenberg, Zeljko Ivanek (looking good decked out a cleaning lady’s outfit) and Jeffrey Jones. Forget the plot, enjoy the action. “The Soldier” is a ballsy political action-thriller that can be on the daft side. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2017 9:39:08 GMT
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Post by stefancrosscoe on Feb 25, 2017 10:55:56 GMT
Who remembers the 1980’s vigilante thriller "The Exterminator"? Well genre writer/director James Glickenhaus would follow up that cult film with the cold-war action-thriller “The Soldier”. Glickenhaus sure knows how to stage action and that’s hard-edge action. From the opening minutes, you just know you’re in for a grungy, violent treat with spectacular stunt-work and explosions galore. After the first scene, I actually I thought I was getting myself into something daring, but that's just a smokescreen. Watch how everyone just seems to pop out a gun, when needed. Throw in gratuitous slow motion and a foreboding electronic score by The Tangerine Dream. They r eally do set the tone with their pounding score in the opening credits. It's been years since I last saw this one, but I do remember it contained some very solid action sequences, a bitchin' Tangerine Dream score and a crazy looking Klaus Kinski showing up in a rather small part. The Exterminator I remember very well, as being one of the first vigilante movies I got uncut on VHS as a kid and loved the whole gritty/brutal New York atmosphere of the early 80s. The opening shots of the big apple and the theme song was very good and it had a strong cast too. John Eastland sure knew how to make the scum suffer, as he ends up paying his best friends attackers a "friendly" visit, then taking them down to a shitty basement, feeding them off to some hungry rats. Brutal as hell, but today assholes like that far too often would be out on the street within seconds, while their victims are still fighting for their lives in a hospital bed. |
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Reynard
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Post by Reynard on Feb 25, 2017 12:27:38 GMT
The Soldier and The Protector (with Jackie Chan) were Glickenhaus' attempts to go mainstream but it didn't really work out. The Soldier's biggest problem is its weak and confusing script that doesn't keep interest. Tangerine Dream's uninspired score and Kinski's "I'm just here for the paycheck" role (he did a lot of those) were other major disappointments. Some decent action but that's about it. 4/10
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Post by lostinlimbo on Feb 26, 2017 1:33:59 GMT
The Soldier and The Protector (with Jackie Chan) were Glickenhaus' attempts to go mainstream but it didn't really work out. The Soldier's biggest problem is its weak and confusing script that doesn't keep interest. Tangerine Dream's uninspired score and Kinski's "I'm just here for the paycheck" role (he did a lot of those) were other major disappointments. Some decent action but that's about it. 4/10 I don't mind "The Protector", but yeah it didn't really come off. Jackie Chan felt miscast there. You're right. The material is what lessened "The Soldier". Kinski's role is disappointing... it's a nothing part. You wonder why they bother. I guess the name was a selling pitch. |
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Post by lostinlimbo on Feb 26, 2017 1:46:11 GMT
Who remembers the 1980’s vigilante thriller "The Exterminator"? Well genre writer/director James Glickenhaus would follow up that cult film with the cold-war action-thriller “The Soldier”. Glickenhaus sure knows how to stage action and that’s hard-edge action. From the opening minutes, you just know you’re in for a grungy, violent treat with spectacular stunt-work and explosions galore. After the first scene, I actually I thought I was getting myself into something daring, but that's just a smokescreen. Watch how everyone just seems to pop out a gun, when needed. Throw in gratuitous slow motion and a foreboding electronic score by The Tangerine Dream. They r eally do set the tone with their pounding score in the opening credits. It's been years since I last saw this one, but I do remember it contained some very solid action sequences, a bitchin' Tangerine Dream score and a crazy looking Klaus Kinski showing up in a rather small part. The Exterminator I remember very well, as being one of the first vigilante movies I got uncut on VHS as a kid and loved the whole gritty/brutal New York atmosphere of the early 80s. The opening shots of the big apple and the theme song was very good and it had a strong cast too. John Eastland sure knew how to make the scum suffer, as he ends up paying his best friends attackers a "friendly" visit, then taking them down to a shitty basement, feeding them off to some hungry rats. Brutal as hell, but today assholes like that far too often would be out on the street within seconds, while their victims are still fighting for their lives in a hospital bed. Its been awhile since I've watched "The Exterminator". Need to give it a re-watch soon. Indeed brutal (oh that meat-grinder) and raw with authentic NY locations, but I wasn't much of a fan of the distracting romance subplot involving the investigating cop and (I think) nurse. Now its cartoon-like sequel is still fresh on mind. "You want to clean out the streets? *I am* the streets!" |
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Post by Reynard on Feb 26, 2017 2:03:42 GMT
Kinski's role is disappointing... it's a nothing part. You wonder why would they bother. I guess the name was a selling pitch. Kinski used to do a lot of two minute parts during his stay in Italy along with proper roles. I've read interviews with people who made those movies and yeah, they pretty much confess to hiring Kinski just so that they could put his name to posters with big letters. Kinski knew his value early on and priced himself accordingly, so hiring him just for one day was all that low budget producers could afford. It's possible to write a great two minute role for someone as talented as Kinski. Sadly neither the scriptwriters or Kinski seemed to care about making this one memorable. |
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Post by lostinlimbo on Feb 26, 2017 3:32:07 GMT
Kinski's role is disappointing... it's a nothing part. You wonder why would they bother. I guess the name was a selling pitch. Kinski used to do a lot of two minute parts during his stay in Italy along with proper roles. I've read interviews with people who made those movies and yeah, they pretty much confess to hiring Kinski just so that they could put his name to posters with big letters. Kinski knew his value early on and priced himself accordingly, so hiring him just for one day was all that low budget producers could afford. It's possible to write a great two minute role for someone as talented as Kinski. Sadly neither the scriptwriters or Kinski seemed to care about making this one memorable. There are some great behind-the-scenes stories of Kinski. I enjoyed hearing about what happened on set of the mid-80s Alien knockoff "Creature". Small part, but amusing performance. With how the lead characters played out in "The Soldier", they probably would have struggled writing a great two minute role. Kinski could have felt, it was under him to put much effort into it. Or maybe he didn't get along with the cast/crew to care enough? |
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Post by Reynard on Feb 27, 2017 2:23:11 GMT
Kinski used to do a lot of two minute parts during his stay in Italy along with proper roles. I've read interviews with people who made those movies and yeah, they pretty much confess to hiring Kinski just so that they could put his name to posters with big letters. Kinski knew his value early on and priced himself accordingly, so hiring him just for one day was all that low budget producers could afford. It's possible to write a great two minute role for someone as talented as Kinski. Sadly neither the scriptwriters or Kinski seemed to care about making this one memorable. There are some great behind-the-scenes stories of Kinski. I enjoyed hearing about what happened on set of the mid-80s Alien knockoff "Creature". Small part, but amusing performance. With how the lead characters played out in "The Soldier", they probably would have struggled writing a great two minute role. Kinski could have felt, it was under him to put much effort into it. Or maybe he didn't get along with the cast/crew to care enough? Everyone who ever met him has a story to tell about Kinski. I don't doubt he was often a nightmare to work with and his autobiography is also quite disturbing. However he had wonderful screen presence and he probably enjoyed acting and making movies in general much more than he ever admitted. Glickenhaus never was very good at directing actors. Haven't seen any of his films in years but my favorite is probably Shakedown (Blue Jean Cop). The Exterminator indeed suffers from Ginty's lack of acting skills and needless subplots. It's a good movie in a way but I think there are better made vigilante action-thrillers out there. Lustig's Vigilante for example. |
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Post by lostinlimbo on Feb 27, 2017 4:12:15 GMT
There are some great behind-the-scenes stories of Kinski. I enjoyed hearing about what happened on set of the mid-80s Alien knockoff "Creature". Small part, but amusing performance. With how the lead characters played out in "The Soldier", they probably would have struggled writing a great two minute role. Kinski could have felt, it was under him to put much effort into it. Or maybe he didn't get along with the cast/crew to care enough? Everyone who ever met him has a story to tell about Kinski. I don't doubt he was often a nightmare to work with and his autobiography is also quite disturbing. However he had wonderful screen presence and he probably enjoyed acting and making movies in general much more than he ever admitted. Glickenhaus never was very good at directing actors. Haven't seen any of his films in years but my favorite is probably Shakedown (Blue Jean Cop). The Exterminator indeed suffers from Ginty's lack of acting skills and needless subplots. It's a good movie in a way but I think there are better made vigilante action-thrillers out there. Lustig's Vigilante for example. I was surprised to see Glickenhaus' directorial list rather small. Forgot that he did the disappointing "McBain". I too would have "Shakedown" at the top. Probably the best film he did, where for most part he got all the pieces (acting, story, action) to come together. Ginty never really felt like a lead actor, despite finding himself there and in other films. Although "White Fire" wouldn't be the same.  The likes of Robert Forster who have been a good fit. It showed in "Vigilante" and "Walking the Edge", which I do like better. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2017 18:22:13 GMT
I haven't seen it in a while. I remember it being decent. I have a VHS copy, but it would be nice for it to finally get DVD and Blu-ray releases.
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Post by Reynard on Feb 27, 2017 18:36:43 GMT
I haven't seen it in a while. I remember it being decent. I have a VHS copy, but it would be nice for it to finally get DVD and Blu-ray releases. No Blu-ray that I know of but it has been released on DVD half dozen times already. dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=15555 |
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The likes of Robert Forster who have been a good fit. It showed in "Vigilante" and "Walking the Edge", which I do like better.