An Eye For An Eye (1981)

This would make my top-drawer of Chuck Norris films. After the likes of "Good Guys Wear Black", "A Force of One" and "The Octagon" with their heavy scripts and slow investigative angle, I thought this film did a better job focusing on Chuck's real talents while still keeping a story and good pace. He looked way more comfortable too. This formula I thought would be perfected in my favourite Norris film; "Forced of Vengeance". A rock-solid cast helped out a lot too. Loved the chemistry between Norris and Mako, along with his bruising encounter with Tanaka.

I got that 3 pack. I think the third film is "Hellbound". The supernatural buddy action of Norris taking on a warlock from hell. Anyway I think you'll get a kick out of "Forced Vengeance". It's a high-octane, Norris beat 'em up vehicle with a brutal edge. The story, a really basic one at that, doesn't get in the way of Norris cracking bones. There's even a martial arts set-piece involving black silhouettes in front of neon lights that's so good it's used more than once in the film.

I probably say "Hellbound" is the weakest of the three films, in spite of having the most entertaining premise. It's a been a while since I've watched "Hellbound" and "The Hitman". My initial thoughts on both after watching them.

7/10 - The Hitman (1990)
Gangsters feel Chuck's cold-blooded wrath!
Nearly every film that Norris starred in from the mid 80s through to the 90s was under the production company 'Cannon'. Is that a bad thing? No not really, as long it delivered on the goods. They were mainly cheap, but quite violent and senseless entertainment. However there's something about "The Hitman" that makes me think much more highly of it than I probably should. It passes the time, but this Norris actioner provides a solidly calm performance, which is maybe his best or actually most suited. His beard is in full flight, but he also sports a flowing mullet and dangerous looking trench coat. It's definitively my favourite of those mainstream humdingers that he was chalking up through the measly 90s.

Norris' brother Aaron (who directed Chuck in some other flicks) was in the director's chair and this would be his most accomplished piece. The premise is transparently black n white, but it's the calculatingly dark, risky and lean tone which I fancied. It kind of reminded me of J. Lee Thompson's "Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987)". Sure it can get over-sentimental with a flabby subplot involving a 'young nice boy' living next door to Norris. But this plot device (in a surprisingly story-bound presentation) gives Norris' character a humane element to counter-pouch that cold, fearless nature driving him to complete his job. Amongst this moral interruption, it can be rather offensively racist, mean-spirited and brutal in its barbaric violence braking out in the crime underworld. As double crossings, secret meetings and vicious set-ups plague the get-up. It doesn't really focus on Norris' martial arts abilities - preferring to use his shotgun. Get ready for a bloody onslaught with smarting wise-cracks!

Aaron Norris' hardboiled direction is brisk, gritty and accordingly sombre in its grungy atmospheric charges leaking from such moodily shot-on locations. Some rousing suspense can be detected too. Joel Derouin's music score really does skew back to those saucily cruising, but uneasy jazz scores of the 70s. The support cast offer able assistance with their parts. Michael Parks memorably nasty, thuggery performance is a blast whenever his on screen. An edgy, hard-hitting Norris entry that at least tries be something a little different. A guilty pleasure indeed.

5/10 - Hellbound (1994)
"Hey Frank. I can't deal with this devil shit"!
Maybe for some, but more likely for most; wise words spoken. "Hellbound" is an extra ordinary, if unusual Chuck Norris starring Cannon produced vehicle directed by his brother Aaron Norris, which sees the buddy cop theme morphing together with some conventional horror elements of religious good vs. evil. Sadly I found it mainly lacking - passable entertainment, but so much more could have been done. I just didn't find as fun as it could have been. Sorely it just lacked the action, a couple moments aside (like Norris and Christopher Neame's opening encounter in a seedy hotel room) it was sparse and pedestrian with no sense of imagination to the story or set-pieces. Norris (Sporting his fashionable mullet) seemed a little more flat and moody than usual, while alongside him was Calvin Levels in a whinny, unfunny role as his ever hungry detective partner. "Eat this"! Christopher Neame's would ham it up in the role as the resurrected emissary of Satan. Sometimes really over doing it, but much needed. Also popping were the delightful Sheree J. Wilson. Director Aaron Norris' handling is workable, but seems to concentrate on the searing supernatural elements and stodgy investigative groundwork than that of the action in this hybrid. He delivers cheap shocks focused on mild gore, dreary atmospherics and sweaty encounters. The location work makes good use of the Israel backdrop, even though the set-designs look second rate. Ultra-silly, but not particularly exciting action-horror fare.

It would interesting to read your thoughts on "The Hitman".