ivo-cobra8 Disclaimer: If you are a viewer that mainly prefers art-house-type movies, then you might as well ignore this review. In addition, if you're not able to take an underrated solid action flick of the 80's from Lee Van Cleef and David Carradine, ignore this review, as well. We'll both be better off.Armed Response (1986) is a good solid action film of the 80's , It has flaws but I still like it. I love action and horror movies from the 80's and Armed Response (1986) Is one of them. I am an Lee Van Cleef fan and for a Lee Van Cleef fan and his character is definitely my favorite film that I like. For a Few Dollars More (1965) and Escape from New York (1981) are two my favorite films from Lee Van Cleef, I seriously like his two characters in those two films: Col. Douglas Mortimer and Bob Hauk New York Police Commissioner are two of Lee Van Cleef's characters I like, but now I love his character Burt Roth retired police officer, the father of his three sons. I like this action film, for a cheaper action film it was really decent it had nice shoot outs and a nice car explosion and the twist around. I love the Music theme by Thomas Chase and Steve Rucker. Almost everyone who was involved in making this movie is dead now. David Carradine, Lee Van Cleef, Mako, Lois Hamilton all past away are no longer with us anymore.Plot: One of Tanaka's underlings has stolen a rare statuette that he had planned to use as a peace offering between the local Yakusa and Chinese Tong. He hires two private investigators to exchange ransom money to recover the statuette, but the trade goes down bad and Clay Roth is killed. This angers Roth's brothers and father, all combat veterans, and they go after the people responsible.Jim Roth (Carradine) is a Vietnam veteran, family man, and owner of a bar. His father Burt (Van Cleef) hangs out there, as do other brothers Tommy (Huff) and Clay (Goss). It's a close family, as Jim's wife Sara (Hamilton) and young daughter Lauren (Chodan) also stop by on occasion. But the Roth family is about to encounter some trouble in the form of Yakuza boss Akira Tanaka (Mako), who desperately wants a valuable statue and will stop at nothing to get it, mainly because he will use it as a bargaining chip to prevent a Chinatown mob war with the Tongs.When Clay stupidly gets involved with Tanaka (and his evil bodyguard F.C. (Berryman), it sets off a chain of events where various members of the Roth family get in trouble - and Jim, who suffers from Vietnam flashbacks and nightmares, must team up with his father, Burt, to go back into an American-Asian war by gearing up to blow away the Yakuza. Add into this mix the slimy Cory Thorton (Hagen), as well as other various and sundry unsavory characters, and there's going to have to be an ARMED RESPONSE! The acting performance from this movie is solid, the script is terrible but the action in here is pretty good. This movie is more about a betrayal, stolen statue, family and a theft of a half of million dollars. Laurene Landon is also as extra in here as a thief in this movie, she has only two scenes, she was also cast in Maniac Cop 1 and 2. I seriously love movies from the 80's, they are part of my life and the two main heroes in this movie are decent. David Carradine is the main hero and his father Lee Van Cleef is the hero who does everything that keeps his only son alive. This film isn't about revenge and honestly I think Jim Roth (David Carradine) is well written character, honest, loyal and decent. He is not selfish he returns the statue to Tanaka (Mako) and he didn't want to killed him, even tough Tanaka was responsible for his two brothers death.The shootings and the action scenes were great I like it, the automatic weapons are a lot and they are used well. You have one car explosion. You also have Michael Berryman in it as another villain from Wes Craven's classic horror films The Hills Have Eyes 1 & 2, you also have a flashbacks on a Vietnam war when Jim is having another nightmare on his past life as a Vietnam Vet soldier, what he had to do, to surviving the war. He even has a wife and a young daughter. I also like the fighting sequence when Jim is fighting off a few drug dealers, while he is searching for Cory Thorton. I like that Lee Van Cleef kills 2 bad guys. One in a bar when he was holding Jim as hostage and one in a shoot out, while he was helping his son Jim saving his wife and his daughter. Burt shoot the bad guy and killed him, the baddie fall in an electric wire and was electrocuted. Overral: This action flick is forgotten and is not bad for cheaper film, it could have been a better action film but because of the money they couldn't make such a big action film that would get a higher rating or would be famous. This movie get's an 8 by me mainly for Lee Van Leef and David Carradine awesome action performances.Armed Response is a 1986 action crime film, starring David Carradine and Lee Van Cleef and directed by Fred Olen Ray. This is the first action film made by CineTel Films which would become famous in that genre.8/10 Grade: B Studio: CineTel Films Starring: David Carradine, Lee Van Cleef, Mako, Lois Hamilton, David Goss, Ross Hagen, Laurene Landon Director: Fred Olen Ray Producer: Paul Hertzberg Screenplay: Peter T.L. Lankford Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 26 Mins. Budget: $1.500.000 Box Office: $1,368,912

udar55 The Roth clan gets wrapped up in underworld double and triple crosses after youngest son Clay (David Goss) is shot by his P.I. partner Cory (Ross Hagen). Seems the duo was hired by Tanaka (Mako) to reclaim a jade statue from some thieves (Dick Miller and Laurene Landon) and Cory felt it was the perfect ticket to good life. So ex-cop/drunk Papa Roth (Lee Van Cleef) corrals his two remaining sons Jim (David Carradine) and Tommy (Brent Huff) to get some family revenge. This action flick was technically my first Fred Olen Ray film as I remember my dad renting it back in the day. I don't know why, but knowing that FOR pulled one over on my pops with the allure of Carradine and Van Cleef makes me smile. Anyways, I barely remembered it so tonight's revisit was almost like watching it anew. This moves fast and is actually better made than some of the films Ray made right after it. It is simple stuff plot wise but I enjoyed it and there are a few good shootouts here and there. The biggest surprise is that the leads are really there for the whole film and Carradine and Van Cleef really give it their all. Trying to swallow Lee as David's dad is kinda funny though as they were separated by roughly 11 years in real life. Lots of great character actors in supporting roles like Michael Berryman as a fortune cookie giving hit-man, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as a long-haired torturer, Bobbie Bresee as a stripper (who stays clothed), Michelle Bauer as a stripper (who doesn't stay clothed), Conan Lee in the first five minutes, and Dawn Wildsmith (aka Mr. Olen Ray at the time) as a barroom tough girl.

Woodyanders Rugged ex-cop World War II veteran Burt Roth (a marvelously crusty Lee Van Cleef) and his equally tough Vietnam veteran bartender son Jim (a typically fine David Carradine) lock horns with ruthless Yakuza mobster Akira Tanaka (a deliciously wicked Mako) over who's got dibs on a priceless jade statue. Capably directed with real style and flair by the insanely prolific exploitation veteran Fred Olen Ray, with a brash, witty script by T.L. Lankford, a snappy pace, glossy cinematography by Paul Elliott, a gnarly rock soundtrack, an amusingly sarcastic sense of humor, a funky, syncopated score by Thomas Chase and Steve Rucker, a smidgen of gratuitous female nudity, a tight 86 minute running time, and several thrilling well-staged action scenes (a wild and destructive protracted car chase rates as the definite exciting highlight), this slick, lively and entertaining low-budget romp makes for very rewarding viewing. The first-rate cast of familiar trash flick faces helps matters a whole lot: Ross Hagen as shifty, double-crossing hoodlum Cory Thorton, Brent Huff as the likable, laid-back Tommy Roth, Lois Hamilton as Jim's sweet, concerned wife Sara, Michael Berryman as vicious assassin F.C., Dick Miller as sleazy small-time thief Steve, Laurene Landon as Steve's feisty partner Deborah Silverstein, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as cruel torturer Toshi, Bobbie Bresee as helpful informant Anna, Dawn Wildsmith as a scrappy thug, and Michelle Bauer as a stripper. A neat little flick.

FlyBoyDC There are two sides to every war. There are the chivalrous heroes and the treacherous villains. The honorable heroes include Burt Roth (the late Lee Van Cleef), and his sons, Vietnam Vets Jim (David Carradine), Tommy (Brent Huff), and Private Eye Clay Roth (David Goss). This close-knit family will either go down fighting or stand together in victory.Now, meet the worthy adversaries. The ringleader is Akira Tanaka (Mako), the insidious mob boss who controls the Japanese Yakuza in Los Angeles. This antagonist gives new meaning to the word "evil." Then, there is F.C. (Michael Berryman, star of THE HILLS HAVE EYES), a gigantic bodyguard who is seemingly unstoppable. When this guy gives you a fortune cookie, be afraid...be very afraid. Get ready to panic, for that is just a sign of heinous things to come...The setting is the mean streets of Los Angeles's Chinatown. The object of affection is a priceless Jade statue. The Yakuza has intended to use this statue as a "gift" of reconciliation aimed towards the Chinese mob. However, after murdering one of his own perfidious men, Tanaka realizes that the statue is in the hands of someone else. Tanaka wants this Jade statue back...and he is willing to torture any soul just to obtain that prized possession...The Roth family realizes that after one of their own kin unwittingly clutches the Jade statue in his hands, Tanaka is targeting them for termination. They have no choice. The Roth family has only one option: WAR. The forces of good and evil will clash in a fists-and-firepower battle. The Roth family is prepared...for an ARMED RESPONSE...One of the best characteristics of ARMED RESPONSE is its all-star cast. With favorites including David Carradine, Lee Van Cleef, Mako, Michael Berryman, et. al., ARMED RESPONSE is armed with a terrific cast. The cast is glooming with talented character actors and actresses. Both David Carradine and Lee Van Cleef are capable as a father-and-son fighting duo who are bonded by courage, strength, and honor. Carradine may not portray the most poignant Vietnam Veteran, but at least his character still has intermittent flashbacks of the horrors of the Vietnam War. Mako is great as the sadistically evil bad guy who is a master of torture! He may be an intelligent nemesis, but sadism is his true forte. Ross Hagen is cool as a back-stabbing con artist who is posing as a detective. This guy is only interested in making a profit. Laurene Landon (MANIAC COP) and Dick Miller (GREMLINS) are amusing as a couple of thieves who are also weapons experts, mind you. Michael Berryman plays it straight as Tanaka's right-hand henchman. ARMED RESPONSE features some of the best exploitation veterans in this particular genre.ARMED RESPONSE is not bad for a B-movie. For a mere budget of probably no more then a million dollars, this film features a lot of explosive car crashes and high caliber thrills. ARMED RESPONSE is reasonably fast-paced with a few expertly directed action scenes and stunts. Another redeeming factor is the film's fatuous sense of humor. In a way, ARMED RESPONSE satirizes on the action genre itself, poking fun at certain types of characters, behavioral characteristics, and character stereotypes. This film also benefits by having a few interesting one-liners...Though ARMED RESPONSE is much better than some of the competition, it is still, nonetheless, a low budget film with its defects. Though the cast is excellent, the material and plot are very simplistic. This movie is nothing more then a simple tale of "heroes with a vengeance." There are a few twisted deviations, but those are nothing exceptional. If only the characters and story-line had more insight, then maybe this movie could have been an outstanding thriller. I also kind of resent the Asian stereotypes. Not since "Fu Manchu" has there been such a negative portrayal of Asians. "Here we go once again...the evil yellow man torturing the valiant white hero." That quote is a classic example of the villain pointing out the jingoistic attitudes of some Americans.If you want to see an enjoyable B-movie, then look no further. Your search has ended here! This is one of Fred Olen Ray's first and foremost action films. ARMED RESPONSE is definitely worth a Saturday night rental. Granted, some people may detest this movie's blatant jingoism, but the overall permeating silliness of this movie makes you glad that it was made strictly for fun. This movie does not demand to be taken seriously at all!Overall, the production values of ARMED RESPONSE are adequately adept, especially for a low budget film. This film is almost worth **1/2, but sadly, the film's ethic biases bring this film down a notch.ARMED RESPONSE is an unrealized action flick that did not deserve to be ignored by critics. Though this movie may fall short of being an ambitious thriller, it works perfectly as a perfunctory, crowd-pleasing lunacy for action fans. ARMED RESPONSE may be junk food, but it is certainly delicious.RATING: ** out of ****.