U.S. Seals II

Watching the movie, I thought I was watching an episode of Power Rangers, and saw the comment asking the same thing. Maybe it's because Sophia was actually a stunt double for the Pink Power Ranger-

Seemed like the Power Rangers, unmasked... caricature of characters, with the action elevated to HK style levels. I took the whoosh whoosh as a parody of the usual action flicks, and can't imagine anyone expecting it was to be taken seriously. Saw an on air broadcast, so I imagine much of the stuff was clipped; didn't see any nudity, gratuitous or otherwise, and maybe where the bad guy got cleaved. Now why he didn't just jump off the ride; hmm?

Nu Image were once the most prolific producers of bland action films for the video market. They followed in the footsteps of Cannon films and PM Entertainment, emerging in the early 90s with their own stable of stars and distinctive low-budget aesthetics. The identifiable Nu Image style was a result of their reliance on dated methods of filmmaking, recycled themes and their recourse to South African and Eastern European production locations. U.S. Seals 2 is just one of many military action films made to this formula and it is the manner by which it exceeded expectation that has led many to highlight it as a minor classic in American action film history. Director Isaac Florentine has shown a great deal of promise in his career so far, despite failing to produce a 100% satisfactory product in my opinion, his work is notable for the injection of Hong Kong-style action choreography. U.S. Seals 2 was something of a breakthrough in his career and still one of his best films. An in name/theme only sequel to a typically dire Nu Image production, U.S. Seals 2 manages to surprise and amaze with its fight choreography, courtesy of Andy Cheng, a former member of Jackie Chan's exemplary stunt team. The film has many flaws, action clichés are present in abundance and the story is merely an excuse; the plot is a hybrid of Thunderball (Terence Young, 1965), The Rock (Michael Bay, 1996), Enter the Dragon (Robert Clouse, 1973), Broken Arrow (John Woo, 1996) and M-1:2 (John Woo, 2000). The characters and their actions are all drawn from familiar paradigms; from the hero who re-enters military service to face an old adversary, to the dying soldier who pleads for a message to be passed to his beloved. While some may be unable to stifle laughter during a viewing, Florentine and Cheng (co-starring and serving as 2nd unit director) deliver undeniably impressive action scenes that ensure this is a must see. If you approach it in the correct frame of mind you will applaud the creativity and forgive the flaws in logic. This is a martial arts film that requires an excuse to unite a team of skilled professionals to perform almost super-human feats. As such the plot is constructed on the premise that the villain is hiding out on an abandoned island, clouded in a methane gas. This means that guns are not permitted, requiring hand-to-hand combat. Genius. Unfortunately the concept is weakened by the fact that chains and bladed weapons are clashed with aplomb. But oversights in common sense just make this even more fun!

Did any of you guys get a feeling like this movie was made by the people that made Power Rangers? I mean the style is very similar except for the more intense violence. Hell I bet one of the actors was probably from the Power Rangers show.

I'm surprised at the number of people who have bashed this movie to pieces. They base their opinions off of logic too, which is completely inappropriate for this type of movie. Yes, the script is badly written, there are a lot of factual errors, this isn't an accurate portrayal of SEAL type stuff, yes all that is obvious.

The reason why this movie exists is to present Hong Kong style action to America. Former Jackie Chan Stunt Team member, Andy Cheng designs some of the best fight scenes in recent years. While CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE, TOMB RAIDER 2, and THE MUSKETEER suffer from having no sense of action, US SEALS knows how to deliver the goods. It's interesting to note how a lot of weapon-work was employed in the action scenes. I was expecting more hand to hand style combat. The movie takes a while to get going, but the fights are well worth waiting for. Especially in a scene where the good guys are confronted by 100 henchmen, and have to fight all of them off. It was reminiscent of the big action sequence in TAI-CHI MASTER (1993).

The director Issac Florentine is one of the few people working in the video market who does a good job. Unlike a lot of other directors, he takes pride in his job, and does his best to make cool movies. (COLD HARVEST and SPECIAL FORCES)

It's safe to say though, that this movie is only meant for people who like lots of cool action. Everyone else is better off staying away.

US Seals II stars Michael Worth as as a commando who uses his martial arts skills to take on a former marine/martial arts expert(Chapa) who has taken a scientist hostage (Notice how the scientist is a sexy chick who looks more like a kindergarten teacher than a scientist, with big boobs, no less) so that she can help him turn a missile nuclear however the catch is that there is so much flammable air that one cannot light a cigarette let alone fire a gun (Or for that matter a nuclear missile) so Worth gathers a gang of martial artists as well as Marhall Teague (The film's best character) who is armed with acid paintball guns (Thinking about this movie logically will get you nowhere) and to which the seals take on the terrorists with martial arts battles. I actually probably wouldn't have reviewed this had I not clicked on "Michael Worth" and had seen that he was in this, which I had subsequently caught on HBO (Or Showtime, or something...) I remember enjoying the action sequences as well as the stupidity here. Indeed U.S Seals II is so silly it makes Issac Florentine's other efforts i've seen (Desert Kickboxer, Cold Harvest and Bridge Of Dragons) seem like works of supreme intelligence. The movie is full of plot holes, it is reported that you can't shoot guns but this doesn't stop our villain from smoking or launching a nuke. Worst of all is when the film tries to concern itself with characters, who don't register anything towards reality. (Teague's character aside) still it has lots of action and it has tons of carnage, so in other words this is perfect for the action fan looking for a guilty pleasure but little else. I haven't seen any of the other U.S Seals movies but despite enjoying this goofy entry, I still doubt i'll be seeking these out.

* * out of 4-(Fair)