Direct Contact

Mike Riggins, an imprisoned ex-US Special forces operative in Eastern Europe, is offered his freedom and money to rescue an American woman, Ana Gale, who has been kidnapped by a ruthless warlord.

I just watched this movie last night. The story is good and Dolph does put in a good performance. There is a stupid love scene through in. The fight scenes are well choreographed and the action scene well worked. The director relys on to many methods used on films like Better tomorrow and the Killer and this is the films down fall because these methods sometimes shows how bad the other actors are and a lot of work has looked have gone into this movie. If you're looking for a quick buzz or a Friday night movie do check this out.

Dolph Lundgren hits us with another by-the-numbers straight to DVD action fare set in Europe where he plays an American ex-marine turned arms smuggler who's spending time in a Russian prison, that's until he's given his freedom in exchange for the rescue of an American heiress who's being held hostage by some Russian criminals and rogue soldiers. But what he is to believe is not quite the case and it triggers a domino effect of violence and destruction. The action clichés come fast and furious, but these formulaic staples offer up plenty of carnage; metallic and flesh. It's speedy, swift and frenetic. Onslaught after onslaught. Chase after chase. The blood simply flows, numerous splatter on show in the many glorious shootouts, explosions and thank god no CGI is used either way. Director Danny Lerner does a competent job. Predictable, but workable even though it might get repetitious and a touch clumsy in the jaunty fight choreography. The locations add to the spectacle too. Lundgren is on cruise control, but still looks good kicking ass. One man, well equipped and going it alone. Michael Paré and Gina May also shows up.

"Do not shoot the girl!"

Mike Riggins (Dolph Lundgren), a former U.S. special forces soldier now in a Russian prison, is sprung by a U.S. Embassey official (Michael Pare) with the condition being that Riggins must locate and bring back a kidnapped American girl (Gina May). Naturally, the Government official is all sorts of lying and Dolph's not gonna stand for it. Not to be confused with Lundgren's earlier DIRECT ACTION (2004), this Bulgaria-shot actioner showcases how average a recent Dolph direct-to-video vehicle can be when he is not at the helm. Director Danny Lerner gave the world plenty of Nu Image big monster crap as a producer and his directing credit before this being SHARKS IN VENICE. Ugh. He barely knows how to shoot an action scene and fills the film with odd plot holes that he tries to cover with some quick ADR work. Pare actually looks good for a guy who just turned 50 and his villainous character meets an explosive end (perhaps the film's best moment) during a fiery showdown in an abandoned building. Thankfully, Dolph's next two DTV projects he is handling himself.

DIRECT CONTACT surely is a bad movie: the plot is generic, the direction is laughable, the editing sloppy, the acting aside from Lundgren terrible. Furthermore some scenes are taken from earlier Nu Image-movies like U.S.SEALS 1&3, OUT FOR A KILL or DERAILED. Despite these facts DIRECT CONTACT is a highly entertaining piece of B-movie as it manages to keep the pace high and fills 80 minutes with as much senseless action as any sucker for this kind of movie could hope for. Lundgren kicks ass, and anyone who was disappointed with the lack of solid action in MISSIONARY MAN can rejoice. Although the violence often looks ridiculous (blood spurting from hats, etc.)it's fun watching Dolph doing what he's best in, and despite his age he really delivers. Danny Lerner on the other hand should finally finish his attempts to be a director, in more competent hands this movie could have been a b-action-gem since the budget is moderate, the visuals nice, the score okay, unfortunately the many flaws make this movie just another case of trashy but at least amusing guilty pleasure.

Poor acting, poor visual effects. fighting in every scene, week story line. in one scene he steals a Kawasaki ninja motor bike and when he is driving it at about 20km per hour with people walking in back ground, they speed the film up so it looks fast and other cars move at a stupid speed, cuts to a side shot of the bike and it says Yamaha on the engine, how did he change bikes from a Kawasaki to a Yamaha while he was riding it? their is some good scenes in this though, and the main actor is almost a good actor, almost their. He kinda reminds me of a early Arnold Schwarzenegger. anyway don't pay to watch it. unless you like goofs.