Braddock: Missing in Action III

First of all, this movie is a fabulous example of its genre: an action movie. The action in this movie is so solid that at times it's hard to comprehend. For instance, at one point Chuck actually jumps through a window wielding a machine gun. While in midair, he holds his gun up and mows all four opponents (or victims, however you look at it) down with ease. He proceeds to run to the other side of the room, and instead of going out the front door, jumps out the opposite window. Wow Chuck..

This film also boasts some touching moments on top of the action. A gunship flies over Chuck after he has just destroyed a camp with his machine gun and sprays his area with bullets, severely wounding his shooting arm. He tries to lift the gun up to shoot the chopper, but alas, his injury is too severe. A child, freshly saved by Chuck, runs to his aid from a bush and helps him lift the gun up. In this gripping moment, both pull the trigger and take the helicopter down in slow motion.

All in all, a great shoot-em-up action movie with enough character to make your girlfriend shed a tear. Maybe.

"I don't step on toes littlejohn. I step on necks." Chuck Norris is at it again as Col. James Braddock heading into enemy territory; Communist Vietnam to rescue to his once-thought dead Vietnamese wife and his unknown son. The third entry of the series is an agreeable slice of rough and tumble action escapism (though maybe the lesser of the three), which is just as cheaply produced but for most part very well mounted. There was probably has a little more story hanging off it than say its first sequel; "The Beginning". But it feels like its rehashing ideas from the first two, while adding its own angle involving American / Asian orphans. Nonetheless it's just as thick with its overwrought propaganda push and b-grade dialogues with the quick-lipped one-liners. Director Aaron Norris conventionally lays it out. Keeping a brisk pace, even with some blotchy action it's surprisingly lean, sweaty and fist-pumping. I wasn't expecting it to be as sadistic as it was, as I remembered seeing bits and pieces of it thinking it was rather toned down compared to the other films in the series. But it's just as raw and brutal. The performances fall on the static side. Chuck Norris gives a weathered acting performance, but still effectively breaks out those lethal head hugs and neck snapping. After showing glimpses throughout, he finally lets loose in the dying stages by breaking out the big guns. Aki Aleong is vivid, but gets a bit over-the-top as the merciless Vietnamese General who'll do anything to see Braddock admit to the crimes towards his country. Also you got the likes of Jack Rader, Floyd Levine and a tiny show-in by Keith David.

Not a bad film for a shoot-'em-up. Suffers from the usual thin plot and lack of character development, but overall an entertaining movie. I would've liked to see more interaction between Braddock and his son; it would've given the story a little more depth to have the two talk a little more than they do. I mean, the boy has just seen his mother gunned down in front of him - it's hard to believe he would come to accept his father so quickly even given the circumstances. Of course, action is what this film is all about and, in that respect, it works!

In the wake of "Rambo 3" and a bunch of police action thrillers with Vietnam War veterans or references and homages to the war as well as the recent hits of Oliver Stone and Stanley Kubrick, "Braddock: Missing In Action 3" doesn't have a shot in accomplishing anything original since similar material has already been done way too many times before during the second half of the 1980's. However, Chuck Norris' starring role as the Vietnam War veteran who goes on another deadly mission to rescue more POW's prevents this film from being a complete downer but doesn't prevent it from becoming too routine.

This movie is the epitome of back-to-Vietnam, one-man-army action. The amount of explosions, grenade-launching and Vietnamese soldiers being mowed down towards the end is insane.

Braddock: Missing In Action III takes a little time to get going after an amazing beginning, but once it does it doesn't let up. Braddock kicks, shoots and grenade-launches his way to freedom. Braddock is free to do what Braddock does. In the last 45 minutes of the movie, Braddock is on a rampage, smashing anyone that gets in his way.

Missing In Action III marks the final film in this trilogy and is probably hailed as the 'best of the bunch' with shocking plot points, great action, explosions, grenade-launching, multiple people mowed down by Chuck, a great intro, and a greater last-45 minutes.

The Verdict: 8 / 10 - A Classic!