Saigon Commandos

My review was written in May 1988 after watching the movie on Media Home Entertainment video cassette.

A serviceable action picture which has gone the direct-to-video route, "Saigon Commandos" is of interest for its similarity to the recent Fox release "Off Limits" (starring Willem Dafoe and Gregory Hines). Both films utilize the same offbeat premise, though "Commandos" was shot a year earlier, in the Philippines.

Pic is set in Saigon in 1970, concerning the activities of tough military police stationed there (referred to sarcastically by the troops in country as "Saigon commandos") and their conflict with various South Vietnamese officers and officials.

Main nemesis is a politician Tri (Joones Gamboa) who is riling up the population against the Yanks. Hero Sgt. Stryker (Richard Young playing it tough guy-style) in investigating the so-called hollow point killer, who's been offing drug dealers. The baddies frame Stryker for the murders, but he is able to solve the case on his own. P. J. Soles is along for the ride as a pretty Associated Press correspondent initially assigned to tag along with Stryker.

Though a subplot involving a gung ho soldier who becomes a vengeful sniper doesn't work, film is okay. It lacks the sensationalism of "Off Limits" and ends up being merely routine. Tech credits are acceptable.

I was surprised by this film. It was well acted and well directed. They only had one problem and it was the sound. That might have been a budget thing. It was originally a Roger Corman film. Other then that it played well. Lots of action with a solid plot. If I were them I'd do a part 2 with the same actors but with a little better quality sound.