Fatal Justice

Although this movie was never released in theaters in the U.S., it is available on video. It is by no means a great movie, but Joe Estevez is good, as usual, and the refreshing performances of Air Force personnel SSgt. Jack Bednarcik, MSgt. George Garcia, SSgt. Ray Huckeba, and SSgt. Marvin Mullins as mercenaries make the whole thing worth watching. They not only performed in the movie, but, as I understand it, gave military advice to the star and his director, Gerald Cane, while filming was underway in Shreveport, LA.

One can never accuse "Fatal Justice" of being high art. Believe me, I was there. But it was a riot to work on nonetheless. Brother Kneumsi was right. Shreveport was indeed a great party town to be making a no-budget movie in. We particularly enjoyed our stay at the Blind Tiger and pushed the screenwriter to add some more bar scenes. Anything to avoid working outdoors in the summer heat. Too bad the DVD doesn't include the behind the scenes footage I still have. You'll miss the entire crew falling down drunk running through the halls of the local Motel 8 at 2 am, knocking on doors and fleeing, giggling like we're in junior high. Yeah, keep your mega-million dollar budgets. The "B" movie life is the way to fly.

The lack of professionalism and logic (to mention just one example: how and when the hell did the heroine remove the bullets from the gun at the end?) in "Fatal Justice" is good for some unintentional amusement, but most of the time the film simply alternates between boring drawn-out non-action scenes, poorly done action scenes, and stolen action scenes. By "stolen", I mean that it's pretty clear that most of them (especially those involving vehicles) were taken from other films and patched onto this one! You can even see the difference in the (more grainy) film stock. Suzanne Ager is OK, Joe Estevez overacts (it would be SO easy to mistake him for his brother, Martin Sheen, if it weren't for their difference in acting skills!), and most of the rest of the cast is obviously made up by amateurs. It's been said before, but it's true: the cover is better than the movie. *1/2 out of 4.

This B movie tops my list of greatest films in the 1990's.

Who would of thought that $25,000.00 and a couple of beers could produce such results.

Many cheers for the beloved trainees from Shreveport. Hey, "I want to kill... people" too.

Go grab some pizza and a bottle of "Jack" and have a great time with your friends, if you have any.

As for myself, this is a must see at least once a year tradition. Watch out Blind Tiger, here I come!

Somehow this film recently was released on DVD with a suggestive box cover. Please don't be fooled. This is not a great action movie or even a sexy movie. In fact the female version of Rambo on the cover scarcely even resembles the female lead.

This film is the only movie I have seen that features a sex scene between two "actors" who are wearing visible Boxer Shorts and are careful to keep their pelvises a full three feet away from each other.

Interestingly enough this film also features a car chase that begins with one set of cars, and ends with a completely different set... No, the characters don't trade cars halfway through, the "producers" couldn't get the same cars on another day, but didn't bother to fix it.

I can say this, the movie was filmed mostly in and around Shreveport, Louisiana, which is a great party town to be in, so if you recognize any parts of the film from your drunken stupor, you're in for that slice of fun. Hey, I gazed up at that building after "last call" at the Kisatchie. Hey, didn't I travel over that bridge after I left the Blind Tiger to head to another bar?

Also, the great stage actor Mr. Richard Folmer does make an appearance in this film, and he far outshines the leads, including Estevez. He gives a great turn as a "Company" bad man, but wasn't given a whole lot to work with unfortunately. It would be a true shame if such a great actor is remembered for a turkey like this rather than his exceptional stage work! It is unfortunate that in spite of the fact that he portrays a villain so well, you find yourself rooting for him much quicker than you would the wholly unsympathetic "heroes."

In short, avoid the movie completely, or, if you wish, rent the film, fast forward to the scenes featuring Richard Folmer, and forget the rest. You won't be missing a thing!