Missing in Action

The subject of forgotten American soldiers left behind in Viet Nam served as a catalyst for some decent action flicks in the 1980s. This film and Rambo: First Blood Part II were the most prevalent of them. The film has some good action, but not much proof of the existence of POWs was found, however.

When I was about ten, these types of films really psyched me up. I really wanted the US military to stage a massive operation to go back in and get those guys. But my father who was an intelligence officer in the Air Force told me not to get too excited about things. We really never did have any concrete proof that a great number of our soldiers were being held in camps or used to harvest the rice and whatnot. Still, films like Missing In Action are a lot of fun to watch. My father did tell me that Bangkok is just as sleazy as the film makes it appear, though.

Joseph Zito does a good job making Chuck Norris look his best as he fights his way in and eventually out of Viet Nam looking for POWs. Lots of bullets fly, bombs go off, and people get the crap kicked out of them. Norris was perhaps the most wooden of all action stars during the period, but it was always fun to watch him whip up on the enemy.

There are two great supporting performances here, as well. M. Emmet Walsh and James Hong are two terrific character actors, and they are well used. Many people recognize Hong for being the host at the Chinese restaurant in Seinfeld when they have to wait for an entire episode to be seated.

If you get the chance, take another look at this film which has been forgotten by many. Norris was in his prime, and you'll likely be satisfied with the conclusion.

6 of 10 stars

The Hound.

this film kicks so much ass its all about chuck norris who goes back into vietnam and takes on the viet cong all by himself and WINS outnumber like a million billion commies to one ass kickin' dude .

Thank god for this true story adaptation, cause without chuck norris vietnam would be ruled by dirty pinkos.

it starts off with him having a dream about kicking ass in vietnam, then he takes that dream and makes it a reality and goes back to 'nam to kick all the commie ass he can find .

seriously buy this movie.

Chuck Norris stars in Missing In Action, but to answer a question presented by "Tim Cox" "Why did this thing spawn two sequals?" Well the answer to that is because it MADE money.

Unfortunately Missing In Action is a bad movie from start to finish, the politics are laughable and surprisingly rascist and that alone recommends it, that and some of the action is competent.

However this is a movie best left forgotten since it boasts a laughable premise as well as the obvious, that Rambo First Blood Part II did it ten times better.

Still for die hard Norris fans, Missing In Action is worth a look.

** (Out Of Four)

There has been great controversy about U.S. prisoners of war (POWs) and those missing in action (MIAs) during the Vietnam War…

While Colonel Braddock - one of the outspoken proponents of the theory that Americans are still being held in Vietnam today - is now in Saigon at the president's request to see if there are more MIAs in Vietnam…

The American delegation hopes Braddock's presence would increase their ability to negotiate… But General Trau (James Hong) believes that Colonel Braddock is not a prisoner of war, but a common criminal, brought to Saigon only in an attempt to embarrass his government…

The sexy aide of Senator Porter, Lenore Kasdorf, thinks that Braddock is the most undiplomatic man she has ever met…

The action begins when the Vietnam vet - not supposed to leave the hotel without an escort - assaults General Trau's residence, pays for a bullet-proof speed riverboat and blazes his way with an old war buddy called Tuck (M. Emmet Walsh) through the jungles of Saigon…

Norris, challenging several unpredicted attacks from his enemies, takes at last his revenge after he experiences the fear, chaos and atrocities of the Vietnam hell

This was filmed back-to-back with part 2, and was originally intended to be released as the second film in the series, but Cannon executives moved it to be the first entry after realizing it was much better than the other film. It is indeed a better movie, but it still can't be called a good movie. To be sure, the production values are decent, and director Joseph Zito occasionally creates an effective moment. But for the most part, the movie is extremely dull; it takes more than halfway through the movie before Norris starts his primary mission, and the action sequences (the few that there are) are mediocre at best. Zito also shows no sense of pacing; there are a number of scenes that serve no real purpose, or are let to run on for what seems like forever. As for Norris, he is his usual stony near-mute self, though he is to be admired for doing some of the risky stunt sequences himself.