Chain of Command

This is one seriously absurd movie. I don't mind watching B movies and usually I know what I'm going to see when I do, but this definitely surprised me - and not in a good way.

The cast was quite impressive, Roy Scheider (from the classic 'Jaws'), Michael Biehn (from the classic 'The Terminator'), Maria Conchita Alonso (from the classic 'The Running Man') and Patrick Muldoon (from the not-so-classic 'Starship Troopers'). It is hard to believe that the first two actors mentioned have been reduced to this. Michael Biehn's talents are again wasted as a two-bit henchman and he seems to be acting with his eyes closed, while Roy Scheider seems as if he would rather be back on Seaquest DSV rather than being this hapless president. Muldoon is what you expect from a B movie hero and his acting couldn't be any more boring.

It was like the script wanted to go against everything in the book by killing off several characters who should of lived and having major cities actually bombed (when usually they are just threatened), but I guess to balance things out, they made most of the characters typically stereo-typed. My main problem with this film though was that they portrayed the Chinese as inept and unreasonable, and they weren't even the bad guys! It was as if the makers thought that if they do something really outrageous it may work, but no viewer would ever believe that anything in this film could happen. You may want to watch this just to see how bad and how contrived this is.

For a low-budget film this Chain of Command is very entertaining & well made.

We have a classy cast here with the cinema legend, Roy Scheider (Jaws 1&2, Blue Thunder, Sorcerer) & B-movie star, Patrick Muldoon (Starship Troopers, Red Team) & old school action genre star, Maria Conchita Alonzo (The Running Man, Colors, Predator 2) & 80's Sci-fi action hero, Michael Biehn (Aliens, Terminator) & plenty of action.

Patrick Muldoon plays Michael Connelly a secret service agent that protects the US president Jack Cahill (Scheider) & gets assigned to protect the presidents metal briefcase containing a remote launching system for nuclear missiles & of course foreign terrorists want it. Chain of Command is a typical terrorist thriller like many others but for it's low-budget it's actually a fun watch. The great Roy Scheider is a main lead role which is always nice to see as he's one of my all-time favorite actors. Scheider plays the president as a slightly corrupted man (like they all are in real life) who has many affairs but apart from that he's a decent character & not a completely corrupted A-hole like many of his later career characters. It's a comfort seeing Scheider on screen in his later years. Maria Conchita Alonzo gives a good performance for her small part here as Vice President Gloria Valdez, she steps up as a smart voice of reason when the President is captured by the terrorists & just hearing her iconic voice brought back a sense of comfort with memories of her in some childhood faves i grew up watching on video (The Running Man & Predator 2) & reminded me how great she is on screen. Scheider & Alonzo both steal the show with their real good acting talents & both of them never "call it in" with their performances.

Anyway, Patrick Muldoon does a fine job as the action hero trying to save the president & stop a nuclear war.

Michael Biehn is wasted though as a very typical double crossing government agent, a part that could've been played by any cheap nameless actor. This action film is full of political stuff, foreign terrorists, overseas threat, nuclear missiles & corruption. The events within the film can be looked at as actually very seriously relevant now in 2022. Chain of Command is a decent little thriller that keeps you entertained with it's many shootouts & double crossings even if it's all very similar to bigger films of this genre. It's very nicely shot with rich colours & textures that's shot on film!!! Nearly everything today is shot on digital & it has a good exciting music score.

And as said it's always nice to watch the great acting talent of movie legend Roy Scheider & in a main role.

A by-the-numbers action thriller elevated by some intriguing situations and nice surprises. There are some unlikely plot contrivances, but these are balanced by (to me) convincing portrayals of the tense scenes that would arise from the 'football' falling into the wrong hands. I also liked the way that the standard shoot-em-up action is balanced with the negotiation scenes. And casting a Hispanic woman as the Vice President - hats off!

Chain of command was not a bad movie to buy, because it was cheap, only 3 euros. I bought it only for my Michael Biehn collection, but I was still hoping it to be good. Well, it was average. It had the top actors(though I haven't ever heard of Patrick Muldoon), and ok story.But where was the concentration when making this movie. it was made only with 100% concentration when it should have been made with 110%.It is made with big rush just like the time would end or something. I'm not disappointed because I know it had the change to become a good movie.The idea was good, making it true was not.

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs

Chain Of Command is worth renting to pass the time as an action movie.Roy Scheider is well cast as a measly,self serving US president,the plot is pleasantly arousing and intricate,and this must be the most boner inducing Chinese chick I've ever seen.The dialogue is cliched and smelly,but luckily,I was expecting this in a movie like this.This movie holds your attention well,and should be observed for it.***