Vietnam: la grande fuga

"Cooper, everybody goes home is a slogan. It's not a religion".

"Speak for yourself".

David Carradine gets in on the 1980s one-man heroic act of Vietnam. Carradine along with Steve James and Mako headline this cheapie 'Missing in Action' influenced war-action fodder. This one being set towards the end of the Vietnam war. An American gung-ho mission for P. O. W's goes awry, and Carradine's commanding officer finds himself now a P. O. W too. But not for long, as he leads an escape thanks to a shady deal with a Vietnamese officer wanting something in return. Things don't go so smoothly. Rather well-done with enough danger (explosions, acrobatic flailing, automatic gunfire), and high stakes as the soldiers have only a couple days to reach a drop zone for American choppers. Formulaic fluff, but delivers on what you expect from something of this ilk.

David Carradine stars as Colonel James Cooper, taken prisoner during the Vietnam War. Since he is the highest ranking officer in the custody of the Vietnamese army, they intend to make an example out of him. But the camp commander, Captain Vinh (Mako), offers him a deal: Vinh wants to use the booty he's stolen from his prisoners to build a new life in America, and offers to take Cooper with him when he makes an escape. But Cooper is a strict believer in the "no man left behind" policy, and won't agree unless the other prisoners in the camp can come with him. Vinh reluctantly agrees, and so the big escape journey begins.

"P.O.W. The Escape", a.k.a. "Behind Enemy Lines", mostly foregoes politics in order to concentrate mainly on action. And, as directed by Gideon Amir, it delivers many thrills - explosions, gunfights, stunts, a major set piece on a river, you name it. It's actually pretty entertaining for what it is. It amusingly turns Carradine into a Chuck Norris / Sylvester Stallone kind of hero, the kind of guy who energetically takes on all comers while rarely sustaining much physical damage himself. Therefore, it's NOT something to really take seriously. With the Philippines once again standing in for Vietnam, there's much excellent location work, and a certain degree of atmosphere. That's not to mention the omnipresent soundtrack, which is mostly a collection of cues taken from previous Cannon Group productions.

Carradine is a true study in no-nonsense, all-business stoicism here, with strong support from a rock-solid Steve James, one of the most charismatic second bananas to ever grace cinema with his presence. There's also some delicious villainy from Mako, jovial and smiling at first, but deadly serious when he needs to be. To add to the tension, there's antagonism from a Jerk soldier named Sparks (Charles Grant), who's as self-serving a character as you're ever likely to see. Other familiar faces like Phil Brock, Tony Pierce, and Ken Metcalfe have supporting roles and bits.

"P.O.W. The Escape" will not be for viewers expecting realism or historical accuracy. It's just a straightforward little diversion that holds viewer attention for a well-paced hour and a half.

Seven out of 10.

P. O. W.: THE ESCAPE is one of those low budget American war flicks shot in the Philippines standing in for Vietnam. This one has an autopiloting David Carradine as a soldier who ends up the sole survivor when his escape helicopter is bazooked in front of him. While in prison he meets a Vietcong officer looking to move abroad and agrees to help him in return for the freedom of him and his men, but treachery awaits. There's little plot here, just a series of recycled music and low rent action sequences featuring a ton of explosions and little finesse. Carradine sleepwalks through the role but you get Mako as the baddie and Steve James in support, so it's not all bad.

David Carridine may be a Tai-Chi expert but as Bruce Lee was quick as the Flash, Carridine is slow as a snail. Here he is making a similar type of film to the Chuck Norris, as Colonel Braddock, Vietnam POW rescue films of the same 1980's decade.

There is nothing new to be found in this film as everything in/about it has been seen/done before. Having said that it is still an enjoyable sit down to watch no brains needed release. Carridine is his usual lethargic self and the camp commandant, played by the well known Mako, is the sadistic guy who does not actually like communism so, he want;s to make a deal with Carradine to get to America with all his stolen American prisoners belonging etc.

Like I have said, its not Oscar quality but its good enough to pass your time away.

(1986) P. O. W. The Escape WAR/ ACTION

Co-written and directed by Gideon Amir directing the David Carradine less than equivalent of version of "Missing in Action" as he plays Colonel James Cooper patriotic duty to save the POW's left behind in Vietnam prison camps resulting him to be captured himself. As the colonel finds out that the Vietcong camp commander, Captain Vinh (Mako) is secretly planning to build himself a new life in America using the gold that he has stole.

The action is not that good, as well as the credibility which all it is is Carradine taking advantage of a genre that has already been tired out.