Vietnam: la grande fuga

(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.

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.

I can't believe this played once in theaters. Everything is bad and especially the direction. Even Steve James, this underrated second-fiddle, can't save this. Hopeless

Terrible acting and cliched characters, extremely improbable battle scenes and a war movie trope - Vietnam POWs left behind in-country - that has been done before and much better all combine for a war movie that honestly isn't worth your time. Think of all the great, good and even okay POW rescue movies...and this is right at the bottom of the barrel.

David Carradine as Colonel James "Everybody Goes Home" Cooper is mailing it in. I mean, look up the definition in the dictionary and you see a photo of DC in this movie. He's so wooden you could chop him up for firewood and have one that burns all night. When he is acting, it's Cliche Central, or those long constipated stares that are meant to be threatening - I assume - to his Vietnamese enemies. His gun never runs out of bullets and no matter how many bad guys there are out there, he's impervious to them all. And don't even get me started on the America flag scene during the finale.

I never thought I'd see the day when a film came out that makes Chuck's "Braddock" series look like Oscar winners, but here we are.

Watch "Missing in Action" instead. Much better.

"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.