Mission vers l'enfer

War is hell, and fighting in a war already lost is even worse. Gian Carlo Prete finds out the hard way that loyalty can be misplaced in this surprisingly serious Italian jungle actioner.

We're in Vietnam, right at the end of the war. The US is withdrawing everywhere but Captain Antonio Marsina still insists his men go out on patrol, resulting in many casualties and loyal Sargeant Maggio (Prete) mulling over his purpose in the war. After a particularly nasty firefight Maggio doubles back to help a stricken soldier, but finds out how expendable he is when his Captain orders the choppers to leave without him. One gruelling journey down river, Maggio returns with the wounded soldier alive.

Marsina isn't taking the criticism from Maggio to well, however, and threatens to court martial the Sergeant. Maggio is popular amongst his men, and the appearance of journalist Luciano Pigozzi makes things a little more different for the CO. Pigozzi is very much anti-war by this point, and keeps annoying the Captain with questions about why he keeps sending his men out. You know that wounded soldier Maggio brought back? He was going to be an Olympic star, has just lost a leg, and has now committed suicide, an action that pushes Maggio over the edge...

Margheriti plays all this fairly legit. There are no indestructible Arnie types wiping out half of South-East Asia. The US has already lost the war, the troops are demoralized and spend their time getting wasted (in both the boozy variety and the booby trap variety), everyone wants to go home except Captain Marsina, and Maggio begins to lose his faith in the army and act out, which leads to a chase into enemy territory, and various violent showdowns.

Maggio's character might be a Green Beret, but he certainly spends his time getting a severe kicking from the NVA and the Viet Cong. There's still plenty of action to be going on with, but both Prete and especially Pigozzi convey their feelings well. This might be one of Pigozzi's best roles in fact. The old actor here certainly show that his sympathies lie with the soldiers, and he's rooting for Maggio all the way. Mike Monty shows up as another burned out officer, further highlighting that by this point in the war, people like Marsina are few and far between.

Antonio Margheriti is easily Italy's most prolific director of the 1980s. He has dabbled in every genre imaginable. His Vietnam action flicks of the 1980s, including "The Last Hunter", "Tiger Joe" and the title piece are pretty solid films. "Tornado" is a fair film in its own right, but doesn't hold a candle to the earlier pieces in the trilogy.

The plot resembles Peckinpah's "Cross of Iron" with little innovation, but isn't a rip-off in any way. In the final days of the Vietnam War, an unhinged American Captain (Antonio Marsina, "Leathernecks") sends his Green Berets on high-risk missions behind the lines. Sgt. Maggio (Giancarlo Prete, "The Assisi Underground") doesn't take kindly to his commander's attitude towards his men; when his friend dies because of the Captain's blundering, they get in a fight and Maggio winds up en route to the stockade. Well, he winds up escaping from the authorities and sets out across enemy territory to reach neutral Cambodia. Meanwhile, a reporter (Luciano Pigozzi, "Double Target" tries to expose the Captain's madness and save Maggio from his fellow troops, which are in hot pursuit.

Margheriti doesn't really do anything wrong in this film. It's a lack of good things and innovation that drags it down to an "average" status. The action sequences are cheaply staged and consist almost entirely of stock footage from "The Last Hunter". These shots are very well-integrated, but the action looks as though it is revolving around the old material. The musical score is okay and mood-fitting, but doesn't even come close to the "Last Hunter" score. And like "The Last Hunter" Margheriti again throws in a prisoner-of-war scene which totally apes the "Deer Hunter" bamboo cage sequence.

The one thing holding this movie together is a well-written script by the genius Tito Carpi ("Eagles over London") and Gianfranco Couyoumdjian and good acting to deliver the message. Prete is fantastic as Maggio; he's bitter and we always understand why. He's also tough, but with a sympathetic human side. We can relate to him; he's a man's man in a situation beyond his control which makes little sense. Marsina is even better as the maniacal Captain. He doesn't portray this officer as a full-blown lunatic. Instead, there's something quietly sinister about this man. The slight sneer in every expression. The quiet, level tone in every situation, no matter how intense or extreme. Marsina is simply brilliant. Finally, Luciano Pigozzi has a fair-sized part as the reporter, even if he doesn't get to do much except chew out both the Captain and Maggio for different reasons. He's got gusto and a real screen presence, even if he does look like some hillbilly from the swamps of Louisiana.

Unlike "The Last Hunter", Margheriti handles the story without an over-emphasis on its anti-war message. Although this is definitely an anti-war film (there are sentiments throughout and the ending will drive this theme home) it's handled in a realistic, straightforward way. The characters are fleshed-out naturally. The action scenes are believable, for the most part, and are meant to be taken realistically rather than symbolically. There's hardly any graphic violence and the profanity is sporadic. This is in no way an exploitative film, nor is it an allegory: it's a serious comment on the wasteful nature of the Vietnam War.

There are a number of memorable, stand-alone scenes throughout the picture. One, in which the Captain and his cohorts discuss finding Maggio - only to have him jump over their heads with a dirtbike - is simultaneously funny and grim. The discovery of a suicide and subsequent hand-to-hand fight is also very well-constructed.

"Tornado" is an un-original action piece with enough good performances and interesting situations to keep any war film fan engaged, though not on the end of their seat. Worth a look.

An enjoyable and decent B picture about a soldier who fights for his life behind enemy lines during the Vietnam war . Sgt. Salvatore Maggio (Giancarlo Pietre as Timothy Brent) rebels against his heinous commanding officer, whilst they are cut off by the enemy in the jungle . The army sergeant flees being relentlessly chased by the tyrant Captain Harlow (Antonio Marsina) . Things get worse for all of them when sergeant Maggio is trapped in Vietnam jungle , tortured , beaten, and still he fights . Meanwhile a war journalist , Freeman (Allan Collins) , is investigating the dark deeds . All the action of RAMBO - Set in the steamy jungles of Vietnam. The Brutal Story of One Man's Fight for Survival Behind Enemy Lines. You're living a nightmare... in a hell hole they call Nam! The Most Horrific War Movie Ever Made!. The screen explodes in a blazing spectacle of war, there was no escape for... Tornado.

This moving film packs thrills , chills , perilous adventures , relentless feats , buck-loads of explosive action and violent events . This one isn't a film against the Vietnam War , but an entertaning and amusing movie full of noisy action , gore and violence . Medium budget European war film that lost continuity with US cuts . The noisy action is uniformly well-made , especially deserving of mention the rip-roaring final scenes in which the tough Sergeant is really besieged by the Vietcong , including some spectacular shootouts and explosions. Anthony M. Dawson or Margheritti as expert in special optical effects and model-making , that's why he provides a lot of explosion , crossfire , gory images , guts and mayhem . This one belongs to Anthony M. Dawson trilogy formed by ¨Tiger Joe¨ and the best : ¨Hunter of the apocalypse¨ or ¨Héros d'apocalypse¨or ¨Cacciatore 2¨ . It's definitely worth revisiting : a gory, explosive war film with plenty of gung-ho heroics , frenetic action , and unfettered by pretensions, political commentary or moralising , Margheriti's movie is pure amusement . It has its potent moments, particularly towards the final when the Sergeant is imprisoned , tortured and attacked by river rats at a sinister well , similar to ¨Deer hunter¨by Michael Cimino and ¨The last Hunter¨by Anthony Dawson himself . Its action scenes are certainly first rate - there're lots of gunfire , helicopters gunned down , full of blowing up , and some pretty enjoyable fights . Timothy Brent is the hero who kicks ass in this thrilling Vietnam wartime movie . Brent is pretty well , he starred some nice films as Warriors of the wasteland , The Assisi Underground, Anonymous Avenger , Mesalina , The Three Musketeers of the West , The last shark , Escape from Bronx , Snow Job , Force G , among others . Unfortunately , he early died of cancer , aged just 55 years-old . He is well supported by a fine plethora of B-actors and regular in Italian sub-genres such as Antonio Marsina , Romano Kristoff , Mike Monty and special mention for Luciano Pigozzi as Alan Collins , who's nicknamed the Italian Peter Lorre, playing a war reporter .

Atmospheric cinematography by cameraman Sandro Mancori . Shot on location , as exteriors were filmed in the Philippines and the interiors scenes shot in Rome. On-location shooting in the Philippines also adds a substantial amount of atmosphere, even though "Tornado" mostly takes place in the daytime . As well as thrilling and evocative musical score by Aldo Tamborelli. The motion picture was professionally directed by terror/action/adventure expert Antonio Margheritti, though it displays some failures and flaws . Anthonio was assisted by his son : Edoardo Margheriti who usually served as second unit filmmaker . Antonio often used pseudonym Anthony M Dawson, he was born in Italy 1930 and passed away in 2002 . Italian writer director of horror and exploitation films, a former university engineering student who began shooting in 1956 . Antonio directs with ordinary aplomb and being especially known for films as Yor, Virus and Horror castle. He was specialist in model-making, optical effects , FX, miniature as floods, scale models and explosions . He directed all kinds of genres such as wartime : The last hunter, Tornado, Codename Wild geese, Der Commander, Command Leopard . SCIFi :War of planets , Planet of the prowl, Criminal of the galaxy, Yor the hunter from the future, Treasure planet . Spaghetti Western as Joko, Dynamite Joe, The stranger and the gunfighter, Take a hard ride, Ghosts go west, Joe implacable, God said to Cain . Terror as Virgin of Nuremberg, Cannibal Apocalypse, Alien from deep, Flesh for Frankenstein. Action : Operation Goldman, Indio, The squeeze, Cyberflic. Rating : 6/10. Acceptable and passable.

In 1982, Sylvester Stallone and director Ted Kotcheff scored a massive hit with "First Blood" - better known as "Rambo" - about a frustrated Vietnam veteran revolting against the system and going bonkers. Massive hit, you say? Financial success, you say? Leave it to the shameless Italians to immediately cash in on that. Within a year "Tornado" got unleashed, and one of its unsubtle yet hilarious aka titles is: "Last Blood".

And who else than Antonio Margheriti is the best man for the job? Especially during the late 70s/early 80s, he was the uncrowned king of blatant rip-offs! In only a couple of years, he joyously imitated "Piranha" (with "Killer Fish"), "The Deer Hunter" (with "The Last Hunter"), and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" even twice (with "Hunters of the Golden Cobra" and "Ark of the Sun God"). So, this time it's "First Blood", although it must be said that it's primarily just a rip-off of the title and John Rambo persona, because the plot and action sequences of "Tornado" stand on their own rather solidly.

It's the final days of the Vietnam war, and all the American soldiers are longing to leave the rotten jungle behind them and return home. Well, all soldiers except for Captain Harlow who keeps sending his Green Berets squad on dangerous mission beyond enemy lines. Harlow also leaves behind wounded men and doesn't tolerate criticism, so when the fed up but courageous combat machine Sgt. Maggio revolts against him, Harlow labels him as a deserter. After a dared escape, Maggio finds himself pursued by both the Vietcong and his own troops.

You can always count on Margheriti for fast pacing, straightforward action, and an authentically raw atmosphere. The performances of Giancarlo Prete and Antonio Marsina are well above average, and there's also an intriguing role for the experienced cult actor Luciano Pigozzi as a war journalist trying to persuade Cpt. Harlow to stop sacrificing soldiers' lives. There are plenty of impressive stunts involving helicopters, jeeps, and motorcycles, as well as numerous explosives and firefighting. As usual, Margheriti also inserts a few ingenious and ultimately nasty gore-highlights, like a toy-booby trap that explodes in a soldier's face and another who gets shot in the eye through his binoculars. Excellent entertainment for fans of Italian exploitation and Vietnam-action flicks.

My review was written in November 1985 after watching the movie on Lightning video cassette.

"Tornado" is a well-made little war picture, currently available in the home video market. Filmed in the Philippines in 1983 by an Italian production company, nicely dubbed item comes off credibly as an American-style film.

Set in Vietnam during the closing stages of th U. S. war there, pic's title refers to the code name of helicopters for a unit of Green Berets, headed by Captain Harlow (Tony Marsina). Newspaper reporter Lee Freeman (Alan Collins) is tagging along with the unit, trying to write an expose about Harlow.

It seems Harlow is trying to achieve personal advancement at the expense of his troops, recently suffering a 60% casualty rate. He leaves Sergeant Maggio (Timothy Brent) behind when latter is trying to save a wounded comrade and later orders Maggio court martialed after the Sarge punches Harlow.

Maggio escapes en route to jail and film climaxes at the Cambodian border as Maggio nearly escapes permanently.

Filmmaker Antonio Margheriti, who has made over 50 action pictures of various types since 1960, keeps the action cooking, highlighted by effective battle sequences and location photography. Film has only a minium of cliches, understandably taken from hits "The Deer Hunter" and "First Blood". Except for a hokey ending, "Tornado" is a refreshingly simple B-picture with appropriate underplaying by an Italian cast headed by Timothy Brent.