Steel Spirit

Stephen J Pershing puts Egg Harbor Township, NJ on the map in the enjoyable, ultra-low budget action-comedy, "Steel Spirit." Pershing plays the main character, Dallas McQuaid, a retired bounty hunter who witnessed the death of his parents at a young age. Pershing not only stars in the film, he also wrote and directed it. It's your basic 80's action film, but done with an almost tongue-in-cheek approach. Pershing shows alot of charisma as an actor and really shines when he is paired up with co-star, Stephen Pagano. Pagano plays one of McQuaid's buddies, Det. John Coleman. He's hilarious as McQuaid's sidekick. If Pagano had said, "I think I'm getting to old for this #$%!," I would have swore I was watching the latest installment of Lethal Weapon. They have the Mel Gibson/Danny Glover chemistry.

My only beef with the movie is the script. Pershing introduces and dismisses characters at a rapid pace. The bad guys appear and disappear like they were in a video game, the tougher ones to defeat waiting for McQuaid on the harder levels of the game. If Pershing had gotten rid of some of the faceless bad guys and concentrated on a core group of villains, their demise would have had more meaning in my opinion. My favorite villains were: the scene stealing, Anthony Gaud as Mang; Matt Lonzi as the martial arts expert, Jacob (Pershing and Lonzi have an excellent fight-scene towards the end of the film that pays homage to every fan-boy's favorite movie Star Wars); Dexter Weeks as the Neo look-a-like Pax; and a seriously miscast Mark Poulton as Lance. He's playing a hired killer, but looks like he'd be more at home singing lead vocals for O-Town. However, I enjoyed how head baddie, Paul Burnley (playing Bruce Costas) throws him around and totally abuses him throughout the end of the film.

The DVD contains all sorts of special features including commentary and bloopers. If you're a fan of independent movies or looking for inspiration to make your own film, then it's definitely worth checking out. I remember when Robert Rodriguez's "El Mariachi" came out and people were making such a big deal about how great it was for such a low budget. In my opinion, this movie is better!

Steven J. Pershing is the Ted Williams of the film world. Why? Like Ted, Steven didn't jump into the film business for the money. He produced, wrote, directed, and starred in Steel Spirit because of his love and passion for the film game. This film is incredible. And I don't play the incredible card lightly. It's incredible for the fact that it was shot on a Sony camcorder over a two-year period (working only on weekends) by a novice writer/actor/director and his equally novice cast & crew, all working with no budget and highly charged imaginations. Steel Spirit is incredible because of the love and cooperation Steven received from his family and friends to see his vision through to completion. This is the little movie that shouldn't even exist. But it does. Not for the lack of story (fun, and action packed) or credible acting (cheeky, and amusing), either – both categories work well within the production. Making a movie can be an enormous chore (I'm a credited filmmaker) – especially without having the luxury of 'throwing money' at any problems that may arise. Steven J. Pershing had only heart and soul to toss at his film-making predicaments as they arose. Steel Spirit is truly an awe inspiring Independent film. When's the last time you've seen special effects (and good ones at that!) in a no budget movie? Steel Spirit has them, a lot of them. And when you learn, through the witty Directors Commentary (especially during the end credits – don't miss Steven's 'apologies'), that Steven and crew made the special effects and armaments work by slaving over home PC's and visiting their local Home Depot -- not by working with Industrial Light & Magic. After viewing Steel Spirit you may be in awe yourself. This film and the DVD extras are an excellent investment in film-making heart and soul.

No budget, independent movies shot on Hi-8 camcorders are suppose to feature five or six people sitting around one location lamenting how difficult their lives have been since high school. Nobody bothered to tell Stephen J. Pershing that's how it's done. Pershing, instead, has crafted the farthest thing from a double mocha angst fest; he's managed to make an honest to goodness action picture.

Using only friends and contacts from his home town in New Jersey, Pershing has filled 90 minutes of screen time with as many bullets, car chases, fights, Ninjas, even Stinger missiles as your average big budget Hollywood action movie would have. But Pershing has added something that even a lot of those Hollywood mega-budgets miss: a story.

Pershing plays Dallas McQuade, former U.S. Marine, former CIA operative and once the top bounty hunter in the country. Reduced to working as a car salesman in order to avoid his former life, everything turns upside down when his identity is discovered and his archenemy, Bruce Costas, offers a $5 million bounty on his head. Now, to stay alive and put an end to Costas, McQuade must turn to old friends, former colleagues, and an ex-wife to help him. As he discovers that not all of them are willing to turn down a piece of $5 million, McQuade ends up battling friend and foe alike. And it's all done with tongue planted firmly in action packed cheek.

Steel Spirit suffers from its lack of budget. Production values aren't what you would expect from a summer blockbuster. The sound quality and lighting aren't always the best. But Pershing's direction and editing show not only an understanding of what makes high entertainment but belie the fact that this is his freshman effort.

Any fan of indie movies should check this one out. Any fan of action pictures will be blown away by what Pershing was able to accomplish. Watch it once for the pure entertainment value. Then watch the DVD a second time with the director's commentary turned on. You'll be amazed and entertained. And isn't that what an action movie is suppose to do?