Customer Reviews

Action Jackson [VHS]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Let's face it you don't go and watch a movie like Action Jackson and then go tear it apart in a review.

1. The punching sound effects like the end fight scene are nothing short of amazing. Each punch caused seismic bass shocks.
2. Peter Delaplane, once the best 80s bad guys next to Cohagen or Dick Jones in Total Recall and Robocop.
3. The one liners and quotes are beyond one liners. Shall we review?

"Dont Bogart me lightfoot, there's nothing we'd like better than to take a tom slick like you and have us a little blanket party."

"Let me break it down to you. You be a Charley Irvine and we are gonna tap dance on your lips."

"What do you want from me Delaplane?"
"I want you to die."

4. Did I mention the quotes? Seriously the entire movie is a one liner which is also what makes it hilarious to watch.
5. Carl Weathers driving a car through someones house and driving some guy into the wall saying: "You lose."
6. Carl Weathers is a factory chained up and then completely oiled up flexing.
7. The whole movie is classic 80s action that only exists these days in movies like Crank.
8. The Vanity performance followed by the one liner:
"I thought I would get a standing ovation?"
"You are getting one."


Buy this movie and don't listen to the reviews.

It's hard to list the many way in which this 1980s blaxploitation film is bad, but here are some:

* Lame comic relief. We begin with a black street punk who snatches a purse from a fat black woman, only to have the woman beat him up with her purse. He's nabbed, taken to the police station, then faints upon seeing Action Jackson (Carl Weather).

* Stereotypical cardboard police captain. He's by-the-books, comes down hard on Action Jackson's cowboy tactics, but is also a hen-pecked hubby who whines about his wife's "parchise night."

* Waaaaay unrealistic street battles. Action Jackson has a gun battle on the streets, screaming at a driver who's waving a gun. Meanwhile, people are walking in the background as though nothing is happening (who directed these extras?) And this is after a car chase in which a truck carrying propane crashes into a car, creating a chain explosion of many innocent people's cars.

* After all this, the police captain doesn't even mention all the dead civilians due to Jackson's cowboy tactics. No one does. It's like it doesn't matter.

* Stereotypical evil rich businessman. When Action Jackson asks him, "Why?" he's planning what he is, he replies, "Power!" then follows it up with a speech glorifying power. Not a very complex motivation, which is also the result of...

* Lazy scripting. When Jackson needs info, he goes to some hairdresser to learn "the word on the street." This sassy woman tells Jackson everything about what the evil businessman has done and is planning. Hey, HOW DOES SHE KNOW?

* Stupid scripting. Jackson enters a billard hall to ask some questions, and is confronted by some tough guys who don't like questions. He's about to be castrated, when Vanity pops in with some lame story about Jackson being her crazy brother. So Jackson starts preaching about God, to convince the tough guys that he's crazy. Which they readily believe. HOW DUMB IS THAT? Of course, once they let go of Jackson, he beats all four of them up.

* Contradictory scripting. Soon after the businessman explains his master plan (in great detail) to Action Jackson, Jackson asks, "What do you plan to do?" Huh? HE JUST TOLD YOU!

* Awful 1980s hairstyles and fashion. One hit man has looooong feather blond hair, looking like a heavy metal singer. (His face looks like Kato Kalin). He dresses in full leather body suits, likes his cohorts. Pretty noticeable, no? Yet these hitmen are called "the invisible men," because of their ability to "blend in" and not be noticed. Yeah, right.

* Vanity is a heroin addict, yet she's smart, sassy, capable, and looks remarkably healthy. Apparently, a heroin fix a day leave no scars, no problem.

* Jackson calls Vanity a "junkie" throughout the film. At the film's end, she's fallen in love with him and says, "Ex-junkie!" Just like that. And just like that, Jackson says, "All right!" Wow. I had no idea it was so easy to kick a heroin habit.

* Lots of "cool sets" used for no good reason (other than that they look cool). Action Jackson sends Vanity into a bar to set up a meeting at a warehouse. When the man arrives, Jackson slides down a whinch chain, for no particular reason. Nor was there any real reason he couldn't enter the bar to see the man.

* In the end, this fiftyish businessman and Jackson each hold a gun in a standoff. So what does the businessman do? He puts down his gun, because he'd rather karate-box Jackson. So Jackson sets down his gun too, and they karate-box. Yeah, that's how most aging businessmen prefer to deal with the police.

* This was after Jackson drove a sports car into the businessman's mansion, up the stairs, and through the wall. (Good thing the hallways were wide enough to accomodate the car.) Nor was there a reason for this; the businessman wasn't planning on going anywhere. I guess it just looks cool to have a car driving through a mansion.

This is film is really bad, with a mindless script and lazy unrealistic acting. Even so, it's dumb fun. Vanity and Sharon Stone (in a small role) are sexy. Sexy eye candy and mindless action, so enjoy.

Action is a proud man, a high-school track star, a dedicated cop, a sergeant who lost his lieutenant's stripes almost two years ago...

He jostles a conceited, two-faced, backstabbing mass murderer called Peter Dellaplane (Craig T. Nelson). Director Craig R. Baxley has not only carried it off, but makes you believe it... One must also give some of the credit to Carl Weathers whose erect muscular body and his charm and good looks give some credence to the heroics...

The picture contains fun, lots of action, and two sexy women...

Vanity looked so gorgeous when she was shot up with heroin...

Stone met her husband after his first wife died and his son went to prison... She thinks that he may seem greedy and arrogant but he remained loved by everyone, and the whole experience changed him... She also thinks that Jackson is not so different from her husband, that both are stubborn, and both intent on getting what they want...

Carl Weathers isn't usually at the top of anyone's list of great thespians. But the guy coulda been a solid action movie "actor" a la Arnie. Unfortunately, that was effectively killed by his role in "Action Jackson," a bad action movie even for people who like dumb action movies (like me).

It has the makings of a good action flick. Half the cast of "Predator" shows up here, there is lots of sensless violence, and much-appreciated random nudity from Sharon Stone and Vanity. But it somehow just doesn't work. The script is too stupid, and the directing too pedestrian to result in anything but B-movie filler. It isn't quite bad enough to be fun, though it has some moments that are just stupefying in their ridiculousness, and not good enough to be good.

The problem with an dumb action movie is that you either need to go totally over the top, and embrace ridiculous absurdity, or do it straight, and actually make a competent movie. If you do something in-between, the result is no good. And that is the fate of "Action Jackson."

Jericho "Action" Jackson is a Detroit police sergeant who was demoted from lieutenant for almost tearing the arm off of sexually violent sociopath Sean Dellaplane, whose father is Peter Dellaplane, a major car manufacturer. But Dellaplane himself is violent as well. Dellaplane kills his wife Patrice by shooting her. And then he plants her body in Jackson's apartment, framing Jackson. Dellaplane won't miss Patrice very much, because he has a drug addicted mistress named Sydney Ash. He keeps Sydney hooked with a free supply of heroin. Jackson suspects Dellaplane of masterminding a murder spree against local officials from the auto workers' union. Dellaplane's mission is to gain a political power base and choose the next president of the United States. Because of what happened to Dellaplane's son Sean, Dellaplane has taken a particular dislike to Jackson. Jackson gets Sydney's help in going after Dellaplane. The violence in this movie is brutal and efficiently directed, the action sequences spectacular. If you can appreciate movies from the '80s, this one will be a welcome addition to any collector's library.

I remeber seeing Action Jackson when I was seven years old and enjoying the movie like it was the best thing since sliced bread. I bouhgt the film on DVD back in 2003 and I enjoyed even more now and take for what it is a action comedy. Carl Weathers recalls Richard Roundtree's Shaft and Jim's Kelly Performance as Black Belt Jones. The film is full over the top and one that's for the guys.

Perhaps it should come as no surprise that Carl Weathers attempted to cash in on the beefy action hero genre of the 1980s. The actor, who played effective second-string roles in the shoot 'em up classic "Predator" and did a stint as punching bag Apollo Creed in several "Rocky" films, finally got his own movie in 1988's "Action Jackson." Apparently, the producers of the picture planned to make further "Action Jackson" movies if the first one hit it big. Sadly, for Weathers at least, the movie tanked at the box office before sinking into relative obscurity on cable television. Not surprisingly, the DVD revolution has resurrected films like "Action Jackson," thus introducing the movie to a whole new generation of action fans. After watching the film, I realize we need to see more motion pictures like this one. Arnold Schwarzenegger went soft once he had kids and refused to make the mega-body count actioners like "Commando" anymore, Sylvester Stallone has lost any allure he once had after years of pedestrian "thrillers," and the action genre has undergone a fundamental change thanks to films like "The Matrix." It's probably hard for some to believe action movies once looked like "Action Jackson."

Carl Weathers plays "Action" Jackson, a loose cannon Detroit cop with a law degree and an authority problem. He was once the star of the department until he busted the son of powerful automobile tycoon Peter Dellaplane (Craig T. Nelson) for a heinous crime. In the process of bringing this guy into custody, Jackson beat him up and broke his arm. Dellaplane the father has a lot of clout in the city, and he called in some favors in order to insure Jackson suffered greatly for his actions. Action is still on the force, but he's a lowly cop always under the close supervision of the bull necked Captain Armbruster ("Predator" alumni Bill Duke). Still, Action Jackson's reputation as a no nonsense cop strikes fear into the hearts of criminals everywhere. When some powerful union representatives start dying in droves (one falls out of a building while engulfed in flames, another one dies when his boat evaporates in a huge fireball), Jackson suspects Peter Dellaplane knows something about the gruesome murders. Despite the obstacles in the department, Jackson plows into the case head on.

After his informant Tony Moretti (played with wonderfully paranoid seediness by Robert Davi) tips him off about Dellaplane and then promptly dies, Jackson hits the streets in force. Eventually, both the police department and the automaker's goons are hot on his trail. The requisite car chases, fistfights, and shootings occur with the regularity of a Swiss watch. Sharon Stone even turns up from time to time in the role of Patrice Dellaplane, a woman who seems unaware of her evil husband's plans to crush union opposition to his new line of cars or his plans to get rid of anyone who stands in his way. Since Stone plays opposite Nelson for most of the film, 1980's singer Vanity steps in to provide Action Jackson with female companionship. She plays Sydney Ash, a singer with links to Dellaplane who eventually helps Jackson bring the automaker down. Comic relief, if you can call it that, comes from Thomas F. Wilson (Biff from "Back to the Future") as the mouthy yet fumbling Officer Kornblau. Actually, the jokes run heavy throughout the whole picture, with several running gags popping up every few minutes or so. At least the movie does end on a memorable note, though, as Action Jackson drives a car up the stairs of Peter Dellaplane's house prior to the inevitable final showdown between the cop and car kingpin.

A lot of things work to the good in "Action Jackson." Craig T. Nelson excels in the role of Peter Dellaplane. He positively oozes evil as a greedy corporate type who will do anything in his quest for profit and political power. Carl Weathers does an admirable job as Action Jackson, ably pulling off a character that balances comedy with tough guy attitude. Moreover, most of the action scenes and stunts look good and work well in the context of the story. Unfortunately, many things cripple the movie. Vanity and Sharon Stone appear in roles obviously meant to be nothing more than eye candy. Perhaps the biggest problem in "Action Jackson" is the cut and paste appearance of a significant portion of the film. The first part of the movie moves forward in a logical arc, but not so the final thirty minutes. It looks as though scenes were just thrown together to complete the picture. I guess I shouldn't complain too much, however. These sorts of motion pictures usually violate the laws of reality on a regular basis. I've never been able to understand how cops can destroy millions of dollars of property, endanger innocent civilians, kill dozens of people, yet end up back on patrol the following day. Probably because the script calls for it, I guess.

The DVD contains no extras. If memory serves me right, I remember several incidents in the movie that never appeared on the DVD version. I seem to recall Action Jackson shooting Peter Dellaplane in the head during the final showdown, but here he doesn't do that. Hmmm. Why release an edited version of a rather obscure, by the numbers action film on DVD? It's not as though "Action Jackson" wallows in gore. Oh well, watching the movie all these years later was still a nice trip down memory lane. Give "Action Jackson" a whirl if you like this sort of thing.

This film set the stage for many modern action films. Like most other late 80's action films it was influenced by Sylvester Stallone's COBRA. However, this film managed to go the extra "action" mile. The hero did things like ride on the top of a car moving over 25mph; drive a car into a house and then up the stairs; jump out of a 3 story building to land on a car; and fistfight at least 5 thugs who try to remove his manhood. In addition to all the unbelivable action this movie has beautiful women. Sharon Stone (before she was famous) and Vanity. BOTH GET NEKID. That alone makes the film a classic. Oh yeah, the plot....that however is a different story ...........the story line really stinks and is virtually unbelievable.....but if you're just there for the action and the women it doesn't matter. If not then I would suggest not seeing this film.

Carl Weathers Does a bang up job here playing a cop who is always at the centre of the action in a film filled with violence
a high body count explosions and car chases all the things movie fans have come to expect from action films. Weathers is Action Jackson a detroit cop who has been demoted to sergent from lieuntenat after being accused of brutality tactics wages a personal war with an auto magnete who cost him his posistion. Craig T Nelson Plays Peter Dellaplane an evil villain who loves the conquest of power systamatically kills all the auto union leaders one by one And has jackson's best friend killed. Great Action Great Performances this film should not be missed.

This is one of those 80's action B films you just have to love. I grew up on these types of movies and seeing them just bring back memories. Carl Weathers who played Apollo Creed in Rocky and Dillon in Predator, stars as Detroits toughest cop battling a psycho car dealer. Here are the best things about this flick:

- the title track sung by the Pointer Sisters, gets you going
- The bad guy played by Craig T.Nelson, brilliantly
- Sharon Stone in her earlier days of acting.
- Bill Duke,from Preadtor and Commando, as the Captain
- Vanity , who is sexier than hell, plays the groupie.
- great action sequences, including the car scene in the finale.
- the 200lb Muslim guy who saves Jackson, says" Hello, Im Mr.
ED"
- The semminal line from this movie: "BBQ huh?...How do ya like your ribs?"

This is just a great movie for action fans, if you are looking for action films without all the overdeveloped plots and artificial characters, this is one you will enjoy. Just say action!