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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
"Iron Eagle" meets "Delta Force", August 7, 2001
This review is from: Active Stealth (DVD)
"Active Stealth" is a story of "US Army Rangers" on counterdrug and hostage rescue missions in Central America; plausible Ranger missions. It goes terribly awry from there with more than the usual howlers for a straight-to-video action flick. "Rangers" assault targets in broad daylight, with no suppressive fire, no body armor and no face camoflauge-it was obvious few of the actors had experience with M16s/AKMs/Berettas. Firefights ensue with 2000rds being expended at a range of 50 meters or so, with almost no casualties-to both sides. After this mission, where for the first time since Norris' "Delta Force" in the '80s we find actors who need haircuts, we meet the characters in "Company C" (only 4 though, apparently the other 100+ folks and A,B and D Companies are on leave..it's ALWAYS Company C in these movies). Colonel Williamson, who also needs a haircut and moustache trim, assigns Company C to a Stealth fighter that can hold about 4 people behind the pilot-not unlike "Executive Decision". The plan is insert Company C, rescue a guy left behind, blow stuff up and escape. Two ARMY pilots are sent off to a carrier to fly an F14 for top cover, presumably to take advantage of ample stock carrier footage. The F117 static for the loading scenes is actually a pretty good model of an actual F117. Also, stock footage of F117 ops are matched closely with shots of the mockup. The HUDs in the air-air scenes are fairly realistic-much more so than in Iron Eagle-faint praise indeed. Uniforms look well researched. Rank is correctly placed and the ribbons appear to be in the right sequence (yes, costume designers there IS an order to how ribbons are placed and it doesn't take much research to get it right); BDUs (fatigues) have too many Ranger tabs-1 per shoulder has always been found to be sufficient. The good points, yeah there are some, are two: I originally got this DVD when I saw that Ms Ava Fabian had a part in the movie. (I had the pleasure of playing beach volleyball with her in a Pro_Am tourney many years ago. One of her expressions of disgust in the flick reminded me of a look I got when she set me up for a spike, which I promptly put in the net. But I digress.) She acquits herself well here, given her small, uncredited part, and is so mentioned by the director in his commentary, the other good part. The commentary is definitely more interesting than the movie, as he explains exactly what financial and time constraints he was under-and even points out some howlers of his own. Worth renting on Dollar-night for the director's commentary, and if you're a fan of Ava Fabian, for her pretty good performance. My DVD says it's rated "R". Might be hype to sell DVDs-there's nothing in this over say, PG-13.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heroism, Sacrifice, and PATRIOTIC FREEDOM win the day!, October 5, 2006
What is wrong with you people talking bad about this movie? It is a touching story about a band of unlikely heroes, manly men undoubtedly (witness Chiccio's casual pipe smoking in the heat of battle) but perhaps a little over the hill for such intense action as they're engaging in here. None the less, all give some and SOME GIVE ALL in the name freedom, standing true to their values and never giving in, even when faced by the treacherous treachery of a higher-up (which I think is to this day a starkly evocative metaphor for America-hating liberals, who would turn over this country to the terrorists if it meant men could marry other men.) Frankly, it makes me feel proud to be an American, and was inspired enough by it to put two more yellow ribbons on my 2003 Ford Excursion. And to those of you who question the military accuracy of the film, DUH, IT WAS ON PURPOSE. If they went in there with body armor, face paint, and "accurate" weaponry weilded professionally, OF COURSE the enemy would know it was the US Army Rangers! By not using standard field equipment and tactics, they were able to maintain the cover that such covert operations require. You East-Coast-College-Educated morons should grow brains instead of pot and try thinking tactically a little bit.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
May not be militarily accurate, but it is entertaining, September 6, 2005
Active Stealth is a standard search and rescue B programmer with Daniel Baldwin and Fred Williamson. The film also features August 1986 Playboy Playmate Ava Fabian in a supporting role. Lots of gun battles and some decent aerial footage with the Stealth and other aircraft can be found throughout the film. Great commentary by director Fred Olen Ray. The packaging mentions a trailer, but there is no trailer included.
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