Customer Reviews

Fireball Forward [VHS]

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I bought this movie in a two-pack with the Italian "epic" BATTLE FORCE. Overall, it is all right. It concerns an American General (Ben Gazzara) who must find a traitor in the ranks of the division he's just taken over. Gazzara is modeled on General Patton; in fact, the whole film seems like is borrowed a lot of elements from the 1970 feature PATTON: the music score (also some music here stolen from VON RYAN'S EXPRESS and THE LONGEST DAY) a few actors and even some battle footage. The cast is full of big-name actors, mostly in cameo roles. Watch for Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H) VERY briefly as an uncredited Army nurse.

The video was released by Direct Source. It was recorded in EP mode and not of the highest quality. Colors are washed out and there is also some on-screen snow which doesn't clear up too much even when one uses the tracking control. The music also drops out once in a while. I have seen this on video from the Platinum Disc Corporation as well. That release has ever-so-slightly better color and no music dropouts. There is also no onscreen snow.

This was a TV movie, and frankly, it stole a few things from big screen movies -- like the theme music from Patton. The acting ran the gamut from really good to really baaad. Nonetheless, it's entertaining as a look at how a commander takes over a failing division and rebuilds it in the middle of combat.

The most interesting thing is that this commander recognized the probability of a spy within, and called in the Army Counterintelligence Corps. Only two movies I'm aware of even recognized the existence of, much less the contributions of the CIC. That alone makes the movie worth viewing. Add to this L.Q. Jones' portrayal of the CIC major, always an actor worth watching, and you have a pretty ok B movie.

No, it's not an award winner, but it's just different enough to be fun. Give it a try.