Customer Reviews

True Vengeance [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Daniel Bernardt plays an ex-Navy SEAL who is forced to assasinate a corporate executive after his daughter is kidnapped by the Yakuza. Working against both the clock and the police who are on his trail, Bernhardt leaves a path of dead and broken bodies as he attempts to rescue his daughter. Miles O'Keefe does a good stint as an ex-comrade of Bernhardt's with a personal score to settle. Watch out for Bernhardt! He definitely could be the next action star.

Early in his film career, Daniel Bernhardt wasn't content with his simple "karate man" image and sought to become a more rounded action hero. This resulted in "True Vengeance", a movie which lifts many ideas from Arnold Schwarzenegger's Commando but is nevertheless one of the better Bernhardt-starring flicks out there - possibly the best for those who don't care for his Bloodsport sequels. Released during the final days of the golden age of home video, it's an above-average little DTV action movie but not a great one. It has no major flaws which keep it from a higher rating but rather a bunch of little irritating ones that bog the film down and keep it from being as likeable as it should be.

The story: when the daughter of ex-Navy officer Allen Griffin (Bernhardt) is kidnapped by his father-in-law - a Yakuza lord (George Cheung, Rambo: First Blood, Part 2) - he's forced to assassinate a CEO as part of a deal with the mobster. Upon being double-crossed by the kidnappers, he needs to evade federal agents as he battles through underground forces en route to saving his daughter.

It sounds similar to that Schwarzenegger movie, doesn't it? Daniel even dresses like Arnold in this one, complete with a sleeveless black vest. But unlike Schwarzenegger, Bernhardt pads up his adventure with martial arts fisticuffs, motorcycle chases, and John Woo-inspired gunplay. Curb your excitement, though, since they're not all entirely satisfying thrills: of the 'round three or four hand-to-hand fights, none best Daniel's initial match with B-movie kicker Leo Lee (The Perfect Weapon) for choreography and technical efficiency; the motorcycle chase is pretty decent, with the stuntmen engaging in some pretty reckless driving, but it's too drawn out for the effect to last; and the one real Woo-inspired shootout isn't choreographed well enough for suspension of disbelief to cover Griffin's level of invincibility. The co-finale featuring Bernhardt wielding a sword and trading kicks with fellow action hero Miles O'Keeffe (from the Ator movies) helps end the film on an explosive note, but the action content still feels a bit lacking. Compared to the regular offerings of someone like Jeff Wincott or Billy Blanks, Daniel Bernhardt's directors still had a lot to learn about finding a harmonious balance between action hero and martial artist.

The production is strong, despite the visibility of budgetary constraints. A lot of the locales (e.g. the tattoo parlor) don't look scouted but still fit; so it's easy to imagine a crewmember saying "Hey, I know this cool-looking place in town; let's shoot there." The in-film world doesn't seem as heavily populated due to the presence of only minimal extras, but this is forgivable. The supporting cast is mainly highlighted by the evil Asians (including Roger Yuan of Shanghai Noon) but Beverly Johnson (Crossworlds) also adds herself to the mix as a detective tracking Griffin; her role isn't really necessary and I got the feeling she's mainly there to counter Rae Dawn Chong's character from the Schwarzenegger movie, but she makes the most of it despite getting in on next to none of the action.

Truth be told, the movie doesn't have a lot of personality because Daniel Bernhardt doesn't have much of one in here: he plays the vengeful father/soldier role so well that he really doesn't need any time to expand his character, and thus the movie also remains very single-layered. Regardless, all shortcomings considered, this is still a good film for fans of the man to enjoy and one of the all-around better offerings from director David Worth's post-Kickboxer career. Again, if you want to see Bernhardt doing something besides partaking in underground tournaments, this is the place to start.

Although this movie is slow in several places, it is pretty decent. The plot takes several turns--Which guy will get the girl? Are all the good guys really good? Are all the bad guys really bad? You won't know until the very end.

The beautiful Tawny Kitaen rules in this movie that what makes it well worth watching.She deserves to star in many more films!!!!

I thought the acting and the plot in this movie is great.And i'm a big wrestling fan of Roddy Piper so that made the movie better.The only bad part about the movie are the effects.At the begining of the movie when you see the guy trying to get away from everyone and he is on his motercycle and he flys off it watch that part again.As you notice when he is in the air the motercycle is just standing there on the side of the rock.Then when the guys are shooting at him and the shed blows up watch that part again.While they are shooting at him it is day light then when the shed explodes it is night time then 2 seconds later it is day light.If they took more time on the movie it would have been better but overall i gave it a 4.

I liked this movie. I am listed under lab security at the end of the credits. I was lucky enough to be reading the entire script while I was on the set of this movie, so I knew about it and how it was going to turn out before the public. This movie, without a doubt, is one of the better Roddy Piper films and it was a pleasure to be able to make a movie with this star.

I saw this movie on HBO about six months ago. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper is really a world championship wrestler who usually enters the ring wearing just a Scottish kilt. What can I say about Tawney Kataen except that she is very beatiful. I really don't remember much about the plot except that Piper beats up a few guys and there is a boat involved. Good flick. The price will go down soon, then I'm going to buy it.