Forced Vengeance (1982)

That was an excellent one.

Absolutely the worst movie.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

There are three Chuck Norrises: Smooth-Face, Moustache-Face, and Beard-Face. The Beard-Face is probably the best-known as it is part of a Chuck Norris Joke: "Underneath Chuck Norris' beard, there's no chin just another fist," and they actually enacted that on Family Guy. Norris just looks like more of a badass with a full beard. He looked like an ass-kicker before, that's just the way he looks, but the beard added ferocity. For a few years, Norris had just a moustache because that was THE style for rugged men back then. Although Norris did just a few movies with a moustache, this still remains the best movie he did during that time. Forced Vengeance paved the way for Walker Texas Ranger. In this, Norris plays Texas cop named Josh Randle, who's general looks mirrors Walker's. When his friends from Hong Kong turn down an offer to turn their casino to ruthless mobsters, they are executed. Soon, deadly goons pop up and try to destroy Josh and his other friends, while Josh tries to get to the bottom of the deal and learn about his new enemies. The fight scenes are very well-done and the plot is well- constructed. The music is also great too. Pretty much everything this movie has is great and there are very unforgettable moments. Like there's one scene where Norris does a flying sidekick off the ledge of a building. That is very iconic. But is perhaps best remembered in Good Guys Where Black, which is Moustache-Norris' second best. I'd say the best scene is when Norris fights a man in front of lights in a casino where all that's seen are their silhouettes. These set the stage for vintage Norris!

I must be honest here. Forced Vengeance is one of the most idiotic and amateurish pieces of crap I've seen, back in the day where Chuckie sported a moustache and had red hair. He plays an orphaned brother, extracting revenge on the people responsible for killing his foster brother and Dad, who were running this great casino business, but these evil developers had put the squeeze on em'. While small Daddy, defied the baddies after rejecting their proposal, he and son (who was for it) paid the ultimate price. Some people are just plain stubborn. I guess it's a matter of principal. If you want loads of action, you'll get it here. If you want logic, go somewhere else. Of course, as always, Chuck's close friend, a ex vet buddy is killed. When his beautiful girlfriend is raped and killed, now the real vengeance begins, that Chuckies sends forth, and we love it. The film has a very amateurish and slapdash script, as if the dialogue came as the movie went along, some moments of it, become unintentionally funny. Main reason- absurd dialogue. Here's a stupid line for ya, as I feel I must tell you. This is just after father Pascal, has told baddie, Ramondi to go jump. This is Ramondi's reactive dialogue. "I know, but expand or die, that's (something else... "). Oh, and the acting, don't even get me started on the acting. This is like Chuck isn't even acting. This is like a just do it as you go, not even half baked flick. I did love Chucks's line where he put a homosexual mate of one the baddies into some heating contraption. "Sleep tight, sweet cheeks. You could of been a toasted marshmellow." It's great, seeing Chuckie, galavanting all over San Francisco, on the kill, readily disposing of scum, with a non repentence, much like a robot, and that's what he is. He hardly shows any range of emotions, if any, and this could well be one of the worst performances of his life, in one of the worst films he's ever done. Truly, FV, is one the most amateurish, unprofessional flicks, I've ever seen, all the way, which is a shame, given the beautiful surrounds this flick is shot. It's sloppy wrapped up ending, is just another laugh of unbelief. True to life words, have Chuckie saying to that gay badman. "Bravest man I knew was a homosexual"

The head of security for a small Hong Kong casino, Josh Randall (Chuck Norris) will have to protect the daughter of his murdered boss from a ruthless syndicate, Osiris, headed by a mysterious figure. This figurehead's identity Randall will scour the city to uncover while trying desperately to keep not only Joy Paschal (Camila Griggs) safe from harm, but his own girlfriend, Claire (Mary Louise Weller). The "face" of Osiris is Stan Raimondi (Michael Cavanaugh), whose serpentine smile and unwavering stand about acquiring the Red Dragon Casino from the ownership, preferably "retired", Sam Paschal (David Opatoshu) and his son, David (Frank Michael Liu), will result in two murders, indeed making it easier to get what they want from a helpless Joy if Randall cannot stop him. The difficulty Randall faces is keeping two beautiful women hidden within Hong Kong knowing that Raimondi has "eyes everywhere".I guess you could call "Forced Vengeance" Chuck Norris' "Hong Kong film"; he gets to don a cowboy hat and boots, certain to stand out of a crowd( but who cares?, it's Chuck Norris), move through the busy streets, often encountering all types of hired henchmen of all shapes and sizes. Osiris' plan to build a "Las Vegas in Hong Kong" is of vital interest to Raimondi, and he will pay top dollar to see that this dream becomes a reality. I love all the on-the-spot locations and seeing Norris in his prime, just taking out one nameless Osiris "employee" at a time, inside Hong Kong was always a thrill to me.This was a great period for Norris, having just made "Silent Rage" prior to this (a film which even has Mad Scientist/Halloween overtones which have given it a cult following), as well as, "An Eye for an Eye", it wasn't really until the next film, "Lone Wolf McQuade" that he would become a bonafide star. FV has certain action movie tropes you are familiar with such as stunt extras who show up for their beating, (..leaving the screen after a kick to the face or stomach), the old war buddy the hero needs to protect his women who is killed while Norris is away, the bulky giant who towers over his victims(..using his superior strength to overcome not only the hero's protector friend, but Norris' girl), the sleazy businessman (in this case Raimondi) who will use whatever means is necessary to get what he seeks after (eventually getting his ass handed to him by the hero at the end), and the hero's ascent upon the grounds of the chief nemesis who has caused all the trouble leading to the climax (and, of course, the hero must face the giant who took the lives of his friend and girl). A badly choreographed accidental lynching on board a yacht (you can see the harness) and the giant's removal of a commode (you can actually see the cracks *before* the giant pulls up the commode!) hurt the film. It shouldn't be a surprise that the acting is a bit flat, with Norris not required to emote as much as use his martial arts skills to send lots of men crashing in a heap to the ground. This was a favorite of mine growing up when I would watch a more censored version on cable which might influence a sentimental stance that will always bring me back to it. Love the opening credits and the score which accompany them, assuring us a lot of Norris kicking ass. Surprisingly, Cavanaugh puts up a pretty good fight before Norris bests him.

Chuck Norris' films aren't things you call masterpieces, but more often they're fun and deliver good rollicking action. James Frago's "Forced Vengeance" (who directed Eastwood in "The Enforcer") is no exception to the trend, and is a raw, full-blooded Norris' chop-suey extravaganza. No surprises here, as it's basic (and campy) revenge on mind for Norris. The simple set-up is made up of expertly-executed martial arts set-pieces that are spontaneously well-timed and judged. It can be welcomely brutal and rough, but quite unintentionally obtuse. The opening silhouette stash in front of a neon sign was a neat touch, and William Goldstein's (no not Goldsmith) exhilaratingly flighty score takes shape. There's something about his early films, I found to be more enticing than a lot of his latter, popular mainstream efforts. Sure they might not be as well organised or impressionable as his well-known flicks but this different kettle has certain sincereness about them. The gritty action takes place in Hong Kong, and it's vividly projected with the exotically moody setting and street life being expansively brought to life. Director James Frago does a serviceable job. As I mentioned earlier the premise doesn't break any new ground, and is rather slight. It's a dog eat dog world, and Norris is on the underdog side and takes on the corrupt. Norris even gets his chance to provide another deeply thoughtful narration (ala The Octagon) that I found humorously pointless. Before he goes on his forced rampage (Chuck style!), he goes about collecting information, so when he gets down to business he takes out the right men. But another unsavoury reason comes into play, and this releases the fury waiting to explode, as it does push the motivation for vengeance behind Chuck's character even more. Watch out, as now you're going to get an ass-kicking! The staggering script is filled with constant corn, and Norris' delivers the majority of it. However his sly remarks actually satisfy and it just wouldn't be the same without them. As for the performances, well it's expected that we get something wooden within the acting range. Chuck Norris geared up in his cowboy hat, and suit with those boyish looks is stoic as usual. But that in mind, he knows his element and has a durably raw appeal that makes him utterly watchable. Mary Louise Weller is perfect as Norris love interest, and Bob Minor provides wonderful support as an ex-army buddy. Michael Cavanaugh makes for a fine sinister bad guy, and has a terrific boat-top confrontation with Norris. Watch it for a good, relaxing time of utter beat-ups and laughs. This is one I'll never tire of, especially Norris fans.