Missing in Action Double Feature - Missing in Action (1984) + Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985)

Director: Joseph Zito

Cast: Chuck Norris, M. Emmet Walsh, James Hong, Lenore Kasdorf

Country: United States

Rating: R

Run Time: 100 min

Missing in Action is a fairly solid, albeit clunky and cheap, attempt by Cannon Pictures at a Rambo picture. Famed Cannon Pictures producers, Menaham Golan and Yoram Globus, had gotten a peak at James Cameron's script for the eventual Rambo: First Blood Part II while it was floating around studios. Therefore, the two decided to film not one, but two films inspired by the script, concurrently with one another. Although Missing in Action is a blatant Rambo rip-off, it technically came out before First Blood Part II, thereby making it legally not a rip-off. Regardless, Missing in Action is the B-grade rendition of George P. Cosmatos and Sylvester Stallone's Vietnam film, with B-grade replacements such as director Joseph Zito (Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter) and Chuck Norris (The Way of the Dragon). The two would eventually go on to collaborate with Invasion U.S.A., a ridiculously offensive (but awesome) film against the Russians. However, the two's xenophobic rampage against American's enemies started here with Missing in Action, a Cannon classic with a rather serious tone. While a definite far cry from First Blood Part II, Missing in Action offers up the kind of low grade action entertainment that B-movie hounds love, courtesy of Golan's low budget proceedings and Norris' grizzled beard.

The film opens with a dream sequence in which Colonel James Braddock (Chuck Norris) remembers the horrors of the Vietnam War. When he scores the opportunity to go with a team to Vietnam in order to investigate whether or not American M.I.A.'s are still being held there, Braddock takes matters into his own hands by searching the country on his own time. He eventually teams up with Tuck (M. Emmett Walsh), an old friend of his, and sets off into the jungle to wage a one man war against the Vietnamese and rescue any Americans who may still be out there.

The first chapter in the Missing in Action saga was originally envisioned as the second chapter. After shooting two films back to back, Golan and Globus decided that their second picture offered up the action packed excitement that would ensure them box office dollars. Therefore, they turned the originally envisioned second film into the first film, and the originally envisioned first film into the eventual prequel, Missing in Action 2: The Beginning. While that strategy sounds like suicidal storytelling, the plan paid off, as Missing in Action swept up the box office, scoring $22 million off of a $1.5 million budget. It still stands as Norris' highest earning vehicle to date, as well as one of Cannon Pictures' highest earners. Both Missing in Action and Rambo: First Blood Part II's box office receipts prove that Americans were eager to bask in the fantastical revenge that the films offered.

Don't mess with the Braddock.

Braddock is a pretty solid franchise character, especially for one played by Chuck Norris. He knows how to negotiate a deal with people, has an awesome beard, and puts everything on the line simply to save a few American soldiers. Most solo 'Men on a Mission/One Man Army' films, especially the ones set in Vietnam, typically don't resonate with me because they are fairly gross and redundant. Thankfully, Missing in Action shakes up the formula a bit by incorporating some variety, as Braddock investigates as to where the U.S. soldiers are being kept while fighting off assassins in urban locations. He doesn't gun down Vietnamese soldiers in the jungle until the very end, which is essentially all First Blood Part II was.

From an action stand point, Missing in Action is exactly what you would expect from a Cannon production. The fist fights and shootouts are always entertaining, but mostly clunky and cheap in the classic Cannon mold. Although I declared the film a weak action picture due to its poor direction, I wouldn't be surprised if Zito was given the bare minimum of a budget and time to prepare the film's plentiful action sequences. After all, he is the same director who blew my mind with 1989's Red Scorpion, a highly underrated Dolph Lundgren picture that makes his Cannon work look like child's play. 

Although Missing in Action is nothing but predictable, the film surprised me by building up to an extremely dramatic and satisfying finale that could have made up for the weaker elements of the film. Unfortunately, the film ends on a freeze frame and brings all dramatic momentum to a halt. If the ending had been allowed to play out in a satisfying and pleasing manner, than Missing in Action easily could have scored another point on its rating scale. However, Cannon does what Cannon wants, and Missing in Action is nothing more than an entertaining, but rushed, take on the Rambo formula.

Rating: 5/10 - Norris' fair acting abilities and Zito's weak direction hold Missing in Action back from being as good as Rambo: First Blood Part II, the creme de la creme of the Vietnam 'One Man Army' films.

Director: Lance Hool

Cast: Chuck Norris, Soon-Tek Oh, Steven Williams, Bennett Ohta

Country: United States

Rating: R

Run Time: 95 min

Believe it or not, Missing in Action 2: The Beginning, is a far superior action/thriller in every regard when stacked up against its predecessor. Although I understand why Cannon went with the first film, as it featured far more action and could guarantee box office dollars, the "prequel" is a vastly better film. Instead of being a solo "Man on a Mission/One Man Army" flick with nothing but routine action to offer, Missing in Action 2 is actually a decent prison film with memorable characters, solid action, and genuine tension. It's still as clunky as most of Cannon's efforts, but it might just be the very best B-Vietnam picture ever made, as well as one of the best examples of Norris' abilities as an actor.

It's prequel time, as Missing in Action 2 takes place in 1972 in North Vietnam. After Colonel Braddock (Chuck Norris) and several of his men attempt to rescue some American soldiers during a battle, their helicopter is shot down and the men taken prisoner. However, the men are not released after the war is declared over, as the cruel Colonel Yin (Soon-Tek Oh) decides to use them for manual labor. He also psychologically tortures them in an attempt to make Braddock himself confess to his war crimes against the Vietnamese. As with most prisoner of war stories, the Americans eventually escape and wage a war of vengeance against their captors in what makes for one of Cannon Group's most dramatically compelling films.

The Beginning is immediately better than the first film because it is a character driven prison film, and not just a senseless action picture with little attention to character or story. The prequel conjures up an immense amount of tension and suspense throughout, thereby making the eventual action all of the more satisfying and worthwhile once arrived upon. Viewers will find themselves immensely engrossed in the various prisoner characters because they will feel for their plights and hope for their escape. Confining the events of the entire film to once location was clearly a budgetary strategy, but it also makes the film far better, as it crafts a claustrophobic and tense atmosphere that makes the prequel an entirely different film altogether from its predecessor. You still get your xenophobic/jingoistic action and revenge, but it's far more satisfying and less ridiculous because of the drawn out build up to it all.

Cool Guys Don't Look at Explosions: The Beginning

The bulk of the tension in the prequel is based around Colonel Yin's pursuit to get Braddock to confess to his war crimes, which were referenced in the first film. As the film progresses, Yin religiously tortures and teases Braddock with various temptations and physical wounds. This psychological warfare between the two extends beyond politics and becomes down right personal at a point. Yin is truly a villain that you love to hate because he dominates nearly every scene of the film and stands as the ultimate tormentor to end all tormentors. However, Yin ultimately meets his match by dueling with Colonel Braddock, the most intensely American patriot you could find. If one can separate the politics from the matter, the crux of Missing in Action 2's tension makes for some great thematic conflict.

Norris is far better here in the sequel, as he shows a more vulnerable side to Braddock. He has to keep his mouth shut at times and swallow his pride. He even physically suffers, such as when he is hung upside down with a rat filled bag tied upon his head, in order to protect others. While Braddock may be far from deep, his immense loyalty to his fellow men and soldiers makes him an admirable franchise character, and one made all the manlier and more badass thanks to Norris' portrayal of the guy. The prequel also has a solid supporting cast of players who are well used throughout, a key element missing in the first film.

The action is far better this go around mainly due to the build up and tension that precedes it all. Still, that clunky Cannon execution prevents it from being nearly as affective as it could have been, such as when a British spy is executed in a close up that quickly fades to black. Missing in Action 2 also finds a way to incorporate Norris' trademark martial arts abilities into a grounded and personal final fight that ultimately makes the film far more watchable and satisfying than the first. Thanks to the film's human touch and slow build up, I would compare the prequel to Cannon's own Death Wish 2, as both films take their time in building up to the action but also have the clunky silliness of a low budget B-picture. All in all, Missing in Action 2: The Beginning is a solid action thriller that stands as one of Cannon Group's very best productions, as well as one of Norris' most enjoyable action films.

Rating: 7/10 - Due to a surprising amount of tension and suspense, Missing in Action 2 stands tall as a recommendable B-Vietnam picture.