Prequel to the 1984 hit Missing in Action depicts the hardships of the prison camp where Col. Braddock is held and his attempts to escape with the few remaining American soldiers. The film is a cut below the original in terms of just about everything. Hence the original was released sooner. This film, due to its storyline had to rely a bit more on drama rather than action. Most of the actors in this film just cannot cut the proverbial mustard in that department, though. It's a bad sign when Chuck Norris is pretty much the best actor in a film. No M. Emmett Walsh to steal any scenes this time, unfortunately! The story begins with Braddock and a helicopter full of soldiers getting shot down behind enemy lines. We then have some newsreel type footage of Memorial Day ceremonies for MIAs back in Washington DC. President Reagan even makes an appearance. Then, back to the POW camp we go. We meet the sadistic Col Yin who runs the place. And we see that there isn't much left of Braddock and the Americans after several years in captivity. The scene is basically stolen from Bridge on the River Kwai as the Col. explains to the men what they must already know. Escape is pretty much impossible due to the Vietnamese troops and the perilous jungle surrounding the camp. Two hapless prisoners of course try to make an escape right after this speech and are killed in gruesome fashion. The only way any of the men could ever possibly get home again would be for Braddock to sign a confession of his "war crimes". But this is B/S and Braddock knows it. There is no way Yin would ever let these men get out alive.
The balance of the film basically depicts the torture that these men endure before Braddock is able to escape and eventually free the other prisoners. Col. Yin is a real S.O.B.. He uses hungry rats, mock executions, you name it. At one point, he even burns an American soldier alive after shooting him up with a gigantic dose of morphine. AMC doesn't show the burning scene, as it is particularly disturbing. Over the years, the psychological and physical abuse gets to the prisoners. One man even swears his allegiance to the Vietnamese so he can live better. His rationale: "Our country has forgotten about us, so does it really matter?" Maybe in some ways he has a point, but he is considered a filthy traitor by the other Americans.
Finally, Braddock is able to get free and get his hands on some weapons. Lots of gun battles and explosions result. This film must have set a record for the most stunt men jumping off trampolines with an explosion behind them. Then, a scream is dubbed in. The effect comes off as pretty fake, actually. There are some neat stunts and camera work though. In one scene, a guy falls down a steep cliff and splatters on the rocks below. It kind of looked real! And there is an excellent martial arts showdown between Norris and Soon Teck Oh at the film's conclusion. Looked pretty painful! Unfortunately the entire film just looks kind of cheap compared to part one. It was filmed in Mexico, in case you were wondering. I believe part one was made in the Phillipines. Director Lance Hool doesn't seem as confident with the material as Joseph Zito did with the original. 5 of 10 stars.
The Hound.
The balance of the film basically depicts the torture that these men endure before Braddock is able to escape and eventually free the other prisoners. Col. Yin is a real S.O.B.. He uses hungry rats, mock executions, you name it. At one point, he even burns an American soldier alive after shooting him up with a gigantic dose of morphine. AMC doesn't show the burning scene, as it is particularly disturbing. Over the years, the psychological and physical abuse gets to the prisoners. One man even swears his allegiance to the Vietnamese so he can live better. His rationale: "Our country has forgotten about us, so does it really matter?" Maybe in some ways he has a point, but he is considered a filthy traitor by the other Americans.
Finally, Braddock is able to get free and get his hands on some weapons. Lots of gun battles and explosions result. This film must have set a record for the most stunt men jumping off trampolines with an explosion behind them. Then, a scream is dubbed in. The effect comes off as pretty fake, actually. There are some neat stunts and camera work though. In one scene, a guy falls down a steep cliff and splatters on the rocks below. It kind of looked real! And there is an excellent martial arts showdown between Norris and Soon Teck Oh at the film's conclusion. Looked pretty painful! Unfortunately the entire film just looks kind of cheap compared to part one. It was filmed in Mexico, in case you were wondering. I believe part one was made in the Phillipines. Director Lance Hool doesn't seem as confident with the material as Joseph Zito did with the original. 5 of 10 stars.
The Hound.