Reviews

Pretty convoluted story, save to say it's about the 'Sarges' guilt over something that he did in Vietnam ie: letting his buddy get killed.

Who wouldn't have guilt eating them up inside after turning your back if a friend was in a fight and you didn't help, or worse, if you're in the ARMY and didn't support some of your guys if you were stationed in Iraq for example and were fired on by the enemy? The reason the sarge didn't help his buddy was fear. No, he didn't just freeze up or whatever, see the movie, I think it provides good reasons why the sarge is as f***** up as he is.

Anyway Joe Dallesandros' character even has a black sense of humour which I can see probably alot of Defence force vets having, but the sarge is also overwhelmingly defensive about everything in his past. And please, if an ex army guy/girl etc reads this, please don't say you.ve never had live rounds fired at you during training, even 'accidentally'.

Maybe that's why the movie wasn't that successful, because it's TOO realistic. There's a sub plot about high ranking (At Colonel level anyway) armaments deals between the US military and organised crime. Now how realistic is that? (I won't mention the guns for hostages scandal during the Reagan administration. Oh, OK I did)

Anyway, I think everyone seeks redemption for something wrong they've done and so does the sarge, he just seeks his redemption, well check the movie out because there's a bit of Vince Rayker in us all.

People are writing that the movie is believable/unbelievable, cool/not cool, retro/not retro (ie 1970s' era trashy martial arts.) like/not like QTs other films. If I hadn't seen the film, I wouldn't have a clue how to take it from these comments.

But I have and it is ART. The characters are not realistic, (Oren is completely mythological - but I love her )The words these characters say do not reflect reality. The dialogue is almost like poetry. Real gangsters would not take the time to say delicate things like "Tricks are for - kids".

The music and the photography are lovely and extremely powerful. Please see it as I recommend it strongly.

Seems this movie had a very low budget hence the reason it looks like it was filmed in someones' garage. I loved the looks of the younger Angelina Jolie - I'd never have known if I hadn't seen this!!!!!!!!

Michael Shroeder also included (about 5 seconds)footage of Van Damme and Dayle Haddon from the original 'Cyborg' which was a nice touch. It's a bit of honesty on his part as well I think, because Shroeder is acknowledging the pre existing story line. Not that this matters at all.

Jack Palance is the highlight though because of the way he says his lines - it is hilarious. No one ever speaks that way, (even though he's not a human character) but it sounds so cool. Even Angelina Jolie smiles at some of Palances' lines (Ie: The scene in the lab with the 'cyborg monkey'.)

Good as a diversion - nothing more. Thinking more about it, it's one of the few movies I've seen where the actors seemed to be having a fun time with the 'out there' script and plot.