Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

A Force of One Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 22, 2022

Paul Aaron's "A Force of One" (1979) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary by the director; exclusive new audio commentary by critics Brandon Bentley and Mike Leeder; archival documentary on the making of the film; and vintage promotional materials. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Years ago, Paul Aaron’s A Force of One was frequently paired with Eric Karson’s The Octagon, so if you see and enjoy one of these films, there is an excellent chance that you will have the same experience with the other.

In Los Angeles, two narcotics detectives are killed on the job by a martial arts specialist. Shortly after, Inspector Dunne (Clu Gulager) reaches out to local karate champion Matt Logan (Chuck Norris) with a request for help. Logan uses his connections to assemble a list of potential suspects and agrees to train the rest of Dunne’s detectives so that they can protect themselves.

While working with the police, Logan befriends detective Mandy Rust (Jennifer O’Neill), a beautiful workaholic, who suspects that one of her partners (Ron O’Neal) could be compromised. As the investigation intensifies, the martial arts specialist strikes again, and then Logan’s son (Eric Laneuville) accidentally makes an important discovery that costs him his life. Consumed by anger, Logan vows to track down the elusive martial arts specialist and then destroy him and the people he is working for.

Norris apparently liked A Force of One quite a bit more than Good Guys Wear Black, but even though these films have a lot of action they work well for different reasons. Also, both are better than The Octagon.

First, it is not difficult to understand why Norris preferred A Force of One because this film is a straightforward action thriller that allows him to be in his element and do it while looking very good. However, in A Force of One ‘looking good’ is a combination of looking a bit like a fish out of water while in the company of the beautiful detective and her coworkers and looking like a genuine karate champion inside the ring. In other words, the screenplay effectively transforms Norris into a much more flexible actor than he was at the time. In Good Guys Wear Black, Norris must undergo a different type of transformation, which demands that he always looks right in the middle of the paranoia that flourishes in it. As a result, the personalities and especially the ways in which Norris’ characters rationalize events in the two films became different as well.

Second, the action choreography in A Force of One allows Norris to shine in all the right ways as well. There is very little peripheral and zero group action here. What this means is that when there are fireworks the camera is focused on Norris, and more importantly, he leads. For example, when Norris fights Billy Wallace some very particular tricks are done to get the right angles and create the impression that the former has even the camera engaged and receiving his kicks and hits. In Good Guys Wear Black there isn’t a single sequence where the camera is in the action; it is always positioned to observe the action and Norris’ participation.

Interestingly, despite the camera tricks A Force of One remains grounded in reality, and this is why it looks legit. Does it overemphasize some of the action footage? Of course, this is precisely what the slow-motion shots are doing, but Norris and Wallace’s athleticism is undeniable and all of the material with them looks authentic. It is just presented with a bit of polish work that feels right.

A Force of One was the first film Roger Shearman hired to lense. Later on, he worked with Norris on An Eye for an Eye and Lone Wolf McQuade.

*A Force of One and The Octagon have been newly restored in 2K. Both films are now available on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

A Force of One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, A Force of One arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release is sourced from a very good, exclusive new 2K master. There are two areas where additional improvements are possible. First, density levels can be superior. There are native density fluctuations that are introduced by the cinematography, but this is something entirely different. A higher resolution scan would have strengthened the grain structure of the visuals and by default tightened up their appearance as well. Second, digital tools could have been used to remove some of the small surface imperfections that have been retained, such as minor nicks and blemishes. The rest looks very good. Despite the previously mentioned fluctuations, delineation, clarity, and depth are very good. Color balance is convincing as well. All primaries look nicely saturated and very healthy, while the equally healthy supporting nuances are nicely balanced. I even like the dynamic range of the visuals, though in native 4K the expanded color gamut will undoubtedly produce a richer and more attractive range of colors. Image stability is very good. Finally, there are no traces of problematic digital corrections. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

A Force of One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The dialog is clear and easy to follow. However, I feel that the original audio needs a comprehensive remastering job because there are quite a few areas with obvious dynamic unevenness that does not appear to be entirely inherited. These are minor fluctuations that will not impact your viewing experience, but if you have the volume of your system turned up enough so that you can hear clearly absolutely everything that is being said, it is guaranteed that you will notice their presence. Dynamic intensity, including all the dynamic contrasts it produces, is good, but the original monaural soundtrack clearly has a fair number of limitations.

A Force of One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for A Force of One. Remastered. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• TV Spots - presented here are a couple of vintage TV spots for A Force of One. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Radio Spots - presented here is a couple of vintage U.S. radio spots for A Force of One. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• The Octagon/A Force of One TV spot - a vintage double bill TV spot. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• The Making of A Force of One - this archival program examines the conception, production, and promotional campaign of A Force of One. Included in it are clips from interviews with the president of American Cinema Alan Belkin, director Paul Aaron, head of production Jean Higgins, Clu Gulager, head of advertising and publicity Sandra Shaw, and head of distribution David Miller. There are some very interesting comments about the ending of A Force of One which the MPAA disliked so much that it threatened to give the film an X rating, and the sound changes that ultimately made it even more intense. Also, composer Dick Halligan has some curious observations about the structure of the soundtrack that was created for the film. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Commentary One - a very good archival audio commentary recorded by director Paul Aaron. Some of the more interesting comments in the commentary address the original version of the screenplay for A Force of One and the various particular changes that were made, Chuck and brother Aaron Norris' action choreography (and specifically the camera positioning during the fights), and the intensity and realism of the fights. Also, toward the end of the commentary, there are quite hilarious comments about the reactions of the audience after the murder of Norris' son.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Brandon Bentley and Mike Leeder.

A Force of One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Many years ago, A Force of One was the very first Chuck Norris film I purchased on VHS to add to my collection. Later on, I even purchased a West German VHS release because it had some publicity materials on it and came with the unique title The Bulldozer. Ted Post was supposed to direct A Force of One but backed out of it. However, I think that with Paul Aaron behind the camera it turned out just as well as Good Guys Wear Black. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from a very solid new 2K master. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.