Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		4.0

Eye of the Tiger Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 23, 2021

Not really cut out for roles that require a great deal of warmth and gentleness, actor Gary Busey goes full exploitation for 1986’s “Eye of the Tiger.” The screenplay (by Michael Thomas Montgomery) plays to the performer’s strengths, tasking him to play a hardened man whose hunt for some type of domestic heaven is destroyed by the deadly ways of a local biker gang that controls the town. Director Richard C. Sarafian (who worked with Busey in 1984’s “The Bear”) doesn’t pretend he’s makes a Shakespeare adaptation with the endeavor, diving into merciless violence and heated confrontations, while the material adds a few fantasy touches to make the whole thing wonderfully absurd. “Eye of the Tiger” is slight but entertaining, with Busey offering a steely turn that helps the feature reach its potential as bottom shelf escapism with noticeable hustle and plenty of angry encounters.

Newly released from prison, Buck (Gary Busey) is eager to return to the life he was pulled away from in the small town of River City. Reuniting with his daughter, Jennifer (Judith Barsi), and wife, Christie (Denise Galik), Buck is ready to get back to normal, accepting a construction job and settling into his new routine. Interrupting normalcy is the Sheriff (Seymour Cassel), who has a longstanding grudge against Buck, with deputy J.B. (a charming Yaphet Kotto) looking to secretly reconnect with his paroled pal. Buck’s sense of justice is tested when he breaks up a potential sexual assault on a local nurse, committed by members of a biker gang led by Blade (William Smith, but of course). Drug dealers and all-around creeps, the gang rules River City, keeping the residents in line with threats of violence. When Buck breaks that understanding, Blade declares war on the new neighbor, hitting him where it hurts the most, inspiring the return of old habits within Buck, who decides to take on the gang by himself.

It’s a strange production choice to title the picture “Eye of the Tiger,” taking inspiration from a song that’s synonymous with “Rocky III.” Perhaps the production was hoping to siphon a little energy from the tune’s legacy as one of the all-time great rock anthems of the 1980s, but fandom doesn’t stop there. The film actually uses the song at three points during the feature, aggressively trying to give “Eye of the Tiger” a fist-pumping presence befitting Buck’s mission to shut down Blade and his goons, who’ve pushed the reformed man too far.

“Eye of the Tiger” isn’t particularly original, but it has momentum, tracking Buck’s reunion with River City, which provides him with family time again after time away in prison. He made a friend in Jamie (Jorge Gil), a connected criminal who was spared death by his cellmate, and he’s back together with Christie, his long-suffering spouse who’s happy to have her husband in a happier place. The set-up welcomes disaster, and “Eye of the Tiger” soon provides a horror show for Buck, whose heroism when saving a young woman from an awful fate is rewarded with retaliation from Blade, who leaves Jennifer in a state of shock after destroying Buck’s home. It’s exploitation formula, but Sarafian makes it work here, keeping Buck a reserved man trying to swallow his rage, while Blade is a broader villain, working with Smith’s limitations as an actor.

The picture eventually gets violent, with Buck kicking off a battle of escalation by beheading Blade’s brother with a steel cable, leaving the speeding monster in two pieces on the street. It’s a shocking offering of revenge, giving “Eye of the Tiger” a bit more potency when it comes to threats, as Buck is quite capable of savage acts to push Blade into action. There’s also a subplot concerning the gang’s connection to the Sheriff, with the lawman a corrupt boob taking a cut of Blade’s drug money, also nursing a deep hatred for Buck and his past as a Vietnam vet. Cassel can play a lot of things, but a screwy lawman isn’t one of them, triggering unintentional laughs as the character succumbs to frustration, unable to hold Buck back as he threatens to destroy a profitable operation.

“Eye of the Tiger” offers a harsh reality for Buck, but the screenplay doesn’t pursue realism. It’s more invested in a dance of death between the gang and the local, reaching a level of ludicrousness when Buck is gifted an armored supertruck, allowing him to take the suburban tank into battle. It plays into the hero vehicle trend of the era, but it’s mostly a weaponized Dodge Ram, creating some lively scenes of warfare as Buck uses the present to even the score. The character’s appreciation for pressure points is vividly detailed as well, electing to insert a stick of dynamite into the rear-end of a hospital bed-bound member of the gang, offering a distinct threat of exploding violence if vital information isn’t immediately surrendered. It’s a wild scene. “Eye of the Tiger” also supplies some dramatic power, watching as Buck tries to encourage a community revolt inside a bingo hall, only to have the locals respectfully pause the game to hear the man out, going right back to their daubers when he’s finished. It’s a nice twist on the Big Speech finale.

Eye of the Tiger Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as a "New HD master from a 2K scan of the interpositive." "Eye of the Tiger" provides a film-like appearance with nicely resolved grain, and detail is compelling, capturing the rough skin surfaces of the actors. Small town and desert distances retain dimension. Interiors offers clear decoration, and costuming is passably fibrous. Colors emerge with refreshed potency, securing primaries on community signage and clothing choices, while J.B.'s airplane is vividly red. Warmer exteriors register as intended, and skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in good condition, but some wear and tear is detected, resulting in light scratches.

Eye of the Tiger Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix delivers a clear understanding of dialogue exchanges, securing performance choices. The listening experience offers a wider level of engagement, with roaring motorcycles and small-town confrontations. Sound effects are distinct. Scoring cues are sharp, and soundtracks selections, including funk from James Brown and multiple uses of "Eye of the Tiger," are crisp, with a heavier beat.

Eye of the Tiger Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:15, HD) is included.

Eye of the Tiger Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Eye of the Tiger" offers interesting stunts and tough situations for most of its run time, saving a bigger bang for the grand finale, which involves swarming motorcycles, the supertruck, and death from above in J.B.'s airplane. For what appears to be a film made with limited funds, the final act gets impressively big, offering a satisfying payoff after delivering ugly acts of revenge. "Eye of the Tiger" works for what it is, which is a small miracle when dealing with B-movies. Sarafian keeps things editorially and tonally tight, and Busey stays posed in the lead role, capturing an icy level of anger as Buck decides to do something about trouble in River City.