6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In this martial-arts actioner, a pugnacious, taciturn Vietnam vet begins working for an honest casino owner to help keep the evil gangsters at bay.
Starring: Chuck Norris, Mary Louise Weller, Michael Cavanaugh, David Opatoshu, Frank Michael LiuMartial arts | 100% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
After a career push to turn him into a drive-in theater hero in the late 1970s, Chuck Norris enters the 1980s with greater focus on conquering multiplexes and international audiences. Building on the mild success of 1980’s “The Octagon” and 1981’s “An Eye for an Eye,” Norris smashes into 1982 with two pictures, with “Forced Vengeance” following “Silent Rage,” giving the martial arts star a chance to show his stuff in the more exotic location of Hong Kong. The villains are up to no good (the heroes also act questionably) when it comes to collecting rival casinos, and it’s up to one man out to protect his loved ones from direct threats. Co-writer/director James Fargo (“Voyage of the Rock Aliens,” “Every Which Way but Loose,” “The Enforcer”) doesn’t get ambitious with “Forced Vengeance,” keeping the effort down to the basics in Norris-style entertainment, putting the lead in a series of action poses as his character seeks to deliver acts of intimidation before offerings of butt-kickery. There’s no significant creative challenge presented here, and not all of Fargo’s ideas are acceptable, but there’s a welcome simplicity to the endeavor that keeps it compelling. And Norris is alert here, providing hearty showdowns and hostile retorts, doing his one-man-army routine with some level of enthusiasm.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as a "New 2023 2K scan from the interpositive." "Forced Vengeance" remains appealing during the viewing experience, offering a decent sense of skin particulars on the cast, who range in age. Costuming is also fibrous, exploring formal wear and casual dress as the action heats up. Hong Kong locations are pleasingly dimensional, with city depths. Interiors preserve decorative additions, especially during casino sequences. Colors are intact, offering a brighter sense of primaries on neon signage, which carries deep reds. Tighter hues on clothing are welcome, including the greenness of Josh's military uniform. Tuxedo black and white is sharp. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is capably resolved. Source is in good condition.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers a basic sense of action for "Forced Vengeance," finding scoring cues retaining dramatic emphasis with decent orchestral support and the occasional synth sting. Dialogue exchanges are clear, securing dramatic intent from most of the cast, and goon grunts are preserved. Sound effects are basic but appreciable as the action works with gunfire and body blows.
"Forced Vengeance" certainly resembles a picture that was reworked in post-production, as editing is generally rough, showing little care when whittling down subplots and character importance. Narration is used to patch holes, providing Josh's inner-monologue, which becomes quite silly at times (thoughts on Hong Kong's future handover to China in the final minute of the feature is bizarre), watching the production scramble to keep the film in some sense of order after heavy cuts were likely made. Still, erratic storytelling doesn't deflate the viewing experience, which remains inviting thanks to Norris and his steely screen presence. He keeps "Forced Vengeance" engaging and rough, doing what he does best to make sure the endeavor stays bruising as Josh fights for love, family, and the protection of his hat collection.
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