Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The Delta Force Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 12, 2020

In the mid-1980s, Cannon Films struck gold with “Missing in Action,” hiring Chuck Norris to topline a broad study of American military heroism behind enemy lines. Producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus were quick to exploit the Norris-y vibe for additional productions, delivering “Invasion U.S.A.” and a “Missing in Action” prequel, eventually going all-in on 1986’s “The Delta Force,” pairing the action star with 62-year-old Lee Marvin for a semi-disaster picture spotlighting an attempt to rescue hostages from a hijacked airplane. Although inspired by real events, “The Delta Force” is really a cartoon from Golan, who takes directorial duties (also co-writing the script with James Bruner), striving to merge Middle Eastern pressure points with a rah-rah tale of an American-led takedown of bad guys, and, at 129 minutes in length, he truly takes his time to get to the good stuff.

A 747 is about to leave from Athens, traveling to Rome and New York City with excited passengers ready to return to their lives after taking business trips and vacations. Standing in the way of peace is Lebanese terrorist Abdul (Robert Forster), a madman with a gun and grenade threatening to destroy everyone onboard the plane unless his demands are met. Called into action is the Delta Force, an American special forces group led by Major Scott (Chuck Norris) and Colonel Nick (Lee Marvin). Tasked with rescuing the hostages, the Delta Force works carefully around Abdul and his soldiers, with the enemy carrying out a larger plan of power, taking the fight to Beirut.

Golan isn’t strictly making an action film with “The Delta Force,” despite the picture being sold as one. It’s more of an Irwin Allen production, with the director loading the cast with a wide range of character actors, including George Kennedy, Lanie Kazan, Bo Svenson, Shelley Winters, and Martin Balsam. There are a lot of personalities to manage in the effort, but the central thrust of threat is distinct, with Abdul taking over the 747, menacing the mass of people before separating them by religion, taking special care to terrorize Jewish passengers. Golan loves a despicable Arab villain, and he gets one here, with Forster getting away from stereotype to do something different with the role, offering a solid performance. The production also seeks to distance itself from expectation, with might of the Delta Force used sparingly, giving the endeavor over to conversations about military engagement, planning, and terrorist orders. “The Delta Force” isn’t raging entertainment, electing for a more dramatic tone as Abdul’s plans transition from the plane to a Beirut compound, giving the U.S. heroes a chance to strike.

For additional analysis, please read the 2012 Blu-ray review by Michael Reuben.

The Delta Force Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"The Delta Force" originally made its Blu-ray debut in 2012, but Scorpion Releasing returns to the well with a "Brand new 2K scan from the original I.P." The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation aims for a more natural looking viewing experience than the previous disc, delivering healthy hues on decorative elements inside the plane, which surveys bright reds and crisp whites. Militaristic looks maintain greens and blues. Exteriors deliver satisfactory greenery and desert locations. Skintones are reasonably natural, pushing a little too red at times. Detail is a tad soft, but emerges with the sweaty, dirty particulars of the cast. Stone prisons and steel planes retain texture, as does the varied costuming found in the movie. Exteriors preserve distances, getting a sense of community movement and stunt work. Delineation is comfortable. Source is in strong shape, with some mild speckling and a few chemical blemishes detected.

The Delta Force Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix delivers an engaging listening event for "The Delta Force," which enjoys a forceful level of scoring, finding heroic themes supporting the action with satisfactory instrumentation and position. Dialogue exchanges are distinct, even while dealing with argumentative behavior and shouting, never dipping into distortion. Sound effects are appealingly loud, offering rocket blasts and gunfire with authority. Atmospherics for crowd excitement and community movement are appreciable.

The Delta Force Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interviews (37:35, HD) are outtakes from director Mark Hartley's documentary, "Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films." First up is actor Robert Forster (who sadly passed away last year), and he recounts his early awareness of Cannon Films during his visits to the Cannes Film Festival, amazed by the ability of Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus to create a scene with their roster of movies, soon learning the financial game they were playing with pre-sales. Taking a chance, Forster tried to follow their lead with his own picture, "Hollywood Harry," only to fall short of expectations, with the feature later purchased by Cannon for dubious reasons. For "The Delta Force," Forster was committed to character authenticity, embracing the shoot in Israel, also impressed with Golan's directorial commitment, trying to keep things moving as fast as possible. Alain Jakubowicz is a longtime Cannon editor, and he shares his impression of the company's business ways and the differences between Golan and Globus. The interviewee delves into the initial cut of "The Delta Force," which was 3 ½ hours long, highlighting political matters instead of action instincts. Jakubowicz recalls Golan's creative approach to productions, and examines his own reputation after leaving Cannon, with Hollywood wary of hiring him. Golan's assistant Sharon Kahn explores how she acquired the job, discussing employment possibilities with her future boss on a plane. She analyzes Cannon's strange business practices, but celebrates Golan's "cheerful energy," also considering their reputation in Hollywood, with studios unsure what to do with Cannon. Kahn was there inside the plane during the making of "The Delta Force," dealing with summer heat, limited air conditioning, and thinning cast patience. The interviewee also details her time in Israel, and offers a celebration of Cannon's lasting legacy.

• Interview (11:50, HD) with screenwriter James Bruner explores his "film school" experience with Cannon Films, previously working on "Invasion U.S.A." and "Missing in Action." Offered only the idea and the possible pairing of Charles Bronson and Chuck Norris to work with, Bruner quickly banged out a screenplay for "The Delta Force," packing the writing with enough material to support a miniseries, with the initial cut coming in at five hours in length. Bruner's experience with Lee Marvin is recalled, finding the actor struggling with health issues, requesting a pass on the heavy action scenes. Other casting achievements are celebrated. For Bruner, sequel plans slipped out of his hands, but the release of "The Delta Force" was highly successful, even inspiring the creation of a toy line that never made it past the prototype stage.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:48, HD) is included.

The Delta Force Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As mentioned in the supplements on this disc, "The Delta Force" was aiming to be a political picture at first, cut down to an actioner during the editing process. Such thinking shows throughout the feature, which aims to explore Middle East tensions, only to have such focus wiped away by "Megaforce"-y activity featuring motorcycles that shoot rockets. The climax is strong, offering Norris fans the mayhem they deserve, and Golan is happy to crank up the jingoism, celebrating American brawn with glee. "The Delta Force" isn't a propulsive movie, but it does spike well enough on occasions, and the cast supports with confidence, providing leathered performances to help sell panic and gun-blasting courage. The film does the trick, but it takes time to hit genre sweet spots.