Expected more

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

I must be honest here. Forced Vengeance is one of the most idiotic and amateurish pieces of crap I've seen, back in the day where Chuckie sported a moustache and had red hair. He plays an orphaned brother, extracting revenge on the people responsible for killing his foster brother and Dad, who were running this great casino business, but these evil developers had put the squeeze on em'. While small Daddy, defied the baddies after rejecting their proposal, he and son (who was for it) paid the ultimate price. Some people are just plain stubborn. I guess it's a matter of principal. If you want loads of action, you'll get it here. If you want logic, go somewhere else. Of course, as always, Chuck's close friend, a ex vet buddy is killed. When his beautiful girlfriend is raped and killed, now the real vengeance begins, that Chuckies sends forth, and we love it. The film has a very amateurish and slapdash script, as if the dialogue came as the movie went along, some moments of it, become unintentionally funny. Main reason- absurd dialogue. Here's a stupid line for ya, as I feel I must tell you. This is just after father Pascal, has told baddie, Ramondi to go jump. This is Ramondi's reactive dialogue. "I know, but expand or die, that's (something else... "). Oh, and the acting, don't even get me started on the acting. This is like Chuck isn't even acting. This is like a just do it as you go, not even half baked flick. I did love Chucks's line where he put a homosexual mate of one the baddies into some heating contraption. "Sleep tight, sweet cheeks. You could of been a toasted marshmellow." It's great, seeing Chuckie, galavanting all over San Francisco, on the kill, readily disposing of scum, with a non repentence, much like a robot, and that's what he is. He hardly shows any range of emotions, if any, and this could well be one of the worst performances of his life, in one of the worst films he's ever done. Truly, FV, is one the most amateurish, unprofessional flicks, I've ever seen, all the way, which is a shame, given the beautiful surrounds this flick is shot. It's sloppy wrapped up ending, is just another laugh of unbelief. True to life words, have Chuckie saying to that gay badman. "Bravest man I knew was a homosexual"

"Forced Vengeance" is lesser Chuck Norris from this period, but even lesser Chuck Norris does assure us a reasonable amount of ass kicking. Chuck plays Josh Randall, a security chief at a Hong Kong casino that was the baby of a man named Sam Paschal (David Opatoshu). Trouble brews when Sam's foolish son David (Frank Michael Liu) gets mixed up with a mobster named Raimondi (Michael Cavanaugh), and of course the mobster is the kind of guy who can't stand hearing the word "no". When Sam and David are rubbed out, Josh swears vengeance, taking it on the lam until the big final confrontation. We have to give director James Fargo some credit, as he knows well what the standout scene in this movie is, a fight with a sea of neon as the backdrop while Chuck and foe are in silhouette. This is very striking, and we see it not once but twice, as it plays out under some of the opening credits. Would that the rest of the movie were that stylish. It's basically standard stuff, and its major problem is that it feels awkward at times, in some of the fights and especially when it goes for levity. (At least we know some of the humour is intentional, especially in one fine moment that may remind the viewer of the "shooting the swordsman" gag in "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Chuck's narration and dialogue are sometimes priceless; here's one gem that may have one thunderstruck: "Sweet cheeks, you could have been a toasted marshmallow." as Chuck refers to a person he'd threatened to set aflame in order to get another to talk. (It *is* cool that he displays such a sense of ruthlessness.) Some of the climactic action gets hilariously repetitive, as in order to find out who's *really* behind everything (even Raimondi is answering to someone higher), he interviews one criminal lowlife who inevitably refers him to somebody else. The cast is variable; some of them are pretty nondescript, but others do well, especially old pro Opatoshu. Cavanaugh is also good as the villain (he actually has the upper hand for a while in his fight with Chuck), Mary Louise Weller ("Animal House") and Camila Griggs supply some nice eye candy, and Bob Minor is quite likable as Chuck's friend. In any event, one can't write off any movie in which the head honcho is fond of Tom & Jerry cartoons and in which inspired use is made of a toilet. Chuck is in fine form as always, and it remains a good time to watch him taking on all comers. While this isn't among his best, it's certainly not his worst, either. Six out of 10.

Chuck Norris' films aren't things you call masterpieces, but more often they're fun and deliver good rollicking action. James Frago's "Forced Vengeance" (who directed Eastwood in "The Enforcer") is no exception to the trend, and is a raw, full-blooded Norris' chop-suey extravaganza. No surprises here, as it's basic (and campy) revenge on mind for Norris. The simple set-up is made up of expertly-executed martial arts set-pieces that are spontaneously well-timed and judged. It can be welcomely brutal and rough, but quite unintentionally obtuse. The opening silhouette stash in front of a neon sign was a neat touch, and William Goldstein's (no not Goldsmith) exhilaratingly flighty score takes shape. There's something about his early films, I found to be more enticing than a lot of his latter, popular mainstream efforts. Sure they might not be as well organised or impressionable as his well-known flicks but this different kettle has certain sincereness about them. The gritty action takes place in Hong Kong, and it's vividly projected with the exotically moody setting and street life being expansively brought to life. Director James Frago does a serviceable job. As I mentioned earlier the premise doesn't break any new ground, and is rather slight. It's a dog eat dog world, and Norris is on the underdog side and takes on the corrupt. Norris even gets his chance to provide another deeply thoughtful narration (ala The Octagon) that I found humorously pointless. Before he goes on his forced rampage (Chuck style!), he goes about collecting information, so when he gets down to business he takes out the right men. But another unsavoury reason comes into play, and this releases the fury waiting to explode, as it does push the motivation for vengeance behind Chuck's character even more. Watch out, as now you're going to get an ass-kicking! The staggering script is filled with constant corn, and Norris' delivers the majority of it. However his sly remarks actually satisfy and it just wouldn't be the same without them. As for the performances, well it's expected that we get something wooden within the acting range. Chuck Norris geared up in his cowboy hat, and suit with those boyish looks is stoic as usual. But that in mind, he knows his element and has a durably raw appeal that makes him utterly watchable. Mary Louise Weller is perfect as Norris love interest, and Bob Minor provides wonderful support as an ex-army buddy. Michael Cavanaugh makes for a fine sinister bad guy, and has a terrific boat-top confrontation with Norris. Watch it for a good, relaxing time of utter beat-ups and laughs. This is one I'll never tire of, especially Norris fans.

I saw this movie on TV a LOOONG time ago, and the other day I just kept thinking of this Chuck Norris flick where there was a fight scene where it was nothing but silhouettes in a neon light background on a staircase. After flipping through my uncle's VHS collection, I find this! You gotta love the old Chuck Norris flicks; he was what Steven Segal and Van Damme were in the 90s in the 70s and 80s. We see a 'Godfather-type' theme here, it gives for a decent plot for a bare bones martial arts action movie...and Chuck Norris delivers. It's a shame what he's become, because he was just RAW! An all around enjoyable old school action film. Anyone looking for anything else that what's being presented here is just misguided. *** out of **** stars.