brilliant actors, brilliant editing

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

I can't be 100% sure, but I may have been part of the $5 million gross when Megaforce was released in 1982. It seems like something I would have been standing in line to see. I'm sure I didn't care for it with the horrible plot, ridiculously silly futuristic vehicles, and lame attempts at comedy. Now, however, I find it terribly entertaining. It's filled with more 80s cheesy goodness than one movie should have a right to.Megaforce stars Barry Bostwick as Commander Ace Hunter, the leader of a quick deployment special force. He is a total hoot throughout the film and looks like he's having a blast. He's in on the joke - none of this is to be taken seriously. And how could you take Hunter seriously with perfect blown dried hair and an outfit that looks like he's headed to an Olivia Newton John video shoot. His jokes and one-liners are grown-worthy, but in a good way. He's the most non-military commander put on film. Bostwisk is joined by the scene-chewing Edward Mulhare and Persis Khambatta and Michael Beck, neither of whom seem to realize this thing is a mess and play it straight. Finally, the main cast is rounded out by one of my favs, Henry Silva. He looks like he's having a lot of fun playing the crazed Duke Guerera. I admit that the first 30 minutes or so can be a bit dry. There's a lot of talking about stuff that doesn't make sense and that no one really cares about. We're here for the futuristic military vehicles (dune buggies and motorcycles with a cheap fiberglass overlay), the explosions (and there are plenty of those), and the laughable special effects (the flying motorcycle must be seen to be believed - one of the most ludicrous looking things I've ever seen). This is what makes Megaforce so much fun. I know that a movie like Megaforce isn't for everyone. I'm not ever sure I enjoy the way director Hal Needham of Smokey and the Bandit fame intended. But enjoy it I do. A 7/10 from me.

Plot; A top secret, multi-national strike force is summoned to defend a small nation from invasion by its aggressive neighbor.Debuting the same year as Hasbro's re-launched G.I. Joe (now dubbed A Real American Hero), Megaforce certainly seemed poised to be a smash hit. It was heavily advertised in comic books, offering kids a chance to join Megaforce via a mail-in fan club promotion (see above), there was a line of Hot Wheels (toy company Mattel is even credited with designing the movie's costumes) and even a game for the Atari 2600. But it was eviscerated by critics and only grossed around $5 million against a budget of $20 million. It was soon relegated to the wastelands of cable TV, where it became a staple for my generation.Directed by Hal Needham (Smokey and the Bandit, Rad), Megaforce looks and feels very much what a live-action G.I. Joe film would have had it been made during that era. Given its timing and the sort of appeal that would seemingly have snagged dads and sons, it's a bit head scratching that it was such a massive flop (and subsequently no surprise that it found a second life on cable). To be sure it's not a film for the lactose intolerant, but if you're one who appreciates the era, the genre and their trappings, it's a helluva lot of fun.

Megaforce is a bad movie, at least in my opinion, but it is a movie that has some entertainment value. The film does look cheap, the cinematography and editing are dull and rushed and the costumes and sets are gaudy but what really cheapened the film were the weak special effects. The script is incredibly cheesy in too many places to count and the story is mostly very thin. The direction is pretty wretched, and then there are some stock characters and some really bad acting including from the (I think) talented Barry Bostwick. If talking seriously, if there was anything I liked about Megaforce it was some of the soundtrack which was quite catchy if very 80s. Overall though, it is a bad movie. 2/10 Bethany Cox

Great B flick for it's time! Fun for the whole family from 2-82. Keeps you laughing! Barry Bostwick and Michael Beck play very well off of each other. Barry Bostwick has always been good with comedy. Michael Beck should have done more comedy roles. Sometimes the comedy gets a little bit cornie but again it fits in for the time that it was made. Their uniforms and bleached hair was very sexy.The graphics and stunts are almost believable...Better than the Last Starfighter! Right up there with War Games!Loved it!!!