You won't be disappointed!

How sad is this?

Admirable film.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Colonel Jason Rhodes (Gene Hackman) is one of many worried Americans who've received notice that a loved one of theirs is listed as still Missing in Action after the Vietnam War. In Jasons' case, it's his brave son Frank (Todd Allen), who wouldn't leave a wounded comrade behind. Many years later, Jason is determined to find out the fate of his son, and other American soldiers. So he gathers together the rather motley crew that were his sons' comrades: Wilkes (Fred Ward), Blaster (Reb Brown), Sailor (Randall "Tex" Cobb), Johnson (Harold Sylvester), and Charts (Tim Thomerson). Funding their recon and rescue mission is oil man MacGregor (Robert Stack), and joining them will be young Kevin Scott (Patrick Swayze), a soldier as yet untested in combat.Some people may see this as being manipulative, but this viewer saw it as an appealing, well meaning fantasy-action picture. It's all too easy to sympathize with people like Jason, and to want this offbeat team to succeed. A fair amount of the running time is devoted to their preparation in America, where a reproduction of the prison camp (where Frank is supposedly being held) has been built. The veterans don't have to worry about not getting along, because they've been through this all before, but they have to learn to put their faith in Kevin, just as he needs to learn that, for any expertise he may have, they have the experience that he doesn't.Technically well made, with fine location work throughout and generally competent set pieces. Lots of things blow up good; while there is a fair amount of violence, there's not enough gore to turn off more squeamish members of the audience. The climactic raid on the prison camp in Laos is reasonably exciting, with a pleasingly high body count.The performances are the main attraction of the movie. Hackman is under-stated and excellent, and gets fine chemistry going with his co-stars, who are pretty convincing as old war buddies. Cobb has the most colourful role in the picture as a man who was a trouble making brawler as a civilian, but who is loyal to the core. Viewers are sure to dig his "dance moves". In addition to those actors mentioned, there's a number of familiar names in the supporting cast: Gail Strickland, Jane Kaczmarek, Constance Forslund, Charles Aidman, Jeremy Kemp, Michael Dudikoff, Barret Oliver, and Juan Fernandez."Uncommon Valor" is directed and executive produced by Ted Kotcheff, who of course had previously done "First Blood". The stirring music score is by James Horner, John Milius was one of the producers, and actor Wings Hauser was one of the associate producers.Seven out of 10.

Ted Kotcheff directed this exciting adventure film that stars Gene Hackman as Marine Col. Jason Rhodes, who has become frustrated with his own(U.S.) governments refusal to launch a rescue mission into Vietnam to rescue P.O.W.s he believes are still there, including his own son. He is approached by a rich businessman named McGregor(played by Robert Stack) who agrees to finance his own rescue mission which he wants Rhodes to command, since he too has a son who is a P.O.W. Rhodes then recruits some marines(now civilians) to help him on the mission(played by Patrick Swayze, Tim Thomerson, Randal 'Tex' Cobb, Fred Ward, & Reb Brown) First they must train and prepare, then launch the rescue mission, which is quite dangerous for many reasons... Rousing film with a good cast and interesting premise(which would be re-used many times later!) A bit far-fetched perhaps, but good fun.

Comments:In my opinion, this is an excellent movie, primarily because it shows the camaraderie and exactly why such teams are so close knit. The scenes in Thailand (Laos) are excellent. Very reminiscent of the back country anywhere in South East Asia. The cast was well selected and worked very well together. I particularly enjoy the part where Sailor is asked about his money, as there are many, manydistractions in places like Saigon, Phnom Penh and Bangkok, as any veteran can tell you...LOLCorrections: Gene Hackman plays the part of a Marine Colonel, not an Army Colonel.In many Armies, a Full Colonel is considered equivalent to a General. Meaning that a civilian calling a Colonel a General may be a mistake and may not.For example, in the Thai Army & Air Force, there are Colonels and there are Senior Colonels. The Senior Colonel is considered the equivalent of a General 'select', but may hold that position for years until there is an opening. To treat him as less than a General would be an affront of great magnitude...

Uncommon Valor stars Gene Hackman as a retired US Army Colonel who still wants an accounting of his son who was listed as Missing In Action when the Vietnam War ended in 1973. Rumors on rumors pile up as to whether we still have men kept as prisoners of war from the late conflict in Southeast Asia. Hackman thinks he has a lead and he goes to multi-millionaire Robert Stack who also has an MIA son with a plan of action that involves leading some veterans as a volunteer mercenary force to get their comrades out.I'll say the same thing I said about Rambo II which touched on the same subject. Does it make any kind of rational sense that the Vietnamese or in this case the men are being held in Laos would keep prisoners of war after the conflict has ended? My guess is, sad to say that prisoners that we could not account for being held by the enemy at the conclusion of the war would probably have been just simply murdered. But the idea that we could go back and win one in the extra innings of war certainly had appeal which accounts for the popularity of Uncommon Valor and Rambo II. At least Gene Hackman was not going to do it singlehanded the way Sly Stallone did.Bearing all that in mind, Uncommon Valor is a nice action war film if taken on its own terms. The men that Hackman selects, all veterans from the conflict, Randall Cobb, Fred Ward, Tim Thomerson, Reb Brown, and Harold Sylvester are all professionals. The film never goes down to the rollicking and somewhat dopey hijinks of the A-Team. They have one youngster on the mission, a young Patrick Swayze on the cusp of stardom. He's there to rescue his father if possible.The cast has a nice chemical camaraderie to it. Uncommon Valor is a decent enough action film, not to be taken too terribly serious.