Audience Member
When it comes to action films from Cannon Pictures you pretty much know what you're going to get... lots of bullets flying, some explosions, a hard nosed hero type, and if you're lucky, some sultry sexy moments as well. Chain of Command is no different. Michael Dudikoff is your "hero", Keren Tishman is your sulty sexy, and all the while there are bullets flying by, machine guns going off, and the occasional explosion. It also has Todd Curtis as the bad guy with one narly hairdoo. Where the film tends to fall apart is in the really poorly thought out story. A thriller/mystery which involves spies, the CIA, corporate conspiracies, global energy markets, international relations, arab stereotypes, oil, and owning countries, is so off the wall nutso, that it's unbelievable in its scope. The viewer just can't relate with what is going on. Luckily there's plenty of action to go around. So don't get caught up in the story and just duck all the bullets flying 'round and you should be able to find some enjoyment in this low budget actionner.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
01/28/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Rather ridiculous even for a Dudikoff film.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
01/27/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Let me start by saying I love Michael Dudikoff so it is hard for me to rate a movie of his this low, but the truth is Chain of Command just isn't that good. Dudikoff gives one of his better performances but the script is a mess and the action is kept at a minimum and not well choreographed when used at full strength. If you like Dudikoff you will want to see this, if you don't no reason to watch it unless you are awake late at night and have nothing better to do.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
02/15/23
Full Review
Audience Member
'Chain of Command' is the last gasp of the once great empire of Cannon films. This movie is part thriller/part excuse for Dudikoff to mow down a bunch of bad guys with an M16. Like 'the Human Shield,' 'Chain of Command' has a very convoluted plot that reflects the period of time in which it was made (post-Gulf war) than anything else.
Dudikoff is back, and gives a great send-off to the Cannon B movie as Merrill Ross (another great name up there with Lawson Markman and Sonny McClane), an ex special forces guy-turned big oil advisor. I thought Dudikoff was fantastic in this. Every other word out of his mouth is a curse word and his faces are in full effect here. He plays this character pretty humorously, and that's welcome, given the atrocious script. As always, the Dudikoff gives a great, reliable performance in a film that would otherwise be unbearable without him.
Maya, the chick in this- who's supposed to be a Hamas agent or something- is so damned hot. She's played by Keren Tishman, and I don't think she's been in anything else besides this movie, at least according to IMDB. Maybe this movie will make a huge resurgence and she'll make a comeback, but I doubt it. In one scene, she's all sweaty, chained down to a pool table by the baddie. Hot stuff.
This movie also had the best simulated dialogued "sex scenes with clothes on between two people" since 'Enter the Ninja.' It was priceless: Dudikoff tells Mya, "I should've know you were playing me like a flute" and "how's your hand-to-hand combat?" "You outweigh me." Another scene has the chick stoking a handgun while Dudikoff stands over on the bed, then she removes his towel and the camera cuts to the floor. She and Dudikoff have good chemistry together; they spend most of the film nagging at each other like an old married couple.
If he had been in this a little more, the baddie Rawlings (played to perfection by Todd Curtis) would rank among my top villains of all time just for his sweet mullet. I haven't seen a mullet so sweet since 'Stone Cold' really. I didn't know if he was supposed to be a reflection of post-Gulf War paranoia or a roadie for Dokken. It just adds to the magic that every time he's shown, there is bad 80s hair metal on in the background. He's not so hammy that it's unbelievable he's a match for Dudikoff like Mark Hammil, and he not a slouch either. So we get a pretty even match up for Duds to throw down with. In one great scene, he chases Dudikoff up and down a hotel while totally inappropriate cheesy synthesizer music played- I guess the 80s never really ended for Cannon. It was simply amazing.
Watching this alongside the similarly themed 'The Human Shield,' I couldn't help but feel that Cannon were searching for the next big boogeyman a la the Communists or Libyan terrorists for their all-American hero Dudikoff to fight. I really don't think they were that successful in either movie. The terrorist stereotypes in this and the aforementioned 'Human Shield' are just as caricatured as the baddies of 'Invasion USA' or 'Delta Force,' but it was obviously a different time, and Cannon were behind.
Despite the myriad of problems with the plot and score, I really enjoyed this overall. Be warned that if you're not invested in paying attention to this, you WILL be lost- it is difficult to keep track of who's the good guy and who's the bad guy-, so prepare for a bit more twists and turns than you're used to in similar B movie fare (think 'Hidden Agenda' convoluted). I'm a fan of plot-twists, but I think in cases like this, it comes off as a B-movie writer trying to prove how clever he is.
If you're a big fan of Dudikoff, you've already seen this. Our boy is damn good here, and the sight of seeing him mow down bad guys with two M16s for no real reason or advancing of the story is always a sight to behold. If you're not initiated into the arcane charms of the Michael Dudikoff B movie, you may enjoy it for the hilarity of the bad guy's mullet and Dudikoff's potty mouth. I'd also say this is probably one you'd want to wait until later to watch if you're just starting out with Dudikoff post-American Ninja. You'd probably be better off watching 'Cyber Jack' or 'Moving Target' first.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/17/23
Full Review
Audience Member
'Chain of Command' is the last gasp of the once great empire of Cannon films. This movie is part thriller/part excuse for Dudikoff to mow down a bunch of bad guys with an M16. Like 'the Human Shield,' 'Chain of Command' has a very convoluted plot that reflects the period of time in which it was made (post-Gulf war) than anything else.
Dudikoff is back, and gives a great send-off to the Cannon B movie as Merrill Ross (another great name up there with Lawson Markman and Sonny McClane), an ex special forces guy-turned big oil advisor. I thought Dudikoff was fantastic in this. Every other word out of his mouth is a curse word and his faces are in full effect here. He plays this character pretty humorously, and that's welcome, given the atrocious script. As always, the Dudikoff gives a great, reliable performance in a film that would otherwise be unbearable without him.
Maya, the chick in this- who's supposed to be a Mosad agent or something- is so damned hot. She's played by Keren Tishman, and I don't think she's been in anything else besides this movie, at least according to IMDB. Maybe this movie will make a huge resurgence and she'll make a comeback, but I doubt it. In one scene, she's all sweaty, chained down to a pool table by the baddie. Hot stuff.
This movie also had the best simulated dialogued "sex scenes with clothes on between two people" since 'Enter the Ninja.' It was priceless: Dudikoff tells Mya, "I should've know you were playing me like a flute" and "how's your hand-to-hand combat?" "You outweigh me." Another scene has the chick stoking a handgun while Dudikoff stands over on the bed, then she removes his towel and the camera cuts to the floor. She and Dudikoff have good chemistry together; they spend most of the film nagging at each other like an old married couple.
If he had been in this a little more, the baddie Rawlings (played to perfection by Todd Curtis) would rank among my top villains of all time just for his sweet mullet. I haven't seen a mullet so sweet since 'Stone Cold' really. I didn't know if he was supposed to be a reflection of post-Gulf War paranoia or a roadie for Dokken. It just adds to the magic that every time he's shown, there is bad 80s hair metal on in the background. He's not so hammy that it's unbelievable he's a match for Dudikoff like Mark Hammil, and he not a slouch either. So we get a pretty even match up for Duds to throw down with. In one great scene, he chases Dudikoff up and down a hotel while totally inappropriate cheesy synthesizer music played- I guess the 80s never really ended for Cannon. It was simply amazing.
Watching this alongside the similarly themed 'The Human Shield,' I couldn't help but feel that Cannon were searching for the next big boogeyman a la the Communists or Libyan terrorists for their all-American hero Dudikoff to fight. I really don't think they were that successful in either movie. The terrorist stereotypes in this and the aforementioned 'Human Shield' are just as caricatured as the baddies of 'Invasion USA' or 'Delta Force,' but it was obviously a different time, and Cannon were behind.
Despite the myriad of problems with the plot and score, I really enjoyed this overall. Be warned that if you're not invested in paying attention to this, you WILL be lost- it is difficult to keep track of who's the good guy and who's the bad guy-, so prepare for a bit more twists and turns than you're used to in similar B movie fare (think 'Hidden Agenda' convoluted). I'm a fan of plot-twists, but I think in cases like this, it comes off as a B-movie writer trying to prove how clever he is.
If you're a big fan of Dudikoff, you've already seen this. Our boy is damn good here, and the sight of seeing him mow down bad guys with two M16s for no real reason or advancing of the story is always a sight to behold. If you're not initiated into the arcane charms of the Michael Dudikoff B movie, you may enjoy it for the hilarity of the bad guy's mullet and Dudikoff's potty mouth. I'd also say this is probably one you'd want to wait until later to watch if you're just starting out with Dudikoff post-American Ninja. You'd probably be better off watching 'Cyber Jack' or 'Moving Target' first.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/28/23
Full Review
Audience Member
A typical Michael Dudikoff movie.
Rated 1/5 Stars •
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
02/03/23
Full Review
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