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A Force of One

Play trailer Poster for A Force of One PG Released May 18, 1979 1h 27m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 29% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
A veteran (Chuck Norris) teaches martial arts to a California detective (Jennifer O'Neill) and her colleagues, and joins them on a case.
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A Force of One

Critics Reviews

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James Kendrick Q Network Film Desk piles on the dramatic slow motion to such an extensive degree that some action sequences that should be thrilling start to feel a bit ludicrous Rated: 2/4 Oct 2, 2022 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy A solid actioner that also turns out to be a pretty good mystery. Rated: 3/4 Aug 7, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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carlos t Minha opinião: Um filme de 1979, e quando revemos os filmes da época, percebemos como o tempo, era mais tranquilo, passava mais devagar. E percebemos nos filmes da época, a velocidade era outra. E este é um dos primeiros filmes de Chuck Norris. Onde ele é lutador e sensei de karate. E na cidade começa a acontecer crimes que a coclusão que o autor é um lutador. Assim recrutam Norris para treinar o departamento de policia. E claro que Norris acaba-se envolvendo e ajudando. Até as lutas tinham uma velocidade mais tranquila. Roteiro: é bem B A ba. Vale apena assistir? Para quem curte Norris Nota: 5 Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Stephen C The worst 01 hour: and 27 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/27/22 Full Review Audience Member Gene Siskel said that it was "just a poor excuse for a lot of fighting." Writer Ernest Tidyman* (Shaft, High Plains Drifter) claimed he only made it so he could buy his mother a house. Chuck Norris said it was ten times better than his last movie Good Guys Wear Black. The commercial for this movie was all my grade school class could talk about, breathlessly getting excited about Chuck kicking and spinning and beating on people. Directed by Paul Aaron, whose stepson Keanu Reeves talked him into making the film, this film presents a world where cops are getting killed, so they turn to Matt Logan (Norris), a karate instructor. One of those narcotics officers, Amanda Rust (Jennifer O'Neill, The Psychic star who was present both when Jon-Erik Hexum accidentally shot himself on the set of Cover Up and when she shot herself in the stomach testing to see if a gun was loaded), believes that one of their own is behind it. She also falls hard for Chuck, who may not be the best actor, but gives an authentic charm as a normal guy who can kick people really hard. This is a smart movie — no, really — as the cast surrounding Chuck is solid, like Clu Gulager as detective Sam Dunne, who believes that the killer is a martial artist, and Ron O'Neal from Superfly. A Force of One kicks into major action when Chuck's adopted son Charlie (Eric Laneuville) is killed, making it personal. Plus, he's headed into a karate tournament where he'll get kicked repeatedly by Sparks, played by Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, who was the bodyguard who found the body of John Belushi. And trust me, he kicks really, really hard. You don't get called Superfoot and half step. Norris surrounded himself with family in this one, as brother Aaron was the fight coordinator and his son Mike was the skateboarding pizza delivery kid. It works — a movie made in the time when karate was the kind of dastardly heel move in Memphis wrestling, still mysterious in the West, but made approachable by the everyman charm of Chuck. Called Der Bulldozer in Germany, this movie also has an appearance by Charles Cyphers, who played Sheriff Brackett just one year earlier in Halloween. In closing, Siskel and Tidyman were both incorrect, while the kids in my class and Chuck were right. *He co-wrote the movie with stuntman Pat E. Johnson, a 9th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do under Chuck Norris who only has this one writing credit, but did stunts for Jackie Chan (Battle Creek Brawl), Bruce Lee (Enter the Dragon), Norris (this movie), three Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films and both Mortal Kombat movies. He's also the referee in The Karate Kid. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member You can not underestimate the power and impact of this film by Chuck Norris. Prior to this film it was almost unheard of for a Western male to hold the lead in a US made martial arts film. Norris was the reason. His acting is fair but his presence is large. His action and fight scenes are realistic and gritty. Bill "Superfoot" Wallace is gratin this one. Norris keeps it close to the vest and the success of this film, due in part to Norris' campaign to promote it, made martial arts films bankable in Hollywood. This one opened the door to a series of films for Norris and other martial arts stars. It is probably top 5 of Norris' career. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member A Force of One 1979, didn't enjoy this as much as Good Guys Wear Black 1978, however there are enough roundhouse kicks in the film's run time to keep u watching till the end. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member good chuck Norris vehicle Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
A Force of One

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis A veteran (Chuck Norris) teaches martial arts to a California detective (Jennifer O'Neill) and her colleagues, and joins them on a case.
Director
Paul Aaron
Producer
Alan Belkin
Screenwriter
Ernest Tidyman
Production Co
American Cinema Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 18, 1979, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 17, 2017
Runtime
1h 27m
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