Born American

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Audience Member Three Americans learn a valuable lesson about freedom while on vacation in Finland when they foolishly decide to cross the Soviet border only to be captured and sent to a gulag. A good start unravels. The chess death game is a head-scratcher. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Born American was Renny Harlin's first film, and while I admit I enjoyed some of it, I'd be lying if I said it was a good film or if I even liked it. The film starts with a group of three friends that aren't anything special but likable too who are captured by the Russians after they make the grave mistake of crossing the border. It's the dramatic scenes that later follow that we realize these guys aren't good actors! And the film is full of stupidity in so many moments too that you find yourself ripping on the characters for their dim-witted actions! I gotta say that what sets this movie off on a somewhat enjoyable premise was it's action scenes, which for 80's standards are pretty cool and fits pretty well with the dozens of other low budget "trashy but guilty pleasure" action flicks of the 80s. It may have some interesting scenes here and there, but I feel it's weak performances, rushed character developments, and striking similarities to Midnight Express hurt the film greatly, and it's predictable moments make you cringe at the film. It was okay, and for a rip off it's not half bad, but it's otherwise a lame ass film. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member "At the end of the movie I realized that I enjoyed watching it even with all it's faults." Read this entire movie review at this url: http://www.coolmovieguy.com/2012/01/born-american.html Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a very underrated and unappreciated 1980s action/horror movie filmed at the height of the Cold War. The leading actor is Mike Norris (Chuck's son). The plot is original and entertaining. Some young American 20-somethings go on a hunting trip on the Finland-USSR border. Yeah, I know what you're thinking: "What Americans in their right mind would go hunting along the Finland-USSR border at height of the Cold War?" Just keep in mind that these kids are not Princeton grads! After a few beers, they play a game of limbo at the border fence (again, not a smart move!). That would be enough excitement for most people, but not these geniuses. When they realize that the border is unguarded, they decide to up the ante and cross into the Soviet Union. Eventually, they get lost in some desolate Russian village and get framed for murder. They're then sent to a hellish Russian prison where inmates are used as human chess pieces. I thought it was entertaining! Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member I saw this under the UK title "Arctic Heat" and it is a pretty generic 80s action film, cliched characters, simple plot and b-grade acting. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Three Americans learn a valuable lesson about freedom while on vacation in Finland when they foolishly decide to cross the Soviet border only to be captured and sent to a gulag. A good start unravels. The chess death game is a head-scratcher. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Born American

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