Jonathan K
I loved this movie, but for one reason: This movie feels like the most hardcore D.A.R.E video of all time. It's super cringe in how it holds onto late-80's stereotyped cultural tropes, it takes itself WAY too seriously, and the Anti-Drug messaging is so up-front that it feels like an Executive in charge only agreed to give money if it secretly doubled as a PSA. If this movie had double the budget, then we would ultimately be seeing what a D.A.R.E Studios Original theatrical release would have looked like, if they ever existed. As for the movie itself, it's super-cheesy, but in some of the best ways possible. Gary Daniels is someone who's able to emote effectively, but in that 80's Hong Kong style way, where the emotions are front-and-center through exaggeration; this works well in Hong Kong cinema, which is inherently over-the-top (at least it is frequently), but this movie feels like it was made in someone's basement, so his overacting feels comically inappropriate, but again, in the most perfect way possible. Expanding on my previous statement, this movie literally feels like it was filmed in a woefully underlit basement or warehouse, and the set design is pretty much just some desks and a wooden door; I've seen minimalist Junior High stageplays with more thorough production values. And as for the action, it's certainly a case of Gary Daniels holding everything else up by himself - he's an amazing fighter, and what little they're able to really incorporate of this talent is unquestionably the highlight of the movie; well, that is, beyond the "So Bad It's Good" elements. This movie is just 80 minutes of zero-budget Try-Hard entertainment, hilariously awful in almost every facet, elevated purely by the Casting of an immensely talented lead. For fans of Great Bad Cinema, I wouldn't quite put this on par with Birdemic or Story of Rikki, or maybe it is, if you spent 2 years in intensive D.A.R.E sessions from the ages of 9 to 11.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/23/23
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[left]See Gary Daniels run. See Gary Daniels fight. And fight. And fight. And fight. And fight -- you get the idea. In fact, I'd say 90% of David Hue's silly action opus Capital Punishment is, well, [b]ACTION[/b]. And while non-stop martial arts mayhem is a wonderful idea, the execution needs to be spot-on for this concept to be remotely effective. I mean, what good is wall-to-wall action if the fight choreography has all the style and grace of a one-armed homeless veteran battling a feral dog for scraps out of a McDonalds dumpster? Even David Carradine looks bored, though this might be due to the fact that the poor guy sits behind a desk until the film's third act, and even then he's confined to a truck. For shame, Mr. Carradine. [b]FOR SHAME[/b]. Anyway, unless you have a hard-on for all things Gary Daniels, I can't think of a single reason to waste your time with this one. It also comes as no surprise that this entry shows up [b]VERY[/b] early on Daniels' resume. Even though he's never risen beyond the direct-to-video market, the man is clearly capable of better. Much better. If you're in desperate need of a Gary Daniels fix, spend your hard-earned dollar on Rage, Spoiler, or Fist of the North Star, instead.[/left]
Rated 1/5 Stars •
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
01/22/23
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