Reviewing movies is something that really takes a certain amount of distance. In several cases, I have to step back from what I know about the director, the team behind the movie, the actors, and view the movie simply for what it is. However, in the case of a movie like Lethal Force, no such distancing is required - aside from the movie being within a genre I love, I knew nothing about it or the company that made it. It makes it easier - if I love it, it's more credible, if I dislike it, I can say so without a second thought.

      I loved Lethal Force. The elements of action and comedy were played out perfectly, dosed with a good amount of cheese, and the typically melodramatic plot of the Chinese mafia movies that Lethal Force tries to spoof. So, a bit of story shall we?

      Savitch (pronounced Savage, natch) is the classic ultra-cool Chow-esque hitman - he a bad mutha who follows a code of honor (don't all Chinese hitmen?) and does what he's paid to do. He'll kill anyone who crosses him though - without exceptions. He's an anti-hero, and best friend to the main character of the film, Jack. But this anti-hero will become a serious enemy when Jack is forced to turn on his friend, for the sake of his family. Mal Locke is the local crimelord, the one that survived a bullet from Savitch, and he wants graphic, painful revenge. When the dust settles from this fight, there will be alot of dead bad-guys.

      This movie caters to all asian cinema lovers, paying homage to pretty much anyone who has made an asian movie with a gun in it. Some parts of the movie are shot as direct spoofs on particular films, the music ripped from the same. The transfer color seems twisted into a look to emulate Technicolor it seems.. like cheaper film stock, well shot. Every stereotype of the day is proudly used, from blaxploitation to sexploitation, even evil shriners, and every cliche is displayed in it's own glory. Guns never run empty until the scene requires it, explosions only hurt bad guys, and supermen like Savitch can take any level of punishment. And I mean any.. at one point, after being hit by a car repeatedly, he is knocked off a seven story parkade onto concrete. It takes him almost ten seconds to get up and limp away. By the time he reaches the corner, he's good to fight ten more guys. Hilarious!

      The uninitiated to asian cinema (these days these viewers are equated to cave dwellers it seems) can still enjoy the movie. It pulls no punches, it revels in the glory of unrealism, and it has a 1-2-3 plot that anyone could follow with the audio alone. It is very violent and gory at times though. (As if that will deter many readers in these parts..)

      Technically the movie is excellent, with every perceivable flaw clearly being the intention of the director. The slightly muddy and frame-off sound is indicitive of the late seventies cinema it mimics. Effects are passable, albeit not great, but fortunately used in moderation. The majority of effects that are created in camera work perfectly because they maximize cheese value anyway.

      I am a bit biased I guess, as I love action films. If you do too, run, don't walk to the official website and get a copy. But even if you're a bit curious, you wouldn't be wasting your money to grab a copy, it's quality cheese.

Jon Ashby