5 May 2014

Blu-ray Review - The Delta Force (1986)



Genre:
Action, Cult
Distributor:
Arrow Video
Rating:15
BD/DVD Release Date:
5th May 2014 (UK)
Director:
Menahem Golan
Cast:
Lee Marvin, robert forster, chuck norris, Shelley Winters, Robert Vaughn, Bo Svenson, Susan Strasberg
Buy:The Delta Force [Blu-ray]

The Delta Force is one of those 80s action films that is so filled with testosterone that it could make you pregnant just by watching it. It stars non other than the manlier than you Chuck Norris and the cooler than cool Lee Marvin in his final on-screen performance.

It’s a fairly ludicrous tale of a plane hijacking by Lebanese terrorists led by Robert Forster as a “brown face”. They divert the flight to Beirut threatening to kill the hostages if the US government doesn’t meet their demands; however, Lee Marvin and Chuck Norris’ Delta Force are already planning their rescue.

The most interesting aspect of the film is actually the supporting cast, which is filled with some fantastic actors and actresses. Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s muse Hanna Schygulla co-stars as a German stewardess who is under pressure by the terrorists to name all the Jewish passengers, but she refuses for obvious reasons. Shelley Winters, Robert Vaughn, Bo Svenson, Susan Strasberg co-star as well and do their best with the material they are given.

Lee Marvin does his Dirty Dozen shtick and is clearly having a fun time and probably a very good payday. Chuck Norris can’t act his way out of a paper bag, but is part of some fun comedic action moments throughout. It’s cheesier than Stilton but there are many worse films out there. It has to be said, however, that it would benefit from a good 20 to 30 minute trim as it would be a leaner and meaner piece of work.

Arrow have put a lot of love and effort into this release; the highlight is a fascinating featurette about Cannon films and the variety of films they released. It also includes an interview with James Bruner who wrote many films for Chuck Norris’ “talents” including The Delta Force and an interview with a real Delta Force commandant. It also includes the typical solid transfer and lengthy booklet that is expected from Arrow.

★★★☆☆

Ian Schultz


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