STEPHEN KING'S 'SALEM'S LOT.' (1979) REVIEW BY SANDRA HARRIS.

Pentathlon Blu-Ray Review

★★★1/2☆
Forget Chariots Of Fire, hell, forget the actual Olympics - the only sporting feature you need to watch this Summer is the recently remastered 1994 action flick, Pentathlon.
After winning the Olympic Gold in Seoul, German pentathlete, Eric Brogar (Dolph Lundgren) goes on the run from his tyrannical neo-Nazi coach, Heinrech Mueller (David Soul). Several years later, Brogar, now working in a grotty Los Angeles cafe decides to get his life back on track and start training again. However, the arrival of Mueller and a group of American neo-Nazi sympathisers resurrects old conflicts.

Pentathalon stands out because it is not your typical nineties action film, the sporting angle taken by Bruce Malmuth's (Hard To Kill) script proves a fresh and original concept. The focus is less on ass-kicking (although there is still plenty) and more so on the broken athlete Eric Brogar trying to reclaim his former glory. This allows for a glimpse at the little seen, sensitive side of Dolph Lundgren, who proves to be utterly convincing. Let's face it - Dolph is a man who could do anything and Olympic pentathlete is just another of his many talents.
There is something completely watchable about Pentathalon - possibly that it keeps its tongue planted firmly in its cheek. The concept of a former Olympic superstar flipping burgers in a meagre local diner says it all. The relationship between Brogar and the owner of the diner (Roger E. Mosley) allows for some comic fun as well with Mosely and Lundgren having  a believable and amusing camaraderie.
However, the main fun of Pentathlon is David Soul's scene stealing performance as sinister sports coach meets Neo-Nazi terrorist, Heinrech Mueller. Seeing the man who patrolled the streets as Hutch or crooned Silver Lady to adoring audiences, as a scheming Nazi makes for an unforgettable watch. Soul spits his words out with angry hatred and commands the screen in this deliciously evil performance - reminiscent of Gregory Peck's turn in The Boys From Brazil.

Pentathlon was never going to revolutionise the action genre, but it is nonetheless memorable nineties action that proves a thoroughly entertaining way to spend an hour and a half. Lundgren's pitch-perfect performance alongside David Soul's over-the-top villain and an original concept makes Pentathlon well worth a watch.

Andrew McArthur

Stars: Dolph Lundgren, Renee Colman ,David Soul
Director: Bruce Malmuth
Release: 30th July 2012
Rating: 15 (UK)
Buy:Pentathlon On Blu-ray

They Trained Him, But Can't Stop Him, Dolph Lundgren's THE PENTATHLON

With Olympic arriving in London next month why not get into the Olympic spirit with  Dolph “The Expendables” Lundgren goes to the Olympics and kicks plenty of neo-Nazi butt along the way in this sport-themed action-thriller., THE PENTATHLON for the first time on Blu-Ray.

After winning Olympic Gold in Seoul, East German pentathlete Eric Brogar (Lundgren) takes the opportunity to escape his past and the demands of his tyrannical coach, Heinrich Mueller (Soul), and flees to the freedom of the West with the help of a beautiful American athlete. 

Several years later, Mueller has given up coaching and turned his dubious talents to neo-Nazi terrorism and a series of attacks on German government officials. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Brogar has slipped into an alcoholic depression and ekes out a meagre living working at a local diner. Still angered by Brogar’s betrayal and driven by a need for revenge, the psychotic Mueller first targets Brogar’s father before flying to LA to finish off his former star athlete once and for all. 

In an attempt to get his life back on track, Brogar has begun training once more, this time at the woodland retreat of his former girlfriend. But the arrival of Mueller, who has since teamed up with Brogar’s arch rival Jurgen Reinhardt and a group of neo-Nazi sympathizers in the US, means Brogar will soon have to turn his skills to something more than winning medals. 

In a rare action movie based around the key pentathlon disciplines of shooting, swimming, fencing, horse riding and cross country running, Dolph does it all and unsurprisingly adds a healthy dose of awesome ass-kicking to the mix. Making the experience all the more interesting is the fact that, in a bizarre instance of life reflecting art, the film actually led to Dolph being selected to serve as manager of the real-life US Modern Pentathlon team for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.


The Pentathlon will be released July 30th thanks to Anchor Bay, the film also stars David Soul (Starsky & Hutch) and Renee Coleman (A League Of Their Own; After School) directed ny Nighthawks helmer Bruce Malmuth.

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