Battle Rage, a better titled movie, when at the drive in late 85, I preferred to of course, the video titled Missing In Action 2. The thing about Chuckie's 1984-1986 movies were they hit the video circuit only months, after hitting the screen. This pic, a moronic POW Vietnam tale, I now feel embarrassed or ashamed for watching it back in 1986, during my teen years. This prequel was so trashy and bad, not trashy and good. Chuck and his Vietnam buddies are kept in a POW camp, where they're treated harshly, and there is a grueling and merciless setting to the film I must say, as well as an atmosphere that is choking. This too is helped by the evil and sadistic performance from Soon Teck Oh, the best actor in the pic. We even have an Aussie photographer, who poses as one of the prisoners, actually getting himself caught on purpose, so he report the abuse and suffering, but of course, he meets his doom. This movie is so clichéd to Chuckie's other films, we don't need a map or script to know what's going to happen next or how the character's fates will ensue. There is however, one twist moment involving 21 Jump Street's Steven William's character, a POW turned traitor. There are some embarrassingly funny deliveries of dialogue and reactions from the actors, the film's almost worth renting for comedic value. Of course, and I haven't forgotten, that trademark torture scene. Chuckie's tied upside down, a bag with a live rat inside, is pulled up over his head. Who will survive? Duh. Highpoint of the movie. Oh, and waiting for Chuckie to strut his karate stuff, comes near the end where you'll be thankful to see him do his thing, where you so much want to see him kill Soon Teck Oh. Sadly from the start, with Norris, about to board a chopper, clean cut moustache and all, we actually get the impression of a much better quality pic, awaiting us, instead of the result: constant dreck, How mislead and blinded will you be. Bad beyond comprehension, for only a few moronic majority, where as a viewer, your brain cells will drop radically.
