John Savage in one of his finer roles, music by Carlo Maria Cordio, exploding bullets and a whole lotta talk. This Italian movie concerns a CIA agent and a gun specialist who developed a new kind of deadly weapon. He invented a special type of bullets functioning as hand-grenades and blasting whatever the target may be into tiny pieces. When one of these bullets with chemical filling finds you, even a bullet-proof anorak can't save you. Of course, you also need a special pistol to use this kind of ammunition. No wonder the inventor of the deadly weapon is afraid that it might cause carnage when used improperly by thugs and crooks, and he keeps a close watch on his invention, taking it with him everywhere he goes. On his way home, carrying his deadly weapon in a small suitcase, he witnesses a street robber threatening and shooting a woman. After one of the weirdest chases I ever witnessed in an action flick, the agent is forced to put to use the deadly weapon. This is the first time the exploding bullets are used in the movie. The mugger is blown to pieces, the newspapers make a scandal out of the unfortunate accident, and the agent is held responsible. His boss, played by John Savage, recommends him to leave The States for some time, until everything settles down and people forget about the whole affair. The agent is told that one wealthy businessman in South America could use his professional advice and help. In other words, he is supposed to work as a kind of bodyguard for Mr. Gonzales. The agent doesn't have much of a choice, so he packs his shirt, swim-trunks and the deadly weapon, and takes a trip to South America. He is unaware of the fact that his pal from CIA made a deal with Mr. Gonzales, who is a big time crook. Gonzales is well informed about the exploding ammunition and is determined to get it, with or without the inventor's consent.... The main problem of this movie is that, despite the title, the deadly weapon is used only twice in the whole movie. In the beginning, when the mugger bursts, and near the end of the flick, when the agent settles the score with the mafia. There is also a subplot involving a band of rebels who attempt to organize a revolt against Gonzales. A girl named Florinda, whose mother used to work for CIA, participates in a revolutionary movement, and she and the agent inevitably become partners. Deadly Weapon might be worth checking out for those who are willing to suffer through some melodramatic dialogs in order to witness the death of Mr. Gonzales. Despite being shot with an explosive bullet, one of Gonzales' goons decides to cling to the leg of his master, and we get to see two dummies blown up in a neat display of pyrotechnics.
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