Typical third-rate action, not better, but nor worse.
5 Reviews
Low budget action
SilverOrlov9 October 2018
It's all pretty disposable.
tarbosh2200016 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Max Forrester (Dacascos) is fighting in Iraq alongside Sasha Villanoff (Skya). As a fellow soldier and Max's girlfriend, he feels especially inclined to protect her from the baddies all around her. Max is put to the test when Sasha disappears. He tracks her to a place called Paradise Island, found somewhere in the middle east.
During the course of their perilous journey, they uncover an illegal arms-smuggling ring run by some corrupt soldiers called Shadow Company. Since Shadow Company is on PARADISE Island, that explains the title of the movie. Meanwhile, Col. Bunker (Sizemore) and Captain Dyer (Boxleitner) are at odds because of the activities of Captain John Santos, who goes by the code name of "Ghost" (Assante).
Could he have something to do with the arms smuggling? Or could it be Matador (Trejo), Stronach (Divoff), General Ruth (Wells), or Agent Stubbs (Bauer)? While we desperately want to invest some intrigue into all of this, we really just wanted to highlight all the names involved here. Will the hot middle eastern sun eradicate all the SHADOWS IN PARADISE? And who else will be eradicated?
Shadows In Paradise is such a textbook example of what we call the Lone Tiger Effect (for those who don't know, it's when a movie features a bunch of the B-Movie names we all know and love - so we think the movie itself is going to be good - but it turns out to not be so hot) that we should really consider changing it to the Shadows In Paradise Effect. Yes, all our favorite people are present and accounted for but...at what cost? In other words, while it was enjoyable to see all our cinematic buddies all together in one film, we were disappointed at the final result. Which makes things all the more disappointing.
That being said, this movie is just too darn silly to really hate. While the overall feel is one of those modern-day DTV "Seal Team" movies (i.e. junky and none too involving), and the muzzle flashes on the guns are roughly on par with the ones in Hangfire (1991) (i.e. really stupid and fake looking), once you see Tom Sizemore's "acting", you want to say to the movie, in a loving and forgiving tone, "I can't stay mad at you..."
Is it any wonder, then, that with the incoherent mumblings of Armand Assante, layered with the incoherent ramblings of Tom Sizemore, that the movie as a whole is, well...incoherent? Thankfully, Sofya Skya is on board, but Assassins Run (2013) offers up a better example of what she can do. She does sing the theme song, "Don't Break My Heart", but with its 90's Lilith Fair vibe, even that indicates she is capable of better. She should have followed the example of Natalie Burn and done more of a rocker.
There's a bunch of beat-ups and shooting, and even some light prerequisite torture, but what else would you expect from director Maunder, whose only other directorial credits are Tiger Claws II (1996) and Tiger Claws III (2000)? Trejo, Bauer, Wells, and Divoff - enough to carry a movie in their own right - have glorified cameos. We believe Bruce Boxleitner was here, but it could have been Barry Bostwick. We're still not sure.
In the end, Shadows In Paradise is a lightweight and unfortunate example of a modern-day DTV actioner. While we were happy to see all the great cast members, to say they weren't all used to their full potential is an understatement. It's all pretty disposable. Bring us back to the 80's any day.
During the course of their perilous journey, they uncover an illegal arms-smuggling ring run by some corrupt soldiers called Shadow Company. Since Shadow Company is on PARADISE Island, that explains the title of the movie. Meanwhile, Col. Bunker (Sizemore) and Captain Dyer (Boxleitner) are at odds because of the activities of Captain John Santos, who goes by the code name of "Ghost" (Assante).
Could he have something to do with the arms smuggling? Or could it be Matador (Trejo), Stronach (Divoff), General Ruth (Wells), or Agent Stubbs (Bauer)? While we desperately want to invest some intrigue into all of this, we really just wanted to highlight all the names involved here. Will the hot middle eastern sun eradicate all the SHADOWS IN PARADISE? And who else will be eradicated?
Shadows In Paradise is such a textbook example of what we call the Lone Tiger Effect (for those who don't know, it's when a movie features a bunch of the B-Movie names we all know and love - so we think the movie itself is going to be good - but it turns out to not be so hot) that we should really consider changing it to the Shadows In Paradise Effect. Yes, all our favorite people are present and accounted for but...at what cost? In other words, while it was enjoyable to see all our cinematic buddies all together in one film, we were disappointed at the final result. Which makes things all the more disappointing.
That being said, this movie is just too darn silly to really hate. While the overall feel is one of those modern-day DTV "Seal Team" movies (i.e. junky and none too involving), and the muzzle flashes on the guns are roughly on par with the ones in Hangfire (1991) (i.e. really stupid and fake looking), once you see Tom Sizemore's "acting", you want to say to the movie, in a loving and forgiving tone, "I can't stay mad at you..."
Is it any wonder, then, that with the incoherent mumblings of Armand Assante, layered with the incoherent ramblings of Tom Sizemore, that the movie as a whole is, well...incoherent? Thankfully, Sofya Skya is on board, but Assassins Run (2013) offers up a better example of what she can do. She does sing the theme song, "Don't Break My Heart", but with its 90's Lilith Fair vibe, even that indicates she is capable of better. She should have followed the example of Natalie Burn and done more of a rocker.
There's a bunch of beat-ups and shooting, and even some light prerequisite torture, but what else would you expect from director Maunder, whose only other directorial credits are Tiger Claws II (1996) and Tiger Claws III (2000)? Trejo, Bauer, Wells, and Divoff - enough to carry a movie in their own right - have glorified cameos. We believe Bruce Boxleitner was here, but it could have been Barry Bostwick. We're still not sure.
In the end, Shadows In Paradise is a lightweight and unfortunate example of a modern-day DTV actioner. While we were happy to see all the great cast members, to say they weren't all used to their full potential is an understatement. It's all pretty disposable. Bring us back to the 80's any day.
Appalling
Ladybbird16 January 2011
This group of actors would have been hard pressed to give a performance better than a group of 10 year old students at a school play. The acting was amateurish, except for Armand Assante and Tom Sizemore. All the female actors were absolutely dreadful. The storyline was basically good, but the directing was awful. Doesn't work to have the director being the writer. The whole thing was flat. That is the easiest way I could describe it. The music did not match the would be tension of the scenes. I kept watching in the hope it would improve. Unfortunately it did not happen. It looked like a very low budget movie with a group of actors that maybe hadn't worked in a long time. The set itself looked as if it was filmed in a studio, no real rough terrain as you would find in Iraq. Also the actors and their uniforms/clothes remained spotless all the way through, which considering they were supposed to be operating in a dirty dusty environment, was laughable.
Amusingly crap
benjones-1111 May 2011
One would normally expect a review full of irritation and vitriol from someone who gives a film 1/10. But I actually found this film quite amusing.
OK, it wasn't meant to be amusing, but I was genuinely grinning at so many things during the movie that it was kind of enjoyable.
The reason for the grins comes down to the dreadful make-up of this film. They clearly began with a fixed budget, and they must have blown 90% on the wages for the stars. There are some well known actors in this film (Mark Dacascos, Tom Sizemore, Danny Trejo to name but a few), but there is no point in having an actor if you can't do anything with him.
So, they saved money on the following - 1) The set: Hilarious scenes which were meant to be in the middle of busy Middle Eastern towns (with cardboard buildings which would have looked cheap even in a school nativity play) or out in the Iraqi desert (which funnily enough has the exact appearance of American countryside). 2) Military advisers: I'm no military expert, but when I watch a girl (supposedly a crack commando) feebly wrestle a magazine into the gun, give it a couple of limp wristed slaps on the barrel and then fire it directly up in the air (when the target is in front of her) I know that someone's not bothered to get any training. 3) Retakes: Actors stumble over things, drop equipment and act in a way that would have had a director pulling his hair out ... but they decide to keep what was clearly a first take of every shot.
Oh, and the plot was ridiculous, the scenarios hilarious and the script was like something a 12 year old would write.
If you want to have a giggle at an incredibly cheaply made movie then this isn't a bad option. Don't get me wrong, money isn't everything ... but when you're clearly working with no ambition, no advice and no talent - this is what you get.
OK, it wasn't meant to be amusing, but I was genuinely grinning at so many things during the movie that it was kind of enjoyable.
The reason for the grins comes down to the dreadful make-up of this film. They clearly began with a fixed budget, and they must have blown 90% on the wages for the stars. There are some well known actors in this film (Mark Dacascos, Tom Sizemore, Danny Trejo to name but a few), but there is no point in having an actor if you can't do anything with him.
So, they saved money on the following - 1) The set: Hilarious scenes which were meant to be in the middle of busy Middle Eastern towns (with cardboard buildings which would have looked cheap even in a school nativity play) or out in the Iraqi desert (which funnily enough has the exact appearance of American countryside). 2) Military advisers: I'm no military expert, but when I watch a girl (supposedly a crack commando) feebly wrestle a magazine into the gun, give it a couple of limp wristed slaps on the barrel and then fire it directly up in the air (when the target is in front of her) I know that someone's not bothered to get any training. 3) Retakes: Actors stumble over things, drop equipment and act in a way that would have had a director pulling his hair out ... but they decide to keep what was clearly a first take of every shot.
Oh, and the plot was ridiculous, the scenarios hilarious and the script was like something a 12 year old would write.
If you want to have a giggle at an incredibly cheaply made movie then this isn't a bad option. Don't get me wrong, money isn't everything ... but when you're clearly working with no ambition, no advice and no talent - this is what you get.
c-class movie
mona-772 February 2011
if it was meant as a comedy, we laughed a lot!!!!!!!!!! i give one star, because i can't award less. i am sorry for Assante, but this movie seems to have been 'made in china', although Chinese movies I've seen were far better.
not a B-class movie, rather C-class.
nothing in this movie is credible: from never ending use of the cell phone, to fake usage of the computer, studio like scenery, stupid situations and superficial dialogues.
not worth seeing. hope you find this review useful, and find a better way to spend your Friday evening.
not a B-class movie, rather C-class.
nothing in this movie is credible: from never ending use of the cell phone, to fake usage of the computer, studio like scenery, stupid situations and superficial dialogues.
not worth seeing. hope you find this review useful, and find a better way to spend your Friday evening.
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