Rugged U.S. Marine Jack Burns (Fred Dryer in excellent hard-nosed form) defies the orders of his commanding officers by going after a band of savage terrorists who have abducted his beloved superior officer Col. Halloran (a sturdy and engagingly gruff portrayal by Brian Keith). Director Terry Leonard, working from a compact script by Jon Gatliff and Lawrence Kubik, keeps the mean'n'lean narrative hurtling along at a brisk pace, maintains a serious gritty tone throughout, really lays on the gung-ho patriotism and testosterone-soaked machismo something thick, and stages the thrilling action set pieces with rip-roaring brio. The sound acting by the capable cast keeps this movie humming: The gorgeous Joanna Pacula as crusading photo journalist Elli, Paul Winfield as a stuffy by-the-book ambassador, Peter Parros as the eager James, Rockne Tarkington as the ferocious Jihad, Daniel Chodos as the wormy Amin, Mohammad Bakri as the vicious Gavril, and Kacey Walker as the ruthless Maude Winter. The jolting moments of brutal violence pack quite a harsh punch while the picture's fiercely jingoistic sensibility radiates a certain lovably crude 80's period charm. Brian May's lively score hits the rousing spot. The polished cinematography by Don Burgess supplies a pleasing crisp look. A fun flick.

Sergeant Burns reports for duty the American Embassy in the Middle East. Due to the 'enlightened' views of the Ambassador, the marine security detachment he is in charge of is severely restricted in their functions and presence to avoid upsetting the host government.

As a result, when terrorists attack the compound, they are able to kidnap hostages and escape with little opposition.

Burns ignores the Ambassador's restrictions, as he becomes a one man army in an attempt to rescue the hostages, and wipe out the terrorists.....

This has been one of those films I've been curious about since I saw it on a video shelf in 1989, and I finally got the chance to see the film after 24 years. Lets just say it might have been good when I was 12, but seeing it now, it didn't entertain.

Its basically a poor mans Heartbreak Ridge, with Dryer playing the grizzled lead who turns into Rambo come the end. For a generic action movie, its pretty violent and some if the scene are shocking, so kudos to the makers for that.

But the rest of the film is dull, and not very exciting. You've seen one explosion you've seen them all, you've seen the enemy shot a hundred rounds, and the hero firing one, yep, it happens here all the time.

If your a connoisseur of eighties action movies like myself, you'll be clock watching around the thirty minute mark.

I don't know how many times I've come across the film in stores that were selling their ex-rental tapes, to have the film in my hands to only put it back. I don't know why; as it seemed it could be a juicy throwback to the Reagan era of dumb-down patriotic action set in the Middle East. "Delta Force" anyone. Well after watching it, you can't say it disappoints on that point. Strangely it starts of slow, but then its wears its pride with ridiculous glee with gung-ho activity with brutal and unsparing carnage as the tersely hardened Fred Dyer goes berserk (sometimes with a rocket launcher, all maybe a shotgun) when one of his men and close friend/colonel are kidnapped by Arab terrorists who are working with some German/or were they Russian mercenaries. I'll go German. They were extremely evil too, especially in their intro were they completely demolish a dinner table by machine gun and I almost forgot a diplomatic family. Dyer's Sgt. character likes to do things his way, but Paul Winfield's American ambassador does things by the book. They clash in the most clichéd manner, but this won't stop Dyer. He wants payback. And boy does he get it. So what we get is explosions galore… you know suicidal bombing, slow-motion car chases that end in explosions and then the chaotic ambush filled with explosions / gunfire at the bad guy's hideout. Throw in robotic bad guys - the German pair takes the cake, cringe-worthy torture, stilted dialogues, macho posturing, marine instincts, flag waving, dummy stunt work and a stunning Joanna Pacula as an internationalist photographer. The material is quite one-sided in its viewpoint, but because of this it manages to strike some unintentional laughs in its leave no one behind mindset. Brian May contributes to the funky score. Simple, raw and cheap, but effectively busy in what it sets out to achieve; chintzy, but no-bull action exploitation that makes a lot of noise.

"You're dead marine"