Code of Silence (1985) – Andrew Davis

Chuck Norris stars in this 1985 actioner which is arguably some of his best work. Honestly, having just gotten through it, and without sounding too harsh, that’s not saying much. He may be a great athlete and martial artist, but his acting skills still aren’t great. Originally tooled as one of the many Dirty Harry…

The Octagon (1980) – Eric Karson

Welcome to the 80s, the age of the ninja as Chuck Norris guides us through a haphazard adventure that sees him entering The Octagon! Scott James (Norris) is a world-class martial artist who is accompanied by an echoey voiceover almost everywhere he goes. He and his frenemy, A.J. (Art Hindle!) live a high roller life…

Lone Wolf McQuade (1983) – Steve Carver

With a musical score by Francesco De Masi and an opening credits sequence that feels very much in line with a Sergio Leone western, expectations surrounding Lone Wolf McQuade on my initial viewing went up a little. Despite the fact that I know Chuck Norris isn’t a very good actor. Norris plays the titular McQuade,…

The Delta Force (1986) – Menahem Golan

Chuck Norris has never really done it for me when it comes to action movies. No matter what his martial arts skills, he’s not the best actor, and consequently, he found himself stuck in lower-budget action films, much like The Delta Force. But with all of it’s trappings and tropes, the film has a really…

Hot Docs 2015: Chuck Norris Vs Communism – Ilinca Calugareanu

  Screening today at the Hart House theatre at 9:30pm is this masterful, and highly enjoyable documentary that plays like a Cold War thriller. The year is 1985. The place, Romania, a country under strict control by its socialist/communist government, there’s one television channel for the nation, and it broadcasts nothing but state propaganda. The…

The Delta Force (1986) – Menahem Golan

  Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin take on cardboard cut out bad guys led by Robert Forrester and terrorists in this 80s action flick. It’s one of those ones that you don’t realize how bad it actually is, until you watch it. And let’s get this out if the way, whether they have or not,…

Hot Docs 2014: Kung Fu Elliot (Matthew Bauckman & Jaret Belliveau)

Screening for the final time toady at the Scotiabank Theatre at 9:30 is this highly entertaining, often funny, film about no-budget movies, bad acting, ‘good’ kung fu, and lies. In Moncton, New Brunswick, we are introduced to Elliot Scott and his girlfriend Linda. Elliot’s only desire is to be Canada’s kung fu star, like his heroes…

Tim’s Top 12 of 2012

12 is my lucky number, so I figured that would be the number of films I pick for my favorites of 2012, it kind of works, because then that would be one each month, though, for anyone who reads my blog, you’re well aware that I’ve seen a lot more than 12 movies this year!…

Firewalker (1986) – J. Lee Thompson

  The goofy 80s adventure movies continue with this goofy, campy clunker starring Chuck Norris, Louis Gossett Jr. and Melody Anderson. Stealing from the vein of Raiders of the Lost Ark (right down th an appearance by John Rhys-Davies) and Romancing the Stone, the film pairs up Chuck as Max Donigan and Louis as Leo Porter, a pair of adventurers who…

Invasion U.S.A. (1985) – Joseph Zito

I decided to take a bit of a break from the Sci-Fi and Horror films (though there are films on both fronts I can’t wait to see or re-watch) and just indulge myself in some 80s action cheese. Which brings me to the Golan-Globus production of  Invasion U.S.A., a shoot-em-up romp starring the one and only Chuck…