On U List of Movie Reviews

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Uncommon Valor (1983)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 2/24

2/24: Before there was Rambo: First Blood Part II, there was Uncommon Valor.

The story is essentially the same. Instead of Rambo, it's Gene Hackman who leads his own Dirty Dozen team to rescue Vietnam P.O.W.s. Of course, it would be disappointing if the camp turned out to be empty or there were no prisoners after all.

The first hour is fine but corny in the 80's sense. By the time the show is underway during the second hour, it's when the movie comes alive. The action is fast and furious that doesn't look altogether different from Rambo: First Blood Part II. Then, the story clicked with me, and I started rooting for the good guys, hence the terrific ending. It's too bad about those who died trying to be heroes.

Gene Hackman is the man and has a great moment by reciting a paraphrased line from Julius Caesar. That's when I knew he took interest in the script from the get-go. Everybody else isn't bad: Fred Ward, Reb Brown, Randall "Tex" Cobb, Patrick Swayze, Harold Sylvester, and Tim Thomerson. What a rag-tag collection of actors. I think part of the reason why their characters went back is to recapture what they lost there in the first place.

All in all, Uncommon Valor is a surprisingly good "stand-up-and-cheer-for-the-heroes" picture.

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