Lone Wolf McQuade
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Movie Reviews of Lone Wolf McQuade
Movie Review: Mishmash of Inspiration and Mulling Through the Motions
Summary: 3 Stars
Official Actual Rating: **1/2 (two stars and a half)Steve Carter's (Big Bad Mama) 1983 extremely modest spaghetti western, martial arts, and low budget action hybrid, Lone Wolf McQuade, is by itself a rather remotely intriguing early eighties lackadaisical B-grade prime specimen of energetic action sleepwalking at it's most soothingly appealing and inversely blankly catatonic. Consider an imaginary high school athlete with the entire facility and anatomical ability to become an All-American yet with the small time desire to only be the school's custodian part time after-school and you generally get the bleak situation. In it's most coolly aloof, melodramatically sincere, and yet reclusive callow telling, the film represents nothing more than a passionate circular shift of narrative under-reaching for apathetic self-contentment that often seems to find narrative momentum however never fully follows it anywhere. The spaghetti western contexts of insurmountably acute mysticism (especially in the opening sequence) do raise Mc Quade (virtually superior to all of Norris's filmed efforts to date) above mere action exploitation that unfortunately never sufficiently pursue the true ambition of the material leaving McQuade rather land-logged residing firmly on the peak of B-film incomplete what-ifs that never quite completely come to fruition.
Many attest ,along with Norris himself, that his sizable popular internationally acclaimed CBS 1990's hit television series Walker, Texas Ranger was the natural substantive continuation of the themes, spiritual issues, and ideologies first addressed here. That being the case the network television remake astronomically refined, unquestionably advanced, and palpably addressed quintessentially all of McQuade's questionable issues of detail inconsistency, dramatic impotency, and chronic characterized one-dimensionality that intensely haltered this particular effort from being nothing more than routine 1980's actual fodder.
The story (what ultimately remains) revolves around the title character, renown Texas Ranger J.J. McQuade (Chuck Norris), who with typical Sergio Leone flourishes remains an all-encompassing renegade loner who's reputation retains all matter of reverence from the community, ecstatic masculine camaraderie with his former superior/best friend (L.Q. Jones, or could we say comedy relief perhaps), typically bureaucratic reservations from his new superiors, fear by his side saddled novice junior partner Kayo (Robert Beltran, of Star Trek Voyager fame) that complicates his solitary angst, and begrudging admiration from his partially aloof ex-spouse and his flourishingly attractive young daughter. As you can already speculate, McQuade is your typical Harry Callahan Alpha male on the loose for any rambling treachery or illegitimate legal disrespect that might nonchalantly mosey on down to his little hamlet of the world for some criminal jollies. The illegal gun smuggler mastermind of this piece is an egomaniac martial arts guru Rawley Wilkes who habitually taunts and impedes upon McQuade's private and professional lives at every conceivable turn that is of course until the predetermined showdown of a lyrically Fistful of Dollars reminiscent magnitude at the film's conclusion. In this case the numero uno (number one in other words) of disrespect is none other than "Kung Fu" television series martial arts cult celebrity (heavily misused significant talent) David Carradine (Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2) who makes the grandiose most of this typically campy action kitsch film by brandishing his pathologically deep eccentricities that incredibly grandly unveil misogynistic resplendent sour dimensions of sadistic grandeur to the remainder of these conventionally predictable Texan action mantra proceedings. Essentially at it's kick punctuated heroically laced center, this silver screen neighborhood of repetitious action compromises of nonexistent sweep over anecdotal embellishment summarily leave the viewer dramatically windswept towards the invariable possibilities that laid in waiting that couldn't quite trespass beyond convention onto the screen itself.
As for the DVD edition of Lone Wolf McQuade, the DVD edition contains a competently serviceable 1.85 to 1 wide-screen anamorphic presentation, a flawlessly dynamic Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono audio track, the theatrical trailer, and typically no other film related options to speak of.
P.S. When a group of Mexican police officers attempt to squelch a ragtag group of horse rustlers, always bring the precursory Chuck Norris along just in case.
Movie Review: Worth a Revisit
Summary: 3 Stars
Although the DVD release is still reasonably recent, this rough tough "a man's gotta do" action yarn is now looking a little dated. However, don't be too put off by the year of production, as despite the wispy plot, this is actually still a good movie that could arguably stack up to some of todays counterparts. This is the tale of Walker, Texas Ranger before he was turned into a pious, moralistic clean cut nice police officer, honed to housewife revered perfection for reruns on the Lifestyle and Hallmark channels. Gritty, tough and rough around the edges, the action comes fairly thick and fast, and the movie also has the necessary formula for the genre:1)The hero must be in law enforcement (of some kind)insubordinate, but always right, extremely tough and be able to take unbelievable amounts of physical beatings.
2)The villian must have inexhaustible resources, a private army the size of Mexico City, and nefarious and vindictive motives.
3)Anyone close to the hero must be kidnapped, beaten, killed, maimed or otherwise visited upon by the bad guys goons. (This must also include pets, partners, dry cleaners etc)
4)The final showdown must be hand to hand combat to attempt to disguise the predictable ending, despite the availability of an arsenal the size of Fort Bragg.
Having all of these characteristics (and more) in place, and like any good Norris/Seagal style movie, fans of this sort of stuff will find plenty to enjoy. This is NOT a bad movie by any means, and as long as can plant your sense of credibility on hold for a couple of hours, this will certainly liven up a rainy afternoon. Good supporting cast, and David Carradine gives an early glimpse of his more villainous qualities, he so well exuded in the more recent Kill Bill movies. Enjoy
Movie Review: One of Chuck's Better Films
Summary: 3 Stars
A rather decent action film of the early 80s where Chuck Norris' character is almost the prototype of his Walker, Texas Ranger, television character. A good cast with David Carradine and Barbara Carrera allows for a decent film with good action sequences that keep it above your other average action duds from that time.
Lone Wolf McQuade (Chuck Norris) is, as his name suggests, the Dirty Harry of Texas Rangers, roaming the Texas badlands looking for villains and damsels in distress. McQuade soon comes upon arms trafficers who kidnap his daugther. Out for blood, McQuade comes to the isolated bandit's layer to start hell. The final showdown is a martial arts exchange between McQuade and his antagonist played by none other than David Carradine (Grasshoper from the Kung Fu 70s TV series.)
This is a fun action/martial arts film with plenty of wild scenes to keep the audience thrilled. The acting is decent and the film offers a memorable villain played by David Carradine. A fun film to rent or own.
Movie Review: norris in his prime
Summary: 3 Stars
OK let's be realistic; this movie is horrid. The plot lacks any coherence whatsoever and the acting is exactly what should be expected from any chuck norris movie. Just when you think it can't get any worse, he slams on the superchargers so that he can free himself from his own grave and subsequently foil the plot of a midget in an electric wheelchair. yeah. however, if you are a chuck norris fan, this is the movie for you. A friend of mine bought it for comedic value, and we have had many laughs at its expense, but if you actually enjoy this crap you will be temporarily interested in its nonstop action and memorable characters. At least in this movie norris is doing what he does best, not trying to be some kind of pacifist pussy saviour in the true worst movie ever, the bells of innocence.Movie Review: probably the best Chuck Norris movie
Summary: 3 Stars
This is probably the best Chuck Norris movie because it's got the best supporting cast by far (David Carradine and Barbara Carrera) and is just in-your-face lone wolf Chuck at his level best. A ranger who won't quit and will take it to the limit and then some. A steady dose of testosterone from beginning to end. There's some martial arts in here but it's not really the centerpiece in the way that that's all there is to the movie (like other Chuck Norris films). A perfect movie for what TBS used to call "Movies for Guys Who Like Movies." If you like Chuck or a traditional action movie, then I think you'll like Lone Wolf McQuade.