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After picking up my action cinema bible (also known as Jeff Speakman’s The Perfect Weapon) on special edition Blu-Ray from Kino Lorber, I am now ready and able to finally acquire another long-loved example of 80’s action awesomeness as the company is ready to unleash Michael Dudikoff’s 1986 Cannon Films epic Avenging Force in September. After Chuck Norris famously portrayed the character of Matt Hunter in Invasion USA, Dudikoff would go on to kick right wing ass with fellow American Ninja co-star Steve James in this film which could be seen as a prequel or sequel or just another movie from Cannon that has the hero being named Matt Hunter as Norris was supposed to do this one as well. This Cannon output from ’86 is a stripped down, lean and mean slice of 80’s action cinema with Dudikoff picking off the members of the domestic terrorist group Pentangle and their cronies one at a time with hand to hand fury. Check out the cover art and specs to the new release below!
Matt Hunter (Michael Dudikoff, American Ninja) is an ex-secret service agent trying to protect his best friend from a super band of rightwing terrorists known as Pentangle. When the ruthless organization torches his ranch and kidnaps his little sister, Hunter is forced into Pentangle’s barbaric “manhunt”, played out in the remote swamplands of Louisiana. It’s the ultimate game of cat-and-mouse, as Hunter employs an awesome array of martial arts skills in his desperate fight for survival… and revenge. Stylish direction by action veteran Sam Firstenberg (Revenge of the Ninja) with a stellar cast that includes Steve James (Hero and the Terror), James Booth (Robbery) and James P. Ryan (Runaway Train). “Michael Dudikoff’s style is reminiscent of a young Clint Eastwood.” – The New York Times
Product Extras:
Audio Commentary by Director Sam Firstenberg and Star Michael Dudikoff
Intro by Sam Firstenberg
Interview with Michael Dudikoff
Theatrical Trailer
Optional English Subtitles
The special features are lean on this one but just like The Perfect Weapon, it’s worth it to have the sharper picture and sounds as well as the commentary by both director Sam Firstenberg and star Michael Dudikoff. The interview with Speakman on the Perfect Weapon was worth the price alone so I’m looking forward to seeing Dudikoff’s chat along with his commentary with Sam. Truly priceless if you’re a fan of this genre and this era. I was fortunate enough to be old enough to see Avenging Force on opening weekend in the theaters, so this is a great childhood memory for me.
I got to chat with Sam a few years ago when he was promoting his book Stories from the Trenches and we, of course, chatted about Avenging Force which was originally known as Night Hunter. Check out the behind-the-scenes intel Sam dropped on me during the interview about the movie being planned as a direct sequel with Norris before changing!
It is correct that the project was developed for Chuck Norris and he rejected it, but I was not aware of it until a few years later. All I know is that one day during the sound mixing of American Ninja, Menahem Golan presented me the script, that was entitled then Night Hunter and asked me to read it and let him know if in my opinion it would be good for Michael Dudikoff and Steve James to star in. The script blew me away and I thought it will be perfect for them so upon my recommendation, Cannon Films decided to make this movie and I was asked to direct it. Until today I have no idea way Chuck Norris rejected this wonderful script by James Both and declined to star in it.
Check out the full interview with Sam below!!!!
You can Pre-Order Avenging Force now from the official Kino Lorber website and it hits on September 10th!
