release year: 1988
genre: action
viewing setting: home DVD, 10/24/00 and home laserdisc 10/24/97
what I expected: action
what I got: An excellent mix of martial arts, gunplay, shady government operations, and interwoven plots.
synopsis: Police sergeant Nico Toscani is damn sure going to do everything in his power to figure out the connection between drug dealers, bombers, and assassins who are operating in his area.
impressions: This was Steven Seagal's first movie, and one of his best. In the early days of Seagal's film career, his movies guaranteed one thing: bone-breaking fight scenes. Well, this movie delivers. It's nice to see Seagal doing what he does best (breaking bones) rather than what he doesn't (directing, inserting environmental messages into his movies.) A lot of people ridicule his fighting style, but as someone who actually took aikido for a couple of years, I can tell you that it not only works, but that Seagal's moves are the follow-throughs that we were never allowed to do in class (for the simple reason that we stopped at joint locks and holds instead of continuing on with the move and breaking ligaments or tendons.) Anyhow, enough of that. This movie is a good police/action story and you should see it.
acting: Seagal did good - he worried about fighting and being a bas-ass, not trying to deliver a higher message. Pam Grier and Henry Silva were notable as well.
final word: One of Seagal's best.
rating: B