The Delta Force (1986)

I watched this movie for the first time over 30 years after it was produced. Considering its age, the fact that it is essentially a Chuck Norris film (whom I really never liked), and the numerous clichées in the premise and story-line, this motion picture was a rather pleasant surprise. It was decently scripted, decently acted (except for Mr. Norris, of course) and well filmed. Even the cheesy special effects don't take away too much from the overall viewing experience.Do not misunderstand me, this is no masterpiece by a long shot, but it definitely makes for some decent escapist entertainment on an evening with nothing much better to do. Definitely above average.

The Delta Force (1986): Dir: Menahem Golan / Cast: Chuck Norris, Lee Marvin, Robert Forster, Martin Balsam, Robert Vaughn: Resembles every other Chuck Norris movie except that this one is apparently based on fact. It regards the hijacking of a T.W.A. airplane in 1985. The Delta Force is a U.S. commando unit, which specializes in terrorist attacks. Lee Marvin heads the operation with Norris as the plot solver. It loses its luster when it becomes obvious that Norris is going to kick the crap out of dozens of terrorists. In fact the rest of the force might as well order out for pizza or get involved in a really good game of Twister because Norris can handle everything on his own just as long as he can take total credit. That means presenting his name in big bold letters above the title on the advertizing poster. Perhaps write, "I'm the man" underneath. Director Menahem Golan does his best and the action is fast but the screenplay isn't fast in terms of intelligence. Robert Forster plays the menacing terrorist leader who scares the crap out of everyone on that flight. Martin Balsam and George Kennedy also star as passengers wondering why they were filming a shitty movie before they had the opportunity to get off the plane. Robert Vaughn also shames himself as part of the idiot force. It could have been about combat operations but instead it settles for dreary revenge fantasy clichés. Score: 2 / 10

My first Chuck Norris movie review was 1981's An Eye For An Eye: the best movie he did without any facial hair (as I like to call "smooth-faced Norris"). My next was 1982's Forced Vengeance: the best movie he did with just a moustache (as I like to call "moustache-Norris"). My most recent was 1991's The Hit-man: the best movie he did with his signature beard (as I like to call "bearded-Norris"). Now I am doing the best movie he did in any era that surpasses them all: The Delta Force. The Delta Force is one of Norris' best known movies and roles as Major Scott McCoy. The movie also stars many old-time actors such as Lee Marvin, Joey Bishop, Martin Balsam, Robert Forester, George Kennedy and Shelley Winters. These classic stars prevent this from being just another, crappy, ultra-violent action flick. Of course it's cheesy beyond belief and cartoon and very violent, but the successfully stays on the side of fun action classic and does not cross into the realm of stupidity. Chuck Norris does a bad job of acting as usual, but the rest of the cast is good. They save what could have been a stinkfest. They are either over-the-top good, or over- the-top bad. In fact, this is like a real-life cartoon. The Delta Force is about a pair of terrorists who hijack a plane with orders to go to Beirut, then take some to Israel. Unbeknownst to them, there's a ragtag group of American mercenaries that they cannot beat. The movie starts off at more of a serious note with the hijack. It may be a bit cheesy, but it is also serious as mean terrorists threaten to destroy all. It is after the Americans arrive that it becomes a cartoon. The music is nice, the action is fun, and everything is so "all- American and nothing else!" What is there not to love?

Delta Force meets Police Academy. I haven't seen anything this bad since Top Gun. I won't elaborate, but the Delta Force units don't work that way and were clothing like that. Matter of fact you wouldn't even know a Delta Force member if you saw him. They are not Rambo types, but men that are highly trained and their major asset to the Delta Force's are that they can think on their feet. No frontal assaults or lone wolf types. They work as a team and if all goes well, you won't even know that they were there, until you notice that you have been burned.The film was a joke and a dishonor to the men that actually died in the crap they tried to depict in the 80's.