Cannon has made a few entertaining films, such as Over the Top, Cyborg, Bloodsport, Assassination, among others. But they've also made some real bombs, and this is one of them. Michael Dudikoff wasn't exactly a top action star, but after American Ninja commenced, he did become fairly well known. He even had his own T.V show at one point called Cobra. In this movie, you wouldn't know that Dudikoff was a top action star. Not only is this movie dreary in the extreme, but it's pretty boring as well. Aside from a decent action scene during at a parade of sorts, and a memorable one at a construction sight, it's pretty unremarkable. A wilderness setting works in horror movies, but not in the action genre, so much. It's also pretty brutal at times. They don't show it close up or anything, but kids are murdered. You'd think I'd be used to that sort of thing, since I'm such a horror movie fanatic, but the truth is I'm not. I can't stomach kids being killed in anything. I just feel so dirty after watching it. Michael Dudikoff gives a poor performance in this one. He's always had a bit of natural charisma, but his quiet demeanor does him no favors. He doesn't have a whole lot of dialog. It worked in American Ninja 1 & 2 to a certain extent, but it got tiresome here. Steve James is a cool guy, no doubt about it. I wouldn't call him a great actor, but he has charisma in spades. John P. Ryan is laughably bad as the villain. He is so hammy, it becomes OTT, and extremely annoying. I couldn't stand him. If anyone cares, the ending sets up for a sequel that obviously never commenced. Thank god for thatFinal Thoughts: This feels like a STV movie, even though it had a theatrical run. It's dull, dreary, and not much fun at all. If you're a Dudikoff fan, stick with some of his better work. I can't understand why there are so many positive reviews on here for it3.7/10

Michael Dudikoff and Steve James finally find the movie of their standards in this deadly chase thriller set in the deep South. Dudikoff plays Hunter, an aptly named ex-secret service agent who goes to the aid of his buddy Larry (James). The latter is a black politician who is the target of, what else, slimeball white supremacists. Definitely way better than the rotten "American Ninja" films, "Avenging Force" is a great suspense flick that consists of great fight scenes. My personal fave fight part is when Hunter fights Glastenbury, played by big, bald John P. Ryan.

For Cannon films - and Michael Dudikoff - this is definitely above average. There's Steve James (who leaves the movie much too early, sadly. He didn't like being in this film, by the way, and you'll see why), good action scenes (brutal fights!), and scummy and hateful bad guys who get what's coming to them. What more could you ask for?

Ex-Secret Service agent Matt Hunter (Michael Dudikoff) is forced out of retirement after his best friend, a prominent Politician, Larry Richards (Steve James) has been ambushed and nearly assassinated by a group of racist, intelligent militiamen called "The Pentagle." The Pentagle is a highly organized enterprise, with connections to various businesses and implications to affluent persons. They control even many of the highest levels and parts of the government. The Pentagle believes in militarism, anarchy, persecution, and total white supremacy. Many are martial arts experts, who challenge others to games of death in the swamplands area...In the wildernesses, mangled bodies lay strewn everywhere. The ideal theory of "survival of the fittest" comes into play. Matt Hunter, hoping to avenge the tragedy of his once (and only) trusted friend, decides to embark on his own mission of justice. Hunter though, still is weakened through, plagued by psychological problems resulting from a childhood trauma. He is afraid of confronting his past for he felt that he was responsible for his own parents' deaths by a bomb. However, Hunter must stay fit, putting the past aside and letting life go on...currently, he must amend the deeds of the true evil ones... Seeking help from an old friend, Admiral Brown (James Booth) along with the "Agency," Hunter must beat these adversaries in their own twisted game of predator and prey...AVENGING FORCE may be a silly movie at times, granted. The cartoonish, right-wing militia-type villains are appallingly stereotyped. The acting is also a little mediocre. That, having been said, AVENGING FORCE stays as a good movie with lots of panache. Fun, energetic, and well made. Avenging certainly contains well cheoreographed stunts and sequences. The shoot-out during the Mardi Gras Parade is a thrilling spectacle! The confrontation between the scrupulous and the unscrupulous in the wetlands of the jungle are amazing as well. This violent action movie includes lots of swordfights, strange costumes, philosophies about the imminent collapse of capitalism in society, and kendo fighting.AVENGING FORCE also briefly touches upon themes of narrow-mindedness, racism, and corruption in the highest powers of authority. Movies like these were made to appeal to action fans. Everything an action fan desires for is here to surfeit their thrist for high power escapist type movies! AVENGING FORCE is a fine motion picture worth watching for non-discriminating genre fans especially. A great amount of suspense is injected along with a solid story line and a well-to-do cast. If you can't take the heat...RATING: **1/2 out of ****.