Made in the prime of Dolph's career "Red Scorpion" roars to life, with lots of highly-charged scenes of explosive, hard-hitting violence and bloodshed. And yet it's the hilariously boisterous and buffoon-like antics of the great, veteran, character-actor M. Emmett Walsh and his hot-headed humor, that really balances out the movie beautifully. In the film he plays a loud-mouthed blow-hard and his frequent patterings of expletive-ridden banter, gives the film a great amount angst and loads of off-color humor. Not to be out-done, Dolph takes a side-trip into the bush country and while he's hanging out with the natives, it's here that he experiences several life-changing events, which eventually leads him down the road to a full-blown "spiritual awakening". Ultimately this miraculous transformation of mind and soul culminates in a scene, where his adoptive tribe ceremonially etches "the mark of the hunter" into his flesh - which is, fittingly enough, a scorpion. What could possibly top that? Well... not to leave out this fine detail, one that's central to the movies plot, which is, during Dolphs tribal experience, not only does he acquire a new out-look on life, but also a new pair of sandals to go with it.Red Scorpion was filmed primarily in Africa in 1988 on a fairly modest budget, however when it's all said and done it remains one of Dolph Lungren's best and most memorable action films - which over the years has been a true pleasure to watch time and again. Red Scorpion is well-paced throughout and is rarely, if ever dull even for an instant. As mentioned above, the films violent proceedings are effectively livened up by the cantankerous, foul-mouthed, rantings of one M. Emmett Walsh (endearingly known as "The Fatguy from Red Scorpion"), who is very much so the polar-opposite of Lundgren, in both appearance and personality. In light of such stark contrasts of character, this consequently ensures that he's at odds with the films star every step of the way, in other words the two characters play-off each other beautifully. The casting as a whole is very solid and no actor looks/sounds out of place, it's production values (the Russian military base, helicopter mock-ups, custom-made weaponry, etc.) may not be award-winning, but are strong throughout and I absolutely love how this film was edited and in so doing gives the films many action scenes an extra kick in the pants. The films crew was comprised mostly of young talent, who where still quite green to film-making (especially the films first-time producers) and the enthusiasm that they put into this movie is often palpable, perhaps none more so then the level of excitement witnessed during the chase sequence which erupts about 15 minutes in.Made in the late-80's Red Scorpion is very much a product of the time, because not only does it look and sound like a lower-budget version of Rambo III (consequently that film was released less then a year earlier); but due to how many of the films action scenes were staged and especially in the way in which they were edited. If I were to drop another 80's reference, well, the more you watch Red Scorpion, the stronger the "A-Team" vibe seems to get. As this film packs in lot's of quick fiery/dust-filled cuts of boisterous AK-action and vehicular carnage, which are formulamatically accompanied by such familiar sights, such as: drab military vehicles, flimsy wooden guard-towers (always a favorite target), a spattering of sand-bags, chain-link fencing, stacks of wooden boxes and ammo-crates and of course what 80's action film-set would be complete without some 55-gallon steel drums worked into the picture - still a common part of the equation today, but absolutely mandatory in those days. So even though it's set in the distant desert climes of the African bush country, the film still manages to deliver, a strong dose of familiarity and 80's action movie clichés by the truckloads, which is undoubtedly part of it's charm. If I were to keep score of the films action scenes, I'd say there's at least three major extended battle sequences and a good half-dozen or so smaller skirmishes, ultimately Red Scorpion never stays quite for long. It's a hard-hitting bloodbath, that's predestined to be fought on the hot, arid, plains of central Africa.*Note* If you're a fan of hard-hitting, helicopter carnage, take notice of this film, because it happens to be one of the best movies to fill that niche. Red Scorpion delivers lots of first-rate rotary-action, which is due entirely to the fact that on several occasions the Russian-made Hind Gunship (or a mock-up of one) is prominently featured front and center. This notorious machine of war is ever-ready to wreak death and destruction from above - and as you'll see, it very often does. As the Cold War-era saying goes "never smile at the crocodile", which for those who are not familiar, is a reference to the Hind's fearsome looking shark mouth paint-scheme, which only increases it's already impressively intimidating appearance.Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention it. For those of you who haven't up-graded to the Blu-ray yet, Red Scorpion is simply cooler then ever and now sports some utterly bitchin' flame-throwers! Just why they left that out the first time, I'll never know.

Red Scorpion is set in Africa where the Russians & Cubans are at war with the natives as they try to bring Communisim to the country, however the war isn't going as well as they had hoped so step in hard as nails Spetznats special forces solider Lieutenant Nikolai Rachenko (Dolph Lundgren) who is ordered by his boss General Vortek (T.P. McKenna) to go undercover in Africa to assassinate an anti-Communist revolutionary & hero to the people Ango Sundata (Ruben Nthodi) by gaining the confidence of his right hand man Kallunda Kintash (Al White). It's a tough job but someone has to do it. Nikolai apparently saves Kallunda from a public execution at his own risk which has the desired effect of making Kallunda trust him, as Nikolai spends time with Kallunda & eventually meets Sundata he realises that he has been fighting for the wrong side & wages a one man war on his own country & it's army in order to liberate Africa & it's people...This South African, American & Namibian co-production was directed by Joseph Zito & I actually had quite high hopes for Red Scorpion in a cheesy over-the-top testosterone filled late 80's action flick of the kind they just don't make anymore sort of a way but after wasting 100 odd minutes on this rather mundane & boring film I realised why they don't make these sorts of films anymore as Red Scorpion exemplifies just about everything wrong with the late 80's & early 90's action flick fad. I like my action films with plenty of action & gratuitous violence in them, unfortunately Red Scorpion actually tries to have some sort of meaning & say something relevant about world events at the time. Now, I'm all for a bit of drama & seriousness if it's done properly but having the Sweedish actor Dolph Lundgren playing a Russian in Africa finding his true self, redemption & have him join some tribe or other in which he then instantly sympathises with the whole country & realises how bad & evil his own country is while running around in nothing but shorts & sandals with a silly haircut is not the way to go about it. Right? A lot of the running time of Red Scorpion is devoted to Lundgren wondering around as he develops a conscience, yawn. Where's all the action? Where are all the one-liners? Where is the obligatory love interest for Lundgren to save at the end? Why is Red Scorpion so boring & quite frankly dull? These Russians can't be that smart can they? I mean you have invaded Africa & have waged war on it's people so who do you send in to kill one of your biggest enemies? That's right a huge soldier with a Russian accent. Yeah, that's going to work isn't it? I mean I am sure every African will help big Lundgren, totally & utterly trust him & give him pretty much anything he wants. Wouldn't you? For my money Red Scorpion has too much preaching & moralising with the main plot an obvious take on apartheid & the events in Africa at the time. I usually like big, dumb, brainless action flicks but I found Red Scorpion seriously dull.Even the action sequences aren't that good, they feel too random with lots of shoot-outs where lots of people are shot but you never feel Lundgren is in danger & of course all the bad guy's have terrible aims & can't shoot straight. Lots of things blow up too but for no real reason & Lundgren is rarely in the same shot so again there's no threat there or last minute escapes or anything of that sort. For all we know these explosions could be happening twenty miles from where Lundgren is. There's a reasonable car chase about twenty minutes in but it's ruined by a very inappropriate & somewhat annoying song on the soundtrack. The violence is also disappointing, there's barely any fighting or hand to hand combat in it & there's not much blood either. A guy sticks some spikes into Lundgren as a form of torture & Lundgren shoots a soldiers arm off but other than that this is actually surprisingly tame.With a supposed budget of about $16,000,000 Red Scorpion was shot in Namibia in Africa & therefore breaking an international boycott of the country for it's apartheid regime which this film ironically tries to highlight, apparently the budget for the film was pulled & the cast & crew were stuck there for three months while the money was got back. The cast is alright although Lundgren is awful, it's always nice to see Brion James in something but what happened to his character who seemingly disappears half way through the film.Red Scorpion is a anti apartheid drama disguised as an action film & a bad action film at that. This has no real meaning, the dialogue sucks as does the story & action. Not one I would want to see again in a hurry. Followed by the totally unconnected Red Scorpion 2 (1994).

This movie was produced and written by none other than Jack Abramoff, recently in the news (and in the slammer) due to being convicted of illegal lobbying and fraud. Eventually, two White House officials (J. Steven Griles and David Safavian) and a congressman (Bob Ney) were also convicted in connection with his activities. You can get an accurate feeling for the "Rules? What Rules?" attitude of Abramoff and his cronies in the Bush White House by watching this bit o' dreck.Although this movie was released during the Reagan Era, when the atmosphere was also "Rules? What Rules?" - see Iran/Contra, the October Surprise, etc. etc. - the Bush Administration has taken this to new and previously unimagined extremes. I am anxiously awaiting a movie (written by Scooter Libby- or maybe a sequel from Abramoff when he gets out) that captures the zeitgeist of stupidity and arrogance that only a true insider can really know. "Team America" comes close (America!! F*ck Yeah!!), but it is intended as a comedy. What we have experienced the last seven and a half years is no joke.

Plot Synopsis: Nikolai, a Spetznaz (Soviet Special Forces) commando is sent to an African country to assassinate the leader of a resistance group fighting the Soviets. Thrown in jail for disorderly conduct, he helps a resistance soldier & an American journalist escape. Failing to kill his target, Nikolai decides to help the resistance overthrow the Soviet base camp.You'd think that the popularity of the "Rambo" trilogy would give rise to a whole host of clones, imitators & rip-offs, but that is not the case. So far, only "Red Scorpion" was made to copy the legendary Stallone character. While both the idea of the film's hero being a Soviet & the casting of Dolph Lundgren in the role was inspired, the film fails to make the idea work as well as it should. Certainly the first few minutes, with Lundgren managing to stage a hilarious bar-room brawl in order to get in close with his target, along with an effective chase scene, works to the film's favour. But the film does not explore the idea fully, only giving a failed mission & an interrogation as the reason for the commando to betray his superiors & help the locals fight. Brion James' character is built up to provide a menacing villain but is not seen at the climax. All in all, the film is a decent popcorn flick.