Fifteen years ago, a gang brutally murders a family in connection with the mob. Unfortunately, Mark (C. Thomas Howell) survives the incident and becomes a violent police officer. Later, Justice Incorporated manipulates Mark into becoming a vigilante to find the criminals associated with his family's murder. The action sequences within this movie are outrageous, pointless, and clumsy, but I'm gobsmacked by the hilarity of these adrenaline-fueled action set pieces. It has to be seen to be believed. For instance (spoilers), a man bursts into flames and sprints at Mark. To avoid the burning man, Mark jumps out of a three story-building window and rebounds through the roof of a white van. He escapes in the nick of time before the burning man falls into the explosive white van. Truly awe-inspiring!After the action scenes, there's nothing to recommend. Mark is obnoxious and unlikeable. For instance, a partner asks him a simple question and he screams at her face. His behavior continues throughout the movie. The narrative is disjointed with nonstop structure problems from the beginning and many questions go unanswered, but at least he's safe with his family.

THE SWEEPER is another solidly enjoyable action flick from PM Entertainment, made at the height of their powers when they were churning out one action-packed bit of spectacle after another. This one has a great opening car chase involving supporting actor Jeff Fahey, before the plot moves on to maverick cop C. Thomas Howell (virtually unrecognisable behind long hair and a beard) and his efforts to get revenge on the gangsters behind his father's death. The plot is nothing special here, but there are a couple of familiar faces in the supporting cast (Ed Lauter, Fulton Perry) and the action comes thick and fast, with all of the hand-to-hand combat, shoot-outs, vehicle chases, explosions, and big, slow motion crashes that PM used to shoot so well.

"The Sweeper" was shown recently on Showtime. Not having seen it before, we decided to take a chance that paid off well. That said, the film is by no mean a great one, but the director, Joseph Merhi, did wonders as far as filming some of the most amazing sequences of the genre.The story is nothing new. A secret organization recruits young cop, Mark, to join their forces. He has been selected after killing bad guys in the line of duty. Deep down inside, he is always looking to revenge the death of his parents.The opening scene of "The Sweeper" offers a car and motorcycle chase down a pier in Los Angeles that keeps us wondering how was it achieved. The next thrilling sequence involves the grown up Mark, now an undercover cop, pursuing a mugger who has stabbed one of his partners into a nearby building. How was Mr. Merhi and his crew able to shoot that chase on the roof of a high rise in downtown L.A, is beyond comprehension. The whole thing feels real.The same goes for another car chase on a busy highway in which gas tanks are sent into the road and then ignited by the bad guy Mark is pursuing when he fires at them. The last montage involves a small plane that lands on the highway and Mark manages to hold to a wheel.As an action movie, "The Sweeper", offers a lot to the viewer that sticks with it to the end. Joseph Merhi did the impossible to bring these images to the screen.

Having a past that involves his whole family getting killed and his wife leaving him (granted MANY years apart),an undercover cop is recruited by a secretive vigilante organization, after he proves to be a loose cannon.These are the times that I'm glad to have premium cable channels, as this film has no right to be this good. C. Thomas Howell is NOT a movie actor I particularly like. The writers were responsible for such crap-fests as "Direct Hit", "T-Force", and the Anna Nichole Smith travesty "Skyscraper". The I wouldn't give any of the Director previous movies the time of day. Long story short if I passed it upon a video store self, I'd keep walking, but one restless night when there was nothing else on TV & so I watched it. Was really surprised to find a pretty damn good action movie. Even Mr. Howell is pretty good in it.My Grade: B+Where I saw it: Showtime tooEye Candy: Kristen Dalton as Rachel shows breasts in a shower/sex combo scene