Total Force

USA • 1997 • 93m •

• Directed by: Steven Kaman. • Starring: Timothy Bottoms, Rustam Branaman, J.D. Rifkin, Morgan Daniel, Frank Stallone, Calista Carradine, Oleg Taktarov, Tom Bresnahan, Richard Lynch, Malcolm Yates, Sal Landi, Brian Sheehan, Barry Lynch. • Music by: Barry Coffing.

In an attempt to revolutionize warfare, Dr. Edmund Wellington creates a space-based laser mind-control device called "The Neurolator", a device with the power to turn anyone into an insane, zombie-like killer who explodes after their usefulness is through. After his invention is rejected by the Pentagon, the corrupt Dr. Wellington uses his weapon to hold the world hostage. Only the top-secret special forces group code named "Total Force" has the chance to stop him.

Trailers:

Length:

Languages:

Subtitles:

Trailer

2:06

Review:

This movie wasn't the best I've seen, but it certainly was not the worst (Armstrong was MUCH worse). The basic plot was interesting and somewhat plausible. Corrupt (not mad) scientist Dr. Edmund Wellington (Lynch) has created a device that will cause people to become highly aggressive and kill others. A perfect plan when you're talking about soldiers during wartime. This device makes them the ultimate killing machine. And the added bonus? The soldiers will self destruct afterwards.

But something goes wrong with the self destruction part and the military, whom Wellington has been courting to buy his weapon, get cold feet. Then they decide to pull funding and scrub the project which causes Wellington to retaliate. Add to this mix Frank Stallone and his crew who are trying to stop the project from finishing and you've got the basic plot of ANY `direct-to-video' flick.

The camera work IS jerky and causes one to wonder what is really happening as you can't keep track of the action. That directorial move was a bad one. The acting wasn't bad, even Stallone was `okay', but the overall plot was a pretty thin one. The director, I think, was counting on the action sequences to make up for the lack of plot but as I said earlier, the camera movements made those action sequences difficult to watch.

It should be noted however that some comic relief was offered with the role of Senator Williams, played by Lynch's younger brother Barry. The senator was basically a horny `good old boy' who was after everything in a skirt. His scenes with his brother were pretty amusing too. Best line? Wellington to Williams when Williams says that he needs to `go over the figures' (in the proposal) again. He is actually wolfishly eyeing one of the babes in the movie when he says this and Wellington replies, `Oh, talk to her. She's got a firm GRASP on the situation!' One wonders how many jokes the brothers got out of that one at the next family gathering. :)

Review by rm91945 from the Internet Movie Database.

Off-Site Reviews:

Release Anniversaries

Movie Database

Movies By Year: