"Black Moon Rising" is a formulaic and predictable but nevertheless entertaining and fast-paced thriller based on a story originally written by no less than John Carpenter. Apparently he wrote it in the 70's already, but the content was admirably processed and adapted in order for the events to take place in a typically 80's setting with even faster cars and contemporary hot starlets like Linda Hamilton that are, in fact, most unattractive by today's standards. Tommy Lee Jones, on the other, rarely looked cooler than here in his role as super-thief Sam Quint. Quint is hired to steal a tape containing evidence against a dodgy company, but quickly finds himself chased by the company's fanatic security guards as well as his governmental employer. Quint hides the tape inside a prototype race car (one that reaches up to 350mph!), but before he has a proper opportunity to recover it, the wheels get stolen by a professionally organized syndicate of car thieves. That's how Quint meets and gradually falls for Hamilton's character Nina, as she's a sly and experienced kleptomaniac! "Black Moon Rising" is a prototypic example of an action movie in which one little handling (like hiding a tape in the truck of a car) snowballs into a gigantic avalanche of clichéd but even so enjoyable situations until a grotesque finale is inevitable. In this case the finale involves an impressive piece of stunt car driving at great height. Literally! It's a forgettable and lightweight 80's action movie, but Harry Cokeliss' direction is fairly competent and the dull moments can easily be count on the fingers of one hand. Robert Vaughn is on automatic pilot (pun intended) in his confident role of relentless crime boss and there are some neat cameos from familiar names like Keenan Wynn, William Sanderson and Richard Jaeckal. Nothing special, but definitely a fine choice if you seek mindless rainy-Sunday afternoon entertainment.
52 Reviews
"There's a couple of ways we can do this."
bannonanthony18 November 2002
Warning: Spoilers
Once again, a film that the majority seems to hate, but I enjoyed. I got the DVD of this film for my birthday. On the cover was a review from the Chicago Sun-Times, calling it 'a stylish and consistently engaging thriller'. I assume that this review was from Roger Ebert as he writes for the Sun-Times. If it was written by him, then I'm glad that for once there's a movie both he and I agree on. There's a couple of other films which I like that he gives good reviews too as well, but there are others I like which he just seems to find fault with. I'm glad that this was not one of them. True, it does have some minor faults, but overall it is a great film. I had heard about this flick about two years ago when I read about it in a sci-fi movies book. I admit I was attracted by the notion of a futuristic supercar. In hindsight though, the car (the Black Moon of the title) looks rather silly, but the film itself is rather good.
SPOILER WARNINGS: Tommy Lee Jones (before he was REALLY famous) plays Sam Quint. an ex-thief who does odd jobs for the government. His current assignment is to get a computer tape containing the tax records of a crooked Las Vegas corporation which is being investigated by the government. He gets the tape but finds himself being pursued by the company's head of security, a ne'er-do-well named Marvin Ringer, who happens to be an old rival of his. Meanwhile, a trio of scientists, lead by ex-NASA tech Richard Jaeckal, is travelling to LA with their invention, the Black Moon, in tow to show off to a group of investors. Quint hides the tape in the rear of the car, hoping to retrieve it later. But shortly after the car reaches LA, it is stolen by a car theft ring working for ruthless tycoon Ryland. Quint is given three days by the Feds to recover the tape. He intends to break into Ryland's skyscraper fortress to get both the car and the tape back. To do this, he teams up with frustrated thief Nina, and the two surviving scientists (the third gets run over by Ryland's right hand man). But Ringer is still in hot pursuit and when he catches up with him at one point, Quint gets beaten within an inch of his life. But he keeps on going. Basically, he saves the day, gets the girl and beats the bad guys.
The performances are very good in this picture. Tommy Lee Jones is great as lovable rogue Quint as are Linda Hamilton as Nina and Lee Ving (CLUE) as the ruthless Ringer. Robert Vaughn is rather two-dimensional as Ryland, but that's probably because Ryland is a rather thin character. One of my favourite actors, Nick Cassavetes, appears as Ryland's number two, a lanky thug named Luis, and he is very menacing, but doesn't have much to do. POLICE ACADEMY's Bubba Smith is surprisingly good in a straight role as gigantic FBI agent Johnson ('Don't f**k with the government' he warns Quint!). The action is also brilliant and very realistic too. After Quint gets his butt kicked by Ringer and his goons, he doesn't recover instantly like other action heroes would. He is still carrying the bruises from that particular beating at the end of the film. As said before, the Black Moon is rather stupid looking, but it proves itself in a car chase around LA (which comes rather early in the film). I would strongly recommend a viewing of this film.
SPOILER WARNINGS: Tommy Lee Jones (before he was REALLY famous) plays Sam Quint. an ex-thief who does odd jobs for the government. His current assignment is to get a computer tape containing the tax records of a crooked Las Vegas corporation which is being investigated by the government. He gets the tape but finds himself being pursued by the company's head of security, a ne'er-do-well named Marvin Ringer, who happens to be an old rival of his. Meanwhile, a trio of scientists, lead by ex-NASA tech Richard Jaeckal, is travelling to LA with their invention, the Black Moon, in tow to show off to a group of investors. Quint hides the tape in the rear of the car, hoping to retrieve it later. But shortly after the car reaches LA, it is stolen by a car theft ring working for ruthless tycoon Ryland. Quint is given three days by the Feds to recover the tape. He intends to break into Ryland's skyscraper fortress to get both the car and the tape back. To do this, he teams up with frustrated thief Nina, and the two surviving scientists (the third gets run over by Ryland's right hand man). But Ringer is still in hot pursuit and when he catches up with him at one point, Quint gets beaten within an inch of his life. But he keeps on going. Basically, he saves the day, gets the girl and beats the bad guys.
The performances are very good in this picture. Tommy Lee Jones is great as lovable rogue Quint as are Linda Hamilton as Nina and Lee Ving (CLUE) as the ruthless Ringer. Robert Vaughn is rather two-dimensional as Ryland, but that's probably because Ryland is a rather thin character. One of my favourite actors, Nick Cassavetes, appears as Ryland's number two, a lanky thug named Luis, and he is very menacing, but doesn't have much to do. POLICE ACADEMY's Bubba Smith is surprisingly good in a straight role as gigantic FBI agent Johnson ('Don't f**k with the government' he warns Quint!). The action is also brilliant and very realistic too. After Quint gets his butt kicked by Ringer and his goons, he doesn't recover instantly like other action heroes would. He is still carrying the bruises from that particular beating at the end of the film. As said before, the Black Moon is rather stupid looking, but it proves itself in a car chase around LA (which comes rather early in the film). I would strongly recommend a viewing of this film.
Beauty & The Beast
ccthemovieman-17 December 2006
Tommy Lee Jones in a love scene??!! Yikes: what a scary thought. It happened maybe only once on film in his illustrious career. This is that film. With Linda Hamilton, too! I guess this is another version of her TV show, "Beauty and The Beast."
Okay, I don't mean to be that nasty because Jones is a terrific actor and usually a lot of fun to watch, especially when he's chasing bad guys.
This film really had a Class B-type of feel to it despite the presence of those two actors, along with Robert Vaughn and Richard Jaekel....and a very cool car called "Black Moon."
The best thing about the movie was that it was fast-moving, meaning it was interesting enough not to get bored. Other than that, it's an ordinary heist tale that isn't too memorable.
Okay, I don't mean to be that nasty because Jones is a terrific actor and usually a lot of fun to watch, especially when he's chasing bad guys.
This film really had a Class B-type of feel to it despite the presence of those two actors, along with Robert Vaughn and Richard Jaekel....and a very cool car called "Black Moon."
The best thing about the movie was that it was fast-moving, meaning it was interesting enough not to get bored. Other than that, it's an ordinary heist tale that isn't too memorable.
Entertaining action - plus!
bianca-1322 August 1999
No Tommy Lee Jones fan should miss this outing. While it's not great cinema, it IS great fun. The action is top-notch and the characters are appealing. The relationship between Jones and Hamilton is surprising well-balanced for an 80s action film and some of the lines are definitely ones to put in the memory bank and quote. It has a bit of everything for a fun rent (or purchase) - action, romance, coldly wicked villains, a flawed hero, a strong heroine, humor and a bit of pathos. (Watch the emotions play across Jones' face in his conversation with Keenan Wynn.) It's a favorite in my circle of film fans.
Ho-Hum Super-Car Actioner.
Space_Mafune12 January 2007
Former high-tech thief turned government agent Sam Quint (Tommy Lee Jones) must find a means of retrieving a stolen super-car named the Black Moon, which has hidden inside of her a data tape the FBI desperately wants, from a skyscraper/fortress run by a criminal mastermind named Ryland (Robert Vaughn), who has an whole underground operation dedicated to the redistribution of stolen vehicles and is more than willing to resort to murder in order to protect himself and his organization. Quint's only link to the inside may be one of Ryland's own car thieves, a spirited young woman named Nina (played by Linda Hamilton), if Quint can convince her to help?
Never before have I witnessed such an outstanding cast in such a by the numbers action thriller, a movie that essentially owes its plot, believe it or not based on a story by John Carpenter, more to "Knight Rider" than anything else. Jones tries to add some humor to this one's always much too serious atmosphere but it's not enough to make this even the least bit memorable. Despite some good stunts arguably ahead of their time in some respects, everything just feels so routine and ho-hum here it's as though everyone was just hoping to get this turkey done and collect their paychecks as quickly as possible before moving on to other projects. Forgettable. Watch "Knight Rider" instead.
Never before have I witnessed such an outstanding cast in such a by the numbers action thriller, a movie that essentially owes its plot, believe it or not based on a story by John Carpenter, more to "Knight Rider" than anything else. Jones tries to add some humor to this one's always much too serious atmosphere but it's not enough to make this even the least bit memorable. Despite some good stunts arguably ahead of their time in some respects, everything just feels so routine and ho-hum here it's as though everyone was just hoping to get this turkey done and collect their paychecks as quickly as possible before moving on to other projects. Forgettable. Watch "Knight Rider" instead.
Under-rated 80's fun!
Movie-Misfit25 November 2014
I remember seeing Black Moon Rising on the shelves in the video store when I was just a little one, digging through the dusty cassette covers in the kung fu section. It had caught my eye with that awesome looking car on the front, along with the hilarious Supervan!
And even though it was the eighties, where video stores were a little more lax on ratings, it was still something I never really jumped at hiring.
Moving on 25 years and as both a fan of eighties movies, and as an independent film director, I have been going back to those films of my childhood that I was never lucky enough to see!
I recently picked up Black Moon Rising in my local Poundland, and couldn't wait to get it on screen. As an actor, I think Tommy Lee Jones is fantastic! Yet, at the same time, I find him very hard to watch... I think it's that accent. To me, it seems exaggerated for the most part. But in BMR we have a younger Jones who is a little more appealing.
In a nutshell - John Carpenter's story and screenplay isn't Oscar winning, but it is a hell of a lot better than most eighties flicks, and is highly entertaining! Action, twists, plenty of stars and some chuckles help fill out this adventure thriller that is worth the watch!
In my opinion - Anti-hero Quick (Mr Jones) pulls off his role of a professional thief with such calm and coolness rarely seen in today's cinema. Because of this, he comes across as a much more likable character than usual. Anti-heroine of the hour, Linda Hamilton, squeezes as much of her big hair and cheekbones out of every scene, jumping in on the action as much as her co-star does as the ultimate car thief who falls for her victim.
BMR hardly drags anywhere in its running time, with the excitement kicking off from the get-go mixing car chases with tense escapes, dark murders with great stunt work leading to a fun end showdown that ties it all up nicely!
Black Moon Rising is well worth the watch and still entertains almost 30 years later...
And even though it was the eighties, where video stores were a little more lax on ratings, it was still something I never really jumped at hiring.
Moving on 25 years and as both a fan of eighties movies, and as an independent film director, I have been going back to those films of my childhood that I was never lucky enough to see!
I recently picked up Black Moon Rising in my local Poundland, and couldn't wait to get it on screen. As an actor, I think Tommy Lee Jones is fantastic! Yet, at the same time, I find him very hard to watch... I think it's that accent. To me, it seems exaggerated for the most part. But in BMR we have a younger Jones who is a little more appealing.
In a nutshell - John Carpenter's story and screenplay isn't Oscar winning, but it is a hell of a lot better than most eighties flicks, and is highly entertaining! Action, twists, plenty of stars and some chuckles help fill out this adventure thriller that is worth the watch!
In my opinion - Anti-hero Quick (Mr Jones) pulls off his role of a professional thief with such calm and coolness rarely seen in today's cinema. Because of this, he comes across as a much more likable character than usual. Anti-heroine of the hour, Linda Hamilton, squeezes as much of her big hair and cheekbones out of every scene, jumping in on the action as much as her co-star does as the ultimate car thief who falls for her victim.
BMR hardly drags anywhere in its running time, with the excitement kicking off from the get-go mixing car chases with tense escapes, dark murders with great stunt work leading to a fun end showdown that ties it all up nicely!
Black Moon Rising is well worth the watch and still entertains almost 30 years later...
Good example of how good movie resources can go so wrong.
freddobb-22 March 2001
Worth missing unless you're really hard pressed for something to watch. It's really amazing how a movie can go so wrong even with talented actors but without any kind of a decent script/plot or decent directing and especially editing.
Miss it.
Miss it.
A Golden image of the 80's
PredragReviews12 May 2016
Sometimes even movies released into regular circulation from the major studios fall through the cracks. This is definitely one of those. Tommy Lee Jones as the industrial spy is as cool and calm as he's ever been. Linda Hamilton is as good as she's ever been and Richard Jaekel turns in another steady performance. The plot is clever and tight enough to satisfy most and the directing by Harley Cockliss (whatever happened to him? This seems to be his only outing) is tight and well paced. The first twenty to thirty minutes of the film were surprisingly good. The story opened briskly, there was some very sharp dialogue (some of it written by John Carpenter, who had originally been hired to direct), and one solid (and underrated) car chase between Jones and Linda Hamilton. This is just a good action thriller, and it has one of the best fist-fight scenes ever.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
Unmemorable actioner.
barnabyrudge10 June 2004
Made before Tommy Lee Jones was a household name, but after Linda Hamilton had endured her first encounter against The Terminator, Black Moon Rising is a simplistic action flick of little consequence. Unmemorable and formulaic from start to finish, it is the kind of film you can watch without once requiring to shift your brain out of first gear. In fact, chances are your brain may not even make it out of neutral!
Super-thief Quint (Jones) steals an important disk. However, when the heat turns on he has to hide this stolen item, so he puts it in a racing car being towed across the American mid-west. His plan is to follow the racing car for a while and to retrieve the disk at a safer time. Seems like a good plan, until ace car thief Nina (Hamilton) shows up and steals the racing car for her boss Ryland (Robert Vaughn). Quint must get his disk back, but he must first get into Ryland's ultra-secure, high-tech lair where the racing car is being kept.
The film was written by John Carpenter (who directed Hallowe'en and The Thing, among others) but you'd be hard pushed to find any of his trademark flair here. This film's director, the little-known Harley Cokliss, strips the script of any novelty it may have had and presents the film in utterly routine fashion. There's an outrageous car stunt near the end which may encourage you to press the rewind button a couple of times, but beyond that Black Moon Rising fails to register a single memorable moment. One for Tommy Lee's completists only, I'm afraid.
Super-thief Quint (Jones) steals an important disk. However, when the heat turns on he has to hide this stolen item, so he puts it in a racing car being towed across the American mid-west. His plan is to follow the racing car for a while and to retrieve the disk at a safer time. Seems like a good plan, until ace car thief Nina (Hamilton) shows up and steals the racing car for her boss Ryland (Robert Vaughn). Quint must get his disk back, but he must first get into Ryland's ultra-secure, high-tech lair where the racing car is being kept.
The film was written by John Carpenter (who directed Hallowe'en and The Thing, among others) but you'd be hard pushed to find any of his trademark flair here. This film's director, the little-known Harley Cokliss, strips the script of any novelty it may have had and presents the film in utterly routine fashion. There's an outrageous car stunt near the end which may encourage you to press the rewind button a couple of times, but beyond that Black Moon Rising fails to register a single memorable moment. One for Tommy Lee's completists only, I'm afraid.
Good 80's Super-Car auction!
elvis_dolan15 September 2005
Nice little film this though some may disagree! Of course, I'm a fan of this kind of low-budget action/sci-fi fare, and the fact that John Carpenter wrote the screenplay is a bonus. While it does come across as a TV movie, or a pilot for a series that never was, it keeps rolling along with enough action to please the most hardened of late-night, post-pub film fan. It's funny how many programmes featured suped up vehicles in the 80's, and while Black Moon should be linked most closely to Knightrider, I think it has a lot more in common with Streethawk. Tommy-Lee Jones is excellent in the lead role and it's nice to see him in a younger incarnation, getting involved in all the gritty events.
All in all, a good, hidden gem of a film. Give it a try!
All in all, a good, hidden gem of a film. Give it a try!
80s B-movie
SnoopyStyle11 April 2015
Quint (Tommy Lee Jones) is an unflappable thief who is hired by the FBI agent Johnson (Bubba Smith) to steal data from the Lucky Dollar Corporation. Company goon Marvin Ringer (Lee Ving) recognizes him as he escapes. He hides the tape in an experimental car during a gas station stopover. Nina (Linda Hamilton) leads a car theft ring and steals the prototype Black Moon. It's a high tech operation inside a highrise fortress run by Ed Ryland (Robert Vaughn).
At least the car chases are real but it doesn't make them exciting. There are lots of things that seems cheesy watching it this many years later. The chop shop operation is unreal. It's like some sort of Bond villain hideout. Part of me wondered if the elevator would open up to a shark tank when killing that guy. The car is also cheesy and doesn't hold up. There is the setup where the FBI has hired a thief to steal evidence. How is that ever legal? It would easily be discovered and rule inadmissible in court. The script from John Carpenter is not well thought out. This is a B-movie cobbling together Knight Rider, some interesting actors, a heist and a couple of car chases. It's better made than most other B-movies. In a minor note, they are steering way too much in that car. It looks out of control. On the other hand, it can claim jumping a car from one highrise to another.
At least the car chases are real but it doesn't make them exciting. There are lots of things that seems cheesy watching it this many years later. The chop shop operation is unreal. It's like some sort of Bond villain hideout. Part of me wondered if the elevator would open up to a shark tank when killing that guy. The car is also cheesy and doesn't hold up. There is the setup where the FBI has hired a thief to steal evidence. How is that ever legal? It would easily be discovered and rule inadmissible in court. The script from John Carpenter is not well thought out. This is a B-movie cobbling together Knight Rider, some interesting actors, a heist and a couple of car chases. It's better made than most other B-movies. In a minor note, they are steering way too much in that car. It looks out of control. On the other hand, it can claim jumping a car from one highrise to another.
Dodge Daytona Turbo!
TSMChicago18 September 2005
Great film that takes me back to the '80s in a good way.
I agree with the positive reviews already posted and fondly remember "Black Moon Rising" projected on the giant screen at the Virgina Theater in Champaign, IL. The car chase scenes are tremendous and they don't trash the Dodge Daytona Turbo. I was driving the same car at the time and it has always been my favorite vehicle.
Considering the participation of John Carpenter and Roger Corman it really is a "good little film" as everyone seem to call it. New World released several of these small gems in the '80s. "The Philadelphia Experiment" and "Eddie and the Cruisers" come to mind. Small budgets, great stories and terrific acting in films that actually improve with age.
Any film with Tommy Lee Jones is worth a look and Linda Hamilton is always a looker. Check it out.
I agree with the positive reviews already posted and fondly remember "Black Moon Rising" projected on the giant screen at the Virgina Theater in Champaign, IL. The car chase scenes are tremendous and they don't trash the Dodge Daytona Turbo. I was driving the same car at the time and it has always been my favorite vehicle.
Considering the participation of John Carpenter and Roger Corman it really is a "good little film" as everyone seem to call it. New World released several of these small gems in the '80s. "The Philadelphia Experiment" and "Eddie and the Cruisers" come to mind. Small budgets, great stories and terrific acting in films that actually improve with age.
Any film with Tommy Lee Jones is worth a look and Linda Hamilton is always a looker. Check it out.
No deep thinking required here. Just turn off your brain and enjoy.
Hey_Sweden22 July 2019
Tommy Lee Jones plays Quint, a professional thief hired by the government to acquire a tape that will incriminate a major corporation. While he is taking it on the lam, he quickly stashes the tape inside an experimental super-car (the "Black Moon" of the title), which is then stolen by another professional thief, Nina (Linda Hamilton) and her precision team. When the two thieves meet, sparks fly, but Quint will be in big trouble if he doesn't get that tape back. So he teams up with two of the cars' designers to take on Ninas' big bad evil boss Ed Ryland (Robert Vaughn).
The first screenplay ever sold by beloved genre filmmaker John Carpenter, it spent years in development before finally becoming a reality, released by New World in 1986. It's exactly what one would hope it would be: engaging, pedal-to-the-metal nonsense. It's well-paced, it's sexy, it's violent, the car itself is a marvel to behold, and there's some real high-tech finesse displayed by "heroes" and villains alike. It also has a heart, evident in scenes with the great Keenan Wynn (in his final feature film appearance) and Jones.
The real interest here lies in this eclectic cast. We have a typically charismatic, cool-as-can-be Jones (who apparently did most of his own stunts and came up with a lot of Quints' wisecracks) in the lead, an appealing Hamilton as his love interest, football player turned "Police Academy" regular Bubba Smith as a federal agent, Richard Jaeckel, Dan Shor, and William Sanderson as the Black Moons' creators, punk rocker & occasional actor Lee Ving as Jones' persistent nemesis, and Nick Cassavetes as a henchman. Vaughn is smooth and amusingly slimy in the kind of white-collar bad guy he could play in his sleep. Al White, one of the jive talking dudes from "Airplane!", has a bit as a maintenance man.
"Black Moon Rising" is overall a fairly routine, somewhat futuristic B action picture, but is still quite agreeable on that level.
Seven out of 10.
The first screenplay ever sold by beloved genre filmmaker John Carpenter, it spent years in development before finally becoming a reality, released by New World in 1986. It's exactly what one would hope it would be: engaging, pedal-to-the-metal nonsense. It's well-paced, it's sexy, it's violent, the car itself is a marvel to behold, and there's some real high-tech finesse displayed by "heroes" and villains alike. It also has a heart, evident in scenes with the great Keenan Wynn (in his final feature film appearance) and Jones.
The real interest here lies in this eclectic cast. We have a typically charismatic, cool-as-can-be Jones (who apparently did most of his own stunts and came up with a lot of Quints' wisecracks) in the lead, an appealing Hamilton as his love interest, football player turned "Police Academy" regular Bubba Smith as a federal agent, Richard Jaeckel, Dan Shor, and William Sanderson as the Black Moons' creators, punk rocker & occasional actor Lee Ving as Jones' persistent nemesis, and Nick Cassavetes as a henchman. Vaughn is smooth and amusingly slimy in the kind of white-collar bad guy he could play in his sleep. Al White, one of the jive talking dudes from "Airplane!", has a bit as a maintenance man.
"Black Moon Rising" is overall a fairly routine, somewhat futuristic B action picture, but is still quite agreeable on that level.
Seven out of 10.
Decent enough 80's action thriller.
poolandrews16 January 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Black Moon Rising starts in Nevada in Las Vegas where professional thief for hire Sam Quint (Tommy Lee Jones) is on a job for the US Government, Quint has been hired to break into the Dollar Corporation headquarters & steal certain tax records on a tape that will implicate the company in tax evasion & other criminal activities. Quint breaks into the Dollar Corporation building but sets off the alarms, Quint manages to steal the tape & escape but head of security Marvin Ringer (Lee Ving) & his guards are hot on his tail. Needing to get back to Los Angeles to deliver the tape Quint stops off at a gas station & hides the tape inside a futuristic car capable of speeds in excess of 300mph called the Black Moon that is being driven to Los Angeles to show potential investors, however things become complicated when the Black moon is stolen by car thief Nina (Linda Hamilton) who works for mobster Ed Ryland (Robert Vaughn). On the run from his Government employers, Marvin & his men Quint must get the car & tape back the hard way...
Directed by Harley Cokliss this supposed hi-tech action thriller was probably made because of screenwriter John Carpenter's new found success with films such as Halloween (1978) & The Fog (1980), Black Moon Rising was in fact Carpenter's first script that he ever sold but it remained unmade until he had several hits under his belt & although the finished film apparently has little resemblance to his original script (Qunit was going to be a Vietnam Vet for instance) he also takes an executive producer credit here as well. Although often billed as a hi-tech thriller & even named after the hi-tech car the Black Moon the script surprisingly ignores the super futuristic car for the majority & has it sit idly in Ryland's compound doing absolutely nothing until the final fifteen minutes. Between the start & end it's a fairly plodding thriller as Quint plans a daring raid on Ryland's tower's to steal the car back as well as the subplot about the race to get the stolen tape back & an expected blossoming romance between leading man Tommy Lee Jones & leading lady Linda Hamilton. At almost 100 minutes long the pace is decent enough & there are a few entertaining set-pieces but the lack of Black Moon super car action doesn't help, also the script is rather predictable with all the heroes & villains identified early on. There aren't any twist's or turns or major revelations the way the plot unfolds & for a thriller that is sort of lazy. The character's are alright, Quint is a likable enough hero although strangely he never gets to meet the main villain Ryland. A few poorly written subplots muddy things a bit, the associate that Ryland has killed, the car stealing racket goes nowhere, the two tower's & Ryland's plans are briefly mentioned but never developed neither are Quint's relationship to Marvin or Iron John & the death of the deaf guy is barely mentioned again after it happened.
Maybe the popularity of the TV series Knight Rider (1982-1986) also helped get Black Moon Rising into production & made, the sleek looking black car isn't a million miles off Kitt in appearance although I don't get why it doesn't have any doors & any driver's & passenger's have to climb in through a hole in the roof! Also it has a turbo mode that makes flames shoot from the exhaust, would flames shooting from the exhaust really make any practical difference in terms of speed? Or maybe the makers just thought it looked cool. The Black Moon car is very 80's actually & quite angular & clumsy looking with a red 'go faster' stripe that runs right around it's body. There are a few decent action set-pieces including a car chase through Los Angeles, a scene in which Quint uses a rope to get from one high rise tower to another from the roof, various other car stunts & some good fights & brawl's. There's not much violence & the sex scene is quite tame.
Probably shot on a fairly decent budget the production values are nice enough, the special effects are good as is the stunt work. The acting is alright too, apparently Jeff Bridges, Don Johnson, Tom Berenger & Richard Dean Anderson were all considered for the leading role that eventually went to Oscar winning actor Tommy Lee Jones who at the time was an unknown. Fresh from The Terminator (1984) Linda Hamilton puts in a good performance here actually.
Black Moon Rising is an entertaining enough way to pass 100 odd minutes, it looks a little dated & the lack of action involving the Black Moon car is surprising but it has it moments without ever being brilliant.
Directed by Harley Cokliss this supposed hi-tech action thriller was probably made because of screenwriter John Carpenter's new found success with films such as Halloween (1978) & The Fog (1980), Black Moon Rising was in fact Carpenter's first script that he ever sold but it remained unmade until he had several hits under his belt & although the finished film apparently has little resemblance to his original script (Qunit was going to be a Vietnam Vet for instance) he also takes an executive producer credit here as well. Although often billed as a hi-tech thriller & even named after the hi-tech car the Black Moon the script surprisingly ignores the super futuristic car for the majority & has it sit idly in Ryland's compound doing absolutely nothing until the final fifteen minutes. Between the start & end it's a fairly plodding thriller as Quint plans a daring raid on Ryland's tower's to steal the car back as well as the subplot about the race to get the stolen tape back & an expected blossoming romance between leading man Tommy Lee Jones & leading lady Linda Hamilton. At almost 100 minutes long the pace is decent enough & there are a few entertaining set-pieces but the lack of Black Moon super car action doesn't help, also the script is rather predictable with all the heroes & villains identified early on. There aren't any twist's or turns or major revelations the way the plot unfolds & for a thriller that is sort of lazy. The character's are alright, Quint is a likable enough hero although strangely he never gets to meet the main villain Ryland. A few poorly written subplots muddy things a bit, the associate that Ryland has killed, the car stealing racket goes nowhere, the two tower's & Ryland's plans are briefly mentioned but never developed neither are Quint's relationship to Marvin or Iron John & the death of the deaf guy is barely mentioned again after it happened.
Maybe the popularity of the TV series Knight Rider (1982-1986) also helped get Black Moon Rising into production & made, the sleek looking black car isn't a million miles off Kitt in appearance although I don't get why it doesn't have any doors & any driver's & passenger's have to climb in through a hole in the roof! Also it has a turbo mode that makes flames shoot from the exhaust, would flames shooting from the exhaust really make any practical difference in terms of speed? Or maybe the makers just thought it looked cool. The Black Moon car is very 80's actually & quite angular & clumsy looking with a red 'go faster' stripe that runs right around it's body. There are a few decent action set-pieces including a car chase through Los Angeles, a scene in which Quint uses a rope to get from one high rise tower to another from the roof, various other car stunts & some good fights & brawl's. There's not much violence & the sex scene is quite tame.
Probably shot on a fairly decent budget the production values are nice enough, the special effects are good as is the stunt work. The acting is alright too, apparently Jeff Bridges, Don Johnson, Tom Berenger & Richard Dean Anderson were all considered for the leading role that eventually went to Oscar winning actor Tommy Lee Jones who at the time was an unknown. Fresh from The Terminator (1984) Linda Hamilton puts in a good performance here actually.
Black Moon Rising is an entertaining enough way to pass 100 odd minutes, it looks a little dated & the lack of action involving the Black Moon car is surprising but it has it moments without ever being brilliant.
Tommy Lee Jones "rises" to the occasion
JBond00712 September 1998
A typical 80's action film with an anything but typical plot, Black Moon Rising is not only a film with a memorable story but also admirable acting. Jones, as usual, delivers a great performance, with Linda Hamilton and the always watchable Robert Vaughn backing him up with their immense talent. Above average stunts, an intriguing score, and a fast-paced and, at times, light-hearted script all combine to form a fun and memorable film.
This movie is so bad its hurtful to watch
mm-391 November 2001
No story, sums up this no brainier action film; I forgot about this film until I saw an old pay tv trailer for this film. Linda Hamalton does her usual non acting, and uses sexuality as her only acting tribute. She is not that good looking either to play that role. In the end Tommy Lee took the money and ran with this film. There's worse films out there, but they sure are hard to find.
Great '80s Fun
utgard1413 January 2014
The FBI hires professional thief Quint (Tommy Lee Jones) to steal some data tapes. But he's caught in the act and has to hide the tapes in a prototype super car called the Black Moon. But then the Black Moon is stolen by a car thief (Linda Hamilton) working for big bad guy Ryland (Robert Vaughn). Entertaining popcorn thriller directed by Harley Cokeliss from a story by John Carpenter. Tommy Lee Jones drops one-liners and attracts babes like a true Carpenter hero. Linda Hamilton is great as sexy car thief Nina. She gets the most character attention of anybody in the film. She's also lovely to look at, with her full lips and big '80s hair that she rocked so well. Robert Vaughn redeems himself from Superman III with a nice hissable turn as a villain here. Lee Ving and Bubba Smith appear as thorns in our hero's side. An underrated movie and a fun one.
Black Moon
BandSAboutMovies1 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
John Carpenter wrote this film around the time of Escape from New York but didn’t end up directing it. After some rewrites by William Gray and Desmond Nakano, it ended up being directed by Harley Cokeliss (Battletruck, Dream Demon).
Sam Quint (Tommy Lee Jones) is a thief hired by the FBI to steal evidence against The Lucky Dollar Corporation of Las Vegas. He’s being followed by former friend Marvin Ringer (Lee Ving) so he hides the disk on a car known as the Black Moon which is on its way for Los Angeles and being driven by Earl Windom (Richard Jaeckel).
The Black Moon was designed by Bernard Beaujardins and Clyde Kwok and made by Wingho Auto Classique. Based on the 1980 Wingho Concordia II, it only had one model built and the stunt cars were molded after the hero car. The third car used was just an interior. In the movie, the car can go at least 325 miles an hour which has to be completely out of control to drive.
FBI agent Johnson (Bubba Smith) meets with Quint, who demands more money from all the danger. Well, it gets crazier when a gang of car thieves led by Nina (Linda Hamilton) takes it. Now Quint has three days to get the disk back or not get paid.
With a cast that has William Sanderson, Robert Vaughn, Keenan Wynn, Dan Shor, Don Keith Opper and Nick Cassavetes, the lead role was originally intended for Charles Bronson. Also, if you think the theme is familiar, it’s the same tune that plays in Blue Thunder.
Sam Quint (Tommy Lee Jones) is a thief hired by the FBI to steal evidence against The Lucky Dollar Corporation of Las Vegas. He’s being followed by former friend Marvin Ringer (Lee Ving) so he hides the disk on a car known as the Black Moon which is on its way for Los Angeles and being driven by Earl Windom (Richard Jaeckel).
The Black Moon was designed by Bernard Beaujardins and Clyde Kwok and made by Wingho Auto Classique. Based on the 1980 Wingho Concordia II, it only had one model built and the stunt cars were molded after the hero car. The third car used was just an interior. In the movie, the car can go at least 325 miles an hour which has to be completely out of control to drive.
FBI agent Johnson (Bubba Smith) meets with Quint, who demands more money from all the danger. Well, it gets crazier when a gang of car thieves led by Nina (Linda Hamilton) takes it. Now Quint has three days to get the disk back or not get paid.
With a cast that has William Sanderson, Robert Vaughn, Keenan Wynn, Dan Shor, Don Keith Opper and Nick Cassavetes, the lead role was originally intended for Charles Bronson. Also, if you think the theme is familiar, it’s the same tune that plays in Blue Thunder.
Another case where the main star is good enough to lift a movie from its lifeless story
Rodrigo_Amaro10 October 2013
Nothing new in this generic and almost lifeless picture who owns its good moments thankful to the charismatic Tommy Lee Jones, who plays the thief hired by the FBI to steal vital information about a corrupt company. It all complicates when he's followed by the company's security after stealing the info which was hidden in a supersonic new car, object of desire of another thief (Linda Hamilton) who works for another corrupt company, commanded by a powerful businessman (Robert Vaughn). The goal is to take the car and the info out of it, and escape the bad guys who are always on his way.
Even having John Carpenter as a writer of this film, "Black Moon Rising" doesn't fly high in ambition. But it's more of a direction problem (Carpenter is not commanding this but it's unknown Harley Cokeliss who's behind this). It offers moderate action sequences that aren't vivid in the memory for too long - the car chases have their qualities while the fight scenes seem a little exaggerated with everyone fighting karate style instead of a more street level kind of fight, something in which we would believe more if seeing characters like those (robbers and security staff members) doing it. The only real exciting part was when TLJ crossed the two towers, a breathless scene that makes it all the while of going through dramatic conversations and some flirting between Hamilton and Jones, somewhat humored but created without interest for us in the audience. The story just wasn't important. Good for some snores in between.
Why I liked it? Well, Mr. Jones was the man here. Always great and with an unique sense of humor, he makes of this a good entertainment with this good-hearted robber who even has time to teach young beginners in the field, as exemplified right in the first scene. Typical case of a movie where the actor carries the whole movie on his back and succeeds. And it was good to see Bubba Smith doing something outside of "Police Academy", here he plays the FBI agent who commands Jones mission. Oh the car! It was fun to watch, it's really fast and sparks some fire but it's no Batmobile or Kit the supercar.
It was OK. Passable, destined only for those really interested in classic adventure flicks from the 1980's. 6/10
Even having John Carpenter as a writer of this film, "Black Moon Rising" doesn't fly high in ambition. But it's more of a direction problem (Carpenter is not commanding this but it's unknown Harley Cokeliss who's behind this). It offers moderate action sequences that aren't vivid in the memory for too long - the car chases have their qualities while the fight scenes seem a little exaggerated with everyone fighting karate style instead of a more street level kind of fight, something in which we would believe more if seeing characters like those (robbers and security staff members) doing it. The only real exciting part was when TLJ crossed the two towers, a breathless scene that makes it all the while of going through dramatic conversations and some flirting between Hamilton and Jones, somewhat humored but created without interest for us in the audience. The story just wasn't important. Good for some snores in between.
Why I liked it? Well, Mr. Jones was the man here. Always great and with an unique sense of humor, he makes of this a good entertainment with this good-hearted robber who even has time to teach young beginners in the field, as exemplified right in the first scene. Typical case of a movie where the actor carries the whole movie on his back and succeeds. And it was good to see Bubba Smith doing something outside of "Police Academy", here he plays the FBI agent who commands Jones mission. Oh the car! It was fun to watch, it's really fast and sparks some fire but it's no Batmobile or Kit the supercar.
It was OK. Passable, destined only for those really interested in classic adventure flicks from the 1980's. 6/10
Very mediocre thriller with noisy action and top-notch cast , including a two-fisted Tommy Lee Jones
ma-cortes11 March 2022
Run-of-the-mill action movie with thrills , intrigue , exciting situations, nudism and some gruesome scenes of violence ; being based on an idea by John Carpenter concerning the theft of a new jet-powered car and its involvement in a FBI investigation . It deals with Sam Quint (Tommy Lee Jones) , he's a previous robber hired by the FBI to steal a computer disk which contains incriminating evidence against a powerful corporation . After stealing the disk, Quint is chased by Marvin Ringer (Lee Ving). At the same time, a prototype car called the Black Moon, is being tested in the desert by Earl Windom (Richard Jaeckel). Quint and Windom later cross paths at a gas station , where Quint hides the disk in the back bumper of the Black Moon . Along the way , Quint is threatened by FBI agent Johnson (Bubba Smith) and while a group of auto thieves , led by Nina (Linda Hamilton), steals the fantastic car . There's a darker side to Sam Quint. Steal from him and you'll find out... From the mind of John Carpenter comes the towering adventure that thunders across Los Angeles and explodes 30 stories above it!
In the film there is non-stop action , breathtaking pursuits , suspense , thrills , impressive leaps between two buildings , and a little bit of violence . Solid interpretations and steady action enhance the routine effort , though the material is mostly pedestrian . Resulting to be a hackneyed but entertaining film with ups and downs . From the beginning to finish the frantic action-packed and fast-moving are continued and that's why it turns out to be fun enough . It's a so-so picture , the only redeeming point of this little car theft number is its occasional accent on humor . Unfortunately , the lighter moments are few and far between . Here the main attraction is the spectacular prototype automobile called Black Moon which can reach speeds of 325 MPH and runs on tap water. This picture represents one of a handful of films in the seventies starring Tommy Lee Jones playing tough and brave agents , rebels or avengers in which he exacts his assignments by violent and expeditive ways , such as : Eyes of Laura Mars , War Zone : The Park , Rolling Thunder , Jackson County Jail . He's well accompanied by a good cast , such as : Linda Hamilton , Robert Vaughn , Richard Jaeckel, Lee Ving , Bubba Smith, William Sanderson, Nick Cassavetes and veteran Keenan Wynn.
It contains an atmospheric and moving musical score by Lalo Schifrin in his usual style . As well as functional and adequate cinematography by Misha Suslov . The motion picture was regularly directed by Harley Cokeliss . This filmmaker is a good artisan directing some decent films such as : Paris Connections , An Angel for May , Warlords of the 21st Century , Dream Demon , That Summer , Black Moon , The Battle of Billy's Pond , Malone , and making episodes of popular series, such as : Dark Knight , The Immortal , Xena and Hercules. Rating : 4.5/10 . Average . The pic will appeal to Tommy Lee Jones and Linda Hamilton enthusiasts . Only for their fans .
In the film there is non-stop action , breathtaking pursuits , suspense , thrills , impressive leaps between two buildings , and a little bit of violence . Solid interpretations and steady action enhance the routine effort , though the material is mostly pedestrian . Resulting to be a hackneyed but entertaining film with ups and downs . From the beginning to finish the frantic action-packed and fast-moving are continued and that's why it turns out to be fun enough . It's a so-so picture , the only redeeming point of this little car theft number is its occasional accent on humor . Unfortunately , the lighter moments are few and far between . Here the main attraction is the spectacular prototype automobile called Black Moon which can reach speeds of 325 MPH and runs on tap water. This picture represents one of a handful of films in the seventies starring Tommy Lee Jones playing tough and brave agents , rebels or avengers in which he exacts his assignments by violent and expeditive ways , such as : Eyes of Laura Mars , War Zone : The Park , Rolling Thunder , Jackson County Jail . He's well accompanied by a good cast , such as : Linda Hamilton , Robert Vaughn , Richard Jaeckel, Lee Ving , Bubba Smith, William Sanderson, Nick Cassavetes and veteran Keenan Wynn.
It contains an atmospheric and moving musical score by Lalo Schifrin in his usual style . As well as functional and adequate cinematography by Misha Suslov . The motion picture was regularly directed by Harley Cokeliss . This filmmaker is a good artisan directing some decent films such as : Paris Connections , An Angel for May , Warlords of the 21st Century , Dream Demon , That Summer , Black Moon , The Battle of Billy's Pond , Malone , and making episodes of popular series, such as : Dark Knight , The Immortal , Xena and Hercules. Rating : 4.5/10 . Average . The pic will appeal to Tommy Lee Jones and Linda Hamilton enthusiasts . Only for their fans .
Black Moon Rising classic action movie of the 80s
eva3si0n27 December 2022
Black Moon Rising classic action movie of the 80s. It is simple in its plot structure. They are trying to attract all the attention of the viewer with the help of chases and action scenes, which are worth paying attention to do not look bad even in our time. Not a bad cast in which seeing Tommy Lee Jones no longer young seems strange. Did he always look like that? Otherwise, Black Moon Rising is a film where the meaning of life is a thief and 2 thieves are literally created for each other. Black Moon Rising can be watched once, it will give the emotions you expect to see from the film of this genre.
Remember, folks... 'from the mind of John Carpenter' isn't the same thing as 'directed by John Carpenter'.
BA_Harrison31 May 2019
John Carpenter might have cooked up the story for Black Moon Rising, but he clearly deemed it unworthy of his further attention, selling the screenplay to be brought to life by the far less talented Harley Cokeliss (Battletruck, Dream Demon). Tommy Lee Jones is the star of the show, playing professional thief Quint, who is hired by the government to steal tapes from a Las Vegas corporation being investigated for racketeering and tax evasion. Hiding the tapes in the back of an experimental prototype car called Black Moon, Quint runs into trouble when the vehicle is stolen by a ring of car thieves, who take it to the fortress-like lair of villain Ed Ryland (Robert Vaughn). Now it is up to Quint, the super-car's owners, and sexy car-jacker Nina (Linda Hamilton) to break into the building and try and retrieve the car and its precious cargo.
Jones is his usual gruff self, and lends this formulaic B-movie nonsense an air of class (although his unibrow is a little distracting) and Hamilton is a capable sidekick and love interest (the actress shedding her clothes for a brief sex scene), but, a couple of well-handled fight scenes aside, Cokeliss' direction is rather pedestrian. For a film about a car that can travel at incredible speed, the action is rather slow at times (the titular car spends much of the time in lock-up). The film's climax, in which the Black Moon leaps from one high-rise building to another, is barely worth the wait (although it obviously impressed someone enough for them to re-enact the scene, not once, but twice, in Fast and the Furious 7).
Jones is his usual gruff self, and lends this formulaic B-movie nonsense an air of class (although his unibrow is a little distracting) and Hamilton is a capable sidekick and love interest (the actress shedding her clothes for a brief sex scene), but, a couple of well-handled fight scenes aside, Cokeliss' direction is rather pedestrian. For a film about a car that can travel at incredible speed, the action is rather slow at times (the titular car spends much of the time in lock-up). The film's climax, in which the Black Moon leaps from one high-rise building to another, is barely worth the wait (although it obviously impressed someone enough for them to re-enact the scene, not once, but twice, in Fast and the Furious 7).
Fairly solid and entertaining, if nothing super special
I_Ailurophile16 January 2023
As the first stretch of the film progresses, setting up the plot to come, it's hard not to marvel at everything that's immediately presented to us. As an 80s sci-fi action-thriller, it bears a very similar look and feel to its brethren of the same timeframe including, yes, 'The Terminator' and 'Escape from New York.' Of course it's no coincidence that I name-drop these titles, as this comes only two years after Linda Hamilton starred in the former, and while he wasn't involved in any other capacity, John Carpenter did write the story and contribute to the screenplay. Lalo Schifrin's score ranges from themes that in some measure recall Carpenter, to others that feel relatively common for contemporary action flicks (but still enjoyable, at that). And we're introduced to plot ideas in short order that include corporate malfeasance, federal investigation, professional thievery, highly efficient criminal operations, and advanced auto engineering. This is all a lot to take in, and it isn't necessarily perfect or essential, but it's nevertheless hard not to have a bit of a good time watching 'Black Moon rising.'
Anyone who appreciates other such 80s fare will feel right at home here. The production design and art direction, stunts, action sequences, and effects aren't necessarily top of the line or wholly remarkable, but definitely kith and kin with what we'd see elsewhere in the decade. Harley Cokeliss' direction, and Misha Suslov's cinematography, are perhaps slightly more noteworthy as they seem especially mindful and flavorful, lending a healthy dose of personality to the proceedings alongside Schifrin's music. And much the same could surely be said for the cast, including not just Hamilton but Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Vaughn, Lee Ving, and Bubba Smith, among others in smaller parts. As the picture allows, all demonstrate the range and skill we've seen from them elsewhere, and all do a fine job of breathing life into their characters that helps the film to feel more compelling than it arguably is otherwise.
Really, I think this is fairly well made in general. And while the plot is familiar in some ways, and maybe predictable to some degree, I do like Carpenter's story, and the other rounding facets of the screenplay he wrote with William Gray and Desmond Nakano. There's one aspect of the tale that I think is especially contrived (when A Man and A Woman share the screen...), though it's maybe not as bad as has been true in too many other movies. In other regards, both in the broad strokes and in its details the narrative is solid and engaging, capably building a little tension and suspense (not least leading into the climactic sequence). Some of the dialogue feels extra smart, characterized by some of the same cheeky wit we expect from Carpenter, while the scene writing might be strongest of all, dynamic and full of spirit - as is true of Cokeliss' realization of it. 'Black Moon rising' is hardly a AAA feature, yet it's meaningfully exciting and entertaining at its best, and no lesser than "common" or "less than extraordinary" at its worst, and that has to count for something.
I don't think anyone is going to confuse this for a first rate action flick. Unless you're a major fan of someone involved (in my case, Carpenter), there maybe isn't anything about the movie to make it a must-see. Yet it's reasonably well written, and made, and the cast and crew do a fine job. It may not be super special, but who says that every feature has to be? If you're looking for something relatively light but still fun and worthwhile, and above all if you're keen on 80s action, then this just might fit the bill. Don't go out of your way for 'Black Moon rising,' but if you have a chance to watch, this is a nice diversion for 100 minutes.
Anyone who appreciates other such 80s fare will feel right at home here. The production design and art direction, stunts, action sequences, and effects aren't necessarily top of the line or wholly remarkable, but definitely kith and kin with what we'd see elsewhere in the decade. Harley Cokeliss' direction, and Misha Suslov's cinematography, are perhaps slightly more noteworthy as they seem especially mindful and flavorful, lending a healthy dose of personality to the proceedings alongside Schifrin's music. And much the same could surely be said for the cast, including not just Hamilton but Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Vaughn, Lee Ving, and Bubba Smith, among others in smaller parts. As the picture allows, all demonstrate the range and skill we've seen from them elsewhere, and all do a fine job of breathing life into their characters that helps the film to feel more compelling than it arguably is otherwise.
Really, I think this is fairly well made in general. And while the plot is familiar in some ways, and maybe predictable to some degree, I do like Carpenter's story, and the other rounding facets of the screenplay he wrote with William Gray and Desmond Nakano. There's one aspect of the tale that I think is especially contrived (when A Man and A Woman share the screen...), though it's maybe not as bad as has been true in too many other movies. In other regards, both in the broad strokes and in its details the narrative is solid and engaging, capably building a little tension and suspense (not least leading into the climactic sequence). Some of the dialogue feels extra smart, characterized by some of the same cheeky wit we expect from Carpenter, while the scene writing might be strongest of all, dynamic and full of spirit - as is true of Cokeliss' realization of it. 'Black Moon rising' is hardly a AAA feature, yet it's meaningfully exciting and entertaining at its best, and no lesser than "common" or "less than extraordinary" at its worst, and that has to count for something.
I don't think anyone is going to confuse this for a first rate action flick. Unless you're a major fan of someone involved (in my case, Carpenter), there maybe isn't anything about the movie to make it a must-see. Yet it's reasonably well written, and made, and the cast and crew do a fine job. It may not be super special, but who says that every feature has to be? If you're looking for something relatively light but still fun and worthwhile, and above all if you're keen on 80s action, then this just might fit the bill. Don't go out of your way for 'Black Moon rising,' but if you have a chance to watch, this is a nice diversion for 100 minutes.
Not a winner, not even a runner-up... too bland
TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews15 November 2010
Quint is a professional thief hired by the government to steal something they can't get legally. He does and gets away, but not without being spotted. Chased by a former "acquaintance", he hides the loot on KITT. Well, OK, not literally... still, it's a duller version of the Knight Rider car(well, the look and speed... there's no AI in this). This vehicle gets hijacked by Nina, who works for Ryland, and with 72 hours to retrieve what he was sent to get, our lead has to find a way to get into the facility(essentially a high tech chop shop, kinda boring). Perhaps the feisty young women is the key? The story is by John Carpenter, and considering that, and its cast, this could have been better. It's basically just... meh. We've seen it before. I got this as part of a 10 sci-fi flicks set. Don't watch this expecting it to really be part of that genre. It's a straight, very 80's action-thriller. We get a little clever dialog, Jones does what he can to make it funny(good, because what little lame comic relief this has doesn't work... and the atmosphere is far too serious), and the characters aren't too bad, if the villain is mighty flat. On the whole, however, it's unsurprising, in spite of a few unexpected turns of events, bits of tension, a chase, a shootout or a physical fight breaking up the long stretches of time where nothing too entertaining happens. It feels like it's more than the 90 minutes it is sans credits. The camera-work is fine. So's the acting(Bubba Smith isn't asked to do a lot, and as such, fares well enough). The theme tune is decent. There is some violence and disturbing content, a sex scene and brief nudity in this. I recommend this to people who love this kind of thing. Anyone else, you can find a better way to spend your time. 5/10
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