Crime Lords (1991 Video) User Reviews

Didn't mind it.

[bombersflyup · 6/10 · 9 April 2024]

In Crime Lords, two ex-cops find themselves alone in their fight against the largest crime syndicate in the world. The action takes us from the streets of Los Angeles to the back alleys of Hong Kong.

I didn't mind this buddy cop movie, it's amusing and entertaining for portions, but certainly no family film. It does drag a bit, with a lackluster conclusion. Susan Byun plays the fem fetal well however and there's a little atmosphere and music accompaniment as well. James Hong's in everything man, like why was Russo unsure of him and not know how much danger they're in, when he was literally standing in front of him earlier telling his lackey to give him money. Also why so eager to catch them all of a sudden, when he just let them go in the first place.

Most, if not all, of the cliches that you would expect to see in this sort of material are indeed present and accounted for. That's not a bad thing.

[tarbosh22000 · 6/10 · 29 February 2024]

L. A. Cops Elmo Lagrange (Crawford) and Peter Russo (Hewitt) are partners, but also an Odd Couple of sorts. Lagrange is a crabby curmudgeon and perhaps not the best physical specimen on the force. Russo is young, hip, idealistic, and happenin' - his stylish mullet tells that tale. On the trail of some CRIME LORDS, the two men fly to Hong Kong. So now they're an Odd Couple, Cops On the Edge and now Fish out of Water. Getting mixed up with Ling (Hong) and Jennifer Monahan (Byun) lead them to the ultimate confrontation. But will they survive their Hong Kong escapade?

At the time of this writing, there are almost 1,300 reviews on this site. So perhaps it makes sense that then, and only then, would we be getting to Wayne Crawford. We have that luxury now, in 2024, but video store patrons in the early 90's would likely not have rented 1,300 movies before they got to Crawford. Consequently, it seems, not a heck of a lot of people discovered the charms (?) of Wayne Crawford.

Crawford looks like a cross between Sam Waterston and Leo Rossi. He claims to have a "spare tire", and is unshaven and cynical. His Comeuppance-relevant credits include White Ghost (1988) and L. A. P. D.: To Protect and to Serve (2001). His partner in 'Crime is Martin Hewitt, known for his run of Erotic thrillers in the 90's. There is a scene, presumably played for laughs, where he and Crawford get into a fight while wearing only their underwear. Perhaps this served as a good training ground for what he did later on.

Buddy cop movies were all the rage at the time, and Lethal Weapon (1987), Red Heat (1988), and Action Jackson (1988) ruled the video stores of the day. This seems to be the inspiration for Crime Lords. Throw in a WYC, Captain John Strauss (Le Plat), some silly dialogue, wacky situations, but also some fish-out-of-water cop action in Hong Kong, and there you have it. Most, if not all, of the cliches that you would expect to see in this sort of material are indeed present and accounted for. That's not a bad thing.

The main drawback to Crime Lords is its pacing issues, which are very noticeable throughout. But it was nice to see those old one-color computers with their dot matrix printers, and other nostalgic items on display. Plus there was a scene with a flicked cigarette that showed some cinematic ingenuity on Crawford's part (he also directed the film).

Clearly the Elmo Lagrange character was near and dear to his heart, because he returned in American Cop (1995). In the end, however, Crime Lords isn't exactly must-see viewing, but it's entertaining enough for what it is. If you've seen every other buddy cop movie ever made and are looking for another one, there's always Crime Lords.

Entertaining B-action movie

[lor_ · 18 June 2023]

"Crime Lords" is an unpretentious, entertaining actioner marking genre lead Wayne Crawford's first helming assignment. Direct-to-video release benefits from snappy packaging.

Crawford, whose push for big screen recognition was stillborn with the failure of his 1986 title roler "Jake Speed", has been cranking out action pics ever since, often on location in South Africa. This one is convincingly set in L. A. and Hong Kong but the crew once again includes many South Africans.

Crawford comfortably essays a scruffy, burnt out L. A. cop working for the car theft squad who's unwillingly teamed with a new partner, cocky ne'er-do-well Martin Hewitt (a long way from "Endless Love").

Hewitt screws up a stakeout at a warehouse and the duo are suspended. So they improbably take it on themselves to go to Hong Kong to pursue James Hong and his gang of thieves.

With cute little girl Mel Castello tagging along as a mascot, they find the baddies but are outsmarted by Hong's main squeeze, beautiful Susan Byun. The anticlimax has them uncovering a smuggling operation while Byun turns out to be a good guy after all.

Sentimental ending has Crawford adopting the waif Castello and bringing her back to L. A. to be a playmate with his own daughter. Silliest scene has an oriental henchman about to slice Hewitt in the worst way, but it turns out to be his ear that's lopped off.

Crawford's easy going manner carries the picture, and hot-blooded Hewitt makes a good foil in the buddy cop genre. Byun, who's also starring in Troma's "Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD" is an eyeful, and she has a sex scene with Crawford. Villain Hong gets to act in both Chinese and English in this one.