Episode 148 - Hanna's War (1988)

Once again we find another obscure Cannon movie, directed by Menahem Golan, no less. but this Hanna's War isn't the hidden gem we were hoping for. No, in fact, it is one of the biggest misfires we've seen in quite some time. This would be where I go into a summary of our overall feelings, but that would be better served listening to this episode instead. There is too much to go over.

Long story short, this is just a complete belly flop of a movie. It isn't disastrously terrible of the like. No, it is disastrously boring, the worst thing a movie can be. Check out the full episode to learn just how a Cannon movie achieves such a state. There is a good reason Hanna's War has been completely forgotten.

Randy's Score: 1/5

JD's Score: 1/5

Up Next: Shy People!

Episode 147 - Surrender (1987)

Here is another one we almost covered during an earlier season but just missed out on. It doesn't help that this movie, despite starring two very popular actors, has still gone without a re-release in decades at this point. 

In many ways Surrender is a typical romantic comedy, but still a surprisingly good one. We definitely thought it was part of an old breed that no longer exists anymore. As usual, you can check out the full episode to see why that is.

You might be surprised with this one. We were.

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Up Next: Hanna's War!

Non-Cannon ~ Episode 111 - Alien Private Eye (1989)

Sometimes a movie comes out of nowhere to surprise you in ways you might not expect. Sometimes it exceeds your expectations in ways you might not expect while also falling short in areas that are just plain bizarre. Alien Private Eye is such a movie. Part detective story, part alien flick, and part action, it's all low budget but with a lot of charm. This is one very much of its era and couldn't have been made in any other time or place.

Think Miami Connection only for detective movies and you might get close to what makes Alien Private Eye tick. Of course, as always, the full episode will give you the full score on this one. A description can't really do it justice.

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Up Next: Surrender!

Episode 146 - Over the Brooklyn Bridge (1984)

Another one we've had a hard time trying to locate. The more generic title probably didn't help, but this is a film that more or less fell through the cracks over the years. It's a fairly simple drama about a man living in the Jewish community of New York back in the 1980s, and it's fairly well done for what it is. But it doesn't have much to help it stand out, nor does it have much in the way of that Cannon Films flavor that made them so well known.

That said, Over the Brooklyn Bridge is a solid watch and well worth seeing, if you can find it. Just don't expect anything too out there or unique. It's just a good movie. Check out what we mean by that in today's episode!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Up Next: Alien Private Eye!

Episode 145 - To the Death (1992)

This one was found at the zero hour. While Cannon has a lot of action movies full of character, American Kickboxer 1 was not one of those movies. It was dull, characterless, and completely forgettable. It was its non-Cannon (and non-canon) sequel, American Kickboxer 2 that was more of a proper action flick, and a lot more fun at that. So it comes as even more a surprise that the almost unknown, yet hated by those who do, official sequel is better than both. To the Death, is pure Cannon Films, and it is amazing that it is not more well known.

The story is essentially about our main character dragged into fighting illegal, underground matches of death battles and a villain who choose more scenery than starving termites and a cast of characters more eccentric than is needed ( but is very much welcome) while this unfolds. What this leads to is a surprisingly enjoyable action flick that deserves far more visibility and notoriety than it has!

As always, the full episode has all the details. Check it out and see just why To the Death is better than its reputation, if it even has any, suggests it is.

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Up Next: Over the Brooklyn Bridge!