Episode 107 - Season 07 Wrap-Up!

Welcome to 2022!

For our first episode of the year, we present to you our season finale for season 7! It was a long road to get here where we covered a lot of films this year. In 2021, we actually covered more movies in a year than we ever have before. Because of that, we decided to split our Non-Cannon movies off into another episode that will be up next week. Today, it's Cannon only!

We once again want to thank you for tuning is for over four years, and hope you'll stick with us to the bitter end. It's been a long road, and we've still got some ground left to cover. Thanks for sticking around through 2021.

Here's to a great new year!

Up Next: Non-Cannon Wrap-Up!

Episode 97 - The Human Shield (1991)

Once more into the fray with a Michael Dudikoff thriller from Cannon. Even this close near the end you can still look forward to movies like this. They've become a Cannon Films staple. Unfortunately, this one is not up to the standards of the last few Dudikoff pictures. It's got choppy pacing and a plot that is to threadbare to be worth the running length, among other issues. It also wastes much of the talent behind the camera.

This one is not a recommend. You can do better, both from Dudikoff and Cannon. See the episodes to learn the full details!

Randy's Score: 2/5

JD's Score: 2/5

Up Next: Sidekicks!

Episode 96 - The Hitman (1991)

We made it, everyone. It's the last traditional Chuck Norris action movie. Though ostensibly more of a crime movie, there is still plenty here that you would expect from one of his movies from the era. Cannon hasn't completely forgotten who they are.

That said, it is a bit more subdued and not quite as strong as some of his better works. Nonetheless, The Hitman does hold up as one of Cannon's better action flicks of the era, and a good final bow from the genre for Chuck Norris. Though he would do other films, even with Cannon, none of them were in this style. In other words, this is the end of an era.

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Up Next: Human Shield!

Episode 95 - The Borrower (1991)

This one is a bit of a throwback. Cannon isn't really known for their horror pictures, and The Borrower isn't going to change that impression. Although they rescued this movie from studio limbo, the resulting story about an alien who changes bodies by ripping off heads doesn't really go anywhere. As a result, the film is rather dull.

That being said, it isn't entirely a waste of time. Check out the episode above for what exactly makes this movie stand out.

Randy's Score: 2/5

JD's Score: 2/5

Up Next: The Hitman!

Episode 94 - American Kickboxer 1 (1991)

With recent entries you might think Cannon is hanging in there, holding on as long as they could to deliver cheap action classics. Unfortunately, this is about the time they also starting putting out duds like American Kickboxer 1, a movie with far more spare parts than any cohesive whole. As a movie it just doesn't hold together.

And unlike American Ninja 4: The Annihilation or Delta force 3: The Killing Game, it also isn't saved by a director putting in a bit more work behind the chair. What you are left with is a rather flat experience reminiscent of the lesser entries in Cannon's library. A shame considering how surprisingly fun the last few entries were.

This one just doesn't work.

Randy's Score: 2/5

JD's Score: 2/5

Up Next: RAD!

Episode 93 - Delta Force 3: The Killing Game (1991)

Once more we reach the end of another Cannon franchise. By 1991, the company was headed toward the brink, but despite that they still struggled to put out what they could to remind audiences of their golden days, even when the budgets didn't quite allow them to hit their old heights. Delta Force 3 is a prime example of a classic style Cannon movie coming out past its prime.

However, the combination this time, much like American Ninja 4: The Annihilation, is surprisingly successful. Delta Force 3: The Killing Game isn't close to perfect, as the above episode will tell you, but it does exactly what it sets out to do. this is easily the strongest film in the series since the original. Quite a feat considering it is the third entry in a Chuck Norris series without Chuck Norris.

Lower budgets were no obstacle to Cannon Films, at least not when it comes to this one. The movie works. As always, check out our full opinions in the episode.

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Up Next: American Kickboxer!

Episode 92 - American Ninja 4: The Annihilation (1991)

The American Ninja series has been quite the journey here at Cannon Cruisers. The first entry was a stone cold genre classic, enjoyed by many of the years, including us, but the series wasn't handled as well as it should be afterwards. The sequel was actually a very fun entry but, unlike what Cannon would normally do, took two years to get that proper sequel made. Thankfully the second movie was near the equal of the first despite that fault. It looked as if Cannon would have had itself a winner of a series.

Unfortunately, American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt was not the sequel the series deserved. It took yet another two years to be made, and came out in 1989 when Cannon's fortunes were on the downturn. At the same time, series star Michael Dudikoff and director Sam Firstenberg were nowhere to be seen and their absence was felt. Aside from the presence of series regular Steve James, the movie was a huge disappointment to us here.

So we are delighted to say that our impression of American Ninja 4: The Annihilation is considerably brighter than the last one. What exactly has improved? Well, just about everything, aside from the lack of Steve James and a few other annoyances. It's the sequel we expected the third one to be. Check out the episode above to hear our full thoughts!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Up Next: Another action-packed sequel that's better than you might think!