Review of Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985) by Clay B — 08 Oct 2010

How can you decide whether a sequel is better than the original?? When the character and movie go further... or maybe establish a history or a beginning. Prequels are usually considered the pick of a series... the development, the story, the creation.... in this case, the beginning of the legend of Colonel James Braddock as the most infamous Vietnam prisoner of war.

Braddock and his squad are captured at the height of the Vietnam war. Years after the war had ended, POW's become forgotten ghosts, abandoned to the sadistic and murderous Vietnamese, venting their fury against the Americans, or in some cases, forcing them to confess to war crimes to denounce the US worldwide. Colonel Braddock though refuses, and thus over the years watches his team shrink down to 4 men... and one turn traitor. Enduring taunts, violence, slave labor and torture, including the infamous rat in a bag scene, survival is main focus on his mind... until tricked by Commandant to confessing to war crimes and letting one of his men die of a drug overdose.

It all comes to a head as Braddock makes his escape in leg chains... only to return and burn down the prison camp and the demons that inhibit it and in his mind and free the other prisoners.

Dark, tense and a lot of realism thrown in amongst the B-grade set, it definitley is a movie to remember to my standards as far as action films goes, and one of Chuck's best.

Enjoy!