User reviews

Vietnam war vet ( Chuck Norris ) and previous POW goes back to Vietnam when is reported that a son was born . As Braddock returns looking for his disappeared wife and kid after downfall Saigon . When Braddock arrives is pursued by a Vietnam general ( Aki Aelong ). Then he schemes to free some children held prisoners in a far prison camp into Vietnam . As long as he's there , stubborn Braddock decides to head Thailand , being pursued by the former officer . The two-fisted Nam vet Colonel Braddock tries continuously to free the kids held captives and suffers various tortures in charge of the evil ruler . Braddock hunks his way through the jungle to save the waif children . He flees along with the kids and harassing his enemies pursuers , escaping the innumerable risks and dangers .

From the beginning to the end the comic-book action-packed , transparent gore , and extreme violence is continued and it's fast movement ; for that reason the picture is pretty amusing though contains some perfunctory scenes . This is a routine actioner with Karate star Chuck Norris as the Vietnam veteran resulting to be one of the best roles he'd made to date , as he's fine as tough, cold , obstinate Colonel Braddock . It's a predictable, xenophobic , shallow and brainless film though will appeal to Chuck Norris enthusiasts because of it contains some excellent action sequences ( when Braddock shoots with his machine gun , several explosions or scenes of motorboat and helicopters ) . In the ink of ¨ Uncommon courage ¨( by Ted Kotcheff ) and ¨ RamboII ¨( George Pan Cosmatos ) with Norris attempting to imitate Silvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarnezzegger like one army man . The film is the best of the trilogy , the first entry deals with Braddock who schemes to free some American soldiers still held prisoners in a far prison camp into Vietnam . The second part ( directed by Lance Hool , the first's producer ) concerns about tortures and Braddock's suffering in prisoner camp . In the three movies there are some nasty , ominous villains well played by Asian players : James Hong , Soon Teck Oh, and Aki Aelong who bear offensive racial stereotypes . Appropriate musical score by Jay Chattaway and adequate cinematography by cameraman Joao Fernandez , both of whom worked in the trilogy . The motion picture is produced in average budget by Cannon films ( Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus ) and professionally directed by Aaron Norris , Chuck's brother . It's a movie for frantic action lovers and warlike genre buffs. Rating : Acceptable, passable and entertaining but violent . Although the movie has some aspects a little tough to take , this moving film still has its fine moments getting a bemusing atmosphere with agreeable results , furthermore grossed lot of money at the box office along with the previous entries .

Of the entire trilogy about Colonel James Braddock, then this third movie from 1988 was the weakest of them all and the least entertaining one. It was maybe because the story was a scrambled mess of incoherency and a story that just wanted too much but delivered too little.

The story is about the end of the Vietnam War and all of Saigon is in turmoil, and as Colonel James Braddock's Vietnamese wife makes a run for the American embassy, her purse and passport is stolen. And her apartment is bombed and a charred corpse of a servant is found inside, leaving Braddock to think that his wife is dead. 12 years later Braddock is sought out in America by a reverend who works in Vietnam, telling him that his wife and son in alive and living in poor conditions in Vietnam. Colonel Braddock returns to Vietnam to find his family.

There wasn't much originality to the story, and it was very anti-climatic to experience what happened to the wife. Although it was also very predictable, to be honest.

And seeing Chuck Norris lead a group of mixed American and Vietnamese children around the jungle, running from a mad Vietnamese officer hellbent on killing every last one of them, was just a bit too trivial and wore thin quite fast.

Part one of the "Missing in Action" movies was adequate, and part two was actually good, but part three is a losing battle that Braddock should never have been involved in. It is a less than mediocre movie on all accounts.

No one put a better action than Braddock on the 80', Cannon group in those glorious times dominated the home video marketplace here in Brazil, I used to went a rental shops on VHS's peak era, in those countless low budge action pictures, Menahen Golan & Yoran Globus were the producers, the Braddock's trilogy, this was the last one, he goes to Vietnam try to rescue his wife, which he supposedly thought already death and his unknown son.

As always happened he has face some Vietnamese colonel in charge of the red Army, the baddass hero struggles against all squadron of soldiers with some scratches and little wounds only, leaving behind endless bodies on the ground, emphatisizing the proposal of the picture is entertain only, forget the consistency and truthfulness, Braddock was the best amusement on Sunday night session on TV!!!

Resume:

First watch: 1992 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 5.5.

"I don't step on toes littlejohn. I step on necks." Chuck Norris is at it again as Col. James Braddock heading into enemy territory; Communist Vietnam to rescue to his once-thought dead Vietnamese wife and his unknown son. The third entry of the series is an agreeable slice of rough and tumble action escapism (though maybe the lesser of the three), which is just as cheaply produced but for most part very well mounted. There was probably has a little more story hanging off it than say its first sequel; "The Beginning". But it feels like its rehashing ideas from the first two, while adding its own angle involving American / Asian orphans. Nonetheless it's just as thick with its overwrought propaganda push and b-grade dialogues with the quick-lipped one-liners. Director Aaron Norris conventionally lays it out. Keeping a brisk pace, even with some blotchy action it's surprisingly lean, sweaty and fist-pumping. I wasn't expecting it to be as sadistic as it was, as I remembered seeing bits and pieces of it thinking it was rather toned down compared to the other films in the series. But it's just as raw and brutal. The performances fall on the static side. Chuck Norris gives a weathered acting performance, but still effectively breaks out those lethal head hugs and neck snapping. After showing glimpses throughout, he finally lets loose in the dying stages by breaking out the big guns. Aki Aleong is vivid, but gets a bit over-the-top as the merciless Vietnamese General who'll do anything to see Braddock admit to the crimes towards his country. Also you got the likes of Jack Rader, Floyd Levine and a tiny show-in by Keith David.

Hey, when Norris learns that she is still alive, HE GOES BACK FOR HER. That's gotta count for something in these days of throw-away relationships.

The final action scene is a touching "bonding" moment as father and son together take down the bad guy! I liked the intended, old-fashioned, "feel good" emotion!

I wonder if the part 2 was successful , that they decided to make part 3 ? It's hard to believe , since it was such bad movie. On the other hand when you look at some of the movies that were successful at box office you may wonder where this world is going.

"Missing in action 3" is more in the style of the first movie (which was the second actually). This one was actually directed by Chuck's brother Aaron. I have to say that at least the pacing here is decent and the whole movie is so laughable that you won't be bored. So thanks for that Aaron. Remember Norris doesn't step on toes , he steps on necks. Oh , and the torture scene... It's no wonder somebody invented all these Chuck Norris jokes.

The quality of acting and writing is still the same , though. Norris has one stony expression through entire movie and there is many moments that don't make sense. The action is unrealistic to say at least .

I recommend this movie only for those who like the "so bad , it's good" movies . Personally while it was better than part 2 I still give it 1/10. The first one from 1984 was the best of the series (2/10) , but obviously the whole series was just terrible.

Better watch "Rambo" , "Rambo 2" or "Uncommon valor". I give it 1/10.

First of all, this movie is a fabulous example of its genre: an action movie. The action in this movie is so solid that at times it's hard to comprehend. For instance, at one point Chuck actually jumps through a window wielding a machine gun. While in midair, he holds his gun up and mows all four opponents (or victims, however you look at it) down with ease. He proceeds to run to the other side of the room, and instead of going out the front door, jumps out the opposite window. Wow Chuck..

This film also boasts some touching moments on top of the action. A gunship flies over Chuck after he has just destroyed a camp with his machine gun and sprays his area with bullets, severely wounding his shooting arm. He tries to lift the gun up to shoot the chopper, but alas, his injury is too severe. A child, freshly saved by Chuck, runs to his aid from a bush and helps him lift the gun up. In this gripping moment, both pull the trigger and take the helicopter down in slow motion.

All in all, a great shoot-em-up action movie with enough character to make your girlfriend shed a tear. Maybe.

Not a bad film for a shoot-'em-up. Suffers from the usual thin plot and lack of character development, but overall an entertaining movie. I would've liked to see more interaction between Braddock and his son; it would've given the story a little more depth to have the two talk a little more than they do. I mean, the boy has just seen his mother gunned down in front of him - it's hard to believe he would come to accept his father so quickly even given the circumstances. Of course, action is what this film is all about and, in that respect, it works!

It's 1975 the fall of Saigon. Colonel James Braddock (Chuck Norris) is one of the last at the embassy. His apartment gets hit and he mistakenly assumes his wife Lin is killed. Lin arrives after her papers get stolen. Chaos ensues. Braddock gets shot and Lin is left behind. It's the present day and Rev. Polanski arrives from Vietnam with news that his wife is alive with his son. Little John from the CIA denies the story at first which only confirms it for Braddock. He goes to Bangkok but Little John tries to stop him. He manages to escape and Mik flies him away. He parachutes into Vietnam and finds an orphanage filled with American-Asian children left behind after the war. He tries to escape with his family but they are captured by Gen. Quoc.

The problem is that Chuck Norris is always so sincere which doesn't fit the ridiculousness of the story. He never quite got the Rambo feel and his movies are never good enough to be realistic. This exists in the neverworld between good camp and good action. It fails as both. Norris is a horrible actor and the clunky dialog doesn't help any of the actors. The movie drags when it runs out of action. For too much of the movie, it really drags.

This movie is the absolute bottom of the barrel, an irresponsible vanity project that is a complete and utter waste of your time.

I have no idea how Norris managed to get funding for this piece of drivel, and even less about how he managed to persuade people to let his brother direct it.

To say that this film is unrealistic is to be entirely too kind. In one pivotal scene, where Norris is busy freeing the children of American POWs in Vietnam, he is spotted by the guards in the prison.

Most people would end up dead, but not Norris. He manages to evade all enemy fire by standing in one place, firing his improbable machine gun, and sweating dramatically in several close-up shots. Despite the fact that he is standing on open ground, and not moving, all the automatic fire directed at him somehow misses him and the children entirely.

Another dramatic moment has Norris sneaking into a compound, and knocking out a guard by apparently kicking him in the leg.

Finally, I point to an important rule in movie-going: The quality of a film is inversely proportional to the number of helicopters which explode in it. A good film, such as the Matrix or Apocalypse Now, cab get away with one.

This film had seven... within a span of half an hour.

Avoid it at all costs.

It's been a long time since I've laughed so hard at a movie. In the last ten minutes Chuck Norris takes on a soldier kungfu style, then survives a grenade that blows up at his feet and takes on a helicopter. All the while these retarded soldiers are watching and claiming they can't cross the border... even though they do as soon as the bady is killed.

Oh yeah, and what about that soldier who keeps spouting "I kill you!". Man oh man.

I recommend this only to people who are entertained by the "it's so bad it's good" genre.

Silly, predictable action movie is definitely topical and does deliver for formula fans. It's got a tough as nails hero, a story with some actual poignancy, and villains we'll love to see get what they deserve. It's got enough bloody squib action, various objects exploding into huge fireballs, and striking Philippines scenery to make it a pretty good time for fans of the genre.

Chuck Norris once again essays the role of former Vietnam war P.o.W. James Braddock, who during the fall of Saigon tries to escape with his Vietnamese born wife Lin Tan Cang (Miki Kim). But she's forced to stay behind when she loses her papers during the melee, and Braddock is led to believe that she perished. 12 years later, he learns that not only is she still alive, but that they'd sired a son, Van (Roland Harrah III). Knowing full well that his government won't try to help him (they even try to STOP him), Braddock travels to Asia to retrieve his family and bring them home.

This is NOT bottom of the barrel fare for the genre. It's certainly watchable, with expert action scenes and stunts. Chucks' brother and sometime director Aaron Norris, who'd been stunt coordinator on the first two flicks, does alright. The movie, written by James Bruner & Chuck himself, has some real heart. Of course, it might have even more if Chuck were more of an actor. But I digress. Chuck still reigns supreme as an ass kicker, and it's never in any doubt that he'll rise up righteous and snuff out the lives of such despicable scum as the Vietnamese general Quoc (Aki Aleong). Aleong is great fun, especially as he spits out the heros' name after the latest amount of damage done. The supporting cast is decent if somewhat nondescript. However, be sure to look for the eternally awesome Keith David in a small role as an Embassy gate captain.

An entertaining diversion, made in the mold of "Uncommon Valor", "Rambo: First Blood Part II"...and "Commando", for that matter, with a good guy who's an army unto himself.

Seven out of 10.

This movie is the epitome of back-to-Vietnam, one-man-army action. The amount of explosions, grenade-launching and Vietnamese soldiers being mowed down towards the end is insane.

Braddock: Missing In Action III takes a little time to get going after an amazing beginning, but once it does it doesn't let up. Braddock kicks, shoots and grenade-launches his way to freedom. Braddock is free to do what Braddock does. In the last 45 minutes of the movie, Braddock is on a rampage, smashing anyone that gets in his way.

Missing In Action III marks the final film in this trilogy and is probably hailed as the 'best of the bunch' with shocking plot points, great action, explosions, grenade-launching, multiple people mowed down by Chuck, a great intro, and a greater last-45 minutes.

The Verdict: 8 / 10 - A Classic!

I went to this movie with my friend Randy, and we could not believe how bad this film was. I like the first 2 Missing in Actions, but this one is awful. Yuk, well the only good part is when it ended. I did not even rent this one to see I missed on anything. This one will gather dust on the video shelf at Block Busters, if they even have it.