Director Robert Clouse is best known for helming the Bruce Lee classic Enter the Dragon and for completing Game of Death following Lee’s passing. Of the roughly twenty projects he directed across film and television, none achieved the cultural impact of his collaborations with Lee. The only Clouse film I saw during its original theatrical run was 1985’s Gymkata, a curiosity in its own right. Among his lesser-known efforts is 1981’s Force: Five, an obscure martial arts actioner that, in retrospect, feels like a possible precursor to the team-based dynamic later popularized by television’s The A-Team.
The film centers on Reverend Rhee (Bong Soo Han), a wealthy and influential religious leader whose organization is steeped in corruption. Members are coerced into signing over their fortunes, while the group secretly traffics in weapons. In response, the U.S. government assembles a team of five martial arts experts to dismantle Rhee’s operation. The unit is led by Jim Martin (Joe Lewis) and includes Lockjaw (Sonny Barnes), Ezekiel (Richard Norton), Laurie (Pam Huntington), and Billy (Benny Urquidez).
Under the guise of serving as aides and helicopter pilots to U.S. Senator Forrester (Peter Maclean), who is investigating Rhee’s activities, the team infiltrates the island compound. It does not take long for them to uncover the hidden weapons cache—and to expose themselves in the process. Amanda Wyss, in her feature film debut, appears as the daughter of wealthy parents poised to surrender her inheritance to the cult, adding a human dimension to the larger conspiracy.
While Force: Five benefits from a light, unpretentious tone, its primary shortcoming lies in the martial arts sequences. Despite featuring a cast of accomplished real-life karate champions, the fight choreography lacks the energy and inventiveness one expects from the genre. Given that the action is the film’s principal draw, this deficiency is difficult to overlook. The performances, unfortunately, offer little compensation.
MVD Rewind’s Blu-ray release includes archival interviews with Joe Lewis and Benny Urquidez, as well as a vintage Urquidez fight featurette. Although the film itself may not appeal to all viewers, it has cultivated a modest cult following and may still hold interest for dedicated martial arts enthusiasts and collectors.
Bonus Materials:
- High Definition (1080p) presentation of the main feature in 1.85:1 aspect ratio
- LPCM 2.0 Mono Audio
- Optional English Subtitles
- Archival Interview with actor Joe Lewis (50:08)
- Archival Interview with Benny Urquidez (8:59)
- Archival ‘Benny Urquidez Fight’ featurette (6:41)
- Original Theatrical Trailer (HD)
- Collectible Mini-Poster
- Limited Edition Slipcover (First Pressing Only)
