Breach Of Trust (1995)

Breach Of Trust (1995)- * *1\2
 
AKA: Crash

Directed by: Charles Wilkinson

Starring: Michael Biehn, Leilani Sarelle, Miguel Sandoval, Matt Craven, Vladimir Kulich, Ed Lauter, and Kim Coates












Casey (Biehn) is a low-level courier for a criminal enterprise led by Carlo Sanchez (Sandoval). Casey comes into possession of “The Disk”, a CD-ROM (presumably, because this was the 90’s) that has information leading to 40 million dollars’ worth of criminal earnings. When undercover cop Madeline (Sarelle) becomes involved because some corrupt government agents are on the take and also want The Disk, soon Casey and Madeline are on the run from many bad guys who are after them because they want “The Disk” as well. Not the least of which is scary executioner Bracco (Kulich, last seen in Crackerjack, 1995 and Red Scorpion 2, 1994). The BIG boss of it all is Kreuger (Lauter). Will Casey and Madeline ride off into the sunset together - or is there just too much shooting?

While the first part of this movie gets off to a weird start, the many character actors involved throughout the film make you forget about the odd pace (which eventually becomes more normal). We’ve seen many, many movies where “The Disk” is something both the good guys and the bad guys want, and here is no exception. A lot of the scenes are dark, just like the other Biehn vehicle American Dragons (1998). It must be in his contract that his movies use less lights.

Speaking of Biehn, here he’s more animated than usual and really turns on the charm. Ed Lauter should have been in more of the movie, his is basically a bit part. His accent is suitably menacing, however. The similarities to Crackerjack continue...and yes, there is some classic 90’s computer gobbledygook on show as well.

While they really went crazy with the scenes of mindless gun-shooting, perhaps the movie could have been trimmed a bit. It may seem like quibbling, but Breach of Trust probably didn’t HAVE to be 96 minutes. It should have been 90 or less. Demanding more than that of audiences for this type of fare is kind of pushing it. But the presences of Biehn, Sandoval, Kulich, and Lauter, not to mention further fan-favorite familiar faces such as Matt Craven and Kim Coates certainly soften the blow. We weren’t overly familiar with Sarelle but she does a good job as the tough cop but who also can’t resist the overpowering winning smile of Casey.

Shot in Vancouver, B.C. Canada, Breach of Trust isn’t mind-blowingly different (and something happens at the end which is...odd) but it provides decent entertainment.

Comeuppance Review by: Brett and Ty

White Tiger (1996)

White Tiger (1996)-* * *

Directed by: Richard Martin

Starring: Gary Daniels, Cary-Hiroyugi Tagawa, Matt Craven, Julia Nickson,and George Cheung


“Change is the only constant in life."







DEA agent Mike Ryan (Daniels) would rather be rock climbing with his buddy and fellow Special Op John Grogan (Craven)...but instead he’s chasing after a gang of Asian drug lords led by the sinister Victor Chow (Tagawa). Like Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991), Tagawa and his boys are going to unleash a powerful new drug on the black market. When Chow murders his buddy, despite being told to just “let it go”, Mike Ryan goes out for revenge - but who can he trust? The beautiful Jade (Nickson)? The beautiful Detective Fong (Cheung)? Mike Ryan is going to have to go rogue and trust his own instincts and martial arts skill on his quest to find Victor Chow.

Gary Daniels plays another likable dude and Tagawa another baddie in White Tiger, a film with not much going on in the plot department, but which contains great fights and is very fast paced.  The story is credited to Bey Logan, the mastermind of the excellent Dragon Dynasty label of releases. So you know there’s going to be quality fights and stunts. Funnily enough, the music that underpins it all is either this modern techno or 90’s “grunge”. While the movie does take place primarily in Seattle (although it was filmed in Vancouver, Canada), the band “Pull” should be ashamed. Graeme Coleman who did the electronic soundtrack was trying to bring the martial arts film into the 90’s, but we feel he over-reached a bit.

But the overall feel is that the filmmakers were trying to modernize the direct-to-video action film, with the aforementioned music, slick cinematography and a professionally-made vibe. Luckily, they didn’t use these things as substitutes for the action goods, as is so common today. Gary Daniels always rocks and here is no exception. In his non-action scenes, he is his usual personable, charming self, and in the action department, he seems to be constantly pushing himself and trying new things. Check out some of his awesome takedowns for proof. While Tagawa and some of the others are good, White Tiger is a clear case of No Daniels = No Movie. He carries the film and makes it seem effortless.

For an intellectually unchallenging but classier-than-usual DTV beat ‘em up, White Tiger will fit the bill perfectly.

Comeuppance Review by: Brett and Ty