A Cozy Slice of ‘80s Martial Arts Pulp

Read Time:4 Minute, 45 Second

MOVIE REVIEWS
Force: Five (Collector's Edition)
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Genre: Action, Martial Arts
Year Released: 1981, MVD Entertainment Blu-ray 2026
Runtime: 1h 36m
Director: Robert Clouse
Writers: Robert Clouse, Emil Farkas, George Goldsmith
Cast: Joe Lewis, Bong Soo Han, Richard Norton, Benny Urquidez, Sonny Barnes, Amanda Wyss
Where to Watch: available now, order your copy here: www.mvdshop.com or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: FORCE: FIVE feels like a director trying to remix his own legacy, just without the thing that made the original iconic. By 1981, Robert Clouse had already cemented himself in martial arts cinema history with ENTER THE DRAGON. FORCE: FIVE unmistakably echoes that blueprint with a villainous martial-arts mastermind, a remote island compound, and a climactic showdown. The difference? No Bruce Lee. No mythic aura. Just a collection of legitimate fighters doing their best inside a B-movie frame.

The setup is pure grindhouse. A senator’s daughter has fallen under the spell of Reverend Rhee, a cult leader running a brainwashing operation from his private island. The government sends in Jim Martin (Joe Lewis), who assembles a team of martial arts specialists, the titular “Force: Five”, to infiltrate and extract her. Recruit the team. Prove their skills in separate vignettes. Stage an early action set piece. Sneak onto the island. Fight henchmen. Confront the boss. But the thing that breaks this formula isn’t the problem; it's the execution.

Joe Lewis, a real-life World Heavyweight Karate Champion, has undeniable credibility. When he kicks, it lands with real weight. His movements are focused, disciplined, and solid. What he lacks is charisma. He’s stoic to the point of stiffness. The camera loves his technique more than his presence.

Fortunately, the supporting cast injects personality. Richard Norton, sporting full early-’80s swagger, brings playful menace and sharpness. Benny “The Jet” Urquidez has explosive kicks, even if his acting is a bit rough. Bong Soo Han carries the most natural screen presence as Reverend Rhee; he’s calm, quietly sinister. His final confrontation, however, never escalates to the intensity it promises.

The early recruitment scenes are arguably the film’s strongest stretch. Each fighter gets a brief showcase, whether that’s a bar fight, street brawl, or stunt-heavy scuffle, and Clouse shoots them with clarity of someone who knows what they’re looking for. No rapid-fire editing. No frantic camera work. That approach is authentic.

The prison break sequence that follows is the film’s most energetic action set piece. It has scale, momentum, and solid stunt work. Unfortunately, the midsection drifts. Once the team reaches the island, the pacing eases up into a repetitive cycle of sneaking and minor skirmishes. The cult angle, which could have added psychological tension, remains surface-level.

There’s a literal bull in a maze-like sequence that feels equal parts mythology homage and budgetary improvisation. It’s bizarre. It’s memorable. It’s also emblematic of the film’s tone, slightly awkward, occasionally inspired.

The 1.85:1 framing looks like it was meant for HD, and the mono track does what it needs to. The stunt choreography is exactly what you’d expect. The editing is straightforward. But Clouse never pushes the material beyond “solid.” This is a craftsman at work, not a visionary revisiting his masterpiece.

Thematically, the film gestures toward cult paranoia, very much in the shadow of late-’70s real-world events, but never digs deep enough to elevate itself. The daughter’s brainwashing feels more like plot fuel than emotional stakes. What ultimately saves FORCE: FIVE is its sincerity. It isn’t cynical. It simply wants to deliver a martial arts spectacle with a team-dynamic twist. In that sense, it succeeds modestly. It’s not a hidden gem. It’s not a disaster. It’s comfortable B-tier martial arts fare, the kind you watch on a lazy afternoon when you want kicks, punches, and a villain in a robe on an island fortress. And sometimes, that’s enough.

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)

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[photo courtesy of MVD ENTERTAINMENT]

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