Eye of the Tiger

source: Eye of the Tiger

Trailer—Eye of the Tiger

Eye of the Tiger

Known hard-ass thugs on motocross bikes. Raping, murdering and pillaging, without the sheriff lifting a finger to investigate, but evidently it isn't alarming enough to bring in higher authorities. But that wouldn't make for much of a movie. Gary Busey is in his element here, and makes the movie worth watching. He's one pissed off dude with a plan.

This breath-taking and all guns blazing vigilante flick from 80s is something to look for. Note: If you are fan of films like First Blood, Commando, Lone Wolf McQuade and Death Wish 3 this is a must-see. Gary Busey is tougher than ever in this film, this was his effort to make it bad-ass like Stallone and Norris and he really nails it, teamed with always solid Yaphet Kotto. Talking about mean villains in action flicks, the biker gang here really is something. Conclusion is of course over-the-top final battle action. The biggest surprise is that this movie ain't Cannon Films production, it sure has same feel in it. Don't know what's the point of naming the film after that Eye Of The Tiger song, it's cool title, but song was embodied with Rocky pictures so much already at the time when this came out in 1986. That original track actually plays also in the film if someone wonders. But anyway, absolutely fantastic action classic from the 80s is the case.

I had never heard of this movie before, but it had Gary Busey, a decent plot, a great cover, and most importantly: It's an 80's movie. So I decided to check it out, and I don't regret it. Although not overloaded with action, it has enough to make the fans happy. The action scenes were great, lots of explosions and over the top stuff in general. Busey is good in this, even though he is better as a bad guy. When he is a good guy, he's an anti-hero at best. The story is nothing special, it has been done before and will be done again at a later time. But the action scenes and some great characters (e.g. the main bad guy, plus Busey's buddy ) made it interesting. Sitting through this is not a waste of time.

When your cast includes Gary Busey, Yaphet Kotto, Seymour Cassel, and William Smith, you know the film will be entertaining--even if it is as absurd as Eye of the Tiger. Busey gives a great impassioned speech in a bingo hall about his days in 'Nam, Kotto cuts a rug whilst dropping grenades from a biplane, Cassel twirls his moustache, and Smith--well, Smith and his semi-mohawk have to be seen to be believed. Let's just say that if you're a fan of Smith's '60s biker movies, you'll love Eye of the Tiger. The only strikes against the film--besides the ridiculous plot and shoddy writing--are the awful Survivor theme song (already used in Rocky III) and Kotto's hair, which appears to be a severely overcooked process 'do'.

Well, let me start by saying that Gary Busey is without doubt, my favourite actor of all time. He has an everyman quality which no one else really posessed in the 80's. Don't get me wrong, I don't think he's Bobby De Niro, but he's cool okay, so get off my back. Eye of the Tiger, then. A highly enjoyable movie from a great director. Yeah, it has no brains and yeah, the plot fits on a stamp, but any movie with this theme music is always gonna bring a smile to peoples faces. There are countless great moments with the ever watchable, Busey and Yaphet Kotto. Admitedly, the pace does slack a little too offen, but the decapitation scene and the questioning scene rank up there with my favourite moments and it does have the best pull-focus of all time. Watch when you want some 80's action with a little more breeding than most.

I think the reason this doesn't get a better rating in here is because of the story's believability factor of the movie. It's a "0". Nonetheless its quite an entertaining movie for what it is. If it's got Gary Busey and it's from the 80's, chances are you're gonna get entertained. Busey is his usual self as an Ex-Con who comes home to a bunch of desert dwelling drug smuggler bikers who harass a town incessantly. If you anything about Gary Busey then you know eventually, he takes care of business. Obviously this isn't up to par with say, Die Hard, or even Cobra or Raw Deal but it delivers the revenge goods for your watching pleasure.

Gary Busey stars as Buck Matthews a reformed ex-con and ex-Vietnam vet who wages war on bikers responsible for the murder of his wife, Busey resorts to the usual manner in dispatching these bikers, often playing grisly practical jokes that involve using wire at neck level, to decapitate his foes. The fight really reaches the boiling point when the bikers snatch Matthews' daughter (Judith Barsi) and therefore even Buck Matthews turns to his fellow Vietnam vet buddy J.B Deveraux (Yaphet Kotto) and together they blitz the biker's stronghold in this more fun than you would expect one man army thriller. If you really need an accurate description, just picture Death Wish 3 with Gary Busey instead of Charles Bronson. However what makes this biker entry so much fun is watching the traps Busey sets up for the bikers, which always have grisly (and hilarious) results. 3/5 Matt Bronson