Wanted: Dead or Alive

release year: 1987
genre: action
viewing setting: home Bluray 7/21/22 and home DVD 12/1/09 and 6/16/01

synopsis: A terrorist enters the U.S. and begins plotting and doing terrible things, and it's up to a lone-wolf bounty hunter to find and stop him.

impressions: This reminded me a lot of Invasion U.S.A. except that the good guy here was less unstoppable. This is a no-frills, no-BS, no-millions-of-dollars action movie, meaning it's good without going overboard in any way (acting, effects, silly plot.) It's got a tight plot that moves along, a few central and important characters, some fighting, some shooting, some tragedy, some revenge, some fighting, and some explosions.

something this movie has that no other movie has: A grenade in someone's mouth, then the pin gets pulled ("F*** the bonus."

acting: Rutger Hauer does a good job as a slightly off-kilter, but effective, hero. Gene Simmons is the evil terrorist and he is sufficiently ruthless and efficient.

final word: Good, basic action in the 1980s mold.

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