Laser Mission

Laser Mission is a West German action film directed by Beau J. Davis.[1] The film stars Brandon Lee, Ernest Borgnine and Werner Pochath. The film was released under the title Soldier of Fortune. This was Werner Pochath's final film appearance before his death on April 18, 1993.

Laser Mission
Directed byBeau Davis
Screenplay byPhillip Guteridge
Story byDavid A. Frank
Produced byClaus Czaika
Starring
CinematographyHans Kuhle Jr.
Edited byE. Selave
Music byDavid Knopfler
Production
companies
  • Zimuth-INterfilm
  • IMV Vertrieb Intl.
  • Medien & Karat Film Intl.
Release date
November 1989 (West Germany)
Running time
84 minutes
CountryWest Germany
LanguageEnglish

Plot

The plot concerns a mercenary named Michael Gold (Lee) who is sent to convince Dr. Braun (Borgnine), a laser specialist, to defect to the United States before the KGB acquire him and use both his talent and a stolen diamond to create a nuclear weapon. Dr. Braun is captured by the KGB and Gold is sent on a mission to rescue both him and the diamond. He has to enlist the help of Dr. Braun's daughter Alissa (Debi A. Monahan), whom he eventually falls for. The pair confront Col. Kalishnakov (Graham Clarke), whom they kill by hitting him with a truck in the climax of this story.

Cast
  • Brandon Lee as Michael Gold
  • Debi A. Monahan as Alissa
  • Ernest Borgnine as Prof. Braun
  • Graham Clark as Col. Kalishnakov
  • Trevor Williamson as The Foot

Release

In the United States the film was released on home video in 1990 by Turner Home Entertainment.[2]

The film was released in Australia directly on video in 1994.[3]

Box office

In the US the film was a financial success.[2][4]

After Brandon Lee's untimely death in an accident on the set of The Crow, movies such as Laser Mission saw a surge in video sales.[5]

Reception and legacy

From contemporary reviews, Variety described the film as a "lively, well-made actioner with humor" that had both Brandon Lee and Debi Monahan left to "struggle with a mediocre script."[6] Jon Casimir of The Sydney Morning Herald did not like the film finding the acting poor, with the plot and action scenes unconvincing.[7] Pat Gillespie of The Age found the direction clumsy but said that Lee's and action films fans would find the film entertaining.[3]

From retrospective reviews, Jim Vorel and Kenneth Lowe of Paste Magazine did not like it and found the continuity disorienting.[8] Dan Colón of Talk Film Society said the film is great for those with the appetite action orientated B movie.[9]

RiffTrax spoofed the film on October 3, 2011.[10]

References
  1. Turner Classic Movies
  2. Hartl, John (17 August 1990). "Chong's 'Far Out, Man!' is en route to rental stores". York Daily Record. Vol. 229.
  3. Gillespie, Pat (28 July 1994). "Basinger and a bevy of bad guys". The Age.
  4. Alvarez, Max J. "Big names look for bright lights in videoland". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  5. Hunt, Dennis (May 9, 1993). "A Resurgence of Interest in Films of Brandon Lee". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
  6. Kind. 1991.
  7. Casimir, Jon (1 August 1994). "Sly gets the joke in action spoof". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. 48, 957.
  8. "Bad Movie Diaries: Laser Mission (1989)". pastemagazine.com. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-20.
  9. "Schlock Value: Laser Mission (1989)". Talk Film Society. Retrieved 2019-07-20.
  10. RiffTrax

Sources
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