Alright, grab your headband and settle in, because we're ejecting whatever was in the VCR and slamming in a tape that screams "Reagan-era action!" Tonight on VHS Heaven, we’re revisiting Colonel James Braddock’s third trip back to Vietnam in the gloriously unsubtle Braddock: Missing in Action III (1988). Just when you thought he’d rescued every last POW, Braddock gets word that his long-lost wife and son might still be alive. Cue the slow-motion walk away from an explosion – we’re going back in!
### One Man, One Mission... Again?
Let's be honest, the premise stretches credibility thinner than Braddock's patience with bureaucracy. Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), 1975, chaos reigns. Braddock believes his Vietnamese wife Lin (played by Miki Kim, whose scenes were actually filmed but mostly cut, leaving her primarily in flashbacks) perished in an embassy bombing. Flash forward twelve years, and Braddock gets information suggesting Lin and his son, Van (Roland Harrah III), are alive under the oppressive regime of General Quoc (Aki Aleong, a reliable character actor often cast in villainous roles). So, what's a one-man army to do? Pack his M60 and book a one-way trip, naturally.
This time, the stakes feel slightly different. Written in part by Chuck Norris himself (along with James Bruner and Steve Bing), there's an attempt to inject a more personal, emotional core. It’s not just about duty; it’s about family. Does it elevate the film to high drama? Not exactly. But it gives Chuck Norris a reason beyond "America, heck yeah!" to mow down legions of enemy soldiers with grim determination. Norris, directed here by his brother Aaron Norris (a frequent collaborator and stunt coordinator who knows exactly how to frame Chuck for maximum impact), delivers his signature stoic intensity. He’s less a character, more an unstoppable force of nature clad in denim.
### Explosions Speak Louder Than Words
Let’s talk action, because that’s why this tape got worn out in so many VCRs. Forget slick CGI – this is the era of glorious, tangible mayhem. Remember how real those explosions felt? That’s because they were real. Filmed primarily in the Philippines, the production made ample use of practical effects. When a hut blows up, you feel the concussion through the fuzzy tracking lines on your CRT screen. The firefights are relentless, featuring squibs that erupt with satisfyingly messy bursts of fake blood – a far cry from the clean digital hits we often see today.
Aaron Norris stages the action with a workmanlike efficiency that prioritizes clear geography and maximum carnage. Braddock doesn't just shoot bad guys; he obliterates them with machine guns, grenades, rocket launchers, and whatever else he finds lying around. There’s a raw, almost reckless energy to the stunt work. You see stunt performers taking real falls, dodging actual fireballs. It lends the action a visceral quality, a sense of genuine danger that often gets lost in translation with modern, overly polished sequences. One fun fact: The original Missing in Action (1984) was such a hit for Cannon Films that they actually filmed a prequel simultaneously, Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985), releasing the original first because it tested better. This third entry feels like a return to the straightforward rescue formula, just amplified.
### That Unmistakable 80s Sheen
Beyond the bullets and booms, Braddock: MIA III is drenched in the aesthetic of its time. The synth-heavy score pulses with heroic determination, the villains are cartoonishly evil (led by the sneering Aki Aleong), and the dialogue often consists of gruff one-liners delivered with minimal facial movement. It’s pure, unadulterated Cannon Films B-movie magic. Critics at the time? Mostly savage, as you'd expect. But audiences renting it on a Friday night? They knew what they were getting: Chuck Norris defying impossible odds and delivering explosive payback. That video store box art practically promised a good time, and for fans of the genre, it delivered.
The relationship between Braddock and his newfound son Van provides some surprisingly effective moments amidst the chaos. Roland Harrah III does a decent job as the kid caught between two worlds, adding a touch of humanity that makes Braddock's rampage feel slightly less like a purely jingoistic exercise. It doesn't slow down the pace much, though – don't worry, another machine gun emplacement is always just around the corner.
### Final Verdict
Braddock: Missing in Action III isn't high art, and it certainly doesn't aim for nuance. It's a product of its time – a loud, explosive, and straightforward action flick designed to satisfy a specific audience craving. The plot is paper-thin, the politics are dubious, but the commitment to practical action spectacle is undeniable. Watching it today is like cracking open a time capsule filled with denim, automatic weapons, and righteous fury.
Rating: 6/10
Justification: While undeniably formulaic and leaning heavily into 80s action clichés, the film delivers exactly what it promises: non-stop Chuck Norris action with impressive practical effects and stunts. It’s competently made for its B-movie aspirations, and the added personal stake gives it a slight edge over pure exploitation. It loses points for repetition and lack of originality, but gains them back for sheer, unashamed execution of the 80s action template.
Final Thought: They really don't make 'em like this anymore – where one determined stare and an impossible amount of ammo were all you needed to win the war, again. Pure VHS gold for the undemanding action junkie.