BRADDOCK: MISSING IN ACTION 3
US, 1988, 98 minutes, Colour.
Chuck Norris.
Directed by Aaron Norris.
Braddock: Missing in Action 3 continues the style of films in the two previous movies with Chuck Norris. Once again he is Braddock, the focus it on Vietnam, an attack on American bureaucracy and the CIA, the presentation of the Vietnamese after the war as monsters (in the form that Nazis were presented in the World War Two propaganda movies). This time Braddock has a wife, she disappears in the fall of Saigon, twelve years later lie hears of her being alive, lie mounts his Missing in Action mission and, despite all opposition, accomplishes it. However, his wife is killed, but his son lives.
Made in the Philippines, the film re-creates the atmosphere of Vietnam, is quite effective in the first 15 minutes with the fall of Saigon. However, it is the usual gung ho American action film, with a touch of tenderness.
1. The Missing in Action series, Chuck Norris's popularity, American memories of Vietnam?
2. Philippine locations, re-creation of the war, action sequences, the jungle, fall of Saigon? Musical score, the song about freedom?
3. American commitment to the war, the fall of Saigon, defeat, those missing in action, the Hanoi regime? The presentation of the Vietnamese as monstrous? The use of aggressive and defensive violence?
4. Chuck Norris, his screen image, tough. marrying the Vietnamese, the tenderness? In action, anti-CIA, law, Vietnam, relentless, might as right?
5. The opening sequences of the fall of Saigon, the atmosphere, desperation, the embassy, Braddock, searching for his wife, her packing, the explosion, the mistaken identity, the departures, Braddock being wounded?
6. 1987 and Braddock in Washington, Father Polanski, his disbelief, the CIA confirming his belief, going to Thailand, his contact in the bar and the fight, eluding the CIA, the plane, the boat, outracing the Vietnamese
navy, his arrival?
7. His arrival, meeting his wife again, the joy, the boy and his scepticism? Their being caught, the brutality of his wife's death? The torture of Braddock with the gun aimed at the boy, the electric shock? The gun not loaded? Imprisonment, his techniques for escape, rescuing the boy? The presentation of the General and his callousness and cruelty?
8. The children, Father Polanski, taken to prison, the attempted rape on the girl? Braddock and the rescue, the escape? The fight and the massacre of the soldiers?
9. Into the jungle, weariness, the plane and the fighting, the fuel loss, the crash landing, near the border?
10. The General and his fanaticism, the Americans waiting at the bridge, an international incident, Braddock and killings and explosions, his being wounded, children being safe, his son in the cockpit with him, his being saved?
11. The American finale, a boost for American morale? The reason for the popularity of the series?
