Special Forces

June. 06,2003      R
Rating:
5.1
Subscription
Rent / Buy
Subscription
Trailer Synopsis Cast

When the crazed commander (Eli Danker) of a sadistic army in Moldavia kidnaps an American photojournalist (Daniella Deutscher) and holds her hostage, his misguided actions ignite a targeted response from Maj. Don Harding (Marshall R. Teague) and his trained squad of special forces soldiers. With help from a local schoolteacher (Scott Adkins) who's trained in martial arts, Maj. Harding readies his troops for an all-out offensive.

Marshall R. Teague as  Major Don Harding
Tim Abell as  Jess
Scott Adkins as  Talbot
Eli Danker as  Hasib Rafendek
Troy Mittleider as  Wyatt
Danny Lee Clark as  Bear

You May Also Like

Wilderness
Prime Video
Wilderness
Juvenile delinquents are sent to a small British island after a fellow prisoner's death, where they must fight for survival.
Wilderness 2006
Coffy
Prime Video
Coffy
After her younger sister gets involved in drugs and is severely injured by contaminated heroin, a nurse sets out on a mission of vengeance and vigilante justice, killing drug dealers, pimps, and mobsters who cross her path.
Coffy 1973
Poor Things
HULU
Poor Things
Brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, a young woman runs off with a debauched lawyer on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, she grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.
Poor Things 2023
Dune
HULU
Dune
Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence-a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential-only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
Dune 2021
The Power of the Dog
Netflix
The Power of the Dog
A domineering but charismatic rancher wages a war of intimidation on his brother's new wife and her teen son, until long-hidden secrets come to light.
The Power of the Dog 2021
Rustin
Rustin
Activist Bayard Rustin faces racism and homophobia as he helps change the course of Civil Rights history by orchestrating the 1963 March on Washington.
Rustin 2023
About My Father
Starz
About My Father
Encouraged by his fiancee, a man and his father spend the weekend with her wealthy and exceedingly eccentric family. The gathering soon develops into a culture clash, allowing father and son to discover the true meaning of family.
About My Father 2023
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Paramount+
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Ethan Hunt and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the world's fate at stake and dark forces from Ethan's past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan must consider that nothing can matter more than his mission—not even the lives of those he cares about most.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One 2023
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Disney+
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia and Everett Ross and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 2022
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
Prime Video
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank
A hard-on-his-luck hound finds himself in a town full of cats in need of a hero to defend them from a ruthless villain's wicked plot to wipe their village off the map. With help from a reluctant mentor, our underdog must assume the role of town samurai and team up with the villagers to save the day.
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank 2022

Reviews

RipDelight
2003/06/06

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

... more
Glucedee
2003/06/07

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

... more
Arianna Moses
2003/06/08

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

... more
Erica Derrick
2003/06/09

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

... more
sydneyswesternsuburbs
2003/06/10

Director Isaac Florentine who also created other classic flicks, Undisputed 2 2006, Undisputed 3 2010, Ninja 2009, Ninja: Shadow of a Tear 2013 and another classic special forces flick, US Seals 2 2001 has created another gem in Special Forces.It stars Marshal Teague who has also been in another classic special forces flick, The Rock 1996 and the classic flick, Armageddon 1998 and Isaac Florentines US Seals 2.Also starring is Scott Adkins who has also been in other classic flicks, The Tournament 2009, Bourne Ultimatum 2007, Pit Fighter 2005, Re-Kill 2015, Jarhead 3: The Siege 2016, Hard Target 2 2016, El Gringo 2012 and other classic special forces flicks, The Expendables 2 2012 and Zero Dark Thirty 2012 and Isaac Florentines Undisputed 2, Undisputed 3, Ninja: Shadow of a Tear and Ninja.I enjoyed the action and violence.If you enjoyed this as much as I did then check other classic special forces flicks, Air Strike 2004, Sniper 2 2002, Commando 1985, The Expendables 2010, Direct Contact 2009, GI Joe: Retaliation 2013, Outpost 2007, Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden 2012, Act of Valor 2012, Special Forces 2011, Wolf Warrior II 2017, American Assassin 2017, Sniper: Ultimate Kill 2017 and Marines 2003.

... more
talbot12
2003/06/11

Because here is everything what Special forces soldier can show.Great shooting and good cover from bullets cover,excellent martial arts performance tragedy about getting as Hostage and be scared for live!OK the best what I liked it is the operations what was planed in night as cover of the dark.It's like real Special forces team.And they also disarmer the bad guys with martial arts because they are economic their bullets .That's cool.Bud thing what I unlike is enemy soldiers bad shooting technique's and bad choreography.But only of them only was good Zaman(Vladislavas Jacukevicius) and Hasib(Eli Danker) they showed some good shoots to the enemies but other soldiers can not hit any shoot.And Talbot(Scott Adkins)who arrived with impressive shoots and martial arts performance.It's looked excellent!! But here was Isaac Florentine one of the best of his films.He got old and known action stars.Who do't know Marshall Teague or also Tim Abell.But most best job in martial arts showed famous English action star Scott Adkins.Who's one of the best action stars today.Also I liked how stuntman Vladislavas Jacukevicius showed athletic moves in the film.But he can not get be famous maybe later.But in Special forces all mentioned or not guys showed excellent film about Special forces!!

... more
MankiBoi
2003/06/12

I happened to see it last night, and I watched it just because it was so horrible. I don't get it. Why producers waste 1,3 mil $ on complete trash like that? No originality at all. Stupid enemy soldiers, who preferred to run towards Americans rather than shoot at them. So it's kind of miracle, how they managed to kill most of American soldiers. They also look all the same, probably there were total 10 actors who died at least 5 times in different scenes. Then there were ultimate heroism-scenes, you know, wounded American soldier blew himself up with 3 enemy soldiers and so on. And over-the-top boring main villain, who does usual bad boss stuff, i.e. shooting old ladies who then fall in slow-mo, "brutally" beating up some prisoners etc etc. And extra tough boss' assistant, who looks like IT-nerd.When independent studios have capital, and they have a WILL to do movies, why they still do non-original crap like this film, "Base II" and so on?Gosh!M

... more
donrw
2003/06/13

Director Isaac Florentine's follow-up to his cult hit, U.S. Seals 2 revisitsAmerica's military with more Hong Kong style action and martial arts. Budgeted at a mere $1.3 million, Special Forces manages to push the limit on actionfilmmaking within a grimly patriotic story set in the shadow of the bloodyBosnian-Serbian conflict.Although unrelated to U.S. Seals 2, Marshall R. Teague returns, this time toheadline the film as Major Don Harding, in addition to acting as military advisor. He's the real deal when it comes to portraying a no-nonsense military officer. His mostly non-emotive persona, echoed by hisfellow team members offers anice stabilizing force to ground the stylized action.Wendy Teller (Daniella Deutscher) is an American photo-journalist intheEastern European country of Moldavia who stumbles upon local militaryforces executing villagers. The commander is a veteran of the Bosnian Warnamed Hasib (Eli Danker) who captures the woman and attempts to exchangeher for captured war criminals. Its a bad call as the only response he gets is Major Harding and a team of Army special forces flown in to rescue her. Oncedown, they settle in to discover her whereabouts with the aid of a localschoolteacher and a seasoned SAS operative named Talbot (Scott Adkins). Abitter, past encounter with Hasib fuels Harding's desire for revenge as well as to save the journalist. But after an attempted rescue is thwarted, his team members are either killed or captured. Armed with lethal martial arts ability, Talbot steps in to assist Harding in completing the mission.Director Isaac Florentine has toned down the stylized action for this film while retaining the excitement of previous efforts. His credits include directing 70 episodes of the popular children's action series for television, the PowerRangers. This fact and his love for modern Japanese action filmmaking ingeneral has led to his past use of exaggerated sound effects and camera worksuitable for genre filmmaking, but often at odds when paired with real-worldscenarios. Initially, martial arts combat is used sparingly and with quicker results in neutralizing targets, more in keeping with real combat training. This limited display of hand-to-hand combat may come as a bit of a disappointment to some, but the film adequately compensates in two ways. First, there is relativenewcomer Scott Adkins, who plays the Special Air Service operative. He'sappeared in smaller roles in films such as Extreme Challenge (2001) and TheHighbinders (AKA The Medallion). This could be considered his first breakoutperformance as a martial arts star and an impressive one at that. This leads to the second compensation for action buffs, the end fight. You know its coming. The lead villain's sidekick, who does little else throughout the film is present for the sole purpose of taking on Adkins. This scene is outstanding and features the highly competent choreography of Akihiro Noguchi, another Power Rangersveteran. But this is no kid's stuff. Scott's kicking ability and range of motion are outstanding. The fight is fierce, extended, and only briefly interrupted byTeague's less potent, but solid brawl with Eli Danker. There may be moregunplay and explosions than anything else, but Adkins' two or three fight scenes are good enough to warrant martial arts fans taking more than a passinginterest. Any way you slice it, Florentine, himself a martial artist, is clearly committed to filming some of the best martial arts scenes outside of Hong Kong. Its all the more impressive given that he's doing it on a small budget and in an industry not always receptive to allowing quality martial arts in their films.Special Forces also scores points for it's ambitions. The film begins with asobering mass execution of innocent civilians by machine gun. To know thatsimilar acts have actually occurred in numerous countries and in many conflicts, especially in recent years, sets this film apart from your standard independent action film. This was written after 9/11 and was originally meant to be set in Afghanistan, putting it in touch with the fight against terrorism. Due to a change of plans, location shooting moved to Lithuania and the film's backdrop became ethnic cleansing. The authentic setting and the assistance of the local military further raise the scale of the film.Depicting the role of America's special forces to any degree of authenticitypresents many challenges and this cast and crew surmount some of them. Butin the end, Special Forces remains a stylized action movie first by giving way to heroic fights and even bigger fireballs. For perspective, the Navy Seals actioner Tears of the Sun starring Bruce Willis shares the same fate on a $70 millionbudget. The small budget is a limiting factor, but quality fight choreography, decent acting, and a notable action performance by Scott Adkins makes thiseffort Florentine's best yet.

... more