Clint Eastwood nostalgic classic here for me, always good for another view. Teaming up with his hot squeeze Sondra Locke once again, Clint plays Ben Shockley, an Arizona cop sent to Vegas by his corrupt superior to escort a prostitute named Gus (Locke) back for a nothing trial. Turns out everyone wants Gus dead (including the superior, for raping her with a gun!) and Shockley is one of the original EXPENDABLES for certain! Over-the-top, larger than life action rule the day in this one. Think COMMANDO, eight years early. Cars are blown up, there's a dynamite helicopter chasing a motorbike sequence, and several scenes where buildings and cars are shot up to the point of oblivion. The pacing is good and the chemistry between Eastwood and Locke is in top form here. Waifish thin and hawt, Locke even has a scene where she shows off her pert little titties to keep Shockley from being killed by some rough bikers. Locke always was a hot piece of ass in her prime, and I can't blame Eastwood for keeping her around, on screen and off. The ending to this flick is absurd and fun, if you're into it, with Shockley and Gus hijacking a bus (before SPEED was ever a glimmer in someone's mind) and driving it right up city hall's steps as hundreds of cops (creating an impenetrable gauntlet ) blow the crap out of it with their guns along the streets. (Yes, implausible and ludicrous, one bullet to the tires would've ended the adrenaline rush of an ending real quick, but hey, if you want realism watch SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, okay?) THE GAUNTLET is a late 70's action classic that makes my day with each and every re-watch.
Clint Eastwood nostalgic classic here for me, always good for another view. Teaming up with his hot squeeze Sondra Locke once again, Clint plays Ben Shockley, an Arizona cop sent to Vegas by his corrupt superior to escort a prostitute named Gus (Locke) back for a nothing trial. Turns out everyone wants Gus dead (including the superior, for raping her with a gun!) and Shockley is one of the original EXPENDABLES for certain! Over-the-top, larger than life action rule the day in this one. Think COMMANDO, eight years early. Cars are blown up, there's a dynamite helicopter chasing a motorbike sequence, and several scenes where buildings and cars are shot up to the point of oblivion. The pacing is good and the chemistry between Eastwood and Locke is in top form here. Waifish thin and hawt, Locke even has a scene where she shows off her pert little titties to keep Shockley from being killed by some rough bikers. Locke always was a hot piece of ass in her prime, and I can't blame Eastwood for keeping her around, on screen and off. The ending to this flick is absurd and fun, if you're into it, with Shockley and Gus hijacking a bus (before SPEED was ever a glimmer in someone's mind) and driving it right up city hall's steps as hundreds of cops (creating an impenetrable gauntlet ) blow the crap out of it with their guns along the streets. (Yes, implausible and ludicrous, one bullet to the tires would've ended the adrenaline rush of an ending real quick, but hey, if you want realism watch SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, okay?) THE GAUNTLET is a late 70's action classic that makes my day with each and every re-watch.
