ada the leading man is my tpye

Claysaba Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Claire Dunne One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

videorama-759-859391 When hearing of this, I expected another Invasion U.S.A of non stop action, but came up pretty short sheeted. I love Rutger and I liked him here and Simmons playing international terrorist, Malak Al Re Haeim, whatever, was even better here than in Runaway. This cool kick arse movie has a visual rawness, some scenes that tend to be upsetting, like seeing a family enter a cinema, where minutes later it becomes a obliterated pile of shrapnel. Terrorism is not a joke, and tends to be more a sensitive subject nowadays. As being a year underage to see WDOR, that scene could of had me running out the cinema, and in no way this film was a hit in Adelaide. Rutger plays bounty hunter, Nick Randall, the son of legendary hero Joshua Randall, from the t.v show, whose lifestyle is far from normal, as is his cleaning habits (check out his silverware and glasses and his houseboat, while cooking his girlfriend, brekkie). Benson's Robert Guiliamme as Nick Randall's (Hauer) old friend and agency buddy, enlists him to take down Malak, offering a big fee, of course, and when it becomes personal, we so much want Rutger to dispose of this piece of s..t in one unforgettable bit of dialogue, in unforgettable finale, the minutes lead up, compulsive viewing. I expected much more action from this, but one gets the feeling it chooses to be more than that, or truthfully, this is what unintentionally unfolded, but really that isn't much of a bad thing. I found it remarkably tame, as in the violence department, but still it has a lot of coolness to it. Rutger pulling into his car elevator, taking him up into his big impressive loft, while listening to a rock track, I still keep playing in my head from time to time, was one cool scene, as was him taking down a wanted roughneck, robbing a liquor store, that had Hauer trailing him, prior. The chase scene was cool, ending with another terrorist, making his suicidal choice. Rutger's Hauer's stereotypical line, he delivers to a fat Vietnam Vet, he confronts at home, who's been selling armament, detonators, unaware of the consequences, was a moment of "der Fred". Meanwhile the vet's trashy wife is making him some mystery meat. Interesting. Still WDOR equals an undemanding standard, that joins the Norris's, Bronson's, whatever, and I'll tell you, the onus is definitely not on the script. It's just how the film's materialized. Hauer as always is good, much a far cry, for his legendary "never live it down" role in The Hitcher prior. Yet still there's a coolness and rawness about the whole film that's also appealing, where I've got my viewing's worth, with this many times. But I will tell you, if you are seeking gore from this, keep walking. It must be hard for Simmons, showing wife, the Shannon Tweed who's the better thespian.

dunmore_ego Does it irk Gene Simmons that two of his first "serious" motion pictures (RUNAWAY and WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE) are names of Bon Jovi songs? Simmons has a small key role in the Gary Sherman-directed "actioner" WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE. He plays the Arab villain, Malak Al Rahim, intent on causing terrorist chaos in Los Angeles seemingly for the sake of giving hero Rutger Hauer someone to pursue. No motivation on the villain's part is the first sign that this movie smells much like working out next to a hairy-backed Middle Easterner in the gym.Blond, blue-eyed Hauer is bounty hunter Nick Randall, supposedly continuing the legacy of Steve McQueen in the TV series of the same name; he's ex-CIA, combat-rugged and as weirdly pansexual as ever. In the grand tradition of boring screen writing, he wants to give up the bounty hunting and settle down with his bland lady - until he is called upon by his ex-boss (Robert Guillaume) for One Last Job - to bring in Rahim, Dead Or Alive.So begins a series of vapid car chases, half-hearted fight scenes, annoying gun battles and furiously silly explosions, with intermittent perfunctory characterization which doesn't lend any emotion to the non-chemistry between Randall and his babe, his bro or his boss. Writers Michael Patrick Goodman, Brian Taggert and director Sherman try to inject an interesting twist by having all the cops and FBI and CIA double-cross Randall. We don't know why. And we don't care.WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE begins that drab period in Hauer's career where we see him popping up in every piece of crap that required a blond, pansexual action hero. Strangely, the man to watch in this movie is KISS martinet Gene Simmons. He truly makes an imposing villain; he's the tallest Arab-looking guy in the room, he doesn't say much, and he puts that Bat Demon dead eye stare to great use. He doesn't do anything overtly thespian - in fact, he is underused, probably because he can't act - but since his first major outing as Tom Selleck's nemesis in 1984's RUNAWAY, he has learned to control his overacting stage persona, in the process creating a more sinister performance.During the boring climax when Randall is beating up Rahim, we see blood dripping from Rahim's mouth and are instantly reminded of who Rahim is; someone well acquainted with the practice of spitting blood - the Bat Demon himself.Thankfully, KISS went back on tour, saving Gene - and us - from too many more acting outings.

Aaron1375 This film to me was pretty good. It sort of is a bit like "Nighthawks" another film featuring terrorist, one of which being Hauer himself. This one though has Hauer as the good guy and Gene Simmons as the bad guy. Both are very good in their roles. Both never being or becoming super celebrities. Hauer has been in a lot more movies than Simmons and he has been in some very big movies during his days. Still, he rarely got to be the lead star in films. Simmons just played bad guys like the one here and the one in "Runaway". He was actually rather good in both films and I am surprised he never got more chances to play in movies cause I so could see him in a horror movie as the sadistic killer. This film has terrorist on the attack and a bounty hunter is going to be the one to bring them down. I loved watching Hauer as Nick Randall do his thing. He is a former CIA operative and a descendant of a legendary bounty hunter. The action is pretty good here and there, it could use a bit of work, but I still thought it played out rather well. The ending to this movie is really good, though at the same time while it is satisfying it is also a bit sad too.

lemon_magic "Wanted: Dead Or Alive" was by no means an Oscar worthy film (or even an especially well made one), but it marks Hauer's peak in the late 80's before he ran his career into the ground by appearing in an endless string of 3rd and 4th rate films in which he was often the only thing worth watching. These days his films are often direct-to-video schedule fillers, although I have hope he could yet regain the prominence his talent deserves (in his favor, he's had a meaty role in "Surviving the Game" and a powerful three minute scene in "Sin City" that practically steals the film.) But "Wanted" is a lot of fun due to its setting, its lead character, and its renegade machismo atmosphere. Hauer gets to wear black leather jackets, pistol whip fugitives, drive an enormous truck, keep a cache of oiled-and-ready guns and knives and blackjacks. And he gets to live in a huge warehouse full of motorcycles and weights and electronics that he can play with ANYTIME HE WANTS - it's the ultimate Boy's Club Treehouse/Fortress of Solitude. He's essentially an loner and an outlaw who makes a living by supporting the law - a Lone Ranger for modern times. Any young man between the ages of 15 and 65 wanted to BE this guy at some point in his life - either this guy, or else Batman. So this film practically gets over on the lead character alone.So all the movie has to do is give him something to do, and someone to be against. For that, the film-makers chose to cast Gene Simmons as a terrorist who is, of course, completely despicable, cowardly, opportunistic, etc., etc. It's an OK choice, I guess, since Simmons has a nice sinister cast to his features, and he looks appropriately mean and hateful and gleefully sadistic in his role. In fact, it's the exact same performance that he put on in a similar role in "Runaway" about the same time. Really, though, it's nothing a dozen other character actors couldn't do better, especially with such a cardboard, unsympathetic character. (I can't help but wonder what M. Emmett Walsh could have done with this role - he could have come across as both lots funnier and 10 times more sociopathic if he'd been given the chance).So anyway, Hauer is put on Simmon's trail, Simmons get a hint of who is tracking him and decides a preemptive strike is in order, and hijinks ensue. Loved ones are killed or injured, Hauers gets madder and madder, Simmons leers and capers, it turns out that the authorities are double crossing our Hero, giving him even more reason to take off the kid gloves...any one who has ever watched 'renegade cop on the edge' movies can predict how this one will end. One nice touch here is that Hauer ends up stuffing a grenade in Simmon's mouth and pulling the pin, a 'coup de grace' that had not been used yet (to my knowledge).In spite of the formulaic nature of the plot, and the fact that Simmons is obviously only in this because he was a member of KISS, the film is much better than it should be. There is some kind of alchemy going on here - the director knows how to use his lead actor, and the pacing is good, and lots of little details work out and lines of dialog are given effective readings, etc. Maybe it was the spirit of Steve McQueen hovering over the set...who can say? I am sorry there was never a sequel to this movie with this character, but then again, it might have sucked, so I guess I should count my blessings. After all, I hoped for a sequel to "Lethal Weapon" and got it, only to watch that franchise become a mockery of itself. In summary: good viewing for anyone into Chuck Norris movies or 'renegade cop on the edge' movies, or action/thriller movies in general. If you like Rutger and haven't seen this yet, change your viewing plans for next Friday night and find yourself a copy.