BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

WasAnnon Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Predrag Sometimes even movies released into regular circulation from the major studios fall through the cracks. This is definitely one of those. Tommy Lee Jones as the industrial spy is as cool and calm as he's ever been. Linda Hamilton is as good as she's ever been and Richard Jaekel turns in another steady performance. The plot is clever and tight enough to satisfy most and the directing by Harley Cockliss (whatever happened to him? This seems to be his only outing) is tight and well paced. The first twenty to thirty minutes of the film were surprisingly good. The story opened briskly, there was some very sharp dialogue (some of it written by John Carpenter, who had originally been hired to direct), and one solid (and underrated) car chase between Jones and Linda Hamilton. This is just a good action thriller, and it has one of the best fist-fight scenes ever.Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

Wuchak In "Black Moon Rising" (1986) Tommy Lee Jones plays a professional thief hired by the FBI to apprehend a data tape to incriminate a questionable company. Oddly enough, once he gets the tape he's forced to hide it on a prototype supercar, which is stolen by a woman (Linda Hamilton) who works for a professional car-theft ring led by a character played by Robert Vaughn. Richard Jaeckel plays the inventor of the supercar and Bubba Smith an intimidating FBI official.While the film was written and produced by John Carpenter and features the stars noted above, the budget was limited, which is evident in a few areas. For instance, the supercar -- named Black Moon --looks rather cheesy, although I'm sure it looked neato futuristic in the mid-80s. Nevertheless the outlandish story keeps your attention, particularly the interesting caper in the third act, borrowing elements of other 80's films/shows like James Bond, "Beverly Hills Cop" (1984), Knight Rider and "Terminator" (1984). Hamilton is likable as always, but the feminine eye candy is limited to her and she's too thin for my tastes. Still, you can't go wrong with Linda.The film runs 100 minutes and was shot in Lancaster, Hollywood and Los Angeles, California.GRADE: B-

Woodyanders Master thief Sam Quint (Tommy Lee Jones in peak rough'n'tumble craggy form) is hired by the government to steal data from a shady organization. Quint hides the data in an experimental supercar called the Black Moon. The Black Moon gets ripped off by sassy ace automobile booster Nina (a winning performance by the insanely foxy Linda Hamilton), who works for a stolen car ring run by the ruthless Ed Ryland (a nicely slimy Robert Vaughn). Quint has to break into Ryland's impregnable office building so he can steal back the Black Moon. Director Harvey Cokeless maintains a constant brisk pace and stages the action scenes with real rip-snorting brio. Lalo Schifrin's robust, rousing, jazzy score pumps up the tension. Misha Suslov's slick cinematography gives the film an attractive polished look. The bang-up supporting cast rates as another major plus: Richard Jaeckel as nerdy scientist Earl Windom, Bubba Smith as intimidating government agent Johnson, Lee Ving as vicious thug Marvin Ringer, Dan Shor as Windom's amiable assistant Billy Lyons, William Sanderson as sweet deaf guy Tyke Thayden, and Keenan Wynn as the ailing Iron John. Jones makes for a refreshingly human and vulnerable protagonist. The climactic break-in sequence is especially tense and gripping. Moreover, there's an amusingly sly sense of humor evident throughout. This tight, trim and witty B action thriller gets right down to brass tacks and hits the stirring spot in a satisfying straightforward and unpretentious manner.

Scarecrow-88 Robert Vaughn portrays Ed Ryland, one of those meglomaniacal crooks who runs an underground organization where his crew steals high priced cars and sells them on the black market. Linda Hamilton plays Nina, his head runner of the operation. Richard Jaeckel is Earl, one of three who have created a uniquely shaped and very fast state-of-the-art car which can go to speeds up to 325 miles per hour(it also runs on hydrogen from water). Earl and crew are at a meeting to pitch the unique car to Italian buyers when it is stolen by Nina and her crew, among many vehicles in the lot. Tommy Lee Jones is the star of the film as superstar thief, paid by the government to retrieve a cassette with important information the federal government doesn't want out to the public(Bubba Smith is the secret agent Johnson who threatens Jones if he doesn't give the tape to him). Jones plays Quint, who has an arch rival in Marvin Ringer(Lee Ving), both after the same cassette. Ringer has a bevy of cronies behind him to help in the dirty work and they try several times to kill him(often viciously beating him or shooting at him). In a scene to keep the cassette from Ringer, Quint places it in the pocket of the Black Moon vehicle..owned by Earl! So Quint isn't able to deliver the cassette to Johnson and is given 72 hours to find that tape and give it to him. The deck is stacked against Quint, for he must get inside Ryland's secure, well guarded compound, retrieve the hidden cassette, fend off constant attack from Ringer, and convince the Black Moon crew to help him. It's a lot to handle, but soon Quint winds up falling head over heels for Nina and the story takes on a whole new path. The film is quickly paced and fun despite asking the viewer to accept a lot of hogwash about cars that can drive a quick speeds through endless traffic, a man who can cross from one building to another on a rope hanging on one prong on a hook, and one man seemingly able to do many psychical things after being beaten heinously. The film has a ridiculous ending car chase which has the Black Moon going from one window off a building and into another windowed building. The film does have good leads who take the film a long way. Jones is always fun to watch, and is believable in his role. I liked Hamilton as well. Ving is really over-the-top bad in this film playing the heavy REALLY heavy.