Maziun
This movie is rather loosely connected to TV show with Steve McQueen (the main hero is supposed to be a grandson of McQueen's character ), so if you're a fan of the TV show don't expect too much. Otherwise you might be disappointed. It's funny because I would love to see a TV show based on this movie. Oh well.This one of those rare movies where Rutger Hauer plays a hero not the villain . It was made during the same when Stallone made his own action/thriller – "Cobra " . It is in the B-Movie range. After the 9/11 this movie feels very up-to-date. The terrorists here get what they deserve.Rutger Hauer is charismatic as Nick Randall , yet he gives he's character a depth that is not often seen in this kind of movies. Gene Simmons is quite effective as a cold-blooded Islamic extremist Malak Al Rahim. He looks sinister and acts so. They have a decent support from Robert Guillaume ( CIA officer Walker ) , William Russ (sergeant Danny Quintz ) and Jerry Hardin (incompetent CIA leader Lipton ).Nick Randall is quite cool character . He wears black leather jackets , plays on harmonica and drives a enormous truck. Not too mention he has his own Batcave – empty huge warehouse with lots of guns , motorcycles and electronics . He even has what may be the first car GPS seen on a movie screen .He's essentially an loner and an outlaw who makes a living by supporting the law . Isn't that cool ? In a way he's Batman only with gun and without the costume.I really like the music made by Joseph Renzetti . The harmonica solo during the ending credits is quite beautiful . There are also two great songs : "Live bait " by Delaney Bramlett (during the opening credits) and " Doncha know that " by Simon Stokes ( when Nick is in his hideout).Both were also composed by Renzetti ."Wanted dead or alive" has some good 80's atmosphere and un-PC moments. The pacing is good. The low budget is sometimes a problem . The movie looks bad in some places. Some dialogues aren't bad , some are uninteresting. The body count is low and the violence is really nasty, so the movie feels like a real life not overblown Hollywood action movie. "WDOA" has a decent story. The ending is quite memorable, unexpected, satisfying and also a bit sad too. Quite un-Hollywood type of ending . Reminded me of a 70's movie type of ending. The line " F*** the bonus" is one of my favourite lines in movie history.I give it 5/10. Nothing really special , but decent enough and fun overall movie. Hauer had better and worse movies than this.
disdressed12
a bounty hunter(Rutger Hauer)takes on a terrorist(Gene Simmons).while it's refreshing to see Hauer in a non bad guy role,there's not much else to recommend this movie. found it boring and tedious from the get go,right to the final credits.Robert Guillaume is also in the movie and is good,as always,but he is wasted here.Garey Sherman directed the movie.he also directed Poltergeist III and wrote several episodes of the TV series Poltergeist:The Legacy and he co-wrote Wanted:dead or Alive with Michael Patrick Goodman.i wanted to like this movie,but it just doesn't have much going for it in the originality or action and excitement dept.the most i can give Wanted:Dead or Alive is a 4/10
movieman_kev
Having only a passing tie to the late '50's/ early 60's Steve McQueen helmed TV show of the same name (Nick is Josh grandson or some such nonsense), this movie is a mean and violent little number has B-movie mainstay Rutger Hauer starring as Nick Randall, a tough talking, no nonsense, 'my way or the highway' type bounty hunter who comes out of retirement at the request of Benson..sorry I mean Robert Guillaume (who always has some of the best lines in the movie as Philmore Walker) to apprehend a nefarious terrorist Arab (played ironically by Gene Simmons). He does so with tactics that would make Jack Bauer whimper in the corner, while at the same time dealing with slimy bureaucratic red-tape. This is a great mindless action flick and holds up well amongst repeat viewings. But the mere fact that the Writer/Director of this great little film went on to write and direct the utterly horrid "Poltergeist III" right afterwards boggles the mind.My Grade: B+
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.
