Missing in Action 2: The Beginning

1985
R
1h 40m

IMDb RATING

5.3/10

9.6K

YOUR RATING

Chuck Norris in Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985)

Prequel to the first Missing In Action, set in the early 1980s it shows the capture of Colonel Braddock during the Vietnam war in the 1970s, and his captivity with other American POWs in a brutal prison camp, and his plans to escape.

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Action Drama Thriller War

Prequel to the first Missing In Action, set in the early 1980s it shows the capture of Colonel Braddock during the Vietnam war in the 1970s, and his captivity with other American POWs in a b... Read allPrequel to the first Missing In Action, set in the early 1980s it shows the capture of Colonel Braddock during the Vietnam war in the 1970s, and his captivity with other American POWs in a brutal prison camp, and his plans to escape.Prequel to the first Missing In Action, set in the early 1980s it shows the capture of Colonel Braddock during the Vietnam war in the 1970s, and his captivity with other American POWs in a brutal prison camp, and his plans to escape.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.3/10

9.6K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
The scene in which Braddock is tortured by having a rat tied to his neck was originally to be filmed with a fake animal, but the prop didn't turn up on the set. Chuck Norris claims he instructed the filmmakers to kill a real rat, then held it in his mouth while he thrashed around.

Goofs
Col. Yin tells Braddock that if he signs the contract, he will be transported across the border into Thailand. Vietnam does not border Thailand. It's next to Laos, then Thailand.

Quotes
Colonel Yin: You lose!

Alternate versions
German theatrical version was heavily cut to secure a "Not under 18" rating. Unrated VHS version was still cut, although not as heavily. Only in 2012 the film was officially released uncut for the first time after the complete version was rated "Not under 18" by the FSK.

Connections
Featured in At the Movies: Special Show: Sequels - Part 2 (1985)

User reviews65

Review

Featured review

8/10

Action movie gold.

It's not surprising to learn that Chuck Norris made this series as a tribute to his brother who had been killed in Vietnam. He really gave all that he had to these films. It may be manipulative but damn is it ever satisfying. The villains are the kind of loathsome scum whom you JUST CAN'T WAIT to see messed up in a variety of ways. And the good guys are fleshed out enough as characters that you do feel bad for them, and want to see them get their revenge.

As one can guess, this is a prequel to the original "Missing in Action" film of 1984. It shows how Chucks' colonel character, James Braddock, was shot down and captured during the war, and the tortures that he and his men are obliged to endure for the next several years, even after the war has basically ended. The sadistic colonel in charge of his work camp, Colonel Yin (Soon-Tek Oh) acts like a dictator, and just when you think you can't hate this guy any more, he ups the stakes yet again.

With Lance Hool taking the directors' reins, this proves to be a high old time for the action junkie, underscored by the genuine poignancy to be found in stories about prisoners of war. This is exciting much of the time, with kick ass battle footage, lots of explosions, lots of gunfire, and some breathtaking scenery. Chuck is a formidable hero as always, and Oh is a deliciously evil bad guy. Lending strong support are Cosie Costa, Joe Michael Terry, and especially John Wesley as the ailing Franklin. Steven Williams is good in an initially unlikable part as a captain eager to cooperate with his captors in exchange for better treatment. It's also cool to see hulking screen heavy Professor Toru Tanaka and "Ninja III: The Domination" villain David Chung as two of the guards.

All in all, this is solid entertainment, complete with a high body count and never ever boring.

Eight out of 10.