Good Guys Wear Black (1978)

A martial arts classic starring Chuck Norris as John T. Booker, a Vietnam Vet whose war actions have landed him at the top of the CIA's hit list. Now only a beautiful Senate investigator can help him unravel a treacherous plot - and maybe help keep him alive.

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Good Guys Wear Black: Pathos of the 1970s

In this 1977 film, Chuck Norris is John T. Booker. When this name is presented you almost think that Norris' character is going to have special powers. Well I guess he does, right? Pardon my deviation, in this movie Chuck Norris plays a C.I.A/military mercenary now political science professor/amateur race car driver. However when a reporter, played by a young Anne Archer, comes to bring some skeletons out of John T. Booker's closet, the madness begins.

John T. Booker was part of a special unit called The Black Tigers. Their last mission was to save some M.I.A. soldiers in Vietnam. Consequently the mission didn't go as planned and many of The Black Tigers were killed. Now Anne Archer's character is asking John T. Booker if he feels he and his team were set up when this mission transpired five years prior.

I am not going to rehash the entire plot; if you are a fan of Norris you have already seen this movie, planning on seeing this movie or will just see it because Chuck is in it. I have seen many of Chuck Norris' films and this one isn't his best. In contrast it isn't awful either. As a matter of fact, this movie almost has a James Bond/24 feel to it (feel doesn't mean like or better). This is manly due to all the political intrigue and mystery woven into the storyline. As for the action it is there, yet it isn't saturated throughout the movie. This might created the perception of a boring or slow paced flick. I felt it was a good balance. I love the jump kick + moving car = this is why I have the DVD.

This move does have some bad special effects, poor acting and dubious events in plot. I found these deficits to prove charm (others might not). The one thing this movie has got going for itself is the time capsule it has put on the 1970s, the fashion, gender roles, soundtrack, special effects and house wares. Look at the tile and shower curtain in John T. Booker's bathroom and you'll know what I am talking about.

Overall a cult classic served with a bit of cheese. Again this isn't a great film, but does have some merit in the John T. Booker...I mean Chuck Norris catalog. The DVD provides a nice picture, chapter selection and actor biographies. As for the title of the movie, Chuck Norris/John T. Booker only wears black for ten minutes in this entire film, go figure. September 22, 2008

Bad Norris Film

I was completely deceived with this movie. I thought it was going to be another Norris-cop film, being that Chuck's wearing official cop shades on the cover. Then I thought I was watching Missing In Action, because the plot seemed to be similar...at least in the beginning. It turned out to be just another Norris film with no real highlights in it.

My complaints are as follows:
- the opening credits were horrid!! It was some new technology that Hollywood was playing around with using psychedelic colors and blurred-digital graphics. The song was ear-bleeding and nauseating. I just skipped it.
- The acting was as expected for such a film. The fight scenes were just lame and could have been done better with Tiger Showman-style karate, not the great martial arts we expect from Norris.
- The scene where Norris goes head-on with a speeding car was just ridiculous, especially after it was over and Chuck's just hanging out of the windshield looking like, "okay, now what?"
- There's no way they'd let anyone (even in the 70's) just bring a suitcase with a bomb on a plane. That part just ruined the movie for me and almost caused me to rip the disc from my player.

I do have to admit that the girl in the movie (Anne Archer) was smoking hot and there's no way she'd be in bed with Chia-Pet Chuck. I was hoping for a flash of flesh but was disappointed. The plot wasn't horrible, but could have been a bit better. Also the ending was great as I was wondering how Norris was going to clean up the mess that had been created.

Really not a bad movie, but I was expecting something more from Mr. Norris. Perhaps I'll have to check out his Missing in Action Collection (1, 2 & 3) series. This film could have been a great prequel for that. August 21, 2008

Another fine Chuck Norris classic!

If you like deep character development, Oscar-winning performances and gripping drama, then look elsewhere.
Good Guys Wear Black is an early Chuck Norris as an ex-Special Forces commando left stranded with his unit in Vietnam. About six years later, he's resurfaced in the U.S., but all his comrades are being killed off. It's up to Norris to find out why, before he's next.
A little slow for a Norris film, but still a great ton of fun. October 17, 2007

Not very good

Don't buy this movie it does not have alot of action in it and has no plot at all. July 31, 2007

Time trip

It's easy to see why this is a cult classic.There is somthing about it that is historical, yet still has something to say about today. January 3, 2007

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