The Octagon (1980)

Called "spectacularly choreographed and executed" by the Hollywood Reporter legendary martial arts star Chuck Norris takes on a deadly terrorist training camp known only as The Octagon in this deadly tale of revenge that pits brother against brother in a classic showdown battle of good vs. evil.System Requirements:Running Time 103 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: R UPC: 692865126331 Manufacturer No: T-1263 Product Description

One of Chuck's Best

The Octagon is one of Chuck's best movie highlighting his karate skills. This is a good one to have in your colloction. September 8, 2008

A traffic sign or martial arts thriller

I am conflicted and truly felt cognitive dissonance when I reviewed this movie. Anyone who knows me is aware that I am huge Chuck Norris fan. However, this movie is so totally ludicrous and for the most part moot. So this review was hard for me to write. Nevertheless, I still love Chuck Norris and this movie is entertaining but perhaps for all the wrong reasons.

This movie released in 1980 (more than likely shot in 1979) has this total retro feel to it, which as far as I am concerned is a good thing. However, this movie had so many loop holes in it the Millennium Falcon would have no problem flying through them in order to jump into hyper-drive.

I would try to explain the story of this film, yet I didn't understand it myself. What I will say is that Chuck Norris is tormented by flashbacks of his childhood and of ninjas (evil). He discovers that his adopted brother (can we say Lego hair) is the leader of an underground ninja crime movement. These ninjas are training in an octagon, hence the title of the movie. The former is really the best description of the movie I can provide. The movie should have been dubbed in French it might have made more sense to me despite the fact I cannot speak French. As for the fighting, it wasn't bad, usually Chuck Norris fair.

Another strange thing in this movie was Chuck Norris' intern-monologue; it has this whispering echo thing going on. For the most part, I didn't understand any of Chuck's thoughts. Then there was the character of A.J.: was he Chuck's friend, business partner, brother, an X-File, I don't know. Then there was this older man played by Lee Van Cleef. He was always accompanied by two other men and they always were able to aid Chuck. Again, I don't know who he was, why he was there and how he knew Chuck. All I knew is that he hated ninjas. I have never met a ninja so I can share this aversion. Oh you will also see a very young Ernie Hudson in this movie.

Chuck also has three different "encounters" or "relationships" with women in this movie. The first woman is sort of ditzy and is accosted by ninjas. The second woman Chuck calls a whore. Finally, the third looks like a girl I use to date. I am not sure if any of this information means anything.

In retrospect I look at "The Octagon" in two perspectives. The first perspective is a movie that is so bad it makes one wonder why it was made and what events in one's life resulted in viewing this film. The second perspective is a movie that is just random scenes and the only continuity being the characters and location. Under the assumption the viewer surrenders to the latter, they might really enjoy this movie. Sadly this movie seems very thrown together and didn't know what it wanted to do with itself.

The only reason I gave this movie two stars is because after about forty minutes I just started laughing. Once this transpired, I started to lose the oxygen going to my brain and began enjoying the nonsense that is "The Octagon". This behavior continued up forty-eight hours after the movie ended. I will never look at a "stop sign" the same way again. August 4, 2008

Excellent action at the end...living the late 70s in the beginning

An excellent movie overall. Norris is smooth and professional, his female suitors came across as immature and lost with his guidance. The movie dates itself to the late 70s early 80s on this count. If you're a Norris fan like myself it was a excellent movie to watch especially the last 30 minutes. August 4, 2008

Before Norris became a cartoon character.

Believe it or not boys and girls, Chuck Norris wasn't always the cartoonish Walker Texas Ranger.
He wasn't always a "wear it on your sleeves, republican pawn".
No boys and girls, Chuch Norris used to be AN AMERICAN BAD A$$!!!!!!!
America's answer to Bruce Lee.
The Octagon was a movie that I still watch and still enjoy.
Beautiful choreography, decent acting, decent script, decent direction.
It's no Crouching Tiger, it doesn't try to be.
There are no high wire stunts where people run across the water of a lake.
There is some pretty cool martial arts stuff though.
The story is just kind of ............ meh.
Still, if you're even curious to know what Chuck Norris was like before he became a caricature, look no further.
A fun way to kill an evening.
Recommended.
July 9, 2008

one of Chuck's best...

...at least as far as the fighting is concerned. If you want a Chuck Norris movie with a good story/plot I'd go for Missing in Action I or II. Or maybe Forced Vengence. But as far as fight scenes, I have to give this one the edge. He displays a much better range of techniques in this movie as well as use of weapons than in any other movie I can remember.

The acting is so-so. Better than usual I would say. the plot really isn't that compicated. And watching him fight opposite Tadeshi Yamashida is one of those rare moments of capturing two martial arts legends on film. Admittedly the movie has a slow build up, but overall it's a good movie if you like martial arts movies of that genre and era. February 15, 2008

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