MovieChat Forums > The Dogs of War (1981) Discussion > Important Question

Important Question

posted 19 years ago by sojourn223
5 replies | jump to latest

I know that this movie recieved decent to good reviews, (but so did Rambo) but is this movie really good? Is it more of a "real" war story or one of those stories where the main character goes around like Rambo killing everyone without having to reload once. Does it have good acting and a good plot? And most of all is this movie considered a B movie or an A movie? Im asking because if I want to see it Ill have to buy it, due to it not being in a library or video store near me, and this moview really caught my eye.Thanks.

[–] blur81 19 years ago

The movie is excellent. It is a mercenary war story which looks at the planning, set-up and carrying out of a military operation. The acting is superb as is the cinematography and plot. Its worth buying. A great movie in the same vein is the amazing "The Wild Geese".

[–] fox_nemhauser 18 years ago

when i was young i thought the movie was great

i've recently read the book and it was excellent

after reading the book i've rewatched the movie and sadly - it's not that great (but still rather good)

If someone tries to kill you, you try to kill them back!

[–] sforsdyke007 18 years ago

thing to remember is thats its based on the book, its not the book.

They asked mr forsyth to help scipt a movie and use his book to sell the movie.

its the same for most singers, you buy their cd and you get use to them singing on a cd created in a studio but when you see them live on stage singing they sing different because they have to breath so they drop words.

its a great movie imho the action scene's are good and nobody becomes bullit proof

[–] macliggett1 17 years ago

This probably the best of the Afrikan mercenary movies from that period, The Wild Geese is good but, is a little too altruistic. Dogs of War is a little slow in spots but, the overall mission planning and execution really give it a sense of authenticity. The book was better and gives the Walken character better motivation to do what he does but, it works well enough in the movie.

[–] shoobe01-1 16 years ago

Actually fairly little action. Though when it's on, it looks like a war movie. And the miracle grenade launchers are sort of a pain to reload, such that they are repeatedly shown sitting there reloading them, and there's a line about the fire support not being there during one of these pauses. So pretty good for the action bits all in all.

Not at all a Rambo moment, and all FX are practical pyro explosions, which while too gasoline based are pretty real compared to current movie explosions.

Plenty of decent acting and evil plotting by business men and dictators and so on. Not any moralizing over the final result, either. You get to do that yourself, I guess.

I'd love to see it stretched another 30 minutes and get more of that talking and planning and so on; don't believe anyone who says it drags in the middle.