Streets of Fire (1984) - podcast episode cover

Streets of Fire (1984)

May 31, 202454 minSeason 2Ep. 20
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Episode description

This week on the Everything Actioncast, Zach and Chris head to "Another Time, Another Place" to discuss Walter Hill's 1984 cult classic, Streets of Fire.

Starring Michael Paré, Diane Lane, Willem Dafoe, Amy Madigan, and Rick Moranis, Streets of Fire is a "Rock n Roll Fable" that follows solider Tom Cody, who takes a job to rescue his kidnapped ex-girlfriend and massive rock star Ellen Aim (Lane) from the motorcycle gang known as The Bombers, led by the sadistic Raven (Dafoe).  Zach and Chris talk about the movie's distinctive look, what it is like watching for the first time for Chris, the movie's soundtrack, the sledgehammer duel finale, the unofficial sequel and more.

You can rent or buy Streets of Fire on most digital platforms, including Amazon.

We want to hear your comments and feedback. Send them all to [email protected]. Also, let us know your suggestions for movies for us to discuss.

Please subscribe, rate, and review us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. You can also find the podcast on YouTube.

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Transcript

Welcome to Everything Actioncast, the official podcast of everythingaction.com. Hello and welcome to the Everything Actioncast by the guest for week of May 27, 24. I'm your host, Zach. I'm your co-host, Chris. And this week we are traveling to another time, another place, and talking about Streets of Fire, the Walter Hill cult classic, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary on June 1, 1984. And it was a box office failure, but it has become a pretty huge cult classic.

It inspired a lot of different things, including fighting games, final fight, Streets of Rage, and music, and other movies that came after it. I think it inspired more corporation music in things that normally aren't musicals. It's like tough guy music. But yeah, this is basically Walter Hill's blank check movie where he made 3 hours, which was obviously a huge success in the 80s.

Basically, he made that movie, but back to Paramount, he said, hey, we want to make this other movie, and they're like, sure, do whatever you want. And he's like his ultimate kind of like, like his perfect teenage film for his teenage self where it's like hot rods, trains, neon, rock and roll music, leather jackets, like cars, chase scenes, and Diane Lane, young Diane Lane.

Yeah, like crazy cast, yeah, Diane Lane, Michael Parre in like, I think one of his first made like, second major role because he was in any in the cruisers, that was like, movie he came up before this, that was like his first big role. Rick Moranis in like a very not un Rick Moranis role where he's like this like kind of like asshole.

Yeah, like the fast talking mean business dealing guy. Yeah, like the sleazy manager. Yeah, and especially if you watched him in second city and I've been trained for like, this is before Ghostbusters, too. So, you know, this is just a weird Rick Moran message is not used to. Yeah, Ghostbusters was like the same year as this, and that kind of like that set like the like Rick Moranis that I've read, like the like, you know, nerdy Charmere Rick Moranis.

Yeah, and he is not awesome, but he's got some banging ass lines. We had that well dialogue is fantastic. It's like this like this like very like fast like old school like fast talking like what's like insult megaforth. Like Rick Moranis and Madigan have just like a great just like insulting each other back and forth.

Yeah, I thought they're going to fall in love. They kind of said they kind of had that like, will they won't they are like this like that like moonlighting kind of like we're like pickering with each other, but it's like, oh, they actually like each other. Well, it's never confirmed at the end that they like each other. It's like he just sort of tolerates her at the end. That's like the best they can do. Yeah.

Grant, it's only been two days this whole eventures two days probably just feel longer. Like the core ventures in the two days. Yeah. Well, like the whole like the main like mission that they ever goes on is like, like what night is he was like. Yeah. So I thought that would be way longer in the runtime. Let's get into the plot. Yeah. So it's so yet. So like I said in the intro, it's another time in our place.

Like this kind of like alternate comic book style universe, where it's like a world where it's like the sort of like the 50s in like style and cars, but then also the 80s with like music and some of the fashion. Yeah. And then yeah, modern weapons. Well, in the 80s, the 50s came back. Yeah. So it's kind of like a combination of that where it's like, yeah, everyone's a greaser, but then they all love. And Lane, Ellen, who's like a very like 80s like rock star.

But then they're towns all in the 50s. Yes. Some of their attitude, like the culture or some clothes wise, like all, yeah, like almost all the clothes, all the cars. And then it's hinted that there was like a future war that happened. Which explains why everyone that knows how to wield a gun is like a grizzled like imperial that or something.

I think what they're like, like, especially me the choice of like no one no one over 30s, give me this movie. Because it's supposed it's like this weird like John Hughes, T.H. movie mixed with like the warriors. But yeah, like like, like, like Michael, parade in any madaguer like veterans of like whatever this war was, and there were soldiers, but now they're most like just like out of work. And then they basically become mercenaries.

Yeah. Michael, parade has been doing this for a while. So he just been roaming around America. Maybe America. Yeah. There's some backstory that I couldn't figure out, especially when his sister and him do not look alike at all. Yeah, his sister is played by a dare of Ann Valkenberg, who was in the warriors as mercy.

So a Walter Hill veterans back. And yeah, and she's basically on instigates everything because the movie kicks off with like this full on a full performance of like one of the songs of the soundtrack, which is like the song. This movie is also like sort of a musical because there's like tons of songs in it. And so there's a full like a L.N.A.M. concert song kick off the movie. But then she gets kidnapped and in like during the concert by the bombers who are led by Willem DeFoe.

And then take it to like their territory, which is like the battery. And then Michael parade sister is like a super fan of L.N.A.M. is like, Hey, you should come back and rescue her. Because you guys like used to go out. Yeah, that's the most like emotional compromise person. Let's bring them as the hunter as the bounty hunter. Yeah. But it's also weird because the town may note has a police force, but they're just like, we don't deal with it.

It's weird because like it seems like the section like so like it's like I think it's rich men is like the good like the good part town or like the where like Michael parade like they all live. And it's this is like, there's only like two cops that like districts like Rick Rossovich and then like the other guy. Yeah, the that was weird because it made seem like there was law and order and there is. You see that later. But yeah.

Yeah, they're the only cops in this rich, rich district, I guess, but they just they were kind of mad that they kidnapped the popular singer from that district. That's like an other thing. It's like she came back to a visitor hometown and then got kidnapped in it. And there's only two police officers that are powerless to stop this gag from like riding in and taking her.

Granted, like no one has a gun. No, everyone just sort of like throws things and throws wild hand makers and that's that's like enough for this town. But yeah, they cause a lot of destruction like the intro scene of the breaking up that concert and then stealing it. And it's like it was so spread but very organized at the same time because not only did they like beat up every able person that would stand up to them inside the concert.

Then they terrorized that one block like it's a whole whole on right where people are just crashing into things, blowing up businesses, tipping things over. It's a great intro because like you don't know what you don't know what's name. I love the shot of like Willem DeFel like in the crowd and his like faces dark and then they like when he's about to like reveal it when he like his unleashes his gag. Oh yeah. And then also like build paxons there. I guess that's correct.

Yeah, I was confused who that was. I didn't know you don't know that's bill paxing until a little bit. Yeah. And unless you've been paying attention to how like a really good copy of this movie. You don't know that until way later until they basically have to reintroduce his character. Because you just think he's just a stage. That's another thing. Everyone in this crowd that isn't a singer looks like everyone has the same like clothes and yeah, almost the haircut.

But yeah, but yeah, but yeah, Riva who is Tom Cote's like a parraise sister right. I don't know if she writes him a letter or is it a telegram. I think there's just there's just many phones. It's either so it's like how long did I take to like get to him is like before like this letter that got me out of him. I said they had taken like a little bit. Telegram maybe it would tell grab me if I get there faster. Yeah, but.

But L names in like the like clutches of the bombers for a while. It seems like. Yeah, her her time in with the bombers seems longer than the actual rescue time. Yeah. And I don't know if she gets like a costume change or she's just been in that outfit in that bed for a few days. Yeah, it seems like she only has like one outfit for this entire movie except for I think maybe in that what like the one like the music video. Like when it's playing like there's like the song source.

TV TV I think that she has different out from that video that was filmed like so is music videos in this world. Even though it's like a fit like a 50s style like throwback world. Well, that's where the 80s tech comes in. Yeah. Yeah, but yeah, Michael. He shows back town. At first he doesn't want to do it, but then he decides to do it. And then he and he used to do it for money. He wants 10 grand from Rick and ran us to do the job. And then he cuts any Madigan McCoy in.

And then he. Well, they spent it some time with their friendship. Yeah, they're both nervous. They're so really bad. Yeah, she. She wants to make it clear she's not interested in Michael. She's like a job and looking for money and she wants to earn her key. Oh, there was there was like like basically like like within like five minutes of getting a town like he likes to beat up like an entire like diner full of like other.

He's no gang that shows up. But they're so like compared to the first gang. These guys are just the local tough guys. That's why I guess. Yeah, which is like whatever. And yeah, Michael probably beats them up and then he steals our car and then they he just has their car like the rest of the. This is my card now. Which you got what you guys know another thing about the police is like they don't care about like it's like well, he beat you up to this. It's his it's his car now like.

And then he also he gets a like a bunch of weapons from a mechanic, which I guess this way you can weapons in the sea diverse. You know, like the local mechanics like a car a car truck full of guns. Yeah, that part is just showing how CD underworld was, but that could just be, you know, the 80s. You just go local mechanic. He's also an arms dealer. Yeah. So I didn't know how money works in this future. It seems like he doesn't do it for the money, right.

His sister needs the money. He doesn't care about his sister to help her out. Yeah, I mean, I guess it's like regular money, but then it's like not America. It's not like our world. So. Yeah, I know it's just like I wish the money came in a different form that he did job with coins. Yeah, like, you know, like it took me out a little bit because they don't talk about it until like way later until they're basically bribing people like a lot of reference becomes the bank role.

But yeah, I just like, I mean, it's just the small details and they didn't figure out the coin thing because now if you want to do fantasy, want to kind of take people out of it. I know some fake money and they're holding an economy that doesn't make any sense. Make shit that based on the gold stand. Okay, I'm thinking like they could use the word creds. Yeah, credits. Yep. But yeah, Cody's weapon of choice is just a shotgun. And no backup just that's it.

Though he carries around like a bag, a double bag. I thought there would be like more weaponry. He gets like he gets like a shotgun, like a revolver and like a rifle, but they only uses like, I think he's the rifle when he gets when they get to like the bomb or headquarters. Yeah. So let me tell you from the cover and from what the setup we're talking about, you think this might be a hard PG 13 or what be an 80s are.

This is like very kid friendly up until maybe the one scene with like the lady dancing and you see her nipples. That's like the only like, oh, okay, Walter Hill trying to sneak in some adult content. Yeah, the rest of it is just like by today's standards, like a German carp commercial. I think especially when the whole like leather team, I think the producer team was going to get created like later this year, like an end of 1984.

Because like, you know, grandma's came out is coming out and like, you know, I think a couple weeks from this movie when it came out in 1984. So and that that in like, couple of doing basically a kickstart like the PG 13. It's right before we had like that in between. So as long as there wasn't like, you know, like hardcore violence or, you know, it's where you're like hardcore nudity that you got a PG a PG rating. Yeah, I was saying this had tasteful nudity not so much just like gratuitous.

And it made sense. It was like a diving evil bar. So you have where we're yeah, everyone dancing to like rockabilly, which was like a kind of weird choice for this like evil biker gang. Like basically Brian sets up your sick. They were like, they were little little like a decade too early for the like swing revival. And it's like, the name of the song is like, it's like like what big stud or something is like the the song that's playing it like the evil biker bar.

Yeah, what that's done by the last. The song playing is just be like very intimidating, but I think it's a code it is like terrible, but sexy big man. Yeah, well, everyone in that bar is wearing like, you know, leather leather outfits. We'll defo is in kind of like a serial killer like plastic like we're like very shiny like like apron with no shirt on. And it's like a kill suit. It's like a dexter like kill suit.

And it's definitely what a like a serial killer with a sexual thrill would wear this is very industrial bondage look. But yeah, you hit by that. Yes, but you have you have Michael Paray, Amy Madigan Rick Marist, they're trying to they're trying to break in. And I'm going to play his plan is I'm going to blow up all the like motorcycles outside the club and you guys can sneak in and get a day and laid out in all the chaos.

And Michael Paray is an incredible shot with that guy and like he does not miss from moving targets. Yes. It reminds me like a washer when you see a cowboy take out people on horseback. I think I was definitely like in Walter Hills mind. Essentially, he's just like right like driving up this like tribe of people and then he's. The guy is just taking him out.

But I think like they're like the most flammable motorcycles like more in like movie history too because it's like I think that all of them are leaking gas. I think they're all had loose vowels. Like what of them? What I'm kind of like kind of like looks like lazily slides into the other ones and they all blow up. I understand why why not just blow up. Well, you like wait for everyone to start writing.

Well, there's like there's like everyone's just like like if you're not like in the club like listening like rock and bill music, you're like outside just like doing like motorcycle stunts like just going off that like that tiny ramp like jumping your motorcycle. Yeah, but yeah, here's the thing. I couldn't tell like this is just motorcycle town or is everyone part of William DeFos gang because if they aren't now they are. Yeah, I feel like it's off this district.

Yeah, I feel like I feel like everyone in that like district is in like the the the bobbers. Yeah, then the district should go to war. It's I don't know if you can just take also she's supposed to be this like world famous singer or like or least a national singer. No one seems to care that she got kidnapped. She's kidnapped with like a hundred witnesses. It's in why why would you like like for sort of sing at your club like you.

You have the guy who that's what they like they they kidnapped her for William DeFos, but everyone there has no interest in dying lane. They all want the big bad stud. Yeah, they want the blasters. Yeah, this is right. Right. Right. Want to help wants a dirty fantasy, but he doesn't want it to dirty. Because we're all we know she's been there for like a week. Yeah, just hang out in this bed always refusing to kiss William DeFos. He's just like, all right, well, try again later.

Well, he tries again later and his his. Yeah, he is that weird line where he's just like, which which we'll fall in love for like a week or two and then I'll let you go. It's really raping. It's really uncomfortable. Yeah, but there's like a plan. It's so messed up because he doesn't love her. He just wants her. Yeah. But there's no like there's no like ransom or anything. It's just like I'm going to keep I'm going to hold you here for like a week or two and then I'll let you go.

I don't want to be a fake fall in love. I know this ain't real. So it explains that you know, it's not a typical. I'll ken that this woman. I'll marry her and know that that'll be it. It's like he knows it's short term. That's how evil he is. He figured it out. But wait, but like the main the main tree are like easily get her out of there. What out of hitch. Yeah, this is walker out.

Everyone does their job and I am shocked for that because you figure, you know, maybe Rick Moran is my pull a fast one. He might check an out. He might make another deal. Nope. Or what about the the mercenary woman, you know, the soldier who claims you soldier no credentials. No, nothing. We just know that she's tough acting. But she really shows like she infiltrates that group. She tries to sue someone to get in closer. Get in the headquarters. Yeah, I had a problem and shoots nobody.

And this is also like 30 minutes into the movie. So like you know, like what you think would be like the like the like the entire plot of the movie is like wrapped up with like the first 30 minutes. And then it basically just was like the warriors again, where they think they have to get back to like their home territory. With like this gang after the. It gets very, um, for me, because you just know the beats, except for when they keep ditching cars is that's like a new thing.

Yeah. You normally don't see so much ditch cars. And I think that's pretty funny. It's like, all right, we got ditches car. All right, I got ditches that. Yeah. They just the first car. This this the car of my surprise stole from like the other guys. And then they're walking through like it looks like kind of like a Las Vegas style. But it's like I think it's like it's like the brothel area, because I think it's all just like hookers.

It's like bars and hookers, but then I was like, there's like music videos playing on TVs. Well, in New York, the 80s error looked like that too. Yeah, the affair that could just be any city in the 80s when. Ornitheaters and ladies of the night and just garbage was a mock. But it's like it's like a very it's like a Dion drenched like Las Vegas style area of whatever this city or world is. That is true. And then they they run to like the most inexplicable character in the movie.

Like baby doll, EJ daily. Who just like is like, hey, I'm a million biggest fans. She just joins them and no one says like no, it's like I'm right. It's like, hey, this is dangerous. She's just like, okay, I gave you some help and I got money. She didn't offer anything that they don't have. She just tells them, oh, the police are after you. There are people that blew up like the torches. The bombers like bar. But it's like it's like Michael.

I gave like McCoy so much shit for trying to join the mission. And she's like soldier and then he's like this like random like girl on the street. The join them with no combat experience. No like nothing to add. She's just like a young girl. They pick off the street too. Yeah. Yeah. Mm hmm. And then they all, uh, then they all hijacked the bus of the cereals who are an art like a duop group. Trying to get to a show or just driving around. They say they say they say they can't get like shows.

So I don't know where they're where they're going, but they're they get their bus high chance. And then they're the duop group is pretty funny because they're so like they're already segregated in that town. Where are they coming from in that like tough town? Yeah. Because it's yeah, it's a two-year bus, but they're like, oh, we can't we can't get eight. We like no one will like hire us or we can't get eight gigs like avoid this town. This town sucks.

And then they basically like audition for a rarest day lane. Which is they in the nice musical number. Yeah, which it's funny because like the song like that song is like a very it's a classic like kind of like duop like RBSong. And then they're the ones that later saying I can dream about you, which is like a full of just like 80s pop songs. Yeah, I'm wondering in that. Would they know all the band members. I think something the main guy is an actor.

Yes. And then the main guy was like lip-syncing to like a different singer, which is the same thing with like dying like a therch. They basically can buy like two different singers for like her voice. They're like they then they dubbed over. I think actually there's like two there's like two like for like the first song in the last song was like a two different like a different singer and then like the one song in the middle in the section like me.

And section like that source or song was like a different singer. I mean, in this move in this world in different time, Diane Lane has strange and that source or so I was also written by Stevie Nicks. A Fleetwood back. The soundtrack of this movie like it took a year later for like people to realize how awesome the music was.

It's always it's always been odd to me that like I can drink about you comes from this movie because it's like it's so like outpaced the movie like no one who hears that song. I didn't either. I honestly because it's like that's like a that's like a certified like top 10 like like a big 80s pop hit. It's like the end credits song. Yeah, it writes it right. It writes a lot of in like the last dragon like the barge like they're song rhythm of the nights.

Is that movie and that came from that movie that also became like this like pop hit that like far exceeded like the cult status of the movie. Wait, which movie like the last dragon had like the barge like rhythm of the nights. That's what that's from. Well, because that was like a like like that was like a motel records like sponsored movie basically. It's like they had all are like the older artists on that one.

But that but yet that song was on like originally in that movie and then it kind of just like you know came its own like pop like Billboard chart and it didn't need to move anymore. It was like like this that's own. Which is definitely the same case with like I can drink about you because that's just like it's like hey you know that came from shoots of fire and like what what we. Fire yeah.

Because all because I was on the movie are like only exist in this movie but then that one is just like the like crazy pop hit. Yeah, it definitely stands out because way more wholesome and. Catchy yeah songs I end up take you out and very genre specific but. You know like the way they sing it as if it was called treats a fire like this movie should have been called dream about you you know like it's such a different song.

Well, since we're like apparently they want like because like the title of the movie comes from a boosting song. Treats a fire featured in the song because they want they were to negotiate with him. And then they're like well we're gonna double over we're gonna have like it's gonna be a cover version of it basically because we're have like our character Alan Ames sing it and he's like it was like nope. I will have anyone see my song.

So then they had then they had to come up and like replace because that was going to be like the big like closing song of the movie was like shoots of fire like the cover version of the they had to come up that tonight. Tonight is what it needs to be young. Like the big like closing out name song. That totally makes sense.

But yeah so anyway so the whole the whole group is on the bus and then they got stopped by the police which I don't know where these police come from I guess they're like the battery police. Apparently like or like whatever the the the on section wherever that place is called. That's like their police force but they have like way more police than like a rich pin to wherever they were ever they came from. Because there's like a whole like police blockade blocking them.

And it's like something from another movie like that goes like a blues brother thing. Yeah because like Rick and I just has to bribe them and they're like well more money we need more mean more and then like well we're not. Hey that's not gonna work your rest under arrest. Is it one of the guys in that bus meatloaf. I know I don't meet loaf covered I think you did a version of like nowhere fast like the first song that's in this movie.

But I don't I don't think he was in I don't think it can be already this movie. I don't I just feel like in this kind of movie nowadays you would see. A mix of more singers and actors together yeah singers in this spread throughout. You figure way more. Yeah I love the solution is we're gonna blow up we're just gonna shoot these cop cars and blow like blow up these cop cars. And drive through run and drive through not really a plan more of a panic thing.

And then that forces them like well we got this we got this is bus now because now they know this bus is like a has like criminals on it. But the do up band didn't have to run. No this like this they just keep adding people is like this group. The group just keeps getting bigger as they go along it's like well now we have this like band with us. We got this fan girl now we have this like do up band with us.

The fan girl is weird she I think she disappears at the end right like well you don't see her. No she's still like she's like around like she's like in like dialing department. But then she like leaves because then like that's when Cody's gonna have this like mature talk and then she just goes oh when like he eats. Yeah I don't see her at the end. No but she's like when like when like Cody like goes like like collect his money like she's there still. Yeah yeah that part I saw.

They take a train in very yeah that bus accident that bus incident they just take a train and warrior their way. But much much easier train ride the warriors actually they get all the back they're fine. But then we'll in the foe in his gang show up and they basically it's like or he even they show up at the police station is like give me I want Tom Cody tomorrow morning one on one. I was like destroyed this whole like section.

I thought that's like another day because after they drop off that's where Cody declaruses love for Diana again and they they hook back up. Yeah well I think they get back it gets all like this whole like rescue takes place over at night but then it's still dark when they get back so I think it's still like it's like super it's like super late night or like early that morning.

But then that that night that's where Diana and Cody like just meet up again yeah which I don't know where we're going to run as this is just leaves. Yeah. Yeah my girlfriend's back all right well time to count Monday yeah yeah like because like Cody's like I don't I'm going to take in like the voice cut you can have the rest if those about that's that's later that's later yeah.

But there's a point in the movie where Cody and Diane Lane spend like the night together yeah that's what's that's that's after he rejects the money because then I was like oh he like does care about like yeah I'm confusing like two different parts. He's like oh like that was like turning part of her was like oh he does like he does like he's not in for the money now he's in it for like you know giving me back or whatever. Oh he's into me instead of the money but yeah it's like some money.

Okay I'm like out of order. But then it's such a side plot to the actual adventure. Yeah well there they're romance is such like a weird like it's like it's like it's one of the driving forces but then it's all it's like such a like it's kind of like undercooked and it's also like really weird because he puts like he's like like they're like oh we're going to run away on this train together and they like knocks her out. Oh he does not do a gentle tap to the head. No it's full on clock.

And then she jokes about it later she's like oh you're the guy with the left hook or whatever. Yeah man he didn't bruise the merchandise. Yeah because like he's like he has my coil. Keep on just get her on this train in our town because he's like he has to do like the battle with Raven with one of the four. I do like because in the beginning of the movie I thought the police chief was going to really betray Cody.

But he does say like no we're going to show their full force and guns ready and you know we'll protect this district and I'm like where was this attitude when you're citizen guy kid. Yeah where was being a citizen. Where was everyone with their guns because like bill packs and like go sing a Gets everybody everyone has a fucking gun and they all come back and like are like like they have like a full like army raid like take on like the bombers. Oh my god like a citizen army.

But they're gonna let me like a parade on the foe have a sludge hammer duel. Which is like one of the folks like yeah here's my I choose my weapon sludge hammers. Well I guess in his district it's all like dust real yeah. So it's like their weapon of choice isn't a knife it's a hammer. I do like that like Walter Hill basically kind of like return to this idea like decades later for both of the head when he had like the slow Jason Moe like X fight. Oh yeah that was a lot of hill join too.

Yeah. Which you can definitely tell like if you watch us fire you watch that it's like oh yeah this is like a like a Walter Hill thing. A mono mono non gun fight like they both have like a weapon. Some sort of like unique weapon that they're gonna like fight each other with. Yeah so they have they have like a sludge hammer fight and then they basically then like Cody like wins. But then he like drops his hammer and then they have like a fist fight.

Well, uh, willing to fold in except defeat like that. Yeah. But but you know, but then Cody eventually like emerges victorious and then they the bombers leave. I guess they can never come back or like I don't know what happens to them. They've been like this solution because their leader is like been like has asked us. Which happens. I guess I guess maybe in like maybe even like one of the sequels that they were planning that they would come back possibly.

And the long it's like Walter Hill had a plan for a trilogy. Yes. Like Tom Cody like Tom Cody was going to be like one of his big characters like you. Topcoded trilogy. Yeah. Uh and you know on paper it sounded good. I think it's a little bit more like a fantasy movie but like ground it. It's not fantasy in sci fi where nothing is too weird technology. It. The action is reasonable because it's all real stuff work. And you know it's weaponry that existed in the 80s.

I think I think just the production of this was pretty high just to have all these practical sets and explosions and. I guess the marketing because I remember like before I even knew about this movie. I heard shoot the fire was like a big flop but it's actually like a cold. Yeah. I mean the budget just never on TV growing up. The budget was higher than 48 hours they gave Walter Hill more money to make this than 48 hours. But then only made like around like half of that.

But uh yeah I guess like wrap up the plot. So basically yeah the feet one the foe and then they have there's a big traffic concert where the sirels are now like opening for L&A. And then they sing I can dream about you and L&A sings tonight. That is what it means to be young. And then Michael Parais is like. He and I only have like a like a final seam read he's like I can't be the guy like who is your guitars. But like if you need me I'll come but I'm I'm I gotta leave now.

It's a real tough guy line you need that their love is just like passionate but not like. And he can't be like the second banana. Like he had to be like the roadie. Yeah he didn't care about her fame and he just like it's me or nothing. But she offered to throw away her career for him and he just didn't accept that either. So it's definitely her it's definitely something that we don't know about the movie.

And you know what the true nature of their relationship with like all I know is he's a sex rescuing and headed. Yeah because kissing in the rain one of Walter Hills favorite things. But that we have Michael Parais and I'm like I'm going to drive off and have mercenary adventures together because now they're now their partners. In the sequel settle they'll never happen. Wow official. Yeah there there there is a nod pseudo sequel from like 2008's wrote to hell.

I never heard of until no I never heard of it either. The late great Albert Pune of cyborg and like all those like crazy 80s like kickboxer 2 like a B movies. And it's in my friends back he like he's playing Tom Cody and then like Deborah van Volkenberg is back playing Riva. But it's yeah it's like unofficial it's it's it's it's never been like officially released only like it only showed like that film festivals it's never been like officially like available to purchase or DVD or anything.

Yeah they're only like it was seeing only computers. And I'm looking at some screenshots from this and this is all film digitally like it's all blue screens. Yeah. But 2012 Michael Parais he still got that look still looks like a Josh Roland. So before we finish talking about the plot of the movie Michael Parais acting starts strong in the beginning and then it just starts getting loose.

It's like the more he talks and they're more like oh he's more of a one word tough guy but that's all he knows how to play. He doesn't smile. And if he does it's like very like yeah I'm in love. He gives like a wistful like when he's here like the final song like he stands up exit to work a little bit is like man. We could have had something like I go. I hate this song. You just you also play I can dream about you again. Played nowhere fast.

Yeah the the character development is the same like it's pretty amazing that this movie didn't end with like. Like he gets the girl in a new ending it's just like he solves the problem and kind of leaves town everyone's a better but it's that almost like Roadhouse to like it you know or the new roadhouse where it's like yeah like you didn't change much but you change just enough. Yeah and for us we just learn that he he just told her he loves her but then it's like I can't be with you.

That's it yeah. That's a little rough a little rough for her. It's gonna be this like especially in the cover the cover makes it seem like all the end up together and like Rick ran this will like understand but Rick ran is actually bows out he's like hey like if you love her all you know whatever he's like nah. He's at the end he's cool and then yeah the real way is like nah I can't be like her like.

I can't be like the like not famous one or like I can't be like just like a hanger on the surface of this one. Like what else are you gonna do like you're gonna be like I'm like what were you doing before this like just like being a bum and like a different city or like mercenary make soldier. I guess so he's going back to war I don't know I don't know the war's still going on I think like the war whatever it was over. It's never over exact. Yeah so from Rambo we learned that.

Yeah I guess the sequels have been like they go with like different cities and then like it's like like a parade and just like go around just like having a different adventures. Yeah from what could happen I guess it would have been the next town they wandered into and then solve their problems with with the power of rock. Yeah how would you how would you keep like the rock and roll fable thing going to like have like a new band or like new like a whole new songs.

Yeah I think that's another thing they kind of put themselves in the corner where it's like does he have another girlfriend that's also a kidnap singer. Because if you if you establish that like yeah it's a rock and roll fable then every all the schools that would have to be a rock and roll fable to the K just like well now it's not a music anymore. Yeah and the next one that that hurts the spiritual sequel.

Yeah I don't think that's the music actually there is music okay it's just not that good. No yeah I don't think you have the caliber like the caliber of like Stevie Nicks or Dan Hartman working on it so. Yeah overall it's a fun movie definitely like a cult classic if you're Walter Hill fan you haven't seen it it's definitely worth checking out.

And it's not like for your first time see it Chris like it lived up to like whatever expectations and my expectations were a little higher just because I thought it'd be more action packed and the chase would be longer. But everything is resolved really quickly it's like whenever there's a problem spot it just gets quickly like addressed.

Only at the end we're willing to faux announces like or really like his henchman announces like hey we'll be back if this isn't over because he makes a thought to the police. That that is like. I think the first act is great the beginning part where Diana gets kidnapped and then like a parade introduces himself to whom the foe walks out onto a little streets of fire.

That was cool and then yeah like Michael pray knows that okay like we've only got maybe an hour to get out of the city because they're going to come for us like and they're going to come hard. But yeah the townspeople rallying at the end was a little late like it's like. It's just five minutes yeah I'm not like it's like when the police and the posse go get their citizen back I feel like they all that that town also has cops so it's not like a lawless city.

Why don't those questions yeah I don't know if those cops are for like the what what what's the battery or if it's for like if that neon district is like another district they don't like say what the name of this. Are they too afraid of it. Yes like we can't go to the bomber territory.

Yeah it's definitely had like a lot more than I call classic it's got like a lot of it's in flew so much of like other films like a screenwriter like like like a girl said it's it's you can definitely tell like Robocop and like seven kind of like took inspiration for this where it's like alternate it's like our world but sort of like twisted and like kind of like the like some of the imagery and stuff is similar and then like.

Beat him up like final fight like like Cody for final fight is basically like inspired by like a parade like Tom Cody from teacher fire. Oh he's got the same haircut. Yeah and like in the future rage also like obviously heavy inspired by teacher fire. I think I think Japan like really like or like a lot of people in Japan like really like enjoy this movie and like inspired by it.

Yeah I really see things about this movie and saying like the world and how like it's kind of lawless in a weird way like it inspires that like it's a great setting just because the base of it is like moldable. It definitely has that warriors feel where it's just like it like this is like a home feels like kind of a stope in or like some sort of like a pop list happened or like just like something off about it.

It's not quite it's not our world at all but there's like some there's like some familiar things to our world but like it's not. And then like also like just all the gangs running around. Although this this world seems like much more like put together than like the warriors like whatever that alternate 70s. Although I think I think it like the director's cut of the warriors is like the future.

It is what I think there's like some sort of like yeah there's like whatever the newest edition of the warriors is like oh this is the future. Sure I mean I refuse believe it is. Yeah but the truth of fire does feel you know forgiving because it's supposed to be another time in other place it doesn't have to be earth.

Yeah it's a Star Wars like a long time ago to get out of the way kind of thing which is like this is a totally alternate you alternate world where the 50s never died and but then the 80s also happens. Yeah I'm not a big fan of including 50s into things that just make it seem sluggish at times. But this this works you know it it definitely didn't feel like a bunch of greasers who just got like hang around outside a dukebox.

They incorporated the muscles and all that like the like force of them though I did laugh a little bit when the end sequence of all their gang members and you tell the extras just random people they just grabbed off the street. And it just looks like a pride parade like it looks like a daddy leather convention came together.

You know that scene in dodgeball where the bondage equipment goes to average Joe's yeah that's what it feels like it just feels like oh these people must be super cold and standing on these like lawnmower vehicles some of them aren't even vice they're just like 80s arm equipment that they're just right. Yeah and the guns are just weird some of them don't look at least it's so quickly shot I can't tell if they have real guns or not.

But the town people rallying together in their 50s like stuff with the cops just feels like a western like it feels like the town people coming together to fend off the town yeah. So yeah if you if the marketing for this was your towards like a neo western and had better I guess dialogue between dion lane and Michael Perez.

And then I think this would have been one icing for a bigger audience but if you're in the mood for in 80s rock musical with kind of like really good cinematography like really good lighting yeah other like see I say see it for the cinema feel. But it's definitely not like okay we're gonna study the acting here it's like I'm gonna I learned my acting style came from the William DeFoe school of face looking.

But we're supposed to stand out from this oh yeah he is when it's when the phone not a stand out oh yeah I know it's really hard to be like oh he's in this one like this is like great this is has a. They used them properly I feel like really hard to be another villain that have that kind of evil look and yeah like my first viewing was good I definitely seem like clips but putting all into contact is like a whole different experience.

Yep if you know I know where the song I can do you about you came from to speed so that that that fills in like some pop culture gaps for you probably. Definitely done. So yes that would do it to speak for every cash cast however site we've got our term or salvation commentary up so you can watch term or salvation with us for this most commentary and they will have different one next month.

And we got all of our usual features there we got news reviews trailers all kinds of stuff and over and check out stuff out. And yes for Chris I am Zach and we will see you next week for more for every action head to www.everythingaction.com. You can also find us on Facebook at facebook.com slash everything dot action and follow us on x at eve action. We're also on instagram and threads at everything dot action.

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