The Losers (1970)

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

While watching History channels "Gangland" a program dedicated to show the origins of various crime syndicates, I got the feeling that most outlaw biker gangs were created in the aftermath of Vetnam.Bandidos, Mongol Nation, Warlocks, are just few the many notorious biker gangs that was founded by Vietnam vets. In case of Bandidios, their leader was former marine who supposedly used the marine corps as rolemodel when it came to structure, chain of command.This biker film is apparently inspired by an offer Hells Angels leader Sonny Barger made to President Johnson. Barger offered some of his men to be used as an guerrilla force behind enemy lines in Vietnam.Johnson turned him down and thus Hollywood took over the idea.Basically this film is about some very mean, violent, outlaw biker gang who are deployed in Vietnam in rescue mission of an American diplomat.But as it turns out, is not going to be easy...To be honest this just your average B-movie biker film, but it does have a few surprises up its sleeve.The director is clearly inspired by Sam Peckinpahs films, when it comes to the violence(often shot in slowmotion) but the also the main protagonists being antiheroes.Even one of this films taglines is inspired by the The Wild Bunch (1969):It's The "Dirty Bunch" On Wheels! There are also heavy criticisms against USA and its foreign policy, the way US military handles the Vietnam war. Another subject this film touches upon is the racial tension that exist in the US army.It is unusual to see that kind of material in a cheaply made b-movie and makes this film a bit more interesting then the rest.William Smith playing Link Thomas is very convincing here and plays the gangs leader very good.Vic Diaz, who always been a favorite of mine, plays another one of those sleazy characters that he was so good at.So if you like bikerflicks but want something a little different from the average then see this even though it is cheaply made b-movie its still more interesting then Twilight(2008).

Okay, first of all, get loaded before watching this film. A 40 oz. of King Cobra or St. Ides is a good start. Being inebriated greatly enhances your enjoyment of this flick. It was obviously filmed in the Philippines with Filipino folk playing Vietnamese and Cambodians. William Smith's hair gets progressively lighter until during the final sequence, he is blond. The other four guys who portray Hells Angel types are pretty pathetic. Limpy looks like a skinny, sleazy 70's porn star. Then there's the guy with a shocking green rag across his forehead with a swastika on it. I don't think macho biker types would wear chartreuse, but he never takes it off. Then there's the flabby guy with the huge love handles who fights all the time with his shirt off. Then there's the guy with no muscle tone and killer blue eyes who is the farthest thing from a biker type. We get to see a few topless Filipino women and that's nice. The final assault on the enemy camp with choppers modified with shields and machine guns is classic. I think they knocked down and blew up the same tower three times. Anyway, William Smith is the only legit biker type and he carries the film. Fun movie, but make certain you have plenty of malt liquor on hand to help maintain your viewing pleasure.

William Smith is my all time favorite B-Movie actor- a truly talented individual whose list of lifelong accomplishments is extraordinary. He single handedly made movies like "The Losers" watchable and even enjoyable if you don't take them too seriously. The film centers around the U.S. Army hiring a motorcycle gang to rescue a presidential adviser being held captive in Cambodia. Smith plays gang leader Link Thomas, whose Army Sergeant brother sets up the mission. Most of the movie is spent focusing on events leading up to the mission with the gang partying, smoking, getting in fights and souping up their choppers as the rescue nears.The acting is average, although a respectable cast (Adam Roarke, Paul Koslo & Bernie Hamilton) was assembled. There is too much time spent on love interests which tends to bog down the film, but the latter half especially is very entertaining as the mission takes place. This is 70's schlock through and through, but is a treat for William Smith fans, as he gets top billing and the lions' share of screen time.No one will confuse this with anything Oscar worthy, but so what? A good way to numb your mind for an hour and a half.

Rough and tumble hog-riding Hell's Angels hellions Link (the almighty William Smith), Duke (the equally awesome Adam Roarke), Dirty Denny (former real-life Green Beret Houston Savage), Speed (Gene Cournelius) and Limpy (a fine Paul Koslo) are recruited by the CIA to rescue an arrogant presidential adviser (expertly played to the hateful hilt by director Jack Starrett) from the vile clutches of the Red Chinese in Cambodia.Directed with his customary rip-snorting brio by the extremely underrated and always dependable Starrett (whose other credits include the Jim Brown blaxploitation vehicle "Slaughter," the hugely enjoyable "Cleopatra Jones," and the Satan worship car chase knockout "Race With the Devil"), this bang-up gutsy and thrilling little pip works like gangbusters. The pace storms along at a steady, speedy clip. The performances from the top-rate cast are all uniformly excellent (it's a real treat to see biker pic perennials Smith and Rourke on screen together, plus longtime favorite Filipino fat guy thesp Vic Diaz has a funny supporting part as a friendly mechanic). The incredibly explosive action sequences are staged with considerable incendiary aplomb (the big climactic raid on an enemy prison camp is a definite highlight). Moreover, the bikers themselves aren't glamorized or sanitized in the least. These dingy dirtball dudes are pure bad news. They are a scruffy bunch of mangy nonconformist malcontents who are as likely to brawl with each other as well as anyone else who crosses their bitter antagonistic path.Better still, this remarkably bold picture fiercely ridicules America's involvement in the Vietnam war, clearly stating that we hurt these people more than helped them (the subplot about the Vietnamese prostitute with a mulatto baby is especially poignant and provocative). The fact that this defiant movie was made while the Vietnam war was still going on makes it that much more pertinent and resonant. And the crushingly downbeat bummer ending is likewise very powerful with both its unflinchingly cynical anti-government stance and unsparingly grim statement about the wasteful futility of war. In addition, this film was also influential in that it established the basic let's-bring-the-boys-back-home premise which was later reused in such 80's action features as "Uncommon Valor," "Missing in Action," and "Rambo: First Blood, Part II." The Dark Sky DVD offers a beautiful widescreen presentation along with the following tasty extras: two radio spots, the theatrical trailer, a still and poster gallery, and, perhaps the single most savory bonus, a highly amiable, entertaining and informative commentary by stars Paul Koslo and William Smith.