Has some fun moments
Ratspit | California, United States | 07/01/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Gale force is not necessarily a great B flick, but it's entertaining, takes jabs at reality TV shows and their hosts), has recognizable actors in it that do a decent enough job, and is done well enough to be enjoyable (especially if you like the actors). Though a few scenes of footage are used from other movies (helicopters flying over jungle in Predator, some car stuff and opening concepts from Last Action Hero) such doesn't really bring the picture down. It's meant to be a fun romp, not a spectacular, or entirely original film. Special effects get the job done and aren't too hideous. The kind of movie you might see on a weekend on a miscellaneous cable channel. If you're a fellow Treat Williams fan, I strongly recommend DEEP RISING (a far better fantastic movie), but he's cool in Gale Force as has some fun moments. You might consider turning off Gale Force in the first ten minutes, but it picks up. All in all, a simple flick, with a simple `who lives and who dies' plot, with some fun moments. It's worth it for the actors, and the jab at reality shows. Good movie to rent on the cheap, or buy in a discount bin somewhere."
SLOW WINDS A BLOWIN
Michael Butts | Martinsburg, WV USA | 02/07/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"GALE FORCE is another straight to video that suffers from its lack of creative intelligence. Obviously scenes were stolen from previous movies (see other reviews), and the opening scene does little than to establish Treat Williams as a loose cannon. I will say for Treat that even though he can do much better than films like this, he manages to exude a quiet strength that helps elevate his films. Michael Dudikoff as a villain is novel; Susan Walters needs acting lessons; you never know when Cliff deYoung and Tim Thomerson are going to turn up. The effects are sub par, the pacing erratic, but overall it's an entertaining 90 minutes or so."
A horrible film that pokes fun at TV reality shows
Alex | Dublin, PA USA | 07/18/2002
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Treat Williams has made some bad films, and "Gale Force" is another stinker to add to his filmography. This direct-to-video garbage stars Williams as a LAPD detective who is asked to sign up for a new TV reality show, "Treasure Hunt", after he is suspended from the police force. The film's director (supposedly it's Jay Andrews, not Jim Wynorski) decided to steal some footage and action sequences from other films, such as "Last Action Hero" and "Die Hard". I wonder how the makers of "Last Action Hero" feel about having its car chase sequence being digitally inserted into this film! Anyway, avoid this one at all costs, and pray that Treat Williams' new TV series will be better than this [one]."