Uncommon Valor
Uncommon Valor

Movie spotlight

Uncommon Valor

1983
Movie
100 min
English

The pilot for an unsold weekly series, Uncommon Valor stresses the courage and resourceful of a team of firefighters in Salt Lake City, Utah. Headed by dauntless battalion chief Tom Riordan (Mitchell Ryam), the unit tries to drench a raging conflagration at County General Hospital (a disaster enhanced by some pretty good special effects). They also have to battle the villain of the piece, discreetly described in the original network press release as a "deranged arsonist."

Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes29%
Metacritic45/100
Google Users72%
Director: George P. CosmatosGenres: Action, War, Drama

Plot Summary

A decorated Marine colonel, haunted by the fate of his men lost in Vietnam, assembles a mercenary unit to rescue U.S. POWs still held in a Laotian prison camp. Facing immense danger and political obstacles, the team embarks on a perilous mission deep into enemy territory. They must rely on their training and camaraderie to overcome the challenges and bring their fellow soldiers home.

Critical Reception

Uncommon Valor received mixed to negative reviews from critics, with many finding the film to be a formulaic and overly violent action movie. While the performances of the lead actors, particularly Gene Hackman, were sometimes praised, the plot was often criticized for its predictability and jingoistic undertones. Audience reception was somewhat more favorable, appreciating the action sequences and the themes of camaraderie and rescue.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film features a strong ensemble cast, led by Gene Hackman, who deliver solid performances.

  • Praised for its action sequences, though often criticized for being overly violent and gratuitous.

  • The plot is considered predictable and follows a common action-war movie formula.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciate the film's action and the efforts of the main cast, finding it to be an entertaining, albeit somewhat dated, war film. Some viewers enjoyed the themes of loyalty and rescue, while others found the narrative and action to be somewhat repetitive.

Fun Fact

The film's setting in Laos was largely achieved through filming in Mexico, with locations in the Mexican states of Guerrero and Jalisco doubling for the Southeast Asian jungle.

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