When an inner-city Miami schoolteacher gets her knee broken after standing up to the school's gang leader, her mercenary combat specialist boyfriend goes undercover as a substitute teacher to take down the punk. Soon he discovers a conspiracy of criminals at work, and must reassemble his team from his last jungle raid to stop them.
Acting
Tom Berenger's unhinged intensity; Marc Anthony's surprisingly sleazy villain turn.
Writing
Dialogue so corny it loops back to brilliant: 'I'm in the peacekeeping business.'
Practical Effects
Pre-CGI explosions that actually explode. Real stuntmen eating real pavement.
Director
Robert Mandel
Tom Berenger
Jonathan Shale
Raymond Cruz
Joey Six
Marc Anthony
Juan Lacas
William Forsythe
Hollan
Luis Guzmán
Rem
Diane Venora
Jane Hetzko
Ernie Hudson
Claude Rolle
Richard Brooks
Wellman
Glenn Plummer
Darrell Sherman
Cliff DeYoung
Matt Wolfson
Peggy Pope
Hannah Dillon
Ellsworth Davis
A.J.
Sharron Corley
Jerome
Rodney A. Grant
Johnny Glades
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This bombed theatrically but became a massive VHS rental hit, spawning three direct-to-video sequels—none starring Berenger, all increasingly unhinged.
Released during the peak of 'tough on crime' 90s panic; the film's solution to failing schools is literally a white mercenary murdering Black and Latino teenagers, which critics mostly ignored because it's 'just' an action movie.
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Reactions from the web
I used to watch this movie all the time as a kid. Classic maybe?
@darrel7589 4
I never thought this would ever see the light of day in 4K - I picked up the non-anamorphic DVD a couple of years ago, never dreaming that this would come to Ultra HD Blu-ray. Love this film, and it holds a special place in my heart because it came out the year I graduated from college.
@MikeMargolis-j8f 1
this one is pure gold! Part II; not so much. I think there was a part 3 but after the stomach ache that was 2, I couldn't do it.
@billsmith9249
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