MovieChat Forums > The Dogs of War (1981) Discussion > The first of the 80's war action genre?

The first of the 80's war action genre?


Can this this movie be considered the first of the 80's-style war action genre? When I watch this, I am reminded of later 80's war action movies, like Rambo II, Commando, and some of the Chuck Norris movies. In particular, the introductory scene and the last battle scene remind me of those films, with similar pyrotechnics, noise, and gun play.

Can anyone think of any films using that style of battle scene before "The Dogs of War"?

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I'm not so sure. The film did okay, but it wasn't a megahit or anything. There had been shoot-em-up films before The Dogs of War, and I don't recall any style difference.

I think "The Dogs of War" had the advantage that it was well shot and had a solid cast. Where as previous action films tended to be in the b-movie category.

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No, I think that is a miss conception, because it was not entirely an action film, and it wasn't that great of a piece for the genre.

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This reminded me a lot of those B action movies in spite of the cast. I think the OP could be right about this being a predecessor to them.

Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Cried

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I think The Dogs of War is better than most of the mercenary-war-action movies made around that time (Sorcerer, Commando, Rambo II-III). Dogs of War presents a realistic picture of the situation in a military African regime, the preparation of a coup and the home life of a mercenary warrior. Luckily, little screen time is devoted to cheap action scenes and piling of dead bodies.

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