MovieChat Forums > Search and Destroy (1979) Discussion > Terrible movie I've ever seen George Ken...

Terrible movie I've ever seen George Kennedy in.


I got to watch this home brew type movie for the first time today. It didn't crank my engine at all. Canadians just don't act the way this movie portrays. First off, no-one in Canada is allowed to own an auto-matic weapon, let alone have one handy in a trailer. A person running down the main street of Niagra Falls would begin immediate pannic of those walking down the main crowded strip. People would scatter, and head for shelter as quickly as they could, not standby and watch someone have a shoot out, with bullets flying here there and everywhere. Has this director lost his mind, thinking Canadian people would simply stand still and watch an on-going shoot out, while not ducking and seeking cover of some sorts, as well as quickly clearing the street, to allow the police to do their jobs when they arrive at a crime scene? Sloppy job I must say. The way the director portrayed how our Niagra Falls Police dept. would respond or act in this movie,is totally wrong, big, BIG!!!!! time. Even back in 1979, when this low bugget, stupid movie was made, our Niagra police swat teams would have been called, and responded to the scene quickly,taking down and arresting both of the leading actors shooting in this movie, for having and using, illegal weaponery not allowed in Canada. Both the leading actors in this lousy movie(if this scene had been in real life) would have been facing at least 10 yrs. prison time or more for just having the weapons in their possessions, not to mention, looking at alot of extra jail time for using them. The Canaian law system is not tolerant, when it comes to guns or gun play on our streets.This movie doesn't depict the true Canadian way of life at all, in fact, I found the movie to be an insult to our Canadian police deptments across Canada and how they work hard every day, protecting the citizens of our country. Don't ever try having a gun of anysorts in Canada and walk down our fair city streets with it in your hand, because you won't get far before your caught and looking at big jail time, that's for sure. No Doubt about it.
I found this movie to be nothing but a pile of garbage, and doesn't become George Kennedy's acting career at all. It's too bad he took part in this movie, as I expected higher of him. Mr. Kennedy is a good actor, and doesn't need to be brought down by this low bugget, useless movie.
My grade on this movie, from 1 to 10, is a 2, and no higher. The only reason it got that high a rating was because George Kennedy was in it, and no more. I must say, it's the poorest movie I've ever seen Mr. Kennedy in. It's a totall insult to his acting career, in my opinion. It's a pure shame.
Wayne.

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I agree. This movie is awesome!

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^ This.

"Hey, look at that! She's not crazy, she's being chased by a cheetah!"

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There was one part during the Niagra Falls scene where there were a bunch of people who didn't seem to notice a guy carrying a weapon five feet away from them, which I found unusual. However, the delayed reaction is plausable. Actually, I thought the stupid bystander reactions were spot on. I don't know how things are done in Canada, but I know human nature..."Hey, it's just a scratch!" (thanks for your expert analysis, "Doctor"!)

As for George Kennedy, many of his roles over the decades were quickie paychecks for sub-par movies. This one, however, he seemed to take relatively seriously (as opposed to actors like John Carradine, Ernest Borgnine, etc. when they "starred" in movies for a grand total of two minutes).

The movie was better than what I expected.

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Hope you realize you don't speak for Canada. I loved this movie. Had lots of silly action, good guys bad guys and didn't try to be more than what it was. You are judging it like it was a big movie. It was a B movie nothing more. Also you think Canadian's don't have automatic weapons? Think again!

I saw a guy running around Parliament in Ottawa for awhile before he was shot down. Bet your comments look foolish now to you.

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The niagra pd actually worked very closely with the producers of this movie and the story was based on actual events in niagra's recent history. In those days vietnam vets would often walk the streets of niagra shooting madly into the air above crowded intersections. it became so commonplace that no one thought much of it. thankfully that all died down after video games were introduced.

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I would point out that well this movie was clearly filmed in Niagara Falls
Canada... it was obviously set in Niagara Falls NY. Note the American flags in Anthony Fusqua's (George Kennedy's) office, and the shoulder patches on the police officer's uniforms.
That being said, the references to the Canadian legal system, or the Canadian way of life do not apply.
I do agree that the crowds seemed to stand idly by for much to long. I think they would would have dispersed more quickly in real life.
I grew up in Niagara Falls and watched more for the backdrop then the story, but it turned out to be pretty good. 6/10

TOWER, ALERT AIR TRAFFIC, ROMEO, TANGO, ZULU IS NOW AIR FORCE ONE.

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