The Black Cobra 2
Firsty I don't understand how there can be no posts here but a few on the original film's message board. I mean the first one is enjoyable trash but, and let's be honest, it is a real piece of crap and most likely only Hammer fans and lovers of bad films will sit through to the end. Besides the openiing hostage negotiaton and a couple of amazing moments of sexism, it is the kind of film you put on and then go and do something else, perhaps opening a book and occasioanlly looking over the edge of the page to remind yourself that, yes this is still happening. But dammit it's enjoyable enough, and I have certainly seen worse in all qualities.
Black Cobra 2, though (and forgive me if I am misrememebring, but I think the 'the' preface is a new addition), is just a fantastic little film. Yes, it's still trash but it easily stacks up against similar fare Holywood were putting out around the same time and for a while afterwards. The Hammer is back and his entarnce, while not quite as hilarious as before, is arguably better. Certainly it establishes the recurring motif of the cigar which, correct me if I am wrong, was not in the original (and if it was, certainly not to this degree). I don't know, maybe I missed it inbetween the book I was reading. It's fine though, because as well as the probable increase in the cigar factor, the cast is great, the action is great, the script is brilliant and the score is amazing.
Now when I say the cast is great, what I really mean is this. Naturally the Hammer is great, and he seems a lot more into the proceedings this time around. Then we have Nicholas Hammond who was a great surprise, and made me want to dig out the Spidey episodes I have recorded somewhere. I really can't sem to remember who the villains were besides generic thieves, I'm sure Scorpion or Doc Ock may have been in one episode; I will have to do some research into this important matter. As for the rest, Emma Hoagland was alright when her hair wasn't a repulsive distraction (which to be fair only happened once), and I am shocked to see that Edward Santana has, according to this website, only appeared in three films. And one of them is probably archive footage. Now I haven't yet seen Black Cobra 3 (I am saving that for the weekend), but he delivered everything one could hope for from a angry police chief. I would have enjoyed it even mroe if he had asked for Malone's badge and gun and shouted "now cut that s**t out!" when Malone slammed his fist on his captain's desk demanding to be put back on the case, but I understand why this classic scene didn't make it as the plot had other ideas. I also very much doubt he has only appeared in three films. Lastly, Oscar Daniels - who portrayed the pick-pocket at the airport who later winds up dead - looking at his resume makes me want to watch Among Thieves, a short film he appears to have written, edited and directed.
When I say the action was great, I mean it was bertter than the first film but was pretty generic I suppose (apart from the Hammer doing his own bad ass stunts, and also it was pretty cool when he snapped that dude's neck). Oh well, I still liked it, and the AWESOME guitar and synth score complimented it superbly. Oh and on that score, yes it was gerat but holy crap the repetition. Oh well, I didn't get sick of it when it looped for the fifth time, so I gues that's something.
But probably the biggest improvement (other than the transfer on the copies of Black Cobra 1 and The Black Cobra 2 I have) was the script. As in, it was actually good. Well, I say good, but it definitely was loads better and obviously a vast improvement over the stale or often non-existent dialogue of the first film. There were a lot of fun lines, and also nice litle touches like the old maid grumbling to herself in the hotel before Hammer and Nick find the pickpocket's corpse.
And how can you not enjoy the two man asault on the school at the end. Sure, there was absolutely no kids, teachers, classrooms or signs of learning whetsoever, but just watching them climb up the elevator shaft ws more exiting than a dozen Die Hards. Okay that is the praise on the cover of the region 2 Tartan release of Hard Boiled, but when the Hammer smashed through the window and blew like six guys away with a shotgun you got to admit that was pretty bad ass.
About my only complaint was that the tomm hits in the score never really amounted to any real sense of musical progression, that the crappy love ballad the girl sings in the club was used as the end credits song instead of a cheesey rock ballad (even the same song from the first film would have been better), and lastly that at no point that I can recall did the Hammer end a statement with, "ya dig." Also it would have been nice to see his cat again. Maybe Malone has learned to clear awy those red tins so Pervis doesn't get pissed again.
Al in all top class entertainment.
Time to blow