This one has enough plot twists and action sequences for a dozen movies and although it commendably moves along at express speed, the screenplay has so many plot twists that it's difficult to keep track. Coburn has a double role, although the movie makes disappointingly little use of this device and the special effects when both characters are on the screen are rather obvious. Although attractively gowned, Miss Loren is not looking her best and with the hero, I found her changes of side somewhat bewildering. I kept waiting for Victor Mature's entrance – expecting him at every twist of the plot – but this proves a disappointment too. For those who like lots of destructive firepower with tons of elaborate explosions, stunts and action sequences, the movie is a must. And there are some great support performances among the villains too (including Franciosa). Locations were in Antigua and nearby Curacoa of all places. You'll enjoy hearing many of the players struggling to pronounce that one!

Sophia Loren sees her husband's chemist lab blown to smithereens with him inside; turns out he was murdered after threatening to expose a case of contaminated pharmaceuticals that cause cancer to anyone taking them. She goes to the FBI, whose top operative hopes to lure bounty hunter/hit man James Coburn out of retirement to bring in a reclusive, crooked billionaire, while Sophia wants him to help avenge her husband's death; she may also have known Coburn intimately at one time...or is that his twin brother she once romanced? Director Michael Winner isn't very adept at working with actors, and yet at this point in his career he became very popular with passed-their-prime talents still looking to make a buck. Nobody involved in "Firepower" comes off looking good, particularly a bloat-bellied Coburn. Busy film jets across the globe in search of new plot points, but all of its action is stodgy or stilted. Too bad, this cast in these exotic locations might have made for a delicious, tawdry action-flick. Unfortunately, Winner (who also co-originated the story) doesn't have a sense of his own absurdity, and shows a robotic sense of humor. *1/2 from ****

ITC films certainly had some starry adventures, films like "The Tamarind Seed", "The Cassandra Crossing", "Voyage of the Damned", "The Boys From Brazil" and "Movie/Movie". Stars like Julie Andrews, Richard Harris, Faye Dunaway, Sophia Loren, Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier and George C. Scott. Spy dramas, disaster, political thrillers. Great stories under the production of Sir Lew Grade, and this is one of the most starry. It starts off of course with a shocking event, an explosion that kills the husband of Sophia Loren and his brother, and she joins forces with the FBI who has their own agenda to find those responsible.

So in this nice little action film, you get Sophia Loren, James Coburn in a dual role, OJ Simpson, Eli Wallach, Anthony Franciosa, Billy Barty and George Grizzard, some really despicable villains, great location footage and views into local traditions and the various cultures. There are a lot of explosions, shootouts and fires starting, so you certainly won't fall asleep.

One of the more shocking scenes had Coburn and Simpson dipping a man in blood after he has been doused into shark infested waters in order to find out information as the fins appear. There's not enough time for real character development, just lots of action and the chance to playfully ogle the gorgeous Sophia. I can't think of anything wrong with that list of things to make you enjoy this.