This feels like real movie. Not like cheap Rambo rip-off like first one. To be honest this have some First Blood feeling in it but it is not such rip-off as first one. Now we have real characters. Chuck Norris feels like acting and story makes sense. You sense danger unlike first one.

This happens before first movie and things happening in this movie are mentioned in first one. You are not spoiled if you have seen first one. Unless you count spoiling problem all prequels have. If I have understood correctly this was shot before first one or at same time. It makes little sense that this was released later than first one since this happens before and is much better movie.

I prefer prison camp part at beginning over action part at the end. This would have been better with less action but this is action movie and Chuck Norris movie so action has to be there.

It's not surprising to learn that Chuck Norris made this series as a tribute to his brother who had been killed in Vietnam. He really gave all that he had to these films. It may be manipulative but damn is it ever satisfying. The villains are the kind of loathsome scum whom you JUST CAN'T WAIT to see messed up in a variety of ways. And the good guys are fleshed out enough as characters that you do feel bad for them, and want to see them get their revenge.

As one can guess, this is a prequel to the original "Missing in Action" film of 1984. It shows how Chucks' colonel character, James Braddock, was shot down and captured during the war, and the tortures that he and his men are obliged to endure for the next several years, even after the war has basically ended. The sadistic colonel in charge of his work camp, Colonel Yin (Soon-Tek Oh) acts like a dictator, and just when you think you can't hate this guy any more, he ups the stakes yet again.

With Lance Hool taking the directors' reins, this proves to be a high old time for the action junkie, underscored by the genuine poignancy to be found in stories about prisoners of war. This is exciting much of the time, with kick ass battle footage, lots of explosions, lots of gunfire, and some breathtaking scenery. Chuck is a formidable hero as always, and Oh is a deliciously evil bad guy. Lending strong support are Cosie Costa, Joe Michael Terry, and especially John Wesley as the ailing Franklin. Steven Williams is good in an initially unlikable part as a captain eager to cooperate with his captors in exchange for better treatment. It's also cool to see hulking screen heavy Professor Toru Tanaka and "Ninja III: The Domination" villain David Chung as two of the guards.

All in all, this is solid entertainment, complete with a high body count and never ever boring.

Eight out of 10.

Colonel James Braddock (the almighty Chuck Norris in fine two-fisted form) and several fellow soldiers face off against the sadistic Colonel Yin (ably played with lip-smacking evil relish by Soon-Tek Oh) at a hellish prisoner of war camp in Vietnam.

Director Lance Hool keeps the gripping story moving along at a constant pace, maintains an appropriately grim'n'gritty tone throughout, and stages the exciting last reel action with skill and flair. Moreover, the marked emphasis on both physical and psychological torture gives this film an extra hard-hitting harsh edge, with the infamous rat in a sack bit rating as a definite grisly highlight. In addition, there are sound performances from Steven Williams as sniveling coward and traitor Captain David Nestor, Bennett Ohta as the kindly Captain Ho, Cosie Costa as the feisty Mazilli, Joe Michael Terry as the rattled Opelka, John Wesley as the ailing Frankie, and Christopher Cary as gutsy photographer Emerson. Colonel Yin makes for a deliciously detestable villain while the hulking Professor Toru Tanaka cuts an imposing figure as brutish guard Lao. Brian May's robust score hits the rousing spot. Jorge Stahl Jr.'s slick cinematography provides a pleasing polished look. An on the money mix of action and drama.