davyd-02237 If you like a very violent, blood everywhere, with thoroughly evil "baddies" who will kill anyone and everyone, swear profusely and blaspheme almost constantly then this is the movie for you...the good guys language isn't much better. The premise of a stolen indian lance is a good one, but given the language and violence, not an easy film to watch

Adam Peters (53%) A decently sized step up from the more average buddy cop movies of the 80's and 90's, that has still managed to get itself largely forgotten about. The plot is simple as you like fluff surrounding undercover Kiefer Sutherland tracking down a typical, yet without doubt very dangerous bad guy criminal who just so happens to steal a native American spear and kill a family member of Lou Diamond Phillips (big mistake) which of course leads to an unlikely team-up. The action sequences are better than most with plenty of car chases, shoot-outs and it's all solidly entertaining. The script could have been improved by giving more depth to the characters as the cast are fed on scraps throughout resulting in no real lasting impression. Which probably explains why this has fallen through the cracks a little. For fans of police action movies this is well worth a look, as it does give most of what one could possibly want from a mid-budget 80's flick.

lost-in-limbo After appearing in "Young Guns" a year earlier, Kiefer Sutherland and Lou Diamond Phillips would reunite again in this very clear-cut and wry, but well executed chase action thriller by director Jack Sholder (The Hidden '87'). Quite a cosy formula with no surprises, but the taut action when it erupts is blistering (from the frenetic shoot-outs to the intense chase scenes and the death by flaming spear). While Sutherland (reckless) and Phillips (spiritual) make a fitting combination, where the two go after the same criminal (for different reasons) and from that learn a mutual respect for each other, despite a bumpy first meeting. Robert Knepper malevolently hams it up in the villain role with cold glee. An undercover maverick cop is left for dead after a diamond heist, but is saved by a Lakota Indian who needs him alive as a sacred lance of his people was stolen by one of the robbers who also shot his brother. So now the two team up, unwillingly at first, but differences aside they realise they are after the same man. Enjoyably no-nonsense, filled with high energy and snappy dialogues as we watch how two opposites attract. The story is well meaning in its context; sharing some light on the Lakota Indians and the typical angle of honour/revenge. Traditional, but unassertive. Also showing up is Jami Gertz in nothing more than a minor sense. Schematically earnest late 80s action thriller."I'm a punk and you're a dirty cop."

Pepper Anne I can't understand why the cop drama/action film 'Renegades' has such a steady following (relegating it, of course, to cult status), although I can guess that it's familiar cast--Sutherland, Phillips, and Gertz--had much to do with it, because this is certainly one bland, if not condescending "thriller." Kiefer Sutherland plays good cop and bad cop. He's working undercover investigating a ruthless gang leader who is in cahoots with a dirty cop and brokers a deal with the gang leader on a jewel heist in exchange for giving up the cop's name. But, the ruthless leader is of course, ruthlessly violent, and the heist goes seriously foul. When the leader decides to take with him a valuable Native American relic, killing one young man's brother in the action, Lou Diamond Phillips seeks revenge like a martial arts film.This movie is wholly unconvincing. You can figure it out almost immediately who the "dirty cop" as it is done without any subtleties. The story lingers on far longer than it should, especially with all of the effects of car chases and explosions of a good (if not cheesy) action film, minus the need for all of it. With either Sutherland's arrogant and seemingly out-of-place character or Phillip's "spiritual-mined" character-with-a-vengeance, this film probably would've been much better, even if following more of a martial arts genre routine, with just the story of the Native American family seeking revenge on the drug dealer. There is something here that does not mesh between the two main leads. And Gertz is wasted altogether.For a good 1980s cop thriller, look elsewhere.