videorama-759-859391 Yes, this is a movie that lacks brains, but in this film, there's an admirable quality about it. Again, in not much stretch of acting ability, Eastwood lowers the ranks of Mr Harry Callahan, playing a drunken loser of a cop, Ben Shockley, who becomes a pawn for murder, while transporting a female prisoner (Locke) who is first thought to be a guy, thanks to a name mix up, or could it be he was given the wrong message on grounds that Shockley may of not accepted the job if it was a guy, as this prisoner is a witness to a mob hit, involving crooked cops. But unlike Callahan, Shockley is a guy that obeys his fellow commanders. Trying to keeping Locke and himself, is a dangerous mission, where you have to wait until the end, for the blood to spill, in an overdone shootout in a bus, which in reality, you couldn't survive, Locke coming out of the big bullet holed bus, with hardly a scratch. This low brainer does have some cool moments, where on the surface,. this isn't a badly made actioner, that uses some good locations, and like Eastwood's Phillow Bello. he tackles another cluster of bikies, you do feel sorry for, Eastwood even mentioning his favorite ape's name, while pointing a gun at one of them. Take this, for what it's worth, an entertaining no brained actioner, with it's share of faults, we can dismiss, as we just want to great to get caught up in the stupidity of it all. William Prince is good as the bent cop, with great actor Robert Cavanaugh, as as his squirmy right hand man. Cavanaugh went onto playing the lead baddie again, with Clint, in the messy third Dirty Harry film, while also playing the baddie in the worst Chuck Norris flick, I won't mention. This too, would have to be the worst film, our lead actor/director, ever made.

MartinHafer "The Gauntlet" is an action film that works best if you don't expect very much from it. It's not a Dirty Harry film nor does the film make a lot of sense...especially at the very end. Nevertheless, for Clint Eastwood fans it probably packs enough in it to make them happy...all others consider twice before watching.Eastwood had just finished making his third Dirty Harry film when he then made "The Gauntlet". I am sure many expected to see the self- confident and murderous officer Callahan once again, but his Ben Shockley in "The Gauntlet" is in many ways very much unlike Callahan. He's a drunk, a lousy cop and someone no one would expect much from...hence this is why he was chosen for a special assignment. The Police Commissioner (William Prince) wants Shockley to go to Vegas to bring in a prisoner who is expected to testify in a mob case. However, it soon becomes obvious no one wants him to bring the girl (Sondra Locke) back alive...and the Vegas and Phoenix police forces are itching to kill them both.So why do I only give this one a 5? Well, the film is pretty much mindless action much of the time, but the reason for this relatively low score for a Clint Eastwood film is the ending...an ending which seems incredibly fake and silly. All semblance to reality seems to vanish and the ending is basically intended to satisfy the primal, not the intellectual. Pretty silly ending...as is the bizarro romance.

AaronCapenBanner Clint Eastwood directs and stars as alcoholic and undistinguished Phoenix cop Ben Shockley, who is given a seemingly routine assignment of escorting a prisoner(Sondra Locke) from Las Vegas back to Phoenix to stand trial. Shockley then learns that his prisoner is really a witness set to testify against the mob, and that there is even public betting on him losing her! Shockley then decides he will bring in his witness, no matter how many attempts on their lives are made(and corruption in the police department is revealed), even if they have to drive an armored-plated bus(and survive the gauntlet of police) by city hall to safety.Though filled with action, and peppered with salty dialogue, this film becomes increasingly preposterous, leading to a truly stupid, heavy handed finale. So bad it is almost good; certainly a cult classic.

lee1888 What happen? This film started out pretty good, it had a nice plot, two good actors and most of all it was believable. Yea, Yea I know the left will say look at all the guns and violence in this movie, but hey, one of your on (Barbra Streisand) begged for this movie, but McQueen wouldn't have anything to do with her what so ever.This move turns into the "Bus That Wouldn't Die" horror show in the last 15 minutes. Over 8,000 rounds and you can't stop a Bus. If only O J had watched this movie before he tried to escape to Mexico in his Bronco.Just when you thought it could get any weirder , guess again. Commissary Blakelock pulls out a weapon in front of 600 armed policeman and just starts firing away at Clint, now you would think people would scatter everywhere with a mad man shooting, or at least try and stop him. Not these policeman, in fact you can see some of them in the background chewing gun.But all is not lost, after shooting good old boy Clint, this ex prostitute (Sondra Locke) just picks up a gun and kill's the Police Commissary right in front the whole Phoenix police department without them lifting a finger to stop her. OK, OK, sorry about spilling the beans about the ending, but trust me, I just did you a favor, now you don't have to watch this horrible movie. We love you Clint, but man, what happen here?