RAIDERS OF THE MAGIC IVORY

a.k.a I Predatori della Pietra Magica (original title); Predators of the Magic Stone (international)

Italy, 1988

Starring Chris Ahrens, Clarissa Mendez & James Mitchum

Directed by Tonino Ricci

HMV Movies (Japan); Widescreen; English with japanese subtitles

Bizarre mixture of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Rambo and some sci-fi. It's not particulary "good" as in well-made but arguably one of the more entertaining films in the deadly dull genre of italian Indiana Jones-copies. At least it's action-packed, offbeat and never gets boring. By hack director Tonino Ricci, of all people.

ROBOWAR

a.k.a Robowar - Robot da Guerra (original title)

Italy, 1988

Starring Reb Brown, Catharine Hickland, Mel Davidson & Jim Gaines

Directed by Bruno Mattei

Columbia (Japan); Letterboxed; English with japanese subtitles

STRIKE COMMANDO 2

a.k.a Trappola Diabolica (original title); Utan Återvändo (Sweden video title)

Italy, 1988

Starring Brent Huff, Richard Harris, Mary Stavin & Vic Diaz

Directed by Bruno Mattei (with help from Claudio Fragasso)

TCC Video (Japan); Letterboxed; English with japanese subtitles

This sequel is even more fun than the original Strike Commando.

CROSS MISSION

a.k.a Fuoco Incrociato (original title)

Italy, 1988

Starring Richard Randall, Nelson de la Rosa & Brigitte Porsche

Directed by Alfonso Brescia

Columbia (Japan); Widescreen; English with japanese subtitles

OK italo action, a little better than average (which is not saying much). What makes it a keeper is the warped scenes with the world's shortest actor Nelson de la Rosa, from Ratman, as the magic midget mascot (!) of the evil drug baron.

COP GAME

Italy, 1988

Starring Brent Huff, Max Laurel, Werner Pochath & Alex McBride

Directed by Bruno Mattei

Toshiba (JAP); Letterboxed; English with japanese subtitles

RATMAN

a.k.a Quella Villa in Fonda al Parco (original title); Terror House (Germany)

Italy, 1988

Starring Nelson de la Rosa, David Warbeck, Janet Agren, Werner Pochath & Eva Grimaldi

Directed by Giuliano Carnimeo

Albatros (Japan); Letterboxed; English with japanese subtitles

SPYDER

Phillipines, 1988

Starring Blake Bahner, Ronald William Lawrence & Gary Rooney

Directed by Joe Mari Avellana

RCA/Columbia Pictures (Japan); Fullscreen; English with japanese subtitles

TOP LINE

a.k.a Alien Terminator (UK)

Italy, 1988

Starring Franco Nero, George Kennedy, William Berger & Deborah More

Directed by Nello Rossati

SHV (Japan); Letterboxed; English with japanese subitles

This movie has a little bit of everything: action, science fiction, horror, nazis, aliens, Indiana Jones-influences and even some The Terminator thrown in for good measure! Franco Nero ones again plays a drunk, cynic journalist with some issues with women. Good fun.

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST II

a.k.a Natura Contro (original title); The Green Inferno (International); Amazonas Hemlighet (Sweden)

Italy, 1988

Starring Mario Merlo, Fabrizio Merlo, May Deseligny & Pio Maria Federici

Directed by Antonio Climati

DVD: Vipco (UK); Fullscreen; English language; Extras: Trailer

AMERICAN HUNTER

a.k.a Perawan di Sarang Sindikat (Indonesia); Lethal Hunter

Indonesia, 1988

Starring Chrisopher Mitchum, Bill Wallace, Peter O'Brian & Mike Abbott

Directed by Arizal

Euro Screen (Holland); Fullscreen, English with dutch subtitles