DELTA FORCE COMMANDO (1987) – Balladeer’s Blog’s salute to cult icon Mark Gregory continues, with two movies that proved he could be just as dynamic as the villain as he was playing the hero, like in his other action flicks. Previously, I’ve reviewed Mark’s two movies in which he played the post-apocalypse/ dystopian biker Trash in 1990: The Bronx Warriors and Escape from the Bronx, plus his Thunder Warrior trilogy of Rambo knockoffs, and even his quasi-peplum Adam and Eve vs the Cannibals in which, as Adam, he fought dinosaurs, cavemen and green-skinned cannibals.
Because Italian filmmakers were always Enzo-on-the-spot with cash-in imitations of mainstream movie hits, it was inevitable that they would produce flicks coat-tailing on the popularity of Delta Force. Mark Gregory’s screen presence in Delta Force Commando reminded me of what a shame it is that he walked away from his acting career in 1989, just when he was at the peak of his game and his earnings. If only he’d signed up with Cannon films then.
I’ve long felt that if Mark had held on into the 90s, he might have turned up as either heroes or villains in movies made by Quentin Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez, and, in the 21st Century, as a player in one of the Expendables movies. Again, as either a good guy or a bad guy.
Hell, in Delta Force Commando, Mr. Gregory spices up the schlock as the main villain, even though his character is never even given a name! Hey, that’s Italian exploitation cinema for ya!
Villain X, as I’ll call Mark’s character (at right), has a much shorter haircut than usual and dresses like a Miami Vice or Scarface ’83 gangster in his first several scenes.
Villain X, who has scarring on the lower left side of his face, speaking of the Pacino movie, leads a covert
team of communist commandos from Nicaragua in a daring raid on a military base in Puerto Rico. Villain X and his team succeed in making off with a nuclear bomb despite a few firefights, one of which kills the pregnant wife of Delta Force member Lieutenant Tony Turner (Brett Baxter Clark). Continue reading


FRONTIER CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS and the PROVIDENCE UNIVERSITY ARGONAUTS clashed in this conference title game. Points flew like shrapnel as the Orediggers led 62-55 at Halftime, then defeated the Argonauts by a Century Club final score of 103-95. Asa Williams notched 23 points to lead Montana Tech. * THE OREDIGGERS ARE FRONTIER CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS *
GREAT PLAINS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – In this title tilt the DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS faced the UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES. At the Half, the score was knotted up at 42-42, and from there the underdog Defenders managed some separation from the Jimmies for an 86-81 victory. Jacob Vis led Dordt University with 21 points. * THE DEFENDERS ARE GPAC CHAMPIONS *
PART FOUR
Synopsis: Adam Warlock has come to after his lapse into unconsciousness caused by the trauma of his Soul Gem’s theft of Kray-Tor’s soul at the end of last issue. He has awakened into a bizarre alternate reality with walkways and small islands of matter floating in an endless sky. Bizarre symbols and designs ornament the skyscape like imagery from an acid trip. 

1990: THE BRONX WARRIORS (1982) – Spaghetti-pocalypse movies were to the 1980s what Spaghetti Westerns were to the 60s and 70s. Italian-made ripoffs of post-apocalypse and/or dystopian flicks like The Road Warrior and Escape From New York were everywhere back then.
The story is set eight years in the future from its 1982 release and presented a crime-ridden New York City run by plutocratic corporations who have every politician in their pocket. So, just think of New York as it is right now.
College: FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE