I was in Shoppers Drug Mart last night, and I happened by their bargain DVD rack. On it was a single copy of Chuck Norris’ 1986 actioner The Delta Force. This film has one of the strangest DVD covers I have ever seen:
First of all, both Chuck and Lee Marvin are holding bazookas, a weapon that became obsolete in the 1950s. If the Delta Force is as awesome as we have been led to believe, then you’d think they’d have some nicer gear. Moreover, a bazooka is typically fired from the shoulder position, not from the hip as illustrated hear. I mean, Chuck Norris is awesome and everything, but a recoil-induced broken arm will reduce anyone’s combat effectiveness.
Second: poor, poor Lee Marvin. He looks about 150 in this photo, and is still being forced to heft a six kilogram rocket launcher and fire it from an incorrect, ulna-crunching angle. Also: why is Lee Marvin in the Delta Force? I thought they were supposed to be elite and awesome, not old and drunk. If I were a hostage on a hijacked 707, and I saw Lee Marvin wheezing to my rescue followed by a right-wing weirdo with a mullet and a beard, I’d just shoot myself and save the terrorists the trouble.
So yeah. Weird cover.
The truly unfortunate thing about this post is that you did not purchase the movie so that you could resolve all of these questions that will burn in our minds for the rest of the day.
The other sad part of this story is that there was only one copy left – meaning that others had been purchased.
Well Bazooka from GI Joe had, appropriately, a bazooka – and he was pretty bad-ass, if not slightly intellectually challenged…. maybe that proves your point, actually. How about Bazooka Joe?
Either way, that’s one phallus-y cover.
did you actually buy the movie? Did you watch it? Maybe your concerns are adequately addressed in the film.
As for the improper handling of the bazookae, I’m sure they were merely hefting the weapons for their action movie cover shoot. I’m sure they’d use them correctly if they were in an actual hostage rescue situation. sheesh!
anyway, thanks for the laugh!
Movie historians may call my bluff, but I’m going to argue that Chuck and Lee were two of the last really tough action stars.
Chuck had a record of 83-10-2.
Lee had a Purple Heart.
The cover is not their fault. Blame some idiot designer raised on Van Damme and Will Smith.
I’m not going to argue over movie star toughness (although I’m sure everyone would come to a cordial agreement almost immediately), but I will call you on the Van Damme/Smith as Bloodsport didn’t come out til ’88 and Fresh Prince til ’90. Hate them for many things, but I think they get the benefit of the doubt on this one.
Jesus, Lee doesn’t even look like he knows where he is…