Detonator/Detonator II: Night Watch

Before I briefly go over them, both films are great! And having 2 great films for a dirt cheap price is so worth it! So, let's get started: The Detonator: A great TV action movie all around! Great acting, entertaining action, and very good writing! If you like 90s action films in general, The Detonator is a really good one! Plus Pierce, Patrick Stewert, and Christopher Lee give fantastic performances, along with the rest of the cast! When I saw previews I assumed the whole movie would be set on the train, but it isn't, and thankfully so because as the trains make stops all over Europe, we get some insight into the plot and it isn't confined to one area. It's got great and memorable scenes, and Pierce gives a better performance than he did as Bond (let's be honest here, Pierce's Bond barely has any defining moments or personality). Here, he plays a confident and humorous agent who likes motorcycles. The female leade, whose actress I forgot the name of, gives a really good performance too, with her character playing against Pierce's, as Pierce's character doesn't have a lot of faith in her at times but her skill is still needed to complete the mission. One of the better TV movies I've seen! The Detonator 2 - Night Watch: Pierce and the female lead form the previous film return, and both give an even better performance! Detonator 2 is even better than the first one in every technical way! That being said, they both feel like entirely different movies despite following the same characters. While the first film was a military-like special forces themed film, Detonator 2 is a full on Bond style spy film. It has gadgets, globe trotting, a gambling scene, muscle-bound henchman, spy work, a plot of international intrigue, an assault on the bad guys lair at the end, and sexual themes. It's also Even the soundtrack is reminiscent of 60s spy movies. Hell, Pierce even orders a Vodka Martini! The same year GoldenEye came out! It's also hilarious! It has a great sense of humor throughout. Pierce and his counterpart play off each other perfectly, with his character being more humorous and her character gorwing from not-so-skilled combatant and closer to Pierce's character. They also have a lot of sexual chemistry teased between them. Besides all of that, the production has been given a massive overhaul. The budget was raised, and you can definitely see that. The ONLY instance where the film seems extremely amateur is the opening scene on the beach, which doesn't even have any relevance on the plot. They should've just scrapped this scene entirely, even though Pierce gives a really intense performance in this scene. The sets are great, it's shot really well. The action is better than the first too. The plot is pretty confusing, but it's a film where you're OK with that because it's so well paced, the cast is so good and the dialogue is fantastic! If anyone was disappointed with Pierce's performance as Bond in his four Bond films, this is like his better attempt at a Bond movie, because instead of trying to act cool, and because his character isn't invincible like his Bond, and because he is actually acting in this film, he proves he's a great actor and that his Bond could've been so much more. While I recommend you get this collection for both films, understand that they are both VERY different form each other. Detonator is a great action military thriller, and Detonator 2 is a super fun spy movie! Definitely a great duology, and I would've liked this series to continue, despite only having 2 books to base it on. Give them a watch, you'll love them!

Not one of the best Brosnan movies but not terrible

Most of the other reviewers are right on. Detonator II is not quite up to the quality of the original even though the team is the same, but for the price you can't beat this combo. Detonator II runs a lot like those Jean-Claude Van Damme direct to video movies he's made recently or some of the Jackie Chan direct to video offerings. The worst part of D II for me was the music. The sound track is like a cheap porno flick. Still Brosnan is good in both. Alexandra Paul (remember her from Baywatch?) is cute in both. Detonator, the original, is a good movie and it's weaved and paced better than D II. Both were shot square screen (USA Television helped produce it). Both are based on novels (Death Train and Night Watch). Detonator, the original, has better music and a better cast. This is like most movies with Roman Numerals. Under Siege was great and Under Siege II lacked. Ghostbusters was great and Ghostbusters II lacked. 48 Hours was great and Another 48 Hours lacked. Jurassic Park was great and Jurassic Park II lacked. This follows in the same tradition but for the PRICE you can't beat it. Why buy one when for a little more you can get two!

Plot: Detonator...aka DEATH Train....nuke on a train with a Russian at the trigger. Russia is no longer part of the Soviet Union.... so a "loose cannon" General (CHRISTOPHER LEE) has 'two nukes'/nuclear weapons... made. The first one is on a train headed to Iraq....on board the train "in charge".... is nut case Mercenary Ted Levine..how to stop it?..UNACO a united nations swat type team shows up complete with team leader Brosnan and Alexandria Paul who is the super smart "sharp shooter".....This unfolds very well.....from attempts to take over the train to finding the elusive SECOND bomb to discovering one of the TEAM is really a double agent. Originally a USA TV movie ....written by Alistair MacNeil who worked with the idea from Alistair MacClean...(Guns of Navarone).....well worth the watch. PLOT: Detonator 2 Nightwatch.....The Unaco TEAM of Brosnan and Paul are reunited when the painting the "Nightwatch comes up missing" Hong Kong when it still was under British Control ....posing as a married rich married couple..Brosnan and Paul...check into the HOTEL..... Brosnan hopes to" take advantage" of the situation....LOL.and romance.. Paul who definitely is not ready for this step....FUNNY scene in the bedroom~ LOL....they get TO mingle with an American art forger and thief who is more than willing to share a DOOMS day TECHNOLOGY AND satellite that can "set off" a electronic nightmare with the phone grids world wide....and electronic security nightmare. In the mix is an North Korea spy .....getting into the ultra secret hiding place of the elusive stolen masterpiece....."The Nightwatch".....painting AND the satellite in the same ultra secure room INVOLVES a straight up wall climb and trip through air conditioning duct.....Great Chase scenes in Hong Kong.....both are very good .....some humor and chemistry between Paul and Brosnan in the last movie make it more fun to watch.....5 STARS~

I always loved these movies and they could have gone so much further with the characters but two is all they made, shame but James Bond happened for Pierce Brosnan. Lets be honest Alexandra Paul is nothing but gorgeous. Both actors actually work well together shame they put Patrick Stewart in the first one as he was really miscast, the role wasn't him and you feel he is just getting through as easily as possible. William Devane in the second is much better and enjoyable. I actually bought this double movie set even though I had the first already but it was actually almost half the price of the second movie on its own. These are comfortable easy to watch movies without to much gratuity or sex in them in fact none of that so its safe for lots of reasons. But we have to ask what was Brosnan thinking with the little goatee beard and moustache in the second one, maybe he fancied himself as Errol Flynn?

The first one is far superior. The sequel a little less exciting.

Following five successful years as Remington Steele, Pierce Brosnan had missed the opportunity to take over the James Bond role. His role in Noble House was right for him, but these shoot'm ups (always appearing with a beard, apparently to offset his "hunk" image and be a "real" actor). These two movies have little to recommend them. In the first, Brosnan's character seems secondary to that of Stewart Patrick, and has no depth. In the second Stewart is not there and Brosnan's character becomes dominant by default. A viewer would have difficulty caring about Brosnan's character in either movie.

What I call great Saturday afternoon movies. Enjoyed watching and will.most likely see again in a year or two. Take the time to watch.