gridoon2018 A by-the-numbers, predictable (except maybe for the last killing, which makes little sense as it happens anyway) revenge yarn, made worthwhile by Arizona's beautiful vast landscapes, and Rachel McLish's beautiful steely muscles. McLish's character doesn't have many lines or much personality, but then again, neither does the rest of the (good) cast; her muscles do most of the talking for her, and she redefines the standards of female sexiness; she is aging pretty nicely as well - she gets away with playing a woman at least a decade younger than her real age at the time. Albert Pyun had already shown that he knows how to film a female bodybuilder in the "Nemesis" sequels with Sue Price, however it is disappointing that he hardly includes any leg shots of Rachel (it's all about her arms and, briefly, her back). ** out of 4.

lemon_magic As the folks at "Fametracker.com" would put it, the tag-line to "Ravenhawk" should be:'Rachel MacLish has an ass! Would you like to see it???"There is always JUST ENOUGH good stuff in Albert Pyun movies to keep you watching, but the good stuff is always mixed in with a bunch of hokey, crappy, clichéd storytelling and camera work that make it hard to KEEP watching. So you can't just turn it off, because something good, or cool, or at least picturesque might come along, but you can't pay attention because you have to wade through endless stupid clichés to do it. Case in point: Rachel MacLish in "Ravenhawk". MacLish (the first Ms. Olympia) runs around in front of the camera in spectacularly "cut" condition, and she's not wearing a whole lot of clothing to hide her muscle definition. She's got killer cheekbones; huge, dark eyes; and hair to die for. So we are talking major eye candy here. However, we are NOT talking about dramatic range. As striking as MacLish is, she isn't an actress in any sense of the word. She has two expressions - furious intensity and angry confusion - and she alternates between them almost at random. Rachel, honey, you look fabulous and I love you, but you can't carry a feature movie, anymore than Cory Everson could.So Pyun's response to this problem is to exploit MacLish's body far more than even the biggest MacLish fan could ever want. There really is no need for this - MacLish (or her stunt double) can actually move fairly well, and she is reasonably convincing in the mid-shot action scenes. But every chance he gets, Pyun zooms the camera in for close-up shots of various parts of the lady's anatomy, held for many more seconds (and some times in slow motion zooms) than anyone but a bodybuilding fetishist would desire. It's actually pretty distracting and ludicrous after the fourth or fifth time. It's as if Pyun is simply admitting to the viewer, "OK, we really don't have a single bloody idea for something new, so here is a shot of Rachel's heaving, sweaty muscles to pass the time." Pyun also tries to justify the use of MacLish's exotic looks and stone-cut physique by mixing in plot elements involving tribal Indian traditions, shamanistic mysticism and and obsessed revenge against the men who killed her parents...but the results are ham-handed and cliché ridden.The 'bad guys' are so slimy and one-dimensional that no one could possibly swallow it. (One exception: poor William Atherton, who tries to salvage a modicum of dignity as the front-man for the bad-guys). The tribal folks are cardboard cutouts who suffer mutely and have the moral high ground because they are victims.One especially egregious example is the young man who plays the character of the reservation police guy. The actor playing the part is like Lorenzo Lamas without the sense of humor. Someone needed to sit down with him and talk to him about acting being more than projecting an attitude on camera, but it's obvious that no one did. Nothing personal against the young man, who is obviously some kind of clothes model in real life, and who was undoubtedly cast for his ability to wear slim cut jeans and to grow attractive beard stubble - he just sucks as an actor and needs acting lessons even more than MacLish. So in summary, "Ravenhawk" is typical Pyun - 2nd rate movie making based on third rate screen writing, with just enough flash here and there (including a good chase sequence among the mountain cliffs and some spectacular scenery) to keep the viewer from turning it off in irritation. I hope MacLish gets her agent to sign her up for some real acting lessons, and holds out for parts that show her as a woman and an actress, not just a Body.

unbrokenmetal American Indian Shadowfeather (bodybuilding queen Rachel McLish) stops desecration of holy ground by industrial corporation and avenges her family. Similar to Steven Seagal's `On Deadly Ground', `Ravenhawk' is a tough action movie pretending to say something about ecological matters and the rights of minorities. You needn't buy that, but it's tremendous entertainment anyway. Director Pyun always had great landscapes in his movies, I wish I could watch this at the cinema instead of playing a videotape. There are some beautiful shots you won't forget, for example Shadowfeather climbing on the cliff (a tiny human lost on a giant rock), or riding on her horse across the industrial estate (when nature meets technology in stark contrast). Shadowfeather has to face an impressive opponent: William Atherton (`Die Hard 2') plays the bad guy, you'll easily notice that because he wears black and listens to Italian operas instead of country'n'western – now that's what I call suspicious behaviour (just kidding). If you like Norris and Seagal movies, check out Rachel here. She worked hard for it.

Ms. V Great film. Very underappreciated by those who saw it apparently, but not this viewer. I loved the way this movie starts out, focusing not only on a Native American family standing up for their rights concerning environmental infringement on their reservation, but also giving a glimpse on how contemptuously Native Americans have been treated in this country as well throughout its history. And when the young girl is charged with the murder of her parents, in a crime she clearly did not commit, she quietly awaits the day she can get revenge as well as clear her name. Becoming an introvert in ways she was not necessarily so when the movie began, the girl grows up not only into a beautiful woman, but also one powerfully built as well--hence the former Ms. Olympia Rachel McLish's still-beautiful body figuring nicely into this role. Not only did her muscles serve her well in getting her revenge on those who wronged her, but also for Ms. McLish's stunts as well, which, by the way, were all her own. Just as David Janssen did a lot of his own physical work in "The Fugitive," so did Rachel here also, giving each respective character authenticity in their chases. And if anyone, by the way, loved "The Fugitive"--in either classic television or latter-day movie remake form (and for that matter, "U.S. Marshals, a sequel)--then there's no reason for this film to be bagged at all. Why, there is even a Gerard figure present in this film as well, making things compellingly and interesting. A Fuge ripoff, you may say? Nah. Just another movie doubtlessly inspired by it on one level or another--not unlike many others in its genre which have sprung up after it. Open your minds, check it out and see a woman on the run fighting for her justice for a change--especially one as compelling as Rachel McLish is in this role.