Watch Red Scorpion

Red Scorpion is a classic action movie from 1988 that stars Dolph Lundgren as a Soviet special forces soldier named Lt. Nikolai Rachenko. The story is set during the Cold War era and revolves around Rachenko's mission to assassinate a rebel leader in a small African nation. The movie opens with Rachenko being handpicked by his superiors to undertake this dangerous mission. He's given a new identity, a new set of clothes and a mission briefing. Rachenko is initially reluctant to undertake this mission, as he's not sure of the intentions of his superiors. He's also haunted by the memory of a friend who was killed while fighting in Afghanistan.

Despite his reservations, Rachenko is sent to the African country where he meets up with the rebels. However, he's captured and tortured by a group of rebels who are led by a man named Ango Sundata. Rachenko is taken prisoner and prepares to be executed, but he manages to escape with the help of a female rebel who is sympathetic to his cause.

Rachenko meets up with a group of local soldiers who have been trained by the Soviet Union. They take him in and help him recover from his injuries. But Rachenko is still haunted by questions about his mission and the nature of his superiors back in the Soviet Union.

As Rachenko regains his strength, he starts training the local soldiers and prepares them for a final battle against the rebels. The rebels, however, soon discover Rachenko's whereabouts and send in their own trained mercenaries to take him out.

The final battle scene is a thrilling display of action and violence, with Rachenko taking on the rebels in hand-to-hand combat. The movie finishes with a dramatic confrontation between Rachenko and Ango Sundata, which leaves the audience on the edge of their seats.

The movie is well directed by Joseph Zito, who has previously directed other action films such as the popular slasher flick "Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. Dolph Lundgren is perfect in his role as the stoic and determined Nikolai Rachenko. Al White puts in a great performance as the head of the local soldiers, and M. Emmet Walsh provides some comic relief as a CIA operative.

One of the strengths of Red Scorpion is its portrayal of the political climate of the time. Rachenko is initially motivated by his sense of duty to his motherland, but as the film progresses, he begins to question the motivations of his superiors. The movie expertly captures the tension and paranoia of the Cold War era, with Soviet and American agents working behind the scenes to influence the outcome of the conflict.

Another notable aspect of the movie is its portrayal of African culture. The movie doesn't shy away from showing the poverty and desperation that is commonly found in African nations, but it also celebrates the culture and traditions of the local people. The movie offers a nuanced portrayal of Africa that is rarely seen in action movies.

Overall, Red Scorpion is a great action movie that expertly blends political intrigue, cultural context, and thrilling action scenes. Dolph Lundgren delivers a fantastic performance as Rachenko, and the supporting cast is equally impressive. If you're a fan of classic action movies from the 80s, then Red Scorpion is definitely worth checking out.

Red Scorpion is a 1989 adventure movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2.