Kinjite – Tödliches Tabu (1989)

Kinjite – Tödliches Tabu: Directed by J. Lee Thompson. With Charles Bronson, Perry Lopez, Juan Fernández, James Pax. A brutal Los Angeles police Lt. is determined to bust up an organization that forces underage girls into prostitution.

“Ninth and final collaboration between J. Lee Thompson with Charles Bronson, it was also Jack Lee final film before retirement and the last one Bronson made for the two cousins of Cannon Group, Menahem Golan u0026amp; Yoram Globus, u0026quot;Kinjite – Forbidden Subjectsu0026quot; was a return to the action / crime / thriller genre, a territory covered by the duo in several films before, from u0026quot;10 to Midnightu0026quot; (u0026#39;83) to u0026quot;Murphyu0026#39;s Lawu0026quot; (u0026#39;86), after the more mystery / u0026#39;whodunitu0026#39; oriented, u0026quot;Messenger of Deathu0026quot;, made the previous year.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBronson plays his usual cop on the edge to be acting above the law (he was in full Eastwoodu0026#39;s u0026quot;Dirty Harryu0026quot; mode here), this time chasing a pimp who is forcing minors into prostitution, played by the forever baddie Juan Fernandez (u0026quot;Salvadoru0026quot;, u0026quot;Crocodile Dundee 2u0026quot;) in an one more sleazy performance, who kidnapped the 12 years old daughter of a yuppie japanese businessman (James Pax from u0026quot;Big Trouble in Little Chinau0026quot;) new in town.nAfter his own daughter was molested (ironically by the same oriental) during a bus ride, Bronsonu0026#39;s feel of bigotry towards the japanese who are taking L.A. grow bigger, but his sense of integrity and the fact heu0026#39;s father of a teenage girl himself, makes him on the loose through the cityu0026#39;s underground to find the missing child.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003enThe movie deals with several relevant issues, such as cultural differences, hidden sexual desires and the execrable child prostitution ring, but ultimately (and unfortunately), it doesnu0026#39;t balance them well, cutting the plot to pieces to acommodate a Charles Bronsonu0026#39;s action vehicle, and it was a shame, because the material was there for a great u0026#39;seriousu0026#39; crime / drama film such as Paul Schraderu0026#39;s u0026quot;Hardcoreu0026quot; (u0026#39;79) or William Friedkinu0026#39;s u0026quot;Cruisingu0026quot; (u0026#39;80).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe budget seems even shorter than u0026quot;Messenger of Deathu0026quot; due to Cannonu0026#39;s financial bankrupt around u0026#39;89, and some of the shots look cheap enough to be the u0026quot;made for TVu0026quot; film of the week and not even the cinematography is that good in this one, but Jack Lee u0026amp; Bronson compensate it with more fights, more gunshots and more action, including an over-the-top big finale that all the Bronsonu0026#39;s fans will be pleased.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe shocking subject of the movie, and its infamous, not showed but suggested, scenes it may be too exploitative for some mainstream public back then and even now, thatu0026#39;s why Jack Lee, probably with conservative Bronsonu0026#39;s aval, shot them in a more u0026quot;lightu0026quot; tone, instead of going too nasty or visually sordid.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBesides Bronson, Fernandez and Pax, the supporting cast features several well known faces such as the beautiful u0026amp; future u0026quot;Baywatchu0026quot; mermaid, Nicole Eggert, in her debut film; Perry Lopez (u0026quot;Kellyu0026#39;s Heroesu0026quot;, u0026quot;Chinatownu0026quot; u0026amp; u0026quot;Death Wish 4u0026quot;) playing Bronsonu0026#39;s partner; Sy Richardson (u0026quot;Straight to Hellu0026quot;) as the pimpu0026#39;s henchman; Amy Hathaway u0026amp; Peggy Lipton, playing respectively, the daughter u0026amp; wife of Bronsonu0026#39;s character and even cameos from Alex Hyde-White (u0026quot;Biggles – Adventures in Timeu0026quot;, u0026quot;Indiana Jones and the Last Crusadeu0026quot;, u0026quot;Pretty Womanu0026quot;) u0026amp; Danny Trejo (u0026quot;Runaway Trainu0026quot;, u0026quot;Heatu0026quot;, u0026quot;Desperadou0026quot;, u0026quot;Macheteu0026quot;).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn short, u0026quot;Kinjite – Forbidden Subjectsu0026quot; isnu0026#39;t the best of the Jack Lee Thompson / Charles Bronson pairing, neither is the worst, but works as the last hurrah from both veterans together, from the Cannon Group before bankrupcy, and the 80u0026#39;s Era of the OTT / cheesy / full of witty on-liners, action films.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI give it a 6 !!”