SWEEPERS (Keoni Waxman, 1998)

[Jox]

Rare Saudi VHS.

The funny thing is they mixed up the credits:

"a film by Dolph Lundgren"

"written and directed by Kevin Bernhardt"
(who is the writer of the original script before it was rewritten by Keoni Waxman)

[Jox]

Greek VHS cover

[Jox]

Italian poster I have never seen before



Now I even wonder if it didn't get a limited theatrical release there (SILENT TRIGGER and THE PEACEKEEPER did)...

[Jox]

Trailer in HD

[Jox]

It seems that SWEEPERS is on HBOmax (US), but I can't confirm because the link doesn't work from France.

[savagesketch]

It seems that SWEEPERS is on HBOmax (US), but I can't confirm because the link doesn't work from France.

Nope. And to be honest, I doubt HBO Max would see much value in something like this. They really don’t have a ton of the DTV stuff from the 90’s. All the free streaming services here do though (at least in the US) as much of Dolph’s CV throughout the 90’s, as well as Gary Daniels, etc. Those services and sites are: TUBI, PLUTO, FREEVEE, CRACKLE, and ROKU.

[Jox]

I was surprised myself but I found a link on their site (which I had forgotten to paste):
https://www.hbomax.com/tc/en/feature/ur ... -zwgEAAAGt

https://www.google.com/search?q=sweeper ... e&ie=UTF-8

[Jox]

Filming began 25 years ago today!


(Advert run in the trades published during the Cannes Market 1997)

[Jox]

Canadian VHS screener

[Jox]

Singapore VCD

[Jox]

[adolphus]

I watched this a few days ago for the first time. It looks like it has been at least a couple of years since the relative merits and demerits of this film have been discussed here. So I suppose I will add my own thoughts to the conversation.

Like some others here, I was generally impressed by this film. The footage of African landscapes, villages, and extras, as well as the old steam trains, lent the movie an authenticity and spirit of adventure that I wasn't really expecting and made the film interesting to watch for reasons other than its action scenes, which ranged from good to lackluster.

The soundtrack is phenomenal and way beyond the typical b-movie offering. I especially like that the filmmakers give it plenty of space so that we get to hear it uninterrupted for what feels like several minutes. I'd like to know how that soundtrack came to be.

The film also got me interested in landmines. I was struck (but not really surprised) to learn the U.S. refused to sign the Ottawa Treaty. Interestingly, relatively recently (2022) the U.S. has agreed to the terms of the treaty by banning the use, sale, and manufacture of antipersonnel mines, but with one special exception for the Korean Peninsula. Maybe that's where they can set Sweepers 2!

That woman that they got to play opposite Lundgren: Wow! She's a confounding mix of ugly and sexy; I found myself unable to decide which she was while watching. Apparently she's got a scene in a movie called Sensation with Eric Roberts. I'm going to have to check that out.

On the topic of undecideables, there is something weird about how the different meanings of 'mine' interact in this movie. I mean, the villain makes mines in a mine. When people talk about mines in this movie, you've always got to ask yourself, what do they mean?

Lastly, I have say a few things about the villain and his motivations. Did anyone notice that in the briefing meeting the photo they show of him has him wearing a Grateful Dead t-shirt underneath his lab coat? Also, this is the guy behind the poppers and his name is...Hopper. Ok! But what's really baffling is the how and the why of this guy. He works as an extremely busy doctor in an extremely understaffed hospital and he's been doing this for years. He is clearly a well-known and respected member of the community. And yet somehow he finds time to also run a covert facility developing the most technologically sophisticated landmines in the world, selling them to terrorist organizations?!?!? And nobody has any idea, including Lundgren's character who's supposed be a close friend, that he's doing this? Oh, and I love how he completely changes is style and demeanor when he switches to "bad guy" mode, donning a double-breasted suit and walking around with his chest puffed out.

And why? what's the point? I was expecting some typical villain speech about giving America a taste of its own medicine. But no. He says he's doing it for the money. The guy is living in an impoverished, war-torn country, working himself to the bone running a hospital, no doubt for a pittance, for years. And his motive is money? I know his role as a doctor is supposed to be his cover, but it's a cover that he actually has to perform just the same as if it weren't. The character makes no sense.

[Jox]

You pointed out some of the weakness of the film. From an original script that was like BLOOD DIAMOND before its time, they simplified and stripped it down so much that it became ridiculous at times, a sadly weighed down film with lots of potential.

[Jox]

Japanese trailer making it pass for a big movie

[Krom]

Indeed they tried the best! The 1998 the year of decline (or the starting of the decline) for all the action heroes Dolph, Van Damme, Seagal and even Arnold & Sly!