VALIANT ONE

(director/writer: Steve Barnett; screenwriters: Eric Tipton/story by Daniel Myrick; cinematographer: Daniel Stilling; editor: Andrew Leaven; music: Benjamin Backus; cast: Chase Stokes (Captain Edward Brockman), Lana Condor (Stephanie Selby), Daniel Jun (Wilson Lee), Callan Mulvey (Chris Lebold), Desmin Borges (Josh Weaver), Jonathan Whitesell (Jonah Ross),  Jerina Son (N. Korean Farmer’s Wife), Tyrone Pak (N. Korean Sgt.), Diana Tsoy (Binna), Dimitry Tsoy (N.Korean Military Driver), Stephen Adekolu (Ellis Cooper), Ronald Patrick Thompson (Pilot Milner), Leo Chiang (Medic Crew Chief); Runtime: 86; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Alan Powell, Bernie Goldmann, Steve Barnett; Briarcliff Entertainment/Factory Underground; 2025-in English, Korean)

“Dull and forgettable.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

The former producer and first-time feature film director Steve Barnett stiffly directs this patriotic, formulaic, action pic on brave American soldiers in danger in modern-day North Korea. It’s based on a true story written by Daniel Myrick, and is co-written by Barnett and Eric Tipton.

An Army helicopter crashes over North Korea when flying near the Korean border to repair communication equipment. The non-combat techie troops are stranded in hostile North Korean territory, with help not able to reach them. The brazen Captain Edward Brockman (Chase Stokes) and the tech specialist Stephanie Selby (Lana Condor) lead the survivors to safety by taking them over the perilous North Korean terrain to cross the border.
 
The action sequences were not helped by the misplaced rap music in the background. The climax shootout in an underground tunnel was ineffectively executed. Though competently made, the film’s dull and forgettable.

REVIEWED ON 2/24/2025  GRADE: C
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