It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

Death Before Dishonor is an ultra patriotic and macho 80's action in the same vein as Rambo-First Blood pt.2 and The Delta Force. It is not as good as the films I have just mentioned and is in many ways cliché and little bit on the cheesy side. It is mostly a recruitment poster for the US Marines, but is a good film vehicle for Fred Dryer.(who is best known as Hunter) Death Before Dishonor delivers big on action with some excellent stunts, explosions and shootouts. Fred Dryer may not be the best actor, but he is good with firearms and is athletic and rugged enough to be a good action hero and is convincing as a Marine Corps badass. Director Terry Leonard did a good job as his only gig as director and there is a good support cast with Brian Keith and Paul Winfield. Rockne Tarkington of Black Samson fame did well cast as main baddie Jihad. I remember watching this as a young lad with my father when this originally had its run on cable, while certain elements of the film are dated, it holds up pretty good with most action movies of the same period.

Rugged U.S. Marine Jack Burns (Fred Dryer in excellent hard-nosed form) defies the orders of his commanding officers by going after a band of savage terrorists who have abducted his beloved superior officer Col. Halloran (a sturdy and engagingly gruff portrayal by Brian Keith). Director Terry Leonard, working from a compact script by Jon Gatliff and Lawrence Kubik, keeps the mean'n'lean narrative hurtling along at a brisk pace, maintains a serious gritty tone throughout, really lays on the gung-ho patriotism and testosterone-soaked machismo something thick, and stages the thrilling action set pieces with rip-roaring brio. The sound acting by the capable cast keeps this movie humming: The gorgeous Joanna Pacula as crusading photo journalist Elli, Paul Winfield as a stuffy by-the-book ambassador, Peter Parros as the eager James, Rockne Tarkington as the ferocious Jihad, Daniel Chodos as the wormy Amin, Mohammad Bakri as the vicious Gavril, and Kacey Walker as the ruthless Maude Winter. The jolting moments of brutal violence pack quite a harsh punch while the picture's fiercely jingoistic sensibility radiates a certain lovably crude 80's period charm. Brian May's lively score hits the rousing spot. The polished cinematography by Don Burgess supplies a pleasing crisp look. A fun flick.

to me,this was just a standard run of the mill military actioner.i didn't think it brought anything new to the genre.it wasn't very exciting.even the final gun battle at the end of the movie was ho hum.this thing is also very predictable.having said all that,the movie was passable entertainment.Fred Dryer(the 80's TV show Hunter,and ex-football player)plays the main character in the movie,while Kathryn Erbe( Eames-Law and order:Criminal Intent)lookalike Kasey Walker plays one of the main terrorists.Dryer is OK in his Role,but I thought Walker was very impressive.anyway,you've probably seen it all before.for me Death Before Dishonour is a 5/10

*SPOILER ALERT* *SPOILER ALERT* I bought this video for two bucks. "Death before Dishonor" is one of those shameless pro-American military flicks they used to make back in the 80's. And what the heck is wrong with that? I mean, granted, Fred Dryer is no Rambo but he gets the job done. He destroys anyone he perceives as a threat to the American way of life. Dryer has to guard the American embassy in some fictitious Arab country. Soon the rebel army will attack his embassy, kidnap his colonel and generally upset him. They've pushed this marine to the breaking point.As a ridiculous action movie, "Death before Dishonor" is mildly enjoyable. One car chase scene has him driving after the bad guys through various back alleys. He then takes his windshield out and shoots a rocket at them while driving! Yeah! That'll show them not to mess with the marines. Of course, they never learn and soon they're back to harass Dryer again. If you're expecting subtlety from this flick or any particularly enlightened attitude toward affairs in the Middle East, you will be sorely disappointed. "Death before Dishonor" is all about the Americans, (good guys), killing rebel Arabs and their Russian masters, (bad guys). So if you're looking for a simple, (and cheap), B-war flick, "Death before Dishonor" fits the bill.