A brilliant film that helped define a genre

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Sophia Loren sees her husband's chemist lab blown to smithereens with him inside; turns out he was murdered after threatening to expose a case of contaminated pharmaceuticals that cause cancer to anyone taking them. She goes to the FBI, whose top operative hopes to lure bounty hunter/hit man James Coburn out of retirement to bring in a reclusive, crooked billionaire, while Sophia wants him to help avenge her husband's death; she may also have known Coburn intimately at one time...or is that his twin brother she once romanced? Director Michael Winner isn't very adept at working with actors, and yet at this point in his career he became very popular with passed-their-prime talents still looking to make a buck. Nobody involved in "Firepower" comes off looking good, particularly a bloat-bellied Coburn. Busy film jets across the globe in search of new plot points, but all of its action is stodgy or stilted. Too bad, this cast in these exotic locations might have made for a delicious, tawdry action-flick. Unfortunately, Winner (who also co-originated the story) doesn't have a sense of his own absurdity, and shows a robotic sense of humor. *1/2 from ****

This one has enough plot twists and action sequences for a dozen movies and although it commendably moves along at express speed, the screenplay has so many plot twists that it's difficult to keep track. Coburn has a double role, although the movie makes disappointingly little use of this device and the special effects when both characters are on the screen are rather obvious. Although attractively gowned, Miss Loren is not looking her best and with the hero, I found her changes of side somewhat bewildering. I kept waiting for Victor Mature's entrance – expecting him at every twist of the plot – but this proves a disappointment too. For those who like lots of destructive firepower with tons of elaborate explosions, stunts and action sequences, the movie is a must. And there are some great support performances among the villains too (including Franciosa). Locations were in Antigua and nearby Curacoa of all places. You'll enjoy hearing many of the players struggling to pronounce that one!

This is a great movie. Now I am not saying that it is perfect but quite enjoyable. Its got great stars and the scenery makes you want to get on a plane for the Caribean. It is clear that the character of Carl Stegner is based to a certain degree on Howard Hughes. Billionaire, reclusive industrialist who has not been seen in years. Traveling at the center of a large entourage, that was Hughes in the 70's. James Coburn is fantastic in this role. He never fails to make the character of Jerry Fannon believable. O.J. Simpson is pretty good too only lapsing unbelievable when waxing nostalgic on the boat with Coburn and Sophia Loren. If anyone is off the mark in this one its Loren. She is great in spots but dos'nt seem to interested at other times. Tony Franciosa brings his usual blow torch intensity to the role. To enjoy Firepower you cannot take it too seriously. Enjoy it for what it is. Great cast full of recognizable faces, beautiful scenery and a fairly good plot. What else does one need?

Michael Winner's films aren't complete without a lot of blood, and this one has enough to fill a bucket or two.James Coburn is the retired hitman who comes back in to kidnap a certain Karl Stegner, a mysterious and very wealthy man wanted by the IRS and various other federal agencies.Coburn teams up mainly with OJ Simpson, with some dubious assistance from Sophia Loren, and we have a 70s high-tech sort of caper. Lots of gadgetry, most of it explosive, large quantities of double-crossing and shooting, plenty of pretty shots of the Caribbean from floating gin palaces, and a plot of such ludicrous over-complexity that it's silly.It was obviously immense fun to make: several very large houses get burned down, bulldozed and otherwise trashed. As do various means of transportation. With lots of explosions and shooting.It's implausible and it's almost impossible to understand why anyone would do what these people do, but apparently this is what they do. Bullets fly and things blow up.There is an awful lot of frenetic activity, constantly accompanied by the sound of gunfire with regular scenes of conflagration.Did I mention that there's a lot of shooting and explosions in this? In case I didn't, there is, as well as a very confusing plot.It's not a very good movie.