Director – J. Lee Thompson

If ever there was a cheap - and I do mean cheap - knockoff of the Indiana Jones trilogy - and there weren't ANY, not one - this would probably be, if not the best cheap knockoff, then maybe the worst good one. If there were such a thing as a Heroic Pantheon of Legendary Norris Films - and there isn't - Firewalker might just be one of the best. In fact, even as I shook my head at the simple, crude script, I was laughing right along with it, an intoxicated dopey grin spread over my face. The thing is, this movie really took me by surprise. That sneaky Norris son-of-a-bitch pulled out a good performance on me. It's almost as if this is actually the role that he should have played all along, his perfect match.



I might also say the same of his buddy Louis Gossett Jr., who compliments Norris' reckless charming white-guy lead with a stellar performance as a skeptical, fast-talking black-dude accomplice.

Together, they consistently screw up and botch their various treasure seeking adventures: Max (Norris) dutifully getting them deep in the shit, then barely pulling them out in the nick of time, making it seem completely accidental, while Leo (Gossett) curses and berates him with practiced consistency. As if on cue (as if) a beautiful blonde, Patricia, shows up with vague clues pointing toward potential wealth at great risk of life. Apparently she's mildly psychic, and mostly hot; PG rating aside, Max and I both got excited about finding some treasure.

Consulting Tall Eagle, a cynical but campy Native American stereotype, they learn the legend of the Firewalker, for whatever it's worth. Off they go to Central America followed by a huge one-eyed Apache shaman (Sonny Landham, Predator’s Billy) twisted with larynx-crushing greed.

Unsurprisingly, Central America is full of overeager soldiers with big bottles of tequila and a love for blonde gringo women. John Rhys-Davies (Gimli in The Lord of the Rings) pops in for a quick (Norris-requisite) 'Nam reminisce, and an almost uncomfortable philosophical discussion.



What's really remarkable about Firewalker is its ability to gingerly walk the triple line between campy, dramatic, and crappy, and come across fairly successfully at all of them. The closest thing it reminds me of is Russ Meyer's Wild Gals of the Naked West (minus all the nudity) and Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles - with Chuck Norris. A loose and rubbery, fun and friendly Norris. He suddenly seems like he could actually be a nice guy, he should be my friend. Even though everything here seems different, but better different, a few essential Norris staples survive. Norris must kick ass, make it look easy, and be a 'Nam vet. He's also got to be stoic and gruff and, in the end, righteous. What he manages to achieve in this one is a little human emotion and warmth, which just might be the secret of the firewater, er…Firewalker.

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