VeteranLight I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

ActuallyGlimmer The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Lucia Ayala It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

a_chinn Lesser Sam Peckinpah film is still solid entertainment, even if it's nowhere close to his artful masterpieces of "The Wild Bunch," "Straw Dogs," or "Ride the High Country." James Caan plays an off-the-books CIA/black ops type who's double crossed by his partner, Robert Duvall, and left crippled. Caan goes through arduous physical therapy and learns martial arts and how to fight with his new cane in order to enact his revenge on Duvall and the organization that's abandoned him. Although this film does have it's defenders, "The Killer Elite" is pure surface level entertainment. When Peckinpah was asked how he prepared for this film, he said he watched a bunch of Bruce Lee movies, which is a pretty good indication he wasn't focused on his usual themes of men-out-of-time, masculinity, and violence. However, Sam Peckinpah knows his way around an action sequence better than most and he delivers a number of exiting shootouts. The martial arts sequences are admittedly not as good as his shootouts, but Peckinpah's use of slow potion and montage during those scenes is interesting none-the-less. The shootouts though are, as you would expect, a knockout! Overall, this story isn't all that clever or interesting, but thanks to the talents of the director, the action here was more than enough to hold my interest. FUN FACT! Monte Hellman is credited as casting the film.

seppo kaasinen A great film with a beautiful scenery of San Francisco. It may not be the greatest hour of Sam Peckinpah,but it's still one of the best films of the 70's.Of course there is films like the godfather and the taxi-driver,but who cares,man. The killer elite is such a different movie.It's got all the elements you need for a martial arts/gunfight movie.It's all there in one package. Not to mention perfect actors,story and the location.Every time i watch it,it takes me back to the great movie-making. The killer elite is a serious movie,which doesn't take itself too seriously.Action with Sam Peckinpah slow motion scenes.All the characters are great.Mike Locken as a bit of a slow,but all the time thinking the next step.Jerome Miller as a gun expert. Mac as a every guy.George Hansen as cold blooded killer. There's not much women,but they're still existing.San Francisco at it's best.Great pictures of Mike Locken getting to a better shape around the City streets,all the hills and the bay area. Sausalitos wooden homes and of course,the suisun bay with the mothball fleet.I'll never get tired to watch those locations.As a matter of fact,i'll never get tired to watch this film over and over again.There is not even one bad element in this film.

TedMichaelMor Okay, the story makes no sense, the characters lack any dimensionally, the best dialogue is ad-libs about the low quality of this excuse of a movie, the cinematography is dismal, and only editing saves a bit of the muddle,but Sam" Peckinpah directed the film. Somehow, his direction is not enough. For those who appreciate Peckinpah and his great work, this movie is a disappointment. Even a great cast cannot redeem the time the viewer wastes with this minimal effort.The proper response to the movie is the contempt that the director San Peckinpah, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Burt Young, Bo Hopkins, Arthur Hill, and even Gig Young bring to their work. Watch the great Peckinpah films. Skip this mess.

JasparLamarCrabb Certainly director Sam Peckinhpah's most efficient work (even leaner and more direct than THE GETAWAY). James Caan and Robert Duvall are contract killers for some shady government organization. Their friendship goes awry when Duvall turns on Caan and leaves him for dead. A game of cat and mouse ensues as Caan rehabilitates and seeks revenge. It's violent, suspenseful and full of a lot of great set pieces (front and center is an ambush on the tarmac of an airport as a visiting bigwig is nearly assassinated). Caan and Duvall have great chemistry and the supporting cast is terrific: Arthur Hill, Gig Young, Mako, and Bo Hopkins as one of Caan's assistants.