If you like the gifted Kinski and the excellent Christopher Plummer you can give this piece a (one) chance. Bang! Plummer deserves all the praise for his portrait of a real baddie with a clever and cynical mind. But do not expect to much brain of this B-picture.
15 Reviews
Most blatant Die Hard rip-off ever
Leofwine_draca15 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
A heck of a lot of DIE HARD Rip-offs were made during the 1990s, and CRACKERJACK is the most blatant of them all. Straight-to-video action man Thomas Ian Griffith is the cop hero who finds himself at a ski resort taking over by robbers, led by Christopher Plummer doing his very best (or worst) Alan Rickman impersonation. Whole swathes of the plot and various scenes are directly copied from the Bruce Willis original, albeit done in a much cheaper and low-rent kind of style. With dumb dialogue, bad FX, weak fight scenes and a general tired feel to it all, this one is for rip-off lovers everywhere.
One of the more watchable Die Hard knockoffs around.
tarbosh220009 July 2011
Warning: Spoilers
It's Die Hard (1988) in a hotel! Following in the tradition of "It's Die Hard in a ______________" (you fill in the blank) movies, Crackerjack has been said to be something of a cross between Die Hard and Cliffhanger (1993), but really it's much closer to the John McClane side of things. Thomas Ian Griffith stars as the awesomely-named Jack Wild, a Chicago cop on the edge. Does this seem at all familiar yet? His concerned family believes that he is too on the edge for his own good, so his brother Mike Wild (Sali), and his wife and baby all go to the rocky mountains. Why they thought that was a good location remains unknown.
While at a remote mountain hotel, a sinister plot to steal millions of dollars worth of diamonds is spearheaded by the nefarious Ivan Getz (Plummer) and his band of vaguely-European goons. Then they're going to cause an avalanche to destroy the hotel, again with no rational explanation. Will the unmitigated power of Jack Wild stop the baddies, and romance "Activities Director" K.C. (Kinski) along the way? Just you wait and see! Actually this movie is not bad at all. It's professionally made, entertaining, and is able to propel itself along on cliché-power alone. It's one of the better T.I.G movies we've seen to date. He has a great entrance and the movie suffers when he's not on screen. T.I.G. is able to win over the audience with his charm, not to mention his fighting ability, and he carries the movie well. You genuinely like Jack Wild. When the classic 90's baddies are holding the hotel guests hostage and shooting a lot of people and blowing things up, you root for Wild. You can't ask for more in a movie like this. You'd be surprised how often filmmakers fail at this formula. Luckily, that did not happen here.
As far as Christopher Plummer is concerned, the only question you'll have is, "why?" How did they get an actor of his caliber to appear in this type of product? I guess it wouldn't be the first time, as he was in an AIP movie (Firehead, 1991), so this is gold in comparison. An actor's gotta eat, and they probably told him this was his chance to outdo Alan Rickman, so he went for it. His acting style here seems to be "whisper a lot to seem intense and wear various types of eyewear". We also felt Robert Davi could have played this role.
Oddly, there are not one, but two Crackerjack sequels, with different actors as different characters in the lead role. Was this movie that successful? We had no idea it made enough money to spawn sequels. But such is life, and at least this first (and only "true" Crackerjack movie for the fans...just kidding) has plenty of entertaining violence to pass the time.
Shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Crackerjack might be one of the more watchable Die Hard knockoffs around.
for more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com
While at a remote mountain hotel, a sinister plot to steal millions of dollars worth of diamonds is spearheaded by the nefarious Ivan Getz (Plummer) and his band of vaguely-European goons. Then they're going to cause an avalanche to destroy the hotel, again with no rational explanation. Will the unmitigated power of Jack Wild stop the baddies, and romance "Activities Director" K.C. (Kinski) along the way? Just you wait and see! Actually this movie is not bad at all. It's professionally made, entertaining, and is able to propel itself along on cliché-power alone. It's one of the better T.I.G movies we've seen to date. He has a great entrance and the movie suffers when he's not on screen. T.I.G. is able to win over the audience with his charm, not to mention his fighting ability, and he carries the movie well. You genuinely like Jack Wild. When the classic 90's baddies are holding the hotel guests hostage and shooting a lot of people and blowing things up, you root for Wild. You can't ask for more in a movie like this. You'd be surprised how often filmmakers fail at this formula. Luckily, that did not happen here.
As far as Christopher Plummer is concerned, the only question you'll have is, "why?" How did they get an actor of his caliber to appear in this type of product? I guess it wouldn't be the first time, as he was in an AIP movie (Firehead, 1991), so this is gold in comparison. An actor's gotta eat, and they probably told him this was his chance to outdo Alan Rickman, so he went for it. His acting style here seems to be "whisper a lot to seem intense and wear various types of eyewear". We also felt Robert Davi could have played this role.
Oddly, there are not one, but two Crackerjack sequels, with different actors as different characters in the lead role. Was this movie that successful? We had no idea it made enough money to spawn sequels. But such is life, and at least this first (and only "true" Crackerjack movie for the fans...just kidding) has plenty of entertaining violence to pass the time.
Shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Crackerjack might be one of the more watchable Die Hard knockoffs around.
for more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com
What a crock!
chrisbedford13 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Dialogue: stilted, clichéd; Acting: hammy, clichéd; Plot: predictable, clichéd.
Just what are Christopher Plummer Nastassia Kinski doing in this "B" rubbish? Plummer was well established decades before this movie was made, Kinski had masterpieces like "Tess" and "Cat People" behind her... Must have been desperate.
The bad guys all have bad-guy accents - *bad* bad-guy accents! (Plummer especially! Where *did* he learn to do "German"?) and most of them have bad-guy sneers as well. The innocent bystanders all overdo their panicking enough to make you laugh. The good guy survives, amongst other things: * a 5" throwing knife buried hilt-deep in his shoulder - just pulls it out and seconds later is using the arm with no difficulty at all; * marines' machine-gun fire (I think someone referred to a .50) in the leg which he sorts out by tying a bandage around his pants leg and thereafter he barely has a limp; * several fist-fights in which he sustains multiple punches to the face as well as being run cranium-first into a door frame; * a fall, backwards, from what looks like the third floor, onto paving, without the slightest sign of a twisted ankle or any other such trifling inconvenience. The script has exactly 3 clever lines, the rest of the time it's all so dull and boring.
OK it's not all bad. Plummer does bring a certain class to his part, and is undoubtedly the best actor in this flick. Of course that doesn't say much, but he can do the callous villain without resorting to the ham techniques most of the villains use here. He delivers his "Ve haff vays and meance" type lines with some menace, but you are always aware you are watching Christopher Plummer acting the villain.
This movie is truly an awful waste of time. The acting, such as it is, is sort of 70's 007 movies wooden line delivery meets Bruce Lee's very obviously faked fight scenes, but it's not even anywhere near as good as either a Roger Moore 007 or a Bruce Lee film. Don't bother.
Just what are Christopher Plummer Nastassia Kinski doing in this "B" rubbish? Plummer was well established decades before this movie was made, Kinski had masterpieces like "Tess" and "Cat People" behind her... Must have been desperate.
The bad guys all have bad-guy accents - *bad* bad-guy accents! (Plummer especially! Where *did* he learn to do "German"?) and most of them have bad-guy sneers as well. The innocent bystanders all overdo their panicking enough to make you laugh. The good guy survives, amongst other things: * a 5" throwing knife buried hilt-deep in his shoulder - just pulls it out and seconds later is using the arm with no difficulty at all; * marines' machine-gun fire (I think someone referred to a .50) in the leg which he sorts out by tying a bandage around his pants leg and thereafter he barely has a limp; * several fist-fights in which he sustains multiple punches to the face as well as being run cranium-first into a door frame; * a fall, backwards, from what looks like the third floor, onto paving, without the slightest sign of a twisted ankle or any other such trifling inconvenience. The script has exactly 3 clever lines, the rest of the time it's all so dull and boring.
OK it's not all bad. Plummer does bring a certain class to his part, and is undoubtedly the best actor in this flick. Of course that doesn't say much, but he can do the callous villain without resorting to the ham techniques most of the villains use here. He delivers his "Ve haff vays and meance" type lines with some menace, but you are always aware you are watching Christopher Plummer acting the villain.
This movie is truly an awful waste of time. The acting, such as it is, is sort of 70's 007 movies wooden line delivery meets Bruce Lee's very obviously faked fight scenes, but it's not even anywhere near as good as either a Roger Moore 007 or a Bruce Lee film. Don't bother.
A dull, inert mashup of Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, and Cliffhanger
IonicBreezeMachine4 April 2021
Chicago Police Detective Jack Wild (Thomas Ian Griffith) is an aggressive cop whose wild man antics and PTSD, stemming from the murder of his family some years back, have earned him the nickname "Cracker Jack". After his latest episode involving a bust becoming a massive shootout, Jack is placed on administrative leave, and reluctantly accompanies his brother and sister-in-law to a secluded mountain top resort. When a team of well equipped and organized terrorists, lead by Ivan Getz (Christopher Plummer), storm the resort and take the guests hostage in search of diamonds in the possession of aging mafia Don Rosso (George Touliatos), Jack must use his wits and cunning to fight ill equipped against impossible odds to save his family and stop the terrorists.
Released in 1994, Crackerjack is a Canadian/Czech co-production by prolific b-movie producer Lloyd A. Simandl and his company North American Releasing which specializes in churning out b-level schlocky sci-fi, horror, and erotic thrillers for the purposes of pre selling them at the American Film Market for distribution on home video or airings on domestic/foreign pay and cable television syndicates. Knowing the production company behind this movie is definitely illuminating, because it feels less like a movie and more like a carefully crafted and calculated product designed to maximize commercial viability.
Pretty much every element in Crackerjack can be traced back to a action picture from the preceding 7 years of its release. Jack himself is basically Mel Gibson's Martin Riggs from Lethal Weapon, and the limited location taken over by terrorists is aped from Die Hard, with the surrounding mountains clearly inspired by the success of 1993 Blockbuster Cliffhanger. Not only does the movie Frankenstein these elements together into a movie, but it does so with complete seriousness and little to no humor. Crackerjack is so aggressively serious in tone that its earnest attempts at drama be it from Jack's trauma of watching his family die or Don Rosso's remorse for his criminal life and desire for redemption come off as hokey and melodramatic making them unintentionally funny.
The action elements are there and are delivered, but they're basically the generic Supermarket off-brand of better movie you've already seen. Jack even says "I'm on your side @$$holes!" calling to mind a similar line from Die Hard, in a very similar situation. Most of the action is perfectly serviceable, but its also very flat with not much in the way of style or identity. The cinematography at the mountain top resort coupled with a rather bare bones production design makes the movie visually flat with not much interesting to look at. Though an avalanche in the climax despite not being 100% convincing is one of the better effects in the movie.
The one good thing I can say without reservation is Christopher Plummer is entertaining playing the main Villain Ivan Getz. The character isn't all that well written and is basically a clone of Hans Gruber (albeit with superficial differences). But Plummer despite appearing in material beneath him still brings his A-Game. He sells every line he speaks and comes off as genuinely intimidating. Much like his appearance in Starcrash, the movie can be bad but it's a sure bet Plummer will be good.
Crackerjack is exactly what it aspired to be, a 2nd rate Die Hard clone that can be easily sold at Film Trade events and business meetings for airplay on cable and distribution on home video. Pretty much every element in it comes from a superior movie and you'll likely forget it as soon as its over. Plummer brings a usually reliable performance to underwritten material, but aside from that there's not much in Crackerjack you can't get elsewhere and better.
Released in 1994, Crackerjack is a Canadian/Czech co-production by prolific b-movie producer Lloyd A. Simandl and his company North American Releasing which specializes in churning out b-level schlocky sci-fi, horror, and erotic thrillers for the purposes of pre selling them at the American Film Market for distribution on home video or airings on domestic/foreign pay and cable television syndicates. Knowing the production company behind this movie is definitely illuminating, because it feels less like a movie and more like a carefully crafted and calculated product designed to maximize commercial viability.
Pretty much every element in Crackerjack can be traced back to a action picture from the preceding 7 years of its release. Jack himself is basically Mel Gibson's Martin Riggs from Lethal Weapon, and the limited location taken over by terrorists is aped from Die Hard, with the surrounding mountains clearly inspired by the success of 1993 Blockbuster Cliffhanger. Not only does the movie Frankenstein these elements together into a movie, but it does so with complete seriousness and little to no humor. Crackerjack is so aggressively serious in tone that its earnest attempts at drama be it from Jack's trauma of watching his family die or Don Rosso's remorse for his criminal life and desire for redemption come off as hokey and melodramatic making them unintentionally funny.
The action elements are there and are delivered, but they're basically the generic Supermarket off-brand of better movie you've already seen. Jack even says "I'm on your side @$$holes!" calling to mind a similar line from Die Hard, in a very similar situation. Most of the action is perfectly serviceable, but its also very flat with not much in the way of style or identity. The cinematography at the mountain top resort coupled with a rather bare bones production design makes the movie visually flat with not much interesting to look at. Though an avalanche in the climax despite not being 100% convincing is one of the better effects in the movie.
The one good thing I can say without reservation is Christopher Plummer is entertaining playing the main Villain Ivan Getz. The character isn't all that well written and is basically a clone of Hans Gruber (albeit with superficial differences). But Plummer despite appearing in material beneath him still brings his A-Game. He sells every line he speaks and comes off as genuinely intimidating. Much like his appearance in Starcrash, the movie can be bad but it's a sure bet Plummer will be good.
Crackerjack is exactly what it aspired to be, a 2nd rate Die Hard clone that can be easily sold at Film Trade events and business meetings for airplay on cable and distribution on home video. Pretty much every element in it comes from a superior movie and you'll likely forget it as soon as its over. Plummer brings a usually reliable performance to underwritten material, but aside from that there's not much in Crackerjack you can't get elsewhere and better.
Dumb but not dull .........
merklekranz18 September 2019
Serious contender for the so bad it's good sweepstakes. "CrackerJack" is a cliche loaded "Die Hard" clone that despite the straight to video, low budget, bad acting, plastic model blow ups, zero logic script, instant romance, indestructible hero, and on and on, delivers some chuckles because everything is being taken seriously. Christopher Plummer probably wishes he never signed on for this bomb, but he plays his bad guy to the hilt. The rest of the cast appears to be walking through their lines wishing they were somewhere else. There is no point in doing anything here except sitting back expecting bad everything, and marveling at the total ineptitude on display. The film has a touch of gratuitous nudity, a cavern that looks like it was made out of PlayDough, exploding helicopters, exploding areal tram, and an avalanche. If you are in the mood for a good bad movie, you could do a lot worse. - MERK
Straight To Video 'Die Hard' Rip Off on a Mountain!!
jmupton200322 August 2006
Maverick cop with family problems and fondness of using his gun Check! Isolated location with valuable object which is begging to be stolen Check! Tasty looking love interest Check! Assorted band of dumb cardboard cannon fodder villains with dodgy European accents Check! German sounding bad guy played by an English actor with a piece of corny dialogue for every occasion Check! Corny one liners Check!
Deary me, does this film take the wee wee or what? The clichés come as thick and fast as an avalanche and most of the cast just stand around gawping at just how bad the script is!
In a blatantly cheap and cheerful straight to video rip off of Die Hard only set on a mountain (complete with some nicked lines from the aforesaid) we have all the usual action move cliché's ticked off progressively as we go along with some good old fashioned violence and nudity thrown in to wake up anyone in the audience who may just have nodded off.
Jack Wild is the cop in full on John McClane mode here who even manages time for the ye ancient bad guy with gun has used all his bullets gag at one point.
In amidst this mess, there are a few well known recognisable faces who I can only assume needed the cash and/or were simply playing it for laughs right from the pointless opening scene that had nothing to do with the plot whatsoever through to the final implausible conclusion complete with ropey dialogue and even ropier effects.
Looking up this three quid from the Supermarket bargain bin effort on IMDb I am astonished to find that this dud spawned not one but two sequels, I have got to find these gems on DVD! It looks like the first sequel is a rip off of Under Siege 2 and the second sequel, well goodness knows! One thing that is always a bad sign is that the actor playing Jack changes with each film and even the character's name seems to change for the third instalment.
Still, blind purchases of cheap DVD's just would not be the same if studios didn't keep trotting out material of this awful quality!!
Deary me, does this film take the wee wee or what? The clichés come as thick and fast as an avalanche and most of the cast just stand around gawping at just how bad the script is!
In a blatantly cheap and cheerful straight to video rip off of Die Hard only set on a mountain (complete with some nicked lines from the aforesaid) we have all the usual action move cliché's ticked off progressively as we go along with some good old fashioned violence and nudity thrown in to wake up anyone in the audience who may just have nodded off.
Jack Wild is the cop in full on John McClane mode here who even manages time for the ye ancient bad guy with gun has used all his bullets gag at one point.
In amidst this mess, there are a few well known recognisable faces who I can only assume needed the cash and/or were simply playing it for laughs right from the pointless opening scene that had nothing to do with the plot whatsoever through to the final implausible conclusion complete with ropey dialogue and even ropier effects.
Looking up this three quid from the Supermarket bargain bin effort on IMDb I am astonished to find that this dud spawned not one but two sequels, I have got to find these gems on DVD! It looks like the first sequel is a rip off of Under Siege 2 and the second sequel, well goodness knows! One thing that is always a bad sign is that the actor playing Jack changes with each film and even the character's name seems to change for the third instalment.
Still, blind purchases of cheap DVD's just would not be the same if studios didn't keep trotting out material of this awful quality!!
Die Hard meets Cliffhanger
Tics8 February 1999
It's Die Hard meets Cliffhanger when a ski resort is besieged by terrorists and it's up to one cop, Jack (Crackerjack) to stop this.
A B-action movie that borrows from other films and is quite good with pretty good action, a ridiculous plot (as always in these movies) and three fine stars. Thomas Ian Griffith as the cop and Nastasja Kinski and Christopher Plummer as terrorists. If you don't like stupid B-action movies this is not for you.
A B-action movie that borrows from other films and is quite good with pretty good action, a ridiculous plot (as always in these movies) and three fine stars. Thomas Ian Griffith as the cop and Nastasja Kinski and Christopher Plummer as terrorists. If you don't like stupid B-action movies this is not for you.
Entertaining. Kind of.
garyoa128 March 2021
Bah...
swedzin15 October 2012
Put up your hand and than catapult it down, and say "bah!" to this film. An extremely weak film, that is based upon some old, already used cliché, you know "terrorists taking over, one man army, bunch of hostage", this time in the mountain hotel. Well... yahoo.
We got Thomas Ian Griffith (Karate Kid 3, Vampires) as a leading action man, but he looked here like he didn't give a damn for this film. He was even slow in martial arts scenes, he can do faster than that, but when you're doing a low budget film... what's the point? Christopher Plummer is here! What a hell? A great, classically trained actor to appear in such low budget crap as a leading villain? I don't understand... what is attractive to such great actors in low budget films? We also have Nastasja Kinski... well, she was OK.
There isn't much to say about this crap film. Except... you can watch it if you want to... fall asleep for example.
We got Thomas Ian Griffith (Karate Kid 3, Vampires) as a leading action man, but he looked here like he didn't give a damn for this film. He was even slow in martial arts scenes, he can do faster than that, but when you're doing a low budget film... what's the point? Christopher Plummer is here! What a hell? A great, classically trained actor to appear in such low budget crap as a leading villain? I don't understand... what is attractive to such great actors in low budget films? We also have Nastasja Kinski... well, she was OK.
There isn't much to say about this crap film. Except... you can watch it if you want to... fall asleep for example.
Crackerjack on DVD
pole127 December 2006
Why can't you get this movie on DVD. I thought it was an excellent movie when I first saw it and have seen it many times since on video. I would like to add it to my DVD collection. I like this sort of movie although by the ratings it didn't appeal to some. Ánother one i like is bird on a wire but have trouble getting that one as well. I'm not into real violent movies and like a bit of romance as well. I often look on your web sight to find out if its been released on DVD yet plus many other movies. I've just bought Towering Inferno to add to my collection. My daughter often visits your web site too. I would love to add Crackerjack to it the one that was released in 1994 starring Thomas Ian Griffith
Die Hard On A Ski Resort
moviesareawayoflife21 February 2024
Crackerjack is a mid 90's action film starring Thomas Ian Griffith and is one of the many Die Hard Clones made at the time. Griffith in my opinion has always been underrated as an action star, first coming to my attention as the scene stealing villain in Karate Kid 3. Griffith is solid here as a cop on the edge but it is Christopher Plummer who steals the show as the main villain and he has many memorable lines. The action in Crackerjack is average, as are the special effects but none of this deters from my enjoyment of the film. Crackerjack is a brisk 90 minutes long and ticks all the action cliché boxes. Crackerjack is a film i always enjoy revisiting if i am in the mood to turn my brain off, i am a big fan of Thomas Ian Griffith and i can quote many memorable Plummer lines from this film. In all truth most people have never heard of or seen Crackerjack, but if you do come across it and are an action fan give it a go.
Could have been a winner
attitude-43 August 1999
but Thomas Ian Griffith just doesn't have the polish that a big bucks actor has, granted this was made 5+ years ago. Some of the humorous lines could have been timed to make this not only action, but comedy. And how do you get KC out of Katia Koslovska anyhow? Plummer's character was so corny, he would have fit better in a Bullwinkle toon. Personally, if action flicks are going to show skin -- I'd have liked to have seen equal time between female/male, otherwise don't show any.
So Stupid
mqrtdpxa24 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
First, Jack beats up a bad guy. Then he leaves the guys automatic weapon to go back to his room for his 45 . What an idiot. Then he bursts into a room to stop 2 bad guys. But instead of standing back, he stands right between them . So while he shoots one guy, the other guy jumps him from behind. There are a lot more stupid moves he does.
What???
bevo-1367831 March 2020
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