Cobra (1986)

A violent 80s action movie produced by the Cannon Group that has almost nothing of note to offer a viewer beyond its pure-bred action credentials.
There was some attempt to give the toughened lieutenant Cobra (Stallone) an understated sense of humour, but it's about as successful as trying to pin a badge on smoke. The musical montage is absolutely atrocious (and that's being kind to it). The main bad guy is a jobbing actor that I like but he's written as a crazed murderous meat-machine with no nuance whatsoever.
Amidst all the clichés and copycat nonsense the music adds a suitably menacing tone and is, for me, the most memorable ingredient.

2½ dietary japes out of 5

Doctor Mordrid (1992)

It began life as a second attempt at a live action Dr Strange film (Marvel's Sorcerer Supreme), but licensing issues forced it to go in a different direction. Nevertheless, anyone familiar with the comic book character will be in no doubt as to its origins, even if they have been slightly altered to avoid litigation. Had it stayed as it was Jeffrey Combs wouldn't have been a good choice as Stephen, despite having a long-standing B-Movie charm, but freed from the association he does just fine, even in his fanciful blue duds.
The plot is typical of the era (i.e. rubbish), even predictably teaming the magic user with a regular human (Yvette Nipar) because every mysterious figure needs a clichéd sceptic to make them look more enigmatic onscreen~.

2 clear plastic daggers out of 5

Alien Nation (1988)

A buddy cop movie with a difference: one of the cops is an alien and the other is a contemptuous, racist and xenophobic human who debases the entire alien race on a daily basis, so not exactly buddies. Nevertheless, they've a case to solve, so they knuckle down to work.
It works best if you view the aliens as representative of cultural minorities in our own society, but you can ignore that aspect completely and enjoy it as a straight up cop movie if you want because Caan and Patinkin have the kind of onscreen chemistry that would be a joy to watch even if they were investigating the murder of a goldfish.

3½ inappropriate names out of 5

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)

"This is not good."

                                         Johnny Cage

0 balls out of 5