THE ENEMY WITHIN

I ease into the right lane and pass through the entrance at the gates. I have been here many times. It’s very familiar to me. One day it may be the only proof that I was ever on this earth and existed at all. I may just be a cloud of dust thrown to the wind to no longer have a presence at all.

I put the kickstand down, shut off my sled, throw my leg over, and search for what I was looking for. I have passed too many familiar names along my journey, many familiar to me.

Everything looks the same as the last time I was here except for the memories of others left behind. I finally find what I am looking for. My mind is set on why I had come here. I look down before me and gaze upon the grave markers of my grandparents, Mac and Olga. Both answered the call of service when the freedom bell rang, and the world once more went to war. I look around at the thousands of markers around me of those that answered the call to service for this great nation.

I feel great pride and deep sadness at the same time. Great pride for those who stood to defend freedom and help develop and protect a great nation. The vast number of those no longer with us who rest before me is a testament to the selflessness and patriotism of our citizens. They took their oath, pledged their allegiance, and did what was needed when it needed to be done. Not just one generation lies within these grounds, but many all around this nation. Some baring the same family name. Men and women who gave everything and others that gave it all. Sadly, their numbers increase every day. I’ve carried many caskets in my life for those of them who were forgotten by many. But not by all. There are many others that have done the same as I. I am grateful to those being carried and those doing the carrying and standing for them. As I look at their markers, I can’t help but feel them glaring at me. while leaving a decorated Marine to rot in a foreign prison. We send pallets of cash to one of our biggest enemies without the approval of the American people, and no one is held accountable. Our borders are being invaded, and the rule of law and sovereignty of the United States is at risk. The dollar is collapsing; other countries laugh at us internationally, and criminals run rampant. There are plenty of programs for illegals while veterans are homeless. A country that will have a gay pride week, black history month, etc., but our veterans only get one day. We live in a time when being a hero is if you come out of the closet, and it’s celebrated. Meanwhile, the heroes before me and the others still with us go unremembered.

Demanding to know what’s becoming of our great nation. Demanding to know why I, and many like me, have allowed this. Once, we had great strength and took care of each other. When countries were overrun by communism and corruption or threatened by tyrants, they looked at America as a beacon of hope that if they persevered, their country could be as great as America.

I feel their gaze, and they ask me, “Did we die for nothing? Did we give everything, including our lives, for this?” To have our country torn to bits and have hundreds of years and thousands of lives sacrificed for what we see now?

I know how I feel. I’m f**king outraged. Start holding those accountable. Actions speak louder than just words. Enough is enough. Don’t turn your back on all these veterans. (Past, present, and future). It’s up to us, America. It’s obvious that we face the greatest enemy we have ever faced. The enemy within.

We exist in a time when we negotiate with terrorists and arm our enemies. We trade a criminal anti-American basketball player for an international arms dealer

And veterans, along with active service, remember your oath. Enemies, both foreign and DOMESTIC. I hope the America they all dreamed of survives.

— Nefarious James American Patriot

Confusion and chaos pretty much sums up this movie. It is the modern day version of all the biker exploitation “B” movies ever made. Curiously, Larry Bishop (as Pistolero) appeared in a variety of films including The Savage Seven, Mad Dog Time and Kill Bill to name a few. His collaboration with Quentin Tarantino in this most recent effort, would lead one to believe that “Hell Ride” is a major cinematic production destined for the A list. Sadly, it falls short of that mark.

The story revolves around Pistolero and his gang “the Victors.” The main characters are himself, the Gent and Comanche who set out to avenge the death of his ol lady Cherokee Kisum. Cherokee, it seems, was murdered by the 666er’s, a rival gang. But wait, let’s back up! This is exactly what makes the flick so confusing. … We flash back and forth from 35 years back to 35 years forward.

It seems that Bishop as the writer, director, and star is the only one who understands what is going on at any given time. I was lost after viewing it twice, but again I digress.

The film is soaked with girls, drugs, and murder. I like all those facets in a biker exploitation film, but the chaotic pace leaves one wondering where the plot is. It seems the Victors MC have an underlying code of deceit and distrust. As the movie rolls along, several of the members of gang are killed by the Gent and other Victors—leaving only Pistolero, the Gent, and Comanche in the gang. Ahhh, but there is another member hiding in the desert! Eddie Zero, played by Dennis Hopper appears as a (possibly retired) member of the gang. How they were able to get Hopper to appear in this mess was a mystery in itself, and I was surprised, and entertained for a moment until I saw David Carradine playing rival gang member “The Duce.” Evidently, the Duce and Pistolero had some under-the-table dealings and this conflict led to the ongoing battle between the two clubs.

The 666er’s use arrows and darts to carry out their hits while the Victors use the more conventional revolvers, available at Wal-Mart. The Victors trademark murders–you will see a few of these involve the tying of one to a chair, the cutting of the throat, and the soaking of the subject in gasoline, which is then ignited by the tossing of a Zippo lighter, also available at WalMart. Somewhere in my recall, it seems to me that this ritual was borrowed from the 666er’s when they did in Cherokee Kisum.

In the end, the Victors cut off the Duce’s head, and Eddie Zero delivers it to the 666er’s hangout in a nice wicker basket (see Wal-Mart above). He departs and rides off down the road until his motor quits for some reason. He gets off his vintage ride to repair it, and sees the 666er’s pull up behind him. The leader of the 666er’s, (played by Vinnie Jones) shoots him in the back with a dart fired from an air powered device that looks like a Shark Gun. He collapses on the highway. Much to the 666er’s surprise the Victors pull up behind them and the Gent kills all of them, but only wounds Jones who falls to the pavement. Pistolero in a strange twist of role, shoots Jones with a small crossbow, then reloads and fires a dart into Jones’ gas tank. As the fuel surrounds Jones, who is bleeding cussing and etc, one of the Victors cuts his throat, and Pistolero tosses the classic Zippo into the pool of gas. In the next frame, Hopper gets up off the pavement, and removes his armor-laden jacket – arrow still intact- and hands it to his girl who gives him a similar jacket. They depart the scene, and the three meet in the desert where the 666er’s had previously buried some sort of lockbox containing some sort of (something). … There are three keys that have 666 stamped into them. There is a short argument, and Comanche digs up the lock box and the others give him the three keys. What’s in that thing you ask? You will never know, because the shot shows only Comanche’s face from the inside as he opens the box. I think it was empty, but what do I know? The trio then fire up their motors and ride off in three different directions as the credits roll.

If you are a fan of naked ladies, cool classic motorcycles, and blood and guts, this film is for you! However, if you were expecting a plot, a story line, or a coherent slide show of pleasant desert scenes you aren’t gonna be too happy.

Tarantino once told Bishop “It is your destiny to write, direct, and star in a movie.” Sometimes destiny is not all it’s cracked up to be! I would reluctantly give this film 2 out of 5 stars, because there were two REAL stars exploited in this mess. It is rated R for ridiculous, and runs approximately 86 minutes. In my opinion it should be 86’ed altogether.

The Phantom Movie Review

It’s June, it’s hot, it’s the start of hurricane season, and the longest days of the year, my BTR friends. Reminds me of my homeland in Central America, where I am known as a Guacamaya. Not to be confused with guacamole as avocados are not my friend. They are toxic to me, but not as toxic as some people out there. I just thought of something; wouldn’t it be great if we had a hurricane that took out all the toxicity of the world? No more toxic people, plants, or places. It would be like living back in the prehistoric days from whence my family line came from.

I don’t know if I want to go back to those times though. No motorcycles to ride, no bike nights to attend, no festivals or bands to enjoy, no peoples’ shoulders to stand on. No BTR magazine...

That means I would have to fly and not ride. I would have to search for my own protein, fruits, and vegetables. I would have to hang out with my own kind, and I would have no human contact unless they were wanting to eat me. The more I think about it, the more I realize that I live a great life!