review for Diamondbacks on AllMovie

Diamondbacks (1999)
by Buzz McClain review

Miles O'Keefe, who retains a whiff of recognition from his out-of-nowhere star turn in Bo Derek's 1981 epic Tarzan, the Ape Man, is the nominal lead in this grade-B actioner, but the hero of the piece is played by someone named Eb Lottimer, who seems to have made a career on the fringes of Hollywood. In any case, Lottimer's character keeps getting caught by and escaping from heavily armed terrorists who have easily captured a remote satellite tracking station; this happens at least a half-dozen times (surely a plot point record), so no one can say the story doesn't keep moving. The explosive set pieces and gun fights are appropriately fiery in this mindless, stunt-filled, live-action version of playing with toy soldiers, and it appears the entire budget (except for dozy-eyed Chris Mitchum's salary) made it to the screen. Male teens who have outgrown their own G.I. Joes are the target audience, and they won't be disappointed; others may fade out after the first ten minutes.