source: LAPD Conspiracy

If you forget about "authenticity" and whether or not the bullet left the body at the right angle or that no-one can shoot straight because they've forgotten their training and just panicked and started shooting wildly or that someone needed longer arms than are humanly possible or whatever and just had a look at the story, you'll find a good movie. You see how easily and innocently unsuspecting straight cop gets pulled into web of bad cops and how well it sticks. You see futility and desperation as he tries to escape and his final resolve. You also see some pretty bizarre acting by D. Hopper as he seems to be playing it for a black comedy. As far as movies go this does rate higher than a home-made video but not much farther along the path to Hollywood BlockBuster than say a very amateurish B grade show. Because this was based on actual events the story is the movie and it's interesting to see how it all took place or at least how easy it is for this corruption to be going on. My rating 7/10 (Distinctive)

I found this DVD at Big Lots for $2. With badly photoshopped images of Dennis Hopper and Michael Madsen (obviously from a Reservoir Dogs promo) on the cover, I had very low expectations. But I'll give this movie credit. At least the director has some idea of what he was doing. Unlike other crap films like "Cheerleader Ninjas" and "Tha Sistahood", this one could actually direct the camera in a way that didn't make you want to blow your brains out. But when saying the director wasn't doing hits off of a crack pipe while working is the best compliment to give a movie, that's still pretty bad. The story is basically about how corrupt the LAPD is. This corruption is basically revolving around a half dozen or so cops. That's pretty well contained, I must say. There's also a subplot of guys robbing convenience stores that goes nowhere. And another subplot of the main guy's love affair with a cop groupie. That one may be uninspired, but the sex scene is probably the funniest I've ever seen in my life. The two roll around naked under covers in the most awkward positions possible while the guy grinds his loins and gives the most painful grimaces is the history of man. Honestly, it just has to be seen to believed. Casting sucks. Dennis Hopper is in the movie for a total of about 10 minutes, and looks like he's in physical pain having to deliver the insultingly bad script. Madsen is in there for more and seems less affected, but he's no stranger to a bad script. I've sat through films with him that were much worse, so this is nothing new to him. The hot young cop who owns the nickname Cowboy (because, you know, they want to be original) looks about 40. One fatboy cop, who looks mid-thirties, has a non-touching scene with his "mother" of 45. The constant unexplained parties at fatboy's "mansion" have the same people who seem not to change their clothes for weeks on end. But the worst part of this film is the logic. Cops w/ bullet proof vests take shots like Superman without barely a flinch. Whenever there's a shootout within 20 square feet, nobody considers taking cover from the bullets. And why should they? Trained LAPD officers are known for being terrible shots anyway, right? There's also no sense in ballistics when detectives come around. Bottom line, this film may suck noodles but I've seen Madsen in worse (Against All Hope, Executive Target, My Boss's Daughter, etc). Unless you're a big fan of his, as I am, stay away from this film.

LAPD: To Protect and Serve is of the same ilk as something such as Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. It is just so bad that some punters such as myself, will get a modicum of entertainment value out of it, all for the wrong reasons. The acting is appalling. How old stagers such as Charles Durning, Dennis Hopper and Michael Murphy managed to keep straight faces whilst reciting their collectively banal lines must be a skill in itself. The soundtrack has to be heard to be believed. Suffice to say think of your worst 80's TV police series and that'll point you in the right aural direction. There's plenty of action scenes generally consisting of cops doing their best to line -up and get shot by various bad guys, who are frequently cops too. Needless to say, this movie boasts a very high body count and I doubt whether the real life LAPD cooperated with the producers, in the filming of this distinctly underwhelming project. Want to be forced to watch a laughably unneeded and inappropriately extended sex scene, then this is your baby. I also got a kick out of the many cop parties we bear witness to, where the majority of the police rock up in their uniforms and leave their patrol cars in the driveway. Makes me wonder who the neighbours might have to call, if they want to complain about the noise levels being too high. And then there are head - scratchingly weird scenes such as the accidental shooting of a cop by another cop during a hostage situation in a basement car park, that just seems to have no relevance to the rest of the movie. It doesn't seem to bear any relationship to the main storyline, is never mentioned again and the characters involved carry on as if it had never happened. Seriously it has to be seen to be believed how many cops from this one division get shot up. But Hopper's precinct captain never mentions those officers departed at the morning briefings. He just sends the leftovers out there once again. A final highlight consists of pre - credit notes telling us what happened to the surviving (fictional) characters, as if the production team suddenly wants us to believe this was a true story. Adding to the bizarreness factor is we are not even sure who they are talking about, due to low survival rates of the main characters and the fact that their names aren't even mentioned. Cue to start throwing popcorn at the screen, because this film truly deserves it.

Absolute trash. I spent good money thinking I was going to get a good movie because Hopper and Madsen were in it. What a joke! Absolute rubbish. Why these actors would submit their input into a heinious rat trap like this is beyond me...DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!!

We are meant to believe that the L.A.P.D. is the most professional Police Force in the world. If this is the case, then this movie must be a spoof. If not, the real members of the L.A.P.D. would be very disappointed in the way they are portrayed in this film. From the very first scene the movie showed signs of being pathetic. Hordes of LA's finest turned up to an armed hold up and then took turns standing up to be shot by the offenders who amazingly were able to just stand there blazing away. The direction and editing of this scene was poor and unfortunately didn't improve as the movie progressed. Some well known and credentialed actors were in this film but they were not able to save it. Don't waste your time with this one, especially if you are a cop and want to see a decent cop movie.

A lot of my friends worked on this movie. They said there were tons of cop-movie in-jokes here and everybody would crack up between takes, with cast and crew having a good time during all those party scenes. They said Marc Singer (remember Beastmaster ?) was a really cool guy, Madsen laid back and Hopper (gettin' kinda' creaky in his way) but still stretching his chops. Its just a low-budget flick fer' gosh-sakes. Sincere in its ponderous way and way better than any million-dollar stinking Seagal or Stallone crap-shoot. Course you can bet your ass nobody was getting $20 million to star in this. Like, you all were expecting maybe "Miami Vice" ? Morally, I figure this flick is a hell of a lot better than some reprehensible 'fun' slasher-crap flicks that fanboys seem to eat up like so many catsup-dripping hotdogs. Hell, I bought this movie in a discount bin at Blockbuster, expecting the worst and surprised to get more than my money's worth. Charles Durning was pretty solid in this and the twist at the end was totally unexpected. And without a doubt, I agree with some of the other comments that the gals were definitely HOT ! This is just a freakin' low-budget movie with all the exploitation elements intact, and every dollar up on the screen. Controversial ? Not really. Amusing ? Yes. A good movie ? Well, better than a lot of the big-budget studio crap that's out there...

This movie was Fantastic with Michael Madsen and Dennis hopper. The story is great,Excellent Action,Great Sex, I without a Doubt Loved this movie Because I love Michael Madsen He is the greatest Actor Ever! Especially In Reservoir Dogs Which I loved! It was Sad to see his character Die. Ed Anders Directing is Superb with Michael Roberts and Charles Durning. I loved the sex scene seeing her wonderful tits and ass. The shootouts were Fantastic with blood and Gore I love violence more than anything If you see this one buy it immediately Whatever the price mine cost $14.95 trust me its worth every penny of your money if you loved this one then you will love Jason goes to Hell which I loved it was fantastic

This was just utter crap. Usually if a movie is not that good I can watch it until the end, but for this movie I just couldnt last all the way. I had to stop it half way through. The two lead actors were so bad they sounded like robots talking to each other. I was also sucked in by the cover thinking that Madsen and Hopper were gonna be the main two leads. Ha - big mistake that was. One viewer already mentioned the scene with the fat cop chasing the hobbling homeless guy. I have never seen a more crappy and dumb scene as that. The way the fat cop runs, the fact that he is outran by the hobbling homeless guy, and that he shoots and misses him from a few feet. Unbelievable! That scene alone summarises the whole crappy movie. Also, a guy gets shot in the chest against a wall and from somewhere blood appears next to his head?!?! Figure that one. And a robber gets shot from behind, with the bullets going through his torso, and yet they just mysteriously vanish on the other side. Where did they go?? The only saving grace for this film was those hot goddesses at the parties. Where did they get these chicks? NEGATIVE 10 out of 10 from me!!

Rent this film...now! This is ineptness at its most sublime, a turd of a straight-to-video flick that is so bad you'll swear the filmmakers tried to make it as crappy as possible. The box cover shows Dennis Hopper (who is in the "film" for about 5 minutes...he must have needed some money...bad) and Michael Madsen (who wears a police shirt far too small for him...I guess they couldn't afford a plus-size cop shirt from the local surplus) and completely ignores the two lead actors. There's some plotline about corrupt cops and such but who cares? Just sit back and laugh at: The big old fat dude getting "hit" in the face with the stock of a shotgun (despite the fact that the gun is about ten feet away from the guy), the old homeless dude getting hit by a car while "sad" music plays on the soundtrack (isn't there a better way to kill someone?), Michael Madsen swinging his arms around rapidly whenever he talks (you know when someone tucks their arms behind their back and someone behind them does overdone hand motions trying to simulate the movements of their arms? That's what this looks like to the tenth degree) and finally (and this is the best part!) the police officer having the wildest orgasms ever (I swear this guy overdoes his orgasms more than any * actress I've ever seen...I mean the way the guy's face contorts and distorts he looks like someone's knifing him in the back...and all this while his lover just sits there...seemingly bored). Anycrap, if you love bad films see this one. It'll be some of the best fun you've ever had in your short life.