Paintball (also called "gotcha" in Germany) is an interesting sport. Originally produced for agriculture in the US (farmers marked their cattle and trees with the markers in the 1970s), it developed into a sport in the 1980s. There are now more than 14 million players worldwide who compete against each other in teams and even hold championships.

In 1985, when paintball just spilled over into Europe, MASTERBLASTER was born. From the gameplay quite close to reality (at that time the team sport was not yet developed), the participants fight solo against each other - in a demarcated forest area - and whoever is left last wins the prize money. Here, an illustrious assortment of players from all walks of life and races meet to determine the $50,000 dollar prize under the supervision of a team of referees. Of course, something goes wrong, because in the end it turns deadly.....

To say it in advance: the film is basically well done. It entertains, the dramaturgy is coherent, and the crew knows its stuff. For director Glenn R. Wilder (stuntman) and scriptwriter Randy Grinter (cinematographer) this was the only work in these areas - that's surprising! Both take time to introduce the sport a bit, the numerous characters that appear are given enough leeway to shape their respective characters a bit, to give something of their own. The actors are all quite unknown - and even for that they did their job well. Also positive is the random selection of victims, so that you really can't predict who will be hit next. There are deductions for some banal dialogues (which can be forgiven, though) and the somewhat flat conclusion at the end. Still... a good B-snack, indeed.

The US "R" rated version is missing 4 longer plot cuts, which deal a bit more with the introduction of the characters. But also the present Dutch DVD, which does include them, is not quite complete. The complete pre-title sequence is missing there. We suspect, however, that this is due to a sloppy master, because the quality is unworthy of a DVD.

Comparison between the US "R"-rated VHS (by Prism) and the Dutch DVD (by Video Entertainment).

Difference for the US version = 374 seconds with 4 differences
Difference for the NL version = 80 seconds with 1 difference

0:00 min.
Only the NL version lacks the complete pre-title sequence, in which in the middle of the road a motorist shoots four teenagers - who insult him from another car - with a gotcha pistol. Also, some credit inserts.
( 80 sec. )

12:13 min
After the participants have driven onto the site, the organizer Mike announces the time through the megaphone. Right after that, the US version already fades to the registration lady. In between, some plot is missing: it turns out that our hero's name is Jeremy Hawk and he knows Mike from before. Both talk a bit. In between, there are small impressions of the other participants - the two Cubans who crack jokes, and Lewis and Lisa, the yuppies from the convertible. In total, the US version is missing....
( 112 sec. )

13:58 min
Tony "The Bear" has landed (the guy from the pre-title sequence), Mike wants to show him his quarters. Again, some plot passages are missing. Jeremy is watching Sam(antha) - she helped him at the bar! - and her friend Laura struggling with their luggage. Jeremy helps, brief small talk (Jeremy thanks her again), the yuppies also stroll by and are appraised before the sequence continues in sync in the assembly room.
( 74 sec )

18:29 min
Introduction of the fighters in the meeting room. The last one, Duane, says goodbye with his son and oracles at the exit that someone will get hurt. After that, some impressions of the participants in the camp are missing. Tony talks with Jeremy, both have heard of each other. They check out their opponents. Monk and Snake joke with each other and want to target Lewis. Again Jeremy and Tony, who the Spencer brothers consider particularly dangerous. With the shot of the grill, the US version resumes.
( 148 sec. )

27:27 min
After the episode with Jeremy and Samantha, a short interlude is missing: Laura comes out of the washroom and is suddenly attacked by a Spencer brother. She fights back and is able to throw the drunken hillbilly to the ground with judo grips. His brothers, also drunk, watch the defeat and sink back into bed groaning. Overall, this sequence turns out funny and harmless.
( 40 sec. )