The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All

Being a Treat Williams (The Deep End of the Ocean, Deep Rising) fan, I was very disappointed to see him do a direct to HBO sequel to The Substitute (starring Tom Berenger). After seeing The Substitute 2 I was even more disappointed it was a boring action film saved only by Williams who pretty much walked through the role anyways. Now once again Williams is doing a direct to HBO sequel. And although I'm still disappointed, at least The Substitute 3 is a decent action film. Williams once again goes undercover as a teacher this time at a nice college where the football players are given almost free rein (including beating up teachers). When undercover Williams discovers a whole conspiracy involving the football team. The film is nothing great, but does provide solid entertainment and Williams is very good in the lead, this time not just walking through the role, but giving some energy.

I read steve-545's comments and I had to say something. First of all Simon Rhee was not Tommy Lee in the Best of the Best series. It was Philip Rhee (his brother). Now about this movie. It was not good. Just as the second one was not good. I like Treat Williams generally, but he should not be doing these movies. The plot and "subplot" of this movie are so utterly stupid it boggles the mind. A horrible cast of weak actors playing weak stereotypes in contrived fight scenes does not a good movie make. This series should have ended with the first one, which was mediocre at best. It's disappointing to see such shallow writing deemed worthy of spending a few million dollars to film. Do not ever watch this movie.

I'm a fan of Substitute and Substitute 2, but this one left me a little lukewarm. I hope they keep the series going, because this installment needs some redeeming. I felt that the ending was too quick and sudden, and there wasn't really enough establishing of all the characters to give us a feeling of if we should care.

Treat Williams returns as the "Substitute".this time,mercenary Carl Tomassonfullfils a wish from his dead friend and fellow mercenary.he has promised to find his friend's daughter and give her a something he father wanted her to have.he tracks her down at university where she is a teacher.however,when she is viciously attacked and hospitalized,Carltakes it upon himself to find answers,so he becomes her substitute.there is another subplot to the movie,but i won't reveal it here.lets just say,there is tons of action,and some great fight scenes,just like the 2nd 0ne.i liked this movie as much as the 2nd one,mainly because of the action.it's almost the same movie as far as the general plot,but again,some details have been changed.nevertheless,i still enjoyed it.if you liked "the Substitute 2"you will probably like part3.just as i gave part 2 8/10,i also give "The Substitute 3" 8/10

To attach the nomenclature, "suspensful," to this film would be putting it mildly. This film is a riveting piece of cinema, to say the least. Any movie that features a professional mercenary in a leading role is definitely quality. After all, the action that issues from a mercenary can in no way be paltry. ANd, when mercenaries meet football jocks, things ALWAYS get interesting, especially when drugs are involved. The way Karl spells his name indicates that he is a force to be reckoned with. The K suggests that Karl may be German, and everyone knows that Germans are fighters. Stalwart Karl fights for what he believes in and is a true hero. This film is gripping from beginning to end, and I would recommend it to everyone

Having enjoyed the first two and recognizing the director of the great BEST OF THE BEST II at the helm (along with fight choreographer, Simon Rhee who played De Han in THE BEST OF THE BEST series), I had high expectations going into this. WOW were they met. Treat Williams returns in the title role this time substituting as a college English professor replacing the daughter of an old mercenary buddy beaten up by some steroid crazed college football players. I won't give it away but the the villains go far deeper than the corrupt football program and the action moves at a brisk pace. Treat Williams, teaming with some old military buddies, take on the baddies in ultra violent fashion. Following in the same style as THE SUBSTITUTE I and II, this film continues to provide great gunplay and fight sequences(the fight between Treat and "BO" in the classroom is a classic). Treat is especially fun to watch as an even more refined teacher and 'bad ass' pursuing "truth, justice and the American way." (Is his character really that educated?) "Sub" fans and action fans will not be disappointed. Catch this on video tonight. And ARTISAN FILMS, please keep this series alive and entertaining.

I really like Treat Williams and I think he did very well in The Substitute 3. The movie itself was B-grade but that didnt matter it was still a very good film and I would suggest it to anyone, If you havent already seen it then hurry up and rent it on video, its worth it. 8/10