English-Language Martial Arts B-Movies

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 10 Aug 2008, 12:03

* = Abysmal crap that should be consigned to the pits of hell.
**** = A masterpiece

American Ninja 4 - The Annihilation *.5 Lame, boring sequel, despite the return of Dudikoff. Action is weak, forgettable. James Booth is a seriously crap villain. They should've quit after No.2 or committed hari-kiri.

American Ninja V ** Not even a sequel, they just tagged on the 'AN' title at the last minute. Aimed at kids, it's an inoffensive enough time-killer. If you find 12 year old smart mouths annoying you might wanna keep your paw on the fast-forward button. Action is competantly handled by Tadashi Yamashita (aka Bronson Lee!)

American Samurai ** Slick, but average Cannon vehicle for David Bradley and newcomer Marc Dacascos is basically a remake of The Octagon. Surprisingly gory for the genre (at least in the Unrated version), it's only this which sets it apart from the also-rans. Acting and writing are what you'd expect, but there's a slight sense of humour which helps. The final showdown is curiously a letdown.

American Yakuza **.5 Not bad thriller with undercover FBI agent Viggo Mortensen infiltrating the Yakuza. Hampered a bit by it's B-movie limitations but better than much of the dross that you'll find on your bottom shelf with the words American and Yakuza in them. Acting is good, enough bloodletting to satisfy fans of swords and uzis. Didn't recognise the main Japanese actor but he was fine. Robert Forster co-stars as Viggo's boss.

Avenging Force *** Prequel to Invasion USA with Dudikoff as a younger Chuck Norris, and bad guys right-wingers instead of Commies. Pretty good, with better than usual plot and atmospheric and menacing set-pieces. Steve James, again playing Dudikoff's buddy, co-stars.

Blood Brothers ** Some good action from Leung Siu-Hung, but the acting is abysmal. Keith Vitali makes Michael Wong look like Laurence Olivier. No shit. The lead female is smokin' hot, though she acts as though she's reading cue cards. Strictly a late-night rental.

Braddock - Missing in Action III *** Better than I remembered sequel to you know what starring you know who? Despite the same lead character MIA3 ignores the chronology of the previous two entires and in this one he escaped Vietnam in 1975 - previously he was in a POW camp for 10 years until the early 80s (as detailed in Part 2). Also he's married with a wife he thinks was murdered and kid he didn't know about. Chuck returns to 'Nam to rescue them (not without tragic consequences) and ends up saving a band of Eurasian (here called "Amerasian") orphans. Slick, professional production, with lots of action, and a few effective emotional moments sprinked in between. Only downside is a majorly poor villain (a hammy Aki Aleong); pity they couldn't have got Soon Tek-Oh back. Was Mako not available?

Chain of Command *** One the last Cannon movies to be made (in 1993). An enjoyable vehicle for Michael Dudikoff in which he plays an ex-forces oil worker who discovers his company plans to scupper a peace agreement between an Arab country and Israel for their own nefarious ends - and gets shot at A LOT. Dudikoff gets to drink, smoke, shag, and swear quite a bit, and seems to be having a lot of fun doing so. He's actually quite charismatic. R. Lee Ermey is terrific as the oil boss, and has good dialogue scenes with Dudikoff, and the main baddie thug has a hilarious haircut (think 17th century Cavalier) that's hopefully intended to be as funny as it is. He sneers when running a knife over a hot girl's nipples. Just before "The Dude" kicks the shit out of him. Bravo.

Cyborg ** Trashy post-apocalyptic vehicle for Van Damme - the second (and least) of his three films for Cannon. Story is beyond simple, merely a pretext for violence. And lots of it. Plus really dodgy SFX. Watchable if you're in an undemanding mood, but hardly inspired or ambitious. The lead villain is such a crap actor - he makes a young JCVD look like Spencer Tracy.

An Eye For An Eye ** Chuck is an ex-cop out to get the drug dealers who murdered his two best friends. Chuck - sans mighty beard - is always watchable, but the script and direction are TV-movie level, because of this production values seem lower than they probably were. No American film about Chinese is complete without either Mako or James Hong in its cast. Here it's Mako's turn. His daughter is played by Rosalind Chao of The Big Brawl. She's rather nice and seems to be a decent actress. Shame she didn't become better known. Chris Lee - yes, Dracula, plays the main villain, who has a huge shipment of drugs sent direct to his own home. Dumb or what?

Invasion U.S.A. ***.5 Possibly Chuck's best film. What seemed like right-wing paranoia in 1985 now seems alarmingly prescient in the wake of 9/11. And for over an hour this is quite a frightening film with terrorists (in this case Russian, it being the era of the "Commie") tearing away at the fabric of society with monsterous mass slaughter. What stops the film from getting an extra star is the commercial concession which decrees that Chuck has to save more civilians that is reasonable to ask. He seems to be everywhere at once mowing down scum (although in the dialogue he does lament that for every one terrorist he stops another hundred succeed). The action movie heroics are great fun and Cannon (and director Joseph Zito) have done wonders with a limited budget - very often this looks like an A-picture. A bit more time spent on the politics and a little less on the mayhem and it'd be worth an extra half star but as is I would still highly recommend this to genre fans.

Kickboxer III - The Art of War **.5 A definite improvement over Part 2 with a new locale (Rio) and better plot - Sloan and Xian come to the aid of a couple of young street urchins exploited by a kickboxing promoter cum slave master. Sasha Mitchell comes from the Keanu Reeves school of acting and his reflective character of Part 2 has become a kind of surfer dude with brightly coloured clothing. His fighting skills have improved, however, and that makes a difference in the action sequences (the action in Part 2 was very poor). The plot doesn't make much sense, but the film is fun for what it is.

Martial Law II - Undercover ** Passable sequel with Jeff Wincott replacing Chad McQueen (Steve's son). Cyndy returns, and is fun to watch as usual. There's nothing new here or particularly interestesting, but it's competant, and in the world of B-movie action that's something. Billy Drago gives his customary wierd performance as a corrupt Police Captain.

Missing in Action **.5 Filmed as a sequel, but released first, MIA is a comic book fantasy in which one-man army Chuck Norris invades Vietnam and saves surprisingly few American POWs. There's lots of shooting, a few explosions, but little of the human drama that makes Parts 2 and 3 superior movies. It's fun in a suspend-disbelief sort of way but Chuck is so untouchable here that you'd imagine a rocket would bounce right off him. Just as daft as Rambo 2. But is it better? I'm not sure.

Missing in Action 2 - The Beginning *** Chuck Norris' version of Rambo 2 BEFORE there was Rambo 2. The action is competantly handled, but it's the human interest and concern for character that makes the film work. POWs in Vietnam is always a sensative subject, but the filmmakers appear to be trying for a (comparitively) thoughtful and serious approach. Norris is never going to win awards for his acting, but his portrayal of the strong, honourable Braddock is bang on target. This was actually shot before MIA, but released after as a prequel. Clearly the best of the series.

Mission of Justice **.5 The third in the Martial Law series, but with different characters. The underated Jeff Wincott returns, Karen Shepherd does a good job replacing Rothrock, and Brigitte Nielsen is the villain. It's formula, but good of its kind.

The Octagon *** The best of Chuck's martial arts movies and the film that started the Ninja craze in the US. More professionally made than many budget action flicks, decent action. The terrorist girl turned ally is hot, and Lee Van Cleaf is always welcome even in a supporting role. Richard Norton doubled for the masked Ninja and can also be spotted in regular guise getting kicked in the balls by Chuck. Near enough remade by Cannon as American Samurai.

The Perfect Weapon ** OK vehicle for amiable Kempo exponant Jeff Speakman. Any film with character actors James Hong and Mako can't be all bad, but there's a stunning lack of imagination in all departments. Action is reasonable, acting and dialogue less so. Mariska Hargety (now of Law and Order fame) had ALL her dialogue cut! She now hovers in the background like a ghost, lol.

Pray For Death ** Standard Ninja revenge vehicle for Sho Kosugi is even more violent than usual, not in the UK though where it's cut to shit, but is otherwise unexceptional. James Booth wrote a nasty part for himself (he rapes and stabs an unconscious woman and tries to run over little kids!) but his script is seriously formulaic, and frankly a bit silly, with nothing worthwhile between the action, or between the ears. Looks to have be filmed in scope - which is quite uncommon for this type of movie (with the cropping I can't be sure).

The Punisher **.5 Australian-made film adaptation of the Marvel comic as vehicle for fresh from He-Man Dolph Lundgren. Good actors, some decent dialogue, but the film feels unfinished. Post-production cuts obviously haven't helped, although how useful the Frank Castle backstory would be I'm not sure as I haven't seen all of the workprint. The direction is competant, but the action pedestrian. Loads of violence (especially in the Unrated cut), but not particularly stylish, and it becomes a bit numbing after a while. Dolph fits the part like a glove, but his character is too humourless and unappealing. He seems to think he's in a dark drama rather than a comic book. Negatives aside - it's worth a watch (and apparently much better than the remake)

Raging Thunder *** Easily the best of "No Retreat No Surrender" trilogy (though that title was only used internationally). This has nothing to do with the Van Damme film, but is a helluva a lot better. Good sense of humour and nice action sequences (there's even an appearence from Hwang Jeong-Ri) raise the bar, and the actors (Max Thayer, Rothrock, especially) play well off each other.

Revenge of the Ninja ** Another violent Ninja revenge movie with Sho Kosugi. The script and acting are wretched, but Kosugi has screen presence. Shares similarities with Pray For Death, but was made before and is generally more fun. Worth it just to see little Kane Kosugi in a Karate fight with a sexy blonde villainess. No really.

The Shepherd ** Strictly average DTV fodder starring a tired-looking Van Damme who doesn't appear terribly interested - and with a script this poor who can blame him? The action has its moments, but doesn't really live up to the Florentine-Perry hype I've been hearing about. As is all-too-common in modern movies the photography is too damn dark. These DPs could learn something from the old timers. It's amusing to see a Scots actress cast as a Mexican-American border guard - but that's about it for novelty value. If Van Damme wants back into cinemas he'll have to do better than this.

Shootfighter - Fight to the Death ** Ultra-gory martial arts pic is otherwise just another tournament movie with cardboard characters and dialogue. It's watchable enough - though I started to get a bit bored by the end. The choreography (by Pat Johnson) is ferocious, but not terrible exciting. Bolo acts throughout with one glaced expression, Martin Kove is good for a laugh, and you can see what happened to "Johnny" from The Karate Kid when he grew up. I believe the original cut - before extensive reshoots - was majorily different. James Pak disappears from this version!

Tiger Claws II ** From what I remember the original TC was better. I didn't hate this, but it was extremely mediocre. Not a single original bone in it's muscled body. Producer Jalal Merhi is a charisma-free zone, Bolo is Bolo, Cyndy Rothrock was starting to get pretty damn sexy by this point.

To Be the Best *.5 Dopey fight film about a bunch of unlikeable Americans taking on a bunch of unlikeable Thais in a Las Vegas kickboxing tournament. A crooked gambler (with annoying Texan accent) holds one fighter's dumb girlfriend as hostage to make him throw the fight. Martin Kove plays an alcoholic coach - I hope for his sake that was real booze in the bottle. In the ring action is acceptable - but looks more like full contact to me. Some scenes filmed in The Sands hotel - yet their ring looks supiciously small and underlit.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 10 Aug 2008, 16:08

Raging Thunder is so shoddily made it is absoilutely hilarious. Loren Avendon was charismatic, but he couldn't read out a line of dialogue naturally if his life depended on it! You've got to love the dingy hotel he stays in that comes complete with seedy orgasmic background sighs!

NRNS 1 is the better film imo, just as poorly made and peformed but at least it has some retro 70s-80s cultural charm!

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 11 Aug 2008, 07:26

Shingster wrote:Raging Thunder is so shoddily made it is absoilutely hilarious.

It's low budget for sure, and rough, but I think "shoddy" is a bit harsh. Of all the films I reviewed this was one of the most entertaining. Yuen Kwai gets sole directing credit, even though Roy Horan co-directed parts.

Loren Avendon was charismatic, but he couldn't read out a line of dialogue naturally if his life depended on it!

Compared to Keith Vitali he's Daniel Day-Lewis.

Avedon was a good kicker, and had more presence than Kurt McKinney who was originally offered the role.

You've got to love the dingy hotel he stays in that comes complete with seedy orgasmic background sighs!

Only in the director's cut where the pimp keeps trying to sell him long time love.

NRNS 1 is the better film imo, just as poorly made and peformed but at least it has some retro 70s-80s cultural charm!

Have to disagree. Raging Thunder is definately a better made movie with considerably better acting and dialogue.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 11 Aug 2008, 07:44

I've added star ratings.

American Samurai ** Slick, but average Cannon vehicle for David Bradley and newcomer Marc Dacascos is basically a remake of The Octagon. Surprisingly gory for the genre (at least in the Unrated version), it's only this which sets it apart from the also-rans. Acting and writing are what you'd expect, but there's a slight sense of humour which helps. The final showdown is curiously a letdown.

Missing in Action 2 *** Chuck Norris' version of Rambo 2 BEFORE there was Rambo 2. The action is competantly handled, but it's the human interest and concern for character that makes the film work. POWs in Vietnam is always a sensative subject, but the filmmakers appear to be trying for a (comparitively) thoughtful and serious approach. Norris is never going to win awards for his acting, but his portrayal of the strong, honourable Braddock is bang on target. This was actually shot before MIA, but released after as a prequel. Clearly the best of the series.

The Octagon *** The best of Chuck's martial arts movies and the film that started the Ninja craze in the US. More professionally made than many budget action flicks, decent action. The terrorist girl turned ally is hot, and Lee Van Cleaf is always welcome even in a supporting role. Richard Norton doubled for the masked Ninja and can also be spotted in regular guise getting kicked in the balls by Chuck. Near enough remade by Cannon as American Samurai.

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 11 Aug 2008, 09:48

Sidney Furie never seems to quit! The earliest film I have of his is Dr Blood's Coffin, from the early 60s

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 11 Aug 2008, 10:22

Markgway wrote:It's low budget for sure, and rough, but I think "shoddy" is a bit harsh. Of all the films I reviewed this was one of the most entertaining. Yuen Kwai gets sole directing credit, even though Roy Horan co-directed parts.

Have to disagree. Raging Thunder is definately a better made movie with considerably better acting and dialogue.

The action is definitely better made than pt.1, but the film itself is so amateurish I can only hope Kwai turned up to shoot the action and left the rest to Horan. The acting is atrocious, but the acting in pt.1 is worse I guess.

Compared to Keith Vitali he's Daniel Day-Lewis. Avedon was a good kicker, and had more presence than Kurt McKinney who was originally offered the role.

I liked Avedon quite a bit despite his shortcomings as an actor, he was a good kicker as you say. I also agree that there were far worse actors than him in 80s/90s DTV martial arts. Billy Blanks would probably get my vote for worst actor at the time!

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 11 Aug 2008, 14:16

Shingster wrote:The acting is atrocious, but the acting in pt.1 is worse I guess.

I thought some of the acting in RT was fine (and obviously I'm talking about in the context of this genre). The three leads made pretty good companions and had personality. Some of the Thai actors are pretty bad though.

Billy Blanks would probably get my vote for worst actor at the time!

Watch Keith Vitali in Blood Brothers.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 12 Aug 2008, 20:40

SHOOTFIGHTER ** Ultra-gory martial arts pic is otherwise just another tournament movie with cardboard characters and dialogue. It's watchable enough - though I started to get a bit bored by the end. The choreography (by Pat Johnson) is ferocious, but not terrible exciting. Bolo acts throughout with one glaced expression, Martin Kove is good for a laugh, and you can see what happened to "Johnny" from The Karate Kid when he grew up. I believe the original cut - before extensive reshoots - was majorily different. James Pak disappears from this version!

Godzooki · Post by **Godzooki** » 13 Aug 2008, 10:50

I have enjoyed all of the titles you have listed so far Mark, a few classics in there. King of the Kickboxers AKA NRNS4 is without a doubt my fave movie of this type with China O'Brien 2 coming in just behind.

I wonder why they dont punt out these kinds of movies anymore, when i was younger my video store used to get this shit in all the time, mostly PM Entertainment produced rubbish. I lapped it up though!!

I was watching Invasion (Kidman/Craig) the other night there and seen Jeff Wincott turn up as a security guard.....bad times indeed!

Wonder what the others are up to?

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 13 Aug 2008, 13:13

I remember seeing him in 24 and going to my friends "woohoo that's Jeff Wincott!!" much to their complete bemusement. His younger brother's much more famous of course.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 13 Aug 2008, 14:46

Tigercage wrote:King of the Kickboxers AKA NRNS4 is without a doubt my fave movie of this type with China O'Brien 2 coming in just behind.

Never liked KOTK myself... sorry!

And I thought COB1 was superior to 2.

It's been ages since I've seen either though.

I wonder why they dont punt out these kinds of movies anymore, when i was younger my video store used to get this shit in all the time, mostly PM Entertainment produced rubbish. I lapped it up though!!

I hear you. My youth was misspent in my local video stores purusing the latest B-grade beat 'em up. It's just never been the same since those glorious days of grubby VHS. 8)

I was watching Invasion (Kidman/Craig) the other night there and seen Jeff Wincott turn up as a security guard.....bad times indeed! Wonder what the others are up to?

That's just sad.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 13 Aug 2008, 16:03

Billy Blanks seems to have done well for himself as a fitness guru on shopping channels.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 13 Aug 2008, 19:38

Yeah he hit it big in the late 90s when he invented the Tae Bo craze, he'll always be crazy-stare headkicker Khan to me though!

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 13 Aug 2008, 23:12

Pray For Death ** Standard Ninja revenge vehicle for Sho Kosugi is even more violent than usual, not in the UK though where it's cut to shit, but is otherwise unexceptional. James Booth wrote a nasty part for himself (he rapes and stabs an unconscious woman and tries to run over little kids!) but his script is seriously formulaic, and frankly a bit silly, with nothing worthwhile between the action, or between the ears. Looks to have be filmed in scope - which is quite uncommon for this type of movie (with the cropping I can't be sure).

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 14 Aug 2008, 19:20

Is it uncut anywhere?

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 15 Aug 2008, 15:22

Not in English.

My DVD-R has cut English and uncut Spanish versions.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 15 Aug 2008, 19:16

I see

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 15 Aug 2008, 22:45

Revenge of the Ninja ** Another violent Ninja revenge movie with Sho Kosugi. The script and acting are wretched, but Kosugi has screen presence. Shares similarities with Pray For Death, but was made before and is generally more fun. Worth it just to see little Kane Kosugi in a Karate fight with a sexy blonde villainess. No really.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 17 Aug 2008, 15:13

Martial Law II - Undercover ** Passable sequel with Jeff Wincott replacing Chad McQueen (Steve's son). Cyndy returns, and is fun to watch as usual. There's nothing new here or particularly interestesting, but it's competant, and in the world of B-movie action that's something. Billy Drago gives his customary wierd performance as a corrupt Police Captain.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 17 Aug 2008, 16:20

Have you been buying these films Mark, or revisiting your old VHS collection?

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 17 Aug 2008, 20:29

Well, I wouldn't pay for them!! lol

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 19 Aug 2008, 15:32

Braddock - Missing in Action III *** Better than I remembered sequel to you know what starring you know who? Despite the same lead character MIA3 ignores the chronology of the previous two entires and in this one he escaped Vietnam in 1975 - previously he was in a POW camp for 10 years until the early 80s (as detailed in Part 2). Also he's married with a wife he thinks was murdered and kid he didn't know about. Chuck returns to 'Nam to rescue them (not without tragic consequences) and ends up saving a band of Eurasian (here called "Amerasian") orphans. Slick, professional production, with lots of action, and a few effective emotional moments sprinked in between. Only downside is a majorly poor villain (a hammy Aki Aleong); pity they couldn't have got Soon Tek-Oh back. Was Mako not available?

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 24 Aug 2008, 17:35

Invasion U.S.A. ***.5 Possibly Chuck's best film. What seemed like right-wing paranoia in 1985 now seems alarmingly prescient in the wake of 9/11. And for over an hour this is quite a frightening film with terrorists (in this case Russian, it being the era of the "Commie") tearing away at the fabric of society with monsterous mass slaughter. What stops the film from getting an extra star is the commercial concession which decrees that Chuck has to save more civilians that is reasonable to ask. He seems to be everywhere at once mowing down scum (although in the dialogue he does lament that for every one terrorist he stops another hundred succeed). The action movie heroics are great fun and Cannon (and director Joseph Zito) have done wonders with a limited budget - very often this looks like an A-picture. A bit more time spent on the politics and a little less on the mayhem and it'd be an extra half star but as is I would still highly recommend this to genre fans.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 27 Aug 2008, 17:54

CYBORG ** Trashy post-apocalyptic vehicle for Van Damme - the second (and least) of his three films for Cannon. Story is beyond simple, merely a pretext for violence. And lots of it. Plus really dodgy SFX. Watchable if you're in an undemanding mood, but hardly inspired or ambitious. The lead villain is such a crap actor - he makes a young JCVD look like Spencer Tracy.

AN EYE FOR AN EYE ** Chuck is an ex-cop out to get the drug dealers who murdered his two best friends. Chuck - sans mighty beard - is always watchable, but the script and direction are TV-movie level, because of this production values seem lower than they probably were. No American film about Chinese is complete without either Mako or James Hong in its cast. Here it's Mako's turn. His daughter is played by Rosalind Chao of The Big Brawl. She's rather nice and seems to be a decent actress. Shame she didn't become better known. Chris Lee - yes, Dracula, plays the main villain, who has a huge shipment of drugs sent direct to his own home. Dumb or what?

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 27 Aug 2008, 19:21

I never liked Cyborg either, Rosalind Chao became well known for her recurring role on Star Trek: NG and then DS9.