Showdown in Little Tokyo is a 1991 martial arts action comedy which, in pitting Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee as LA cops against Japanese drug dealers, plays like a B-movie Tango and Cash or Lethal Weapon 2 (both released just two years before). Between career highs in Rocky IV (1985) and Universal Soldier (1992) it looked as if Lundgren might make it big at the box-office, and clearly wanting to be the new Schwarzenegger he is here directed by Mark L Lester, who had earlier helmed Arnie's Commando (1985). In the event both actor and director headed for straight-to-video territory. The 75-minute running time suggests the studio lost confidence and seriously cut the movie though, as the space between the action is filled with nothing but cringe-inducing dialogue, thriller clichés and Lundgren "romancing" Tia Carrere, it still makes sense. Basing its title on John Carpenter's 1986 fantasy-comedy Big Trouble in Little China and anticipating Rush Hour (1998), Showdown in Little Tokyo alternates between crude tongue-in-cheek moments and action so ludicrous it's unintentionally hilarious . A camp disaster which simply defies belief, this is stupidly entertaining so-bad-its-good six-pack entertainment. On the DVD: There are no extras other than the trailer. The anamorphically enhanced 1.77:1 image offers a good transfer of a grainy print. The stereo sound is clear but for a modern action film seriously lacks impact: gunshots sound like a paper bag popping. --Gary S Dalkin
Alex Grady (Roberts) an Oregan welder and widowed father of a 5-year-old son is chosen for the United States National Karate team. He finds himself in the company of of Tommy Lee (Rhee) a soft spoken Karate instructor and a mix of international colleagues. It's a team with rough edges that must be resolved if they're to win the international competition in the South Korean capital Seoul. The team's sponsor brings in an unorthodox trainer Catherine Wade (Kirkland) to teach the men to
Universal Soldier offered director Roland Emmerich and screenwriter Dean Devlin their first venture before going on to make a mountain of money as the creators of Independence Day and Godzilla. Teaming up for this action flick disguised as a science fiction thriller, muscle hunks Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren play embattled Vietnam soldiers who kill each other in combat. They are subsequently revived 25 years later as semi-android "UniSols" in a high-tech army of the near future. Their memories were supposedly wiped clean, but flashbacks occur to remind them of their bitter hatred (Lundgren committed wartime atrocities; Van Damme had tried to stop him) and the warriors resume their tenacious battle while a journalist (Ally Walker) uncovers the truth about the secret UniSol program. With energy to spare, the standard action sequences are adequate for anyone with a short attention span. And besides, with Van Damme and Lundgren in the lead roles, who needs dialogue? --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
Sequel to 'Best Of The Best'. A member of the US Karate team is murdered. Now the team's fighting skills must be used for real!
The terror has never been so intense in the most twisted tale since Seven! When Inspector Don Morell (Mario Van Peebles Highlander III New Jack City) witnesses the state execution of serial killer Claude Whitman (James Remar Mortal Kombat: The Annihilation) he thinks he can finally close the case that has almost destroyed his marriage sanity and life. But when former jury members begin to be brutally murdered one by one Morell recognises Whitman in the cryptic Biblical messages at the crime scenes. Could he be back to fulfill his demonic agenda? Don't miss a second!
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