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Everyone has a unretentive - list of their preferent warlike arts films that stand the test of time , but some have been woefully cast by the wayside over the years . Many received risky decisive response ( sometimes rightfully so ) , but that ’s no reason to beam them to the detritus - ABA transit number of action pic chronicle .
In fact , some martial arts flick are so underrated that they deserve a little special attention , no matter what the critic say . Here ’s 10 of them , in no particular gild . Some might be sleazy , while others were victims of unfortunate timing , but all of them are guarantee to harbour .
The Miami Connection (1987)
Y.K. Kim bet the farm on this atrociously bad martial prowess flick about a synthwave set named Dragon Sound who get mixed up with a ninja drug cartel in Miami . Kim reportedly mishandle his entire saving and mortgaged his Taekwondo school to finance the film , only to see it tear to shreds by critics upon discharge .
In 2009 , the fate of the picture show shifted dramatically when Drafthouse Films catch license to re - release the pic . It has since become a fad fan front-runner , due in part to the " so bad it ’s honorable " ingredient , as well as nostalgic experience - good eighties themes of friendly relationship and comradeship . Plus , nothing beats the soundtrack , including that timeless synthwave hit " Friends Forever , " which would by and by see a revival during the end credits of the video gameFar Cry 3 : Blood Dragon .
The Transporter (2002)
TheTransporterfilms have largely been viewed as a fringe action franchise , and thus somewhat forget over the years . The first is for sure the best , putting the excellent Jason Statham in the shoes of Frank Martin , a guy who breaks his own file and ends up squaring off against a human trafficker .
The film ’s imaginative warlike artistic creation sequences are a major highlight of the film , peculiarly when Frank utilizes a slight ingenuity ( and a lot of motor oil ) to lay waste to a radical of thugs . It ’s a merriment , upbeat activity moving-picture show that deserves major respect .
Fire Down Below (1997)
Previous Steven Seagal movies were all about one - upping each other when it came to gore and belt down factor , butFire Down Belowwas much different . Seagal played Federal Agent Jack Taggert in one of his most human and likable roles . Hatcher is sent to a Kentucky town to enquire reports of illegal toxic barren dumping , only to find himself stick with the townspeople .
It did n’t score high with critic , realize just 11 % on Rotten Tomatoes , but that hardly seems reasonable . force out Down Belowis more about relationship than pose people to a bloody pulp , and Seagal still manages to deport the goods without go overboard . It ’s the most approachable of his film for those who are n’t big on radical - violence .
The Hunted (1995)
Christopher Lambert star in this dark tale of a man marked for death after glimpsing the face of ashadowy ninja assassinnamed Kinjo who remove his lover in Nagoya , Japan . He is put under the protective cover of a homo named Ijuro Takeda , a descendant of an ancient line of samurai who have been sweep up in a blood food with Kinjo ’s ninja clan for years .
Many thought Lambert would reprise aHighlander - esque function forThe Hunted , but it ’s only in the final turn that we see him square up off with his newfound samurai training . Despite this , the film is load with a dazzling regalia of bloody soldierly artwork fights , including a standout sequence featuring a ninja tone-beginning on a Japanese smoke string .
Jackie Chan’s First Strike (1996)
American audiences fell in love with Jackie Chan whenRumble In The Bronxcame out in 1995 , but they may have forgotten about his fantabulous follow - up , First Strike . The American release is in reality the 4th in a dividing line of Chan’sPolice Storyfranchise , but gratefully audiences did n’t demand to see the previous film to get on board with this one .
Chan plays a super pig who gets caught up in a atomic arms smuggling ringing involving a corrupt Russian Colonel and a CIA threefold - agent . While the story is a bit strong to follow , none of it matters once Jackie engages in a number of implausibly imaginative soldierlike arts sequences that absolutely blend laughter with excitation ! This is a gem not to be missed .
Lionheart (1990)
Lionheartis essentially a retelling ofBloodsportthrough a different camera crystalline lens . Jean - Claude Van Damme plays Lyon , a military personnel who empty his French Foreign Legion post in edict to escape to America following news that his brother was viciously cauterize to death in a drug deal sound wrong . To abide his brother ’s widow and vernal child , he enter an illegal secret street fight annulus orchestrated by a rich socialite named Cynthia .
As Lyon go along to make a name for himself , his betting odds go right smart up , giving Cynthia a chance to cash in by bringing in a fearful attack aircraft to take him on . The engagement sequence are quite different from those find inBloodsport , butLionheartstill deserves a profits for that end combat scene , alone !
The Karate Kid II (1986)
The originalKarate Kidwas a one - two poke in the face against bullying , and a heartwarming tale of an underdog who realizes the genuine grandness of longanimity and Libra the Scales in life sentence . The sequel would drastically transfer the locus to Japan , focusing on a fib involving a bitter feud between Mr. Miyagi and his childhood champion Sato , both of whom were trained by Miyagi ’s father in karate .
Daniel act as a secondary fictional character in the film , make the ire of Sato ’s pupil Chozen . Critics were split down the midway , butThe Karate Kid IIis just as adventurous and charming as the original , thanks in prominent part to the soldering Daniel and Miyagi part throughout the course of the film .
Hard Target (1993)
John Woo ’s first American directorial job was the military action vehicleHard Target , featuring Jean - Claude Van - Damme as a down - on - his hazard Cajun who is lease by a cleaning lady to locate her father , who has since gone missing . He soon regain himself going up against a rich sportswoman and a crew of hunters who give homeless combat veterinary surgeon to participate in a life - or - destruction game for the use of rich external clientele .
The film acquire interracial review from critics , which was aggravate by the waiver of Harrison Ford’sThe Fugitive , release on the same weekend . tax revenue continued to get slice through the following workweek , leavingHard Targetin a difficult spot . Although it did terminate up grossing $ 74 million against a $ 20 million budget , it was n’t enough to establish itself as a full - blown hit . That ’s a sin , becauseHard Targetfeatures exceptional action sequence , thanks largely to John Woo ’s alone cinematic eye .
Only The Strong (1993)
Before Mark Dacascos made a home name for himself as master of ceremonies ofIron Chef America , he turn off his teeth on several soldierly arts picture show includingOnly The Strong . Critics loathe the film ’s premise of an ex - Green Beret using martial arts to sour a group of remiss nestling around , but action picture show fan still hold it in gamey regard .
Only The Strongshowcases some telling fight chronological sequence centering around the Brazilian legs - only martial art Capoeira . The second half of the photographic film sees Dacascos ' fictional character gun it alone in a high - energy battle against a local offence lord and his collaborator , where he showcases his salient attainment .
Bloodsport II (1996)
Jean - Claude Van Damme ’s martial arts masterpiece got a few sequels following the release of the original , but only the first one truly place upright out as something especial . Critics did n’t care much for the character of Alex Cardo ( play byThe Matrix : Reloaded’sDaniel Bernhardt ) , a stealer who lands himself in a roughshod Thai prison house where he learns a combat fashion called " Iron Hand " from an elder captive , but it ’s far less atrocious than some might think .
In fact , it could be reason thatBloodsport II’sfighting sequences were far more complex and well - choreographed than those of the original . The Kumite tournament feature a vast compartmentalisation of soldierly arts styles that are exciting and entertain to watch over , just by themselves . The story might be zany , but that ’s easily overlooked in comparison to the stunning action .
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