Harshly slammed by unforgiving critics on its release, FIST OF THE NORTH STAR is actually a reasonably entertaining adaptation of the popular Japanese graphic novels and anime from the 1980s, which gets by on a low budget and has plenty to offer in look, sound and feel. The comic-book level of the film works through some nicely-portrayed settings which depict a post-apocalyptic society. Despite such ruined, burnt-out settings being widely familiar through such films as the MAD MAX series and dozens of others, they make for an effective backdrop for the violent action which this film offers, complementing a fast-moving action-based story which never lets up from the very beginning.
Our heroic lead is portrayed by British-born martial artist Gary Daniels, here performing well in a role which may be his best ever – although judging by the rest of his filmography, that's not really saying much. Daniels is excellent as the exiled Kenshiro, with years of hard training having paid off to give him a sculpted, imposing physique. Not too sure why a Brit was chosen to play a Japanese man, but the gamble pays off and Daniels is one of the best things the film has to offer. Unfortunately his pretty-boy adversary, Costas Mandylor, isn't much of an opponent and his evilness tends to be lacking at crucial points. Better attention is given to lower-list scumbags like the ubiquitous Clint Howard as gun-toting bike rider Stalin (who disappears halfway through the film) and Chris Penn, who has a ball as the extremely weird and aggressive henchman, Jackal.
The rest of the supporting cast isn't given much of a look in (aside from an annoying Japanese teenage character who is thankfully bumped off before too long) but there are a surprising amount of familiar faces here – Melvin Van Peebles as an old-timer, MTV presenter Downtown Julie Brown as a fierce fighter, and genre pro Malcolm McDowell making one of his cameo appearances, a presence that always lifts the level of a film. The dialogue is pretty monosyllabic and hardly enlightening, but thankfully the film does work on the action-orientated level at which it attempts – and with gusto.
For the few who don't know, the original characters of Kenshiro and Shin were blessed with super-normal abilities which allowed them to easily break apart mere mortal opponents. Such powers here take the form of bone-breaking punches and kicks, and a special move that Daniels performs which makes the heads of his opponents bubble and swell before exploding in a grisly fashion. His opponent, Shin, instead prefers to perforate the chests of his enemies by literally sticking his fingers into them, leading to much blood spray and carnage.
Yes, you guessed it, FIST OF THE NORTH STAR is an exceptionally violent movie, but like the (superior) STORY OF RICKY, the violence is portrayed in a rubbery, comic-book style so it never seems shocking or disturbing. The martial arts work is great, especially from Daniels, although the cameraman does use bad angles sometimes which make it clear that the kicks and punches aren't connecting. This flaw is eased by some splendidly meaty sound effects work to enhance the battles, and as a whole the kung fu doesn't disappoint. Not a great movie, but not a bad one either. Pretty good fun in all respects, actually.
Our heroic lead is portrayed by British-born martial artist Gary Daniels, here performing well in a role which may be his best ever – although judging by the rest of his filmography, that's not really saying much. Daniels is excellent as the exiled Kenshiro, with years of hard training having paid off to give him a sculpted, imposing physique. Not too sure why a Brit was chosen to play a Japanese man, but the gamble pays off and Daniels is one of the best things the film has to offer. Unfortunately his pretty-boy adversary, Costas Mandylor, isn't much of an opponent and his evilness tends to be lacking at crucial points. Better attention is given to lower-list scumbags like the ubiquitous Clint Howard as gun-toting bike rider Stalin (who disappears halfway through the film) and Chris Penn, who has a ball as the extremely weird and aggressive henchman, Jackal.
The rest of the supporting cast isn't given much of a look in (aside from an annoying Japanese teenage character who is thankfully bumped off before too long) but there are a surprising amount of familiar faces here – Melvin Van Peebles as an old-timer, MTV presenter Downtown Julie Brown as a fierce fighter, and genre pro Malcolm McDowell making one of his cameo appearances, a presence that always lifts the level of a film. The dialogue is pretty monosyllabic and hardly enlightening, but thankfully the film does work on the action-orientated level at which it attempts – and with gusto.
For the few who don't know, the original characters of Kenshiro and Shin were blessed with super-normal abilities which allowed them to easily break apart mere mortal opponents. Such powers here take the form of bone-breaking punches and kicks, and a special move that Daniels performs which makes the heads of his opponents bubble and swell before exploding in a grisly fashion. His opponent, Shin, instead prefers to perforate the chests of his enemies by literally sticking his fingers into them, leading to much blood spray and carnage.
Yes, you guessed it, FIST OF THE NORTH STAR is an exceptionally violent movie, but like the (superior) STORY OF RICKY, the violence is portrayed in a rubbery, comic-book style so it never seems shocking or disturbing. The martial arts work is great, especially from Daniels, although the cameraman does use bad angles sometimes which make it clear that the kicks and punches aren't connecting. This flaw is eased by some splendidly meaty sound effects work to enhance the battles, and as a whole the kung fu doesn't disappoint. Not a great movie, but not a bad one either. Pretty good fun in all respects, actually.