On the final day of ICM's best films of 1991 poll,I decided to look for a fun final flick to enjoy. Having a fantastic run of '91 Action epics, the poster to this made it look like the right time to visit Little Tokyo.
View on the film:
Originally a grittier film, WB took the title from the makers hands and diced out a lot of footage, (none of which has sadly re-appeared) and re-edited it to make the comedy more prominent. Under these difficult conditions, director Mark L. Lester & cinematography Mark Irwin still take a successful swing at creating a wildly fun Action movie. Done the same time as JCVD's East meets West Double Team, Lester and Irwin use the Little Tokyo setting to punch in bright, pulpy colours that give the movie an explosive atmosphere. Serving up all the thrills and boobage to keep viewers eyes transfixed on the screen, Lester attacks quirky set-pieces in a male sauna and a beer factory with slow-motion for the crunch from Kenner knock out punches, to fluid camera moves for each of Murata's bone-breaking twists.
Although parts of the plots progress are jarring to the cuts and the voice over ending looks to have been slapped on, the screenplay by Stephen Glantz/ Caliope Brattlestreet and un-credited writers Gary DeVore and Jonathan Lemkin overcome the limitations by handing the buddy duo fantastic one-liners, and giving room for the baddies to shine in their sword skills to still appear to be a threat. His last co-starring turn, Brandon Lee (who plays Japanese Murata!) displays the charisma which would take him to starring roles,with Lee smoothly performing the fight scenes, and improvising some of the most memorable dialogue. Holding sexy Tia Carrere's (who clearly uses a naked body double-sadly) Okeya in one arm and killing baddies with the other, Dolph Lundgren matches his brute fighting by giving a real warmth to Kenner's friendship with Murata during their showdown in Little Tokyo.
View on the film:
Originally a grittier film, WB took the title from the makers hands and diced out a lot of footage, (none of which has sadly re-appeared) and re-edited it to make the comedy more prominent. Under these difficult conditions, director Mark L. Lester & cinematography Mark Irwin still take a successful swing at creating a wildly fun Action movie. Done the same time as JCVD's East meets West Double Team, Lester and Irwin use the Little Tokyo setting to punch in bright, pulpy colours that give the movie an explosive atmosphere. Serving up all the thrills and boobage to keep viewers eyes transfixed on the screen, Lester attacks quirky set-pieces in a male sauna and a beer factory with slow-motion for the crunch from Kenner knock out punches, to fluid camera moves for each of Murata's bone-breaking twists.
Although parts of the plots progress are jarring to the cuts and the voice over ending looks to have been slapped on, the screenplay by Stephen Glantz/ Caliope Brattlestreet and un-credited writers Gary DeVore and Jonathan Lemkin overcome the limitations by handing the buddy duo fantastic one-liners, and giving room for the baddies to shine in their sword skills to still appear to be a threat. His last co-starring turn, Brandon Lee (who plays Japanese Murata!) displays the charisma which would take him to starring roles,with Lee smoothly performing the fight scenes, and improvising some of the most memorable dialogue. Holding sexy Tia Carrere's (who clearly uses a naked body double-sadly) Okeya in one arm and killing baddies with the other, Dolph Lundgren matches his brute fighting by giving a real warmth to Kenner's friendship with Murata during their showdown in Little Tokyo.