Subgenre Sampler
Martial Arts: 374 Films to Buy & Rent
King of the Kickboxers I & II (1990-1991)
- Dir. Lucas Lowe
Feat. Loren Avedon, Richard Jaeckel, Don Stroud
- Spectacular fight sequences lift this spin–off from the NO RETREAT NO SURRENDER films out of the dreck, with Loren Avedon returning as a cop…
Marked for Death (1990)
- Dir. Dwight H. Little
Feat. Steven Seagal, Joanna Pacula, Keith David
- Seagal takes on a hoard of dreadlocked Jamaican drug pushers in this slick, bone–snapping actioner.
Ronin-gai (Roningai: Street of the Samurai) (1990)
- Dir. Kazuo Kuroki
Feat. Yoshio Harada, Renji Ishibashi, Kanako Higuchi
- Samurai drama set in the 19th century near the end of the Japanese civil war, following several disgraced and listless ronin who attempt to regain…
Sgt. Kabukiman (1990)
- Dir. Lloyd Kaufman, Michael Herz
Feat. Rick Gianasi, Susan Byun
- A modest New York cop is gifted the supernatural powers of a Japanese hero enabling him to kick criminal butt, Kabuki–style! Finally, a…
She Shoots Straight (Huang jia nu jiang) (1990)
- Dir. Corey Yuen
Feat. Joyce Godenzi, Sammo Hung
- Taut and melodramatic, this HK policier concerns a decorated and ultra–competent female police officer (Godenzi) who arouses jealousy in her…
Skinny Tiger Fatty Dragon (Shou hu fei long) (1990)
- Dir. Liu Chia Liang
Feat. Sammo Hung, Liu Chia Liang, Carrie Ng
- Amusing action spoof starring the incomparable Samo Hung as one of a pair of bumbling cops who go on the hunt for drug traffickers in Hong Kong, but…
Swordsman (1990)
- Dir. Ching Siu Tung
Feat. Jacky Cheung, Man Cheung, Sam Hui
- A good–natured swordsman from Ming Dynasty China, gets involved in a scramble for a priceless book. Excellent special effects but confusing…
Wrong Bet (1990)
- Dir. Sheldon Lettich
Feat. Jean-Claude Van Damme
- Van Damme deserts the foreign legion and becomes a professional streetfighter.
Best of the Best (1989)
- Dir. Robert Radler
Feat. Eric Roberts, James Earl Jones, Sally Kirkland…
- Five young men learn what it takes to compete at the highest level in this late eighties favourite. Think Karate Kid meets Breaking Away.
Blind Fury (1989)
- Dir. Phillip Noyce
Feat. Rutger Hauer
- A nice comic turn for Rutger Hauer as a blind cane–wielding tough guy in this martial arts parody.