No Retreat, No Surrender (1985) User Reviews

R.J will supply......

[FlashCallahan · 5/10 · 14 April 2013]

Jason Stillwell, a Bruce Lee fan, is beaten numerous times by some really badly dressed people, and trains with the ghost of Lee.....

Jason then must use his newly acquired skills to save Seattle from a crime syndicate, whose top martial artist is the deadly Ivan T. Russian, played by Van Damme, who is easily the best thing about this movie.

This film is basically Rocky IV, meets Breakin', with a little bit of Ghost meets The Karate Kid, and its as bonkers as it sounds.

The acting is hideous, even making Van Damme seen sincere, but its a good laugh while it lasts.

Their are so many troupes in this, you could write an essay on how many there are, and how its scarred so many action movies since.

The soundtrack is brilliant, the fight scenes are a little cheesy, and the bad guys are fitted into two categories, high school bad guys fighting for the affection of a badly cast love interest, and the gangster side, where everyone dresses as Roger Moore circa 1975.

It's w love it or hate it film, I like it because I loved these types of films, but I'm giving it a realistic rating.

But it is the best film ever made about a boy giving a girl a rabbit for her birthday..

One of the first Van Dammes screen appearance! Karate classic!!

[moviefan-85 · 5/10 · 2 March 2004]

WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS ABOUT THE MOVIE!When I saw this movie in store I just had to buy it. So whole DVd cover was dedicated to Van Damme. We have even Van Dammes name on the cover but where is the hero? We have tiny picture of a hero who is the maincharecter of the film. And covers synopsis sounds like Bloodsport type movie. So I bought it and saw it. I wasnt disappointed when I saw the movie it wasnt the movie they promised on the cover but still ok flick. Van Damme shows about 10 minutes in the whole movie. It was one of his first films so you might take this as somekind tiny classic. I forgot the story, sorry. Young Jason moves to another county when his father solds the karate gym after he gets beat up by creedy managers who organize fights with Ivan The Russian ( Van Damme). In the new county Jason falls in love with the girl and her wannabe boyfriend starts compete with Jason. Karate Kid remake huh! This movie was made year after Karate Kid that was somekind a success in the business. I cant say which movie is better.The music is great. Whole movie is totally 80´s. Everything,they even have breakdance that was popular then. I give this movie 6/10. Must see to Van Damme fans. Write me and I tell you great No retreat No surrender movie web site. Im waiting!

Karate Kid rip-off lifted by expert fight choreography

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 6 September 2016]

NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER is one of those films that came out in the wake of THE KARATE KID in an attempt to emulate the style and success of that blockbuster. Some of them took the same general theme as the kid's classic and turned it into a successful adult movie, like Van Damme's own KICKBOXER. This particular effort is aimed halfway between kids and adults as it goes for the teenage market, no doubt to cash in on the success of various John Hughes movies.

The hero, played by Kurt McKinney – who never starred in a kung fu film again despite his impressive abilities here – sees his father get his leg smashed by a martial arts master. Instead of vowing vengeance, as you might, he just sets about trying to emulate his idol Bruce Lee in plenty of long, drawn-out scene of him training in his garage. Eventually, Bruce Lee's ghost shows up (yep, I'm not joking here) and teaches McKinney some real skills, just in time for him to fight the guy who crippled his father in the first place.

First off, this is a film that can't be taken seriously. In fact it's one of the CHEESIEST films I've ever witnessed. This is a film that's so '80s, you can only really enjoy it if you lived through that decade. Everywhere there are '80s influences, from the mullet haircuts to the appalling fashions (the ripped t-shirt look is obviously in). For the most part, I found it hilarious. J. W. Fails, who plays the comic relief black guy, is very funny in his over-the-top role and the Michael Jackson influence is everywhere, with moon walking going on and people dressing up as the singer in nightclub scenes. There's also a strong influence from the whole BREAKDANCE thing and often the film stops to let some guys show off their funky moves. Great! Another reason you can't take the movie seriously is the acting. It's REALLY bad; over the top and completely mannered, like the guys are barely suppressing themselves from laughing while reciting their dialogue. Nobody here is a good actor, and nobody really went on to be famous – apart from Van Damme, and he only gets a couple of lines as it is. The bit where Bruce Lee's ghost appears will just have you burst out laughing, as he doesn't really look like Bruce Lee at all (and I already noticed that when I watched Kim Tai Chong playing Bruce in Game of Death and its sequel).

The film doesn't have as much action in it as I'd hoped, but that doesn't matter as I was laughing so hard. There are a few bouts, mainly involving McKinney getting beaten on and humiliated by some bullies (annoyingly, he doesn't get to kick their asses later on). Then the final twenty minutes is just one huge punch-up as Van Damme takes centre stage in a boxing ring and proceeds to beat up a succession of tough opponents. The finale sees our hero tackling the Muscles from Brussels with a predictable outcome, although you'd never really believe he has it in him, despite some cool training sequences earlier on. Van Damme is in his prime here and looks tough as heck, and scary with it. He rarely plays bad guys but he IS good at them, and watching him whup ass here is good fun.

The main reason the film is a success is down to director Corey Yuen, who is a guy who DEFINITELY knows how to choreograph a fight scene. This is a US/Hong Kong collaboration and while the backdrop is definitely US, the fights are out of a Hong Kong flick. Yuen focuses on long takes and avoids unnecessary editing; he also has his actors perform some excellent moves that are shown in slow motion, just like in his Chinese flicks. I think Yuen surpasses Yuen Woo Ping and is second to none when it comes to delivering high intensity, great looking martial arts. He's this film's real saviour and without him it would have been a bomb. Two unconnected sequels followed.

Cheesey 80's action brilliance!!!!!!!!!

[bouncywolf · 10 May 2002]

From the stilted dialogue, through the ridiculous storyline, the amazing disco sequence and a rousing finale the sheer spirit of this FUN FUN FUN movie shines through. Forget all the computer generated fights of today, this how it was and should be. Over the top, funny, satisfying and possible. They don't make 'em like this anymore, and more's the shame.

It's fun, upbeat, and even childish (in a great way!)

[tarbosh22000 · 6/10 · 5 October 2011]

Tom Stillwell (Baker) is an L.A. Karate instructor, and his son Jason (McKinney) is one of his students. When the elder Stillwell runs into some trouble with gangsters, notably the evil Ivan "The Russian" Kraschinsky (Van Damme), the family heads up to Seattle to start a new life. Things are looking up when Jason makes friends with R.J. (Fails), but then a series of bad events causes Jason to despair and re-evaluate his life. Jason is an admirer of - nay - obsessed with Bruce Lee. He attempts to model his life after the legendary figure, even going to his gravesite and talking to him. Meanwhile, his confidence begins to grow, and it all leads to the final confrontation with Ivan. But Jason will have help from a very special trainer...

No Retreat, No surrender is classic 80's fun at its best. Well-known director Corey Yuen invests the film with a lot of energy, whether it be fighting sequences, training sequences, or just scenes of over-the-top drama or comedy, something is always going on and you're never bored. The great music even inspires several dance sequences apropos of nothing, and even R.J. gets in on the fun with an impromptu rap/dance when he first meets Jason. Isn't that what you did when you met your new best friend? A lot of the conflict in the film is not driven by the supposed antagonist Van Damme, but by nefarious fat kid Scott (Lipham). There are plenty of hijinks as this corpulent busybody inexplicably commands an army of fellow no-good punks. He even kicks things off with the disparaging comment (directed at Jason), "he said L.A. Karate is better than Seattle Karate". Who knew this ancient rivalry stirred such forceful feelings? Or that it existed at all? Yes, the time-honored "L.A. vs. Seattle" Karate battle started it all.

While Van Damme is always front-and-center on all the artwork for this movie, his screen time is very limited. He shows up at the beginning and the end, and has minimal dialogue. Pretty much all he says is "I'm the best" and maybe a few other brief things, though he does find time to do one of his trademark splits. His character of an evil Russian named Ivan who is emotionless and says little seems modeled after Rocky IV's Ivan Drago. During the final end brawl, the "Seattle Sidekicks" which consist of Dean "Shooting Star" Ramsay (Jacoby) and Ian "Whirlwind" Reilly (Pohnel), battle Ivan, who, also without explanation, enters the ring not with the gangsters from earlier in the film, but a posse of Hispanics. And while Van Damme's credit in the opening sequence is "Ivan the Russian", his end credits name is, once again with no explanation, Karl Brezdin! Could this be an oversight? because if so, what an oversight! Or is it yet another movie where Van Damme does a double role? Who knew that trend started here?

Seeing as the movie was written by Keith Strandberg, it has some familiar trademarks of his style - he also wrote the two NRNS sequels, as well as King of the Kickboxers (1990), American Shaolin (1991), and Bloodmoon (1997), among other items, so if you've seen any of those, you get the idea.

The song "Stand on Your Own" (and if I may add some more lyrics: "There's no retreat and no surrender-er-errrrr!!!") by Paul Gilreath is memorable, and it's no wonder, as Gilreath is also credited with additional music for the classic Knights of the City (1985).

It's fun, upbeat, and even childish (in a great way), so like Jason and R.J., make "No Retreat, No Surrender" a personal motto to live by.

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Magnificently Awful

[stuart-mccormack · 3/10 · 29 January 2012]

This is my absolute favourite BAD movie. I love it.

The plot is ludicrous, the acting atrocious and the score is straight out of a Z-grade '60's Western. Barack Obama looks more like Bruce Lee than Tai Chung Kim.

But it's the dialogue that makes this movie great.

Who can forget Van Damme's immortal line: "So, it is you!"?

To be fair, Van Damme looks great and speaks little and there are some good fight scenes if you can stick it out.

This movie is so bad that I own a copy and watch it at least once a year. Laugh out loud from beginning to end.

A must-see. Preferably with a few friends and a bunch of beers.

Enter the Jason.

[BA_Harrison · 6/10 · 16 January 2015]

Although Jean-Claude Van Damme's image takes prominence on the cover of the DVD (front and back), the Belgian martial arts star only shows up briefly at the very beginning of the film, and for the entertaining finalé; the real 'star' of No Retreat, No Surrender is the lesser known Kurt McKinney, who plays young, headstrong karate student Jason, who, with a little help from break-dancer RJ (J.W. Fails) and Bruce Lee's ghost (Tai Chung Kim), helps defeat the New York gangsters who have been seizing control of the country's dojos for use as fronts for their criminal activities.

While the lack of Van Damage in the majority of the film could be off-putting for some, anyone who enjoys a large dollop of 80s cheeze should definitely stay on board...

Directed by Cory Yuen, No Retreat, No Surrender only proves mildly satisfying as a martial arts movie, with just a few unmemorable fights between Jason and local bullies before his inevitable showdown with hired heavy Ivan Kraschinsky (Van Damme). However, when the feet and fists aren't flying, the film is side-splittingly funny, with lousy performances (McKinney is much better at kicking than acting), a dumb plot (clearly inspired by The Karate Kid), ridiculous characters, the silly supernatural element, and hilarious 80s music and fashion unintentionally making this a lot more enjoyable than it really has any right to be.

The film's dumbest, and therefore most entertaining moments include a hilarious nightclub scene that sees RJ busting some moves in full Michael Jackson regalia, and the unforgettable sight of Jason training with RJ perched on his lap (their friendship clearly being taken to the next level).

No surrender - means headbutting a fat kid!

[Howlin Wolf · 3/10 · 10 July 2013]

I'm not here to criticise the movie for being bad (I was expecting it to be bad before I watched it) These are just a few observations about how it compares to the general template of a standard martial arts movie:

The film isn't exactly bursting with great performances, but the head of the family (played by Timothy D Baker) really takes the cake... Some of the worst acting I've ever seen! (which actually makes McKinney look bad when he appears, too, and that's not fair... I mean he's certainly no great shakes, but compared to his screen father, he's near genius level!)

For a film where the main conflict is supposed to be about fighting, the film certainly spends an awful lot of time going out of its way NOT to show any fighting... This was a disappointment to me, because it's surely the primary reason why any combat fan would watch a martial arts film. Did we really need to see so much of the black kid dancing and cruising the 80's club scene, like he's on some audition for another Saturday Night Fever sequel?! It felt seriously out of place to me, and only left me wishing that the film would hurry up and get back to the main mechanics of a traditional revenge/self-improvement story.

It's a little contrived when the gangster villains manage to turn up at the Martial Arts School, too - but whatever; it's just to set up the main fight, and I guess it doesn't matter in this kind of film how stretched your plot point is, as long as you get your message across.

When the film knuckles down and gets to its bread and butter of either fighting or training, that's when it's at its best. The Bruce Lee 'stand in' might be a cheesy element, but at least it's affectionate, rather than overtly manipulative.

... and some of the fighting and general martial arts skills here are actually quite impressive... Great direction of those aspects, by the renowned Corey Yuen!

The only reason I was watching in the first place was to see Van Damme, and he gives it his all, in his minimal role... There's a palpable physicality to his presence that shows the other performers how things should be done. Come the time when he head-butts the fat school bully who's had a change of heart, I was howling with laughter, so the film deserves bonus entertainment points, for that alone!

It's not a good film at all, but it's still worth seeing if you're into this kind of stuff, just for a tiny glimpse of Van Damme in peak athletic condition, strutting his stuff... It's not his film, so he doesn't have to carry it, or try too hard with his acting, he just does what he does best.

Classic

[solomonkain · 8/10 · 21 June 2005]

Before watching the movie I had in my mind that this was just going to be another dodgy movie but with a bit of van damme thrown in. How wrong. This movie truly is a classic, the cheesy music, (especially the end credits) brilliant montage scenes and especially the fighting itself. This isn't your traditionally badly choreographed Van Dammeesque movie but a very well done job. The fight scenes a lengthy and extremely enjoyable, and everyone in the movie can kick and punch very well. The main character Kurt McKinney (Jason) turns up the style later in the movie by pulling off some unbelievable training exercises, such as his two-finger one handed push ups! OK - so the acting is very ropey - but who cares! If you're looking for an enjoyable evening in and a self motivational movie - this is the one!

Van Dam is an amazing heel!

[BandSAboutMovies · 7/10 · 8 July 2019]

Corey Yuen is a Hong Kong action director, film director, producer and action choreographer known for doing the fight scenes for movies like Lethal Weapon 4, X-Men and plenty of Jet Li's American films like Romeo Must Die, The One and The Expendables. He's also directed Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan in Dragons Forever and helped start the careers of Cynthia Rothrock and Michelle Yeoh.

For his first movie in the United States, he worked with Ng See-yuen as a producer (he was behind the Once Upon a Time In the West series and Drunken Master) and story writer.

Scriptwriter Keith W. Strandberg became interested in martial arts films when he lived in Taiwan. After taking a job in China as a tour director, he would visit Hong Kong and try to get into the movies. After being turned down by nearly everyone, he met with the Seasonal Film Corporation and studio head Ng See-yuen. Ng wanted to make an American film and asked if Strandberg knew anything about screenplays. Despite never even seeing a screenplay before, he said yes.

Jason Stillwell (Kurt McKinney) is a young karate student at his father Tom's dojo in Sherman Oaks. One night after a training session, the mob visits. They're shaking down all of the independent dojos in the country and taking them over. Tom refuses and gets his leg broken quick by Ivan Kraschinsky (Jean-Claude Van Damme, making his American debut).

The Stillwell family runs and hides - I mean, relocates - to Seattle. There, he becomes the friend and protector of R.J. Madison and reunites with an old girlfriend, Kelly, whose brother Ian is also a martial arts fan.

After getting beaten up and humiliated by a fat kid named Scott and a karate kid named Dean at Kelly's birthday party, Jason visits the grave of Bruce Lee and begs him for help. His father has given up on martial arts completely and destroys most of his son's Bruce Lee memorabilia. What Jason can save, he moves to an abandoned house.

That night, Bruce Lee (Kim Tai-chung, who played Lee's character Bobby Lo in Snuff Bottle Connection and Game of Death II) appears to Jason and begins transforming him into a real martial artist. He even saves his father from another beating by the mob.

It all ends up with Jason, Tom and R.J. attending the annual full-contact kickboxing tournament with teams from both Seattle and New York. The mob bosses show up in force and make a bet that none of Seattle's fighters can defeat Ivan. Van Damme becomes the greatest heel in the history of forever here, just annihilating everyone in his path. It's actually shocking what a great good guy he became in movies after seeing the way he decimates everyone in his path, including Kelly's brother Ian. He even shrugs off her attempts to hit him with a stool and bumps her off the apron. I lost my mind in sheer glee, seeing JCVD brutalize young kids who just love martial arts.

Jason ends up defeating Ivan and no one thinks, "Perhaps we should call the police on all these mob bosses. Didn't this Russian guy potentially kill three people, attack a referee and grab the hair of an innocent young girl? Oh well - time to go to the ring and celebrate!"

Supposedly, Van Damme was either method acting or really was a bully, because he kicked Pete "Sugarfoot" Cunningham - Canadian 7-time World ChampionHall of Famekickboxer - so hard that he knocked him out. There have been several stories that Van Damme had to be continually warned to not make full contact with other actors and stuntmen, but he did so anyway. That's been disputed by others on the set and could just be sour grapes.

This movie came up in court when two members of the cast appeared as character witnesses in the court case brought against Van Damme by Jackson "Rock" Pinckney, who claimed that the Muscles from Brussels partially blinded him in the left eye and caused him to get discharged from the Army after filming Cyborg. Timothy D. Baker - who played the dad - claimed that Van Damme was "dangerous to work with and possessed inadequate control of his movements for a martial artist", whereas Ron Pohnel - who played Ian and really had a long fight sequence with Van Damme claimed that the actor "did in fact possess adequate control and could perform a fight scene without complaint."

Maybe Timothy was still upset that when Van Damme's kicks were supposed to hit his upper chest region, he kept repeatedly nailing him in the face, knee and throat.

This is one of the wackier American kung fu movies I've seen and one of the few that embraces that wackiness of Hong Kong films in an organic way. I laughed out loud several times and the final fights are so good, you'll be doing spin kicks all over your living room. Just watch the television set with that kung fu!

Wargames...

[fmarkland32 · 3/10 · 1 August 2006]

Kurt McKinney stars as Jason Stillwell a typical 80's teen who worships Bruce Lee, sports a mullet has a break dancing black friend and is in fact getting his ass kicked by bullies that is until the ghost of Bruce Lee teaches him the tricks of the trade and improving his skill immensely. Enter Jean-Claude Van Damme a Russian kickboxer who Kurt goes up against to prove himself. Despite having a fondness for Jean-Claude Van Damme, this is a movie I never got the chance to see, I honestly don't remember when it came out and therefore it was an obscurity until Van Damme really hit it big. I still hadn't seen No Retreat No Surrender because I never got around to it. Now after Van Damme's career has come full circle (From Hollywood star to straight to video) I finally got around to seeing it. No Retreat No Surrender is unfortunately not very good. It is often times hilarious but generally not on purpose. I must admit though that fight sequences at the end are impressive and Van Damme despite having minimal screen time ends up stealing what little show there is. Other absurd notions to surface is "The ghost of Bruce Lee" subplot, the mobsters from New York wanting to take the gym from Seattle. However what is even funnier is that the New York agent says "We have radio shows covering it, as well as every paper!" only the next scene finds our heroes fighting in a high school gym, complete with fold in chairs. That's just rich. Still there are some amusing moments that surface just enough to make it a hilarious camp-fest or a decent Karate Kid rip off, which it aims for. Also the whole Russian angle seems to have been ripped off from Rocky IV which was also terrible .(Though far more boring)

*1/2 out of 4-(Poor)

One of the greatest 80s-movies ever, with a terrific soundtrack!

[BoDuke-3 · 10/10 · 30 August 2004]

"No Retreat, No Surrender" is one of the greatest films I've ever seen. It's surely not very demanding or high-grade, but that doesn't really matter at all. It gives you such a great feeling of the 80s with all the typical clothes, sayings and especially the fantastic music. I like the story of the underdog becoming the winner. The film tells in a very simple way to never give up. It also has a pretty funny side. It is the only film known by me, with two different soundtracks. The US-version is different to the European one. I like the last one more, with the great song "Hold on to the vision" by Kevin Chalfant. It was unfortunately never available on CD or in any other way. Together with the great 80s-movies "BMX Bandits" and "Stand by me" this film is one of the most important movies of my childhood and also youth. When I saw "No Retreat, No Surrender" ("Karate Tiger" in Germany) for the first time, it was the reason for me to join a Karate Dojo for 4 years! I think that's it... this movie rocks!!! 80s 4ever!

A campy, cliched classic

[bowmanblue · 6/10 · 20 May 2020]

If you've seen any of the marketing material surrounding 'No Retreat, No Surrender' then you'd probably think that it was going to be a martial arts epic in the same league as Jean Claude Van Damme's similar films such as 'Bloodsport' and 'Kickboxer.' His face is - normally - all over the cover in order to 'lure you in.' However, despite him showing up in the first scene, you won't be getting much more from 'the Muscles From Brussels' until the final showdown.

Instead, you get a weird mish-mash of a martial arts story that could be anything from 'teen comedy' to 'supernatural drama.' Apparently, gangs of organised criminals want to take over all karate centres in America and force a young man's family out of L.A. to Seattle where he takes lessons from Bruce Lee's ghost in order to face down those who wronged his father.

The film kind of bounces from one genre to another. It starts with some graphic violence and later switches to a wacky slapstick comedy at the expense of an overweight local bully. In fact... if I could use one word to sum up 'No Retreat, No Surrender,' then it would be 'cliché.' It's practically an hour and a half long list of one cinematic cliché after the next. Sometimes it's almost like it's trying to use every last movie trope of the eighties in order to form some sort of filmic Frankenstein's monster of madness.

If you're a fan of JCVD then you may get some bonus enjoyment out of watching one of his earliest performances. Yes, there are some martial arts scenes, but they hardly make up the bulk of the film and almost seem like an afterthought to the 'coming of age romantic teen comedy-drama.' Sometimes a film might be bad, but that doesn't mean that it's not enjoyable. If you're in the mood for one of those 'so-bad-they're-good' films then this one is right up there with the best of them (or should that be WORST of them?). It's very silly, but also very entertaining, so if you're in the mood for something daft and forgiving then you could do worse than this delightful pile of eighties nonsense.

No Retreat, No Surrender (1986)

[fntstcplnt · 3/10 · 28 August 2019]

Directed by Corey Yuen. Starring Kurt McKinney, J.W. Fails, Kent Lipham, Timothy D. Baker, Tai Chung Kim, Kathie Sileno, Ron Pohnel, Jean-Claude van Damme, Dale Jacoby. (PG)

Exceedingly earnest but inept martial arts hokum about teenage McKinney being taught karate by Bruce Lee's ghost--no, seriously--so he can defend himself against bullies and gangsters (of course). What isn't recycled from "Karate Kid" and multiple "Rocky" movies is just embarrassingly silly (is the ghost supposed to be real or a figment of the kid's imagination? Nope, doesn't matter), while the acting and storytelling are pure amateur hour. Van Damme's first movie role of any substance; he only appears at the beginning and the climax and says all of about ten words but gets in plenty of high-kicks and splits (therefore, it must be considered one of his savviest performances). There's some decent action choreography in the final fight scenes, but the only reason to watch that far is to repeatedly laugh at the ineptitude on-hand before it. An endurance test for those who don't like cheese/camp; not the worst way to waste an hour-and-a-half for those who do.

32/100

This movie has helped me through some hard times

[dark1714 · 23 April 2001]

I most start this off by saying, I think this is one of the best movies every made, its in my top 10 favorite movies of all time. I watched this movie like everyday after shcool when I was a kid. its great.. its so entertaining, and never gets old. it has a great story, great action scenes, great music, and memereble lines and characters. I still watch this movie all the time. When lifes at its low points, and I'm feeling down, when I watch this movie, it gives me the inspiration to not give up and keep pushing on. I love this movie, its got me through some hard times.

Lol!!

[reddiemurf81 · 6/10 · 2 June 2020]

I watched the rifftrax version,, so, it's hilarious! This has to be one of the cheesier marital arts films I've seen (notice I said that I've seen,, not that there is). Wow,, those training scenes,, lol!!

Probably a childhood classic for others

[blumdeluxe · 5/10 · 28 March 2020]

"No Retreat, No Surrender" tells the story of a teenager, whose father is forced out of the martial arts business by a band of thugs, leading the boy to train even harder after they move to another town. When the thugs threaten yet another studio, the time has come for his revenge.

Yes, this movie is entertaining. But I guess you must have seen this as a kid in order to hype it as some reviewers do. As someone who watched this as an adult, I have to say that the plot is rather weak (I mean isn't it comfortable that the same thugs appear in this one town of all?), the paranormal element is pretty trashy (yeah.. he trains with his ghost.. right) and the characters are let's say interesting (what was this sidekick). No offense, as I said most of these elements are still entertaining and help to make this about more than just fighting scenes. However neither the plot nor the production are clever enough to give this some kind of legendary aura.

All in all this is an entertaining film that is in a way a portrait of its time and surely even more fun to watch for kids. It is however, not as big as some reviewers make it.

Cool, Suave and Random

[clauzy82 · 7/10 · 12 April 2024]

This is surprisingly better than I expected and the fight choreography is excellent.

Now the film is as random as $#@% and a mess in parts. Beginning like a serious crime martial arts flick. Followed by an 80's teen camp movie and finally a Rocky but with martial arts rip off, with Karate Kid and Scrooge: A Christmas Carol scattered in for good measure.

A karate school run by Tom Stillwell (Timothy D. Baker) is attacked by thugs with henchman Ivan Kraschinsky the Russian (Jean-Claude Van Damme) showing him in prime condition. Tom flees with his son and main protagonist Jason (Kurt McKinney) to Seattle to start their new life.

Queue the teen camp portion of the movie without the gratuitous nudity. Entering Jason's friend R. J Madisson "Don't worry, R. J will provide," with his suspect dancing skills and his ability to shapeshift skin tone while break dancing shows he could be a magician (maybe he summoned Bruce Lee). We are also introduced to the teenage (I use teenage loosely) antagonists of Scott (Kent Lipham) and Dean Ramsey (Dale Jacobey), and Jason's girlfriend the stunning Kelly Reilly (Kathie Sileno).

Once Jason gets kicked around a few times we are introduced to Sensai Lee (Tae-Jeong Kim) and a plethora of brilliant training montagues not too far removed from Rocky IV, although this could of actually been filmed before Rocky's 4th installement with this film having the delayed release. In between each montague we are pampered with more plot building between break dancing, make up dancing and Jason's mother who appears out of thin air just after the hour mark and disappears again.

Finally we are taken to the Rocky section of the film as the Seattle Sidekicks with Dean, Frank Peters (Peter Cunningham) and their captain and national champion Ian Reilly (Tom Pohnel) take on the Manhattan Maulers. The Sidekicks who look like ballerina dancers with their pirouette skills are no match for the Manhattan team who enter like pro wrestling heels. Somehow if the evil New Yorkers win this contest they'll have total control of Seattle. Making out that the Karate clubs are in fact the true secret of power in America, holding sway over the local Senate and the local underworld. You learn something knew everyday.

The final finale Ivan vs Jason, will Jason save his girl, Seattle and his reputation.

Overall this full of cheese film is very fun and it flows, even with the horrible editing and the story most likely written on 15 separate napkins in which several where lost during production. The choreography is excellent and for yanks in the 80's it's hall of fame stuff. The acting is hit or miss but nothing to throw you off. It is a random all over the shop B-movie gem. I also have my suspicions it played a roll in influencing the Street Fighter franchise with the music and sone characters. If you like Kung Fu, Chopsocky or plain aul Beat 'Em Ups this is a must watch, if you love bad but good, also a must watch.

Kurt McKinney. Where the hell is his catalogue of martial art movies???

Cheese of the melt 17.5: keep and eye open for some of those body doubles. And the thought sequence when Tom Stillwell is in hospital.

I could rate this higher on a later watch 7*

Was this written by a 10 year-old?

[bensonmum2 · 2/10 · 2 July 2017]

The basic plot of No Retreat, No Surrender is horribly familiar with bits of silliness thrown in for good measure. It goes something like this: a young man in a new town is pushed around and made to feel an outcast. Through training, hard work, and the help of Bruce Lee's ghost (who he prays to?), he makes himself into a karate expert. In the end, he alone will be forced to face-off against the New York-based karate thug to save the Seattle dojo from being taken over by organized crime. Sound ridiculous? It is.

I must be missing something, because I'm at a loss to explain all the positive comments on IMDb for No Retreat, No Surrender. Other than some pretty decent fight choreography, I can't find much else positive to say about the film. I know it was one of Jean-Claude Van Damme's first roles, but let's be honest, outside of the fights at the end, he's barely even in the thing. The acting is pathetic, some of the characters are cringy, the dialogue sounds like it was written by a 10 year-old, and the whole Bruce Lee's ghost bit is beyond ridiculous. It doesn't help that the dude they hired to play Bruce looks nothing like Bruce. A real stinker.

Revenge of the 80's: Jean Claude Van Damme, Superstar.

[Captain_Couth · 8/10 · 9 February 2005]

No Retreat, No Surrender (1985) was a Seasonal Films production that was filmed in the United States. Corey Yuen was the director and Hoi Meng was the co-action director. This film marked the Western debut of future superstar Jean Claude Van Damme. This was also the first of three official No Retreat, No Surrender films.

A kid witnesses his dad being brutally beaten by a group of thugs and their new fighter, a big mean Soviet kick-fighter (J.C.V.D.) The kid does what anybody else would do if they saw their own dad nearly beaten to death, swear a blood revenge against those who put him in traction. There's one problem, the kid can't punch his way out of a paper bag and his fighting skills are virtually non-existence. What's a kid to do? Turn to a higher power! Will that be the stuff needed to beat down the mean Red fighter and avenge his father?

The fight scenes are realistic looking and bone crunching. The direction is real good and the acting is okay. A Hong Kong style movie made in America. J.C.V.D. is pretty scary and mean looking in his big debut. He'll make a bigger splash in his first true success Bloodsport.

If you enjoy old school kung fu movies where the son has to avenge his father with a blood oath, then this one's for you. Followed by No Retreat, No Surrender 2.

Amazing comedy

[stevecooksley · 6/10 · 1 January 2022]

Watched this on Prime last night and was in fits of laughter from start to finish. Brought back so many memories from the mid-eighties including BMX bikes, breakdancing, terrible hair, terrible music and questionable values.

Couple this with some of the worst acting, editing, scriptwriting, sound recording and direction you've ever seen and you've got yourself a modern classic. 6/10.

Lol

[orale_vato_loco · 1/10 · 7 October 2006]

Plain and simple this movie was complete toss-fest and although one of my favorite action stars Mr. muscles from Brussels was in it i still felt like killing myself when i saw the the Dad try and act.LMFAO i nearly died the enthusiasm *cough cough* and crap fest he showed makes you think is there a God. I know it might have been a low budget action movie and set in the 80's but come on Bruce Lee comes back from the dead FFS i mean I've seen some funny 80's action movies but when i saw this for the first time i thought WTF am i doing. Nearly all of the other Van Damme movies besides Black Eagle which had to BE his worst movie ever i love he was really the only reason why i sat down and watched the rest of the movie if he want in it then i wouldn't have bothered LOL

fantastic martial art flick from the eighties'

[kai-tangvik · 8/10 · 6 May 2005]

Just finished viewing no retreat,no surrender whom i borrowed from by good friend "Thorstein" today.The last time i watched it was approximately ten years ago on a lousy video tape,and seeing it on DVD gave me a hell of a ride.We all know that these movies lack about everything a movie lover craves,but the intensity and the choreography of the fighting is just plain awesome! I too see the similarities ti Rocky 4 with the Russian fighter etc,but remember that Ivan grabbed Jasons girl by the hair,wouldn't you step into the ring to defend your girl? Simultanously i have to say that our belgium phenomen has delivered the film-histories best side-kicks.Worth the whole movie by itself! Beside "American warrior" this is the greatest martial art movie of all time!Sorry Jet Li!And once again thanks to my dear friend Thorstein(who simply adores van damme)for lending me this one!

Before there was grunge, martial arts ruled Seattle!!!!

[levelheader99 · 6/10 · 31 March 2006]

No Retreat, No Surrender is not a true Van Damme movie although he plays a small role in it as the bad guy. It's more of a "Karate Kid"/"Breakin'"/any teen revenge film you've ever seen kind of movie. If you can overlook the horrendous acting on everyone's part, and the things that just sort of happen by coincidence, you'll grow to love this 80's cheese-fest.

This movie is unintentionally hilarious, and is a must see for 80's martial arts fans. Jason, the main character, has a black friend R.J. who is a skateboarder/breakdancer/rapper/Michael Jackson impersonator, truly a one of a kind! The boom mic has almost as much camera time in this film as Van Damme. The playground push-ups scene with R.J. and Jason is a 10 out of 10 on the gay-as-hell meter, you have to see it. And finally the huge main event, martial arts competition, final showdown is held where?... A high school gym!! Love it.

The Australian "Force Video" DVD release is excellent and uncut. Very nice picture quality.

Oh, boy

[pmtelefon · 5/10 · 22 December 2019]

I'm not a fan of watching campy movies. I can laugh an inept movie for a few minutes but then I get bored. Some people might watch "No Retreat, No Surrender" as camp. I don't but that doesn't mean that it's a good movie. It's not. It does, however, have a certain charm that makes the ridiculousness watchable. I watch "No Retreat, No Surrender" every once in a while. I won't say that it hits the spot but it's a strangely almost satisfying watch.