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tagkeyon
Reviews
The Angry Breed (1968)
Bad acting, loose plot
This is one of those movies that apparently was trying to ride the martial arts wave craze. Kind of like Billy Jack I guess. However, whereas Billy Jack did have one notable martial arts scene there are none in this one unless you consider some gentlemanly grappling and roughhousing as such. We are introduced to the star who is described as having learned Judo in the marines. I was in the marines and while they are pretty established in boxing, I really don't remember any emphasis on Judo. As a result the antagonist, James Macarthur, makes reference to the Judo when he offers an excuse for why he, a state champion wrestler was so easily defeated. Lame.
Hot Summer in Barefoot County (1974)
Bad, but worth a watch if you're into trashy movies
This movie is NOT good. But for a fan of late night crap flicks I guess it has some merit. It kind of takes me back to those days when people really believed that state investigators were sent down to some insignificant place to investigate crimes that aren't important. The sheriff was a hoot - "Gotta go do some sheriffin..." and the character of "Cluuy Joe" was mildly humorous. All the gals in the movie are not remarkable and in one scene of the leading female character we see a partial nude shot revealing untoned flabby hips. The stereotyping of backwoods folks in this movie is unapologetic to say the least. I gave it 5 stars.
Challenge of the Ninja (1986)
Ha ha ha ha - may contain spoilers
The movie is so outrageously bad it's a classic. First off.....anyone notice in the graveyard scene where all the tombstones are adorned with Spanish names? There's only one place in Asia where you can find Asians with Spanish names and I'll give you the hint that it ain't Japan. This movie was filmed in the Philippines and it shows. One of the best scenes is when the "master" is fighting a group of ninjas and holding the toddler. It doesn't take a stretch of observational powers to see that the toddler is in fact a doll. This movie is a bit hard to follow in places and sometimes its difficult to figure out just who is Baron supposed to be fighting. Some of the greatest dialogue I've ever heard - "Youuuuuuuuu're one damn goooooooood ninja!" It's not the 36th chamber of Shaolin that's for sure. I dunno if you're into Filipino exploitation flicks this might be right up your alley. I doubt Baron got paid much over minimum wage for his acting (and I'm being generous in the use of that term) so you can imagine what the rest of them got.
The Karate Kid Part III (1989)
Big letdown -spoilers
Well, they really should have either left a good thing alone with Part 2, which I still consider to be the best of the trilogy, or brought Tamylin Tomita back so we could have watched her obviously predestined relationship with Daniel continue. This was my biggest gripe about this film. Daniel's "romantic interest" in this film isn't a romantic interest and quite honestly I don't even understand why she's there. Komiko would have been been excellent in this and also provided an added injection of emotion (conflict/possible separation) that was absent. Daniel's girl leaves before the final fight and we don't give a rat's arse. Also I find it annoying, as other posters have pointed out that Daniel manages to beat the life out of Chosen (an old school Karate master) in part 2 but can't seem to even fluster a token "tournament fighter" from the States. This film could've been legendary but instead just leaves us with a bad taste in our mouths. And yes, it looks liife Ralph has been hitting the Jack in the Box pretty regularly as he's obviouly packed on a few pounds. Maybe thats why Daniel seems to be off his game?
The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
The best of the 3 - Maybe some spoilers
I really think this is the best movie of all three. Most of my friends who went to see the movie didn't like it or thought it was too weird. KK2 presents to us a darker, more gritty Karate Kid story in which the primary focus is not really Daniel but Miyagi. The scenery, although not really Okinawan(Hawaii)is compelling as are the characters. Chosen comes off as a bit more threatening than Johnny in the first installment and the interaction between Miyagi and Daniel does not disappoint. My only gripe is WHY ON EARTH DOES THE LOVE STORY BETWEEN DANIEL AND KUMIKO NOT EXTEND TO THE THIRD MOVIE??!!!!!!! Of course this fact does not really have as much to do with the second movie as the third I really considered it a letdown that she didn't appear in part 3 and the gal that was there was primarily filler and added nothing to the plot or character development. By the time the 3rd movie was released I began to have serious thoughts that Daniel might in fact be gay. Anyway for me the Daniel/Kumiko relationship was what made the second film. Also the love theme "Glory of Love" sung by Peter Cetera (Formerly of Chicago) was electric against the backdrop of the evolving love story between Kumiko and Daniel. Elizabeth Shue was realistic but not compelling and really there wasn't much energy between her and Machio in the first. The fight scene between Daniel and Chosen at the end was pretty brutal. This is one movie I can never watch enough and reminds me of that special time in my youth when it seemed that anything was possible.