Shootfighter [VHS]
by Patrick Allen (II)
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VHS Tape Cover Information
Actor: Bolo Yeung, Maryam d'Abo, Michael Bernardo, Sigal Diamant, William ZabkaDirector: Patrick Allen (II)
Edition: VHS Tape
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
Running Time: 94 minutes
Release Date: 1994-06-08
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Publisher: Columbia/Tri-Star
Studio: Columbia/Tri-Star
VHS Movie Reviews of Shootfighter [VHS]
Movie Review: "Here are the rules: In the ring, there are no rules"
Summary: 3 Stars
"Shootfighter" is among those included in a short list of films - including No Retreat No Surrender [VHS] and "The King of the Kickboxers", among others - that are universally venerated among martial arts fans but that few folks have actually seen. Usually, the movies on this list live up to their legend and are worth paying the chunk of change they go for nowadays on Amazon or eBay, but in the case of this karate spectacle that mixes hand-to-hand combat with weapons, I'm not entirely convinced I got my money's worth. Sure, the fighting beats the crud out of many a modern Steven Seagal or Van Damme flick, and there's a lot to be said for a film that accumulates such a large roster of legitimate kung fu talent...but as far as dynamism, utilization of resources, and actual fighting is concerned, I have seen better.
The story: Nick (Michael Bernardo, "WMAC Masters") and Ruben (William Zabka, High Voltage) are two karate-practicing buddies who misguidedly fall into the world of illegal shootfighting by way of an underground tournament concocted by the evil Mr. Lee (Martin Kove, The Karate Kid). Stuck in a circuit where the only way out is as champion or corpse, it's up to their Master Shingo (Bolo Yeung, Bloodsport) to get them out...but doing so would involve facing his past, his personal demons, and the man who killed his best friend.
On the surface, "Shootfighter" appears to be a superior low-budget actioneer: the acting isn't great but is far from sucking, the premise ties into modern society's obsession with mixed martial arts, and - my goodness! - just look at that roster of fighters! In addition to Yeung, Kove, Bernardo, and Zabka, there's Hakim Alston and Chris Casamassa (Mortal Kombat), John Barrett (American Kickboxer 1), Erik Betts ("WMAC Masters"), Thunderwolf (Bloodmatch [VHS]), Kisu ("Big Bad Beetleborgs")...and that's only considering the fighters that are given an introduction; most of the guys are legitimate kung fu champions and practitioners and could probably have put on the same show in real life as they did in the movie. What's more impressive, though, is their mastery of weapons: quarterstaffs, rattan sticks, sickles, spears, nunchukas, and swords are called forth to increase the level of violence, which occasionally peaks at gory levels that include a shredded throat, a snapped forearm, and a ripped-out heart.
With that being said, consider that the movie works better as a cumulative spectacle than as a collection of them: of the `round fifteen fights, no single one stands out in particular (with the possible exception of a nunchuka vs. rattan sticks encounter involving Kazja Patschull), due to the fights being either too short, featuring too many pauses inbetween the action, and/or the insistence on implied "realism" that takes away much of the ebb and flow of the encounters. There are plenty of cool moves, mind you, but these are generally limited to one or two per fight, and it's harder to appreciate these on their own than as of a well-rounded battle. Also, seeing as he's more or less the headlining name among the cast, it's particularly disappointing that the still-muscular Bolo Yeung has two of the worst fights of the movie, the second against baddie Martin Kove.
During the end credits, Yeung is shown practicing tai chi on a beach, and this alone is prettier and more impressive than any fight in the movie, as far as I'm concerned. When it comes to a film like this, all that matters is the action: simplistic storylines and bad acting can be forgiven if the kicks and punches are awesome, as was the case in, say, "Bloodsport", but even though this film was definitely inspired by that one, it has a lot to learn about just letting its fighters duke it out to the end. Give it a buy if you're an enthusiast, but otherwise, mainstream Hollywood has already surpassed "Shootfighter".
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