.

Lock Up (1989)

109 min  -  Action | Crime | Thriller  -  4 August 1989 (USA) 

Director:

John Flynn

Writers:

Richard Smith, Jeb Stuart, 1 more credit »

Stars:

Sylvester Stallone, Donald Sutherland, John Amos

Storyline

Frank Leone is nearing the end of his prison term for a relatively minor crime. Just before he is paroled, however, Warden Drumgoole takes charge. Drumgoole was assigned to a hell-hole prison after his administration was publicly humiliated by Leone, and has now arrived on the scene to ensure that Leone never sees the light of day 

 

Read more »

.

American Shaolin (1992)

106 min  -  Action  -  23 July 1992 (Germany) 

Director:

Lucas Lowe

Writer:

Keith W. Strandberg

Stars:

Reese Madigan, Trent Bushey, Daniel Dae Kim 

Storyline

After being humiliated in the ring by a dirty kickboxer who pulled down his shorts and then hit him, a martial arts master decides to travel to China and enter a monastery where he may learn the Shaolin form of fighting. The film then veers into "Karate Kid" territory where the novice humiliates himself at every turn, is tolerated as a foreigner, and still comes out a champion. The monastery teaches non-violence, but everyone knows that sooner or later the student will catch up with the bad guy

 American Shaolin is a 1991 martial arts film, starring (among others) Reese Madigan, Kim Chan and Daniel Dae Kim. It was directed by Lucas Lowe.

Plot

During a martial arts tournament, the American finalist Drew Carson (Reese Madigan) is humiliated by his opponent, kickboxer Trevor Gottitall (Trent Bushey) who pantses him during the match. To add to the insult, Drew's teacher Master Kwan (Kim Chan) confesses that he is not—as he had claimed—a Shaolin monk, and therefore he had not passed on the actual knowledge of Shaolin kung fu to Drew. Determined to learn the actual art to prevent another such situation, Drew departs for China and arrives at the Shaolin Temple.

 At first, the monks do not let him enter, but with the help of a pretty tea shop waitress, Ashena (Alice Zhang Hung), and an old monk (Zhang Zhi Yen) who gives him a decisive advise, he waits outside of the temple for a week, after which he manages to be admitted. The old monk also turns out to be the abbot of the temple, Master San De, and he and his stern taskmaster train Drew and a number of other young apprentices in the ways of the Shaolin.

At first Drew causes much trouble as his American teenage temperament clashes with the tranquility within the temple and with his fellow student, Gao (Daniel Dae Kim), but under the rigorous physical and mental training he both improves his fighting skills and learns the meaning of discipline, humility, and patience. He makes friends with Gao and also manages to pass the two final tests: the Test of Spirituality, and the Test of the Chamber. Accepted as a full-fledged member of the Shaolin Monastery, he accompanies—along with Ashena—a delegation of his fellow students and the abbot to a martial arts tournament in Shanghai.

At the tournament, Drew encounters the American kickboxer Trevor Gottitall once again. Trevor taunts Drew before proceeding with this match against Gao. Gao initially gains the upper hand, but Trevor resorts to his dirty fighting techniques and injures Gao. With Gao pinned against the ropes, Trevor demands a match against the "American Shaolin". Drew rises, but sits down again, refusing to fight Trevor on the principle of non-violence and selflessness. Infuriated, Trevor continues to beat up Gao and hurls him out of the ring. Encouraged by Master San De, Drew finally enters the ring to fight Trevor. Trevor immediately used dirty tricks again, but Drew prevails and even offers his hand to the defeated Trevor. The crowd voices their support for Shaolin, and Master San De declares that this is "the future of Shaolin".

 

Read more »

Kickboxer 5: Redemption [1995]

1

Kickboxer 5 (1995)

87 min  -  Action | Drama | Thriller  -  August 1995 (USA) 

After David Sloan is murdered, it's up to kick-boxing champ Matt Reeves to avenge him.

Director:

Kristine Peterson

Writer:

Rick Filon

Stars:

Mark Dacascos, James Ryan, Geoff Meed

Storyline

Kickbox champion Matt Reeves witnesses the murder of his friend Johnny. When he investigates on the circumstances it appears that a Mr. Neegal in South Africa has founded a new kickbox association and does not leave international champions much of a chance. Johnny had to pay with his life when he did not want to join. Neegal seems to kill everybody who is in his way. Matt is on his own now, but suddenly finds an unexpected ally.

Read more »

1

Kickboxer 2: The Road Back (1991)

89 min  -  Action | Sport | Thriller  -  14 June 1991 (USA) 

Director:

Albert Pyun

Writers:

Mark DiSalle (characters), 

 Jean-Claude Van Damme (characters), 

1 more credit »

Stars:

Sasha Mitchell, Peter Boyle, Dennis Chan

Storyline

This movie is suppose to be a sequel to the movie which starred Jean-Claude Van Damme. Only now the movie revolves around the brother of the character that Van Damme played. David Sloan is the brother Van Damme's Kurt Sloan. He runs a Karate gym. Now Mr. Sangha, the Thai government official who handles Tong Po, the brutal kickboxer whom Van Damme in the previous movie, wishes that Tong Po would have another shot at Kurt Sloan, so he could vindicate himself but Tong Po in a fit of rage shot and killed him thus depriving him of an opportunity to face him again. But when they hear of David, they decide that he will be the one whom Tong Po will face to regain his honor. But when David is injured, Xian David's teacher is brought over to help him with his recovery. And when he recovers, they set David up to fight Tong Po; who will survive?

Read more »

1

Kickboxer 3: The Art of War (1992)

92 min  -  Action | Sport | Thriller  -  27 May 1994 (UK) 

David Sloan travels to Rio for a kick-box exhibition. There he saves two youngsters and stops a white slaver.

Director:

Rick King

Writer:

Dennis A. Pratt

Stars:

Sasha Mitchell, Dennis Chan, Richard Comar 

Storyline

Together with his trainer Xian, Kickbox champion David Sloan arrives in Rio de Janeiro for a show fight. Soon he's confronted with the darker sides of the city, when pocket picker Costa tries to steal his camera. He takes him and his beautiful sister Isabella under his wings and to his fight. There Isabella gains the attention of a ruthless white-slave agent, who happens to be his opponent Martin's manager. Not long until David needs to use his fighting skill also outside the ring.

Read more »

1

Kickboxer (1989)

97 min  -  Action | Sport  -  8 September 1989 (USA)  

Kurt Sloane must learn the ancient kick boxing art of Muay Thai in order to avenge his brother.

Directors:

Mark DiSalle, David Worth

Writers:

Mark DiSalle (story), Glenn A. Bruce (screenplay)

Stars:

Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dennis Alexio, Dennis Chan

Storyline

Kurt Sloan is the corner-man for his brother, U.S. kickboxing champion Eric Sloan. When Kurt witnesses his brother become maliciously paralyzed in the ring by Thailand champion Tong Po, Kurt vows revenge. With the help of Zion, a kickboxing trainer who lives in a remote area of Thailand, Kurt trains for the fight of his life.

Read more »

No Retreat, No Surrender (1986)

85 min  -  Action | Drama  -  2 May 1986 (USA)

Jason Stillwell, a Bruce Lee fan, is beaten numerous times and trains from the ghost of Lee. Jason then must use his newly acquired skills to save Seattle from a crime syndicate, whose top ... See full summary »

Director:

Corey Yuen

Writers:

See-Yuen Ng (original story), Keith W. Strandberg (screenplay), 1 more credit »

Stars:

Kurt McKinney, Jean-Claude Van Damme, J.W. Fails

Storyline

Jason Stillwell, a Bruce Lee fan, is beaten numerous times and trains from 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.

Read more »

American Ninja 4: The Annihilation 1990

American Ninja 4: The Annihilation is a 1990 action/martial arts film starring Michael Dudikoff, David Bradley, and James Booth. It was the fourth film in the American Ninja series and was directed by Cedric Sundstrom. The film marked Michael Dudikoff's final appearance in the American Ninja film series.

Plot

C.I.A. Agent Sean Davidson (David Bradley) is sent on a new mission. It turns out that the situation is really a grave one. Colonel Scott Mulgrew (Booth) an anti-American Army officer from Britain has sided with Sheik Maksood (Ron Smezarack) a Muslim militant who is planning to use a suitcase nuke to erase New York from the face of the earth. They also are training a secret Ninja Army in an old British fort. Mulgrew's army captures four commandos from a Delta Unit force run by the African government, and Mulgrew threatens to burn the commandos alive and nuke the Big Apple unless he is paid 50 million dollars. The local Police chief also supports him. Sean and his sidekick Carl are parachuted near the fort.

While gathering information from a few local operatives they are pursued by the police. While escaping, they come across Doctor Sarah (Robin Stille) a Peace Corps nurse. However in a nearby jungle, the Ninja Army attack them. Sean and Carl fight with the ninjas using their guns, nun chucks, bows and arrows, however they are captured and Sarah, Carl and Sean are imprisoned in the fort and tortured by Mulgrew and a Ninja master. Joe Armstrong (Michael Dudikoff), a special forces commando, now working as a teacher, is lured out of retirement and is sent to help Carl and Sean. Meanwhile Mulgrew tries to rape Sarah and it turns out that Mulgrew killed Sarah's father.

Now, with the help of some Local rebels known as Sulphur springs, Joe learns Mulgrew's location and equipping himself with Ninjutsu equipment he enters the fort stealthily, killing a few ninjas. Mulgrew decides to execute Sarah, Sean, Carl and the delta force commandos. Joe then attacks and rescues all the commandos and Sean and Carl and Sarah. Meanwhile the local rebels also attack the fort by massacring the opposing police forces. Mulgrew and Maksood's whole army is wiped out and the nuke is defused. As Maksood tries to run away in his helicopter, Carl fires a missile, destroying the helicopter and killing Maksood. The ninja master is killed by Joe and Mulgrew is killed by Sean. Joe shakes hands with the leader of the rebels. He then bids goodbye to Sarah and Sean. The film ends with Joe walking away through the heaps of dead bodies of the Ninjas and the debris of the destroyed fort.

Read more »