This movie is one of the best American Martial Art Movies, in my opinion. I have to spoil it just a little, but I will do so without giving away the plot, the scene, or even the premises of the film.
However, I must say we learn about values again, in the third entry of this series. I like Sasha Miller again, as more of a natural real kickboxer than Van Damme, who seemed more like a Hollywood guy. Sasha Miller seems like your everyday struggling green belt at your local dojo (due to his lack of temper control he seems like a real green belt, although his physical techniques do approach brown belt level).
Martial art theory is considered, through even the very beginning as Xian comments about airplane travel being unnatural to a martial artist who is seeking to adapt to changing altitude, latitudes, angles, and velocities, as a way of life.
I do not want to spoil the plot or story, but can say it involves martial art attitudes towards resiliency under harsh hostile training conditions, dealing with corruption all around when you are an ethical martial artist, and the laws of Karma (you will always receive your just rewards). These are the REAL struggles we deal with in contemporary urban America, and although the movie takes place in a corrupt land, unfortunately, this type of corruption is present in our country, at times also, since the ME generation obliterated the love and peace attitudes of the 60s.
I can not say anymore for I will give the movie away. Most critics only gave it one or two stars, probably because so few critics and people today, understand what TRUE martial arts entails, with the newer martial art movies that emphasize 1990-2000 style Aerobic style kick boxing, acrobatics, and explosions over martial art training, resiliency, and ethics. If you can believe what critics say, the MATRIX series was a SUPERB martial art movie and Karate Kid4 was boring????? Oh well!
This movie is a must see for all serious martial artists.
Don Dragonfire
However, I must say we learn about values again, in the third entry of this series. I like Sasha Miller again, as more of a natural real kickboxer than Van Damme, who seemed more like a Hollywood guy. Sasha Miller seems like your everyday struggling green belt at your local dojo (due to his lack of temper control he seems like a real green belt, although his physical techniques do approach brown belt level).
Martial art theory is considered, through even the very beginning as Xian comments about airplane travel being unnatural to a martial artist who is seeking to adapt to changing altitude, latitudes, angles, and velocities, as a way of life.
I do not want to spoil the plot or story, but can say it involves martial art attitudes towards resiliency under harsh hostile training conditions, dealing with corruption all around when you are an ethical martial artist, and the laws of Karma (you will always receive your just rewards). These are the REAL struggles we deal with in contemporary urban America, and although the movie takes place in a corrupt land, unfortunately, this type of corruption is present in our country, at times also, since the ME generation obliterated the love and peace attitudes of the 60s.
I can not say anymore for I will give the movie away. Most critics only gave it one or two stars, probably because so few critics and people today, understand what TRUE martial arts entails, with the newer martial art movies that emphasize 1990-2000 style Aerobic style kick boxing, acrobatics, and explosions over martial art training, resiliency, and ethics. If you can believe what critics say, the MATRIX series was a SUPERB martial art movie and Karate Kid4 was boring????? Oh well!
This movie is a must see for all serious martial artists.
Don Dragonfire