The Challenge

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Do you remember the film with Scott Glenn and Toshiro Mifune? Glenn is hired to take a sword back to Japan to give to Mifunes family. But Mifune's brother thinks the sword belongs to him and Glenn gets caught in the middle of the Feud. My favorite line from the film "They're queer for swords" Then Glenn joins Mifune's school and becomes a fighter. The best part was the epic sword fight at the end when Mifune is beaten by his brother and Glenn picks up the sword. I especially liked the staple to the forehead.

Why talk about this film released in 1982? It seems every few years it resurfaces under a new titles. I think I saw it once called American Samurai and just last night the Queen and I caught it on Showtime under the name Sword of the Ninja. For some reason, the Queen grew disinterested in the show and left to go read a book. A classic and she'd rather read. Go figure.

[Drunk Monk]

It's pretty common to repacked martial arts films under new titles. They made a killing doing with with Asian DVD releases, particularly with Michelle Yeoh, Jet and Jackie. You need to really know your titles. Often HK movies have a different UK title too. It's very confusing. The American-made movies have little excuse beyond grabbing another almighty buck.

I enjoyed The Challenge. As American-made MA films go, it was a decent one. Who can fault our hero Toshiro? And I always thought Scott Glenn was one of the better Right Stuff characters, although he totally lost me in The Keep.

[Haggis Killer]

I make movies that have names in the UK? I'm pink with surprise! Have I won any awards? What's my typical budget? Do I work with nice people? What do the grips take home weekly? I mean for salary, not what they're stealing from the prop makers.

Gee, I hope I co-star with some babes! Wow!

[Drunk Monk]

HK = hong kong
LB = pounds
CF = cystic fibrosis
TQ = total quality
DM = dungeon master
ED = erectile dysfunction
KB = kilobytes
DIY = do it yourself

It should all be clear to you now. No babes. Just grips. Sorry, but that's the way the acronym crumbles.