02-05-2025, 10:15 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-06-2025, 08:47 AM by Drunk Monk.)
This is a grindhouse Japanese karate film with all the kicks and chops of the era - gratuitous toplessness, absurd chase scenes, a big black big time wrassler, a mischievous monkey that steals bikini tops, whip-wielding nazi chicks in halter tops, trapdoors, a major diamond, a blind karate master, and bananas stuffed with heroin.
What makes it interesting is that the lead is Hiroyuki Sanada. Sanada is a black belt in Kyokushin Karate and a protégé of Sonny Chiba who appears in the film and also serves as the choreographer. Another Chiba protégé and karateka, Etsuko Shihomi, plays the blind master. Both Sanada’s & Shihomi’s fight scenes are good. Sanada was quite the kicker in his day and manages some long takes that are clearly him.
He’s doing an awkward Jackie knock off, complete with the long hair, wide collar with plunging neckline, and hip vest. There are moments that border on humor, like when he’s being accused of being a pervert by a harem of bikini clad gals because his monkey stole a bikini top (the slo mo of the bikini-less gal running towards the camera is an early attention grabber early in the film).
Chiba appears as Mr Magic, a cheesey stage magician who turns out to be an undercover karate expert.
Not particularly D00M recommended. It makes for a good talking point in my article with Sanada’s recent Emmy & Golden Globe wins.
Seen on YouTube.
What makes it interesting is that the lead is Hiroyuki Sanada. Sanada is a black belt in Kyokushin Karate and a protégé of Sonny Chiba who appears in the film and also serves as the choreographer. Another Chiba protégé and karateka, Etsuko Shihomi, plays the blind master. Both Sanada’s & Shihomi’s fight scenes are good. Sanada was quite the kicker in his day and manages some long takes that are clearly him.
He’s doing an awkward Jackie knock off, complete with the long hair, wide collar with plunging neckline, and hip vest. There are moments that border on humor, like when he’s being accused of being a pervert by a harem of bikini clad gals because his monkey stole a bikini top (the slo mo of the bikini-less gal running towards the camera is an early attention grabber early in the film).
Chiba appears as Mr Magic, a cheesey stage magician who turns out to be an undercover karate expert.
Not particularly D00M recommended. It makes for a good talking point in my article with Sanada’s recent Emmy & Golden Globe wins.
Seen on YouTube.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse