Quite often it happens that the purest examples of a particular style only happen after that style has become outdated or it has moved on. Even more often so with movies. Most movie fans will know what you're talking about if you say something is, for example, an 80s action film. Those had a distinct feel and sound that separate them to their own subgenre of action. But not all of them were made in the 80s. One of the earliest pioneers of the subgenre was Escape from New York in 1981, having started its production in the late 70s, whereas this film, released in 1992, was probably one of the last of the era.
And it definitely loves what it is. It is distilled and honest 80s from the cheesy synth-soundtrack to the brutal fist cuffs fight scenes to the gratuitously urban settings and colours. And then there's the story, where a young art student Jake Lo (Brandon Lee) witnesses a mob boss committing a murder and is promptly flown to Chicago under police protection to testify against the boss. And naturally everything goes absolutely sideways almost immediately and our hero has to kung fu fight his way out of trouble. Like you do.
It's cheesy, it's simple, but it's honest about what it is. It doesn't hide, it doesn't pretend, and it does it all with heart and feeling. And I love it for what it is. Though it definitely helps that the actors are much better than usual, from the rising martial arts action star Brandon Lee to Powers Boothe playing the Chicago cop hunting down the mob boss.
If you like action and especially if you love 80s action, give this film a watch. It's worth it.
And it definitely loves what it is. It is distilled and honest 80s from the cheesy synth-soundtrack to the brutal fist cuffs fight scenes to the gratuitously urban settings and colours. And then there's the story, where a young art student Jake Lo (Brandon Lee) witnesses a mob boss committing a murder and is promptly flown to Chicago under police protection to testify against the boss. And naturally everything goes absolutely sideways almost immediately and our hero has to kung fu fight his way out of trouble. Like you do.
It's cheesy, it's simple, but it's honest about what it is. It doesn't hide, it doesn't pretend, and it does it all with heart and feeling. And I love it for what it is. Though it definitely helps that the actors are much better than usual, from the rising martial arts action star Brandon Lee to Powers Boothe playing the Chicago cop hunting down the mob boss.
If you like action and especially if you love 80s action, give this film a watch. It's worth it.