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Cast:
Kurt
McKinney
Jean
Claude Van Damme
J.W.Fails
Ron
Powell
Peter
Cunningham
Action:
Yuen
Kwai
Producer:
Ng
See Yuen
Director:
Yuen
Kwai
Score:
 
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NO
RETREAT, NO SURRENDER
AKA:
Karate Tiger
Year:
1985 Reviewer: Tony Ryan
This
is a groundbreaking film in many ways, as not only was it one
of the first American movies to have a predominantly H.K.
influence in director Yuen Kwai and producer Ng See Yuen, but
it also gave the "muscles from Brussels" his first
big break.
The
storyline is thin and plays on stereotypes in true 'Rocky'
style, pitting a newly trained American against an evil
Russian (real cold war stuff!) as well as the token break
dancing black guy! However, the action is unusually good when
you consider that it is American, and mid 80's. Unlike 'China
O’Brien' this film makes good use of Hong Kong
techniques, making the fights fluid and fast, getting the best
out of some average to good martial artists. Peter Cunningham
doesn’t shine here but made an excellent villainous cameo
soon after in 'Righting
Wrongs' also directed by Kwai.
The
middle 'training sequence' section of the film is interesting
as it sees Jason (McKinney) being trained by the ghost of
Bruce Lee, played by Korean martial artist Kim Tai Chung, who
was also Bruce's double in 'Game
of Death' (action doubled again by Yuen Biao). He does a
good job in the circumstances, (his voice was dubbed) and
shows some eerily good Bruce-like impersonations and an
excellent one-inch punch!
The
final reel is comic book stuff, as Ivan the Russian (!) beats
the Seattle Karate Team single handed, in what must be said
are some short but nicely choreographed fights, before Jason
steps in and promptly dishes out a beating, Bruce Lee style!
It all seems a little perfect and 'feel-good' as the credits
roll, but this is to be expected from a mid-80's American, low
budget actioner.
If
you haven't seen this film, then make sure you at least rent a
copy, as you will be pleasantly surprised. It's far better
than other American style martial arts movies such as 'China
O’Brien', 'American Shaolin' and the like showing what can
be done if a little extra time is taken over the choreography,
even if the lack of time elsewhere shows!
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