Before I get started with this blog, I'm only going to be doing the first 6 due to time constraints, just to let you all know. Also this isn't going to be a top 10 or top 20 like some of my other blogs I've done in the past, but rather movies thrown out there in any order (example; I can't say one movie is better than the other think their all good, and exceeded my expectations). For some films if their apart of a series, I may just add them all into one slot. In all I'll probably do a mention of 25 films. If you have any suggestions of what I should add, feel free to comment.
1. Undisputed 2 & 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf3dKCWu6nA
If your like me, have watched the first Undisputed, and got bored with it don't skip out on the 2 sequels after it. They both are leaps and bounds better than the original in almost every area ie; fight choreography, character development, production values, and even acting to a certain extent.
Undisputed 2 - Better than the original imo, and about on par with part 3 Redemption. Some of the fights could have been longer especially the last one Boyka vs. Chambers. On a technical level, a lot of the fight scenes were very well done. Adkins really makes use of his talent and was perfect for his role of Yuri Boyka. Hes a great actor and thats very, very rare for a martial arts star. To give a brief summation of the story, its really no different than your average prison fight film, only this one is done better. George "Iceman" Chambers (after losing to Wesley Snipes character in the first film) played by Michael Jai White ends up being framed by a mobster for a crime he didn't commit in order to be coerced into fighting in a prison tournament against Boyka (its a gambling racket between a mobster and the warden).
Undisputed 3 - Same as part 2. But I'm starting to notice a pattern here... in every one of the Undisputed films the "supposed" bad guy/villain loses in the previous movie comes back to be the hero in the sequel. I think the writers tried to hard to craft a villain when they weren't really the villains just misunderstood. Story is as follows... Boyka loses to Chambers in part 2 and is left with a serious leg injury not being able to compete anymore until one day starts training to get back into competition. He learns theres a tournament where the ultimate prize is freedom. Great movie but I seriously hope the guy they used here as the "villain" isnt in the next Undisputed because he has no charisma at all... very 2 dimensional.
2. Bloodsport 1
Instant cl@ssic. Its also something every fight fan has to of watched atleast once... me I have seen this a hundred times lol. I'm not a fan of Van Damme but I'll give the man his dues, hes made some great movies in his time, this being one of them no doubt about it. Its a shame it has the rating that it has on IMDB, but hey whoever said those voting sites are fair :). I won't bother going into the story much because I assume everyones seen this by now, and knows what this is. If not... well its based on the real life person Frank Dux (whos a fraud I might add) who claimed to fight in an underground elite tournament called the Kumite against the worlds best fighters. Its a great martials arts film but I happen to believe Bloodsports part 2 and 3 are better.
3. Bloodsport 2 & 3
Bloodsport 2 & 3 - Both of these are slightly better than the original Bloodsport. Much more character development for Alex Cardo than Frank Dux however the fight scenes are around the same. Part 2 is about Alex who steals the Katana not knowing its given to the winner of the Kumite tournament. He gets caught, thrown in prison, and than learns about the Kumite. Bloodsport 3 is more of an add on story to Bloodsport 2 Alex refuses to fight in a Kumite tournament hosted by a mob boss (gambling racket) and the mob boss takes revenge by killing his teacher.
4. District B13
Great martial arts action scenes here as well as parkour, and its nonstop! This is an underrated gem and worth seeing now if you can get a copy of the dvd. Its in french but there are dubbed versions available, and maybe you can get this off of netflix. Alittle bit about the movie... Its set in the ghettos of Paris in the year 2010. An undercover cop and an ex thug try to infiltrate a gang in order to defuse a neutron bomb. Famed writer Luc Besson wrote the story and as usual he never ceases to amaze, and captivate audiences. Its not his best work to date but its up there. Now there is a sequel called District B13 Ultimatum but its nowhere near as good as the original imho.
5. Under Siege
Ah, Seagal needs no introduction. I believe Under Siege to be one of his better films out there along with Above The Law. Sadly hes declined in recent years with bad dtv releases. One complaint though, why is it all his fight scenes are pretty much one sided? He never gets hurt lol. Anyway the story is simple, some terrorists hijack a US Naval battleship, and its up to Casey Ryback to save the day. Maybe some day we will see a Under Siege 3 =). I'm not holding my breath on that one though.
6. American Ninja 1-2
Remember the ninja craze of the 80s? American Ninja did just that by cashing in on it. If you don't mind bad acting and cliched storylines might want to give American Ninja 1 and 2 a watch. The fight scenes are awesome. To sum the story up of American Ninja 1... An American soldier who has suffered from amnesia fights mercenary ninjas in the phillipines, doesn't get better than that. Part 2 is equally as good but like with part 1, all fights are one sided. I guess it suits the main character well since hes a ninja master :). The plot for part 2 is somewhat reminiscent to that of part 1. On a caribbean island, a criminal kidnaps a local scientist so he can use him to create an army of mutant ninjas.
Thats it for this blog. Before anyone asks, lol I do have plans to add some Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris movies in my next blogs, so don't worry I haven't forgotten.