During the late 80's, early 90's a martial arts craze was happening in films, bringing us such films stars as Steven Seagal and Jean Claude Van Damme. When one of the lessor known straight-to-video stars, Mark Dacascos entered the game, he brought us something out of the box with this film which features the Brazilian fighting style, Capoeira. I love this movie so much it's one of my favorites, despite the fact that it does not really withstand the test of time.
Though the message of a Teacher from the hood coming back to his hood to teach the worst kids in his old school how to respect themselves so it will influence them to not let the streets consume them is timeless, the delivery of this message could not be more early 90's.
The acting was straight out of an after school special, and it feels like whoever wrote this movie was watching MTV while he did it, more concern with coming off cool rather than being actuate. Sure in the 90's this would all be more acceptable, but now it just seems cheesy in campy.
However, all this is does not matter, because in the heart of this flick it's a martial arts film, and this they got right. This movie made me obsessed with Capoeira for the next few years and even thought from this obsession I learned that the filmmakers took liberties with the fighting style, that does not matter, because the movie version of Capoeira makes this one of the best Martial art films made.
Watching Mark teach these kids how awesome Capoeira is, puts a smile on my face every time,and watching him use the fighting style for both self-defense and aggressively was just so cool. The filmmakers used low camera angles to really express the high flying kicks and flips. It was just mesmerizing and worth watching.
It does not have the same legs as the Karate kid has but using Capoeira gives this movie an originality that most other Martial arts films don't have.
Though the message of a Teacher from the hood coming back to his hood to teach the worst kids in his old school how to respect themselves so it will influence them to not let the streets consume them is timeless, the delivery of this message could not be more early 90's.
The acting was straight out of an after school special, and it feels like whoever wrote this movie was watching MTV while he did it, more concern with coming off cool rather than being actuate. Sure in the 90's this would all be more acceptable, but now it just seems cheesy in campy.
However, all this is does not matter, because in the heart of this flick it's a martial arts film, and this they got right. This movie made me obsessed with Capoeira for the next few years and even thought from this obsession I learned that the filmmakers took liberties with the fighting style, that does not matter, because the movie version of Capoeira makes this one of the best Martial art films made.
Watching Mark teach these kids how awesome Capoeira is, puts a smile on my face every time,and watching him use the fighting style for both self-defense and aggressively was just so cool. The filmmakers used low camera angles to really express the high flying kicks and flips. It was just mesmerizing and worth watching.
It does not have the same legs as the Karate kid has but using Capoeira gives this movie an originality that most other Martial arts films don't have.