Keen eyed viewers will probably spot a pre-Big Trouble In Little China, Carter Wong in this otherwise woefully non-engaging cut & paste crap-fest as served up by that stalwart of grandiose cinematic ineptitude, Mr Godfrey Ho (allegedly). This one struggles right from the very start in fact, as although this is ostensibly set between the first and second world wars, the segments featuring the western actors proudly show off the fact that they are attired in modern day suits and jewellery and even speak in modern lingo(!!!!) Whilst it is undeniably true that such typical gross incompetence on the part of IFD is very often a source of much mirth in these flicks, here it sadly falls entirely flat on account of the horrific boredom that so predominantly permeates proceedings throughout. In fact, I highly recommend skipping this one altogether and popping in one of Godfrey Ho's numerous ninja flicks instead; Now they are GOOD quality crap.
3 Reviews
Kickboxer the Champion
BandSAboutMovies5 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
IFD has a website and yes, it's near comical in how much they reveal and how they have never edited their many typos. I mean, this site is full of typos too - people email me about them all the time - but I am actively trying to clean them up.
Here's what they had to say about Kickboxer the Champion: "A killer and a Trader must battle the odds in the name of honor and justice.
In Shanghai between the wars, one man, Kingsley, is determined to corner the opium trade for all of China by controlling the shipping routes. Boxer is an honest trader who stands in his way, Knowing that Boxer and his friend Richard are amateur kickboxers, Kingsley unleashes his champion, Bulldog on him.
Once Boxer has been eliminated all chaos breaks out in gangland, with crime bosses at each others throats and killers-for-hire assassinating all who oppose Kingsley. It is up to Boxer's friend Richard to challenge Bulldog to a battle-to-the-death to ensure that justice is served."
One person has reviewed this - to date - on Letterboxd and only 2 have seen it on IMDB. That's incredible, because the ninja Godfrey Ho movies are packed with viewers. I guess he was right: you really should just make hundreds of ninja movies.
What is even more amazing is that this movie was edited together with new footage and also scenes from a movie made 17 years earlier - a record, defeating the previous champion, the 16 years different Terror, Sexo Y Brujeria - called Chu zu zuo shou di ren. It also has some recognizable people in it like Sing Chen and Carter Wong, who most American audiences recognize as Thunder from Big Trouble In Little China. Wayne Archer, who plays Kingsley, was also in Operation Condor and several other Godfrey Ho films.
At this point, Godfrey realized that every movie on the shelf in most video stores was saying kickboxer, so he probably made the right movie. It looks like an actual movie, but that's not what I expect or demand from IFD movies. I want utter inanity and this doesn't really give me that movie drug rush that I need. It does, however, have white dudes continually proving themselves to be the best fighters in the world, so if you do run a video store, file this under science fiction.
It does, however, make liberal and non-copyright-respecting use of the Psycho theme.
Here's what they had to say about Kickboxer the Champion: "A killer and a Trader must battle the odds in the name of honor and justice.
In Shanghai between the wars, one man, Kingsley, is determined to corner the opium trade for all of China by controlling the shipping routes. Boxer is an honest trader who stands in his way, Knowing that Boxer and his friend Richard are amateur kickboxers, Kingsley unleashes his champion, Bulldog on him.
Once Boxer has been eliminated all chaos breaks out in gangland, with crime bosses at each others throats and killers-for-hire assassinating all who oppose Kingsley. It is up to Boxer's friend Richard to challenge Bulldog to a battle-to-the-death to ensure that justice is served."
One person has reviewed this - to date - on Letterboxd and only 2 have seen it on IMDB. That's incredible, because the ninja Godfrey Ho movies are packed with viewers. I guess he was right: you really should just make hundreds of ninja movies.
What is even more amazing is that this movie was edited together with new footage and also scenes from a movie made 17 years earlier - a record, defeating the previous champion, the 16 years different Terror, Sexo Y Brujeria - called Chu zu zuo shou di ren. It also has some recognizable people in it like Sing Chen and Carter Wong, who most American audiences recognize as Thunder from Big Trouble In Little China. Wayne Archer, who plays Kingsley, was also in Operation Condor and several other Godfrey Ho films.
At this point, Godfrey realized that every movie on the shelf in most video stores was saying kickboxer, so he probably made the right movie. It looks like an actual movie, but that's not what I expect or demand from IFD movies. I want utter inanity and this doesn't really give me that movie drug rush that I need. It does, however, have white dudes continually proving themselves to be the best fighters in the world, so if you do run a video store, file this under science fiction.
It does, however, make liberal and non-copyright-respecting use of the Psycho theme.
A lean, mean movie that kicks buttocks
mike_gibbons996 April 2006
Two words: amazing fight scenes. I had heard about this movie from some friends of mine who were raving about it, so finally managed to track it down.
The movie follows some young kickboxers, Richard and Boxer, who must battle an evil gangster and his invincible fighting-machine henchman, who is able to punch the bark off trees with his bare fists. Wayne Archer fills the shoes of the title character in Kickboxer the Champion. The plot concerns a powerful opium ring, whose mastermind surrounds himself with martial arts-savvy goons. Archer takes on the villain's flunkies and forces a one-on-one, winner-take-all duel to the death. In my opinion, Richard, played by the amazingly talented Don Murray, is the highlight of the movie. His youthful spirit, amazing moves and subtle delivery make him one of the day's best actors. It's a shame we haven't seen more work out of him.
Bloodsport and that short guy have nothing on this movie.
Two big thumbs up.
The movie follows some young kickboxers, Richard and Boxer, who must battle an evil gangster and his invincible fighting-machine henchman, who is able to punch the bark off trees with his bare fists. Wayne Archer fills the shoes of the title character in Kickboxer the Champion. The plot concerns a powerful opium ring, whose mastermind surrounds himself with martial arts-savvy goons. Archer takes on the villain's flunkies and forces a one-on-one, winner-take-all duel to the death. In my opinion, Richard, played by the amazingly talented Don Murray, is the highlight of the movie. His youthful spirit, amazing moves and subtle delivery make him one of the day's best actors. It's a shame we haven't seen more work out of him.
Bloodsport and that short guy have nothing on this movie.
Two big thumbs up.
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