One of Cannon Films last efforts, Sam Firstenberg directs a pretty decent martial arts action thriller in the vain of Bloodsport, starring the second American Ninja, David Bradley, and the gorgeous Mark Dacascos in one of his first major roles!
As with most American martial arts movies around the early 90's, they all featured some sort of underground fighting - usually with barbarian type opponents, or wrestling types, with this one being a prime example. I wasn't expecting much when I first got it almost 30 years ago, but it actually was one of the better American martial arts movies of that era...
Watching it on the very same VHS all these years later gives a great feeling of nostaglia and a nice surprise to see that the film actually holds up well. It jumps straight into it as Bradley's parents are killed in a plane crash leaving him to be brought up by an old Japanese sword master - who's own son (the gorgeous Mark Dacascos) has some major issues and hates his adoptive brother with a passion.
Jumping years ahead, with Bradley now a reporter living in the US, and Dacascos a big Yakuza leader, the action unfolds rapidly with some great choreography and moves from both stars against each other and many other opponents in the tournament. While typically 90's in its production design, Firstenberg delivers a smoothly directed, beautifully lit and nicely shot, action film with decent performances from its main cast. There is a great nightmare sequence with Bradley which adds a little something different also!
I do like David Bradley. He's a great looking leading man with some fantastic moves and I think American Samurai is one of his best. It obviously seems dated in its story (apparently written by experts according to the video synopsis), style and approach, but overall it is still quite a good movie. Although soft spoken and hardly threatening in any bad guy role, Mark Dacascos is fantastic as the angry brother who pushes Bradley to the ultimate showdown ending a good 30 minutes of endless action in the finale.
Nice to see Hong Kong veterans, Dion Lam and Anthony Szeto pop up for some action...
Overall: One of the better 90's tournament fighting movies, and still quite enjoyable today!
As with most American martial arts movies around the early 90's, they all featured some sort of underground fighting - usually with barbarian type opponents, or wrestling types, with this one being a prime example. I wasn't expecting much when I first got it almost 30 years ago, but it actually was one of the better American martial arts movies of that era...
Watching it on the very same VHS all these years later gives a great feeling of nostaglia and a nice surprise to see that the film actually holds up well. It jumps straight into it as Bradley's parents are killed in a plane crash leaving him to be brought up by an old Japanese sword master - who's own son (the gorgeous Mark Dacascos) has some major issues and hates his adoptive brother with a passion.
Jumping years ahead, with Bradley now a reporter living in the US, and Dacascos a big Yakuza leader, the action unfolds rapidly with some great choreography and moves from both stars against each other and many other opponents in the tournament. While typically 90's in its production design, Firstenberg delivers a smoothly directed, beautifully lit and nicely shot, action film with decent performances from its main cast. There is a great nightmare sequence with Bradley which adds a little something different also!
I do like David Bradley. He's a great looking leading man with some fantastic moves and I think American Samurai is one of his best. It obviously seems dated in its story (apparently written by experts according to the video synopsis), style and approach, but overall it is still quite a good movie. Although soft spoken and hardly threatening in any bad guy role, Mark Dacascos is fantastic as the angry brother who pushes Bradley to the ultimate showdown ending a good 30 minutes of endless action in the finale.
Nice to see Hong Kong veterans, Dion Lam and Anthony Szeto pop up for some action...
Overall: One of the better 90's tournament fighting movies, and still quite enjoyable today!