"Ring of Fire II" may be a lot of things, but it certainly isn't lazy: in about 90 minutes you will see at least 3 giant explosions, 2 car chases, and more than a dozen fight scenes. And when you think the movie is over....NO! One more action scene coming your way. But what makes this one stand out in the sea of medium-budget action flicks is mainly its weird and claustrophobic setting: an entire underground system of tunnels and basements right below the surface of L.A., and an entire society, divided into gangs, living there by their own set of rules. The setting actually reminded me of "Alien From L.A." with Kathy Ireland, except that apparently most residents of THIS society spend their time extensively training in the martial arts! And if the gay subtext of half-naked men in leather isn't enough, there is also a gay radio announcer who openly comes on to Don "The Dragon" Wilson! Anyway, the violent fight scenes are occasionally impressive, and the explosions even more so. The film was followed by a very different in style sequel. ** out of 4.
7 Reviews
Cheesy and downright bad...
paul_haakonsen21 March 2023
Having just revisited the 1991 "Ring of Fire" movie, I opted to sit down and watch this 1993 sequel titled "Ring of Fire II: Blood and Steel" immediately after. And now in 2023 was actually my very first time to watch this sequel from director Richard W. Munchkin.
Okay, just what were writers Paul Maslak, Richard W. Munchkin and Steve Tymon thinking when they were concocting the script and storyline for this movie? The plot was so laughably weak that it could barely sustain the movie. And sitting through 94 minutes of this was like having stumbled into the discarded alpha level of the old Double Dragon game, the level that never made it past the initial coding stage. I mean, going underground and fighting through subterranean-dwelling martial artist groups to get to a final boss stage. It was just not working in terms of being proper movie material.
It should be said though, that it was nice to see the good guy cast return from the previous movie to reprise their characters in this sequel.
There were a fair amount of martial arts sequences throughout the 94 minutes, which definitely helped to make the movie watchable; but just barely so.
And what were the props department thinking when they were accessorizing and designing the costumes for the bad guys and the henchmen? They looked like they had just stepped off of a hardcore bondage set, wearing leather straps, chains and what not. It was just laughably bad to look at.
"Ring of Fire II: Blood and Steel" is without a doubt the weakest entry in the "Ring of Fire" movie franchise.
My rating of "Ring of Fire II: Blood and Steel" lands on a three out of ten stars.
Okay, just what were writers Paul Maslak, Richard W. Munchkin and Steve Tymon thinking when they were concocting the script and storyline for this movie? The plot was so laughably weak that it could barely sustain the movie. And sitting through 94 minutes of this was like having stumbled into the discarded alpha level of the old Double Dragon game, the level that never made it past the initial coding stage. I mean, going underground and fighting through subterranean-dwelling martial artist groups to get to a final boss stage. It was just not working in terms of being proper movie material.
It should be said though, that it was nice to see the good guy cast return from the previous movie to reprise their characters in this sequel.
There were a fair amount of martial arts sequences throughout the 94 minutes, which definitely helped to make the movie watchable; but just barely so.
And what were the props department thinking when they were accessorizing and designing the costumes for the bad guys and the henchmen? They looked like they had just stepped off of a hardcore bondage set, wearing leather straps, chains and what not. It was just laughably bad to look at.
"Ring of Fire II: Blood and Steel" is without a doubt the weakest entry in the "Ring of Fire" movie franchise.
My rating of "Ring of Fire II: Blood and Steel" lands on a three out of ten stars.
Typical Dragon affair
AlanSmithee029 December 2001
Just your average Don "The Dragon" Wilson movie. They guy whose been in all those awful Cyborg Cop movies shows off more "underground street fighting with thugs" style that was so big in the late 80s and early 90s. Playing "Dr. Do-Good" Johnny, Wilson fights a bunch of evil jumpsuit thugs, muscle freaks, and dorks on skates as he tries to save his girl Julie from the evil champion of the underground fighting world, Kalin. So your basic "Double Dragon", "Final Fight" or any other punch-and-kick video game plot plus he's got his comical posse following him slowly and fighting everyone else he encounters. Don also has Sy Richardson as the wise old guy in the form of a disillusioned and always-angry black ex- soldier who wants revenge on Kalin. If this is your kind of movie, enjoy, otherwise.............RUN BEFORE IT GETS YOU!
Dragon, dragon come out to play
Bezenby19 January 2016
I guess accidentally stabbing your sister during a kickboxing match with Don "The The" Wilson does ease racial tensions, because everyone from the last film is buddies in this one! I guess they also forgot that Brad killed Johnny's cousin but hey the world keeps on spinning.
Don't worry about having to sit for an hour and a half while Don Wilson romances the ladies because this time some armed robbers have kidnapped her and taken her to an underground layer called Underground, so right from the get go Don is exercising those lightening fast feet by duking it out with gang after gang of homeless people while a DJ describes the action. Kind of like The Warriors, except the DJ here wants to give Don one in his tea towel holder.
So Don's going through this underground lair kicking everyone's arse's heads in while his mates Quan, Brad, Chuck (who seems to have gotten over Don stealing his girlfriend rather quickly) and ponytail guy mopping up behind him. And there's some bad guys who dress like they've walked off the set of Zardoz, great nineties hairdos, and the usual PM production values (people on fire, kickboxing, explosions you know the drill). Oh, and there's a guy called Gimpy who likes blowing up stuff.
Fun all the way and everyone looks like they enjoyed making it, so this one's a given, if you like kickboxing films from the nineties starring Don "Corleone" Wilson.
Don't worry about having to sit for an hour and a half while Don Wilson romances the ladies because this time some armed robbers have kidnapped her and taken her to an underground layer called Underground, so right from the get go Don is exercising those lightening fast feet by duking it out with gang after gang of homeless people while a DJ describes the action. Kind of like The Warriors, except the DJ here wants to give Don one in his tea towel holder.
So Don's going through this underground lair kicking everyone's arse's heads in while his mates Quan, Brad, Chuck (who seems to have gotten over Don stealing his girlfriend rather quickly) and ponytail guy mopping up behind him. And there's some bad guys who dress like they've walked off the set of Zardoz, great nineties hairdos, and the usual PM production values (people on fire, kickboxing, explosions you know the drill). Oh, and there's a guy called Gimpy who likes blowing up stuff.
Fun all the way and everyone looks like they enjoyed making it, so this one's a given, if you like kickboxing films from the nineties starring Don "Corleone" Wilson.
Fun... popcorn on the couch kind of movie.
swamptunes11 July 2005
Well... what can I say? It's fun... if you let it be fun. It's filled to the brim with well-choreographed fight scenes that are executed to perfection by professional martial artists... That seems to be the most true and innate value of this romp. The story seems to have been put in place primarily as a vehicle to get from one fight scene to another. Some moments of decent acting by the supporting cast will sneak up on you... as will some comedic moments provided by the comic relief. (The comic relief - physically - the smallest martial artist in the movie and naturally... portrayed in the film as the MOST girl-hungry!)
The score is fine but the film has a very fun soundtrack that winds up being featured on an underground radio station within the parameters of the story.. If you like this genre of movies you'll like this one as much as you would any other...
Too bad they didn't sell the soundtrack!
The score is fine but the film has a very fun soundtrack that winds up being featured on an underground radio station within the parameters of the story.. If you like this genre of movies you'll like this one as much as you would any other...
Too bad they didn't sell the soundtrack!
Nice sequel to ring of fire, enjoyable for sure
destroyerwod28 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Well Well.... i have wait up a long time to see finally this sequel to the original Ring of Fire that, to be honest, i really liked, even tough it was a low budget martial arts movie. But hey... I'm the most biggest fan of these anyway, my collection is growing and I'm trying to see them all, no matter how good or bad they are. So well yes i did enjoy the first movie. Here is the second one where most of all the original actors are back, which for a low budget is kind of rare. Dale Jacoby and Vince Murdoco have been in a couple of martial arts movies of the 90s, and they prove here once again they can do the job as side kick. Haven't saw them starring but well as side-kick they sure the job well.
To get you in the mood, Dale and Vince where the bad guys in the first film, but since then, they and Don's character have grown better, understand the way of life and put the difference aside, and now Don's soon to be wife(which was his love interest in the first movie) is abduct and Don is on a quest to bring her back, with the help of his former foes and wife's friend.
I was SO MUCH waiting to see the gang together after the first movie and i had trouble founding this copy, so its been nearly a year after i saw Ring of Fire 1, but i do remember all of it, i did enjoy it a lot. So well lets say sure the gang working together is good to see, and the martial arts in the movie are cool, but there was a couple things bugging me up. First if your sister is being abduct, will you let yourself be seduce by a bunch of hotties? I would be so much of my quest to get her back, i wouldn't care if it was Jessica Alba or another hottie in front of me. Secondly i would have like a few more "death cage" match with Murdocco and the others, that could have been sweet, but that is more of a wanting that a problem.
Anyway Ring of Fire 2 is a well enjoyable sequel to the first one, sure a little cliché for most of it, sure you could have hope for a better story reuniting the gang together, but it was well decent enough so i enjoyed it. And it was cool to see them together. Dale have played mostly ass holes in his martial arts movies, and for once you can root for him, lol, he sure had talents back then, i don't know now in 2010 but I'm a little sad he never scored much in the 90s
To get you in the mood, Dale and Vince where the bad guys in the first film, but since then, they and Don's character have grown better, understand the way of life and put the difference aside, and now Don's soon to be wife(which was his love interest in the first movie) is abduct and Don is on a quest to bring her back, with the help of his former foes and wife's friend.
I was SO MUCH waiting to see the gang together after the first movie and i had trouble founding this copy, so its been nearly a year after i saw Ring of Fire 1, but i do remember all of it, i did enjoy it a lot. So well lets say sure the gang working together is good to see, and the martial arts in the movie are cool, but there was a couple things bugging me up. First if your sister is being abduct, will you let yourself be seduce by a bunch of hotties? I would be so much of my quest to get her back, i wouldn't care if it was Jessica Alba or another hottie in front of me. Secondly i would have like a few more "death cage" match with Murdocco and the others, that could have been sweet, but that is more of a wanting that a problem.
Anyway Ring of Fire 2 is a well enjoyable sequel to the first one, sure a little cliché for most of it, sure you could have hope for a better story reuniting the gang together, but it was well decent enough so i enjoyed it. And it was cool to see them together. Dale have played mostly ass holes in his martial arts movies, and for once you can root for him, lol, he sure had talents back then, i don't know now in 2010 but I'm a little sad he never scored much in the 90s
Ring of Fire II may have its flaws, but it's basically an enjoyable movie.
tarbosh2200010 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Doctor Johnny Woo (The Dragon) returns. This time around, he's engaged to Julie (Ford) and looking forward to a quiet life together. That is, until Julie is kidnapped and stolen away to an underground society called...The Underground. It's its own separate city, with its own rules, laws and gangs. No one from the surface world ever goes down there, and guns are not allowed. But Johnny ventures down there anyway and battles away for his wife-to-be. Along the way he meets Ernest (Richardson), an embittered vet, who ends up helping him. It turns out the main baddies in The Underground are Kalin (Jacklin) and his lackey Predator (Lurie). They stage Punchfighting matches for fun and they want Johnny to face off against them. Backing up Johnny is his crew from the previous film, which includes the return of comic relief Kwong (Lee). Will Johnny and his compatriots rescue Julie and make it back to the surface world? Find out today! Ring of Fire II certainly doesn't skimp on the action: there are constant fights, blow-ups, car chases, broken glass, and even some Punchfighting. It keeps up like this with a good pace until right before the climax, when it starts to drag, and the repetition of it all becomes brain-numbing. But in the set and costume design, there is a lot of creativity which sets it apart. Sure, the basic plot is a melange of The Warriors (1979), Escape From New York (1981) and The Running Man (1987), but weird sets and the bizarre costumes of gangs like The Avengers, Shadow Warriors, Nightrats and personal favorites The Garbage Gang keep things nicely different. The lighting can also be odd, but a lot of the movie is too dark. So, visually not only is it different from the previous Ring of Fire installment, but it's different from most other movies of this kind.
Cleverly, the first image of the movie is a "Ring" - but it's Julie's engagement ring. Sadly Maria Ford does almost nothing in this movie. The cast is very impressive - Eric Lee is up to his classic wacky antics, Evan Lurie shows his time-honored Meatheadyness, and Ian Jacklin wears a metal cummerbund. As in Firepower, Gerald Okamura is here but you can barely see him. At least he's credited this time. Art Camacho is also here as a generic gang member. The great Sy Richardson gives the movie much-needed weight, and lest we forget Vince Murdocco and Michael Delano. Both in front of and behind the camera, the cast and crew give it that PM style we all know and love.
Happily, this movie is not at all a retread of the first, which in lesser hands it easily could have been, and we give them credit for that. There's also no courting or love story, because that was taken care of in the first film. Unfortunately, there is some filler, and the Punchfighting subplot is pointless and goes nowhere. The baddies just beat up on nameless, unseeable goons and there is no rhyme or reason to it. There's no escalation in fight prowess. It's seemingly there just to fill time. We love a good Punchfighter, but that's not really what this movie is and it feels like an afterthought. Adding to The Warriors feel, there's a radio DJ who periodically pops up to give updates. But those of you who have seen Riot (1997) and Fists of Blood (1988) will see there is also a (no pun intended) underground influence, as well as a more mainstream influence to the proceedings.
Finally, it should be noted that Don is shirtless for most of the movie's running time. He, of course, loses his shirt in a fight when he first enters the underground, and he must go through his entire odyssey bare-chested. It's worth noting because it's the longest single instance of unnecessary shirtlessness we've seen to date. There's NO reason for it, especially considering how long it lasts.
Ring of Fire II may have its flaws, but it's basically an enjoyable movie. It's not a title you need to rush out right now and buy, but if you see it somewhere, pick it up.
Cleverly, the first image of the movie is a "Ring" - but it's Julie's engagement ring. Sadly Maria Ford does almost nothing in this movie. The cast is very impressive - Eric Lee is up to his classic wacky antics, Evan Lurie shows his time-honored Meatheadyness, and Ian Jacklin wears a metal cummerbund. As in Firepower, Gerald Okamura is here but you can barely see him. At least he's credited this time. Art Camacho is also here as a generic gang member. The great Sy Richardson gives the movie much-needed weight, and lest we forget Vince Murdocco and Michael Delano. Both in front of and behind the camera, the cast and crew give it that PM style we all know and love.
Happily, this movie is not at all a retread of the first, which in lesser hands it easily could have been, and we give them credit for that. There's also no courting or love story, because that was taken care of in the first film. Unfortunately, there is some filler, and the Punchfighting subplot is pointless and goes nowhere. The baddies just beat up on nameless, unseeable goons and there is no rhyme or reason to it. There's no escalation in fight prowess. It's seemingly there just to fill time. We love a good Punchfighter, but that's not really what this movie is and it feels like an afterthought. Adding to The Warriors feel, there's a radio DJ who periodically pops up to give updates. But those of you who have seen Riot (1997) and Fists of Blood (1988) will see there is also a (no pun intended) underground influence, as well as a more mainstream influence to the proceedings.
Finally, it should be noted that Don is shirtless for most of the movie's running time. He, of course, loses his shirt in a fight when he first enters the underground, and he must go through his entire odyssey bare-chested. It's worth noting because it's the longest single instance of unnecessary shirtlessness we've seen to date. There's NO reason for it, especially considering how long it lasts.
Ring of Fire II may have its flaws, but it's basically an enjoyable movie. It's not a title you need to rush out right now and buy, but if you see it somewhere, pick it up.
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