Showdown in Little Tokyo was a worthy martial arts action movie starring Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee. Though a box office flop and poorly received by critics as well as given a limited release by Warner Brothers, Showdown in Little Tokyo became popular on VHS and has since become a cult classic especially after the untimely death of Brandon Lee in 1993.
Los Angeles Police Detectives Chris Kenner (Dolph Lundgren) and Johnny Murata (Brandon Lee) team up to bring down the ruthless Yakuza drug kingpin Yoshida (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) who is running a drug ring and also rules Little Tokyo in Los Angeles. Yoshida is also responsible for the death of Kenner's parents many years ago. Kenner and Murata must also protect a witness named Minako (Tia Carrere) who has agreed to testify against Yoshido. Both Kenner and Murata are both proficient martial artists and won't stop tearing up the streets of Los Angeles to find Yoshida and to put an end to the drug ring.
Dolph Lundgren (Universal Soldier) and the late Brandon Lee (The Crow) made a great on screen duo, kicking butt and taking names. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Mortal Kombat) made an enjoyable villain as the ruthless Yoshida. Tia Carrere (True Lies) was great as the attractive witness Minako who Kenner and Murata swore to protect. Director Mark L. Lester (Commando) keeps the action energetic amongst the straightforward plot.
At a running time of 79 minutes, the movie is full of mindless violent action with a non stop display of martial arts as well as frequent sex scenes and nudity. There's plenty of one liners with the now infamous homoerotic line from Brandon Lee to Dolph Lundgren, "Kenner, just in case we get killed, I wanted to tell you, you have the biggest d*** I've ever seen on a man".
Showdown in Little Tokyo is a fun way to fill in 79 minutes if you leave your brain at the door and not take it seriously. Fans of Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee will enjoy it.
6/10.
Los Angeles Police Detectives Chris Kenner (Dolph Lundgren) and Johnny Murata (Brandon Lee) team up to bring down the ruthless Yakuza drug kingpin Yoshida (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) who is running a drug ring and also rules Little Tokyo in Los Angeles. Yoshida is also responsible for the death of Kenner's parents many years ago. Kenner and Murata must also protect a witness named Minako (Tia Carrere) who has agreed to testify against Yoshido. Both Kenner and Murata are both proficient martial artists and won't stop tearing up the streets of Los Angeles to find Yoshida and to put an end to the drug ring.
Dolph Lundgren (Universal Soldier) and the late Brandon Lee (The Crow) made a great on screen duo, kicking butt and taking names. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Mortal Kombat) made an enjoyable villain as the ruthless Yoshida. Tia Carrere (True Lies) was great as the attractive witness Minako who Kenner and Murata swore to protect. Director Mark L. Lester (Commando) keeps the action energetic amongst the straightforward plot.
At a running time of 79 minutes, the movie is full of mindless violent action with a non stop display of martial arts as well as frequent sex scenes and nudity. There's plenty of one liners with the now infamous homoerotic line from Brandon Lee to Dolph Lundgren, "Kenner, just in case we get killed, I wanted to tell you, you have the biggest d*** I've ever seen on a man".
Showdown in Little Tokyo is a fun way to fill in 79 minutes if you leave your brain at the door and not take it seriously. Fans of Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee will enjoy it.
6/10.