Steve Chase, four-time World Martial Arts Champion, is hired to save Nobel Prize-winning chemist Dr. Horatio Kane from the hands of demented billionaire Marduk. Steve enlists the aid of four martial arts experts for this i... more »mportant assignment. Enroute to Marduk's stronghold, they are ambushed, but finally make it to the fortress. Captured, the martial arts are all these men have when they are thrown into an arena to fight for their lives.« less
Jimmy Strickland | Galax, Virginia United States | 05/29/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A scientist has discovered how to convert potatoes into fuel, however an unfortunate by-product is a mind control drug. Marduk, an evil madman kidnaps the scientist, and plots to take control of the world by tainting the water supply with this drug. Leaders of the free world approach Steve Chase and his band of elite mercenaries and hire them to free the kidnapped scientist, destroy the mind control drug, and rid the world of the evil Marduk. This martial arts adventure stars James Ryan as Steve Chase, martial arts champion and leader of the elite mercenary group. The mercenaries consist of "The Fly" (Stan Schmidt), a martial artist who has reached the esoteric heights of martial learning; Gypsy Billy (Norman Robinson), "ex-champion of the world" and reluctant derelict; Gorilla (Ken Gampu) former pro wrestler banded for biting the ear off defeated opponents; and Hot Dog (Bill Flynn) con artist and comic relief. Joining this group is Kandy Kane (Anneline Kriel, former Miss World), the supposed daughter of the kidnapped scientist Dr. Kane, later exposed as an agent working for the government. Chase and his team infiltrate Marduk's compound, known as the "New Babylonia", but before they can liberate Dr. Kane and destroy the drug, they are discovered and taken captive. Each member of the team must face one of Marduk's karate trained soldiers, with Chase facing Marduk's "champion of champions", the "Optimist" in a battle to the death. "Kill and Kill Again" is a feel good action/adventure that the whole family can enjoy. This movie is a tongue-in-cheek swashbuckler that sometimes pokes fun at itself. There is no graphic violence or offensive language, just good clean escapism."
Campy movie classic from the 80s, DVD does not live up to it
Matthew Hamby | midwest, US | 12/09/2003
(1 out of 5 stars)
"I remembered this movie from daytime HBO in the early 80s. I was on a forum and we were discussing favorite martial arts movies, and I suddenly remembered this "classic". A poor man's(dirt poor, bordering on destitute) version of Enter the Dragon, it has average martial arts until the very end, when there are a couple of good scenes in the final arena battles. When I saw that it was on DVD, I immediately ordered it. The movie was just like I remembered it, and it is worth the $10. However, the print of the film is very poor, with certain parts very grainy or dark. The character of "Gorilla" played by Ken Grampu has no distinguishable facial characteristics at times. There isn't even a menu on the disc - both the quality of the disc and the quality of the print make it like you are watching a 20 year-old VHS tape. Plus, there's a picture on the back of the DVD case with two women (one of them with her shirt open and black censor circles over her nipples) that isn't even in the movie. By all means get it if you remember this campy classic and your VHS has worn out. My one star rating on this is for the DVD itself, not the movie."
The quintessential cheeseball martial arts flick!!
The Poe Toaster | Seattle, WA United States | 06/09/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"When I was ten years old, I had no idea what martial arts were. All I knew was about something called "karate" where people wore funny suits and tried to chop boards in half with their hands. Then one day I stayed home sick from school (5th grade) and saw this film on Showtime. That was 21 years ago and I've been an avid martial artist ever since. If you're a grown-up film snob, then yeah, avoid this film. But it's perfect for kids. It's true that the acting is ultra-cheese and the plot is a formulaic ripoff of "Enter the Dragon," but kids don't care about that kind of stuff. This movie makes an effort to educate the young viewer as to what the martial arts are all about (despite the title, which is NOT what the martial arts are all about), taking time to specifically narrate about different martial arts styles and even the meditative/spiritual side of the martial arts. The fight scenes are totally unrealistic (if memory serves me, some dude jumps over a helicopter at one point) but SO WHAT!! ...This is a kids' movie!! Don't expect it to be Cannes Film Festival material!! You rent a martial arts film from 1981 with actors you've never heard of--what did you expect!!?? This movie is good old 80's cheeseball martial arts flick fun! It really is a classic in that regard."
Old School Karate, the way it was!
C. Robinson | BRIDGEPORT, CT United States | 04/09/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a classic martial arts film. If you like the energy of any of Bruce Lee's movies and in his way of life , you'll surely appreciate James Ryan. It is just one of those films that bring you back to a special time in your life, where martial arts was magical. It doesn't rely on special effects like all the cheesy films today ...Matrix etc, it is just hands down martial arts combat - no frills! Any true martial artist can appreciate this film, they just don't make them like this anymore. I love this film, alway's will. It was the very first karate movie I ever saw and I never forgot it even after years of not being able to find it I could vividly remember the names like the Fly and Hot Dog and of course Steve Chase - the perfect martial artist's name!"
EEEEEYAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
C. Robinson | 01/29/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This movie is so awesome,it makes me foget about the cheesey acting.I tried everywhere to find this,and I'm now in the process of getting my hands on a dvd of it from amazon.The fight scenes look top notch and these guys are tough.The story is the usual man tries to take over the world formula,but it's the characters that are cool-Fly,Gorrilla,Gypsy and Hotdog.Cool martial arts champion James Ryan plays the leader of the group.Watching these guys infiltrate the evil dictator's compound is hysterical as they're not the best at this.There are several well choregraphed fights leading to the great ending.Each member of the group has to fight in a tournament against the dictator's fighters.It's one of those few stand out classic martial arts movies."