Titreenp
SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?
Smartorhypo
Highly Overrated But Still Good
Stoutor
It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.
Roy Hart
If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.
Comeuppance Reviews
Eric Chase (Ted Jan) is a teenager who lives to practice Martial Arts at his local dojo. Even when his best buddy Brad (Williams) cajoles him into going to parties with bikini-clad babes, nothing can stop Eric from sparring with his local tots and his Sensei (Camacho - simply billed as "Sensei"). When Eric meets the beautiful Stephanie Simmons (Lyons) at the deli across from his beloved dojo, it seems first love may be in the air. Unfortunately, Nat (Kriesa) is your classic evil land developer, and he's sending out squads of punks and/or goons to scare people out of their homes and businesses so he can build one of those despised malls on their property. Led by Paulo (LaSardo), the goons eventually end up at Mr. Johnson's (Howard) deli - where Eric's paramour Stephanie happens to work. Defending her honor, Eric uses his long-practiced Martial Arts skills on the goons - but can this one kid fight off the coming real estate war? Find out today! Classic Ted Jan all the way. If you're familiar with his work, such as the entertaining A Dangerous Place (1995), here is more of the same. Which is a good thing, because both movies have a youth-oriented, fun, upbeat feel. The likable Roberts did a lot of work for PM, but this may be the standout. His buddy Brad is the wacky sidekick. To him, the Haim/Feldman vehicle License To Drive (1988) is more than a movie. It's a template to base your entire life upon. Even though Brad begs for his dad's car keys and promises to eat his vegetables if he can have them, actor Timothy Williams was 29 years old at the time of filming! Let's not forget this is a man/kid who wears a Hawaiian shirt with a Billy Joel "River of Dreams" T-shirt underneath - tucked in. Clearly this is a man who knows where he's going in life. Interestingly, Ted Jan co-starred with Feldman in A Dangerous Place. Coincidence? Once again, Roberts wears hugely oversized clothing, and his age is indeed in question. One minute his sister (McComas) says she has to babysit him, the next minute he's driving and saying he's going to college next year. But one thing is for certain: Eric can't go out and fight evil land-developer punks unless he finishes his summer reading. That's almost an exact quote from the movie. This indeed might be the first recorded instance of the term "summer reading" on film. What a first. But the movie is totally 90's through and through, from the clothing to the dialogue. Robert LaSardo gets a lot of nice screen time here. Normally he's relegated to the background, but he's the main "street baddie". His fellow punks walk around with boomboxes on their shoulders, so you know they're evil, not to mention disruptive. The "save our community" plot was also done in fellow PM movie Private Wars, and some scenes feel very familiar.The title song is a lot of fun too, and it even features the lyrics "power comes from discipline!" - you don't hear that, lyrically, every day. Thank you John Gonzales and Derol Caraco for that. It's hard to believe that this fast-paced romp was directed by the same guy who directed the abysmal Musketeers Forever (1998). This is so much better than that. The PM style is out in force, so it's almost like, abstractly, PM itself directed the movie. Also, it should be noted that there is an uncredited cameo from Matthias Hues to watch out for.Tiger Heart is an enjoyable "entry-level" action movie best suited for people who don't take themselves so seriously.
Jack Davenport
I want to say from the top, that this film is absolutely awful, from the moment you hear the theme tune right to the final fight, there is nothing redeemable about this film...which is why it is so funny. With the exception of South Park, this is the only film that has ever made me cry laughing.Every performance seems to scream of bad acting, but sometimes I wonder if the producers were aware of the irony of their efforts. SOmetimes I think that they are playing for laughs.How many mistakes are there in this film? I don't know, but here are my favourite moments. 1. The theme tune - draws his strength from within, power comes from discipline 2. The ridiculous karate school where apparently it is OK to have a full blown punch up (and not use any floor mats - no broken bones?) 3. Ted Jan Robetrs training and making his own sound effects with each punch and kick 4. You know how some fight scenes in films have the feel of the bad guys queuing up to get beaten by the lead guys? Well, in this film you actually get to watch them run around in the background to get hit moments later 5. The karate teacher snapping the neck of a vigilante 6. The token black guy - he means well, but actually does no fighting and his role has all the hallmarks of a token black guy 7. LOts, and LOTS of women in bikinis... 8. The big bad guy suggesting that they kill the female lead, by putting her in a boat "and make it look like a fishing accident" - I somehow doubt any personification of Jennifer Lyons on screen would be involved in fishing, especially when water isn't even seen in the film 9. The only genuinely funny line in the film - "Have you got a match?" "Yeah, my ass and your face" - still makes me chuckle today 10. The fact that most of the fights start because Eric Chase actually starts all the fights, in some cases when there is absolutely no need to 11. THe karate school has a lion as a symbol on the main building, but the actual pupils there have tigers as their symbol. 12. Ted Jan ROberts having a conversation with someone ona street outside a hairdressers - you can actually see the people inside turning to watch the conversation 13. The meaningless elements of the CHase family - none of their scenes are remotely relevant 14. Little kids aged about 9 or 10 beating up guys in the thirties 15. The bad gangster (played by RObert LeSardo - arguably the only decent acting in the whole film) encouraging his men to kill Eric Chase, when he himself has a gun 16. Little kids being made to feel guilty for not helping Eric CHase go challenge a group of gangsters in the city 17. People signing off their businesses with a single unread contract like some bad episode of the A-Team (including Jennifer Lyons character who, in addition to having no apparent legal entitlement to do so, signs away Rance Howards business, despite only being a teenager)...and many many more. This really is the worst and best film I have ever seen in my life. Right up there with the 1980's version of She, and Nine Deaths of the Ninja.Power comes from discipline!!
BGardner7788
This movie is great for any teenage martial artists. Ted Jan Roberts is an extremely good martial artist, and deserves applause. His skill and ability surpass almost any martial artist his age. And as for the movie, it's awesome! He lives nicely with his family in California. He's a good kid looking to do all the right things. He meets a pretty girl, and shows his impressive skills all throughout the movie. The girl is incredibly attractive by the way. In the end he defeats the bad land developer and everything is good. Throghout the movie TJ fights at his dojo and shows his skills. He goes to a great party with tons of gorgeous girls around, and has to deal with a mean kid trying to attack him, he handles himself good and ends up alright. Great movie I recommend it to anyone.
rdelar2
I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life, and I am an avid Family Guy/Simpsons fan.This movie deserves to be way at the top of the bottom 100. I have got to get this on VHS (doesnt come on DVD even) The martial arts scenes are horribly choreographed, the acting is superbly horrible, the dialogue is fantastically disgraceful. The lead character is a scrawny annoying dork and the sidekick is even worse!But, there is some eye candy! You must go see this!!! Please vote this as a 1.0 and not a 10.00. I know you are trying to be satirical but, please this must be viewed by all as this is one of the best worst movies EVER! -"Thanks Soccer Mummy. You made me believe in myself again!"