michael-3204 Low-budget and above-average action from director Tony Leung, who also did the fight choreography. Top-billing goes to martial artist Gary Daniels, who was still very much in his on-the-job training phase trying to learn how to act (ten years into his acting career). The guy has the moves, the build and the looks, but he is stiff as a board when it comes to delivering anything but a well-placed punch or kick. He plays a semi-retired NYC cop with PTSD whose Australian accent is never explained, but probably stems from Daniels being unable to speak with an American accent.Much better are the triple threat of Chuck Jeffreys as a cop who reluctantly drags Daniels out of retirement, gone-too-soon Darren Shahlavi as the martial artist killer the two are hunting, and Frank Gorshin as a stereotypical police chief. Gorshin embraces the type with so such relish that he elevates the pedestrian material and makes a character with no surprises fun to watch. Jeffreys brings a similar, if slightly more understated energy to his role and makes him likable even when he's doing magic tricks at a murder scene. Shahlavi, in an early English-language role that is more substantial than stunt double in Hong Kong action films, is dynamic and wonderfully unhinged as a fighter who is systematically taking out former champions. You never know quite what he's going to do next, especially with his maniacal laugh, and he gets some of the best lines (not that there are many gems). After beating one opponent to a pulp, he exclaims in frustration "Why aren't you better?!," and you get exactly what makes this guy tick. He and Daniels tangle quite a bit as the film progresses and both are skilled enough to make the action come alive.The story and screenplay by Keith W. Strandberg isn't much to write home about, but it moves pretty swiftly. Leung, as a director, adds some nice touches, like the dissolve from a red moon to a red stoplight or the way the reflection from Shahlavi's blade lights the face of one of his victims, and he films 1990s ungentrified Manhattan with sufficient grime and grit to make one long for the old days. It's not exactly "Taxi Driver," but it's nice to see. (Only a few scenes take place in NYC, much of the film was shot in Wilmington and it is obvious and jarring when the locations change, but Leung still makes the most of the limited screen time NYC gets.) Mainly, though, it is Leung as action choreographer who shines here, packing the film with impressive sequences that take full advantage of his casts' athleticism. Despite clunky exposition and a leading man with some severe limitations, this is a solidly entertaining watch.

Sergei Illich No one talks about one of the hottest killings on the movie of one of the cops,OFFICER #1 while at his apartment((starring Joe Bonacci , handsome swim like physique, a guy like Eric Roberts and almost unknown). This guy is a virile presence u must see: manly death, his innards collapse under the villain brutal attack. The cop was dating a hot chick and gets surprised at bathroom. He brutally got killed at his prime, probably hard from the fight and from the hot chick... DIED WITH HIS /black) BOOTS ON!Its hot to watch him bleeding from his mouth. Ah! and its always hot watch a muscular wrestler stud like RVD get literally broken by the villain!

Brian T. Whitlock (GOWBTW) Many martial arts films always have the factors coming from Hong Kong. The choreography in this movie is well made. And the plot is very enlightening. Here you have a NYPD Detective Chuck Baker(Chuck Jeffreys) who also got a trick or two up his sleeves is trying to solve the crimes of fighting champions being murdered by a steel-fingered psycho(Darren Shahlavi). This guy reminds me of that steel finger joke in the movie "Half a Loaf of Kung Fu". This guy is very brutal, and he's relentless. I would fight to the death against this creep. He kills the master, and he kills this tough man named Dutch(Rob Van Dam, RVD OF ECW, WCW Fame). Man, I thought he would take the guy out simply. Oh Well! Then there's the niece of the master, Kelly(Brandie Rocci) who can kick serious butt against the bad guys. Ken O'Hara(Gary Daniels) is a swift and smooth fighter, whose demons at work hinders his recovery, when he fights to get his family back, he and Baker have a fighting chance against the killer. This movie is non-stop, and that stunts everyone pull, is a classic. Enjoy the fight, enjoy the movie, it was worth the watch. Rating 3 out of 5 stars.

oxblood This is Gary Daniels' best action flick since "White Tiger". He plays Ken O'Hara, a former police detective/profiler who is called back into action to partner with another detective and investigate a string of murders of world fighting champions. The villain challenges the victims to a seemingly fair fight then kills each one during the battle. There's a subplot involving O'Hara and his ex-wife that slows the movie a little.Daniels is in fine form here, as usual. His acting still sucks but he's still got the moves. His final fight scene in the warehouse is quite a workout. Chuck Jeffreys is an excellent foil as the hotshot detective who reluctantly teams with Daniels at the police chief's request. His martial arts skills are just as impressive and he shows more emotion. Jeffrey's does a lot of film choreography on other movies ("Blade") and stunt work most likely for Eddie Murphy who he resembles a lot. Villain Darren Shavi is no slouch either. He's fighting legitimate ass-kickers, so he'd better know his stuff.The fight scenes are some of the best I've seen in a straight-to-video release with American stars. The choreography in each scene is elaborate and well staged, especially the scene with O'Hara's old martial arts teacher, fighting Kendo style. The punches don't look as fake as in some of Daniels' other movies ("Black Friday" yechhh!!!!). The wire work is better though sometimes a bit annoying. Look for WWE wrestler Rob Van Dam as one of the battle victims.