Red-Barracuda
It's not every day you see a martial arts film from Australia. Day of the Panther is that film. Set in Perth in western Australia, this film is about a martial arts expert called Jason Blade. Yes, you heard that correctly
Jason Blade. It sure is a no messing name and he is a guy who certainly does not mess about. In this film, he is sent on a mission to Australia to take down a drug lord. Why is it always drug lords who are villains in 80's action movies? Are drugs really that bad? What would be wrong with mixing it up a little and occasionally have our ass kicking hero set about a gang of dishonest tradesmen? Seriously, forget class A drugs, have you ever been overcharged for the installation of a badly fitted kitchen? Now that is something really annoying, certainly bad enough to hire a guy called Jason Blade to kick hell out of them I reckon. Anyway, Day of the Panther features copious scenes featuring men in pastel coloured suits fighting. For what it's worth, I thought that by far the best part of the film was the extended scene where Blade's female partner is chased by three thugs who she dispatches with. A great scene. I was severely vexed when she was immediately killed afterwards though – a bad mistake. On a separate note, when the credits first came up I noticed the director was Brian Trenchard-Smith. It was a name I knew but couldn't think from where, I was pretty sure he was responsible for a good film. Afterwards I used this very website to put my mind to rest and it turned out the movie in question was Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996). It turns out it wasn't a good film.
Rainey Dawn
For me, this film is a terrible excuse to show a number of no-so-great martial arts moves. I personally found it insulting to any good martial arts film and to the art itself.It's not even a half-way decent story to keep me interested. The movie tries to pull in elements of horror with the "evil guys" wearing some fairly cool looking masks. The masks are the only thing in the film I pretty neat and interesting.I enjoy a good martial arts movie but this one I had to turn off mid-way though the film. This is NOT my style of martial arts movie. Others may enjoy this flick but it's a far cry from my type of entertainment.1/10
Bezenby
When I found out this film was made by the guy who directed Turkey Shoot, I knew I was on to a winner. It's not a mental as that film (no random mutants or extreme gore here) but as a martial arts, eighties body fascism action film it'll do the trick for you, no problem. A lengthy voice-over introduces us to perpetually bemused looking Jason Blade, trained in Hong Kong and now in Australia to get revenge on the killers of his partner. Warned off by the police, Jason heads off to join the ranks of the local drug lord (after kicking all the drug lord's goon's heads in), and work his way to the top. Henchman Baxter, however, smells a rat and perhaps gets a bit jealous that his shades and pastel suit aren't as good as Jason's, and starts doing a bit of digging. There's also something or other about a tournament but don't get too attached to that because it never happens.I don't know about Jason Blade as an actor, but as a martial arts hero he's great, taking on up to half a dozen opponents at a time, and he's very quick too. The film is packed with fights, from the 'job interview' in a boat showroom, to a warehouse, underground car park and a basketball court. His partner, on the other hand, takes on three masked goons in a sequence that reminded me of the (relatively) recent console game Manhunt. It's not without unintentional hilarity either, this one. The sequence where Blade pumps iron while his squeeze does an aerobics dance is pure eighties cheese, as well as someone trying to prevent a stuntman landing on a camera. Great stuff. The end credits announce a sequel, but I have no idea if its available in the UK.
chocothefrog
Without doubt one of the best movies ever made ! Set in beautiful Perth Western Austraila it rightly holds the title of the best movie ever made in that fair, if remote, city. Starring that well known son of Boroloola Kadeem Hardison, who is one of the few remaining exponents of the ancient northern Australian martial art of Beltemtokumbukta, it snarls its way through a part of the 1980's where yacht salesmen are important people in town. Oh it's all too too real, frightenly so. I'm utterly serious when I say that this movie is so faithful to the Australia of the time I almost thought it was a documentary, really. I was back there. Stunning is the only word to even come close to describing this cinema gem. Enjoy it in the spirit of filmic perfection it so richly deserves. Note this movie was nominated in 1988 for the prestigous Palm 'd Bunge at the eclectic Missabotti film festival. Anyone who pretends to know film must see this movie. Really.Austria, Austria .... it's in Europe, unlike Australia.
AD
