The Worst Film Ever

Sorry, this movie sucks

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

The Kickboxer franchise spanned 5 films. The 1st film was in theaters, all films after that were direct to video. I loved the 2nd film as it's my overall favorite film of the whole series. The 3rd film however leaves a bad taste in my mouth.This film takes place some time after the events of the 2nd film. David now has a fight in Brazil and helps a homeless brother and sister fight out of a ruthless pimp.The fight scenes are actually not that bad at all, which were some of my favorite parts of the film. There were some things that I had some problems with. Mainly the story is my biggest gripe. If Tong Po is such enemy in the series, where the hell is he? He is not mentioned at all during the film, which really messes up the film franchise as a whole.This is easily the weakest film in the whole series, and unless you are crazy or want to see it, then avoid it.

With Kickboxer 3, it's not the fact that the film's plot is so predictable – the opening credits shows a woman fleeing for her life, eventually captured, and shot by the villain who keeps young girls captive for reasons we don't have to imagine. Not ten minutes later, a young girl is introduced as a poor lost soul that David Sloan (the Kickboxer protagonist since the previous film) will inevitably get off the street. Hmmm … I wonder what is going to happen to her. And it's not the fact these characters would earn the screenwriter an F in any competent screen writing class with their grocery list of randomized "character traits" and lack of meaningful development – the fact that the requirements of the prepackaged plot dictates each and every one of the characters in the story.No, the real error lay in the incredibly bland presentation – why the hell would anyone watch a movie that even the most naïve audience member can guess, and the most artistically illiterate can imagine in a more interesting and aesthetically pleasing way? I honestly can't think of a single moment where I admired the visuals, or felt they reflected anything more than an unenthusiastic cycle through the motions. I do, however, vividly recall despising a scene in a police station where throughout the entire conversation every actor's face managed to stay in shadow as though the crew setup their lights about six inches off the mark. Some great scenes have been captured with effective use of, you guessed it, shadows (Werner Herzog's brilliantly photographed Nosferatu immediately springs to mind.); however, here, the shadows are not used effectively. Back to the "plot." In another nails-to-a-chalkboard scene, the filmmakers demonstrate the fact they know what an innuendo is, while simultaneously demonstrating they know not how to pull it off (whether the writer's fault, the actor's, director's – I don't presume to know.) "I'm glad you'll be moving on your way, Sloan. It'd be very stupid to try anything with Mr. Branco and his seven body guards. *Seven* body guards," quoth the detective who sounds just as unnatural and inept as Steve Martin's Inspector Clouseau from the new Pink Panther, "Lovely weather we are having! (wink) I hope the weather continues." Later on, Sloan discovers the identity of the true villain, Mr. Lane (who previously posed as a friend), the audience learns that Mr. Lane knows Sloan will be coming for him. So, the villain sets a trap where he appears to be reading, while guards lurk somewhere else on the premises banking on the belief that good guys do not "shoot first, ask questions later." What I would've given for anti-heroes right about here. There needs to be a parody where the good guys say, "You know, he's just going to pull a gun in the final scene, and we're going to kill him anyway out of self-defense. So, screw it, let's just kill him now, and save everyone the misery of the 3rd act." The grand scheme that evolves from all of these plot tangents comes together in Lane's greedy desire to make a few bucks off a rigged fight. The trick, of course, getting Sloan to play ball. "You can have the girl," Lane says, "if you show up for tomorrow's fight." "That's it?" replies Sloan, "You don't want me to throw the fight?" Lane grins, "No, not at all – I have too much respect for you to ask that." Actually, Lane did ask just that in one of the previous scenes, but now he's content to let Sloan play fair … after forcing Sloan to wear himself out with an unnecessarily stressful workout. Again, the filmmakers demonstrate their knowledge of cruel irony, while demonstrating their ineptitude in convincingly creating it.The screenwriters, editor, and director drive the final nail in the coffin by not putting this lame beast out of its misery and simply ending the film after the climactic match (which, by the way, follows a climactic shoot out.) Sloan, of course, proves victorious, putting Lane in unrecoverable debt from the numerous outrageous bets he cannot pay. Sloan gets the little girl back – it's over and done with, right? Hero wins, villain loses? We can assume a few loose ends get tied up, non? At the expense of pacing and structure, the film refuses to let its audience go until it assures us with a third climactic scene that explicitly shows the villain gets what's coming to him, all the girls he holds captive are set free, and that nice detective is going to let Sloan off the hook. If you're going to go through so much trouble to spell things out, why stop there? Why not have a note at the end of the credits that reads, "the film is over. It is now safe to eject this DVD."

i may be in the minority here,but i actually liked this movie.for a straight to video martial arts movie,it isn't all that bad.trust me,i've seen a lot worse movies of this genre,some of which have(inexplicably)had a theatrical release.anyway back to this movie.what did i like about it?i liked the dynamic of the wise(cracking)mentor and the younger,cocky student.Dennis Chan plays the mentor Xian,while Sasha Mitchell plays the young hero.there are some funny lines from both and they both play off each other very well.Mitchell is fairly credible as an action hero.i'm not sure if he has any martial arts experience,but if not,then the fight scenes are very well choreographed.there are some great fights in this movie.Chan is also very good in his role as the sidekick.the fact that the movie had some levity is also a positive.also,unlike in many movies of the genre, where the acting is forced or over the top,that isn't the case here the actors know they're not doing Hamlet.the plot may not be original,but the material is handled as well as any other martial art flick.so, at the risk of being hunted down and shot,i give this movie a 7/10(oh,that's right,i can't be hunted down and shot,because no one knows who i am. (big raspberry)

This is how low budget action movies should be made. Tongue in cheek, with bits of humour amongst the action. On top of likable comedic performances from Sasha Mitchell and Dennis Chan, (the former of which, as another poster suggested, let his Step by Step alter ego "Cody" get into this film), there is also beautiful (and authentic) Brazilian scenery and music. Back to Mitchell's performance; the guy is no Kevin Spacey. Hell, if you think about it, he's somewhere between a porn guy and the dog from Fraiser in acting ability. But he can do one thing well; The likeable doofus. Granted, it is kind of strange seeing Cody from Step by Step whoopin' ass, but it's a quirk that helps the film and gives it a real "personality". As well, you almost aren't sure if he's gonna get through some of the situations he's put in. There is one problem with this movie though. WAY too many pastel shirts. I think old David Sloane needs to get a fashion consultant, because even though this movie was made in the early '90s, he kind of looks like a Miami Vice reject with the clothes and the haircut. (Come to think of it, so does Rick Comar, the villain) OK.. back on track.... Although there are several implausibilities, not the least of which is how a kickboxer is also trained like an Army Ranger, and some bad dialogue, this is a fun movie to watch with lots of humour and some good fights. It's not up to theatrical standards, but it is far superior to most B movie, straight to video tripe that is made. 9/10