Sadly Over-hyped

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

For the time, 1979... this was a fun movie to watch. I realize that now it would be hard to watch for most people. I give it 5 stars for being a classic.If you like Martial Arts, you will like this movie. Ed Parker is a very well respected martial artist.He began his training in the martial arts at a young age in judo[2] and later boxing. Some time in the 1940s, Ed Parker was first introduced to Kenpo by Frank Chow. Frank Chow introduced Ed Parker to William Chow, who trained Parker while serving in the Coast Guard and attending Brigham Young University. In 1953 he was promoted to the rank of black belt. Parker, seeing that modern times posed new situations that were not addressed in Kempo, adapted the art to make it more easily applicable to the streets of America and called his style, American Kenpo Karate.

In his recent film Quentin Tarantino KILL BILL pays homage to the martial art films of Run Run Shaw . Well Ed Parker is the real thing. He is one of the founders of Karate in the United State. If you are a martial arts fan this is a film you must have for your collection. Veteran stunt man and martial arts expert Russ Dodson produced this film as a labor of love to the martial action films we all enjoy !!.This film also features the Korean champion Bong Soo Han. The film is more plot heavy than the average choppy socky thriller.So if you are a Quentin Tarantino fan this DVD should also be one you need to own. Congratulations to Producer Russ Dodson for making an honest adult martial arts film that stands the test of time.Bravo!!!

Although the scenario of this movie may be a bit dated it is more then worth watching to see Ed Parker in action. If you are a Kenpo Karate fan it is an absolute must. Even if you are not you will see moves you will not find elsewhere. Look for a brief but great performance by a very young Branscombe Richmond as Ed Parkers nephew. A rare find. A true look see of vintage martial arts films-gives you an appreciation of where they came from and how far in some ways they have come and what they lost along the way as well.

This may be the worst martial arts film to date, based on my numerous viewings. A strange combination of mystery and intrigue makes this slow and chunky, and this doesn't work. The only thing worthy is the front clamshell cover I have in front of me. It makes a wonderful novelty item for movie-based collecting purposes. On the box, an illustration of two kung-fu fighters also comes with the line "Ed Parker vs. Master Bong Soo Han". That moment comes at the end, and it's certainly nothing to get excited over. Both of them contributed to the fighting choreography; laughable and rushed out to the extreme! For a low-rate 70s picture, the cinematographies of street corners, parking areas, and gas stations look beautiful. Master Bong Soo Han is best known for KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE; no wonder why his Hapkido techniques aren't "finger lickin' good". After being eighteen years out of print, it's likely this horrible production won't be given another chance. Do yourself a special favor: KILL THE GOLDEN GOOSE!