Norton, Richard

Gymkata

A camp classic and one-time staple of late-night cable, Gymkata stars former Olympic gymnast Kurt Thomas as a master of Gymkata, a fighting style that blends elements of martial arts and--what else?--gymnastics. Sent to a fictional Middle Eastern country on the Caspian Sea called "Karabal, on the Caspian Sea," Jonathan Cabot (Thomas) must survive a high-stakes competition called the Game that had previously claimed the life of his father. But winning could mean shifting the balance of power in the cold war. (The movie was made in 1985, and Thomas missed out on the 1980 Olympics because of the U.S. boycott.) Fortunately, being a master of Gymkata means that as you run through the village streets with bad guys in hot pursuit, in between the buildings you'll find a conveniently placed high bar from which you can swing and unleash powerful villain-crunching kicks. Moments like that earn Gymkata a 9.5 on the unintentional-comedy scale. With Tetchie Agbayani as the love-interest princess, and Buck Kartalian as a fearsome villain who looks like Mel Brooks. --David Horiuchi

Johnathan Cabot (Kurt Thomas) is a champion gymnast. In the tiny yet savage country of Parmistan there is a perfect spot for a "star wars" site. For the US to get this site they must compete in the brutal "Game". The government calls on Cabot the son of a former operative to win the game. Cabot combines his skill at western gymnastics with his fighting secrets of the east and forms Gymkata.Running Time: 90 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE UPC: 012569795242 Manufacturer No: 79524

Mr. Nice Guy

TV chef Jackie Chan is involuntarily involved in a gang war between stereotypical Italians and punkers right out of A Clockwork Orange. Most of the cast is in a coma, and the plot is stupid, stupid, stupid. The reason to watch this is for Chan's gravity-defying stunts as he is chased through the streets of Melbourne by Aussie thugs trying to relocate missing cocaine. Chan is so innovative with his tricks that it is a shame he doesn't work with more intelligent material. Still, his fans should enjoy this slight adventure, as Chan's carefully choreographed martial art moves are as awesome as ever. Watch for a stunt involving a horse-drawn carriage, as it almost compensates for the lackluster story line. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Dream Warrior

The Ultimate Battle For Human Survival The Apocalypse has come: an asteroid has destroyed the world and civilization as we know it. Out of the rubble rises a new world order including humans and human-looking mutants with super-human powers. Parish (Lance Henriksen) is the leader of this new civilization and has declared war on all mutants, driven by his fanatical need for a Pure Human society, and his personal pursuit of Rage, the mutant leader. While the mutant freedom fighters rise up to confront Parish and his merciless soldiers, Parish continues his obsessive search for Rage. When Parish and Rage meet face to face, the dark secret of their past is finally revealed.

City Hunter

Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan gives his self-mocking humor full flourish in City Hunter, adapted from a Japanese comic book. But that doesn't mean there isn't a solid dose of action--after a brilliantly cartoonish opening, the movie settles into a half-comedy, half-thriller variation on Die Hard, in which Eurotrash terrorists have hijacked a plush ocean cruise liner and super-detective Ryu Saeba (Chan) has to stop them, aided by his lovely, love-lorn assistant (Joey Wong, A Chinese Ghost Story, Green Snake) and a beautiful undercover secret agent (Chingmy Yau, Naked Killer). Though City Hunter is short on breathtaking stunts, there's plenty of well-choreographed hand-to-hand combat. Jackie Chan's lecherous, self-absorbed character (accompanied by a parade of girls into skimpy or skin-tight outfits) come across like a gleeful parody of James Bond (slightly marred by a bit of homophobia). All in all, a high energy romp. --Bret Fetzer

Based on a popular Japanese comic strip, Hong Kong's high-flying martial arts action hero Jackie Chan stars as private Ryu Saeba in City Hunter. Hired to find the runaway daughter of a Japanese publishing tycoon, Ryu's first impulse is to turn the job down - until he sees a picture of the beautiful Shizuko (Kumiko Goto). Hot on her heels, Ryu tracks her down on board a cruise ship, and much to the annoyance of his jealous female sidekick Kaori (Joey Wong) the womanizing Ryu seems more interested in catching Shizuko's attention than returning her safely to her father. However, Ryu's romantic plans quickly go astray when a gang of ruthless criminals hijack the ship and hold the passengers to ransom. To save the day Jackie Chan's unique action style reigns supreme in a series of brilliantly conceived fight sequences as Ryu swings into action to dispatch the bad guys and rescue the goergeous Shizuko!

Forced Vengeance

Lady Luck has fled Hong Kong's Lucky Dragon Casino. Its manager has squandered the profits. Its owner has been snuffed by the mob. And the heir to the casino is in hiding. But Lucky Dragon still holds one last ace: security expert Josh Randall. Local mobsters should cash in their chips when Chuck Norris plays Randall in Forced Vengeance an alive-and-kicking actionfest directed by James Fargo (who directed Clint Eastwood in The Enforcer and Every Which Way but Loose). Determined to find the syndicate big shot behind the proprietor's death Randall goes on the hunt. Trouble follows. And so does the lightning strike of screen excitement - the kind of martial-arts excitement that only Norris can chop punchshoot leap slam and deliver!Running Time: 91 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE UPC: 012569519022

Strategic Command

Rage and Honor

Torn between loyalty and revenge a martial arts champion is pitted against her own brother in this action-adventure knockout. Five-time undefeated World Karate Champion Cynthia Rothrock stars as Kris Fairfield an inner-city high school teacher who moonlights in killer karate. While training a group of police officers Kris meets an Australian cop (renowned martial arts expert Richard Norton) sent to the U.S. to observe their style of law enforcement. But it's hard to remain an impartial observer when the cops in question are dealing crack. . . and killing Kris's students. Together the feisty American and The Wonder from Down Under team up to take back the streets.System Requirements:Running Time: 92 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: R UPC: 043396103412 Manufacturer No: 10341

Rage & Honor 2 - Hostile Takeover

Black Belt Hall-of-Famer and five-time World Karate Champion Cynthia Rothrock returns for another action-packed adventure as Kris Fairfield-LAPD cop urned CIA operative. Fresh from training Kris is dispatched to Jakarta where a powerful banker is laundering millions in drug money-and where former Australian police officer Preston Michaels (renowned martial arts expert Richard Norton) is hiding out from false murder charges. Their chance meeting lures Kris into the crossfire of a battle for a diamond fortune but Kris refuses Preston's help until they learn his star martial arts student is the banker's son Tommy Andrews (Patrick Muldoon). Against high-powered gunplay and hick-kicking thugs the trio proves invincible as they follow a trail of extortion and murder that leads right back to Tommy and a cold-blooded scheme to overthrow his own father. RAGE AND HONOR II holds no punches as the struggle escalates to a dangling climax and brings this intense action sequel to a jaw-busting finish.System Requirements:Running Time: 97 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: R UPC: 043396103429 Manufacturer No: 10342

China O'Brien

Action diva Cynthia Rothrock stars as a former big-city cop determined to both avenge her father's murder and succeed him as county sheriff in this entertaining action vehicle. The good-natured cross between Billy Jack and The Candidate doesn't exactly break new cinematic ground, but the martial-arts prowess of five-time world kickboxing champion Rothrock, frequent Jackie Chan collaborator Richard Norton, and hunky newcomer Keith Cooke (who would later star as the malevolent Sub-Zero in the Mortal Kombat films) more than compensates for the threadbare production values and some voluminous plot holes. For extra fun, try to count the number of times a certain thudding sound effect is recycled (hint: It's in the high double digits). Director Robert Clouse is no stranger to the martial-arts genre, having directed both Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan in their American debuts (Enter the Dragon and The Big Brawl, respectively). Every election campaign should have this much full-contact mayhem. This full-frame DVD includes the original trailer, production notes, and cast and crew bios. --Andrew Wright

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