Kickboxer 4: The Aggressor

At first, I was hopeful: here is an Albert Pyun movie about a fighting tournament that DOESN'T involve cyborgs or post-apocalyptic wastelands, so there will be fewer distractions from the fighting. Tough luck: Pyun finds a way to screw it up again, with ridiculous one-man-defeats-twenty brawls, gratuitous nudity, inexplicable and laughably out-of-place sex scenes, torture, etc. The movie picks up only during the tournament itself, WHEN Pyun remembers to keep his camera focused on the fighters, that is. As others have said, the guy who plays Tong Po wears so much eye makeup that he looks as if he just stepped out of a "beauty" saloon. Michelle "Mouse" Krasnoo shows potential, however; I wouldn't mind seeing her again, in a better movie. (*)

I can't say I watched the whole thing but I caught bits and pieces on TV one day. It was really funny without trying to be. Tong Po is awesome, his face looks plastic or like he's wearing to much makeup and he definitely plucks his eyebrows. If it's on TV, check it out if only for a few minutes for laughs, otherwise stay away.

In the annals of the truly great thespians there are names that ring eternal, Dudikoff, Fahey,...and Mitchell. Sasha Mitchell strives and works his butt off for what Keanu Reeves makes look easy. Complete and utter lack of talent. Looking to all the world like a muscular, less talented Boner from Growing Pains, (you remember Boner from Growing Pains don't you? Sure, Boner?), Sasha lurches through his scenes with the single minded determination to show nothing that may be confused with actual acting. He reads his lines like it's the first time he's seen them, emotionless, cold...like Mother Russia. Are you sure you don't remember Vinnie Stabone? Anyway.

You may be asking yourself, "Bob, why start with Kickboxer 4? Why not go back to Kickboxer 2, and watch the hero's journey that Sasha takes. Maybe you're being a little hard on him." Well, first, going back would mean I would have to tender some kind of coin to view the earlier Kickboxer movies, and there are other things I could spend my money on...like a singing Billy Bass. Also, KickBoxer 2 and 4 were directed by my personal nemesis. Pyun...director of the worst movie of all, or any time...Radioactive (shudder) Dreams.

Hey, Fun fact, Tong Po is played by different actors. It's one guy in two, and another guy in 4...and neither one of them were Asian. so you've got those ugly ass fake eye makeup...why not get Bolo Leung to play Tong Po? At least he's Asian. You know, Bolo Leung, big muscular Asian actor from Double Impact? Hey, speaking of Double Impact and Van Damme....the fact that Van Damme wasn't in any of the kickboxer sequels should be warning enough for you. If Van Damme looked at the script and said, "Uh...no, Even I won't stoop thees low." well, it can't get any plainer than that friends and neighbors.

If you must make a sequel to Kickboxer, why not explore the character of his (Boner's) trainer, Xian played with subtle mastery by Dennis Chan. Why not a tender portrayal of Chan returning to Thailand to confront his father's alcoholism and troubled childhood and the girl he left behind AND his dreams of being a flutist in the Thai Symphony Orchestra. That would be bitterSWEET. There wouldn't have to be any kicking in it. NONE. I'm tired of the kicking. I want to see Kickboxer 5: Xian's Homecoming. Peace.

By the time they get to this film in the franchise, the story gets really ludicrous and over the top, with the main character having been in prison for a couple years and his wife being held captive during that time by the man who framed him, who also hoped to have killed his two brothers (before the film starts). Characters make dumb decisions and the whole plot is pretty ludicrous. About the only interesting part of the film is the Mortal Kombat third act (which is also ludicrous based on how short every match is). Thankfully, this is the last entry with these characters. A film to be avoided.

In Sasha Mitchell's final series appearance, Kickboxer 4 emerges as the most enjoyable sequel due to it's sheer ridiculousness which make this prime guilty pleasure material for fans of this kind of thing. I myself remember this entry quite well, I remember seeing this on the USA channel some night back in 1995. At the time USA was running an "Up all night" program which played cornball movies (Not unlike this one) and featured a nasal voiced blonde bimbo delivering her would be observations on the world. So naturally the audience knew what they were in for. Now 11 years later (After I bought the 5 pack)Kickboxer 4 is easily the most blissfully stupid of the series which I for one appreciate. The biggest problems with # 2 and # 3 were that they A)took themselves seriously B)Had little kickboxing. Kickboxer 4 comes through in spades in the fight department. There is so much karate chopping and brutal action that I couldn't help but smile. Aside from that though, Kickboxer 4 spins it's stupid plot with a a deadly serious tone which of course makes the ridiculousness even more apparent and therefore adds to the fun factor. Plus Kickboxer 4 is one of the most surreal movies i've ever seen.

* *1/2 out of 4-(Pretty good)