Day of the Panther

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.

"Day of the Panther" is a kind of movie you don't see every day - a martial arts movie from Australia. Though watching it will probably reveal why there haven't been that many more martial arts movies coming from that country. In fairness to the movie, there are some positive features. The martial art sequences, while not as fancy as those from Hong Kong movies, do manage to generate some excitement, and at the same time come across as more believable than usual. And while the actors in the movie aren't that great actors, the actors playing the protagonists do come across as likable all the same. However, the movie does all the same have some serious problems. The movie obviously had a low budget, with the general look of movie looking somewhat tacky. The screenplay has assorted plot turns that you will have seen in dozens of other movies before, and has the various characters coming across the same way as well. And the middle of the movie is a long dull stretch. However, I will say this movie all the same is far from the worst martial arts movies I have managed to see.

So what does a hot blond (Linda Megier) do when a pig is harassing you? Well, if you are a martial arts master, you take him out, especially if he is just some scumbag in a pig mask. This kinds of humorous things make this Australian chop sockey movie bearable.

Blade (Edward John Stazak) is trying to find out who killed his partner and break up a drug operation. He is using his considerable skills to provide several entertaining bouts against multiple bad guys. Two bumbling cops are tailing him and providing more humor.

Now, it is time for more humor as Blade works out while Paris Jefferson dances around the gym. Soon they are dancing under the sheets.

Blade manages to take out another group using a broom handle. Ouch, that has to hurt.

Of course, you have to have the final battle between Blade and the drug lord's (Michael Carman) henchman (Jim Richards).

There will be a part 2 (IT was filmed at the same time.).

My review was written in November 1988 after watching the movie on Celebrity video cassette.

The Aussie-made action pic "Day of the Panther" is standard issue martial arts material, well-executed but strictly ho-hum.

Edward John Stazak is physically right as Jason Blade, trained by Chinese cult the Panthers, who heads from Hong Kong to Perth on a secret mission against local druglord Zukor (Michael Carman). His teammate Linda (Linda Megier) is killed and Blade teams up with her cousin Gemma (Paris Jefferson).

The local cops tolerate Blade's activities, later encouraging him when they finally see through his cover story as a mercenary killer and identify his mission. In typical genre format, pic builds to a bloody annual gladiatorial tournament held by Zukor, but oddly omits same, instead staging a climax of Blade one-on-one against Zukor's chief henchman Baxter (Jim Richards).

Fight scenes, staged by thesps Stazak and Richards, are effective and Jefferson makes a beautiful redheaded leading lady. Otherwise pic is perfunctory and ends abruptly with announcement of is sequel "Strike of the Panther", which was filmed back-to-back with this installment.

Veteran genre filmmaker BTS revisits his earlier martial arts success with this vehicle starring Edward John Stazak as the indestructible cop Jason Blade, out to avenge the death of his partner. Familiar faces (and voices) Michael Carman and John Stanton feature in supporting roles in a generally fast-moving, colourful and exciting flick made for and of its time.

Garish Miami Vice style wardrobe (that's the pastel shirts and pleated trousers sans belts for the men, whilst the ladies live perpetually in bikinis) and synthesiser sounds paints the 80s excess well, even if it's all cliched. But it's the action sequences which standout, and BTS handles these with his usual flair, beginning with the rooftop foot-chase through the industrial estate, through to the rousing climax with Baxter the enforcer (Richards).

Nicely lit visuals of the Swan river and Perth surrounds, no-nonsense, functional dialogue that doesn't become sentimental nor melodramatic, there's even a half-dozen or so sweaty workout /aerobic dance sequences (including a montage that finishes with a roll in the hay) to keep the pulse-racing in between the well-choreographed roundhouses. It's no 'Man from Hong Kong', but as far as Oz-styled chop-socky goes, it's easy to enjoy matinee-grade material, good enough to go hand in hand with a simultaneously filmed sequel.