Ringue de Fogo

Despite the fact that this is just yet another mindless kung-fu action movie, isn't that part of the culture of the late 80s early 90s? It is a snapshot of American culture and dreams in that time era. The movie centers around two kick boxing gangs, what more do you want? Cheesy plot outline, mindless action that makes you wish you could fight like that, and a predictable ending with a cool training sequence. All of the ingredients that made us love movies like Rocky.

I think movie goers should lighten up and enjoy these kind of films more. Even though they aren't through provoking, not every movie can be, it still entertains you if you have a light heart going in.

I remember watching the 1991 martial arts action movie "Ring of Fire" on VHS a couple of times back in the early and mid-1990s. Back then I had purchased the movie because I was a fan of Maria Ford. And then I stumbled upon "Ring of Fire" again here in 2023, needless to say that of course I opted to revisit the movie.

The movie is actually still as good, watchable, enjoyable and entertaining as I remembered it to be. So writers Jake Jacobs, Richard W. Munchkin and Steve Tymon definitely managed to put together a good script and storyline for the movie. Sure, it was full of early 1990s martial arts cheese, but that is what makes the movie so enjoyable.

The acting performances in the movie are fair enough. You know when you sit down to watch a movie such as "Ring of Fire" then you're not exactly in for Academy Award winning performances. But Don "The Dragon" Wilson actually carries the movie well enough with his combination of acting and martial arts skills. And of course it is a pleasure to see Maria Ford on the screen. I had actually totally forgotten about Eric Lee being in the movie, and he adds a wonderful element to the movie with his performance and character.

The martial arts sequences in "Ring of Fire" are fairly good. And the movie does have sufficient enough fights throughout the 100 minute runtime to keep it entertaining and action-packed.

If you enjoy the 1990s martial arts movie, then "Ring of Fire" from directors Richard W. Munchkin and Rick Jacobson is definitely well-worth watching.

My rating of "Ring of Fire" lands on a six out of ten stars.

'Ring of Fire' set me up to think it might be a cheesy fun b-movie. An oiled up guy working out then two quick matches in the ring within the first 5 minutes. Don 'The Dragon' Wilson is backed up by a few familiar faces in this PM Group flick from the 90's that features an underground fight tourney common for this genre. Dated racism fuels the story, but also bouts of boredom and not enough of the good stuff.

Johnny Woo (Wilson) is an ex fighter, doctor who's cousin Terry (Steven Vincent Leigh) is involved in unsanctioned bouts. Racial tenses flair between them and white meatheads led by Chuck (Vince Murdocco) & Brad (Dale Jacoby). Not helping matters is Chuck's fiancé Julie (Maria Ford) obvious attraction to Johnny. Per the title, a battle in the streets leads to the final confrontation.

Some of the camera work isn't up to the mark, but that fits with the low budget. A "masquerade ball" held in what looks like a high school gym with people hardly dressed the part is case in point. If a routine story - mixing cultures, training montages, dick cop - wasn't enough it's also slow to get to any real action. Only at the tail end does Wilson himself get down to fisticuffs. Watching a girl decide which guy she wants wastes time as it's obvious which way that's gonna go.

The positive word of mouth for 'Ring of Fire' isn't deserved. It doesn't even do any of the basics right. A lack of quality fighting is a deadly sin in a title like this. The romance subplot is a bore and the ending is a joke. I like a good dtv flick from time to time when it rises above or delivers the goods, 'Ring of Fire' simply does neither.

Don 'The Dragon' Wilson stars as Dr. John Wu (No relation of course to Hong Kong legend John Woo) a doctor who falls in love with Julie (Maria Ford) John is Asian, Julie is white both their siblings run rival gangs and hence West Side Story is turned into a ridiculous martial arts clunker. For a movie called Ring Of Fire there sure is very little action, even Don Wilson doesn't get into the ring until the climax and while this fight sequence is admittedly well choreographed the rest of the movie is completely dulls-ville with a nauseating love story that never develops any spark and action sequences that lack the overall edge a Bloodsport or Kickboxer might. I still can't believe that somebody thought that putting Don Wilson and Maria Ford in a romance plot angle was a good idea. I also can't believe that Don Wilson didn't even fight until the climax. I also can't believe how bad this movie was.

* out of 4-(Bad)

WOW, this movie was garbage, by looking at the cover and reading the back of the box, it looked sorta cool... but no, no it was not. I would not recomend this movie to anyone... I may as well have rented Titanic, although that seemed a bit more interesting than this, the only good part to this movie was the 30 second old skool Thai fight scene with the ring of fire and tar/glass hands wraps... that is all!!! Garbage... oh yeah, did i mention that this movie was garbage?!