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Jason, a Bruce Lee fan, sees his karate instructor/dad beaten by martial art thugs. They move to Seattle where, after humiliations, he trains with Bruce Lee's ghost so he can defend himself ... Read allJason, a Bruce Lee fan, sees his karate instructor/dad beaten by martial art thugs. They move to Seattle where, after humiliations, he trains with Bruce Lee's ghost so he can defend himself and others against thugs.Jason, a Bruce Lee fan, sees his karate instructor/dad beaten by martial art thugs. They move to Seattle where, after humiliations, he trains with Bruce Lee's ghost so he can defend himself and others against thugs.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
Tae-jeong Kim
- Sensei Lee
- (as Kim Tai Chong)
Peter Cunningham
- Frank Peters
- (as Pete Cunningham)
Timothy D. Baker
- Tom Stillwell
- (as Tim Baker)
Joe Verroca
- New York Agent
- (as Joe Vance)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Before watching the movie I had in my mind that this was just going to be another dodgy movie but with a bit of van damme thrown in. How wrong. This movie truly is a classic, the cheesy music, (especially the end credits) brilliant montage scenes and especially the fighting itself. This isn't your traditionally badly choreographed Van Dammeesque movie but a very well done job. The fight scenes a lengthy and extremely enjoyable, and everyone in the movie can kick and punch very well. The main character Kurt McKinney (Jason) turns up the style later in the movie by pulling off some unbelievable training exercises, such as his two-finger one handed push ups! OK - so the acting is very ropey - but who cares! If you're looking for an enjoyable evening in and a self motivational movie - this is the one!
No Retreat, No Surrender (1985) was a Seasonal Films production that was filmed in the United States. Corey Yuen was the director and Hoi Meng was the co-action director. This film marked the Western debut of future superstar Jean Claude Van Damme. This was also the first of three official No Retreat, No Surrender films.
A kid witnesses his dad being brutally beaten by a group of thugs and their new fighter, a big mean Soviet kick-fighter (J.C.V.D.) The kid does what anybody else would do if they saw their own dad nearly beaten to death, swear a blood revenge against those who put him in traction. There's one problem, the kid can't punch his way out of a paper bag and his fighting skills are virtually non-existence. What's a kid to do? Turn to a higher power! Will that be the stuff needed to beat down the mean Red fighter and avenge his father?
The fight scenes are realistic looking and bone crunching. The direction is real good and the acting is okay. A Hong Kong style movie made in America. J.C.V.D. is pretty scary and mean looking in his big debut. He'll make a bigger splash in his first true success Bloodsport.
If you enjoy old school kung fu movies where the son has to avenge his father with a blood oath, then this one's for you. Followed by No Retreat, No Surrender 2.
A kid witnesses his dad being brutally beaten by a group of thugs and their new fighter, a big mean Soviet kick-fighter (J.C.V.D.) The kid does what anybody else would do if they saw their own dad nearly beaten to death, swear a blood revenge against those who put him in traction. There's one problem, the kid can't punch his way out of a paper bag and his fighting skills are virtually non-existence. What's a kid to do? Turn to a higher power! Will that be the stuff needed to beat down the mean Red fighter and avenge his father?
The fight scenes are realistic looking and bone crunching. The direction is real good and the acting is okay. A Hong Kong style movie made in America. J.C.V.D. is pretty scary and mean looking in his big debut. He'll make a bigger splash in his first true success Bloodsport.
If you enjoy old school kung fu movies where the son has to avenge his father with a blood oath, then this one's for you. Followed by No Retreat, No Surrender 2.
I loved it...the original film of the series is a great find for martial arts fanatics. Seeing this for the 1st time at the age of 7 and finding it on video 7 years later on a class trip to D.C., I had to get it.
Corey Yuen's 1st international film, the film features present soap opera Kurt McKinney and a young Jean-Claude Van Damme as the teen Rocky and Ivan Drago-kung fu style. Loved the little comparison of "Seattle Karate" and "L.A. Karate"...so reminiscent of those ol' kung fu films of yor. Excellent fight scenes and the Bruce-alike Tang Lung (aka Kim Tai Chung) as Bruce Lee's ghost makes this a classic 80's US kung fu flick.
Corey Yuen's 1st international film, the film features present soap opera Kurt McKinney and a young Jean-Claude Van Damme as the teen Rocky and Ivan Drago-kung fu style. Loved the little comparison of "Seattle Karate" and "L.A. Karate"...so reminiscent of those ol' kung fu films of yor. Excellent fight scenes and the Bruce-alike Tang Lung (aka Kim Tai Chung) as Bruce Lee's ghost makes this a classic 80's US kung fu flick.
Just finished viewing no retreat,no surrender whom i borrowed from by good friend "Thorstein" today.The last time i watched it was approximately ten years ago on a lousy video tape,and seeing it on DVD gave me a hell of a ride.We all know that these movies lack about everything a movie lover craves,but the intensity and the choreography of the fighting is just plain awesome! I too see the similarities ti Rocky 4 with the Russian fighter etc,but remember that Ivan grabbed Jasons girl by the hair,wouldn't you step into the ring to defend your girl? Simultanously i have to say that our belgium phenomen has delivered the film-histories best side-kicks.Worth the whole movie by itself! Beside "American warrior" this is the greatest martial art movie of all time!Sorry Jet Li!And once again thanks to my dear friend Thorstein(who simply adores van damme)for lending me this one!
I most start this off by saying, I think this is one of the best movies every made, its in my top 10 favorite movies of all time. I watched this movie like everyday after shcool when I was a kid. its great.. its so entertaining, and never gets old. it has a great story, great action scenes, great music, and memereble lines and characters. I still watch this movie all the time. When lifes at its low points, and I'm feeling down, when I watch this movie, it gives me the inspiration to not give up and keep pushing on. I love this movie, its got me through some hard times.
Did you know
- TriviaThe scenes with Bruce Lee's spirit were filmed with Tae-jeong Kim and Kurt McKinney speaking different languages. Kim's voice was later dubbed into English. The actors read cue cards behind the cameras, and didn't know what they were saying to each other.
- GoofsWhen Jason first meets Bruce Lee he greets him as "Sensei Lee". Lee was Chinese, so the correct term is "Sifu." "Sensei" is a Japanese title.
- Quotes
RJ Madison: Alright. No retreat, no surrender!
- Crazy creditsJean-Claude Van Damme's character is Ivan, but in the ending credits, next to his name reads, "Karl Brezdin".
- Alternate versionsThe new 2004 UK region 2 DVD from Universal features a different opening and logo and film score compared to either the UK or US home video releases. The DVD also features scenes that were not present in either the US or UK video release(s) Scenes that were added
- after Jason's father leg is broken there is a brief scene of him in the hospital thinking about who done it to him and not wanting to put his family in danger because of the syndicate and his decision to leave L.A.
- Ian receiving a phone call from the syndicate telling him to meet them at his dojo in half an hour
- Various scenes were extended plus additional dialogue is heard that didn't feature in either the UK or US home video release Scenes that were deleted:
- Jason's date with Kelly at the space needle and a brief scene of them looking through the window of a pet shop
- After Jason comes home from Ian's dojo there is a scene where Jason meets Kelly for the first time after moving from L.A. to Seattle. Those scenes were included in the video releases. The DVD run time on the back of the DVD is incorrectly stated as 79 minutes the correct run time is 94 minutes
- Also, the final fight between Jason and Ivan is slightly longer using flashbacks to Jason's training explaining how they come into use in the last fight, such as when Jason was practicing on the mokujin (wooden dummy) and used that knowledge to counter Ivan's attacks. This also explains the awkward jump cuts during this fight in the shorter prints.
- This version also contains a completely different score feature stock music from various Hong Kong films, such as Project A and My Lucky Stars, plus an alternate theme song called "Hold On To The Vision". Also, there is a different voice actor used for "Lee Dai Goh" which sounds properly more Asian rather than the deeper Americanized voice used in the shorter prints.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Best of the Martial Arts Films (1990)
- SoundtracksHold on to the Vision
(Main Theme)
Music and Lyrics by Frank Harris and Jo Mortensen
Produced by Frank Harris
Sung by Kevin Chalfant
- How long is No Retreat, No Surrender?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- El Desafio
- Filming locations
- 14556 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, California, USA(as Los Angeles: opening scenes. 'Sherman Oaks Karate'.)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $4,662,137
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $739,723
- May 4, 1986
- Gross worldwide
- $4,662,137
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By what name was Karaté Tiger : Le Tigre rouge (1986) officially released in India in English?
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