Last week I was staring at my collection of shitty movies, which is growing at a cancerous rate mind you....and I came across an unopened vhs cassette. This unviewed gem was the Don 'The Dragon' Wilson classic, Bloodfist 2. I know, I know, I asked myself the same question. Why the fuck would I intentionally purchase this bad movie? Frankly you could say the same thing about every movie I have obtained and reviewed for you.....but Bloodfist 2?!? Surely I don't hate myself enough to sit through another Don 'The Dragon' Wilson epic. Or do I? Will viewing this movie be my pennance for wanting to rest forever within the well oiled arms of Patrick Swayze? Or was there a higher agenda so well calculated, that I merely forgot the genius of my plan? As it turns out...yes.

Curiosity, and a small amount of self loathing got the better of me, so Bloodfist 2 found its way into my VCR. For the record, this is the second time I've viewed a Don 'The Dragon' Wilson movie, the first being Ring of Fire 2: Blood and Steal, and this is also the second time I've not watched the previous installment of the film, opting in favor of the sequel. What is perhaps even more incredible is that there are actually 8 Bloodfists! I shit you not. What is more amazing still is the not so subtle gay undertones that the titles of these movies suggest....Ring of Fire, and Bloodfist? I defy you not to find titles like this in the adult section of Fletch's favorite video store (or in his personal porn collection).

Like any Don 'The Dragon' Wilson movie, Bloodfist 2 starts off with the big guy sporting his trademark mullet (not quite Melmet strength, but the lad does have potential) and abs, while beating the ass out of his opponent. Mr. Wilson stars as Jake Raye, a prize Kickoxer who is battling for the championship belt. He is clearly winning the fight, but something strange happens to his opponent during the fight that will change his life forever. His counterpart is given a drug (which we will find out more about later) that prevents him from feeling any pain. In the hands of a more effective fighter, this would perhaps be an advantage, however against Jake Raye, it just delays the inevitable. The beating continues on, and Raye shows concern that he is killing the man who just won't fall. After several well choreographed strikes, his opponent collapses to the mat and dies. Raye having just won the title, expresses his dissapointment, and pulls a page from every Tom Cruise movie, by retiring....quitting his sport forever, rather than face adversity! Great lesson kids!

Some time passes, and we find Jake Raye living the good life with a $2 whore (and that is being really generous) in a shitty apartment highlighted by the neon glow of a restaurant sign conveniently suspended outside of his window. Jake recieves a phone call from his friend Vinny (unfortunately the call came after the union with the whore) who explains that he is in Manila and in a great deal of trouble. Jake leaves immediately to help his friend.

When he arrives in the Far East, he visits a dojo where Vinny supposedly trained. Typical training type environment, with a ring, exercise equipment and of course multiple heavy bags.....and here we find the answer to the riddle. Striking away at one of these heavy bags is Sal Taylor, played by a Mr. Timothy D. Baker. It took me a few moments, but finally I recognized the man and the reason why this pile of shit was sitting in video collection. Timothy Baker is not only a world reknowned martial artist and kickboxing champion, but his greatest credit, is that he played Tom Stillwell, Jason's father in No Retreat No Surrender. I just can't seem to let this movie go. Unlike his previous cast members Mr. Baker continued to act until 1997, and is still somewhat of a pillar of the Hollywood community as a media director who helps outfit some of todays top television programs with original music. Mr. Baker once again brings his 'A' game and delivers a performance on par with that of his previous one in No Retreat No Surrender.

Jake Raye, unable to find his friend Vinny, does however find trouble in the form of mafia henchmen. Of course there is series of beatings at the hands of Raye, he is eventually felled by superior numbers and kidnapped. Upon reviving from a pistol whipping induced nap, Jake realizes that he has been rounded up with a large group of former and current martial arts superstars (apparently in real life most of the guys are real bad asses, but I think you really have to be in 'the know' to recognize them....or just read the back of the movie's box). Their captor finally reveals himself and his sadistic plans for them. They have been take to the island fortress of the evil Mr. Su. He has arranged a tournament, in which these martial artists will have to battle against his fighters to the death, in front of his wealthy friends for entertainment. Su also has an alterior motive, and secret which could prove deadly to the fighters. His combatants will be using a drug, a steroid of sorts, that is completely undetectable, and takes effect shortly after ingestion. This is the same drug the fighter that Jake Raye killed in the beginning of this nightmare took. The steroid, not only makes the man stronger, but impervious to pain. Su is using the tournament as a means to market the drug to his gambling friends so they can fix future fights.

In the arena, Jake Raye has discovered his buddy Vinny, has betrayed him, and actually lured him here to fight in the tournament. Vinny is now in the employ of Su, and is one of his fighters. One by one, the fighters enter the arena as Su and his friends place wagers, and one by one, the kidnapped martial artist are killed. Until Sal Taylor steps into the ring! Yes my boy Tim Baker does it again! He is the first fighter to turn the tide and defeat his steroid raged opponent, giving hope to his fellow captors. The next few fighters appear to follow Sal's lead, until Vinny jumps into the ring and quickly kills the fighter. Jake enters the ring and calls out Vinny and the two try and act their way through a Ben Kenobi / Anakin Skywalker 'you betrayed me sequence' style sequence.....and actually do a better job than Ewan MacGregor and Hayden Christansen did (although that isn't saying much). Jake eventually defeats Vinny and kills him, and then rallies the prisoners to a full scale revolt.

Important note. If you are surrounded by 50 guys with automatic rifles, all you need is karate to defeat them. Bullets are no match for a well placed spinning crescent kick....I always say. Essentially this plucky crew of martial artists punch, kick and spout cheesy lines en route to their freedom....which is glorified in a beautifully framed crane shot. Bloodfist 2 is exactly what you should expect it to be. A massive helping of freshly toasted shit. How they continued this movie onto Bloodfist 8: Trained to Kill, is mind boggling. This marks the last time (and I really mean it) that I will ever view a Don 'The Dragon' Wilson movie. It will also be the last time we memorialize a cast member from No Retreat No Surrender, not so much because of desire, but thankfully, most of the cast went back to cooking french fries at your favorite fast food establishment.....a career that none of them should have left.

Hamlin Grade: 3

Timothy Dalton is the one true James Bond,
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