After almost a decade of waiting, producer Alan Mehrez turned talk of a “Bloodsport” sequel into reality with a new cast, crew, and a different story. Jeff Schecter’s first feature-length script is mostly as a remake but also part sequel to the first film thus enabling it to serve as both a decent enough sequel and a stand-alone feature in its own right.
Trailer
CAST
Swiss model Daniel Bernhardt making his feature debut doesn’t so much fill Jean-Claude Van Damme’s spot but creates his own as the thief Alex Cardo. The remainder of the cast feature recogniseable names from martial arts and cult cinema. Veteran actor James Hong (“Big Trouble in Little China”) is Sun, a prison inmate who reforms Alex and teaches him the Iron Hand style of Kung-Fu. Malaysian powerhouse and taekwondo practitioner Ong Soo Han (“King of the Kickboxers”) plays the villainous, sadistic prison guard and Kumite entrant Demon. Noriyuki ‘Pat’ Morita is millionaire philanthropist and Kumite benefactor Mr Leung.
Donald Gibb returns as Ray Jackson, now the handler for the US Kumite competitors providing the link to the first film.
PLOT
Antiquities thief Alex Cardo (Bernhardt) is double crossed by his partner John (Philip Tan) and left to rot in a Thai prison for the theft of a priceless sword from millionaire philanthropist Leung (Pat Morita). Alex befriends Sun (James Hong) a martial arts master serving a life sentence who teaches him his Iron Hand Kung Fu style. Realising that the sword he stole was to be the prize at the next Kumite, Alex vows to redeem himself by recovering the sword upon his release and honour Sun by entering the Kumite, the sadistic prison Demon (Han) is also invited.
ACTION
Bernhardt displays impressive skill and speed using a blend of Taekwondo and Karate. His legs extend to almost near perfect straightness and he is quick with his hands. At times he resembles Van Damme, however Bernhardt is more agile and his height adds graceful lines to his skilful display, allowing him to shine distinctively. Opposite him as the film’s bad guy, Ong Soo Han finally lands his bigger role snarling and taunting with each display of his fast yet powerful martial arts skills, looking as formidable as Bolo Yeung. Bernhardt is amiably supported by a pool of talented martial arts performers including Ron Hall, Jeff Wolfe, Nick Hill, and Lisa MCullough as the first female Kumite entrant.
Choreographer Philip Tan and director Alan Mehrez have put together some very exciting displays of martial arts fights in this film packing in various disciplines that include Capoeira, Tang Soo Do, Muay Thai, various Kung Fu styles, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Each fighter that’s been cast here serve as talented ambassadors for their respective art, donning an eclectic wardrobe from the traditional Karate Gi to colourfully striped spandex, and even KISS (the band) style make up!
Tan clearly understands the intricacies of each style, staging fights to accentuate each one such as Ron Hall’s incredibly fast and acrobatic Wushu, and Nick Hill’s agile and powerful Okinawa-Te Karate. Compared to the original “Bloodsport”, “Bloodsport II” boasts almost double the number of fight scenes for the Kumite alone which welcomely takes up half the film.
SUMMARY
“Bloodsport II” is an enjoyable film which moves along at a steady pace anchored on a passable story, an impressive feature debut by Daniel Bernhardt, packed with exciting action that will likely have martial arts film junkies approving while punching the air with that sense of a hard fought victory.
TRIVIA
- The Kumite judge who leaps onto the mat to deal with “Gorilla” is Master Hee IL Cho, a highly respected Taekwondo practitioner since the age of 10 and earning his 1st Dan by age 13.
- Ong Soo Han and Nils Allen Stewart (Gorilla) both appeared in “The Quest” alongside “Bloodsport” star Jean-Claude Van Damme.
