I want to talk about a film that I noticed and remembered back in 1997-98. The film itself was shot at the end of combat cinema, where martial arts played a dominant role. The whole boom of “karate films,” to put it in layman’s terms, has come to naught...
However, even now, thinking about what to write a review about, I did not hesitate to choose "Iron fists"(Fists of Iron, 1995). Why this particular movie? Let's go through the cliches that the film was able to avoid:
- Usually actors, even with serious combat experience (like Don Wilson, for example), get into strange construction situations and do something strange. In the film Michael Worth essentially shows “peasant kickboxing” and can even show combinations of punches and the like. Quite watchable.
- Usually in this kind of film, the main character either doesn’t miss any punches (hello to Steven Seagal from distant Russia!), or gets very few of them. In this movie, everything is wrong, and the GG is completely screwed often. And even, in general, he doesn’t immediately come to the tournament “to defeat everyone and everything,” but he also rake in there. A trifle, but nice.
So, let's move on to the simple plot plot. A regular at local bars, who knows how to box well (or rather, give a jab), Dave Hartwell, together with his friend, comes to a party of a certain “successful businessman”. There, for show, hand-to-hand combat is carried out. What’s interesting is that, again, the stamp avoided some “fights to the death” (there will be no glass, Jean-Claude! There will be no!). There are simply fights in the ring. Very cruel, but not fatal.
And so, Matthias Hughes, this man-mountain, the honor and conscience of fighters in the category of all letters of the alphabet, is the champion of such fights. For the amusement of the crowd and “for the record,” the referee asks one of the spectators to come out and hold his ground against the champion. Hartwell's friend decides to take a chance...
What’s nice, I’ll note once again, is that cliches have been avoided here. Nobody breaks this friend's back with a scary look on his face. Quite realistically and sadly, the guy gets injured - many blows to the head. Having worn themselves out, the friends despair of spending the night in a trailer, where the notorious friend, alas, suddenly dies from the beatings he received.
Hartwell decides to take revenge, but take revenge “legally.” He is not Rambo, he does not thirst for the “blood of his enemies.” He just wants to fight the champion in the ring, according to the rules.
And this is not easy, since the tournament requires money for participation, and you need to go beyond the “extra” fighters.
That's the whole plot! Otherwise, alas, the film is of course largely “cliche”. Although the music, the shooting technique, and what is important - the realistic and at the same time “cinematic” choreography (with slow motions, spectacular tricks with falling, etc.) are very attractive.
I singled out this film because it was created already in those days when it was known what the UFC 1 tournament was and what kickboxing was. In general, the fight director clearly tried to fit the choreography into the outline of the sport.
Michael Worth I did an excellent job with the task, I think.
Enjoy watching friends!
Author: Yuri Skromny
Especially for Fight-Films.Info
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Tags: Fists of Iron, Michael Worth, Matthias Hughes
Tags: Fists of Iron, Michael Worth, Matthias Hughes
the fights seemed to be staged by art Camacho and Michael Worth himself
I watched it on TV in 98. Eric Lee was memorable as the old master. It probably has something to do with the staging of fights.
Mery,
Yes, it's possible! Cool scene at the end when Eric Lee hits the businessman))) I'm just surprised why he doesn't fight himself (almost) in this movie. Even the plot device is that he supposedly injured his leg. Perhaps he was sick at that time or something like that.
Thanks to the dear Administration for the promptness in posting the review!
A couple of “post-script” moments that were not included in the article. “Catch up,” let’s say.
What really distinguishes this film from similar genre fight choreographies is the abundance of blows to the body. It feels like the choreography was done by a boxer or kickboxer - the blows to the liver, stomach, kidneys, and solar plexus were staged and shown very spectacularly (if one can even put it that way).
Also, at least there is a technique with legs (all these spins and the like), more emphasis on punches. This was also a pleasant surprise, at least in those years :)
Yuri Skromny,
You have to look at it anyway. I've never heard of this. I respect Hughes.
I was interested in realistic action with combos. I hope I didn't lie. But the question is - what is the percentage of action from the total timing (action includes fights, chases, parkour and training editing)?
uranium,
ps in any case, watch it in rewind and save time and maybe you will be interested.
Yuri Skromny,
What do you think of Worth's films Last Strike and Crime on the Street? The fighting style there is unique, more realistic than other actors at that time.
Mery,
Good films too! The last blow is a bright duet with Lamas (who also did not disappoint)! I’ll also mention “Be the Best” (1993), I also think it’s unique! All these films stood out in the same way as the one under review; Worth always had an interesting style in cinema that prevailed.
Mery,
Maybe I have seen these films. In the 90s there was a heyday of regional TV - all kinds of action films were shown. There was even a “Dangerous Target”, from which the plot of the book Piranha Hungt was stolen. Perhaps I saw these too.
Yuri Skromny,
Rewind - only if the film is boring. 40% is the norm.
uranium,
The percentage is quite high, somewhere around 40% for sure. There is also a lot of “cinema” in it. And there are a very decent number of fights. If you're interested in the trailer, I think you'll like the movie too. But maybe not) Because there were attempts at a “dramatic plot” and the timing was also filled out solidly with this. In addition, for some reason the trailer did not include the best combat moments, but essentially the timing of these very attempts.