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Champion of Death

Play trailer Poster for Champion of Death R 1975 1h 25m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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A martial artist (Sonny Chiba) must fight for his life after killing a gangster.

Critics Reviews

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Douglas Davidson Elements of Madness And while they play within the historical record as responses to the Allied occupation’s weakening of Japanese karate, the film’s themselves don’t necessarily stand as a refutation of why it should be different. Sep 10, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/coverv/97/232597.jpg[/img] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white]Oyama has studied abroad for three years to improve his karate skills. He has been studying karate for a total of 10 years. Oyama enters a karate tournament in Japan, the one of its kind in sometime. He easily wins the competition. He is not enamored with the victory due to what karate his turned into for his native countrymen. People now view karate as a form of art rather than a weapon. Oyama takes on a student and teaches him the true meaning of karate. The student dies in an unfortunate accident. Making matters worse, Oyama accidentally kills a man using his karate. Oyama decides that karate may not be what he envisioned. For Oyama, karate may become a thing of the past and a resource better left untapped.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white] [/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white]“That is the way of saving karate from becoming a dance.”[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white] [/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white]Kazuhiko Yamaguchi, director of Tokyo Bad Girls, Delinquent Girl Boss: Worthless to Confess, Sister Street Fighter 1, 2, &3, Karate Bear Fighter, and Moon Angel delivers Karate Bull Fighter. The storyline for this film is surprisingly superb and far superior to the Karate Bear Fighter. The performance by Sonny Chiba is outstanding. He delivers both savage and heart warming scenes throughout the picture.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white] [/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white]“I was too kind to think I could tame a beast.”[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white] [/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white]The opening karate competition, the training flashbacks, Oyama versus the executioner, the breaking of the Coke bottles sequences, the “visitors” conversation, the first “training” sequence in the alley, Oyama versus the bull, Oyama’s student beating up the doubters, the student versus the police officers, the bar fight, the sword fight in the rain, Oyama versus the evil minions in the field, and Oyama versus the guy with the numchucks were amongst the better portions of the film.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white] [/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white]“I love her, but I love karate more.”[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white] [/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white]Karate Bull Fighter sounds like a ridiculous film based on the ridiculous title; however, the storyline is well presented. This film provides an abundance of depth for this genre. The action scenes are well presented and not overdone. This may be Sonny Chiba’s best “acting” performance. Rarely does he portray a character that possesses self doubt, reluctance, or just cause. I recommend this film to fans of the martial arts or grindhouse genres. [/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white] [/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white]“His karate has no dignity.”[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white][/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=3][color=white]Grade: B+[/color][/size][/font] [color=white][/color] Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Champion of Death

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis A martial artist (Sonny Chiba) must fight for his life after killing a gangster.
Director
Kazuhiko Yamaguchi
Screenwriter
Noribumi Suzuki
Production Co
Toei
Rating
R
Genre
Action
Original Language
Japanese
Runtime
1h 25m