MichaÅ K
What a massive garbage, JCVD in it only for a second, what a cash grab. The people in this movie looks like they never act, and the story is beyond ridiculous
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
02/10/24
Full Review
DanTheMan 2
I'd forgotten that Van Damme is barely in this movie despite it proudly and very prominently boasting his name on the front cover, he appears for a brief moment during the opening before disappearing from the film entirely only to crop up during the final tournament at the end. Regardless of this, No Retreat, No Surrender borrows heavily from The Karate Kid in another of the decade's derivatives that can also be applied to films like Sidekicks, but this time mixed with elements of Rocky IV. The movie certainly isn't good, often horrifically cheesy, but it makes up for its shortcomings as it entertains and delights with a combination of pure earnestness and legitimately cool fight choreography courtesy of Hong Kong director Corey Yuen.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
09/08/23
Full Review
Alan S
I literally grew up with no retreat, no surrender! I love this movie. The acting may not be great but it definitely marked a big memory in my head when I was a child watching this karate show, now 28 years later and still looking for the DVD to play this movie again lol
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
09/04/23
Full Review
William D
Okay movie should only be watched once.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
08/23/23
Full Review
william d
Good movie I would recommend this to anyone.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
07/18/23
Full Review
matthew d
Ultra low budget The Karate Kid meets Rocky IV.
Hong Kong director Corey Yuen's martial arts film No Retreat, No Surrender (1986) is a highly entertaining bad movie, that's so in 80's cheesy fashion, that it is actually good. From Yuen's love of training montages, intricate fight choreography, and over the top style, to the absurd premise, No Retreat, No Surrender has everything you'd want from a cheap knock-off of The Karate Kid.
Writer Keith W. Strandberg actually has the main hero get trained by the spirit ghost of Bruce Lee. You read that right. He mostly gets bullied throughout the movie, then has to learn to defend himself and others, instead of seeking revenge. Then, he has to fight Jean-Claude Van Damme, playing in the movie a Russian champion in a little martial arts tournament in Seattle on behalf of America. It's very similar to The Karate Kid and Rocky IV, but enjoyable on its own merits. There is simply not enough Van Damme to satisfy as he's in the opening scene and the final duel only, but the last fights with Van Damme are something to behold.
Editors James Melkonian, Mark Pierce, and Allan Poon try to sloppily speed up fight moves and it's funny. I actually loved that there's like 5 training montages with all sorts of improvements and faster hits, dodges, and running. Cinematographers John Huneck and David Golia shoot stylish wide shots during the martial arts fights, while the coming of age drama feels compelling enough in close-up and medium shots. They do cut to close-ups for focusing on important kicks and sweeps.
Kurt McKinney is hilariously bad as the hero with occasional emotional realness as Jason Stillwell. He clearly got fit and fights faster and faster as No Retreat, No Surrender goes onwards. I liked him enough as the kid that's getting beat up everywhere, until he prevails in stylish fashion against Van Damme. Jean-Claude Van Damme is crazy as the vicious Russian Ivan Kraschinsky. He's brutal, strong, and fast in impressive showing of his kicks and jumps. His ultra fast backwards kicks are pretty insane. I wanted more Van Damme throughout No Retreat, No Surrender instead of just at the end though.
J.W. Fails is funny and likable as R.J. Madison with his love of Michael Jackson and breakdancing. Kathie Sileno is super cute as the love interest Kelly Riley. She's just there to motivate Jason, but I liked her. Tai-chung Kim is awesome doing a respectful impression of Bruce Lee as the ghost of Sensei Bruce Lee. He's funny and smart with fast moves that simulate Lee's iconic fighting stances. He feels wise and kind. All the other fighters are fairly impressive, but total jerks to the hero, so you're happy to see Van Damme beat every guy into the ground. The acting is all bad generally, but it's over the top enough to get laughs out of me.
Composer Paul Gilreath creates a legit cool synth score that perfectly energizes No Retreat, No Surrender. Sound designers Bob Biggart and Gary Ng totally mess up the voice dub edits so they never match up properly. It's very funny. Make-up artists June Brickman and Sher Flowers give every lady huge 80's hair and pretty blush.
Honestly, No Retreat, No Surrender is a bad movie, but it's a riot and pretty cool. Even if you hate it, it's only a slick 85 minutes long.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Read all reviews
Post a rating
>
