AlbertV
03-11-2008, 12:55 PM
Taekwondo Grandmaster Jun Chong produces and stars in this action film about war on the streets of Los Angeles.
The J.P.s are a vicious street gang that will do what it takes to take over the streets. The Tigers are a righteous group of high school students. When the J.P.s' leader, Priest (Jeff Rector), is released from prison, he intends to find his old girlfriend. However, when he learns that someone who is associated with the Tigers is now with her, Priest goes over the edge. A war with many casualties has begun. With nowhere to go, The Tigers ask for the help of Master Han (Jun Chong), a martial arts instructor whose nephew Charlie (Joon B. Kim) is best friends with Tigers leader Max (Jonathan Gorman). With training from Master Han, the Tigers are ready to clean the streets once and for all against the J.P.s.
Everyone knows all about the B-movies and this is clearly one movie that defines "B-Movie". It is not because of Grandmaster Chong and the action. However, the one element that makes this a definitive B-movie is the over the top performance by Jeff Rector as J.P.s leader Priest. As soon as he begins to talk, you know what you're going to be in for. Not to say he isn't a good actor because he's done some better roles for sure. Here, he goes off the deep end with a nasal type voice that makes the viewer laugh rather than be intimidated. The funniest line he pulls off is at a party where he sees his ex-girlfriend only to find her gone and he responds, "Where's my b***h?"
A standout character in the film is Priest's new right hand man, the mute Tok. Tok carries around a very ridiculous looking snake. It is as if it comes out of a jack-in-the-box. However, Tok does have superior fighting skills and in two scenes, he tends to defeat Joon Kim's Charlie with his impressive skills. It comes as no surprise that Tok is played by none other than the most lethal superkicker in Hong Kong cinema, Grandmaster Hwang Jang-Lee. Using his son's name, Hwang is credited in the film as "Jason Hwang". Another thing to look out for is that Hwang looks like he had been hitting weights as he looks really beefed up in the film.
With the help of stunt coordinator Kim Kahana, Grandmaster Chong handles the fight scenes of the film. The training sequences are quite great to watch. It is as if the viewer is actually watching a class from Grandmaster Chong. Kahana handled the gunplay and a very nice chase scene involving the J.P.s and Joon Kim, Jonathan Gorman, and David Homb. For those who do wonder, there is indeed a fight in the climax of the film that pits Grandmaster Chong against Grandmaster Hwang. Chong utilizies the skills of both himself and Hwang and for an American martial arts film of this era, it looks really good.
Street Soldiers may be a definitive B-movie, but it is a really excellent one to watch and for those who want to see Hwang Jang-Lee in an American martial arts film, here's your chance.
The J.P.s are a vicious street gang that will do what it takes to take over the streets. The Tigers are a righteous group of high school students. When the J.P.s' leader, Priest (Jeff Rector), is released from prison, he intends to find his old girlfriend. However, when he learns that someone who is associated with the Tigers is now with her, Priest goes over the edge. A war with many casualties has begun. With nowhere to go, The Tigers ask for the help of Master Han (Jun Chong), a martial arts instructor whose nephew Charlie (Joon B. Kim) is best friends with Tigers leader Max (Jonathan Gorman). With training from Master Han, the Tigers are ready to clean the streets once and for all against the J.P.s.
Everyone knows all about the B-movies and this is clearly one movie that defines "B-Movie". It is not because of Grandmaster Chong and the action. However, the one element that makes this a definitive B-movie is the over the top performance by Jeff Rector as J.P.s leader Priest. As soon as he begins to talk, you know what you're going to be in for. Not to say he isn't a good actor because he's done some better roles for sure. Here, he goes off the deep end with a nasal type voice that makes the viewer laugh rather than be intimidated. The funniest line he pulls off is at a party where he sees his ex-girlfriend only to find her gone and he responds, "Where's my b***h?"
A standout character in the film is Priest's new right hand man, the mute Tok. Tok carries around a very ridiculous looking snake. It is as if it comes out of a jack-in-the-box. However, Tok does have superior fighting skills and in two scenes, he tends to defeat Joon Kim's Charlie with his impressive skills. It comes as no surprise that Tok is played by none other than the most lethal superkicker in Hong Kong cinema, Grandmaster Hwang Jang-Lee. Using his son's name, Hwang is credited in the film as "Jason Hwang". Another thing to look out for is that Hwang looks like he had been hitting weights as he looks really beefed up in the film.
With the help of stunt coordinator Kim Kahana, Grandmaster Chong handles the fight scenes of the film. The training sequences are quite great to watch. It is as if the viewer is actually watching a class from Grandmaster Chong. Kahana handled the gunplay and a very nice chase scene involving the J.P.s and Joon Kim, Jonathan Gorman, and David Homb. For those who do wonder, there is indeed a fight in the climax of the film that pits Grandmaster Chong against Grandmaster Hwang. Chong utilizies the skills of both himself and Hwang and for an American martial arts film of this era, it looks really good.
Street Soldiers may be a definitive B-movie, but it is a really excellent one to watch and for those who want to see Hwang Jang-Lee in an American martial arts film, here's your chance.