Post by cactus on Nov 6, 2009 17:04:55 GMT
Before Richard Harrison made the mistake of filming ninja scenes with Godfrey Ho and Joseph Lai, he actually had a career as an actor in various european low budget flicks; gladiatorfilms, westerns, pirate films etc. He was even offered Clints role in A Fistful Of Dollars, but chose another role which paid more. Just think how different movie history could have looked...
Harrison himself claim that Ho/Lai ruined his career; that he only filmed one ninja film which was later edited into over 20 films with him in the starring role, and that he was typecasted for life and can't get any decent roles since then. He must have recorded a hell of a lot of scenes for that one movie, but let's pretend that we believe him for now.
Challenge Of The Tiger was made in 1980, four years before his first ninja movie (Ninja Thunderbolt) came out, and if this is the kind of films Harrison is complaining about not being able to make, we should probably be very happy. And really a little sad. It's actually a perfect example of "so bad it's good".
Bruce Le and Richard Harrison are FBI-agents/playboys who are assigned to return a stolen chemical formula which can make men infertile. Among the bad guys are Miss Spain (played by softcore-star Nadiuska) and Bolo Yeung. A third party who wants the formula is the Viet Cong, led by Hwang Jang Lee.
Harrisons performance is abysmal – but also completely in line with the films other qualities. Some dialogue is hysterical, and the quite decently crafted plot is sort of senseless and sensible at the same time. There are tits in abundance, and Harrisons moustache gets to make out just a little more than you can take watching. Some action sequences are so bad that you nearly die laughing; A car crash comes from nowhere, and Bruce Les fight against a bull is insanely intertaining - watch the YouTube-clip below. The only thing that gives the film a bit of credibility is that Le, Hwang and Bolo actually can fight, even if most fights are way too short.
I found the film very entertaining. A lot of good laughs on the film makers expense, and are you a B-movie lover this is a perfect choice.
Harrison himself claim that Ho/Lai ruined his career; that he only filmed one ninja film which was later edited into over 20 films with him in the starring role, and that he was typecasted for life and can't get any decent roles since then. He must have recorded a hell of a lot of scenes for that one movie, but let's pretend that we believe him for now.
Challenge Of The Tiger was made in 1980, four years before his first ninja movie (Ninja Thunderbolt) came out, and if this is the kind of films Harrison is complaining about not being able to make, we should probably be very happy. And really a little sad. It's actually a perfect example of "so bad it's good".
Bruce Le and Richard Harrison are FBI-agents/playboys who are assigned to return a stolen chemical formula which can make men infertile. Among the bad guys are Miss Spain (played by softcore-star Nadiuska) and Bolo Yeung. A third party who wants the formula is the Viet Cong, led by Hwang Jang Lee.
Harrisons performance is abysmal – but also completely in line with the films other qualities. Some dialogue is hysterical, and the quite decently crafted plot is sort of senseless and sensible at the same time. There are tits in abundance, and Harrisons moustache gets to make out just a little more than you can take watching. Some action sequences are so bad that you nearly die laughing; A car crash comes from nowhere, and Bruce Les fight against a bull is insanely intertaining - watch the YouTube-clip below. The only thing that gives the film a bit of credibility is that Le, Hwang and Bolo actually can fight, even if most fights are way too short.
I found the film very entertaining. A lot of good laughs on the film makers expense, and are you a B-movie lover this is a perfect choice.