Perhaps one of the best pieces of news came back in June when it was announced that the 1986 film,
No Retreat, No Surrender was heading to Blu-Ray. The film is a celebrated action classic that notably landed budding action star Jean-Claude Van Damme in the spotlight before catapulting to Hollywood fame in the 1990s after
Bloodsport.
Here he plays a ruthless Russian kickboxer and right hand man to Seattle’s most dangerous crime boss in a tale of a young teen, bullied and discouraged by his peers, who sets out to find his strength and courage in the ghost of his idol, Bruce Lee. Van Damme is joined by lead actor Kurt McKinney, as well as J.W. Fails, Kathie Sileno, and Tai Chung Kim.
I checked with Kino Lorber last year and was informed that there are no current Blu-Ray re-release plans for the remainder of the No Retreat, No Surrender trilogy which also introduced action legends Cynthia Rothrock, actors Matthias Hues, Loren Avedon, Max Bayer, Keith Vitali and Rion Hunter. Hopefully that changes on a day not too distant in the future because these films are classics much like their Hong Kong relatives and truly deserve a high-quality delivery a Blu-Ray can offer.
SYNOPSIS: Jason Stillwell, a Bruce Lee fan, is beaten numerous times and trains from the ghost of Lee. Jason then must use his newly acquired skills to save Seattle from a crime syndicate, whose top martial artist is the deadly Ivan.
Special Features:
•85-Minute U.S. Cut
•94-Minute International Cut•Interview with Star Kurt McKinney
•Audio Commentary by Screenwriter Keith W. Strandberg
•Reverse Blu-ray Art
•Original Theatrical Trailers•Optional English SDH subtitles
Native New Yorker. Lover of all things pizza, chocolate, pets, and good friends. Karaoke hero. Left of center. Survivor. Fond supporter of cult, obscure and independent cinema - especially fond of Asian movies and global action cinema. Author of the bi-weekly Hit List. Founder and editor of Film Combat Syndicate. Still, very much, only human.
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