Hawkeye

Another little gem in the all too brief filmography of martial arts movie star/writer/producer/director George Chung (Fight To Win, Kindergarden Ninjas).

Structurally and technically a little crude (and not quite up to par with Chung's earlier masterpiece, FIGHT TO WIN), KARATE COPS (aka HAWKEYE) nonetheless remains a very enjoyable modern day martial arts film.

Decidedly tongue-in-cheek, this extremely low budgeter (the editing especially has a homemade look to it) contains superb martial arts, snappy one-liners, and a knockout performance by co-star Chuck Jeffreys (Bloodmoon, Deathfight, Fight To Win), who, like Chung, warrants much more merit than he has ever received.

Chung plays a cop from Texas who, against his will, is assigned a new partner, played by Jeffreys. Together the two crack down on a Japanese mobster and his henchmen. Years before RUSH HOUR, Chung and Jeffreys demonstrated a great rapport and talent for bicker and banter.

Filled with situational comedy, fantastic martial arts, and even some surprisingly well done dramatic acting (from BOTH leads), KARATE COPS also features a first rate villain, the legendary Leo Fong (Blind Rage, Blood Street, Fight To Win).

Memorable bits include Chung foiling a bank robbery by knocking out a female bystander and shooting around many hostages, Jeffreys taking a game of good cop/bad cop a little too seriously, Chung explaining that his martial arts instructor was just a fat guy at the Y, and a climactic game of high stakes roulette.

A must-see for fans of American martial arts movies.

Very fun!