Kickboxer 4 - L'aggressore

All movies series has to have a really bad entry and this is by far the worst of the Kickboxer series. First of all, how did David Sloan end up working for the DEA and when did Tong Po become a drug lord? This is absolutely ridiculous. Even worse, Michel Qissi is not back as Tong Po. Oh, granted, Kamel Krifa is a terrific martial artist (saw him on an episode of Baywatch) but he just didn't fight the role of Tong Po as well as Qissi. The only thing that's good in this film is the fight choreography, where the fighters use different arts (David and Tong Po are Muay Thai, Thomas is Jeet Kune Do, Megan is Tang Soo Do, another guy Capoeira). That's pretty much it. Other than that, really lame story!!!!

At first, I was hopeful: here is an Albert Pyun movie about a fighting tournament that DOESN'T involve cyborgs or post-apocalyptic wastelands, so there will be fewer distractions from the fighting. Tough luck: Pyun finds a way to screw it up again, with ridiculous one-man-defeats-twenty brawls, gratuitous nudity, inexplicable and laughably out-of-place sex scenes, torture, etc. The movie picks up only during the tournament itself, WHEN Pyun remembers to keep his camera focused on the fighters, that is. As others have said, the guy who plays Tong Po wears so much eye makeup that he looks as if he just stepped out of a "beauty" saloon. Michelle "Mouse" Krasnoo shows potential, however; I wouldn't mind seeing her again, in a better movie. (*)

After seeing the abomination that was Kickboxer 3, I was glad to see the Kickboxer series get back on track. Once again, Albert Pyun (Kickboxer 2) took over the director's reins and gave us an entertaining sequel to Rick King's horrible addition to the series.

When we catch up with David Sloan in Kickboxer 4, we find him in prison, having been framed for murder by none other than his old nemesis, Tong Po, who has since become one of the most powerful druglords in Mexico. Clearly out of spite for his old rival, Po has kidnapped David's wife, Vicky, and is keeping her locked up in his compound.

When the DEA approaches David with the proposition of infiltrating Po's desert lair, Sloan jumps at the chance. Under the alias 'Jack Jones', David fights his way into Po's exclusive million dollar tournament, bent on paying back his old rival in full.

Sasha Mitchell is much more subdued in this film in coordination with his character, having been hardened from his two years in prison. Although quite a departure from the happy-go-lucky character he's used to portraying, Mitchell handles it very well, coming across as a much more intimidating presence than in the previous two films.

I personally love Albert Pyun's style. His films may be campy, but they're almost always fun. Just relax and enjoy this one.

I can't say I watched the whole thing but I caught bits and pieces on TV one day. It was really funny without trying to be. Tong Po is awesome, his face looks plastic or like he's wearing to much makeup and he definitely plucks his eyebrows. If it's on TV, check it out if only for a few minutes for laughs, otherwise stay away.

David Sloan (Sasha Mitchell) is in prison after a frame job. Tong Po is still seeking revenge and regaining his honor from the Sloan family. He kidnaps David's wife. The DEA is looking to take down Tong Po who has become a top drug kingpin in Mexico. They send David. Tong Po has a fight tournament.

Tong Po looks weird. He's definitely wearing a head cap and the eyes are bad. I know they're using a different actor, but they really shouldn't do that. The best part of this movie is opening which recounts the earlier movies especially the first one. That says it all. Michele Krasnoo plays the main side character. The issue with her is that she starts by losing her fights all the time. Everybody is laughing at her. I don't mind that the five foot nothing fighting expert has a role in the movie. It may be better if she is Tong Po's prisoner forced to fight. This franchise is losing traction even as a B-movie series. It is slowly dying.