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To Be the Best

  • Video
  • 1993
  • R
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
4.4/10
385
YOUR RATING
To Be the Best (1993)
Action

A member of the U.S. kickboxing team recruits his father and his fellow teammates to help stop a ruthless gambler from rigging the World Kickboxing Championship in Las Vegas.A member of the U.S. kickboxing team recruits his father and his fellow teammates to help stop a ruthless gambler from rigging the World Kickboxing Championship in Las Vegas.A member of the U.S. kickboxing team recruits his father and his fellow teammates to help stop a ruthless gambler from rigging the World Kickboxing Championship in Las Vegas.

  • Director
    • Joseph Merhi
  • Writer
    • Michael January
  • Stars
    • Michael Worth
    • Martin Kove
    • Phillip Troy Linger
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.4/10
    385
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Joseph Merhi
    • Writer
      • Michael January
    • Stars
      • Michael Worth
      • Martin Kove
      • Phillip Troy Linger
    • 8User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos9

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    Top cast47

    Edit
    Michael Worth
    Michael Worth
    • Eric Kulhane
    Martin Kove
    Martin Kove
    • Rick Kulhane
    Phillip Troy Linger
    Phillip Troy Linger
    • Sam Kulhane
    • (as Phillip Troy)
    Brittney Powell
    Brittney Powell
    • Cheryl
    Alex Cord
    Alex Cord
    • Jack Rodgers
    Mike Toney
    • Mario
    Ron Yuan
    Ron Yuan
    • Han Lo
    Vince Murdocco
    Vince Murdocco
    • Duke
    Steven Vincent Leigh
    • Hong Do
    Nick Blomgren
    • Fighter
    Andy Bolliger
    • Fighter
    Markell Boyd
    • Referee
    Art Camacho
    Art Camacho
    • Runt
    Emery Childress
    • Fighter
    Milo Cudanes
    • Fighter
    Tom Deters
    Tom Deters
    • Bad Guy
    Greg Duimovich
    • Fighter
    Thomas DuPont
    Thomas DuPont
    • Fighter
    • Director
      • Joseph Merhi
    • Writer
      • Michael January
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews8

    4.4385
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    10

    Featured reviews

    1intoArt-n-Film

    Hate to say it, but I worked on this film...

    Yeah, I admit it. I was the Production Designer on this ultra-low-budget film... and the first few minutes of Helicopter footage are the best moments in this entire film. As opposed to most other PM films, this had little preproduction time. Rick (Pepin)& Joe (Merhi) heard that the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas was going to be torn down, so we rushed over to shoot there in order to incorporate the demolition of it in the film... but it ended up being delayed by Las Vegas's Building & Safety! Other problems we had... somehow we ended up with less than half the "extras" that we needed to fill in the audience for the fight sequences, and then a key (expensive) scene involving the villain being thrown off the Sand's top floor Penthouse didn't work out because of the bad weather... and Red Horton, our Stunt Coordinator refused to do the jump because of the wind. It eventually snowed. Sooo, all of my Art Department's budget that was spent on replicating the overhanging Portaco in the front of the hotel and the rental of dozens of huge "air bags" went down the toilet. We did end up shooting Red falling through the Portaco "set piece" I built (with the uncredited & UNPAID help of Grand Master Set Builder and Special Effects Artist, Gary Kennedy) but Don "overload" Power screwed it all up by using WAY TOO MUCH flash powder and smoke... so that it overexposed and burned the film. You couldn't see a bloody thing on the dailies except a giant WHITE FLASH! Gee, Thanks a lot Don! Sooo, don't bother watching this, unless you're totally BORED and there's NOTHING else on the tube.
    8Flmcrtic

    Action packed entertainment at its best.

    If you want to see a really strong dramatic piece of celluloid you've come to the wrong place. But if you really want to be entertained with spectacular fight action with some drama, this is the film for you. To Be The best offers fight fans everything they could want in a fight action film. The fights are some of the best. The choreography is so well done you really feel these men are pummeling each other. The fight direction and editing is extremely well done. Oh, and by the way there is a strong story here not just fights.
    9nablaquadro

    Mike Worth worths the movie !

    To be the best is a little naive replica of Final Impact, this time all shifted as a Team of American kick-boxers training for the world championship. The script it's fairly poor and it seems written by unexperienced people, and thank to the so-so actors, the good Mike Worth was left alone holding up the shaky story. This time a dubious affair of bets and fixed bouts, but luckily without pretensions (the low budget prevented it).

    Mehri seems to need Lamas for his charisma, while Martin Kove tries to be convincing as an upright coach of the team. No, he can't. He looks more a shrewish foreman than a mentor. Anyway, on the ring, the fighting scenes are memorable. Well choreographed they're pretty realistic and captivating. Mike Worth, Vince Murdocco, Steve Vincent Leigh were phenomenal. If just they showed more action and less chats this flick could have taken an higher vote.

    Sad the choice to put a commentator during the fights. A real disgrace because an easy-to-find song under the FX would have been found even by a child, and all the work would benefited. As fighters the actors do a great job, and that's all I asked for this action movie. Again, the editor cut a lot of fights (condensing them in a big video-clip) to save time: but time for what ?! These are not mistakes attributable to money, and still they occur !

    7,5 / 10
    6craigstinchcombe410

    It's a okay Action Movie

    It's a okay Action Movie but I will say if you enjoy this then you love Best of the Best Movie Series
    1anton-6

    One of these B-action movies from the early 90:s

    When I saw this film I thought it was so lousy and bad I can´t even think off it.

    The action scenes are so bad that it looks as a old Bruce Lee film(But worse)and the acting is so bad you can´t even imagine.



    0/5

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      Clearly during the opening fight scenes one announcer says: "I'm here with T.J. Welles to call tonight's bouts". Later the end credits read "Announcer Fred: T.J. Welles."
    • Quotes

      Cheryl: I notice your sadness after we make love.

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 3, 1993 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Equipo de campeones
    • Filming locations
      • Angel's Gate Park - 3601 Gaffey Street, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • PM Entertainment Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 39m(99 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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