Karate Killer

This is a another martial arts movie in my case a true classic. I've always wanted to see this movie when I was younger, but when times have changed, this movie was listed as a "must see" I've looked at video stores in the past, and had no luck until five years later. I've gotten that chance to see it, and it was worth it! It wasn't as violent like most martial arts films, and usually actions are mostly louder than words. The scenes speak for themselves. The weapons scene was a must. I remembered the sword and kama(sickle) fight, at first, I thought they were axes. When I got a closer look, I knew better. It was worth the watch. Then it was the final fight. The most fun scene in my opinion. It was between the hero and the huge guy. The hero was very swift and very cunning. And liked when he laid that flying sidekick on that huge guy. That made the title the way it is; "KILL OR BE KILLED" I rather Kill! If you're slow, you'll be KILLED! Check it out while you still can. It's for the martial arts minded. Rating 2.5 out of 5 stars.

There's some great stuff in here but the plot is needlessly convoluted and the editing choppy. The fighting is solid in parts, awkward in others but the amateurish moviemaking is what hurts it the most. It was almost like they made it up as they went along/filmed out of order/put it together out of order/didn't have a solid script. Okay cult movie, but hardly a must watch.

I was expecting another Kill And Kill Again. What I got was a slower and much less punchy vehicle. At times, there seems to be hardly any activity at all. The story too, goes off the beaten track a little like when Ryan and his love take off through the desert on their wind sailor, singing jubilantly, eating up too much screen time. The opening music theme, which I absolutely loved, and it's locale scene, a long exterior shot of a big fortress in the desert, as I frankly recall, is the first thing that clicks in my mind when I think about Kill Or Be Killed. With this film I was short changed afraid. There's much less action where you're kept waiting, especially from the start, where it came between long intervals. A slightly younger looking Ryan, with shorter, neater hair, who was in fact only 18 when he made this, plays another Steve character, who's drawn back into a fight in another big arena, where participants fight with weapons of choice. Ryan, a Chard Hayward sounding actor, does have a certain charisma, but not good acting status, where he's surrounded by a few antic characters, that midget guy a hoot. These characters at least add something to this disappointing actioner. After seeing Ryan's other flick, this had me on quite a come down, it had me moping. If you've seen this, and wasn't satisfied, and you've haven't seen the other kill movie, it's vitally imperative you do, as it may just bring your spirits up, for this 'Kill is so over ridden by, it's follow up.

If you're not expecting an Oscar performance, then you just might like this movie! Forget the script, forget the acting. Some great fight scenes, some phony karate screaming, and a dozen or so GREAT one-liners while the fighters train will keep you entertained.

This was bloodsport arena-like fighting long before van damme.

This movie along with Deathwish 3, Hell train, Commando Amazons and a few other gems are on my unintentionally funny top 10. Some highlights include the incredible plot. The story is of a former SS officer battling his WW2 Japanese equivalent to get revenge for a competition that was held before the war. In that competition the Japanese mastermind Miyagi bribed members of the German team to lose with Diamonds because, as Baron Von Rudolph says "THEY ALWAYS HAVE DIAMONDS!!". Poor Von Rudolph is disgraced and dishonourably discharged by the Fuhrer. 40 years later he is thirsty for revenge. As he recounts the story Von Rudolph quakes with emotion, German war music fills the air and there is not a dry eye in the house. Such is the premise of the competition. Some other highlights include a Dwarf and his doll and action star James Ryan IV dismantling a car with his bare hands to turn it into a sail car for the desert!! Oh yea the martial arts action isnt too bad either. A must rent for the b-movie enthusiast.