Jack Cody has always wanted to enter the world of the Superfights, a free fighting tournament. One night, he rescues a girl from a mugging and he becomes a national hero. Then, he is finally given his opportunity to become a Superfighter. He soon discovers a Ninja who tells him that the man behind the Superfights is involved with illegal acts. When this comes to Jack, he must fight now for his life.
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If you look at the majority of the reviews on this site, it’s quite obvious that I am a fan of action films and a devotee of martial arts cinema, particularly from the 1990s. So, I’m shocked that I haven’t seen this outrageously entertaining flick before now. The energy, style, editing, and cast, including actor/athlete Chuck Jefferies, who would also appear in Bloodmoon, a similarly explosive action movie, make Superfights a genre classic.
Superfights envisions a world that mixes professional wrestling with MMA. It’s the largest sport in the world in the semi-futuristic setting of the story. And the young, immature, virginal hero is obsessed with becoming one of society’s heralded super Fighters. This gives the scriptwriter an opportunity to satirize the cutthroat business dealings between promoters and fighters. It also shows these super fighters as flawed, steroid-addicted, and, in some cases, criminal-minded, perhaps remarking on modern-day idolized athletes.
In-depth analysis of the deeper themes of the screenplay isn’t why one watches a movie called Superfights. The fights and action scenes are what’s important, and Superfights does not disappoint. 1995 saw the release of a slew of medicore, if not drab, action films. Assassins, Under Siege 2, and Nick of Time are perfect examples, with the lone bright spot being Jackie Chan’s Rumble in the Bronx. But nothing on the big screen during this era, save for Rumble, could deliver the type of adrenaline rush thrills and smile-inducing charms of Superfights. This is a little gem not to be overlooked.
Directed by: Siu-Hung Leung
Written by: Keith W. Strandberg
Starring: Brandon Gaines, Feihong Yu, Keith Vitali
This post first appeared on Movie Mavericks Podcast – IT PUTS THE PODCAST IN THE BASKET, please read the originial post: here
