Blind Fury (1990)

You won't be disappointed!

One of my all time favorites.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

After watching Noyce's thriller masterpiece Dead Calm, this film is a welcome addition in the action thriller genre. The film is written by Charles Robert Carner(of Gymkata fame) and is a loosely based, modernized version of Zatoichi Challenged, the 17th film in the Japanese Zatoichi film series.Actor Rutger Hauer plays Nick Parker, an American soldier serving in the Vietnam War, is blinded by a mortar explosion, and soon after rescued by local villagers, who help him recover his health. Although he remains blind, as a part of his recovery, he is taught by the local master to be an expert swordsman, and to train his other senses. Years later, having returned to the United States, he visits old army-buddy Frank Deveraux (Terry O'Quinn), only to find that Deveraux is missing... I've been a fan of Rutger Hauer ever since his Blade Runner days. Later He played an iconic role as the psychopathic killer in The Hitcher. In this film, since he plays a blind man, there are some scenes in the film which are very humorous. For example, in one scene he apparently tries to drive a van down a busy road. He hits a car and the driver of the car says, "Are you blind or what?". Hauer replies after staring at him through the window,"Yeah. Whats your excuse?" The acting, action scenes, background sound effects and solid script make this film very watchable.Notable actors in the film: Terry O'Quinn(The Stepfather 1 and 2) and Meg Foster(Ticket To Heaven, The Emerald Forest).Verdict: A must buy film.Other Hauer films to watch/buy: Ladyhawke(1985), Escape from Sobibor (1987), Salute of the Jugger(1989), Wedlock(1991), Split Second(1992), Surviving the Game (1994 - Excellent and must see.), Fatherland (1994). I have seen the above films and recommend them highly. Add them to your shopping list.

"Blind Fury" is a mostly forgotten little martial arts/samurai film from 1990. The film is basically an Americanized adaptation of the "Zatoichi" ("blind swordsman") film series that starred the late Japanese film star Shintaro Katsu (1931-1997); "Blind Fury" was itself reportedly inspired specifically by the film "Zatoichi Challenged" (1967).Part martial arts film and part road movie, "Blind Fury" is about blind Vietnam veteran Nick Parker (Rutger Hauer, "Blade Runner"), who becomes the reluctant protector of a youngster named Billy Devereaux (Brandon Call), after the boy's mother is slain by Nevada gangsters. Parker thus embarks on a cross-country odyssey to reunite Billy with his drug chemist father Frank Devereaux (Terrance O'Quinn), who was also Nick's best friend in Vietnam. Frank has become indebted to the gangsters from Nevada and to ensure that he can repay them, they try to capture his young son.What they don't count on, of course, is Nick and his awesome samurai sword-fighting skills, which he acquired from benevolent Vietnamese sword masters after being blinded in a mortar attack one night by Vietnamese insurgents and Frank abandoned him during the battle. Nick appears to have forgiven Frank for his actions (or lack thereof)."Blind Fury" was directed by Phillip Noyce (of the thriller "Dead Calm" from the year before). I'm not sure who worked on the fight choreography for this movie, but it is definitely top-notch (considering its budget limitations), and Hauer appears to be the real deal doing his own sword-fighting sequences. Additionally, Hauer also brings a sly, cunning wit to the proceedings, who as someone else once mentioned before, he hardly seems aware of the fact that he's often cutting down one legion of bad guys after another.Japanese martial arts star Sho Kosugi appears late in the film as "The Assassin," a master sword fighter brought in by the gangsters to challenge Nick Parker.8/10

Awesome! What a movie! I never knew that Rutger Hauer(RH) does have martial arts experience involving sword fighting! as far as i concern this movie does really beat most of martial arts movies especially movies that stars Steven Seagle and Van Damme. None of their movies can beat Blind Fury. This movie is really awesome! I suppose this one should be rated more than 6. Allthe actors in this movie are surprisingly convincing. Sho Kosugi small part did really steal the show. I guess this is one of the best fighting scene i've ever watch. But i was wondering why this movie is not a success movie...huhu, never mind that..at least all the comments for this movie sounds positive, no one dares to say this is really a bad movie. I'll give this movie 10 stars. So far, this is one of the best RH movie...i mean the second best.. the best RH movie goes to The Hitcher. Go ahead and watch this two movies.. but don't watch Blade Runner, it really sucks...avoid it!I'll buy a DVD copy for Blind Fury in a few days.. :D 10/10 stars (EXCELLENT)

An American martial arts film has three main characteristics: one guy with a sword against a thousand southern guns; someone wants someone else (usually not the guy with the sword) dead or as ransom; and finally, there's that one good chase scene that no self-respecting action film can go without. So it's save to say that Blind Fury is a martial arts film. While severely dated with classic 70s/80s characteristics, the film hides a few gems. Huaer pulls off the blind sword master with grace. He gets into his character so well, you almost forget he played in LadyHawke. The only issue, in fact, with the casting is no aging. All the characters look exactly the same in Vietnam as they do 20 years later. As for the humor, well, that's what gives it the seven. Brother Tector and Brother Lyle: what a hoot! Such not-so-subtle lines like "that's why I always voted for gun-control" and "I didn't know Daddy wore a rubber" make the film worth the techno-music torture. Despite the over-abundance of mullets, music, and montages, Blind Fury is worth your time. It holds your attention and, while not really a family movie (unless your family's into fake blood), is good for those alone-in-the-house-what-should-I-do nights. One thumb up.