Bloodsport: The Dark Kumite (1999)

Really Surprised!

Please don't spend money on this.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

* Minor Spoilers Below *This movie is hilarious. 95% of the cast is Russian, although it's supposed to be taking place in America. The villain is a guy who calls himself Caesar, lives in a big mansion, and has about 30 female slaves. His sidekick is the prison warden who screams like a maniac if a fighter doesn't kill the other guy.What's interesting is that in Bloodsport 2 and 3 the main character is "Alex Cardo" played by Daniel Bernhardt, and in this one Daniel Bernhardt plays a guy named John Keller, nothing to do with the previous 2 films. What the heck? Let me sum up the plot. John Keller infiltrates a prison where prisoners keep mysteriously disappearing. His job is to find out what's going on. There he meets psychopath Justin Caesar (Ivan Ivanov) and the sadistic warden Preston (Derek McGrath).I would really like to know how this guy got to direct this film. I love this movie so much because I laugh a lot when I watch it. It is truly an unintentional comedy, and I have already recommended it to friends. The best part is two people singing at this kumite and dancing around for a couple of minutes before the fighting begins. Another great thing is the way Caesar talks. This guy is extremely slow, and his voice is sometimes not in sync with his mouth-movements.On an entertainment level, this gets a 7. On a quality level, this get's a -5.

OK, first off, I didn't understand this kumite business. What is it? Is it like a flavour of ice cream? People kept saying it, but I just didn't get it. Also, where were the ninjas? When I think action I expect ninjas, and this film disappoints. Finally, how the heck do they explain the guy in the clown suit?

Bloodsport part one, two, and three were okay... so then I rented this one hoping that it would have good action. It doesn't. As a matter of fact, this movie is one of the dumbest. I can't believe people actually made one this dense... how could they ?

This was not your typical martial arts, underground fight-to-the-death film. The movie seemed to take place in a very strange world, one that bears very little resemblance to reality. Visually, it's very stimulating, but at times it's hard to figure out what's really going on and what's a dream sequence. It was also what time period the film was shot in (Many characters wear clothes from different periods, including the villain, who looks an awful lot like Ben Franklin), though I presume it's the present.Also, the film supposedly takes place in America, yet the buildings look an awful lot like Europe or some strange fantasy world.