Posted by Drew Dietsch | Posted
The buddy cop subgenre of action movies reached its peak in the 1980s, but remained a comfortable and welcome genre for moviegoers well into the 90s. But people were ready for a fresher take on the material, and the old-school buddy cop movie needed to inject its own unique flavor into the mix. That’s how we got it Little Tokyo ShowdownThe 1991 Los Angeles shootings brought together by Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV, universal solder) and rising action star Brandon Lee, son of movie icon Bruce Lee.
Unfortunately, due to studio recuts and dumping by Warner Brothers (they’re good at dumping movies), Little Tokyo Showdown Thankfully, it’s become a forgotten and unwanted little film that has grown a cult following over the years. After seeing it for the first time, I realized how much we robbed the buddy cop franchise of something that could have sprung from this little movie.
Why compete at Little Tokyo Rocks
Little Tokyo Showdown Sergeant Chris Kenner (Lundgren), who grew up in Japan, and Detective Johnny Murata (Lee), a Japanese-American, become new partners. However, Murata is not very interested in or even knows much about Japanese culture. Kenner, meanwhile, lives life in a very traditional Japanese way. This cartoon setting offers more fun than you might expect. Especially because Lee and Lundgren actually have hilarious yet endearing chemistry.
Carrie-Hiroyuki Tagawa (into the mixture)Mortal Kombat, phantom) as a truly evil Yakuza villain with ties to Kenner’s past. Little Tokyo Showdown It’s the kind of corny cheese you either like or can’t eat. Yes. It has “problematic” elements, but it’s also a product of its time. Needless to say, it embraces a very absurd and cartoonish sensibility. As far as the best representations of Asian American cinema go, Saturday Morning is silly and not to be taken too seriously.
Instead, enjoy the himbo camaraderie that is quickly blossoming between Lundgren and Lee. Enjoy a lively and packed 79 minute run time. According to director Mark L. Lester, Warner Bros. cut 10 minutes. This keeps the heightened tone for maximum entertainment. Go ahead and watch the first big action scene and tell me this doesn’t sound like a good popcorn good time.
If it weren’t for a movie that would put a smile on your face, I don’t know if we could be friends.
The franchise we never got
Little Tokyo Showdown It was released in theaters in August 1991 and opened at number 16. money. It raised a little over $2 million before it closed at the box office. A few years later, Brandon Lee tragically lost his life in an accident on set. crow. After his death, his films were further re-evaluated. yet, Little Tokyo Showdown It showed real promise for both Lee and Lundgren as a police duo. Their goofy charm comes from the strange warmth in the movie.
I wish we could have seen at least one more movie with these two. Lundgren’s character focuses more on backstory and perspective. A sequel would have given Lee a chance to learn more about Johnny Murata’s history and how it could strengthen his bond with Kenner. The idea of a series of movies featuring these two comic book characters feels like they exist in another universe that I desperately want to visit.
Unfortunately for us Little Tokyo Showdown For this particular screen pairing. If you’ve never seen it, let the cheesiness melt into your body in less time than it takes to get started on most modern blockbuster action films. With 79 minutes of your time, you could have done much worse.
