Customer Rating:  
Summary: this was a nice and unexpected surprise
Comment: For a title that I was totally unfamiliar with and actors I have not heard of, Ring of Steel turned out to be better than the typical B-grade swordsfight/martial arts action film. All the actors do a good job of never overacting, which is just too common in these types of films. The action is choreographed well. There is even some humor thrown in that is actually humurous for a change. The story is nothing impressive, though there are elements of suspense to it here and there with a few small surprises.
The best thing I liked about Ring of Steel is the underground fight locale. The scene in the beginning of the film takes us from the entrance to a dance club on the streets, and from there practically by footstep to eventually the illegal gambling arena. It gave me a feeling that I was actually there and no other such movie that I have seen before gave me that feeling. The fighters are pretty decent and the whole gig reminded me of American Samurai, though not as violent and thankfully, not as overdramatic in the acting department. There are lots of fights in Ring of Steel, though none overly impressive.
I thoroughly enjoyed Ring of Steel, especially because I was expecting a 2 star film at the best. Everything is done adequately, but nothing stuck out as being very impressive. The music kept a sense of cheesiness throughout much of the movie that could have been avoided and provided a more intenseful atmosphere. But overall, this movie doesn't disappoint, especially if you like a good arena with fight matches and swordsplay.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Ring of Steel Review
Comment: The absolute best scenes in this film occur when Bob Chapin is doing what he does best - sword fighting. The scene between Bob and Jim Pirri (Brian) is priceless--well worth the cost of the video alone. I watched that scene several times in a row. I was very impressed with the high level of swordsmanship. One has come to expect this from Mr. Chapin but I did not expect it from every other person on the set! I also found it very interesting to be able to see so many different types of blades and styles of fighting in one movie. Joe Don Baker was an excellent choice for the fight club owner. He does bad so well.
Customer Rating:
Summary: En Garde!
Comment: This is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again and enjoy it every time. Robert Chapin wrote the screenplay and portrays Alex, a young fencing champion whose rising star is felled by tragedy during a pivotal tournament. Alex is drawn into the dark world of illegal fight clubs. Chapin is engaging as well as re-assuring, mixing Alex's naivete with impressive fighting skills. Jim Pirri puts in an energetic and sympathetic performance as Brian, a fight club champion who befriends Alex. If you are into action, especially action involving swordplay, you'll want to make use of the slow motion feature on your VCR during many of the scenes. The actors perform their own fights, something I love to see. One of my all-time favorite swordfight scenes ever is the inspired duel between Brian and Alex. You have to see it to believe it!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Well-made martial arts flick starring Robert Chapin
Comment: Ring of Steel is a well-made, well-choreographed martial arts flick. Lots of swordplay, some angst, nice bits of humor, and a little sex and romance. Robert Chapin is the star, though the credits show him as third lead. He's the tall, muscular, good-looking blond guy in the fight sequences, the guy with the girl in the sex sequence, the guy you're cheering to win (i.e. the guy in the poufy shirt). This flick features lots of hair, lots of buff guys with swords, the naive yet feisty girlfriend, the inevitable and beautiful bad girl, the mysterious guy who runs things, comic relief, a maniac champion-to-beat, and a chicken.
|
