Superfights (1995) - A Review

 

This movie rules so hard!

Superfights is an American/Hong Kong martial arts movie made in 1995. It stars Brandon Gaines, Keith Vitali, Kelly Gallant, Cliff Lenderman, Patrick Lung Kong, Yu Fei-Hong, Chuck Jeffreys, and Rob Van Dam. The movie was directed by Tony Leung Siu-Hung, with action choreography also by Leung Siu-Hung.

In Superfights, Brandon Gaines plays Jack Cody, a warehouse worker and martial artist who is a huge fan of the Superfights promotion. Superfights is a televised promotion that combines martial arts and professional wrestling. Jack has been a fan of Superfights since he was a little kid, even getting a pendant from his favorite fighter, Mike Rocco (played by Jim Steele).

At one show, Jack helps No Mercy Budokai (played by Cliff Lenderman) from getting attacked from behind by another fighter! Jack even gets some shots in when Budokai and the other fighter brawl through the audience. Budokai appreciates Jack's help. On his way home from work, Jack fights off thugs who were mugging Sally (played by Yu Fei-Hong) at an ATM. Jack drives her home, where he meets her Grandfather (played by Patrick Lung Kong). Jack is a bit too proud of the fact that he saved Sally, so Grandfather puts him in his place with his superior kung fu skills.

Jack's fight with the thugs was recorded on a security camera, and the footage is played on the news. Jack is famous all of a sudden (though, he did not want the attention, his mother encouraged him to play into being the hero people want). This catches the attention of Robert Sawyer, the owner and boss of Superfights. Sawyer  offers Jack a contract to be a fighter for Superfights, which Jack enthusiastically accepts. Jack gets training from Angel (played by Kelly Gallant) to prepare for becoming a Superfighter. She gives him pills to take, claiming they are vitamins.

As you can guess, the Superfights organization is not all that it seems. A masked man attacks Jack during a morning jog and warns him to get out of Superfights and to stop taking the pills. Things start turning bad, and Jack begins training in Tai Chi with Sally's grandfather. Things come to a head in a battle to the death, and Jack Cody has to dig down deep to overcome the odds.

The Ultimate American hero. Brandon Gaines is so good in this.

I'm just going to be upfront with it: I love this movie. I first watched this movie in my high school years, when I was way into martial arts and pro wrestling. This movie was amazing to me! Brandon Gaines' martial arts skill blew me away back then. He is an amazing kicker, and he more than holds his own during the many fight scenes. Brandon Gaines as Jack Cody is the ultimate hero (in pro wrestling lingo, he would be considered a white meat babyface). He is the ultimate good guy. He is so pure, he doesn't even get into 'relations' with Angel, who is very much into him. Jack is more interested in Sally, by the way. It sucks that this is Brandon Gaines only movie role; he was really good in this, not only in his martial arts skills, but in his acting skills as well. He is totally believable as a good guy who just wants to do the right thing.

Look at the Superfights crew. Robert Sawyer channeling VKM big time!

The main Superfights crew is comprised of some great martial artists, especially Keith Vitali and Chuck Jeffreys. Apparently, Robert Sawyer is based on Vince McMahon (chairman and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment)! Watching it now, it is obvious, but watching it back then I had no idea! Robert Sawyer does a lot of dastardly Vince McMahon-type stuff in this movie, and I'm not talking about the character of Mr. McMahon either. The thing is, Keith Vitali plays him with a natural confidence, so it's not like the real Vince (who overcompensates when showing how masculine and powerful he is). I guess that's what threw me off. Keith Vitali is a great martial artist (having been in Wheels On Meals and No Retreat, No Surrender 3), and he really gets to strut his stuff in the fight scenes. I am an unabashed fan of Chuck Jeffreys, an awesome martial artist and one of the most natural, funny actors out there. This guy should have been a huge star. Everything he said in this movie cracked me up! By the way, pro wrestler Rob Van Dam has a small role in this movie!

Jack Cody vs. Grandfather. Really good fight!

The fight scenes in this movie are so good! Tony Leung Siu-Hung's choreography is so fun to watch. He makes everyone look good in this! Jack Cody's fight with Grandfather is the classic cocky young fighter gets humbled by a true master fight. Very Jackie Chan-like. Another great fight scene is when Jack gets attacked by a masked man on his jog. Really good stuff in that fight! The final fight scene between Jack Cody and Robert Sawyer is very much influenced by the final fight in Drunken Master II. Keith Vitali fights like Ken Lo in this, with the feet shuffling and everything! Trust me when I say, the fight scenes rock in this! This movie deserves to be watched just for the fight scenes alone!

So yes, you should watch this Superfights! It is low budget, and apparently the acting is not considered good by the internet, but who cares! It's a fun time with lots of good martial arts fight scenes. I really miss the days of Seasonal Films making Hong Kong style martial arts movies in America. They were always really good. If you want to see someone follow in Bret Hart's footsteps and kick Vince McMahon's a** (even though this movie was released before the Montreal Screw Job), this is the movie for you!

Reviewed by David Williams