Showdown [1993] [Blu-ray]
Arriving at the tail end of the golden age of direct-to-video martial arts cinema, Showdown wears its Karate Kid influences proudly while delivering bigger fights, tougher villains and a healthy dose of VHSera charm. Directed by Robert Radler following Best of the Best and starring Billy Blanks in one of his most charismatic pre-Tae Bo performances, Showdown became a fan favourite that perfectly captured the spirit of ‘90s action cinema.
Ken Marks (Kenn Scott, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze) finds a dangerous enemy on his first day at his new school, an enemy who makes his living as the champion of an illegal fighting operation. School janitor and ex-cop Billy Grant (Billy Blanks, The Last Boy Scout) trains Ken to defend himself. What Billy doesn’t know is that the man behind it all is the one man from his past who wants him dead. This classic martial arts blockbuster from the director of Best of the Best features an all-star cast that includes Christine Taylor (The Wedding Singer), Patrick Kilpatrick (Death Warrant), James Lew (Best of the Best) and Brion James (Blade Runner) in the movie that proves there’s not a problem in the world that a good roundhouse kick to the face can’t solve!