Keeps Its Potential Covered Up
Added 9/30/2009
When Jeff Wincott - possibly the most underrated man in all of action - teamed up with ex-Hong Kong action queen Cynthia Rothrock, the result was...well, I'm sorry to say so, but not too great, actually. What you have here is a DTV action film with high-caliber production values and a nice B-movie cast that nevertheless fails to click entirely. I can't speak too much for Jeff Speakman, but as a Rothrock fan, this film falls below her top standards and only barely manages to stand out among her more lackluster pictures made in America.
The plot goes like so: the dynamic police duo of Sean Thompson (Wincott, Mission of Justice [VHS]) and Billie Blake (Rothrock, Above the Law) is split up by the former's appointment to detective at the same time that a local crime syndicate run by a corrupt businessman (Paul Johansson, "Highlander: The Raven") murders a policeman and begins to expand across the city.
Truth be told, it's one of the more complicated storylines for a fight film, as it later gets deep into issues of double-cross and who's on who's side. Sadly, it's not a very engaging plot: it's easy to lose track of characters' names, and for all the suspense, there's no real payoff; the ending was particularly unfulfilling.
While I wouldn't call it a dream cast, however, the players for this film are a very nice draw: we've got action stars Jeff, Cynthia, and Johansson, but also martial artist Evan Lurie (American Kickboxer 2) as the latter's bodyguard and Billie Drago (Delta Force 2 - Operation Stranglehold) as a straight cop driven to corruption. Sherrie Rose (Me and Will) and Playboy's "Miss March 1990" Deborah Driggs are decent as the undercast, even though the former is supposed to be a martial artist but doesn't really look like she can fight.
Then again, it may not be her fault, since fight choreographer Jeff Pruitt (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - The Movie) leaves the vast majority of the action looking very ho-hum. While I praise the lack of stunt doubles and the generous amount of kicking, the combination of lazy camera angles and relative slowness of the fighting takes the edge off any amount of coolness it may have had. Though they split the hand-to-hand battles pretty evenly between themselves, Cynthia Rothrock has virtually no good fights (although there is a cool scene where she finds multiple ways to knock a group of muggers off of a staircase, one by one) while Jeff only has two: a one-on-one bar brawl with Evan Lurie and three-on-one fight in which he gets to show off his proficiency with rattan sticks. Two out of nine, however, is not a saving grace kind of average.
As mentioned before, the production values are top-notch: with a bit more flair, the film would've been fit a theater, no doubt. That is, of course, if you can get over some of the acting: by action standards, Cynthia and Jeff, Drago, and most of the others do fine, but Paul Johansson and Evan Lurie stick out like sore thumbs. While neither sleet nor snow could keep the deep-voiced Evan from grunting his lines like a gorilla, it's Johansson who fails more miserably in his attempts to be a deeper-than-you-think bad guy, and essentially comes across as a nerd...a big nerd with a ponytail who does martial arts, but he's definitely not as cool as he seems to consider himself to be.
It's certainly not a bad movie, but just about all of its stars have proven that they can do better with both their hands and feet and with what they bring to a role. Truth be told, I'm at a loss to explain how this film has managed to become a mini-classic: give it a rent if you can find it, but don't expect too much if you're going to spend the shipping fee on a purchase.
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well-rounded martial arts flick
Added 11/24/2006
Once again Jeff Wincott (Mission of Justice, Deadly Bet, Fatal Combat) stars in another above average martial arts flick. Though Martial Law II isn't the best out there in my opinion, it is one of the best well-rounded B-action movies with great action, good story, and enjoyable characters.
In addition to the wonderful Wincott, Cynthia Rothrock (Tiger Claws 1,2,3, No Retreat No Surrender 2, China O'Brien), another popular martial artist, co-stars in Martial Law II. Unlike most of their films, Wincott and Rothrock appear to have less screen time, but it works out alright cause the remaining screen time is devoted to pretty cool charactcers, such as Evan Lurie (American Kickboxer 2, Tiger Claws 2) Billy Drago (The Circuit), and even James Lew (American Ninja 5, The Perfect Weapon, Balance of Power). Evan Lurie plays one of a few villains in the movie,Billy Drago plays one of the few crooked cops wrapped up in the decent storyline, and James Lew plays one of the lesser villains who ends up having a small but cool fight against the Cynthia Rothrock charcater.
The action is great, easily above par. There is not an overload of fight scenes, but what there is, is great. I especially loved the underground club fight scene. The Evan Lurie character takes on 2 massive bodyguards, all part of a big business bet and in front of spectators. He kicks there butts all over the place. Not too long of a fight but it is well done and looks awesome. The final fights in this movie were also awesome, Wincott versus the 2 main villains.
Martial Law II is a good solid flick. Nothing is just all out wow in this movie, but the well roundedness makes it quite enjoyable. Wincott fans, Rothrock fans, martial arts action fans will not be disappointed.
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mark twain sam australia WA Perth
Added 11/8/2005
Im a big martial arts movie buff even if it means watching the average B-Grade flick. Sean Thompson (Jeff Wincott)and Billie Blake (Cynthia Rothrock) are back! Billie is the only female to complete the rigorous training of Martial Law and has become something of a living legend within the police department. Ever since Martial Law was turned loose on the streets of L.A; Billie and Sean have worked together and in that time formed a a bond which only comes from the life and death struggles shared in the field. Now Sean's being transfered to a different to a different precinct. Hes been assigned to train the local cops in special martial arts techniques. He is looking forward to meeting up with his close friend and sparring partner from the academy, Tony Birelli. But Sean doesnt know that Birelli has become entangled with Spencer Hamilton, a 22 year old crime lord who owns the streets and city. Good martial arts action and is one of Jeff's best.
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Wincott and Rothrock great team
Added 5/25/2001
This movie is worth a look due its action and professional martial artists. Jeff Wincott (The Killing Man) and Cynthia Rothrock (LadyDragon) are in top form, making every blow to the bad guys seem like a walk in the park. There is even a small role with Billy Drago (LadyDragon II also with Ms. Rothrock) B-movie's best bad guy and veteran of many martial art films. Money well spent for a kicking good time.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Wincott and Rothrock are great together
Added 2/10/2000
The action is non-stop and Jeff Wincott and Cynthia Rothrock fit the bill. I always enjoy their films. Well worth renting!
3 out of 4 people found this helpful.
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