THE STREET FIGHTER (includes footage)
September 2nd 2010 13:59
So much fun it should be outlawed. The Streetfighter was the first film to earn an X-rating for violence and stands the test of time in a sea of other forgettable Karate/Kung-Fu films. Sonny Chiba (born Shinichi Chiba) plays Terry Tsurugi, – the ultimate anti-hero, who shows no mercy, no compassion, but you somehow always land up rooting him as he takes on all comers. Chiba usually played these kinds of men, ones that you never liked, but had respect for, as you were in awe of his dynamic fighting skills, filled with stone cold precision and dramatic excessiveness.
After Bruce Lee died, Chiba was one of the few Martial Arts stars to hold the lime light while countless others like Gordon Liu or Yasuaki Kurata would always be stuck, unfortunately, in Lee’s shadow. Given that The Streetfighter came out only a year after Lee’s death, it actually makes The Streetfighter and Sonny Chiba’s efforts seem all the more impressive. Chiba doesn’t have the speed of Bruce Lee or the screen presence but he does have an inspiring intensity that hits you right in the face. He looks like a dangerous man and you can’t wait to see someone try and challenge him. Chiba’s other film’s include The Killing Machine, Yakuza Deka, Kill Bill and one of my all time favourite films – Bullet Train. Chiba’s ability to constantly play insidious characters and still be cheered on is proof of his star appeal, you’re either with him or against him.
Terry Tsurugi (Chiba) is a cold mercenary for hire, an expert karate master who uses his powers for who ever pays the highest dollar (or Yen). Like him or not, it’s simply cool watching Tsurugi do his thing, which include ancient techniques, master of disguises and being able to pull off some astonishing and far fetched feats that always seem believable when executed by him. Terry follows no man and believes in nothing, but when a menacing Yakuza clan mess with him, we get a big grin on our faces as he fights to bring them down. It’s a simple case of the anti-hero taking on the much hated villain, with the necessary sub-plots and character development thrown in for good measure. Why so blasé? Let’s face it, when you watch The Streetfighter – you’re in it for the action, plain and simple and man oh man, does it deliver.
Filled with explicit violence at times, The Streetfighter is directed with flair and personality by Shigehiro Ozawa, who would go on to direct it’s three other sequels. Gloriously self conscious and politically incorrect, The Streetfighter lives to break bones and dazzle with it’s wall to wall fighting. Though the later sequels moved in a different direction, this original Streetfighter has a rawness to it, along with it’s dialogue and violence having a catchy gutter poetry that’s hard to turn away from. It’s Grindhouse sensibilities and nods to Blaxploitation and Spaghetti Westerns give it endless appeal. The director and production heads also bring surprises to the table with bold, saturated cinematography and an impressively detailed production design.
The characters and story are straight forward, but the fighting is dazzling and bloodletting is often hilarious. We chuckle, cringe and cheer constantly. Chiba punches a foe in the mouth, we see him dribble his teeth out as a result and he’s sent back to deliver a message to the Yakuza’s trigger happy evil queen bitch, with two of his teeth shoved up his nostril. Tsurugi is an angry man, something eats away at him inside and he’s going to fight dirty!
I warned you about the eye popping fight scenes...
The best thing The Streetfighter has going for it is it’s ability to never take itself that seriously. The Streetfighter has it’s tongue placed casually in it’s cheek and amusement and thrills are never far away. Tsurugi’s character is revealed slyly, where we eventually understand him and view him as misunderstood rather than a bully, but that’s beside the point. You watch The Street Fighter for it’s razor sharp fight choreography. These fight scenes just suck you in as you hang on in suspense.
Best of all there’s the ‘Shaft’ inspired musical theme for Sonny Chiba’s character. From the moment it begins and that theme fires away, you get the feeling things are going to get seriously exciting! Terry Tsurugi has his limitations, but it’s the set up for pure geeked out joy, when Terry is in a corner you know he’s not invincible but then you remember it’s Sonny Chiba playing him – and that ‘I’m a bad motherf**ker’ theme kicks in and you know he’s going to woop some ass.
A seriously good time and one hell of a stormy climax too!!
Here's the first 10 minutes of The Street Fighter
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Chiba is the man. Say what we will about Tarantino, his referencing of it in True Romance made a whole new generation appreciate the film.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
Bryn - I assumed you had seen it. Dr What indeed
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD