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No Retreat, No Surrender [1985]


RRP: £5.99
Our Price: £2.42 (subject to change)

You're good. I get better.
Review date: 2008-09-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

Remember that they warned us that the quality of films stored on VHS would deteriorate over time. I watched a copy of No retreat, No Surrender recently and found that this is, in fact, true.

However, I thought they were referring to a deterioration in the quality of the visual image and soundtrack. It utrns out that it was the quality of the acting that suffered.

How could I not have noticed on viewing it for the first time all those years ago that there was more ham in the acting that there was in a butcher's window.

RW Fails, who plays RJ Madison III, is a shockingly bad actor, as is Jason Stillwell's dad.

Scott (the fat kid) is trying so hard to be serious but fails completely to pull it off.

The wooden man that Jason uses for his martial arts practice is more expressive than either of them. I think a quick look at their subsequent success in the movie business says it all.

That said, I absolutely loved the film all over again for different reasons, and the poor acting just makes it more endearing to me. Jean Claude Van Damme appears as the bad guy in a role just preceding his appearance in another 80s classic, Kickboxer. A Belgian playing a Russian - inspired!

Anyway, I recommend it wholeheartedly and you can sum up my experience of the film from the original viewing in the mid 80s, to the recent rediscovery of its charm, in an excerpt from the film's dialogue:

"You're good"

"I get better!"



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Reviews


They've Ruined It
Review date: 2008-04-09 Rating: 4 out of 10

I agree with Preceeding review. This film in its original VHS format was a classic....a true 5 star 80's movie, up there with "Karate Kid". However, the DVD release has totally ruined the film. Loads of Scenes are missing - Including those were Jason meets up with Kelly BEFORE the Birthday Party - a pretty important part of the story if you ask me. Whats worse is the "good" original footage - which has been removed, has been replaced with "Rubbish" scenes that were not in the VHS version - which do nothing to improve the movie or story. They've also replaced a lot of the original music, including theme song "Stand on Your Own." I'm not sure, but I think this may be the European version, which was sold as "Karate Tiger" and not "No Retreat - No Surrender."

If like me, you no longer have a VCR player - then this is worth watching only for the nostalgic value......if you still have a VCR then buy the video as the DVD is absolute pants.

If anybody from the publishing company is out there - please please please release the original UK Video Version on DVD - it's 100 times better than this pap you are selling. - Also change the cover - Why have Van Damme on the cover, you should have the original artwork, which was Kurt McKinney & Van Damme, with the American and Russian Flags.....




Jean Claude van Damme debuts as the baddie

Review date: 2007-12-12 Rating: 6 out of 10

This movie came as a surprise to me, simply because it was so entertaining. Despite that it's total low budget and has tons of cheesy moments, I just loved it from beginning to end. One of the reasons is because the movie had a typically 80's feel to it, and it didn't take itself seriously at all. Also, This movie came as a surprise to me, simply because it was so entertaining. Despite that it's total low budget and has tons of cheesy moments, I just loved it from beginning to end. One of the reasons is because the movie had a typically 80's feel to it, and it didn't take itself seriously at all. Also, Jean Claude van Damme makes a really cool debut in this movie. He delivered a rather good performance as an evil Russian fighter. There aren't too much great martial arts in the movie, but the last scene is really good. This fight scene is much better than what I've seen in many other action movies, so give this movie a try if you like martial arts. in this movie. He delivered a rather good performance as an evil Russian fighter. There aren't too much great martial arts in the movie, but the last scene is really good. This fight scene is much better than what I've seen in many other action movies, so give this movie a try if you like martial arts.

This film is a classic......This dvd is NOT!!!
Review date: 2007-11-19 Rating: 2 out of 10

I grew up watching all the martial arts classics and 'No Retreat' is one of my favourit fighting flicks of the 80s, so when it eventually came to dvd I was pretty excited..... until I watched it. As soon as the menu screen came up with a new version of the classic theme song 'Stand On Your Own', a bad feeling in my stomach began to grow, and it only got worst. The entire film had been totally rescored with really, really bad music. And worst still, painfully awful, originally cut scenes had been added, and other parts of the film were missing, I found myself repeating "what have they done...what have they done". Ruined it, big time, that's what they've done. I'm sorry to say that as much as I love this classic, which is a lot (even though it tries to bring Bruce back from the dead), I only lasted about thirty-five minutes before cursing, removing the dvd disc, and listing it for sale on amazon as quickly as I possibly could. Then, I searched amazon for the original vhs version and bought a copy faster than you could say boo! And then proceeded to watch it as it was meant to be seen and heard! Brilliant! Honestly, I have no idea how so many people haven't noticed the seriously massive differences between this new and very poor dvd version (bad!), and the original classic vhs version (good!). If you've still got a vcr machine and you really like this film then my advice is buy the vid, it's so much better. The only thing I did like about the this whole dvd saga, is that it gave me an excuse to rediscovered the brilliance that is.... 'NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER'.

MUSCLES FROM BRUSELLS
Review date: 2007-09-26 Rating: 6 out of 10

I can't tell if Jean Cluade (JVD) is dubbed in this film. He plays a Russian bodyguard working for a mafia type baddie. A man of few words fortunately, he does have the skills in the fighting scenes. The splits made my eyes water. Our young hero is trained (by Bruce Lee's ghost !!!) and the duo meet in the big fight at the end of the film.

No chance of an Oscar for the story or acting here, but the fights are good. (Please watch JVD's lips when he speaks).

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Kathie Sileno
Tai Chung Kim
J.W. Fails
Kurt McKinney
Jean-Claude Van Damme

Creators:
Kurt McKinney (Primary Contributor)
Jean-Claude Van Damme (Primary Contributor)
David Golia (Cinematographer)
John Huneck (Cinematographer)
Corey Yuen (Writer)
Allan Poon (Editor)
See-Yuen Ng (Producer)
See-Yuen Ng (Writer)
Keith W. Strandberg (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: 4 Front Video
Manufacturer: 4 Front Video
EAN: 5050582266436
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2004-06-14
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 79 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1986-05-02
Language: English (Original Language)

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