Best of the Best
1989
Eric Roberts, James Earl Jones, Sally Kirkland, Phillip Rhee
Directed by Robert Radler
5 men, Alex, Tommy, Travis, Virgil, and Sonny, become the members of the United States karate team as they prepare for a tournament against the team from Korea. Alex is forced to quit when his 5 year old son Walter is hurt in a car accident, and Tommy is afraid because his opponent is Dae Han. Dae Han killed Tommy's brother 10 years ago. Sooner or later, the two are back on the team and prepare for the fight.
PLOT: Dramatic with part revenge in it (7)
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY: The tournament sequences, especially Tommy vs. Dae Han is great (9)
Best of the Best II
1992
Eric Roberts, Phillip Rhee, Christopher Penn, Ralf Moeller
Directed by Robert Radler
Alex Grady, Tommy Lee, and Travis Brickley, the three heroes from part one, now live in Las Vegas, where they run a martial arts school. During the night, Travis enters an illegal martial arts tournament called the Coliseum. One night, when he is forced to bring Walter, Alex's son, with him, Travis is killed by the current champ, Brakus. Alex and Tommy soon realize they must avenge Travis. To do this, the two go on a trip to see Tommy's cousin James, who fought Brakus a long time ago. They learn the skills they need and Tommy is kidnapped and forced to fight in the tournament and face Brakus.
PLOT: Typical revenge plot, reminiscent of a kung fu film (4)
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY: Not too bad, but could've been a bit better (7)
Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back
1994
Phillip Rhee, Chri McDonald, Mark Rolston, Gina Gershon
Directed by Phillip Rhee
Tommy Lee, the heroic kickboxer from the first two films, returns this time traveling to a small town called Liberty is Mississippi. He is going to see his sister Karen and her family. Soon, Tommy realizes he has to stop racism. After the death of a friend, a black preacher, Tommy discovers that there is an Aryan group in the town causing pain and misery to the non-white folk. Tommy must use his martial arts skills and teach a new so-called Neo-Nazi a lesson about life.
PLOT: Lessons with life, using a lot of fists and feet (6)
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY: Not too bad, as Rhee gets to show off his taekwondo skills. (8)
Best of the Best 4: Without Warning
1998
Phillip Rhee, Ernie Hudson, Paul Gleason, Art LaFleur
Directed by Phillip Rhee
Tommy Lee is now a self defense instructor for the police while raising his daughter Stephanie. The Russian Mafia invades the town and try to steal a nuclear warhead. With the aid of a detective, Tommy must bring Stephanie to stay with a priest, and fight the mafia before they get away with stealing the warhead.
PLOT: Typical plot for an action film (4)
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY: Not enough fighting in the film, but some are still worth seeing (7)