Free American Samurai
Genres: Act
Starring: Mark Dacascos, John Fujioka, David Bradley, John Slater, Valarie Trapp, Rex Ryon, Melissa Hellman
Director(s): Sam Firstenberg
Country: USA
Year: 1992
IMDB Rating: 4.5
An American reporter and a martial arts expert with a half-brother who is a yakuza drug dealer battle swordsmen from around the world in a Turkish arena.
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American Samurai (iPod) | Resolution: 480x368 px | Total Size: 268 Mb |
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American Samurai (DivX) | Resolution: 640x480 px | Total Size: 700 Mb |
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Visitors Review
GEO DEL (22 May 2013)
where was this hiding?
wow! not bad i just saw this movie,and it was pretty good.Mark Ducascos should play a bad guy more often.He was pretty good.Overall its worth checking out,good fighting scenes,the story fair.go ahead and rent it its only a dollar and worth that.so you have nothing to lose.
(21 May 2013)
A movie for anyone that understands combat and the samurai
This was a movie that chronicled the last encounter for two step-brothers raised by a noble samurai. Drew was found by the Samurai(Sanga) after a plane crash. He was taken into his home and taught Bushido ( the way of the warrior) along with Sanga's blood son Kenjiro. Drew actually became closer to Sanga, and a better student. After a falling out with his family Kenjiro becomes Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) while Drew goes to the U.S. and becomes a reporter. Drew then goes to Turkey to investigate the murder of one of his fellow reporters, and meets back up with his brother who has vowed to kill him. Drew is forced to engage in "live Blade" or mortal combat. This was a great story for anyone who enjoys samurai swordsmanship and the martial arts. I highly recommend it.
(21 May 2013)
intense fighting but only ok movie overall
David Bradley (American Ninja series) stars in this film as Drew Collins, an American raised in the art of the Samurai. Drew heads to Turkey with a reporter, to uncover a murder mystery presumed to be done by a Samurai. Drew is caught and forced to fight in a tournament where he finds his step brother (Mark Dacascos) participating. The first half of the movie is a bit slow, but fortunately picks up once the tournament action begins. The best thing about American Samurai is you won't find many martial art movies with a weapon filled tournament (Shootfighter 1 & 2 are the only others I know of). Although not quite as intense as Shootfighter, the tournament in American Samurai is fairly brutal, with lots of blood, deaths, and the occasional loss of a arm. There is not a large variety of fighters, but most are enjoyable to watch, varying in sizes and styles. The arena is actually a pretty decent looking locale too.This is the first movie Mark Dacascos has starred in. He plays a good, convincing villain during the tournament, but overacts terribly throughout the beginning of the movie. David Bradley does an ok job, but nothing spectacular. As for the rest of the cast, everyone is pretty bland. If you love martial art films with tournaments, this movie pleases. The best thing going for it is that it is rare to find a tournament movie with focus on weapons, American Samurai delivers there.
kurt003 (21 May 2013)
Can David Bradley really fight ?
I watched this movie as I thought that this movie would be as good as"American Ninja". But this is one of the worst action movie I have everseen. In the tournament scene, David Bradley is simplystanding,walking,running and waiving the Katana against the opponentlike a lame. He has not got the nice martial art moves like otherpretty fighters in the movie.Acting of the entire cast is avoidable. Mellisa Hellman has nothing todo in the movie. The fight scenes of Mark Dacascos is impressive but helacks acting. Also the story is as usual like this ..... the heroflawlessly defeats the opponents without a scratch on his body. IsDavid Bradley a really trained Samurai... eh ? I don't think so..Don't waste your time in watching this crap. Just watch "AmericanNinja" instead in which fighting scenes of Michael Dudikoff is quiteimpressive.
sveknu (20 May 2013)
Bradley's best, maybe
Although I guess David Bradley is a highly skilled martial artist, Idon't think he was that good in the three "American Ninja"-movies hetook part in. "American Ninja 3" was OK, but the 4th and 5thinstallment of the series were just terrible. This movie is muchbetter. It's an arena-fighting movie, and it's well performed. Theymanaged to throw in a lot of different fighting styles from manyplaces, and it was really interesting. Several of the styles were newto me. Another great thing is the introduction of Marc Dacascos intothe world of martial arts movies. He's a great fighter, and here hemade a convincing and extremely evil villain. The fight scenes in thismovie are good, and they're also extremely brutal (even more brutalthan "Shootfighter"). If you like martial arts action, you'lldefinitely like this movie.
Demijan Omeragic (19 May 2013)
Very good movie.
This is an excellent movie in my opinion. Good plot, amazing fightingscenes, and great effects. David Bradley does a great job, and so doesMark Dacascos. However, if you really want to enjoy this movie, don'tget the US VHS version, because it is heavily cut. The UK VHS, althoughit is PAL, has only 1 second missing, and it's a part where a man pullsout a knife in a disco. The reason they cut this out is to prevent kidsfrom imitating this (yeah I know it sounds funny). However, EVERYTHINGelse has been left intact. Since it is PAL, you would have to convertit to NTSC, but it is much much better than watching the heavily editedUS tape.The French DVD titled "American Samourai" is completely uncut, and alsohas the one second missing from the UK tape. The bad thing is that thisfrench DVD does not have English sound, only french.Anyway, this movie is an excellent martial arts movie!
(12 May 2013)
American Samurai
I brought this movie hoping to see more of Melissa Hellman. I was so disappointed only three scenes. She did not speak english and I do not understand any French ?????? The best part of the movie for me was when she got to slap around the assistant-the photographer. She should have grab her by her hair and slammed her head into the wall or at least kicked her in the guts.... The writing for this movie was very bad - the dialogue was dry. Even better quality of actors would not have helped make this movie a success. The lighting was very bad. There was so much more that could have been done with this movie that would have made it so much better. The director should have had villians that were villians. Villians that wanted to cause great bodily harm. Even the final fight scene between the two brothers was weak - should have had more fencing scenes. That would have been a great climax to the movie. I did like all the different fighting styles even if the american cowboy should have stay in American with his Bowie knife. If you are a martial arts fan you will like this movie
jacqueline-k (11 May 2013)
It doesn't suck as bad as these others think...
Seriously, this movie isn't quite as bad as people think it is. I mean yesof course it does have the CHEESY as hell love scenes and the whole meshingscenes together thing...but this was the EARLY 90s folks. We didn't havethecrap they have now...on top of it do you really think this movie would havemade it big in the boxoffice if it were done by Speilberg?! NO! I lovedthismovie for a few reasons...and I will admit to it's bad production...butletsbe serious for a moment here...this is a small time movie...for actors JUSTbeginning their careers. You don't pile on the scenes and acting if someoneis just beginning their career. A lot of people are shallow...this moviehadgreat parts in it. Especially the gorrish blood and guts. I loved it.Technology HAS gotten better people, grow up!
lukasx (09 May 2013)
Underrated martial arts movie!
Whilst I understand the lower ratings given by others, and thederogatory comments directed toward this film, I believe it's alsoimportant to point out the merits of the film. David Bradley's actingis certainly passable in this film, and his martial arts abilities areobviously very adequate for his role, with some slick fight scenes.Mark Dacascos is a stand out in a film bursting with a rich variety ofcontrasting fighting styles and weapons. This is "BloodSport" withweapons, and a LOT more blood!!! (it even boasts a cocky large Yankeecompetitor like Bloodsport!). The action is somewhat brutal, and in theoriginal cut, very little is left to the imagination when it comes tothe gory wounding and killing blows (which I feel is as it should be!).Dacascos as Kenshiro in particular brings a restraint and elegance tohis role as a Yakuza swordsman, intent on perfecting his craft at theexpense of his opponents (and their limbs!) in the arena - only drawinghis sword upon his infliction of a lightning fast maiming or killingblow.Yes, this film does not boast polished storytelling, or compellingcharacterisation, but it does provide a unique and entertainingaddition to the martial arts genre and stands alone as an ultra-violenttournament-style actioner with a talented cast of martial artists.And for this at least, we should recognise it's value!!!
(09 May 2013)
Classic American Samurai Movies.
This movie is amazing,I've considered it a classic for a long time.We need more movies like Rambo, Kill Bill And American Samurai.
(08 May 2013)
The American Samurai, a new beginning
This review is from: American Samurai (DVD) Though this is my first time seeing this movie, I believe that like the Ninja craze in the U.S. in the 1980s, the Samurai craze came as well here in America. In fact, these two Martial Art disciplines could be no more if there are no people interested in learning and teaching these two disciplines. Though the movie's fiction, it does feature Samurai Jujutsu in this movie in which I believe that you should check it out, it'll be cool and a learning experience.
Azriel peskowitz (07 May 2013)
Good as a purgative
Yeah it really is that bad. It certainly made me want to vomit at thestupidity. Especially that scene where David Bradley removed the bulletfrom his gut to show how tough he was. The fight scenes are semi decent,but the plot, romantic subplot, and overacted characters are extremelystupid, and most unforgivably of all, boring. Avoid at all costs.
hijklmno45 (07 May 2013)
It's a decent arena fighter, but it could have been much better.
I remember this film as a kid because it used to come on the TV stationUSA about 6 times a year from around 94 to 98. Thought about itrecently for some random reason and bought a copy pretty cheap online.American Samurai came out sort of at the tail end of the martial artsarena fighter craze and in my opinion and fallows the usual story linewhere a martial artist's (insert wife, brother, mother, sister, child,teacher, student, pet dog, pet fish) is seriously injured or killed bysome scary psychopathic guy who also is a martial artist either in thering or out, enters arena combat and then gets revenge. But there's afew twists.This time however, Doug Bradley is going after a sword stolen by MarkDacascos' thugs who happens to be the son of his guardian who trainedthem both to be samurai. The first 30 minutes of the film is the usualbull crap with terrible and seemingly pointless dialogue and isfallowed up on by some really good action sequences. This movie is alot different than your average arena fighter. The combatants employthe use of blades and the body count is much much higher and it's muchdarker in my opinion than other movies in the genre like Mortal Kombatand Kickboxer.On paper it sounds pretty awesome but it's marred by the use of hokeyarena fighters (one is dressed up like Conan the Barbarian for example)and bad editing. There was one scene of monologue in the film thatfeatured a combatant that had just been killed 30 seconds earlier. Theacting is bad, but it's better than the likes of Bloodsport (im notdissing Bloodsport, just making a valid statement).The best parts of the film in my personal opinion are Mark Dacascos andthe ending itself. Mark does overact, but gives a fine performance forhis first film and the ending resolves on a bittersweet and abrupt notethat left a lot of loose ends for a sequel that to my knowledge wasnever made.After growing up and seeing this movie again I have to say that I stilllike it. But it's very flawed due to bad directing/ editing and it'sdefinitely dated now. It's worth seeing and I think that a gooddirector could remake this film right and come up with a good product.
Frank Markland (06 May 2013)
The cutter...(Of cheese)
David Bradley stars as Drew Collins a raised Samurai who was given thefamily sacred sword which ticks off his younger step-brother (Dacascos)who joins the Yakuza and now is the favorite in a weapons circuit, whenDacascos swipes the sword from Bradley, Bradley travels to Turkey toget it back. American Samurai is an interestingly atmospheric attemptat starting a new franchise to which Bradley looked to capture when hecouldn't upstage the original American Ninja, Michael Dudikoff. (Notexactly the world's hardest actor to upstage...) so he tried his handat being an American Samurai and of all ironies this one is onlynoteworthy as his co-star Mark Dacascos' debut. Bradley would laterfind minor stardom in the moronic Cyborg Cop movies. American Samuraihowever suffers from terrible acting and not enough verve in the fightarena. The movie seems edited very poorly as we are missing initialkill shots, perhaps the movie was cut for release, even so the movie isjust too stupid to work as even guilty pleasure. American Samurai is athoroughly dull effort which doesn't have enough plot to back any of itup. The action sequences are lifeless and in the end it just never gelsinto anything of worth.*1/2 out of 4-(Poor)
Wizard-8 (04 May 2013)
One of Cannon's final efforts
Having all but exhausted the exploitation of ninjas, what was Cannon to do?Right - exploit samurais instead! As well as recycle elements from theirpast hit BLOODSPORT, including a big burly guy with a beard as one of thecontestants! It's clear the movie was cut for an "R" rating, given how somewounds and killings are not shown as clearly as you would think, but theediting also shows signs of production problems. One lengthy scene seems tohave been cut in half, with the subsequent half played much later in themovie. There is also awkward narration and a very long sex scene where younever see the faces of the lovers, furthering the suspicion of franticefforts to patch together the movie. The production values are pretty good,and Firstenberg does deliver the goods with the fight sequences, which areexpertly choreographed. He doesn't do well with the actors however, havingDacascos overact at times and Bradley giving yet another uncharismaticperformance.
(04 May 2013)
Derivative But Still Effective
AMERICAN SAMURAI is one of those martial arts films that follow the formula of two brothers raised amidst jealousy and disharmony with one telling the other: 'Someday,I must kill you.' This plot has been done a tiresome number of times and is further muddied by odious comparisons to death duels announced by a slimy emcee, most recently in BEST OF THE BEST 2. Directer Sam Firstenberg updates this tale of sibling rivalry with David Bradley and Mark Dacascos as the two brothers who spend most of the movie preparing for their climactic meeting in the Arena of Death. The most pressing problem was the choice of Dacascos as the Japanese brother. Dacascos is not Japanese, yet he is supposed to be a full-blooded Japanese. Dacascos, as Kenjiro, has the requisite fighting skills, but his motivation to kill his brother based solely on jealousy has only the flimsiest basis for justification. One would think that a lifetime of illwill ought to be more clearly defined other than from not receiving the family sword. David Bradley as the adopted American son can fight but can't act. His ability to radiate emotion exceeds only that of Steven Seagal's. Another weak point is Bradley's relation with a female American photographer who accompanies him to Turkey to investigate the sword murder of a Saudi prince. They balk at each other's presence but predictably wind up in bed quickly enough. The real selling point of this movie is the fight sequences. Imagine the Ultimate Fighting Championship with bladed weapons and no referees. Very few viewers probably have seen or have participated in such edged encounters but it seems likely that such duels can not possibly be the ballet-like pirouetted gymnastic slug fests that marked each performance. Still, they are remarkable for their visual audacity. Rex Bryon, as the hulking bearded American competitor, is the good old country boy entrant with a Bowie knife. The movie points toward the final meeting between Bradley and Dacascos, which exits as overly brief and far less interesting than the preliminaries. As a martial arts sword movie, AMERICAN SAMURAI is interesting enough to hold your attention even if you withhold that willing suspension of disbelief at the cutting up of an otherwise honorable history of blade edged fighting.
jaymers64 (03 May 2013)
I only watched the movie for Mark Dacascos.
In the movie the best part of the movie was Mark Dacascos as Kenjiro. Ifound the movie's lead actor to be very stiff and boring. Mark Dacascoswasthe only young actor that was worth watching. I only watched when he wasonthe screen. I think that he was great.
martymaster (03 May 2013)
Good fighting scenes,but nothing more.
This movie is all about cage fighting.Cage fighting is two martial arts experts being locked in a cage and fightto one of them is dead.(sometimes they use weapons like swords,spearsetc)You dont watch a movie like this for nothing else than cool fightingscenes,because it has almost no plot and the acting sucks.But in this movie the fighting scenes is especially good,and it shows ofmany different fighting styles.The movie contains some really strong scenes of violence and gore,what didyou expect,it is about men who kill each other.If you like martial arts movies for the fighting scenes,then you will lovethis one.
drunk-2 (02 May 2013)
The Second Best American Japanese Warrior in Cinema!!!
American Samurai fits into a genre of cinema that enjoyed far to shortliveda success, that being the underground, martial arts death tournament film.Films like this enjoyed a great boom in the eighties and early nineties andarguably were the influences for the modern fighting tournament games suchas Street Fighter 2 and the like. Some other films of this genre are "Ringof Steel", "Best of the Best 2", "Blood Fist 2" and perhaps one of the lastof these magnificent creatures to appear in theater; John Claude VanDam's"The Quest"... unless of course you count the more recent "Fight Club",which you shouldn't because it's not about underground martial arts guysthat fight but just normal guys and that isn't the main plot of the filmanyway really. As evident from the title this film also belongs to theschool of sticking the word American in front of stuff IE: AmericanNinja's 1 through 4, American Ronin and American Cyborg. this usuallymeansyou have an instant classic on your hands. Anyway what really makes thefilm shine is the cast of characters. American Samurai offers more weirdfighters than any other film of the genre that I have yet seen. If nothingelse it would make a great video game. I will attempt to catalogue theassortment of fighters in the style of a badly translated Nintendoinstruction booklet.- The American Samurai: A warrior of much honor though American, trainedbymaster Samurai in Mountains of Japan. Master of Sword and peaceful ofheartbut strong to win. Entered tournament to reclaim family sword from evilbrother.- His Yakuza Samurai Brother: Adoptive brother of American Samurai and sonof Master Samurai. Strong fighter but gangster with no honor or mercytoo.- The Bowie Knife Cowboy: American fighter, fast with knife although quitestupid. Fights in tournament for much cash prizes andhonor.- African Master of the Quarter Staff: Not much known about this fighter.likes to strike poses with his staff weapon.- Pirate Swordsman: A much feared prate from the coast of far off lands.Wears eye patch but is still dangerous.- The Deadly Braid: Much like fighter in "Best of the Best 2" he fightswith sharp implement tied to his long braid of hair. Born in China hepossess much fighting spirit.- Chinese Axe Spear Guy: Second warrior from china and master of martialarts axe spear technique. Fast warrior but uses much energy in attacks.- Conan the Barbarian Guy: Former stunt man of lame 80's European swordandsorcery/caveman movie genre gone renegade. Now looks for new careerwielding broadsword for money and glory in tournament.- Nordic, Viking, Berserker Type: Crazy Horned warrior from Sweden.Attacks fierce with axe.- Weird-ass, Klingon Sword Looking Thing Wielding Guy: Warrior killed byEvil Yakuza Brother. Fought with weird-ass star trek, alien weapon things.I know there wear a few guys I've forgotten too. Oh yeah this film alsofeatures John Fujioka playing the Japanese martial arts master who raisesand trains our hero upon finding him stranded in his infancy. This is theexact same role he played in American Ninja. "I only play old JapaneseGuysthat find American babies and raise them to be martial arts masters". Nowthat's over specific type casting if you ask me. Anyway the film is alsopeppered with blindfolded swordsman training sequences, lots of crazyfighting and flash backs to really bad wise old sensei advice. In shortthis movie rocks. There should be more films like this. I'd comment onthefilm's success at creating one of the most awkward romantic subplots everbut I think I've run out of space. See it yourself.
MovieRat-2 (01 May 2013)
What the @#$% is this?
The first time I saw this movie, I was much younger than I am today and Ithought that it was a decent movie with awesome fight scenes. But when Iwatched it a few years later I realized something...it's crap. As I watchedI came under the realization that the editors had no idea what they weredoing. Scenes conflicted with each other. For example, at one time you seethis blond fighter get his leg hacked to pieces only to see him with aperfect leg, no scratches or bruises, just a few minutes later (24 hoursaccording to the movie). What was the worst of all was the final fightscene. It is totally obvious that all the makers of this movie did was justtake previous scenes and meshed them all together. It wouldn't have beenthat obvious if it wasn't for the fact that the main character kept changinguniforms every 5 seconds, the guy he kept fighting changed as well, and forthe horrible dubbing they did to make the previous scenes fit.Avoid this movie at all cost. I have seen some bad martialartsmovies in my time, but they were always enjoyable. This one is just plainbad and should probably only be seen on Mystery Science Theater 3000 to beheckled at.
Review total: 20, showing from 1 to 20