Live by the Fist
by Cirio H. Santiago
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: George Takei, Jerry Trimble, Laura Albert, Ted Markland, Vic DiazDirector: Cirio H. Santiago
Cinematographer: Joe Batac
Producer: Cirio H. Santiago
Producer: Christopher R. Santiago
Producer: Dulce V. Del Pilar
Producer: Rob Kerchner
Producer: Roger Corman
Writer: Charles Philip Moore
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 77 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-04-08
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: New Concorde
Product features:
- Produced By: Cirio H. Santiago, Christopher R. Santiago, Dulce V. Del Pilar, Rob Kerchner, Roger Corman
- Directed by: Cirio H. Santiago
- Written by: Charles P. Moore
- Cast: Jerry Trimble ("Full Contact"), George Takei ("Star Trek")
- 1993
Movie Reviews of Live by the Fist
Movie Review: "You have to stop being led by your hate and think clearly for once!"
Summary: 3 Stars
The story: unjustly convicted of raping and killing a woman, ex-Navy SEAL John Merill (Jerry Trimble, The Master) is incarcerated on a Filipino island prison run by a villainous warden (Vic Diaz, Bloodfist). Attacked from both sides of an ethnically-divided snake pit, his only hope for survival rests in his physical talents and the council of an enlightened old inmate (George Takei, Star Trek) determined on spreading the truth about what goes on inside the fortress.
The plot draws strong parallels to a previously-released Don Wilson movie called Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight, right down to several storyline twists and dialogue ripped straight from the other's script (this is probably the only time you're ever going to hear George Takei quoting Richard Roundtree in any circumstance). Nevertheless, this isn't really a drawback: the Wilson picture has better production values and dramatic worth, but Trimble's is the superior martial arts film, and let's face it: that's what counts. Jerry can take all the credit for the overall success of the fights, which aren't choreographed with any particular elaboration but come alive by the greatness of his many, many kicks - kicks which were already Hollywood-caliber back in his kickboxing days and found no equal in the movies, be it from Billy Blanks on the low-budget market or from Jean Claude Van Damme in the mainstream. Sadly, since it's only Jerry supplying the cool moves, most of the nine fights - most of them one vs. many encounters - feel repetitive before long and probably won't satiate casual viewers who are used to more varied brawls. There's some gunfighting towards the end of the movie, but it's unremarkable.
If you're not used to B-movies and made-in-the-Philippines fare by director Cirio Santiago (TNT Jackson), chances are that you're going to be shocked by how cheap this film looks: the cast is mainly made up of Filipino nationals who tailed the director during his career, and I have a strong hunch that public property makes up most of the shooting locations (with the exception of the prison area). For the most part, the acting is a shot in the bucket: none of the Filipinos seem well-versed enough in English to come across as convincing, Jerry Trimble wanders in confusion from one fight scene to the next, and Ted Markland (Another 48 Hrs.) can't do anything with the role of a crazy racist gang leader who has it out for John. George Takei is hands-down the best performer of the bunch, but he's poorly cast as a fight-the-system prison leader; love him as much as you want, but he just doesn't have the gravity for this part. Stunt double Laura Albert (Dr. Caligari) has an awkward role as a human rights activist investigating the warden's crimes, but her ten minutes of screentime aren't enough to establish her, so...yeah. She's pretty, though.
The film focuses pretty intently on racism among prisoners and the workings of mob mentality, but these aspects too are plagiarized from the Wilson movie and were done better the first time. A few visual inaccuracies regarding the country the film takes place in can be observed, but by and large, the movie's production is consistent and seems to make the most of a limited budget. For fans of Jerry's unharmonious solo career, this is one of the better films of his you can pick up, if only for the fight scenes. Connoisseurs of low-budget karate dreck like me will find enough cool/funny bits in "Live By the Fist" to make buying it the current low prices worthwhile, but those of you who are afraid to wade too far from Jackie and Jet ought to stick with what you know and not bother - you'll only get a headache.
Summary of Live by the Fist
A man is unjustly convicted of a brutal crime. In prison he must fight for survival, justice and freedom. Format: Color, DVD, NTSC Language: English Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.) Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Number of discs: 1 Rated: R (Restricted) Studio: New Concorde DVD Release Date: April 8, 2003 Run Time: 77 minutesSimilar DVD Movies
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