No Retreat, No Surrender
Encyclopedia
No Retreat, No Surrender is a 1986 American martial arts
sports film written and directed by Corey Yuen
his American directorial debut, and starring Kurt McKinney
, Jean-Claude Van Damme
and Tai Chung Kim.
) is a young karate
student who trains in his father's (Timothy D. Baker) Los Angeles
dojo
. One night after a training session, the dojo is visited by members of an organized crime syndicate
. After refusing to join the organization, Jason's father has his leg broken by a Russian martial artist named Ivan Kraschinsky (Jean-Claude Van Damme
), the hired thug of the boss.
The Stillwell family relocates to Seattle, where Jason meets R.J. Madison (J.W. Fails) and they become good friends. Jason's girlfriend, Kelly, also comes to visit him. Despite this, Jason has a hard time adjusting and is constantly harassed by the local bullies. Fed up with the beatings, Stillwell visits the grave of Bruce Lee
and beseeches him for aid. That night, the ghost of Bruce Lee (Tai Chung Kim) appears to Jason and begins to train him. Under Lee's tutelage, Jason goes from a below average fighter to a superior martial artist, at one point easily fending off several thugs attempting to assault his father in a parking lot.
Later, an annual full contact karate tournament is held featuring teams from Seattle and New York, which Jason and his father attend. Before the contest can get underway, however, the crime syndicate interrupts and makes a wager that none of the Seattle fighters can defeat Ivan. While the first two fighters are easily dispatched by the Russian, Ivan's last opponent, Kelly's brother Ian, makes an impressive showing, forcing Ivan to resort to dirty tactics to defeat him. With her brother helplessly entangled in the ring ropes, Kelly tries to stop Ivan by hitting him with a chair, but the Russian easily disarms her and grabs her by the hair. Spurred into action, Jason charges to the ring and attacks Ivan, much to the delight of the crowd. Utilizing his advanced training, Jason is finally able to conquer his nemesis and earn the respect of his peers.
(1976).
The film is also considered a cult classic
, especially among buffs of martial arts films or nostalgia fans. Hong Kong
film expert Bey Logan
stated in the audio commentary to another Corey Yuen film, (Ninja in the Dragon's Den
), that Corey had watched The Karate Kid, liked the movie, but thought that the fight sequences could have been a lot better. At the time of the release, Jean-Claude Van Damme was still an unknown actor.
There are two versions of the film, an American version and a roughly re-edited British VHS version that is widely considered to be demo-like in many aspects. Both contain completely different theme songs; "Hold On To That Vision" written by Frank Harris and featuring Kevin Chalfant and Joe Satriani and "Stand On Your Own" by Joe Torono, the latter sounding a lot like it could have been a demo track for the former. The musical scores are also greatly different. The British version featured slow generic studio stock music while the full uncut and complete versions featured typical Hong Kong stock music "borrowed" from three Hong Kong films, such as Police Assassins
, Project A
and Snake in the Eagle's Shadow
.
at the UK
in Region 2
.
On August 14, 2006, the No Retreat, No Surrender Trilogy DVD was released.
Martial arts film
Martial arts film is a film genre. A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently...
sports film written and directed by Corey Yuen
Corey Yuen
Corey Yuen Kwai is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker and producer. He was a member of the Peking Opera Schools and one of the Seven Little Fortunes.-Life and career:...
his American directorial debut, and starring Kurt McKinney
Kurt McKinney
Kurt Robin McKinney is an American former actor. McKinney is perhaps best known for his role as Jason Stillwell in 1986 martial arts film No Retreat, No Surrender.-Prior to acting:...
, Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
and Tai Chung Kim.
Plot
Jason Stillwell (Kurt McKinneyKurt McKinney
Kurt Robin McKinney is an American former actor. McKinney is perhaps best known for his role as Jason Stillwell in 1986 martial arts film No Retreat, No Surrender.-Prior to acting:...
) is a young karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
student who trains in his father's (Timothy D. Baker) Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
. One night after a training session, the dojo is visited by members of an organized crime syndicate
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
. After refusing to join the organization, Jason's father has his leg broken by a Russian martial artist named Ivan Kraschinsky (Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
), the hired thug of the boss.
The Stillwell family relocates to Seattle, where Jason meets R.J. Madison (J.W. Fails) and they become good friends. Jason's girlfriend, Kelly, also comes to visit him. Despite this, Jason has a hard time adjusting and is constantly harassed by the local bullies. Fed up with the beatings, Stillwell visits the grave of Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
and beseeches him for aid. That night, the ghost of Bruce Lee (Tai Chung Kim) appears to Jason and begins to train him. Under Lee's tutelage, Jason goes from a below average fighter to a superior martial artist, at one point easily fending off several thugs attempting to assault his father in a parking lot.
Later, an annual full contact karate tournament is held featuring teams from Seattle and New York, which Jason and his father attend. Before the contest can get underway, however, the crime syndicate interrupts and makes a wager that none of the Seattle fighters can defeat Ivan. While the first two fighters are easily dispatched by the Russian, Ivan's last opponent, Kelly's brother Ian, makes an impressive showing, forcing Ivan to resort to dirty tactics to defeat him. With her brother helplessly entangled in the ring ropes, Kelly tries to stop Ivan by hitting him with a chair, but the Russian easily disarms her and grabs her by the hair. Spurred into action, Jason charges to the ring and attacks Ivan, much to the delight of the crowd. Utilizing his advanced training, Jason is finally able to conquer his nemesis and earn the respect of his peers.
Cast
- Kurt McKinneyKurt McKinneyKurt Robin McKinney is an American former actor. McKinney is perhaps best known for his role as Jason Stillwell in 1986 martial arts film No Retreat, No Surrender.-Prior to acting:...
as Jason Stillwell - Jean-Claude Van DammeJean-Claude Van DammeJean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
as Ivan Kraschinsky the Russian - J.W. Fails as R.J. Madison
- Kathie Sileno as Kelly Reilly
- Tai Chung Kim as Ghost Bruce Lee
- Kent Lipham as Scott the Fatboy
- Ron Pohnel as Ian Reilly
- Dale Jacoby as Dean Ramsay
- Peter “Sugarfoot” CunninghamPete Cunningham (kickboxer)Peter "Sugarfoot" Cunningham is a Canadian kickboxer and martial arts actor.Peter, like many others, wanted to train in the martial arts after watching Bruce Lee movies. Now he is a living legend in the world of kickboxing. He is a 7-Times Undefeated World Kickboxing Champion and the first inductee...
as Frank Peters - Timothy D. Baker as Tom Stillwell
- Gloria Marziano as Mrs. Stillwell
Reception
Viewers have divided opinions concerning this movie; some claim that the movie contains bad acting and heavily borrows the motivational "underdog to champion" theme from films such as The Karate Kid (1984) and RockyRocky
Rocky is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and both written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It tells the rags to riches American Dream story of Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but kind-hearted debt collector for a loan shark in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
(1976).
The film is also considered a cult classic
Cult Classic
Cult Classic is a Blue Öyster Cult studio recording released in 1994, containing remakes of many of the band's previous hits.-Track listing:# " The Reaper" - 5:05# "E.T.I...
, especially among buffs of martial arts films or nostalgia fans. Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
film expert Bey Logan
Bey Logan
Bey Logan is a respected expert on East Asian cinema, particularly Hong Kong action cinema. He is also notable as a screenwriter, film producer and as a martial artist who has had roles in a number of films, including the 2003 Dante Lam film The Twins Effect.He has written two books - Hong Kong...
stated in the audio commentary to another Corey Yuen film, (Ninja in the Dragon's Den
Ninja in the Dragon's Den
Ninja in the Dragon's Den is a 1982 Hong Kong martial arts film written and directed by Corey Yuen made his directorial debut, and starring Conan Lee, Hiroyuki Sanada and Hwang Jang Lee.-Plot:...
), that Corey had watched The Karate Kid, liked the movie, but thought that the fight sequences could have been a lot better. At the time of the release, Jean-Claude Van Damme was still an unknown actor.
There are two versions of the film, an American version and a roughly re-edited British VHS version that is widely considered to be demo-like in many aspects. Both contain completely different theme songs; "Hold On To That Vision" written by Frank Harris and featuring Kevin Chalfant and Joe Satriani and "Stand On Your Own" by Joe Torono, the latter sounding a lot like it could have been a demo track for the former. The musical scores are also greatly different. The British version featured slow generic studio stock music while the full uncut and complete versions featured typical Hong Kong stock music "borrowed" from three Hong Kong films, such as Police Assassins
Yes, Madam
Yes, Madam is a 1985 Hong Kong action film directed by Corey Yuen and starring Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock. The film is Yeoh's first major action role and Rothrock's first appearance in a feature film....
, Project A
Project A
Project A is a 1983 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film written and directed by Jackie Chan, and starring Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao....
and Snake in the Eagle's Shadow
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow is a 1978 Hong Kong martial arts action film directed by Yuen Woo-ping his directorial debut, who has since gained international stardom as the action choreographer for films such as Iron Monkey, Fist of Legend, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Matrix series, Kill...
.
Sequels
The two sequels to No Retreat, No Surrender do not continue the storyline of the original and do not feature any of the original cast of the film.DVD release
On June 14, 2004, DVD was released by Universal StudiosUniversal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
at the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in Region 2
DVD region code
DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region...
.
On August 14, 2006, the No Retreat, No Surrender Trilogy DVD was released.