Best of the Best (1989)

Best of the best is probably the most underrated martial arts film ever but is also one of the best ever made..the characters prepare for a tournament against the unstoppable Korean taekwondo team, but they also prepare to overcome themselves to succeed ,they must learn that a team is not team if they don't care about each other...Eric Roberts and Philip Rhee are the stars of the film, they have their bigger fights on their inside during the movie...the final battle between the Rhee brothers is one of the best fights on cinema history and James Earl Jones make a perfect job as the trainer who needs to inspire his students to overcome themselves and have a chance to win to the Korean team...I'm a big fan of the film,every time I see it I get excited...A must seen film

Fmovies: One of the best Karate films ever! I really mean that! It has action, drama and suspense all in the same mood! It has the best ending in a movie ever! In my opinion! Eric Roberts stars as a father just trying to make the team and he does! The acting really is top notch! Eric is the standout, but James Earl Jones is a great actor and you can't forget him! He is just awesome! So buy, rent, or just watch this great movie! It's really that good! Out of 4 stars I give it a 4+

I bought this film 10 years ago and have pretty much worn out the tape now. There's not alot of films I watch this much but this one really is good. If you appreciate the martial arts you will love this film - OK it over does things on the cheese front - but this just adds to the enjoyment of the movie (provided you have a sense of humour that is). Rocky for the martial arts generation.

Best of the Best fmovies. Basically this film is one of the better low budget martial arts films to come our way in the late 80's and early 90's. The plot is for all to see within the first 20 mins or so, it doesn't really get anymore complicated than that other than 1 vital bit of info that is kept from us until 20-30 mins to go. Oh, and also the film doesn't end like most and was quite refreshing to see to be honest.....(I won't spoil it for you, you have to watch it to find out). Yes it's cheap but it is also chearful in a "got nothing else to do or watch one evening kinda way". The VOICE of Darth Vader - James Earl Jones is in a starring role as well as Oscar winner Eric Roberts (Julia's older brother) in a weird role for him, guess money must have been tight back then.....

Go see it......worth a watch.

First let me address everyone who knocked this movie, this movie wasn't made to earn Oscars and a host of other accolades, it is what it is. If this sounds vague to you, I'll tell you what it is. It's a great martial arts movie made in the era of Bloodsport, Kickboxer, King of Kickboxers, and such other similar films. For what it is, its a phenomenal movie. Great fight scenes, especially when Phillip Rhee is fighting as well as the Korean team, (the rest of the American team sucked, filled with bad actors like Eric Roberts.. who gives a sh!t about eric roberts, but I digress). Sure it was cheesy but what did you expect, an Oscar award winning movie, no, you go to see this for the mindless fun it gives you, just like Rocky IV that everyone mentioned in the comments, sure story wise Rocky IV wasn't the best, but I love the fights, the training, all of that... Its a fun movie.

This is my all time favorite martial arts movie, along with anything from Sho Kosugi, and Van Damme's Bloodsport and Kickboxer (his other movies sucked the big one). It has great fighting scenes, decent yet predictable story, you like the characters, etc. etc. The sequels however were retarded, how an Olympian Tae Kwon Doe becomes involved in all these crazy adventures in 2,3, and 4 I don't know. I've only seen 2 out of the sequels and refuse to watch 3 and 4. Two was enough.

***UPDATE: I have finally found it on DVD... got it from Best Buy for $15.***

Best of the best is one of those rare movie; a credible and fairly realistic representation of martial arts as a sport. Yes, it is a cheese fest but it's a good one. The characters are likable, the action scenes are brilliantly done and although the story isn't as engaging as it could have been it does work.

The story shows the selection and training of the US and the Korean national karate teams who we know from the start of the movie will face each other in a televised sporting event. All the character development is with the Americans though and this film is essentially about them. While the training and character building are good, and do make you care to some extent about the Americans, the entire movie is really all about the final fights. They are technically brilliant and very well shot. The second to last fight will send tingles down your spine, and the final fight - well, my wife hates this sort of movie but even she was in tears at the end.

I liked this movie a lot. It's in my collection and my advice to anyone who enjoys a good fight film is to give this a chance.