Best of the Best ** (1989, Eric Roberts, James Earl Jones, Sally Kirkland, Phillip Rhee, Christopher Penn) – Classic Movie Review 10,261

Eric Roberts and Christopher Penn star as Alex Grady and Travis Brickley, who lead the five-strong American karate team chosen by Frank Couzo (James Earl Jones) to fight against Korea in a Tae Kwon Do tournament, in director Robert Radler’s strongly cast, non-stop action 1989 martial arts movie Best of the Best.

Best of the Best is scrappily made and feebly written with lots of sermonising, but there is enough energy and pace, as well as exciting fight scenes, to hold the interest for action fans. It was a Stinker Award nominee as Worst Picture.

Best of the Best 2 followed in 1992, with Radler and Roberts returning as director and star.

Also in the cast are Phillip Rhee, Christopher Penn, Edan Gross, John Dye, David Agresta, Tom Everett, Louise Fletcher, John P Ryan, James Lew, and Simon Rhee.

Best of the Best is directed by Robert Radler [Bob Radler], runs 97 minutes, is made by The Movie Group, SVS Films, Kuys Entertainment, CFI Entertainment and Best of the Best Films, is released by Taurus Entertainment Company (1989) (US) and Entertainment Film Distributors (1990) (UK), is written by Paul Levine, from the story by Phillip Rhee and Paul Levine, is shot by Douglas Ryan [Doug Ryan], is produced by Phillip Rhee and Peter E Strauss, is scored by Paul Gilman and is designed by Kim Rees.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,261

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