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Showdown in Little Tokyo

Showdown in Little Tokyo

  • Status: Released
  • 23-08-1991
  • Runtime: 79 min
  • Score: 6.376
  • Vote count: 492

An American with a Japanese upbringing, Chris Kenner is a police officer assigned to the Little Tokyo section of Los Angeles. Kenner is partnered with Johnny Murata, a Japanese-American who isn't in touch with his roots. Despite their differences, both men excel at martial arts, and utilize their formidable skills when they go up against Yoshida, a vicious yakuza drug dealer with ties to Kenner's past.

Dolph Lundgren

Detective Kenner

Brandon Lee

Johnny Murata

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa

Yoshida

Tia Carrere

Minako

Toshishiro Obata

Sato

Philip Tan

Tanaka

Rodney Kageyama

Eddie

Ernie Lively

Detective Nelson

Renee Griffin

Angel

Reid Asato

Muto

Takayo Fischer

Mama Yamaguchi

Simon Rhee

Ito

Vernee Watson-Johnson

Nonnie Russell - Coroner

Lenny Imamura

Kickboxer #1

Roger Yuan

Kickboxer #2

Susan E. Cox

Mrs. Kenner

Rick Cramer

Mr. Kenner

Keith Boldroff

Kenner as a Young Boy

Gerald Okamura

Hagata, the Torturer

R. David Smith

Hell's Angel #1

Anthony Maccario

Hell's Angel #2

Rome Viharo

Hispanic Gang Leader

Keenan Thomas

Crip Gang Leader

Steve Park

Asian Cop #1

Jim Ishida

Asian Cop #2

Rachen Assapiomonwait

Bath House Attendant

Ryan Ryusaki

Son at Parade with Mama Yamaguchi

Jeff Ramsey

Samurai Horseman

Phil Chong

Samurai Horseman

Al Leong

Yoshida's Man (uncredited)

Branscombe Richmond

Man in Door (uncredited)

James Lew

Yoshida's Man (uncredited)

George Cheung

Yoshida's Man (uncredited)

Jimmy Taenaka

Hardboy (uncredited)

Bill Saito

Yoshida's Man (uncredited)

Al Goto

Yoshida's Man (uncredited)

Stuart Quan

Yoshida's Man (uncredited)

Nathan Jung

Bonsai Club Manager (uncredited)

Leo Lee

Yoshida's Man (uncredited)

Kenny Endoso

Yoshida's Man (uncredited)

Robert Gatewood

Parade Goer (uncredited)

Steven A. Hite

Patron (uncredited)

Steven Ito

Yoshida's Man (uncredited)

Lisa Comshaw

Topless Girl at Bonsai Club

John Chard

We've got a problem here. There are more bad guys than we've got bullets. It's a buddy buddy action movie, one that feels more 80s than 90s, with that it has all the pluses and minuses that comes with such genre staples. Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee pair up to take on The Yakuza, Dolph has a very personal reason for tracking and killing the Yakuza leader. They are an odd pair who must get over their initial differences to complete their mission. Sound familiar? Well it is, because it can be seen in a whole host of other action buddy buddy movies. The acting is sub-standard but the action is well constructed, which at the end of the day is what action fans require for a rollicking good time. Some of the dialogue is too cheese worthy to even pass as acceptable - and this in a genre that often demands it as a requisite, while the overt homoerotic undercurrents are either meant as tongue in cheek? Or an attempt by the makers to make some sort of action movie statement? Is it fun? Absolutely, and that's not just because of the ridiculous trousers Lundgren often wears (seriously, a leather jacket and Oxford bags?), while the colour photography is sparkling (Mark Irwin), but you have to have a taste for corn and cheese to get the most from this host. 5/10

GenerationofSwine

Yeeeeeahhhhh, this is a really horrible movie. I will not deny that. But, it's a still a really fun action movie. I mean, it is one of those cheap as hell action movies that studios used to make to pay for more expensive Oscar bait, and you never expect that much walking into them. The low expectations always help. But... it's fun. Like a lot of the really bad movies, it is fun. It takes itself just seriously enough that you suspend your disbelief, but no so serious it thinks it is something that it's not. And the result is entertainment. You remember that, entertainment, once upon a time that was the end goal of a movie. And this one ex-cells in that, it has nice action, a fun sense of humor, and knows when to dial it back.