Once upon a time, there was Jason. He studied Bati Karate, had a lot of friends and was happy with life. One day, bandits beat up his father and the family moved to another city. There, wayward Jason quickly crossed the road to local martial arts lovers and almost went into depression; from despondency he was saved by the spirit of Bruce Lee, who agreed to teach the hero everything he knew himself. Over time, Jason grew stronger, managed to give hooligans a fifth point, and all in order to meet again with the abusers of his father.
Surprisingly, the USSR loved cinema, although now it is almost impossible to watch it. There is no plot - instead of him, a lot of scenes from the life of the main character, which stretch as far as the 60th minute. He walks, communicates, befriends a neighbor's boy, tries to roll up to a pretty lady in the neighborhood, conflicts with everyone, swears, cries... It's been 60 minutes. It is impossible not to watch this film without rewinding. However, somewhere I read that the script here was invented on the go, and it is not surprising; with this success, it is better to go out on the street and quarrel with local gopniks - and then there will be more impressions.
Acting is a nightmare. Everyone is crooked, trying to play, but it turns out very bad. Because it is fair that none of the leading actors never got into the big world of cinema.
Of course, you can close your eyes to everything, because this is a film about martial arts! It's really good fighting here. Kurt McKeeney is a talented fighter who could compete with Steven Seagal. But bad luck. Fight here a lot, tastefully, the final fight, despite its suddenness, is impressive.
And the ghost scenes with Bruce Lee that you can't find fault with. Actually, I don't want to. Do you know a lot of ghost fighters and other mystics? Do you know many films where authors express their love for the work of the legendary Bruce Lee? Here, eat her spoon. As a bonus, the actor who plays Bruce “substituted” him in the Game of Death.
Yes, martial arts, yes, Bruce Lee, but if it wasn’t for Van Damme, nobody would remember this movie even now. The famous Belgian here plays an almost rare role of antagonist, and what a Russian! Yeah, another Ivan! Hi Lundgren! How he plays - without exaggeration, Van Damme here is an unscrupulous machine for bullying and mutilation; he is fast, cruel, strong and does not accept defeat. Honestly, the rare occasion when it is not a sin to say that it would be better if the Belgian had played such scoundrels all his career - he was born for this role. One thing is bad - it's literally fifteen minutes out of the entire timekeeping.
Despite the negative attitude towards him, the film deserves a green review. Why? Because it's a classic. 'Don't back down...' just breathes the atmosphere of the eighties with its music, hairstyles, beauties, cars and naive characters. Yes, the plot is a nightmare, but the film does not want to hate for it. Naivety here plays the role of a relaxing massage - we look and for some reason look with interest. What else is needed for a boring winter evening?
7 out of 10
Since the 80-90s, world cinema has changed a lot. Films, especially in the genre of action films, have become more vivid and colorful. What are Marvel’s “fairy tales” about superheroes, in which everything is based on visual effects, bangs and booms with catastrophic consequences for everyone around. But in my opinion, these are all films without a soul. And sometimes the heart asks to feel the indescribable atmosphere, life and coziness of the past, but not forgotten time. And in this, I am helped by old-school fighters like “Do not retreat and do not give up.”
Shots and explosions in this film you will not hear, but it is replete with well-made scenes of martial arts. And it could not be otherwise, because the picture is dedicated to Bruce Lee.
By the way, the appearance of the greatest master in the picture disappointed me a little. Apparently, the creators of the film thought that you could take any Chinese, say it was Bruce Lee, and the audience would believe it. Well, maybe in the late 80s it rolled, but now it looks like a mockery.
Kurt McKinney as Jason Stillwell liked it. It is even strange that this, in fact, the actor’s career ended. The only thing embarrassing is his physical form in the film. He clearly did not overdo it in the gym before the shooting. Because of this, you look at him and do not believe that this guy can oppose anything to a powerful and pumped Van Damme.
By the way, this is the first picture in the extensive filmography of the Belgian actor, as well as a unique opportunity for everyone to see how he is piled lula. If I am not mistaken, this happened again only after more than twenty years in the second part of “The Expendables”.
In general, despite all the shoals, the film can be recommended for viewing. This is quite an ordinary representative of the old-school action movie of the 80-90s. It is slightly inferior to more famous paintings with the participation of the same Van Damme and other stars, but it is quite suitable for nostalgic gatherings.
6 out of 10
The film can be divided into two clear storylines and both are particularly naive. If the adolescent development of an athlete is visually painless, then the criminal background clearly suffers from that very naivety. Even the sinister-invincible ' Ivan' looks very caricatured, which spoils the overall impression, because a competently drawn antagonist, this is almost a success.
There was a big smile in the appearance of the great master. Apparently, the creators of the picture decided absolutely from any Chinese to stir up a new Bruce Lee. Dress in a traditional costume, and a Chinese, he is in Africa Chinese. It is clear that on that wave of genre popularity and not that got away with, but now such casting causes only a grin. From the appearance of the legend expected completely different emotions, but, alas, did not work out.
As for the fights, there is nothing to show the picture. The +6 rating did not allow to demonstrate a believable muzzle, everything began and ended with a spontaneous swing of the lower extremities, a couple of pirouettes and mandatory, stunning voice-over of blows.
The film can still be recommended for viewing, it is quite suitable for nostalgic gatherings, the more the picture boasts the presence of a defeated Van Damme, and this is already a cinematic asset.
Don't ask for an easy life. Ask for strength to cope with the heavy.
Bruce Lee
According to ancient Chinese wisdom, the longest journey begins with the first step. And it can end for a person who has dedicated himself to martial arts in different ways: with a home museum full of cups and medals or, say, in a hospital with a broken leg and a head full of disappointments. Unlucky sensei from Los Angeles - had the misfortune of being sent to the infirmary by future celebrity Van Damme. The path of Jean-Claude in martial arts still continues, but the origins every year roll back deeper into the shadow of history, becoming something distant and semi-mythical. And then, in '86, few people could imagine that an athletic Flemish with licked hair and an inappropriate Russian name Ivan, would be a leading propagandist of karate in cinema. And the only one of his generation adept of Japanese style, descended with the heir to Bruce Lee.
The era of active visits by young people to the dojo is akin to a sketch imprinted in memory from childhood, when the guy managed to fill up cones and realized how useful it is to know pain points and be able to beat them with limbs. In youth, few people think about the philosophy of martial arts and their contribution to the formation of a confident (but not self-) personality. Much more often there are prosaic examples of the use of percussion equipment - the corresponding episodes are full of the cult film debut of the LCVD in the post-Soviet space. The Belgian himself, at that time a former ballet dancer with a black belt and a strong accent, played a source of indignation, a demonic opponent and a walking peak of skill, not burdened by doubts about high morals and responsibility for tame power. And his young opponent is not at all that, and perhaps for this reason, Kurt McKinney is now thoroughly forgotten. There is no justice in the world, but there are so many conversations.
By the way, how many words should be in a picture glorifying the youthful courage and diligence of training? American Seattle is by no means a martial arts mecca, but the great dragon Lee found his last refuge there. Humiliated and spat on the boy in a torn shirt asks for advice from the idol on his grave, where the other day brought beloved Bruce chrysanthemums, and these sincere tears are not forgotten. The reason is on the surface: everyone falls, faces injustice, or someone’s superior power, but not everyone comes to the rescue of faith. Of course, the way it is shown - the embodied spirit of the creator of Jit-kun-do - brings the film together with a fairy tale, but there is a hint in it besides lies! The road to the first ascent on the tatami and in our advanced age is much longer than it seems. And the frivolous, in fact childish essence of the film deftly finds the right thread, inspiring with its directness. Abusers attack, the girl rejects, the father does not understand - these problems always remain relevant for teenagers and require resolution.
The naturalness of the path passed by yesterday’s loser perfectly correlates with the charm of the past era, when young people only learned about karate or break dancing. Shot for three pennies, the film compares favorably with the similar in the plot “Rocky 4” with its delicacy. Yes, again there is an evil Russian, who mutilates honest American peasants for fun, but, firstly, old Jean looks even less like Dolph Lundgren, and secondly, he is still driven by his art. Well, bravado, of course, but so is the demonstration of the perfect twine - water on the same mill of physical education. No unnecessary moral or political overtones, only a very clear and specific goal - as in a nearby alley or at a school disco. The film is its simplicity, and individual fragments can be revised endlessly, whether it is the mentoring of the legend, or the fine hour of the Russified Van Damme. And as the call will sound: “Do not retreat and do not give up” – watch the opening of the second breath and the birth of the famous stamp of militants.
Once another training session is over, and it’s time to go home. In martial arts on the screen in general and karate in particular, the story is representative, but not too diverse. The specifics of the genre - you can not write here at all. The basic concepts and concepts fit into a couple of decades, roughly from "Big Boss" to "Only the Strongest." There were many landmark stops along the route, and the ribbon that cut through a small window into Asian culture is not the worst in the honorable row. And the second after the "Karatist Boy" released two years earlier, where the severity and uncompromising nature of the fights were slightly reduced relative to the educational value. The emphasis on a specific audience in all its glory, and not “fanatic”, as it was in the film of the same name with a young Serebriakov, but devoted. 1986 was proclaimed by the UN as the year of peace, and in its own way it is logical that the noble orientation of the fighting style, proposed by the old school picture, followed the high order clearly.
Unfortunately, the age rating does not justify such a weak film. This is a frank attempt to get a children's audience, on the popular at the time direction of the action movie.
Just because you did it for kids doesn’t mean you have to do it over your sleeves. I know a lot of examples with cartoons, which the plot is much more inventive than this work. The plot can be called the main claim. He is boring, straightforward and unoriginal. Acting play...was it? And the script naturally keeps up. This whole thing looks so naive and naive. Even if you give the film an age discount.
Fighting. Why do you watch movies like this if not for her? There's trouble. The acceleration is too conspicuous. The installation is rough. The guys are good. Sports. Buttered. Rocky's trying to copy. Hardy to death. But the blows fly by carelessly and do not look as dangerous as they try to portray. The sounds from them and the effect are naturally like a horse hoof. Every hit can be knocked out.
Cranberries. Not bypassed this trouble even such a children's, sports and entertainment film. The opponent of our brave American cotton men is a Russian hum and sadist. From the Soviet Union itself. And he plays it himself Jean-Claude Van Damme! A man whose authority makes this film noticeable and throws him 3-4 points from above. Minimum. But not for me. I didn’t like the painting in everything. And so only
Funny our officials – tried such a teenage movie to score a niche film about martial arts in Soviet cinemas and satisfy the hunger of local “film lovers” in relation to Bruce Lee.
The plot is a cross between the Beverly Hills series 90210 (adjusted for a lower level of cinema) and Hong Kong martial arts action films. The action takes place in Seattle (the city where Bruce Lee died), where the family of a karate coach moves. His school is taken over by scumbags whose bodyguard has a Soviet guy in "performance" Van Damma, and the man is forced to leave school and go to bartenders. His son is so delusional about oriental martial arts that he really appears and teaches the basics of the Chinese fight and the philosophy of some Li Taige (who could it be?), and the guy eventually deals with the problems of his father (at the same time teaches him his life) and with love and with overheated crime.
Such a naive, of course, was designed for a young audience, which was no longer satisfied with all sorts of Mary Poppins and Buratina. It hardly worked on American viewers, but a non-pampered Soviet child went to this thrash in almost crowds. The paradox is that they were more worried about the Russian villain - both because of the Russian and because Van Damme (his later masterpieces were already going through video salons). Now you look at it with nostalgia and irony, but no more.
Jean-Claude Van Damme is a hero of the Pepsi generation, as well as for many boys and girls of that time. Before becoming interested in karate, he studied for several years in ballet school and pulled a meniscus, which, however, changed to a gym and martial arts classes, in which he eventually found himself. The owner of several championship titles and the owner of several types of martial arts Van Damme has gained great demand for himself in the entertainment industry (cinema is considered entertainment), and although this film is not a fully milestone in his film career, nevertheless, having established himself as a new cool guy in excellent physical characteristics and able to fight well, he gains real fame after his next film Blood Sport, which is based on real facts of Frank Dukes - the character played by the LCVD.
In the film “Never Retreat and Never Give Up”, the story revolves around the Stillwell family, namely Tom’s father and son Jason. His father teaches karate lessons in a rented building in Los Angeles, and his son is a fan and admirer of Bruce Lee. One evening, people with dubious intentions and conversations come to the hall, wanting to win over Father Jason. However, he refuses to accept their offer, after which the bandits brutally deal with them first, and then the son who intervened for him. These events force them to move to search for a new life in Seattle, where, by the way, the grave of Sensei Bruce Lee himself is located, but Jason already forges the attention of detractors there. At first, the fat man resents his excessive love for martial arts, then the guys from the local sports school begin to mock him, but not intentionally.
Having quarreled with his father, lost all hope and finally oppressed Jason goes late at night to the grave of the late Bruce with a request that something give him the strength to overcome the adversity and troubles that have ruined him. After finding an abandoned house and leaving his father with his equipment, the suffering Jason finally finds salvation. The downtrodden spirit of the great master begins to train and instruct the bad boy, and helps to reveal inner strength and concentration in him. Parallel events will bring the father and son again with a restless gang who want to take everything into their own hands and defeat everyone who says no. If so, consider yourself unlucky.
Who's Van Damme playing here? And he appears in the face of one of the bandits, however, unlike all of them he is Russian! Yes, imagine, and his name is Ivan Krashinsky, from the word "crush" probably. The whole company of fraudsters consists of American citizens, and Van Damme among them is Russian with a slightly pretentious and goaty expression. Recalling the Bruce Lee film The Way of the Dragon, in which a local (Hong Kong) Crimean group called upon a martial artist from America, such as Chuck Norris, to help, I will allow myself to make a small contrast, namely: If we compare two situations, the first of which put a Russian man in America, in which he will be close to the local dirty gang; or the second, in which we already send an American to China, it does not matter who he is in principle (despite the fact that in that film he is also a martial artist who was taken to contribute), then the Russian relationship in America would look much more caricatured than the American in China. Americans do not like us, so in their films we often appear as directly or indirectly threatening global security.
Going back to the foundation of the film, the main essence of which is to overcome oneself, one’s purity, incoherence, and further movement towards the mental destruction of these evils, “Do not retreat and do not give up” demonstrates that such destruction is possible if it is properly tackled. True, to come to this, you will probably have to go through multiple cruel trials, which still will not be able to prevail over reason and will become the beginning of a completely different life. Well, the ending of the film, demonstrating that even the arrogant Russian fighter can be defeated if the honor and importance in it will take their toll.
Over the past 20-30 years, cinema has changed a lot. Films became technically better, but mentally weaker, the concept of “hit” was replaced by “blockbusters”, “superfighters” were replaced by babahs and booms built entirely on visual effects with total destruction of the earth at the hands of the superhero elite and other representatives of modern films.
That is why this film directed by Corey Yuen is a full-fledged old-school action movie in the heyday of the genre. When the audience willingly went to the next film with oriental martial arts and dashing fights. Unless, if today you can remember a huge number of more worthy paintings in the genre with the participation of such legends of the genre as Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steven Seagal and many others, then this film directed by Corey Yuen is a full-fledged action movie for children.
Insanely naive, naive, raw and quite primitive. Not only in terms of staging with an abundance of really superfluous moments, but also with a rather primitive plot, even by the standards of the genre, which, although exploits a rather important moral message to the viewer, but still looks extremely superficial in the context of the whole story. Only pushing the young upstart and another “threat of the Soviet Union” with his foreheads, which literally personifies all the hardness that the Americans invented about the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Kurt McKinney looks very normal in the image of the main character, but sincerely believe in the incredible abilities and certainly the power of the main character is simply not possible. Especially at the time of not so impressive physical form of a young man. The film to a greater extent bribes not only the opportunity to see the first work of the actor Jean-Claude Van Dam before he gained great popularity and recognition, but also a unique opportunity to see for the first time Van Dam in the image of a defeated and trampled in front of the audience fighter. The actor has never performed in his career and always made a victorious breakthrough even after horrific massacres. Moreover, there is no drama in his image and Van Dam only reflected his amazing abilities regarding martial arts and luxurious physical form. He has always been strong enough.
4 out of 10
Not to retreat and not to give up - this is quite an ordinary representative of the old-school militant of the second half of the last century. Not as exemplary as more famous paintings with the participation of other stars, but quite suitable for viewing due to the scenes of oriental martial arts and nostalgic references to bygone time. Nevertheless, without reducing the resentment about the very “childish” content and primitive plot.
A pathetic American teenager Jason, obsessed with karate and dreaming of being like Bruce Lee (and does he know that Lee was a master of kung fu?), is forced to move to a new city where he faces typical problems: his father does not understand, the girl does not catch up, his friend is maimed by hooligans (one of the strangest scenes of bullies in the history of cinema), and he himself seems to have hit his head and appeared to him the second-rate spirit of the “Great Dragon” Bruce Lee, who taught him the skill of self-control. And even at the end, to finally test the strength of Jason's spirit, tourers from the terrible and dark Soviet Russia, led by Vanya Damm himself, came to the city, deciding to sketch the good old Slavic lulas to local fans of martial arts. The wrong ones were attacked.
It’s such a bad movie that it’s fun to watch. It is strange how such consumer goods reached the domestic rental, being released in 1991 already through the studio “Mosfilm”. After all, in the US, the film was waiting for a deafening rolling failure, which did not prevent the appearance of two more sequels. But in Russia, everything is not like people, and this film, even before it hit the big screens of cinemas of the country, has already become a cult in the territory of victorious socialism through the “pirate” video market. And this gesture of film distributors only strengthened the status of the film, which, to put it mildly, should have been forgotten a couple of months after its premiere.
Have you ever seen Jean-Claude Van Damme as a defeated athlete trampled on in front of a crowd? If not, then the film “Do not retreat and do not give up” is a must see. And not just for that reason. For the famous Belgian hooligan, this role, which became the second in his film career, was not a star, rather, even a passing one.
The plot of the film is quite simple. A young guy, training with his father-athlete, witnessed a very unpleasant scene when unknown people entered the hall right during training and began to threaten his father, after which one disgruntled child in the face of Van Damme (and even “Russian” in addition) mercilessly mutilates him. As it should be, the main character is eager to defend the honor of the family, but the forces are clearly not equal. In addition, everything in his personal life is not smooth either. And what kind of revenge can we talk about if even an ordinary boyfriend of his Beatrice can beat him up? And then there are otherworldly forces involved.
In general, it makes no sense to list all the nuances, but it is worth seeing at least once. Where else can you see the spirit of Bruce Lee? Well, the film itself turned out quite worthy. Especially as a motivator to change your life for the better.
I also add that among all the Hollywood action films of the 80s, this film stands alone. He is above many other films in his journalism, so for me it was a pleasant discovery 15 years ago, when I was still a student. I recommend watching this film for all viewers, even those who do not like action movies. You will not be disappointed!
Single-celled, unobstructed by the presence of such distracting things as a deep script, characteristically prescribed characters and a grandiose acting movie about a prickly boy who has everything bad (the father is pressed by local mafiosi and Jean-Claude Van Damme, which is scary in itself, and also a beloved girl meets a guy whose muscle size is inversely proportional to the size of the brain), but he causes the spirit of Bruce Lee to help, and he teaches the guy karate, for nothing that Bruce actually taught jit kun-do. Of course, the guy will kick the necks and bullies, and the mafia, and even Van Damme himself, who walks here under the name of Ivan Krizhensky and portrays, as you can guess, a Russian.
It's definitely a B-movie. The most that neither is a beshka, in which you can look at exactly two things: at fights and at Jean Claude. Yes, already in the early nineties began to say that the Belgian muscle is much better fighting than playing. But in this film, the reason for its success is clear. He's cool here. Unbelievable. He yells from the ring, "I'm the best!" I'm the best! - and swings his limbs coolly. That is why the Belgian in cinema became much more popular than Kurt McKinney who played the main positive role. No matter what emotions Jean Claude tries to portray there, he is really cool.
The same cannot be said of the others. The actors overplay so that involuntarily you think about the nomination of the Belgian for the Oscar. Everything that is between the fights, Jean Claude and training with the spirit of Bruce Lee can safely rewind – such a naive attempt to make a drama I have never seen, and most likely will not see (and again thanks desperately overplaying actors).
However, with a calm heart, I can recommend this film to watch - if only because of the good kulbits that the fighters make. Fans of Van Damme and the militants of the 80s will definitely like it.
In the end, for some reason, I always want Jean-Claude to win.
5 out of 10