Fists of Iron Reviews

Despite ancient revenge scenarios, a dip into the KARATE KID pool, and an artificially whipped-up climax, FISTS OF IRON marshals enough energy on all fronts to make everything old look new again. Mechanic/engineer Dale Hartwell (Michael Worth) is a dabbler in martial arts, but practices his skills only on bullying customers who refuse to pay. Boisterous buddy Matt (Nick Hill) takes him to a party at the mansion of fight promoter Gallagher (Marshall Teague). Irritated at Matt's flirting with his kept lady Julie (Jenilee Harrison), Gallagher cues monstrous fighter Bragg (Matthias Hues) to teach Matt a lesson after he accepts a $2000 dare to last three rounds. Matt wins the bet but dies of injuries inflicted by Bragg. Dale issues a revenge challenge, but fails to get past Gallagher's lesser fighters. Dale persuades trainer Tyler Green (Sam Jones) and ex-champ Daniel Lee (Eric Lee) to prep him for a fight with Bragg. Since Gallagher was responsible for an accident that crippled Lee, they have a personal stake in helping Dale win. With the help of donations from patrons of his favorite watering hole, Dale raises the $25,000 entry fee, beats Bragg, and achieves the twin satisfaction of winning Julie away from Gallagher and costing him a fortune in betting losses by his upset victory. This testosterone-pumper stands above the direct-to-video assembly line for several reasons. The screenplay shades the hero's character with personal dimensions (Dale's a hot-tempered divorced man who pointedly sets low goals for himself), and Worth has the acting smarts to make his character's shortcomings sympathetic. In addition to his James Dean-ish charisma, Worth is a supple kickboxer whom the camera clearly loves. Explosively staged for the screen, the martial arts choreography showcases Worth as if he were a dancing star strutting his stuff to a specialty number in an old musical. What separates FISTS OF IRON from standard violence-baths is that Worth's boxing mission is not just a pay-back but an avenue for his maturity and commitment to others. And it's undeniably fun to see this compact hero dismantle a villain who seems to be a progeny of Hulk Hogan and Bigfoot. (Graphic violence, extensive nudity, extreme profanity.)