Kickboxer 2: The Road Back (1991)

Touches You

Expected more

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

KICKBOXER is one of my favourite Van Damme movies. It has many classic moments, from the heightened revenge plot, to those classic, tortuous training sequences to the outstanding ending, one of the best-filmed fights of all time. It's a classic feel good movie. This sequel is none of those things and is in most respects an awful film. Van Damme passed on the chance to reprise his role, so we're saddled with the spurious 'missing brother' claim and the resultant film must be one of the most pointless ever made.In essence, Tong Po didn't die at the end of the first film. He's back and seeking revenge, along with some loyalist Thais (a nation cast as the bad guys here, somewhat unusually). Mitchell, playing Van Damme's brother, ends up fighting Tong Po in a severe re-match, but before then there's lots of boring stuff about 'doing what's right', following one's path and all that nonsense. The first hour of the film is boring and the action sequences are few and far between; even they are mishandled. In one ring match, we watch as Mitchell beats the hell out of his opponent, with slow-motion blood sprays and the like; he's portrayed as a sadistic bully-boy, and this is the guy we're supposed to root for! Mitchell reaches a new low for an action hero in a genre already populated by guys cast for their brawn rather than brains.Much of the blame for this film's failure must rest at the door of Albert Pyun, who really is one of the poorest directors in modern cinema. Absolutely all of the films I've seen that he's directed have been bad: I'm thinking CYBORG, TICKER, OMEGA DOOM, DOLLMAN, along with many others. In none of those films has the direction been good. Here, he shows himself to have no idea of pace or how to handle a decent fight scene, often shooting on the other side of the ropes in the ring battles! Sure, the blood and gore quotient is upped from the first movie, but it goes to show that that alone doesn't make a decent film.In one, single respect does KICKBOXER 2 surpass the original, and that's in the casting. This film has an excellent cast. It's a shame they're not put to better use. The likes of Peter Boyle are here, along with Dennis Chan reprising his role from the first, even though he's utterly wasted. There's an early turn for Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as a stock bad guy, and man-mountain Matthias Hues pops up for a match. Michel Qissi also returns as the villainous Tong Po, but even though he looks the same he has none of the power or impact that his character had in the original; that goes to show how Pyun's direction sucks. In the end, this film is a wasted opportunity and time would be better spent watching the first film again rather than sitting through this mess.

SPOILER ALERT...I love this sequel, it did a good job by having Tong Po become even more sadistic by going as far as to murdering the three original characters to prove his dominance. There's so much stuff happening with this new character that you actually feel bad for him. The only bad thing about this film was how they took the slow motion effect too early when the friend was about to fight Tong Po. I thought the only time they should of used it was when Tong knocked out the ref before killing him. I like how they took away Jean Claude because his fights were pathetic. I mean come on he does the same old kicks I mean I don't think Tong would of fell for it the first couple of times. Also where did Jean get the endurance to come back and beat Tong yet Tong was beating him badly? Overall this sequel is WAY better it just needed to wait for the right time to slow motion. It's a 7 out of 10

You...and the whole world, need to see this movie. Truly an inspiring work of art, I was blessed to have stumbled upon this gem at an early age. Little did I know this masterpiece would shape my entire mindset; from living a life based on attaining peace of mind to...what am I saying, you just need to watch this. Best 90 minutes of your life. If you are reading this, then there is a reason for you reading this. What can I say, this is an old flick, low budget, bad reviews, but just give it a chance. You won't be disappointed. Kickboxer 2: The Road Back...You will only move forward by watching this movie. Life changing indeed. PS...I've willingly watched this movie over 100 times, including right now. Brings back old memories, reminds me of incredible life lessons, and opens up my lungs to new found smooth breaths. I can't thank this movie enough. It is my dream that the love that I have and benefit I received from this movie can touch another soul. What are you waiting for, watch it for free online. You owe it to your future self. He will thank you for it. Guaranteed.

When a viewer comes upon a random title, such as "Kickboxer 2: The Road Back," one would think that the movie would stink because only retarded young men would stay up late and watch movies like this every Friday night, right?Actually, you're wrong.This movie defines the true American hero. Move over, Rambo! Move over, Terminator! Move over, Jackie Chan!!!!! The Kickboxer is here to put those bad thugs in the trash - where they belong!!!!! Being a series of action movies which had its start back in the 1980s, it has what these movies usually have - retro exciting music, body slams, blows in the face, pounds to the stomach, showing what being an American can really be - everything like this makes this sequel to the first "Kickboxer" terrific!While I thought of this movie as genius, many people did not, unfortunately.10/10