Rating: Summary: The Greatest Martial Arts Film Ever Review: While Bruce Lee is my all time favorite star in the genre, Sonny Chiba plays the greatest character in the all-time greatest martial arts film. Of course, like any other kung-fu (or rather karate in this case) movie from the '70's, Street Fighter is chalk full of cheesing english dubbing, over the top combat sequences, and the sporting of goofy faces by the hero of the film. However, Sonny Chiba doesn't play the typical role of the idealistic, "for-defense-only", karate hero. He is more like an anti-Bruce Lee. He's in it for the money. Nothing more. He is actually an unloyal, arrogant, and overall unwholesome individual. But that is what makes him so different and likeable. He's on par with the charachters Clint Eastwood plays in the old spaghetti westerns. The sound track even sports a title track that sounds like a combo of Shaft and the theme from the Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Complete with a hand castration, over the top gore, and lots of great fighting, you won't be dissapointed with this amazing film. The DVD sports a few special features, but I was dissapointed that most of them have nothing to do with the film. There's even a Warner Bros. cartoon thrown on it. BOTTOM LINE: If you like martial arts films, or any of Sonny Chiba's other classics, Street Fighter is a must have. Highly reccomended.
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