SHOWDOWN IN LITTLE TOKYO is primarily known as one of the few films to star Brandon Lee before he was killed while making the first CROW film. It’s a burden the film really shouldn’t be carrying because the gloom of Lee’s death colors the film for no good reason other than our minds work like that.
Is it a great film? Probably not. The film is a
typical police buddy film with Lee teaming up with Dolph Lundgren, the "star"of the film, to take some bad guys down. It’s
an entertaining popcorn film on it’s own terms. Is it the greatest thing since
sliced bread? Absolutely not but it it’s a breezy film that entertains in it’s 78
minutes. It does what it does and gets off. I saw it when it came out in
theaters and I’ve seen it numerous times since then and I’ve enjoyed it every
time since then.
What I like about the film is that show cases Brandon Lee. He gets to do more than be a brooding messenger of death. Yes he did some films before this (mostly low budget action films with little for him to do) and Rapid Fire after (where he was more a standard action Hero), and two Kung Fu TV movies (which were meh) but SHOWDOWN allowed him to play off a real star (Lungren) and not just be “the hero”. He is a name actor, but he isn’t really the star so he gets to play more than just a tough guy.
Do I know what would have
happened if Lee hadn’t died? No. I don’t think he ever had a role that really
showed us what he was capable of. He definitely would have been an action star
but who knows beyond that, even if SHOWDOWN indicates there was a possibility
of something, like comedy.
I like the film. For
me, it is a perfect excuse to sit in theater and munch popcorn with like minded
people.
Recommended
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