Best of the Best (1989) - Comedic Movie Review

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Today on Redeye Reviews we are watching Best of the Best, the karate tournament movie that somehow got James Earl Jones to star in it.
Starring: Eric Roberts, Phillip Rhee, James Earl Jones, Sally Kirkland, Chris Penn, John Dye, David Agresta, Tom Everett, Louise Fletcher, Simon Rhee,
Director: Robert Radler,
Writer: Phillip Rhee, Paul Levine, Max Strom,
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[@kylereece1979]

I saw this film when I was 12, in late '91. And, I still love it. I think the Tommy Lee/Dae Han fight is fantastic. Brilliantly captured, and I remember totally being engrossed into it. Tommys back story, his connections to Dae Han, all hitting home as powerful as the kicks themselves. I still think that the bittersweet ending makes it stands out from the other movies of its kind at the time. And - the soundrack is genuinelly amazing. The music that underscores the slo-mo dramatic scenes at the end, and the final scene itself is up there in my all time fave movie scores, I love it.

[@linos1085]

The fight between Han and Tommy really is good, because both of them know how to fight. Really good Teakwondo action there

[@ReinEngel]

Preach on. This was the logical step up from Karate Kid. I watched it on a little 13" TV in my bedroom while sitting on the edge of the bed. Somehow I still remember that.

[@AdamHoooot]

Wait, this movie is like Top Gun for Karate.

[@thedtvdigest4142]

The whole end tournament scene is awesome, and the ending makes this one of the handful of legit films it is perfectly okay for manly men to shed manly tears over.

[@oldcdog91]

Okay, I love this movie and I’ll say it, the ending makes me tear up every damn time 😂 No shame

[@Bill-vi1vp]

James Earl Jones was the first person to be cast in this movie. Phillip Rhee said he knew everyone else would fall into place once they found out he would be in the movie. Check out the Scott Adkins interview with Phillip Rhee!

[@lfroncek]

I haven't seen the others in the series but I'm going to guess that this is the best of the best of them...

[@RedEyeReviews]

haha without a doubt it has to go downhill pretty quickly

[@marknelson4856]

Ha!

[@elvikingotrh831]

Number 2 is good and its a sequel. But 3 and 4 suck.

[@Dan-cp2nh]

They did go downhill. Aside from Dae Han being in part.. 2? Not worth it.

[@paul-michaelvincent7123]

It is indeed the best of the best of the best.

[@greglr19751]

My friends and I loved this movie. We were on the junior Olympic team for TKD and we felt it was made for us.

[@stoutoutandaboutwithanorwe300]

At the pitch meeting: “Think the Rocky movies…but instead of Russians…it’s Aaaaaaaaaasians” I don’t know why, but I had Rich Evans voice in my head when I imagined the pitch meeting. Regardless, this movie is just every cliche from the eighties in a concentrated firm; Rocky, Karate Kid, and Gung Ho. And a big thumbs up for using the Wayne’s World clip in Eric Roberts “Oscar” clip!! That was hilarious! And I know others have suggest it, but No Retreat, No Surrender is another good 80s martial art film to review.

[@RedEyeReviews]

Haha it really is like 4 movies put in a blender. I ALWAYS think of Waynes World when I see those types of scenes lol. It was such a self aware masterpiece. Done! No Retreat, No Surrender will be on the short list of movies to do next friend. Thanks again for your support of the channel :)

[@unstoppableExodia]

100% agree that no retreat no surrender should be looked at. It’s another over the top, heavily derivative martial arts underdog epics that had a memorable first installment with an iconic song on the soundtrack that had a bunch of straight to video sequels that are connected in name only to the first movie. Oh and during the training montage there’s one particularly head scratching moment that throws off the otherwise badass training sequence. It will have you asking yourself “why? WHY ??? Why did they think that was a good idea?” You’ll definitely be able to mine some laughs from it, the jokes pretty much write themselves.

[@ericw48]

I believe that Chris Penn's punchability on display is a result of his resemblance to Jonah Hill.

[@RedEyeReviews]

Lol that might be a solid reason.

[@dominicraynes1569]

This movie was awesome. I watched this and the 2nd one at least 100 times when I was a kid

[@robertyates6362]

When Travis leaves the ring kicking the chair, I always thought it was one of the other fighters yelling hi-ya..but after watching your review, I think you are correct... which now makes that scene frickin hilarious!

[@applied.precision]

"His little Tiny Tim crutch." Had me dead.

[@musicalcompanion5890]

i love this movie so much saw it on vhs back in the day. A reboot tv series could really flesh out the characters. The final act really sold it for me, Grady didn't "Rambo up" after the shoulder dislocation, Tommy didnt kill Kill Dae Hahn and they still lost.

[@dizzy1369]

It would get ruined by todays writers

[@djmocha7]

-You killed my brother. -No. *I* am your brother..

[@emilaubry6856]

I really loved this movie. I remember this was one of the most powerful and moving movies when I watched it growing up. The setup from the tournament fights to the ending was so perfectly done. The last scenes will be forever seared onto my memory.

[@jeraldmcclainofficial6005]

I've seen all of the "Best of the Best" movies and none of the sequels can touch the 1989 original. Even though the final fight scene between the Rhee Brothers was beautifully choreographed, the best part was the acting.

[@RedEyeReviews]

I am really excited to see the sequels but for REAL the fight between the Rhee Brothers is genuinely awesome.

[@jeraldmcclainofficial6005]

@@RedEyeReviews It really doesn't get any better than Tommy Lee vs. Dae Han but if you're a hard core action fan, you'll LOVE "Best of the Best 2" (1992) but be forewarned, those movies jump the shark on part 3&4...

[@RedEyeReviews]

@@jeraldmcclainofficial6005 oh I can't wait for the 2nd one. And Jumping the Shark is the theme of half my channel anyways haha. So I'm sure they will fit right in.

[@Cletus_the_Elder]

It's no coincidence that James Earl Jones is in this flick. It's Field of Dreams for Koreans. They cry at the end, the way American men cry when Ray asks his dad if he would like to throw a few.

[@lfroncek]

Eric Roberts as a non-villain just doesn't work for me.

[@RedEyeReviews]

I could only imagine him being dropped from a building by Batman this entire movie lol

[@_scyas_1827]

@@RedEyeReviews XD

[@judyhopps9380]

as an anti hero type, I recommend Runaway Train. Not as a cliche movie, but a really good one.

[@mineduck3050]

This movie simply hits all checkmarks. It's like soft but still chilled butter.

[@clockztickin]

That brother bit was the best lmfao

[@RedEyeReviews]

lol thank you :)

[@dirtyguava8209]

Loving the hell outta this channel! Bringing back all my good old favorites! If the channel owner was born after the nineties then I have the utmost respectt for him for showing such fondness for a genre that I grew up with.

[@RedEyeReviews]

So glad you like it! I was born early 90s. So some of these I am watching for the first time still :)

[@dirtyguava8209]

@@RedEyeReviews That’s awesome bud! Keep up the excellent work! Subbed!

[@kristinflannery9316]

Exceptional review!!!!! So entertaining. 🤩 Not to mention the beach running scene looks an awful lot like Chariots of Fire…with socks! 😂

[@RedEyeReviews]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it :) Haha you made me look up that Chariots of Fire scene, and I will say the similarity is uncanny, Great catch!

[@ipleedafif8033]

It's a tear jerker. You have to be prepared with a box of tissue for Eric Roberts. The tissues aren't for you it's for Roberts. 😭

[@brianmoatlhodi8444]

💀💀💀

[@drummersetsfire]

This was my favorite movie for all of about 3 weeks when i was a kid, and i had since completely forgotten it existed. Thank god for KZbinrs exploiting our natural tendencies toward nostalgia. =) Seriously, tho, pls continue.

[@patrickdoherty4527]

Some of my best childhood memories are of watching movies like this, Double Impact, A.W.O.L etc. They're not objectively great movies like Mad Max II or Robocop but still so fun to watch. Great review BTW!

[@dcarson89]

Double impact is a savage film, might be my favorite ever

[@user-yf1fu8px3o]

I haven't laughed so much in a long time !!! Thank you so much !!! This movie came out when I was in high school so I have a lot of good memories. Thanks again Simon from Greece.

[@RedEyeReviews]

I'm so glad! I love when movies bring back some nostalgia

[@420gaiden]

I just stumbled on your channel. Looking for reviews of movies. I have been binge watching ever since. I can’t quite put my finger on it. But I think your show or voice maybe makes it easy on the ears. Very calming. And funny. Thank you for the entertaining show. Love the reviews. Seen most of the movies you show on here so it’s nice to here which ones you do like or don’t.

[@RedEyeReviews]

I'm so glad you like it! Hope you continue to enjoy the channel

[@joshuafrohm921]

Just found your channel and I love your reviews especially the Seagall movies. Great production and super funny content. Keep up the great work. Yeah I don't know why crash penn bothers me but I feel it too lol.

[@RedEyeReviews]

Thank you so much! Yeah I just don't like him lol. I'm sure he was a nice guy but I can't do it.

[@kylereece1979]

The Bar Brawl in this movie too, is one of the best boozy bust ups on camera! Everything kicks off to Golden Earring's "The devil made me do It", and its so entertaining. I love at 6:00, the hilarious kick to the face the random barstooled guy gets. I think later in the fight, he gets pool table light swung into his face. Its fantastic. But, THAT ending. Had this been a typical film by say, Van Damme (like Kickboxer, also great), Tommy Lee would have gotten his vengeance, validation via a violent victory. Alas again, Dae Han in tears, reflecting his remorse and guilt regarding Tommy's loss. Its so unexpected, and the music is phenomenal. Oh yeah, Eric Robert's whining and dinings aint gonna give the Oscars a lookin,😂😂😀😀 but the whole movie in general is a superb nostalgia treat for me. I love watching it every now an' again with my brother, thinkin back to watchin it at the time.

[@RedEyeReviews]

Oh yeah I agree. This movie was such a blast to watch. My first time watching it was to make this video. And it was such a different and fun movie. The ending was actually pretty great, but the shoulder dislocation scene was rather hilarious to me and took me out of the moment just a bit lol. But the rest is awesome

[@gobo6175]

The main 'villan' from the bar fight is kane hodder aka Jason voorhees

[@OU_Welcome]

I think South Park made fun of the scene: "Because I'm scared, alright!!" in the episode: "The Losing Edge" S09

[@chamchamtrigger]

I remember the "Pop it Tommy!" line being my younger brother's favorite line. When we'd playfight as kids, he'd act like he put me in that situation whenever he got a little hit on me.

[@Film_Bro]

James Earl Jones saying the word 'Laid' is all I needed in my life

[@kuveshgovender3115]

The fact that you call James Earl Jones Mufasa cracks me up 😂😂

[@THEHHOH76]

I love this series of reviews - hilarious watched so many times 😂😂😂

[@ianmann7953]

Not only a great film but an outstanding review! Love your humour. That's an instant sub from me 👍

[@RedEyeReviews]

Yeah! Im so glad you liked it

[@kizunadragon9]

Simon Rhee (Dae Han) and Philip Rhee (Tommy) are the sons of the late Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do grandmaster and member of the presidents council on physical fitness.

[@ChichKrav]

Dude, so glad I found this channel. If you haven’t done so yet, please look into Breathing Fire with Bolo Yeung, it also has the little kid from raiders of the lost arm and some c grade martial arts guys, so you know it’s awesome!

[@RedEyeReviews]

Me too! Of course I'll take a look

[@jackwells8107]

Getting anything dislocated (especially the first time) hurts L.F. However, if you want to see a totally awesome fight scene that deals with it, check out Jet Li vs. Japanese General from Fist of Legend - I think it might be one of the best fight scenes ever filmed.

[@Amanda_Harper]

Yup, I dislocate my shoulder a few times a year and it always hurts like fuck. But nothing compared to when my ankles go, shoulders suck, ankles put me on the couch for days, sometimes weeks.

[@shadowwarrior7218]

Ouch Amanda

[@jonsnipe5484]

No the raid 2 is best fight scene ever filmed

[@jackwells8107]

@@jonsnipe5484 You mean the kitchen fight? That one's great, too. The Raid: Redemption has a couple of great ones as well.

[@bdsoto]

Love the review of one of my favorites. As a young kid i was always upset how far Virgil put the team behind. Might have to queue up the dvd later. Will have to check out rest of your vids. Looks like we share similar likes

[@RedEyeReviews]

Thank you!

[@scottbones]

I love you dude. Thanks for all the laughs.

[@devinewynder5443]

I did martial arts growing up and fought in many point based tournaments so I used to watch this everyday. I even did the 3 kick combo Tommy does in this movie in a real tournament I was so hyped back then.

[@Anubis.6256]

Dude, you're killin' it....Subbed

[@RedEyeReviews]

Thank you!

[@douglascarter2078]

Give the Cannon movie "Runaway Train" a watch. More Eric Roberts fun. Probably the most competent Cannon film I've seen.

[@Flint-Dibble-the-Don]

That movie is awesome.

[@MichaelSpikes-pv6kl]

Excellent review

[@batman.darthmaul]

I took karate for about five years during my junior high/high school days. We had to do pushups on our knuckles similar to what they show here. We had to do them on our first two knuckles, though. They did them on the last four knuckles in the movie.

[@atdubya9576]

Movie in this era were both iconic and cheesy all at the same time! Tough balance to maintain; making you fee emotional where you’re supposed to and making you laugh where you’re not!👍🏽

[@fightflicks4823]

What a review! damn, i always loved this franchise. I described it as a "Martial arts version of Fast and the Furious" because this series was about a martial arts tournament then in the next sequels it turns into a random/mindless action movie lol :v . Philip rhee should have become a huge action star

[@RedEyeReviews]

Thank you so much! Oh I love Fast and Furious! So I am beyond excited to watch the rest of the series! And I totally agree! Phillip Rhee is AWESOME. Like a real legit martial artist. He could very easily have been a huge star, and should have been

[@ThingNoAware]

@@RedEyeReviews unlike the Fast and Furious I guess they forgot to put it in their contract that they can't lose a fight.

[@RedEyeReviews]

@@ThingNoAware mistakes were made haha

[@hermangaitan2759]

Mind blown! Never knew they were brothers!! Thanks for the info

[@Stormtrooper53]

In high school my sophomore year I was on the JV football team and we went 0-10. After the season was over our coach had us come to the field house on a Saturday and cooked burgers for us and we watched this movie and it was awesome. gawd DAMN I loved the 80s.

[@RedEyeReviews]

That's a great memory

[@face76]

I loved the series. It’s crazy the cast that was in this. Philip Rhee co-wrote this film and wrote the fourth BotB. He was always the main lead but the cast was big in this. Rhee is rebooting the series and will produce it.

[@feck2594]

This movie put in every fighting movie troupe in history and I loved it growing up . Maybe I should watch it now that I'm older but sure it will take a piece of my soul realizing how bad it was .

[@htiek30120]

Have you seen "No Retreat, No Surrender"? Another classic with Van Damme.

[@mikewheeler6031]

My new favorite channel

[@RedEyeReviews]

Thank you so much!

[@johnjamele]

I was working at a video rental store when this came out on 📼. I don't think anyone rented it, but we watched it on the monitor a few times.

[@devriestown]

The cowboy was absolutely hilarious HONESTLY. When he was shadow boxing in front of the mirror LOLOLOL FUCKKKKKKK I was laughing so hard i pissd a little 🤣😬🤔😂

[@brothadarrell8315]

There's always a guy like Penn's character in every karate dojo in America...especially from the 60s to the 90s. The 60s tournaments were tough but full of respect...but at the dojo in the 60s people got hurt more than you can imagine. No safety gear along with very good fighters that haven't fully learned control yet. People like Penn's character in the 60s easily got their asses kicked as much as they showed up for more trying to put others in the hospital and succeed in doing it. Zero safety gear. I personally know a man that's a 10th degree blackbelt and started in the early 60s. He was in the military and after getting his blackbelt he was stationed in Japan. So, being like Penn, he found Gogan Yamaguchi's dojo asking to "see" him. They said he wasn't there. So he decided to take on every blackbelt in there and had no problem piling them up. Much of it he said was their size being smaller people in Japan. Yamaguchi called my friends sensai and said "Don't ever let that man come back here again!"

[@ElectrikNYCfunK]

this was hilarious lol, glad i came across this channel

[@RedEyeReviews]

Thanks friend

[@cathr5385]

As the 'benefactor' of one biological older brother and four boys my mom and dad pretty much raised I saw EVERY major action movie between 1989-1995, Best of the Best among them and their absurdity becoming deeply ingrained into my own burgeoning sense of humor. This review is great!! I really enjoyed it. I also said that the thing I took away from these movies was an attraction to Asian men, a love of good bad flicks, and a love of Bruce Campbell. Ah, childhood. 🤣 It also made me feel better that I'm not the only one who wants to kick Miss Love-Interest-Du Jour--in the you know what and slap Chris Penn (RIP).

[@whozyourdaddy]

Kun-grad-you-lay-shuns, you made another great video!

[@sarty23]

Great channel!

[@RedEyeReviews]

Thanks friend!

[@BostonRobb]

Have you done a review for “Only the Strong” - I used to love that flick back when it came out. The soundtrack is brilliant and it’s typical 90s “bad HS flick” w Capoiera Brazilian martial arts. I was gonna do something on my channel w that movie - but wud love to see ur review too!!!

[@michaelweston2285]

here's the deal: the first time you dislocate a joint, it hurts BIG TIME. but each time after that, it get easier and easier and les and less painful and sometimes dislocates with minimal effort.

[@RedEyeReviews]

I can believe that

[@secretingredientschannel1452]

The dislocating shouler leg joke was epic. I had 13 surgeries on left shoulder including 3 replacement. The lethal weapon version is closer to reality.

[@tomrodgers6629]

This is one of my favorite movies. I still use songs from the soundtrack as training music. My humble opinion this is a true martial arts movie.

[@slotmaster5077]

"POP IT ! POP IT TOMMY !" is a movie line on par with Casablanca's " Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life. " for me 😂😂😂

[@barttcounts8456]

10yr old Me loved this damn movie... it was during the Bloodsport Era... I forgot about it... thanks for reminding me how great my taste in Film was.

[@josebaez5967]

Bro I decided to check out your other material besides Steven segal ,which is great and I’m glad I did. 😃

[@RedEyeReviews]

Aww thank you! So glad you like it

[@kkmartialarts]

two of my former teachers were in this. Philp Rhee, with whom I trained in '93, and Hee Il Cho with whom I received my 2nd and 3rd Dan black belts

[@Eff_One]

One of my all-time fave cheesy 80's karate flicks that I loved as a kid. Good review, though that points out a lot of the said cheesiness.

[@teejay818]

I have forced at least six people to watch this movie when I found out they hadn’t seen it yet. A few are exes…. Anyways love this film! Eric Roberts trying to act is worth the price of admission. POP IT TOMMY!!!

[@greagen]

The shoulder scene 16:32 is hilarious i remember laughing when i was a kid back then 😂😂

[@puertoricanboy100]

In GTA San Andreas I learned from Samuel L Jackson that cops are a forced not be mess with because they can be hella' dangerous. But I also learned from Sean Penn in GTA that cops can have a punch able polygon face

[@tituspaar]

Ohhh man havent seen this since I was like 10. Saw it like 20 times back then. Strange cast for a karate movie

[@tutipuntti4575]

you're the best around... oh sorry wrong movie :) Nice video this is a classic from childhood

[@wimvanderstraeten6521]

John P. Ryan was also in Class of 1999, a movie you should definitely put on your list.

[@RedEyeReviews]

Done and done.

[@thedtvdigest4142]

oh God yes...there's an android who looks like Mike Pence going crazy delivering a spanking. Its a must-see.

[@PlanetMoktar13]

I used to watch this movie over and over just to watch Eric Roberts cry. Hilarious.

[@russellward4624]

The dislocated shoulder scene is so epic.

[@darthpanic4007]

I can remember watching this as a kid, and thinking the same thing in the final match. He could have just pushed him over or swept his legs.

[@RedEyeReviews]

Right?! It was so dramatic

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Crane kick his ass!

[@j_vasey]

I loved this movie when I saw it as a kid got it from my local video rental shop, I would have been about 11 or 12 at the time. Started to go off these kinds of movies over the following few years. So I think was the last of the genre I really liked. It’s a shame Chris Penn passed away so young, he was in reservoir dogs not so long after this. It’s amazing how terrible they were in hindsight though.

[@ryoken99]

say what you will but Eric Robert's hair in this movie was amazing.

[@SwampDonkey1020]

You should review the 1985 masterpiece Gymkata next. "A new kind of martial arts combat! The skill of gymnastics. The kill of karate." How do you say no to that tagline? 🤔 🤣

[@RedEyeReviews]

It's been requested a ton! So for sure it's coming soon

[@sadetwizelve]

16:25 my ex and her sisters walked in on me watching this part lol

[@laszloeszik5033]

Gee I actually remember seeing this movie on VHS back in the days, what a movie. I do pushups the korean style, minus the stone bridge and hit by a stick, those just seems to be extreme.

[@MyPalJimbo]

There is a Best of the Best video game as well that came out in 1992! I can't see any reference to the film on it's Wikipedia page, so I'm not sure if they actually had any kind of permission or connection to whoever made this film, but it's definitely based on the film anyway. Apparently it's a very technically sound martial arts game for it's time as well. Pretty neato

[@za.307]

Totally agree, Virgil AKA 'Buddhist Guy' deserves no medal. After all the training,including running in socks on the water, his fight was a let down.

[@fuzz7981]

This is a very well regarded film among martial arts movie renaissance connoisseurs of the late 80’s/early 90’s. Always bothered me that it is clearly predominantly Taelwondo competitors. I guess they thought people only knew what Karate was back then and were too stupid to know anything different.

[@archangeljmj6008]

This movie is fucking awesome. If you don't cry at the end you're a robot

[@kyleolson8977]

Academy Award Winners in cast: 2 Other Academy Award Nominees: 2 Other Golden Globe Winners: 1 Other Emmy Winners: 1 It is the Best of the Best.

[@arnold8746]

The saddest part is that they didn't even put ice cream in the cone, just on top. He got ripped off.

[@haramhustler]

Best of the best 2 was one of my go to movies as a kid

[@jasonpalacios2705]

This was my favorite movie when I was a kid.

[@princesssolace4337]

I would love to hear your take on these movies like when u r 15 or 17 when u first watch them. An honest innocent funny review

[@rolfstuh]

I had in a icehockey game someone who dislocated his shoulder after he run into the boards behind my goal. You cannot imagine his high pitched screams. Dislocating by your self is one thing (if you cab do it it doesnt hurt) But getting your shoulder in a forcefull dislocated its hurts realy bad. The other plyer needed help to get up because of the pain

[@OLDCROW86]

Had a few TKD instructors take part in this film and the sequels. Back then the TKD community was HEAVY in these type of home grown pop up Martial art flix.

[@MrMegamike2k]

Why in the heck did they not have alternates. When Alex and Tommy quit did one of the other guys think, "Maaaaan, now I have to fight Han Cho AND Dae Han?!? Dang it...."

[@SargeScum]

That guy who looked confused when awarded with the win.

[@herbthompson8937]

Loved this movie as a child!!!

[@brianlagrant9757]

It's cheesy but God help me I love this movie.

[@anubis8181]

Another gem from the 80s was No Retreat No Surrender.

[@anubis8181]

Holy shit just seen you already covered it. Fuck yeah.

[@ZeroBudgetProductions]

One of the best martial arts movies ever!

[@richardmahon2060]

Man I don't know if I should subscribe or not?, On one hand this review does exactly what it says on the tin and gives a "comedic review" About the film, on the other it seems like it's being overly mean (not sure how else to say it) about the film, did he actually like it or not? For my part I loved it, yes it has loads of cheesy 80's clichés but that's what makes it great just like a lot of others from that time.