I worked on the film as a stuntman for 1 month. It was funny and very interesting to work with jun Chong, Kim Kahana and Jason Hwang . I where in Los Angeles for 3 month and was training on Kim Kahanas stunt school when i got the chance to work on the film. I learned a lot about filmmaking stunts and special Fx. I now work in Denmark as a stuntman and special Fx and i been doing that for about 20 years and i love my work its so exciting to work in the movie business, playing around blowing things up, jumping, crashing, fighting, breaking things up and so on. It was a low budget movie but i think that they got a god movie out of it for the money they had and i will never forget the good time i had working on that movie thanks to jun Chong and Kim Kahana
4 Reviews
Street Soldiers is a great example of 90's Silly.
tarbosh2200027 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The JP's and the Tigers are two rival gangs in town. The Tigers wear less-than-intimidating tiger decals on their varsity jackets. That's how you know they're a gang. When the sadistic and insane leader of the JP's, Priest (Rector) gets out of prison, he makes it his mission to destroy the Tigers. While the Tigers just want to have wholesome fun like dancing at the prom and skateboarding through the halls of their school, the JP's are hellbent on rape and murder. Just how these two mismatched groups became rivals is unknown. Yes, there is a love triangle at play between Priest, Julie (Armstrong), and Tigers leader Troy (Homb), but that still doesn't really explain it. (Here's a tip we should all follow: stop looking for logic with Street Soldiers).
Anyway, a likable Karate (shouldn't it be Tae Kwon Do?) instructor named Master Han agrees to train the Tigers so they can be victorious against the JP's. You know he's a Karate instructor because there is a one-word sign above his formerly-abandoned building that reads: KARATE. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the JP's have their own "evil Karate instructor", Tok (Hwang), so THEY are all in training as well. Could the ultimate rumble be at hand? And what does the mysterious Wheelchair Willie (Richardson) have to do with any of this? And what the HECK is going on here?
If you go into this expecting a gravely serious treatise on the horrors of gang life, you will be sorely disappointed. However, if you keep your mind open to the fact that a bunch of dudes who look like middle-aged men can caper around while attempting to appear as though they're still in high school while they get into knife fights whilst wearing funny-looking jackets, then you will be truly ready for Street Soldiers.
Yes, of course, the budget is low, and there is plenty of non-acting/overacting (witness Jeff Rector attempt to out-John Miller John Miller) and the whole thing is a wonton soup of wanton ridiculousness, but it's not boring. It's also not quite as unselfconscious as Miami Connection (1987), but it's heading into that ballpark. Actually, you should probably see it.
The second the viewer sees a bunch of men playing stickball in the streets (with each other; they should probably be playing with their kids) and then get into a "rumble" which should really be a dance-off, followed by a mustachioed Karate instructor taking every last one of them under his wing, he or she realizes they probably shouldn't be too tough on Street Soldiers.
The most hilarious thing about the movie is the fact that these aforementioned adults were cast as high school kids. Does this exist in the same universe as Beverly Hills, 90210? Because we haven't seen high-schoolers this elderly since Dylan and Brandon. The cafeteria in Street Soldiers is the only one on record serving not just sloppy joes but Centrum Silver. The gang hideouts for both the JP's and the Tigers look like sets for a Viagra commercial. They're getting into gang rumbles when they should be concerned about paying their mortgages.
Anyway, there are some nice editing touches like cool scene transitions, a mid-movie freeze frame (it should have ended the film, but we'll take it just the same), and a soundtrack with some pretty decent songs on it. There was actually a cassette release of the soundtrack, which features bands such as Lonesome Romeos, The Snakes, Mr. Cosmos, and Benny Mardones - not exactly hip with the kids as they were probably going for, but the adult contemporary set (i.e. the cast) is the perfect audience for it.
The whole "this is really out of touch" vibe is really quite charming. Of course, it all ends with the time-honored Final Warehouse Fight. Throughout the movie thus far, a bunch of seemingly-random things have occurred, such as blues music blaring on the soundtrack out of nowhere, for apparently no reason. Regardless of that, it's still better than Chains (1989) or Dead End City (1988). Everyone involved gets an A for effort, despite how dippy and, well, naïve it all is.
Released by Academy on VHS in 1991, to find out the true meaning of "Middle-Aged Punks", look no further than Street Soldiers!
Anyway, a likable Karate (shouldn't it be Tae Kwon Do?) instructor named Master Han agrees to train the Tigers so they can be victorious against the JP's. You know he's a Karate instructor because there is a one-word sign above his formerly-abandoned building that reads: KARATE. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the JP's have their own "evil Karate instructor", Tok (Hwang), so THEY are all in training as well. Could the ultimate rumble be at hand? And what does the mysterious Wheelchair Willie (Richardson) have to do with any of this? And what the HECK is going on here?
If you go into this expecting a gravely serious treatise on the horrors of gang life, you will be sorely disappointed. However, if you keep your mind open to the fact that a bunch of dudes who look like middle-aged men can caper around while attempting to appear as though they're still in high school while they get into knife fights whilst wearing funny-looking jackets, then you will be truly ready for Street Soldiers.
Yes, of course, the budget is low, and there is plenty of non-acting/overacting (witness Jeff Rector attempt to out-John Miller John Miller) and the whole thing is a wonton soup of wanton ridiculousness, but it's not boring. It's also not quite as unselfconscious as Miami Connection (1987), but it's heading into that ballpark. Actually, you should probably see it.
The second the viewer sees a bunch of men playing stickball in the streets (with each other; they should probably be playing with their kids) and then get into a "rumble" which should really be a dance-off, followed by a mustachioed Karate instructor taking every last one of them under his wing, he or she realizes they probably shouldn't be too tough on Street Soldiers.
The most hilarious thing about the movie is the fact that these aforementioned adults were cast as high school kids. Does this exist in the same universe as Beverly Hills, 90210? Because we haven't seen high-schoolers this elderly since Dylan and Brandon. The cafeteria in Street Soldiers is the only one on record serving not just sloppy joes but Centrum Silver. The gang hideouts for both the JP's and the Tigers look like sets for a Viagra commercial. They're getting into gang rumbles when they should be concerned about paying their mortgages.
Anyway, there are some nice editing touches like cool scene transitions, a mid-movie freeze frame (it should have ended the film, but we'll take it just the same), and a soundtrack with some pretty decent songs on it. There was actually a cassette release of the soundtrack, which features bands such as Lonesome Romeos, The Snakes, Mr. Cosmos, and Benny Mardones - not exactly hip with the kids as they were probably going for, but the adult contemporary set (i.e. the cast) is the perfect audience for it.
The whole "this is really out of touch" vibe is really quite charming. Of course, it all ends with the time-honored Final Warehouse Fight. Throughout the movie thus far, a bunch of seemingly-random things have occurred, such as blues music blaring on the soundtrack out of nowhere, for apparently no reason. Regardless of that, it's still better than Chains (1989) or Dead End City (1988). Everyone involved gets an A for effort, despite how dippy and, well, naïve it all is.
Released by Academy on VHS in 1991, to find out the true meaning of "Middle-Aged Punks", look no further than Street Soldiers!
West Side Story gone past its sell-by date.
suzanne-2418 August 2003
I watched this film because I am a great fan of Hwang Jang Lee. First off, I do not understand why he is credited as Jason Hwang. For a start, that is his son's name so I am confused. I know that most Americans have never heard of him but I think it is a bit of a come-down for him to make his wonderful name less foreign sounding for the Yanks. I can only surmise that because there were other Korean actors involved in this film that he was asked to be part of it.
Basically, Street Soldiers is excruciating to watch. I would have preferred someone like Christopher Walken to play the part of Priest. Oh, that would have saved this film from the depths! It might have even helped Jang Lee's acting career in the US. Who knows? It is your basic gang warfare story with a bit of gang banging thrown in for sport. Pretty dreadful. And that is odd, really, because if this film had been transported to Hong Kong or Korean cinema, the story would not be too dissimilar (and probably a damn sight better, too!). So, what makes it so bad? The acting is AWFUL! It's a dated film full of cliche villians, smarmy good guys and airhead damsels in distress. The martial arts is good but there is not enough.
I gave this film a rating of 3 because of Hwang Jang Lee. It would have been much less if he had not been in it. I do not know very much Korean but I am pretty sure his name in the film means 'chicken'. The man does not utter a single word so he relies on his expressive face and sign language to communicate. While I watched the film I thought he really did not want to be in it. It is such a come down from 'Drunken Master', 'Hellz Windstaff' and so many other wonderful films he has done. But he looks fine and very handsome in Western dress. I do not know if he had been doing bodybuilding because he looks quite beefy.
Jang Lee does a couple visual jokes that had me laughing out loud. He had a pet cobra (not a real one, well, it looked pretty fake)and was petting it. The look on his face was priceless. Then in another scene the two gangs meet up in a discount warehouse shop. While the round eyes are trying to beat themselves to a pulp, Jang Lee finds a rather fetching jacket and holds it up to himself in a spot of self-admiration.
Hwang Jang Lee hardly ever shows off his amazing abilities at martial arts. Maybe his reputation followed him and people were too scared to spar with him! When he does get a chance, especially at the end with Jun Chong, it's over all too quickly.
Despite my views, I am glad I was able to view the film. It is now part of my Hwang Jang Lee collection but I do not know when I will be seeing it again.
Basically, Street Soldiers is excruciating to watch. I would have preferred someone like Christopher Walken to play the part of Priest. Oh, that would have saved this film from the depths! It might have even helped Jang Lee's acting career in the US. Who knows? It is your basic gang warfare story with a bit of gang banging thrown in for sport. Pretty dreadful. And that is odd, really, because if this film had been transported to Hong Kong or Korean cinema, the story would not be too dissimilar (and probably a damn sight better, too!). So, what makes it so bad? The acting is AWFUL! It's a dated film full of cliche villians, smarmy good guys and airhead damsels in distress. The martial arts is good but there is not enough.
I gave this film a rating of 3 because of Hwang Jang Lee. It would have been much less if he had not been in it. I do not know very much Korean but I am pretty sure his name in the film means 'chicken'. The man does not utter a single word so he relies on his expressive face and sign language to communicate. While I watched the film I thought he really did not want to be in it. It is such a come down from 'Drunken Master', 'Hellz Windstaff' and so many other wonderful films he has done. But he looks fine and very handsome in Western dress. I do not know if he had been doing bodybuilding because he looks quite beefy.
Jang Lee does a couple visual jokes that had me laughing out loud. He had a pet cobra (not a real one, well, it looked pretty fake)and was petting it. The look on his face was priceless. Then in another scene the two gangs meet up in a discount warehouse shop. While the round eyes are trying to beat themselves to a pulp, Jang Lee finds a rather fetching jacket and holds it up to himself in a spot of self-admiration.
Hwang Jang Lee hardly ever shows off his amazing abilities at martial arts. Maybe his reputation followed him and people were too scared to spar with him! When he does get a chance, especially at the end with Jun Chong, it's over all too quickly.
Despite my views, I am glad I was able to view the film. It is now part of my Hwang Jang Lee collection but I do not know when I will be seeing it again.
The least of Jun Chong's productions
udar5526 March 2010
A kung fu WEST SIDE STORY wannabe. The Tigers and JPs are two of the whitest gangs you've ever seen and they rumble hard because JP leader Priest (Jeff Rector) and Tiger associate Troy (David Homb) both have the hots for Julie (Katherine Armstrong). Troy's buddy Chuck (Joon B. Kim) gets his uncle Master Han (Jun Chong) to teach the gang some martial arts in a one minute montage. When Julie is kidnapped and Chuck killed, it is time for one more montage before the final siege. This is rough, rough stuff. I'm kicking myself now as I look up the filmmakers because director Lee Harry's only other credit is SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT part 2. It must be his style because he gets some "Garbage Day" theatrics out of the stunningly awful Rector. Chong produces once again but doesn't have student Phillip Rhee around this time to do the action so the film suffers greatly. Even excellent Korean martial artist Hwang Jang Lee (billed as Jason Hwang) is completely wasted as he walks around with a rubber snake around his neck that they want the audience to think is real. Best opening credit is "And Jay Richardson as Wheelchair Willie."
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