Showdown (I) (1993)

Ken has just moved from Kansas with his mother. He talks to a girl named Julie, not knowing that her boyfriend Tom is very possessive of her. Tom is learning karate from Lee, a sensei whose... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Radler

Writer:

Stuart Gibbs

Stars:

Billy Blanks, Kenn Scott, Christine Taylor

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Billy Blanks	...	Billy Grant
Kenn Scott	...	Ken Marx
Christine Taylor	...	Julie
John Asher	...	Mike (as John Mallory Asher)
Patrick Kilpatrick	...	Lee
Linda Dona	...	Kate
Ken McLeod	...	Tom
Michael Cavalieri	...	Rob
Seidy Lopez	...	Gina
Brion James	...	Vice Principal Kowalski
Mike Genovese	...	Officer Spinelli (as Michael Genovese)
Nicholas Hill	...	James
James Lew	...	Hit Man
Ray Gamboa	...	Thug
Debbie Bartelt	...	Shirley

Storyline

Ken has just moved from Kansas with his mother. He talks to a girl named Julie, not knowing that her boyfriend Tom is very possessive of her. Tom is learning karate from Lee, a sensei whose brother was killed by a rookie cop named Billy. Billy has since then become the janitor of the school that Ken, Julie and Tom go to. When Ken gets beaten up by Tom for talking to Julie again, Billy helps Ken by teaching him how to defend himself, which eventually leads to a battle between student vs. student, and sensei vs. sensei.

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Plot Keywords:

janitor | high school romance | roundhouse kick | martial arts | school janitor | 

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Taglines:

There is no other way.

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Genres:

Action

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 September 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

American Karate Tiger

Filming Locations:

Paradise Valley Unified School District - 15002 N. 32nd Street, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imperial Entertainment, Tilford Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The working title for this film during production was "Full Contact".

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Goofs

When "Ken" is describing where he previously lived, he pronounces "Salina, KS" with a long 'e' sound, which is how it is pronounced when describing "Salinas, CA". In KS, it's pronounced with a long 'i' sound.

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Quotes

Asst. Principal Kowalski: [Ken's first day at school] Ah, you're the new kid, huh?
Ken Marx: Uh, yeah.
Asst. Principal Kowalski: You got a name?
Ken Marx: Ken.
Asst. Principal Kowalski: Ken what?
Ken Marx: Marx.
Asst. Principal Kowalski: Marx, I'm Mr. Kowalski, Vice Principal. You got a problem you come see me. You know how to read?
Ken Marx: Uh, yes, sir.
Asst. Principal Kowalski: Ah, that's refreshing. Listen, let me lay down a few campus rules for you. No smoking, no profanity, no graffiti. No fighting, no weapons, and no sex. You like sex? Ah, never mind. On campus keep it in your pants. Listen, you stick to these rules, I'll stay out of your face. You don't...
[...]

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Connections

References The Karate Kid (1984)

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Soundtracks

"STREETS OF RAGE"
Recorded by D.F.M.
Written by Tracy Swider, Dana Freebairn, Adam Shore, Todd Lane
Published by Captin Swidey Music (ASCAP) Freebairn
Music (ASCAP) Shore Is Music (ASCAP) Ybsober Music (ASCAP)

User Reviews

Clichéd and frankly embarrassing......but oh so much fun

Billy Blanks headlines in this hilariously cheesy Karate Kid rip off as an ex-police officer turned school janitor(!) who makes it his mission to break a cruel kickboxing tournament whilst simultaneously teaching one poor wimp how to defend himself against the local school bully. Well, if you enjoy movie clichés then you'll absolutely LOVE this little gem! Yes, it's all here; new kid getting bullied by karate bad boy who trains under a psychopath; both share the same love interest; kid learns karate to defend himself and is an expert in about......um.....all of what appears to be a about a week(!!!!) Of course the newly trained student must inevitably meet up for a climatic showdown with his bullying nemesis whereupon by seeming contractual obligation he is subsequently beaten to the point of apparent near death but suddenly, as if by some divine intervention an ostensible miracle transpires and he subsequently leaps back to his feet (plus rips off his shirt to reveal his macho, oiled down physique) and administers a miraculous and victorious come back (wow!!!!!!) then for the grand finale the psychopath instructor by clichéd obligation of course faces off against the kids teacher - cue our Billy in turn taking a brutal beating to near coma before suddenly realising that good guys are supposed to win and getting back to his feet (now obviously sans his shirt in order to show off his macho, oiled down physique) and forgetting his pronounced injuries, wins in style (with a series of lovingly shot, slow motion spin kicks no less!) Great Scott!

• This doesn't have an original idea in it's body but frankly who cares
• it's pure dumb fun of the highest calibre.

As a final note (or is that insult?) although this was made in 1993, judging by the hair styles and clothing the students (who curiously all look as though they are actually in their thirties and forties!!!!!) wear, it looks more circa 1980's! Tremendously daft stuff and a real hoot if you're in the correct frame of mind.