Best of the Best [1989]

September 17, 2024

It was the year of our lord Satan 2003 and the MMA was in full swing. UFC was something everybody was talking about, including my two brothers. However, they also kept pestering me to watch this amazing movie about a bloody fighting tournament in South Korea. And since all three of us were huge fans of Kickboxer, this was an awesome premise. When I actually watched the movie, I found it quite unremarkable. And I can say the same thing after watching last night, more than twenty years later.

Best of the Best is a solid martial arts movie honoring all the traditions of the genre. As such, it’s going to be quite entertaining for the fans of the martial arts movies genre but others might find it subpar. We will be following Alexander Grady, a single father working as a welder and dreaming of becoming the top martial artist. He’s still trying to recover from a devastating shoulder injury, determined to make it to the top. Grady’s hard work pays out and he’s invited to the American National Karate team along with a dozen other fighters.

They will first train hard under the watchful eye of coach Frank Couzo before facing the Korean team on their home turf. Although this is a Karate team, they will compete in Taekwondo. So, what we have here is a classic sports formula. A once talented but now working man is called to the national team where he trains and trains until ultimately overcoming adversity and fighting in the grand tournament. What sets Best of the Best apart from all the other average martial arts movies are the character development and messaging.

In a true sports spirit, this movie teaches us compassion, dedication, and honor. Do not kick a man when he’s down. Stay true to yourself and your family. Be honest and go for the things you want with all your heart. And good things will follow. It’s not a bad message at all, if I might add. The movie does all of this without coming off as corny or melodramatic. Something I found quite odd, considering it’s a late eighties release. No wonder it’s Chuck Liddell’s favorite movie. Here’s my favorite quote from Best of the Best: “To save a life in defeat is to earn victory and honor within.”

However, “Pop it, Tommy, pop it!” is pretty darn good as well. To pull something like this off, you have to have a lead actor capable of not just conveying emotions but also physical fitness. Eric Roberts was the right choice for the role. His performance in Runaway Train, some four years earlier, was excellent. And just two years later he will star in another, this time woefully underrated fighting movie. By the Sword, as its title suggests is about fencing or sword fighting, and it’s pretty good.

Especially when you consider the fact there are so few movies about this sport. I also simply have to mention the fact that Eric Roberts has been in more than 700 movies! Yes, it’s true, if you take a look at these acting credits you’ll see that he’s been in 52 just last year alone. He’s become a real trooper these past seven or eight years, taking every role he’s been offered. And there’s nothing wrong with that, just to be clear. A job is a job and you shouldn’t think any less of him because of that.

Best of the Best 1989 Movie Scene US team in the gym preparing for the taekwondo tournament in Korea

Back to this one, James Earl Jones plays the tough coach with authority and finesse. Chris Penn and Louise Fletcher stood out among the supporting cast. However, I also want you to pay attention to Dae Han and Tommy Lee. They’re played by Phillip and Simon Rhee, who are brothers in real life. Phillip even came up with the main story for this movie. Best of the Best might not feature the most brutal or competent fights in the genre. However, they’re sufficiently exciting and emotionally charged.

Additionally, you’ve got one hell of a surprise waiting for you at the end. Maybe because of all of this, there are no less than three sequels available for your viewing pleasure. All of them star above-mentioned Phillip Rhee who even announced a reboot of the franchise with the new cast back in 2015. Finally, if you’re looking for similar movies, do check out our Subversive Rabbit selection of Martial Arts Movies.