Rocky Chan (Michael Tong) is the number one kickboxer in Hong Kong, a sport that leaves its share of cripples and Parkinson's Disease victims. He's particularly protective of his cute younger sister Gloria (Carmen Lee), especially when she begins to show interest in a young boxer (Aaron Kwok, in one of his sullen, silent guy roles), who's also a no-future former delinquent for whom fighting seems the only viable career (except maybe modeling -- just kidding!). Determined to win her heart through professional success, he takes on a coach (Samo Hung), trains hard, and less by skill than determination, knocks out a line of worthy opponents. But the battle royale, he ends up accidentally killing her older brother in the ring, severing their affair and leading to his descent into the world of underground fighting, where there's no gloves, no rules. A chance at the All-Asia title awakens him to legitimate kickboxing again, a decision that paves the way for victory and his undoing. It's a glossy, slick, artificial melodrama -- with decent fights -- but you'd shrug your shoulders and yawn if not for Carmen Lee's macro closeups.

(2/4)



[Reviewed by Steve Spinali]