101 Films UK Blu-ray Synopsis: Starring martial arts legend Bolo Yeung (Game of Death, Bloodsport, Enter the Dragon), Ironheart tells the story of an LA cop called John Keem (Britton K. Lee), looking for the criminal gang who murdered his partner. While in Portland investigating the case, he gets involved with Milverstead (Richard Norton), whose gang deal guns, drugs and people traffic. Can Keem find the evidence he needs to bring Milverstead to justice and avenge the death of his partner? From Robert Clouse, director of Enter the Dragon, Ironheart is an action packed martial arts adventure featuring some amazing fight action. (92 Mins)

 

Views: Revenge is on the cards in Ironheart, when a cop's partner gets killed during a case in Portland, Oregan. Detective Keem makes his way up north from LA, determined to find out who was behind it. Once there, he runs into a gang leader who proves to be the cause of all his problems. Now, Keem must go up against this ruthless killer and his brutal henchman, Ice! Jesus Christ, where do we start with this one? First of all, this was to be the last directional effort from celebrated American director Robert Clouse – a man who I've never appreciated. Yes, he gave us Enter the Dragon (1974), which was a fluke in his career that only gained the success it did because of a certain Bruce Lee and strong supporting cast. He was later credited for finishing Lee's Game of Death (1978), and gave us imperfect but entertaining fare like Black Belt Jones (1974), Golden Needles (1974), The Amsterdam Kill (1977), Jackie Chan's Battle Creek Brawl (1980) which should have been so much better, Force: Five (1981), Gymkata (1985), and China O'Brien 1 & 2 (1990) prior to this. But nothing was ever amazing, typically American in execution, and very standard for a man who gave us – what is still considered today – to be one of the greatest martial arts movies of all time. Unfortunately, from Enter the Dragon, they just kept getting worse...

 

Out of all his martial arts themed films, I'd say Ironheart is quite possibly one of his worst! The music by Yves Chicha is horrendous, the cinematography by the prolific Kent Wakeford is standard at best – a guy that started with Mean Streets (1973) before working for Clouse on Black Belt Jones (1974), China O'Brien 1 & 2 (1990), and The Best of the Martial Arts Films (1990) before this, among many others. The screenplay was dire and immature, with writer Lawrence Riggins going onto write the likes of Ringo Lam's Replicant (2001) starring Van Damme, Assassins' Code (2011) starring Choi Min-soo, and Toby Russell's so-so Death Fighter (2017) starring Cynthia Rothrock, Don Wilson, and the impressive Matt Mullins. And aside from it's two action movie legend villains, the performances from everyone else involved was just so poor. Honestly, this film reminded me of those old independents from Y.K. Kim and those from Sunny Lim, where another South Korean martial artist wanted to be a movie star. And there-in lies another fault with Ironheart! Serving as the producer and main hero of the piece, Britton K. Lee made his acting debut in the similarly themed Fatal Revenge from 1989. This would also be the same film that gave his brother, Julian Lee, the acting bug – only he went onto star in 6 further films, finishing with Riggins' aforementioned Assassins' Code (2011). Ironheart, however, would be the last for Britton. I mean, without a doubt, Lee has certainly got some sweet moves as witnessed throughout the whole film, but as an actor, well, it's understandable why he didn't continue.

 

It's clear that Clouse used his clout to draft the late-great Richard Norton and the burly Bolo Yeung in for one last hurrah. When I interviewed Richard, he always had good things to say about Robert Clouse as a director – but that's just how nice he really was. Even if the production wasn't going well, or the director wasn't doing his best, the martial artist-turned-actor always kept a positive outlook and did the best with what he was given. After making his debut in Chuck Norris' classic, The Octagon (1980), Norton first worked with Clouse on the fun Force: Five (1981); a semi-remake of Enter the Dragon (1974) that also starred Joe Lewis and Benny Urquidez. They would team up again for the cult-classic, Gymkata, in 1985 that also saw Norton serve as the action director and, just 5 years later, got together again to make the much loved (although imperfect) China O'Brien and it's sequel. Here, in Ironheart, Norton plays the drug dealing, human trafficking villain with glee – a character role that could almost have been seen as an introduction to those he played in Jackie Chan's City Hunter (1993) and Mr. Nice Guy (1997), although (oddly) he doesn't get to bust a move at all. The great Bolo Yeung, who had gained success by name as a scene stealer in Enter the Dragon, gets to show his trademark moves at least – although it's absolutely nothing to get too excited about. Clearly hired as a marketing ploy due to the hype surrounding his roles in Western fodder such as Bloodsport (1988), Breathing Fire (1991), Double Impact (1991), and Tiger Claws (1992), Bolo's big piece is saved for the end fight against Britton Lee which is probably the highlight of the piece.

 

Absolutely dire on many levels, Ironheart couldn't get any flatter even if a steamroller went over it. You can totally understand why this was the director's last effort, although I'm truly surprised he even lasted this long! And what was the obsession with that bloody nightclub? Clearly most of the budget went on that set-piece, including all the extras that seemed to be having a blast dancing to the many songs by U-Krew; the Portland based hip-hop group who were obviously promised the world having just gained great success in 1990. Regardless, the whole thing just becomes one big eye-roll by the end of it's running time and I have to admit, Ironheart is one martial arts flick I'll probably never return to in my lifetime!

 

Overall: Honestly one of the worst, Ironheart is for Richard Norton and Bolo Yeung completists only!