Ring of Fire [DVD] [1991] [US Import]

After almost 12 years of looking hopelessly for this edition of Ring of Fire on VHS and DVD, and even asking people online and searching the web to see if someone taped a copy off of TV, the real deal is finally here on DVD! If you don't know what I'm talking about, there was about 4 minutes of sex and nudity cut out of all versions of this movie on VHS and DVD and was only shown on premium channels back around 1991 or 1992. After almost 12 years they finally decided to release it with the nudity. Even if you already own a previous edition on DVD or VHS this is still a MUST BUY for Maria Ford fans. You won't be disappointed and the movie's (finally) great now!!

This is defenitely one of Don's best films that he has made in his earlier days. From watching this film I have started to watch other movies from his co-stars because I have considered them to be good martial artists also. The other actors are: Steven Vincent Leigh, Vince Murdocco, Dale Jacoby, Eric Lee, Ron Winston Yuan and Gary Daniels. This movie has good fight scenes with descent high kicks and good chereography involved. The movie is about Johnny an asian-american (Don 'The Dragon' Wilson), who has fallen in love with an american girl. The complications of the story arise when racial hatred surrounds their newfound relationship caused by the girls brother Brad (Dale Jacoby) and boyfriend Chuck (Vince Murdocco)who are both racial against asians. Brad challenges Johnnys brother who is also asian-american (Steven Vincent Leigh) to a no holds barred streetfight where Brad shows no mercy after overpowering Johnnys brother and kills him. Johnny is challenged next and is faced with a streak of vengeance for his brother death.

While PM Entertainment - that glorious company of action and excess - had already made action movies featuring martial arts, "Ring of Fire" is the studio's first genuine karate flick, as well as a triumph for martial arts of the B-movie scale. It's also a pretty unique vehicle for star Don Wilson - possibly one of his best, which is ironic given his limited input to the action content. As a genuinely exciting kickfest that's powered by a real plot and investable characters, I deem this a must-have for fans of low budget action and just about all of the performers involved.

The story: In the middle of a violent gang rivalry in Los Angeles, a doctor and cousin of the Asian gang's leader (Wilson, Bloodfist series) falls in love with the sister and fiancé of the Surfer gang's leaders (Maria Ford, Angel of Destruction).

I believe this is the perfect role for Don Wilson, who I find enjoyable though not for the quality of his other movies. In an all-time low count for a feature advertised with his name, Wilson has only a single fight - the finale - and spends the rest of the film interacting with others in a dramatic way, opposed to a physical manner. Don is naturally likable and gives a smooth performance, all the while acting well with costar Maria Ford. Ford's acting ability is often underrated in favor of her sexuality, but here it is clearly at the forefront of her performance. Together, she and Wilson make a sound dramatic duo and a believable couple.

Thematically, the movie may not be particularly strong, but I say that it's as significant as the viewer allows for. It's obvious that this is a take on Romeo and Juliet with kickboxing, but it's also one of only a handful of films at the time that addressed interracial romance from an Asian perspective. Race relations would be a non-factor in most of Wilson's films to come, so it's all the more significant that he sets such a positive standard for a masculine Asian-American who perseveres for the sake of love. I haven't seen many western films wherein an Asian male is portrayed as desirable and romantic; Wilson makes the absolute most of the opportunity to be both, and delivers one of the best performances of his career.

The action content is both ample and solid, with approximately eight full-length matches providing a good stage for a supergroup of film fighters: Steven Vincent Leigh, Dale Jacoby, Vince Murdocco, Eric Lee, Gary Daniels, Ron Yuan... (And those are only the performers with additional acting scenes.) Admittedly, many of the matches are a bit too heavily edited for my taste, but the occasional creativeness of the choreography and the consistent athleticism of its performers shine through, making for a cumulatively enjoyable adrenaline package. Even the final showdown featuring Wilson (and even more editing) can be considered among Don's personal best, making it worth waiting for.

The film bounces along with an agreeable pace and hums with a level of energy that PM would frequently try to recapture and often fail at. It's enjoyable, and despite its imperfections, that is the most I can ask of a movie. If you know this is your kind of picture, I encourage you to check it out.

First movie was OK, Second movie was like watching a train wreck, you could not stop watching-hopeing it would get better, but didn't. Third one isn't a whole lot better. I didn't know that they had made a second and third movie, after watching I can see why. It does have some OK explosions. If your a Don "the dragon" Wilson fan, you might like, if not, save your money

I remember seeing this back in 1991 on video. Just like so many other people I searched for this on DVD. Pretty good movie, but not really an action movie, it was more driven by the plot (Romeo & Juliet). Anyways about the dvds. I own both versions. This version shown in the picture is the edited one, that had the nudity cut. The complete one has a slighty different cover. I would recommend either one because overall it was a good movie.