Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite is a 1996 martial arts sports film directed and produced by Alan Mehrez and written by Jeff Schechter. It is a standalone sequel to Bloodsport (1988), and the second installment in the Bloodsport film series. The film stars Daniel Bernhardt as new character Alex Cardo.
Promotional release poster
Plot Overview
During a break in martial arts class, the elderly Sun (Hong) shares with his young students the story of a man whose greed and terrible life choices laid a foundation for redemption. Alex Cardo (Bernhardt) is a suave art thief who makes his living schmoozing his way into soirees at luxurious estates and making off with priceless artifacts.
His most recent heist at the home of a rich dude named Leung (Morita) sees him walk away with a jeweled sword and a lunch date with the inquisitive Janine (Dickerson). Neither of these prizes comes without a cost, however. The next day at the hotel, he gets set up by his crooked business partner, John (Tan), is arrested by the authorities, and gets an all-expenses-paid trip to a Thai prison.
The food is garbage. Most of the inmates are violent, and the more docile ones simply wander the all-dirt prison yard sweeping up non-existent trash. Everyone is forced to wear pink. Worse yet, the unholy duo of prison boss Chien (Chuay) and a brutal prison guard named Demon (Ong Soo Han) seems to have it out for Alex. Fortunately, the benevolent master Sun comes to the newbie’s defense during an attempted beat-down and takes him under his wing.
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What the elderly master lacks in brawn, he makes up for with a style known as “iron hand.” He was forced to use the technique against a former student who turned into a violent rapist, and the result was lethal. Due to the student’s politically connected father, Sun ended up incarcerated for life.
As prisoners are want to do, the pair discusses the crime that landed Alex in the joint, and Sun reveals that the sword he stole wasn’t just any old blade, but rather the grand prize for an underground invite-only kumite tournament. Alex aspires to enter the tournament and win it using Sun’s iron hand technique as some sort of tribute, but there’s the minor detail of imprisonment standing the way.
Have no fear! This is a movie with a bored screenwriter, so the superintendent lets Alex out early for reasons the movie will deal with later (if you’re lucky). Our hero feels bad about leaving Sun behind, but not so bad that he’s going to pass up the chance to breathe free air, enter the kumite, and eat a decent meal.
Sun informs him that Demon is also entering the kumite and must be stopped because he’s dishonorable or something.
Cast and Characters
- Daniel Bernhardt as Alex Cardo
- Pat Morita as Leung
- James Hong as Master Sun
- Donald Gibb as Ray Jackson
- Ong Soo Han as Demon
The Kumite Tournament
The Kumite, the bone-breaking knock-out contest at the heart of the action, is tremendous; a violent mixtape of showboating styles and colourful side characters.
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Thief Alex Cardo (Daniel Bernhardt) gets caught stealing an ancient Jian in Thailand, and soon finds himself imprisoned. One of the guards, Demon (Ong Soo Han), tortures him whenever he gets the opportunity. Alex finds one friend and mentor, Master Sun (James Hong), who teaches him a fighting style called "Iron Hand". When a "best of the best Kumite" is to take place, Demon is invited. The final fight pits Alex versus Demon. Demon has the upper hand until Alex uses the "Iron Hand" to defeat Demon.
The action in the film is good and I’m going to go out on a limb and say that on balance, this film actually has much better fighters and fight choreography than its predecessor. For that, we have action choreographer Philip Tan to thank. As Alex’s treacherous former partner, he’s a bit underutilized and doesn’t get quite as much screen time as one might expect.
Action from the Kumite tournament
Reception and Legacy
Bloodsport 2 is the sort of sequel you get when you combine a solid lead actor, some good martial arts choreography, and an inferior story propped up with misplaced nostalgia and character actors. It’s not especially distinctive among its tournament chopsocky brethren in its presentation, but the supporting performances and fight choreography are good enough to make it a worthwhile watch.
Even with the lack of serious star power and a film property that was nearly a decade old, they still pushed this film to theaters for a three-month run, and made a paltry $700,000 at the box office for their efforts.
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The charismatic Belgian star who helped launch the franchise was replaced by an unknown Swiss look-alike. No threatening glares from Bolo Yeung. No Paul Hertzog soundtrack. The only holdover from the original film is Donald Gibb, who appears to be having a lot less fun with his scenes than he did in the first film.
It is beyond surprising to me that this film had a theatrical run, albeit a short one. My disbelief is informed less by the quality of the film -- it’s good for what it is -- and more by the general circumstances in which it was released.
Comparison with the Original Bloodsport
The hero of the original BLOODSPORT, Frank Dux (played by the icon of tournament fighting movies, Jean-Claude Van Damme) trained in ninjitsu as a kid after stealing a valuable katana and then impressing its owner by having second thoughts and returning it.
The replacement hero for the Van-Damme-less part 2, Alex Cardos (Daniel Bernhardt, the Swiss martial artist and model who had been in a Versace commercial with Van Damme) is also a dirty sword-stealer, but this guy does it as a grown man, has no regrets and doesn’t try to give it back. The movie knows that he’s an asshole, though. Like Malcolm X the transformation begins in prison.
Soundtrack
BLOODSPORT II doesn’t add anything very original to the tropes, but it’s a solidly entertaining movie. The one concession to the era was a hilarious end credits techno song called “The Rhythm of the Kumite,” obviously based on the MORTAL KOMBAT theme.
Bloodsport 2 - Rhythm of the Kumite
Production Details
FM were owned and operated by Alan and Diane Mehrez; sibling producers who hailed from a privileged, film oriented background. Their father, Joseph, earned his fortune with a camera and equipment rental company, Cine-Cam Total Picture Services, and added to the pot via real estate.
Cast Comparison
| Aspect | Bloodsport (1988) | Bloodsport II (1996) |
|---|---|---|
| Main Star | Jean-Claude Van Damme | Daniel Bernhardt |
| Returning Character | Donald Gibb as Ray Jackson | Donald Gibb as Ray Jackson |
| Villain | Bolo Yeung as Chong Li | Ong Soo Han as Demon |
tags: #bloodsport #ii #the #next #kumite