Bullet Points: Fists of Iron
Every now and again I will stumble across a movie that really takes me back. I found myself having a serious case of deja vu when I came across Fists of Iron a movie starring a favorite of mine from the video store era, Michael Worth.
I primarily remembered Michael Worth (who is a legit martial artist skilled in Escrima, Tang Soo Do and Jeet Kune Do) as one of the cast members on the action/adventure TV show, Acapulco H.E.A.T. But as I watched 1995’s Fists of Iron for the first time in decades, the memories of Michael Worth’s involvement in the direct to video era of action movies came flooding back….
- Our Hero: Worth plays Dale Hartwell, a guy with an engineering degree who opts to work as a mechanic instead of living the life most people think he should be living, especially his ex-wife. Hartwell is no stranger to fisticuffs and we see him get in to a few dust ups down at the garage and the local watering hole. Hartwell’s ex-wife got the house and custody of their daughter, while Hartwell now lives in a mobile home on the beach, Martin Riggs style.
- Fancy Party: Dale’s best friend, Matt Sheldon (played by Nick Hill of Bloodsport II fame) invites him to go to a party being thrown at rich dude Peter Gallagher’s estate. The party has everything you’d expect a fancy party in 1995 to have. Rich and elite socialites, beautiful women including Gallagher’s lady Julie Weaver (Jenilee Harrison of Three’s Company fame) and politicians. There is also a kickboxing ring out in the yard so these sophisticated people can enjoy “the sport of the 90’s” in a blood thirsty, illegal gambling sort of way. As part of the festivities, there is a $2000 open challenge for anyone at the party who can step into the ring and last 2 minutes with Gallagher’s champion, Victor the Destroyer (Matthias Hues of Mission of Justice fame). That’s $1000 per minute for you math geeks out there. Matt suggests Dale go for the cash, but Dale tells Matt for once maybe he should do the fighting… so he does and in the process ends up getting his ass kicked. Matt wins the cash, but is a mess. To make matters worse, he refuses to go to the hospital and just wants to hang out with his boy Dale at the mobile home… well the next morning, things go from worse to worst, when Dale finds his best friend dead on a lawn chair.
- Vengeance is Mine: You can probably figure out that Dale wants to get some revenge on Victor the Destroyer and Peter Gallagher for the death of his friend. Fortunately for Dale, he convinces two local fighting legends to train him. His trainers are former professional fighter Daniel Lee (played by Eric Lee of Ring of Fire fame) and the man who trained Lee, Tyler Green (played by Sam J. Jones aka Flash Gordon). Did I mention that Lee and Green have some history with Peter Gallagher?
- Throwing Gasoline on the Fire: Because a dead best friend and trainers with an old score to settle with Peter Gallagher was not enough to build up the fight between “Pretty Boy” Dale Hartwell and Victor “The Destroyer” Bragg, the movie also manages to have Dale fall in love with, you guessed it, Peter’s lady Julie Weaver. Now Peter has a reason to be pissed at Dale and the bad blood is no longer a one way street.
Some might scoff and say Fists of Iron is rather predictable. I won’t argue that fact, but I don’t believe Fists of Iron was looking to change the world. The movie was well executed and the cast delivered… Marshall R. Teague and Matthias Hues were a terrific terrible twosome… Nick Hill was born to play the troubled friend… Jenilee Harrison brought beauty and some extra name recognition to the casual audience strolling down the video store aisles… Sam J. Jones and Eric Lee were magnificent mentors… And Michael Worth plays the hero with the perfect balance of confidence and naivety. Worth’s Dale Hartwell believes he can win despite the odds and as a member of the audience you want to believe that Dale can win.
Michael Worth could have had a long career in the action movie genre, but he opted to go down different acting avenues as his career went on. Worth also fulfilled his dream of becoming a filmmaker when he branched out from acting and started to write, produce and direct movies too. But I was happy to find out that Michael Worth has not ruled out a return to his action roots in the future. I have a strong feeling in my heart of hearts that Michael’s return to the action world will be, dare I say, WORTH the wait.
If you are a fan of Bonus Bullet Points, no need to wait, you can check some out right now…
- Come and Knock On Our Door: If you ever wanted to see more of Jenilee Harrison than they could show on ABC during her Three’s Company run, then this is the movie for you.
- AKA: Fists of Iron is also known as Enter the Shootfighter. No doubt this alternate title was used to play off the success of Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon or the more achievable goal of matching the success of Cannon’s Enter the Ninja. But considering by 1995, there were already multiple movies about shootfighting, including 1993’s Shootfigher: Fight to the Death, Enter the Shootfighter lacks the whole being first thing that the other two Enter movies had.
- Potential Lawsuit: Peter Gallagher’s lackey and ring announcer for the illegal fights he promotes uses the phrase “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble”. Ring announcer Michael Buffer trademarked that phrase back in 1992. Why do I have a feeling a low budget direct to video action movie did not pay for the rights to use that phrase?!
- Shit’s About To Get Real: Victor the Destroyer fights with his shirt on for all of his fights EXCEPT the final battle with Dale Hartwell. When he rips the shirt off you you know shit is about to get real!
