BEST OF THE BEST 2
Excessive content and poor execution make this martial arts film a skip.
Should You Watch It?
The source review is clear about the content: this is not recommended. The film centers on two former U.S. Karate teammates seeking revenge after their friend is murdered in a secret Las Vegas fighting arena. The good guys eventually overcome evil, but they use the same methods as the bad guys.
The review also finds the film poorly made and poorly acted, with a shallow plot, stiff performances, poor production quality, and a weak soundtrack. Eric Roberts is identified as the only acting exception, and the positive father-son relationship is the one good point.
Even with the source's four-star entertainment rating, its detailed judgment is sharply negative. With an Excessive family-content rating, this is one to skip.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAlex Grady and Tommy Lee, former members of the U.S. Karate team, learn that their friend and teammate has been murdered in a fight to the death. The fight took place in a secret underground Las Vegas arena called The Coliseum.
They travel to the Indian village where Tommy was raised and begin training for a challenge of their own. Their goal is to confront the arena's owner and champion, Brakus, in his own ring.
Is It Any Good?
The source assigns four stars, but its actual assessment is strongly critical. It calls the film poorly made and poorly acted, with a poor storyline, a shallow plot, stiff acting, very poor production quality, and a weak music soundtrack.
Eric Roberts is the only acting exception. The review describes the movie as slow and tedious and rates it below a cheap television movie of the week. Its one positive element is the father-son relationship, especially a scene in which a father praises his son's character after a failure.
The Worldview
The film presents revenge as the motivating force for its heroes. Alex and Tommy pursue the man responsible for their friend's death and seek to bring him down in his own arena. The story offers a version of good overcoming evil, but the review notes that the good guys use the same methods as the bad guys.
That moral compromise weakens the film's treatment of justice. The content also includes gambling and betting on fights to the death, alcohol abuse by one character, and an Indian ritual of heat exhaustion intended to induce visions. Against this bleak framework, the source identifies one positive father-son relationship and a scene affirming a son's character in handling failure.
The film's central moral question is whether evil can truly be defeated by using evil's methods. Scripture answers, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
21 obscenities & 4 profanities; murder, witnessed by an 11 year old, bloody fight scenes, sadistic violence, & gambling & betting on fights to the death; no sex, no actual nudity, but erotic dancers in costume in a dance club; alcohol abuse by one character, but not glorified; Indian ritual of heat exhaustion to induce visions; and, one positive scene in which a father praises his son's character in handling a failure.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film's heroes use the same methods as the villains. Why does Scripture warn us not to repay evil for evil?
Romans 12:17–21 · 1 Peter 3:9What is the difference between revenge and justice? Who does Scripture say has the right to avenge wrongdoing?
Deuteronomy 32:35 · Romans 12:19The source identifies a father praising his son's character after failure. How can parents affirm character rather than simply results?
Proverbs 20:11 · Ephesians 6:4The film includes gambling on fights to the death and a ritual intended to induce visions. How should Christians test practices and ideas that promise power or insight?
1 John 4:1 · Philippians 4:8The Final Word
This martial arts revenge story receives a four-star entertainment rating from the source, but its detailed review finds poor filmmaking and extensive disturbing content. With an Excessive family-content rating, SKIP IT. For better choices, see.
