Customer Reviews

Ring of Fire 3 [VHS]

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The 3rd and last installment still remains true to the first 2 films, with Don Wilson once again returning as the good doctor and expert in martial arts "Johhnny Wu". Unfortunately, the impressive cast of American martial art actors (including Ron Yuan, Eric Lee, Dale Jacoby, Vince Murdocco) do not return. In fact, neither does Maria Ford, who's character has been killed in a car accident years ago, but did give a son to Johnny. While the story is a little more organized in this film, the cheesy villains and lack of fun excitment that the first 2 films held keep this from making any overall imporovements in the series.

The beginning of ROF3 was a bit confusing, with a few scenes of action conflict that actually held no ties to the main story. It gave me this impression that it was just time fillers and to once again show us that DR. Wu can still kick. Once things are set into motion, Johnny and his son take a short vacation in the northern mountains, but the global mafia tracks him down when they discover he accidently picked up an important disc of theirs. While in the mountains, Johnny finds a love interest in the ranger, played by Bobbie Phillips (TC-2000). I hate to admit, but their forming relationship was kind of fun to watch, filled with awkward moments and cheesiness that any new couple could face. Then the mafia appears and hunts down Johnny and the ranger in the forest throughout the rest of the film.

The action was ok, but I had been spoiled from the great cast of martial artists in the previous 2 Ring of Fires. Don WIlson is pretty much a one man army in the forest, taking out goons one by one. His only threat is a former KGB, who's large charcater can be kind of villainous at times and fun, then, rather cheesy and bland at other times. Either way, this guy does not like to be called Boris. The final fight takes place between these two in a factory/warehouse lasting 2-1/2 minutes in length. Not a sharp fight, as it is obvious this guy fighting Wilson is not one of the better fighters seen in these films. Still, it is fun though and Wilson takes some hard hits before making his defeating comeback.

Average film overall. It's fun in some areas, and really really stupid in others. Loses the feel of the first two Ring of Fire's, but the good doctor is still kicking hard.