4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Cynthia Rothrock: Sensual, Psychic, Silly, April 24, 2009
At this time in her career, Cynthia Rothrock really didn't have a lot to look forward to. With her glory days as the Hong Kong action queen behind her, all that was in store for her following "Sworn to Justice" was a small role in the
Dukes of Hazzard Reunion, the abysmal completion of the "Tiger Claws" trilogy, and two lackluster supporting parts alongside Don 'the Dragon' Wilson. "Sworn to Justice" isn't a great movie but remains her last decent offering before ending her career on a low note; in some ways, this is her last cinematic hurrah before the cataclysmic fall in quality, and for that, fans ought to check it out.
The story: martial arts-practicing psychologist Janna (Rothrock) comes home one night to find her family murdered, and her only way of escaping from from the same murderers is a dive off of her balcony. The fall unlocks a psychic power inside her that allows her to recall the past of any object she touches, and she uses this newfound ability to track her family's killers down and bring them to justice.
The biggest fault of the movie is how it underutilizes its unique cast: aside from Rothrock, the ensemble includes Tony Lo Bianco (
The French Connection) as a two-faced police officer, Kurt McKinney (
No Retreat, No Surrender) as Janna's love interest, Brad Dourif (
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) as the murder suspect, Kenn Scott (
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II) as a lethal crime boss and Vince Murdocco (
Ring of Fire) as his brother, Walter Koenig (
Star Trek series) as Janna's psychic instructor, Mary-Margaret Humes (
Dawson's Creek) as a trouble-shooting attorney, and the indispensable Mako (
Conan the Barbarian) as Janna's blind, candy-pedaling teacher. Sadly, Dourif, Murdocco, Koenig, and Mako all have roles so small that they're hardly worth mentioning. As far as I'm concerned, the prolonged presence of any one of them could've made the movie better, especially in the case of Oscar nominee Dourif and Walter "Mr. Chekov" Koenig: better utilization of either could've earned the film greater recognition outside of the action fanbase.
The movie isn't exactly overflowing with action, which is a shame since most of what's there is pretty decent. Granted, the first two brawls between Rothrock, her attackers, and a group of robbers are quick-cut, bottom-of-the-barrel stuff (especially the sound-effect-filled latter, even though it alludes to her amazing fight in
Above the Law), but the ensuing fights are fine for a DTV production. Rothrock takes on a gang in a garage and battles an Asian fellow who's big on flips (whose I identity I can't determine) and later takes on the crime boss in a short weapons-based fight involving batons and a nunchaka. She eventually battles the rest of his gang hand-to-hand while Kurt McKinney makes the most of his return to martial arts cinema by trading blows with Scott in the co-final fight, letting the movie end on a high note and almost giving the impression that you've just sat through a wild ride. Definite props go to choreographer Eric Lee.
The production is clean, despite having that very superficial made-for-TV look to it. The acting, on the other hand, is in a bit of trouble: Rothrock remains passable even though she needs to cry several times, but McKinney, Scott, Bianco, and most of the other co-stars ham it up quite a bit. There are a couple sensual but very silly sex scenes between Rothrock and McKinney which serve no purpose other than giving fans a good, long look at the former's breasts. There are a couple of so-so gunfights and a pretty decent kata performed by Cynthia, but that's where the good things end. The overall professionalism of the picture keeps me from giving it two stars instead of three, but don't go into this film thinking it's a return to form for the original Sonya Blade - those days are long past.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing, February 16, 2010
I'm such a huge fan of Cynthia Rothrock. This movie was action packed, funny, and her phsyic ability to the touch. Don't I wish I can have that ability. The most amazing part of this DVD was the interview with Cynthia Rothrock. To see her explaination of certain scenes was nice. But one thing that bugs me was her semi nude body in a romantic sexual scene. Don't get me wrong, she's beautiful but I'm not used to seeing her in those scenes, But she pulled it off. In my opinion I gave this movie 5 stars, just because it had it all:) And I would love to train to fight like her. Just to stay in shape and to take care of my self when nesacerry. But this is my opinion you'd have to see it then agree, if you agree with every one, or just put in your two cents in a review.:)
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