With no local mixed martial arts action this weekend, MMA fans in the area are left with two ways to get their Ultimate Kicking, Punching and Choking fix. Either pull a jumping guard on the first Harry Potter that knocks on your door tomorrow night, or watch a good old fashioned fight flick. So, in an effort to create some content, we’re going to start reviewing some good old fashion guy movies.

We’ll kick this off with a personal favorite of mine.

Best of the Best, released in 1989, was a launching pad for Julia’s little brother Eric Roberts into mediocrity. Eric and Phillip Rhee portrayed Alex Grady and Tommy Lee, members of the USA’s Tae Kwon Do team. Team USA, coached by Darth Vader James Earl Jones, spend most of the movie preparing for an invitational contest against Team South Korea, lead by the lethal right leg of Dae Han. For their part, Team Korea train much like Ivan Drago, pushed to the limits by some vague communist sports machine that has limitless resources, and a desire to make sure someone ends up dead, in training or on the mat. The film reaches its climax as Team USA competes in a team vs team contest in South Korea.

Structured a lot like a Rocky movie, the plucky and precocious US team, which also includes a Cowboy Up’ed Christopher Penn spend their time training in sometimes unconventional ways under the rough and gruff discipline of James Earl Jones. Roberts’ character. Alex Grady is forced to choose TKD or family when his son gets sick, and his best friend Tommy Lee has to face inner demons as he has to fight Dae Han, the man who killed his brother in a very similar tournament during Lee’s childhood.

The fight scenes, build in intensity, quality and blood until the two penultimate fights between Grady and his opponent, and Lee and Dae Han. Needless to say, Alex Grady’s grit and determination leave Team USA in a position to upset the Koreans. The story reaches its climax as Tommy Lee’s past forces him into a difficult decision.

Now, Best of the Best isn’t The Deerhunter. Its not biting social commentary, or even a believable story. Ahmad Rashad doing play by play for a national broadcast of a TKD tournament in Korea? Suspension of belief indeed. But what it is, is a great beer flick. Throw it in when there aren’t any real fights on TV, crack a frosty and enjoy it with the boys.

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