An interesting failure or a diamond in the rough? Any way you look at it, ""Death Ring"" is an enjoyable movie worth adding to your kung fu collection.

"Death Ring" has three solid things going for it: suprisingly good acting from the lesser known cast, good fight scenes (especially the Thai kickboxing ones), and (gasp!) character development. I actually sympathized with Selick's grim determination to enter a boxing match he couldn't win.

Unfortunately, "Death Ring" has three solid things working against it. Firstly, the narrative is unfocused. In the beginning, the story seems like a Romeo and Juliet 'star-crossed lovers' scenario, but Dai Chi leaves in search of his father and never returns. Later, he discovers that his father died some years ago, and his 'best friend' Selick was actually his half-brother (I say 'was' because Dai Chi finds this out after Selick has been killed in the ring)! So THEN Dai Chi is determined to learn Thai Kickboxing to defeat the killer champion named Leopard and avenge his brother. And thats not even mentioning the parts played by Lu Feng, Ti Lung, or Chen Kwan Tai. It would have been more satisfying for the audience if the narrative stayed with the love story angle from the beginning.

Secondly, the big name actors have very limited screen time in this movie. This is by no means a Venoms film, nor even a Shaw Brothers star vehicle. Personally, I think the principal actors do fine acting and fighting in this movie, but the cover of the Tai Seng version of "Death Ring" leads you to believe that the big name stars carry this movie. They don't. In fact, I found Ti Lung's pimp character to be a bit ridiculous. The other big names (Lu Feng, Chen Sing) are okay, but if you go to get a drink or use the bathroom during the movie, you run the risk of missing them. Speaking of big names, where is Chen Kwan Tai in this movie? I don't think he even has a fight scene.

Finally, some of the characters are oddly developed. The exploitative female Thai boxing manager is surely meant to be a villain when she negotiates Selick's final bout against the vicious Leopard. She bets on what round he will die in! She uses boxers as a means to an end, turns desperate workers into 'human punching bags' for Leopard to practice on, and smokes her cigarettes in an admirably contemptuous manner. It is clear that the audience is not supposed to like her, but her wickedness goes unpunished. Speaking of unpunished villains, check out killer champion Leopard after the final bout with Dai Chi. Talk about getting off easy for killing the protagonist's step-brother!

Overall, the movie is engaging and oddly rewarding if you stick with it through to the rather sudden ending. I consider it a worthy addition to the Tai Seng Martial Arts Theater collection, and worthwhile viewing for martial arts movie fans.