| It is the IFD presented version of what looks like a Taiwan martial arts picture starring Chang Yi and Lung Fei but the British Board Of Film Classification's version of it. Meaning it was, according to imdb.com, stripped of all the ninja scenes when released as Ninja Operation 6: Champion Of Fire (again, without ninjas). What's actually left is a wonderfully poor opening with Stuart Smith looking mighty pissed (that he's not in the movie more?) and some of the ugliest white dudes ever to grace an IFD flick. No ninjas and no more Smith. In fact, the bare ninja reference left comes during a 30 second Richard Harrison scene but no fighting takes place. So therefore running 13 minutes or so shorter than it should, left is a boring kung fu picture that does at least contain one out of the ordinary element. Gracing the opening credits is a white missionary who drags a big cross around and behaves generally off-beat and sleazy. Admittedly the actor looks several notches more comfortable than most hired to appear in these films and while the subsequent pairing up of Chang Yi's Dragon character means it's an Asian/white dude buddy picture, there's no fun matters to report. Dubbed by the IFD plot as Antonio, our white lead is changing his ways after upsetting the ninjas but seems awfully hellbent on rape and generally off behaviour despite. And why is that cross so important? The reveal is fun, although totally low budget and the lack of mixture between ill-fitting IFD scenes and plot really makes the whole exercise pointless. It is indeed missing something. |
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