Showdown in Little Tokyo poster & wallpaper

Brandon Lee, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Dolph Lundgren

Showdown in Little Tokyo is a 1991 martial arts action-comedy that, in pitting Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee as L.A. cops against Japanese drug dealers, plays like a B-movie Tango and Cash<...( read more  read more... )/I> or Lethal Weapon 2 (both released just two years before). Between career highs in Rocky IV (1985) and Universal Soldier (1992), Lundgren looked as if he might make it big at the box office, and clearly wanting to be the new Schwarzenegger he is here directed by Mark L Lester, who had earlier helmed Ah-nold's Commando (1985). In the event both actor and director headed for straight-to-video territory, while Lee (Bruce's son) went on to The Crow. The 75-minute running time suggests the studio lost confidence and seriously cut the movie though, as the space between the action is filled with nothing but cringe-inducing dialogue, thriller clichés, and Lundgren "romancing" Tia Carrere, it still makes sense. Basing its title on John Carpenter's 1986 fantasy-comedy Big Trouble in Little China and anticipating Rush Hour (1998), Showdown in Little Tokyo alternates between crude tongue-in-cheek moments and action so ludicrous it's unintentionally hilarious . A camp disaster that simply defies belief, this is so-bad-it's-good entertainment. --Gary S. Dalkin

Flixster Users

56% liked it

8,891 ratings

R, 78 min.

Directed by: Brandon Lee, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Dolph Lundgren, Mark L. Lester, Mark Lester, Tia Carrere

Release Date: January 1, 1991

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: November 10, 1998

Stats: 411 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites
report incorrect info

Photos

Showdown in Little Tokyo
Upload a Photo |

View All Showdown in Little Tokyo Photos (1)

Your Rating


clear rating
Share on: Facebook Twitter

Flixster Reviews (411)

  • allan913
    October 24, 2009
    allan913
    A total blast. An explosive mix of thrilling action and great buddy-cop comedy. A fast-paced, exciting, very funny and action-packed joy-ride from start to finish. It's explosive, thrilling, smart and sensational. Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee are teriffic together, brining on g...( read more)reat chemistry filled with dominate action presence, character development, charisma and a great sense of humor. An adreniline-pumping thrill-ride that strikes you with great force. One incrediably fun movie that dosent stop for a minute. It has plenty of action and humor. A classic buddy movie. One of my all time favorite Dolph Lundgren action movies.
  • cartersimo
    February 18, 2007
    cartersimo
    Acting was so so but i thought it was pretty good movie with some good action.
  • RiderOfTheStorms
    September 11, 2006
    RiderOfTheStorms
    Good movie!
  • chadroesti
    April 22, 2009
    chadroesti
    Come on Brandon Lee! Who agrees to a line like "YOu have the biggest penis I have ever seen on a man"? Nobody!
    You can see how he wants to laugh and Dolph is kind of uncomfortable as he says it. I liked the movie besides that...well I was like 15 and was watching anything ...( read more)to do with Bruce Lee or kung fu in general. Corney lines but decent action. Tia Carrere gets fairly naked in this one. Still an enjoyable flick to watch.
  • whispersofecstacy
    November 13, 2009
    whispersofecstacy
    Really weird, but the action makes it watchable.
  • psyclock7
    October 31, 2009
    psyclock7
    This different, but the fight scenes were pretty good..."
  • watsupwithdat
    October 23, 2009
    watsupwithdat
    It was very cringe worthy, some of the half assed comedy that Lee tried to dish out, but the action was alright. It's funny that Lundgren's career died in the ass after this, while Lee did The Crow and just well...yeah. I would have liked to seen Lee being the lead role rather th...( read more)an big Dolph. It was also awesome to see Tia Carera's jubs after being teased for so many years watching Wayne's World.
  • jimrin
    October 14, 2009
    jimrin
    While I wanted to like this movie because of Brandon Lee, the script and acting were weak.
  • xtremeandy
    October 12, 2009
    xtremeandy
    Really this movie has some of the gayest cringe-inducing dialogue really and it could have been a great movie but it was so cut up and Brandon Lee should have shined here yet he was outspoken because he wasn't the principal here yet he did great for such a short career and life h...( read more)is next step was the Crow the unfinished masterpiece!

    For 400 years, Japan has been home to a secret criminal organization dedicated to its own supremacy in the underworld. Ruled by an ancient, arcane code of honor, the deadly Yakuza have been among the most feared members of society. Even today, they are immediately recognizable by the stunningly ornate tattoos that cover their bodies, telling the terrifying story of their stature and career in a dark order that knows no mercy. Now the Yakuza are coming to Los Angeles. But in America, they're going to meet their match. Two cops are on their trail. One's an American raised in Japan. He's got the mind and spirit of a samurai, and the body of a human fighting machine. The other's a Japanese-American raised in California's San Fernando Valley. He's into malls, pizza and MTV. But he can disarm five gunmen with his bare feet. One's a warrior. One's a wise-ass. But together they've got what it takes to remove some tattoos from Little Tokyo. "Showdown in Little Tokyo" stars action favorite Dolph Lundgren as Chris Kenner, a man fighting for his adopted heritage and his family's honor; and Brandon Lee, in his first American film role, as Johnny Murata, a guy whose idea of a good time includes knowing where--and how--to get his kicks. Opposites in attitude, once they get on the streets, they're a perfect odd couple. And what they have in common is their enemy--the Yakuza who are bringing a lethal new drug trade to Los Angeles, coupled with a macabre taste for violence and cruelty.
  • saracweil
    August 24, 2009
    saracweil
    I thought this movie was a little dorkey. I liked the lines for brandon.

View All Showdown in Little Tokyo Reviews

Critic Reviews

No recent reviews.

Comments

This board looks lonely. Be the first to talk about "Showdown in Little Tokyo" !

Post A Comment | View All Comments

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

All Rotten Tomatoes content is used under license from Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes, Certified Fresh, and the Tomatometer are the trademarks of Incfusion Corporation, d/b/a Rotten Tomatoes, a subsidiary of IGN Entertainment, Inc.

Official Trailer

View Larger Showdown in Little Tokyo Trailer

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Crow
    The Crow (46%)
  • Rapid Fire
    Rapid Fire (100%)

More Movies like Showdown in Little Tokyo

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Showdown in Littl... : Watch Free on TV

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Showdown in Little Tokyo Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Showdown in Little Tokyo to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?