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Return of the Street Fighter (1975)


Cast:

Sonny Chiba is Terry Tsuguri
Masafumi Suzuki


Read the review of the original Streetfighter




What the box says:

After single-handedly crippling several cops and wiping out a witness, the mob wants Terry Tsuguri to perform another hit. This time the target is the respected owner of several Asian Martial Arts Centers as well as Terry's long-time friend. When Terry refuses to take the job, the mob goes crazy and sends an army of trained killers with an arsenal of weapons to eliminate The Street Fighter once and for all. Because Terry is now the sworn enemy of both good and evil, no one can live to witness The Return of the Street Fighter


Plot:

Some of the names I couldn't seem to pick up on in the movie.

A briefcase of cash is Terry Tsuguri's payment to kill 2 accountants. One of the accountants is in police custody and are questioning him. The charming Mr. Tsuguri demands double the amount of money. He's got quite an effective method of getting a pay raise.

It’s night in the city. A motorcycle is speeding. The cops are in hot pursuit. He gets to the police station and starts unloading on the police. Eventually, he is taken to police headquarters. Sees where the accountant is supposed to be. Kung fues everyone present. Terry gets to punch open the accountant's throat and escapes out the window. The accountant will never speak again. I don't know anything about the Japanese legal system. But just insuring the witness can never talk again seems pretty risky. How could a mute man give testimony in a court case? Granted, having Sonny Chiba damage your vocal chords with one punch is impressive.

Some woman is driving Terry's getaway car. I think her name is Kitty. Granted in my notes she was dubbed Girl. Now, he has to get the other accountant.

Back at the police headquarters, Yamagami wants to be placed on the case to catch Terry. He blames himself for what has happened. They refuse to put him on the case. So, Yamagami tenders his resignation.

In a movie theater, the other accountant is waiting until he can get on his flight to get him out of the country. The cops get a tip and find him. This out of shape accountant happens to run into Terry Tsuguri. He gets the accountant’s bag and escapes. The cops shoot the accountant.

At a martial arts school, we get to see a demonstration of various weapons: nun chucks, tanfa clubs, kama sickles, bo staffs, samurai swords, and sai daggers. Kitty is returning a gold statue that the accountant had stolen. Otuguro, head of the Mob thinks that a martial arts school owner tipped the police about the accountants.


At another martial arts school, they are doing breathing exercises, brick-breaking, and sparing. The head of the school is the little Sammo Hung guy from the Streetfighter. His name is Masaoka. And, that is kind of strange, I could have sworn he died in it.

Yamagami is talking with Masaoka. Yamagami is on a leave of absence. They both believe the mob is up to something bad. The karate school the Mob has is generating huge amounts of money. Masaoka will contact the heads of each chapter of his school to see if they can learn anything about the Mob's plan. Yamagami wants to know about Tsuguri. The best advice Masaoka gives him is beware of Terry.

This is the first of several black and white flashbacks to Streetfighter. The fight between Terry and Masaoka. He talks some about Terry's father.

Car pulls up to the Mob's school. Masaoka talks with Otuguro. Money is being "donated" to the new building. Masaoka mentions he has evidence. Otuguro should return the money or Masaoka goes to the police with his evidence. He is given a very unfriendly goodbye. We get another martial arts demonstration from a top martial artist from a foreign country.

Yamagami checks on the blueprints for "Asia Martial Arts School." The construction company isn't very forthcoming about answering his questions. So, he gets to fight an office full of guys. He does a pretty good impression of Sonny Chiba beats all of them.

Terry is working out while Kitty is watching. We learn she was on the street until Terry helped her. He on occasion does nice things. Terry freed Rat-Nose in the original. Kitty keeps talking about Americans. Terry gets a message to be at a subway station.

A bearded long haired white guy, who has a fair resemblance to the singer from the Black Crowes, motions to them. Terry is given a locker key. It's filled with roses and a briefcase with money and a picture. The picture is of Masaoka, the teacher who the Mob hates. Leaves the money, Kitty grabs it.

Terry talks with Otuguro. Flat out tells him, he won't kill Masaoka. Otuguro then threatens Sonny Chiba. For a big shot in the Mob, this guy isn't too bright. Terry storms out. Otuguro then gets a plan together to kill Terry. I have to think of this as a good case of the DOUBLE CROSS THEOREM. Never let a karate master who kills for you refuse a job.

At some ski resort, Kitty keeps wanting know why Terry refused the job. Apparently, Masaoka is the only man he trusts. I never really see how he trusts him. Granted Masaoka is the only man to beat Terry. With Terry’s father the way he was, it's a miracle that Terry is as well-adjusted as he is. Typical mercenary karate assassin for hire to the Mob.

Where was I? The fight at the ski lodge starts. Terry is fighting Kama Sickle boy. He's on the defensive. It's easy to tell, Terry isn't doing the throat clearing growl. Bo man is fighting Terry. Kama sickle boy arrives. He manages to get rid of Kama sickle boy. Now, there is only Bo man left to deal with Tsuguri style. Pops his eyes out.


Does that hurt?
Kitty finds him as Terry find starts the throat growl.

Nighttime in Tokyo, Terry is relaxing in a sauna. The guy beside him is an annoying guy who thinks he's a master karate expert. Terry just ignores him. He gets a massage next. A fight breaks out. Well, the annoying guy happens to be the first one knocked out. Chiba unloads on them. As he finishes them, we're treated to another patent pending Sonny Chiba throat clearing pain growl. He carries all the fighters into the sauna turns it on maximum and breaks the controls.

Masaoka learns that one of his school heads was killed. The dead man had a letter asking for a donation to the "Asia Martial Arts School" building signed by Masaoka. He learns more about people were forced to make "contributions". Masaoka thinks he finally has enough evidence against Otuguro.

Terry is on an elevator with some woman. Kitty is waiting for him. In Terry's room, it looks like sweet kung fu lovin' will ensue. Kitty is outside his room, unable to get inside. Woman is reaching for a knife. Terry hears the click. Fight with a knife wielding woman. He breaks her arms. Terry seems more pissed that he won't get any sweet kung fu lovin' than the fact she tried to kill him.

Turban guy breaks the door down. This is the top martial artist from some foreign country. Terry is dressed and ready to beat someone. Kitty watches Terry defeat Turban guy.

Kitty is begging Terry not to go. He ignores her. Terry runs into Junjo. This is the guy Terry broke out of jail at the beginning of the original Streetfighter. Get another flashback to the original movie: the climactic fight where Terry rips open Junjo's throat. It didn't kill him. Junjo now has an artificial voice box. Unsurprisingly, he wants revenge. Terry wants to finish the job right. The Mob got Junjo the voice box and has hired him to kill Terry. Kitty begs for Terry not to fight. He pushes her down.

We get the fight between Terry and a sai-wielding Junjo. Junjo manages to draw first blood. They are sizing each other up. Terry falls. Junjo leaves, making the mistake that Terry is dead. Kitty manages to drag Terry away.

Otuguro is talking about how his reputation is being ruined by Masaoka. He comes in with proof. Otuguro forged Masaoka's name on letters. He denies everything. Masoaka tries appealing to his sense of honor.

Later, Otuguro begs Black Crowe looking singer for help. Black Crowe boy is head of the Mob and will manage the operations instead of Otuguro who is promptly shot.


All I need is a remedy...

At a restaurant, Masaoka and the witnesses are eating. Mob guys rush the place opening fire. We get to see Masaoka unload some vengeance on these punks' asses. Yamagami and the rest of them are dead.

In a sewer, Kitty is bringing things for Terry. He is half awake. We get another flashback to the original movie. As a kid, Terry is watching his father's execution. Remembering the advice a father passes on to his son. Trust no one. Always be the best. You know the typical stuff parents tell kids before Little League games. If you are defeated, you're no son of mine. Kitty is happy he's awake. She tries to convince him to leave town. Terry knew that she was spying on him for the Mob. She tells him everything that he knows about her was true. She doesn't profess her undying love for him but at this point is seems pretty obvious. It looks like Terry is powering up. The throat growl.

Kitty is waiting on a bridge when she is grabbed by some goons. Terry figures out where she'll be taken, abandoned electrical plant. He cuts the power. Searching, Terry finds the battered body of Kitty, who is still alive. Get to see where Sonny Chiba shows an emotion: concern. Kitty wants him to escape.

Goons pop up out of the woodwork. Terry is going to take Kitty out of here. Don Costello, Black Crowe singer look-alike arrives. He explains the master plan. Mob is going to take over the Asian crime families.

Junjo wants first shot at Terry. Costello lets Junjo fight. Terry gently lays Kitty down. He is readying a couple of his throwing blades and walks close to Junjo. Terry uses the throwing blades to blind Costello in one eye and some other guy. Terry gets a gun.

Terry fights the entire room. Insane karate fight. Finally, the fight between Junjo and Terry will begin. Costello is running from Terry who has to fight Junjo.

Terry and Junjo are evenly matched. Tsuguri trips Junjo who falls into an outlet box which electrocutes him. Terry does have a surprised look on his face at this point, not expecting that to happen.

At a railroad crossing, Costello climbs on top of a truck. Silly Black Crowe looking singer, you can't escape an angry Sonny Chiba. Terry beats Costello. The truck is a gas truck which crashes for some reason exploding. Terry escaped before the explosion and has an evil grin on his face.


What I say:

The version I reviewed is 85 minutes long. The R-rated version is 77 minutes long. At least, this time it doesn't have as much cut out as Street Fighter . This movie doesn't have the same degree of insane fighting as the original. Wouldn't a movie about how a killer who refuses a contract on a friend normally tell the friend? At least, have a fight scene showing them fighting swarms of evil guys. This movie doesn't. Terry never interacts with Masaoka in any way except for a flashback.

You don't watch Sonny Chiba movies for deep emotional content. You watch them for some serious karate action.It isn't in the same league with the original. Be hard pressed to be actually. The fights are staged expertly.After the last few movies I've watched, it would be hard to imagine a Sonny Chiba movie with bad fight scenes.This movie just doesn't have the energy of the original. The X-ray punch, the testicle removing punch, etc... Everything that was so over the top isn't here. But, the Eye punch did have that feel of energy.

While watching this movie and looking over my review for Streetfighter, I was surprised I neglected mentioning the insane violence which seemed so prevalent in Fist of the North Star anime that was inspired by Streetfigher. For some reason, I never thought about the connection. If any person could punch you and have you explode, it would be Sonny Chiba. Or Jet Li.

As much as I am comparing it to the original, it was a pretty good karate movie. Been nice if they explained how Masaoka and Junjo didn't die in the original. Can I say anything nice about this movie? Eye punch. Sonny Chiba didn't have Rat-Nose this time. He always annoyed me. Kitty was annoying but, she never seemed as bad as Rat-Nose.



3 1/2 NINJAS

Quotable Dialogue

"Man, that's like solid gold."
"He's a genius at karate."
"I love Americans. They taught me to groove."
"I'm back and not a corpse!"


Morals of the Story

If you hit someone hard enough in the head, their eyes will pop out.
If you died in the original movie, you automatically got another life for the sequel.
Death is only permanent between sequels.
Eyes can stop bleeding in less than 10 minutes after having a metal blade in them and have a lot of scar tissue, too.