Best of the Best II MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -3

Below a trendy Las Vegas nightclub lies the Coliseum, an arena where men fight the Coliseum's gladiators while the wealthy wager and cheer them on. By defeating three of them, challengers earn the right to meet the undefeated owner, a huge, brutal man named Brachus (Ralph Moeller). National karate champion Travis Brickley (Christopher Penn), a partner in a karate school with former teammates Alex Grady (Eric Roberts) and Tommy Lee (Phillip Rhee), qualifies to fight Brachus. Travis brings Alex's son Bobby with him for the big event. Travis fights valiantly but cannot win. He doesn't know that if you lose against Brachus, you lose your life. Bobby witnesses the killing, then flees in terror. Brachus sends his army of assassins after Bobby, Alex and Tommy. The trio hide out with Tommy's adopted Native American family. Under the tutelage of Tommy's adopted brother, they train for the inevitable confrontation with Brachus. BEST OF THE BEST II will be a painful movie experience for those who are not big martial-arts fans. It's incredibly predictable - it's obvious that the heroes will eventually defeat the villain. The plot is secondary, with only a scant framework between fights.

Tinseltown's "essential" elements in this R-rated film are graphic violence and objectionable language. Only a sadistic few will enjoy the excruciating sights and sounds of a man's wrist or arm crushed and broken. Bloody gunshots and stabbings also occur, as the martial arts discipline is perverted for thrills' sake. Language includes seven f-words, two s-words and six regular profanities. On the positive side, Alex gives encouragement to Bobby when he fails to break a brick to win his black belt. Native American mysticism plays a part in their training when they are encouraged to hallucinate to get in touch with their inner selves. This mish-mash of cultural spiritualism is confusing at best. Martial arts as a physical discipline is acceptable; as a spiritual discipline not centered on Jesus Christ, it is unacceptable. Avoidance is good advice for this film.

Preview Reviewer: Pete Zomowski
Distributor: 20th Century Fox, P.O. Box 900, Beverly Hills, CA 90213