There are plenty of low budget martial arts flicks in the world, many of which are total embarrassments. Thankfully, this is not one of them. Martial Law II has a plot that's simple enough to be believable but also has a few bits of creativity thrown in to make it distinguishable but not stupid. Furthermore, the actors do a good enough job with their roles to make the viewer suspend their disbelief and care about what's happening. And, of course, there's plenty of fighting throughout the movie to make it fun. It's not a great movie, but considering the limited amount of stories one can do with this genre of films, it's pretty unique and makes for an entertaining watch on a Saturday afternoon.
Add a Review
-
gannawayde8 December 2007
-
gridoon26 May 2006The plot is nothing new (police corruption, a crime syndicate that uses a night club as a front, a cop investigating the death of his partner, etc.) but the fight scenes range from good to very good (the best one might be an illegal 2-on-1 that doesn't involve any of the leads). Maybe they can't match up to the best that Hong Kong has to offer, but they are choreographed in a way that showcases the fighters' power, speed and technique. My two main disappointments with this film are: 1) as already reported by another reviewer, VERY short final fight between Cynthia Rothrock and the female bodyguard (what a bummer!), and 2) no arch-villain role for the master of such roles, Billy Drago (he's just a corrupted police chief). (**)
-
This was a good movie.
The story is nothing new i.e. dirty cops, gang, team of cops taking the problem on.
The music was nice and reminded me of the 1980s action movies even though this movie was made in 1992.
The cast was decent and everyone did what they were supposed to. In these type of action flicks the acting is minimum and the music and action take over.
The fashion (needs a comment) was terrible' as it looked like something from the miid-1980s. Not even Chuck Norris action films from the 80s looked that old.
They could of turned this into a martial arts sequel. It's a shame they don't make movies this straight forward anymore.
Thankgod for Movies4Men channel on my sky! -
paul_haakonsen17 October 2022I can't claim that I was overly impressed with the 1990 predecessor titled "Martial Law", but I still opted to sit down and watch the 1991 sequel "Martial Law II: Undercover", as it was a movie that I had actually never watched before.
Writers Richard Brandes, Pierre David and Jiles Fitzgerald managed to put together a storyline that was a bit more enjoyable here in this sequel. Though it is still not top notch action entertainment. The movie does have that early 1990s cheese to it. But hey, if you enjoy that kind, then director Kurt Anderson does deliver something for you with "Martial Law II: Undercover".
"Martial Law II: Undercover" is a continuation with the characters Billie Blake (played by Cynthia Rothrock) and Det. Sean Thompson (played by Jeff Wincott in this movie), so that was a nice enough thing with the tie-in to the previous movie. "Martial Law II: Undercover" also have the likes of Billy Drago and Paul Johansson on the cast list, so there are some familiar faces here at least.
The acting performances in "Martial Law II: Undercover" were adequate, though you're obviously not in for an evening of Shakespearian theater here.
The action and martial sequences in the movie were nice enough, taking into consideration the production and type of movie that "Martial Law II: Undercover" is.
My rating of "Martial Law II: Undercover" lands on a five out of ten stars. -
Jimbo-9613 August 1999Cynthia Rothrock and Jeff Wincott are the dual leads, cops who are martial arts experts. They investigate a shady night club run by more martial arts experts. Guess what? The standard high kicking actioner. Who needs guns or backup. The major disappointment is that the climatic fight between the two female karate fighters consists of one kick. Blink and you'll miss it. It's easy to see why there wasn't a Martial Law 3, but I watched martial arts films far worst then this. This is strictly a made in America effort.
-
a_chinn11 August 201980s ponytailed and mullet headed villains abound in this ridiculous marital arts direct-to-video dreck. Cynthia Rockrock returns as the high kicking LAPD detective, but her original partner from the first film, Chad McQueen, has been replaced by Jeff Wincott. The two then go undercover to take down smarmy nightclub owner Billy Drago (FYI - it's a night club with a lot of people who know marital arts). It's a dumb story and a sequel to a film that really didn't need a sequel. It's also puzzling why this film had the subtitle "Undercover" since Rothrock and her partner also went undercover in the first film. The only reason to watch this film is for the fight sequences, which are not all that good an come off more like watching a martial arts demonstration (i.e. this is how to fight off a knife attack, this is what you do when you're attacked from behind, this is what you do...). The fights are completely unimaginative and done without any sense of style or flair. At least with a dumb, Steven Segal movie you get some good bone crunching action, though Rothrock does deliver one kick that busts a knee in the wrong direction that's pretty brutal. Still, that's not enough reason to watch this one and you're still better off watching Rothrock's Hong Kong martial arts film appearances like "Yes, Madam!" and "Righting Wrongs." Oh, and don't even bother to ask why none of the criminals ever shoot a gun, despite all of them packing heat.
-
When I saw that Chad McQueen was not in this one, I figured we would get more Cynthia Rothrock in cute outfits and kicking butt. I was wrong as they simply recast the character of Sean Thompson to a guy who looks a bit more imposing than McQueen, but wears a blank expression on his face for the entire film. It's Martial Law II: Undercover, where being undercover has never been so pointless and yielded so little.
The story to this one has Sean Thompson back and looking entirely different as he goes to another precinct, leaving the person who should be the star and top billed behind. Well, a person he went to the academy with is trying to expose a dirty cop and is captured and his death made to look like drunk driving, but Sean thinks that the club he finds a matchbook from must be involved and they pretty much confirm it by attacking him! So now he sends Cynthia in as a bartender to work there and not really find any evidence as they keep sending thugs to randomly beat him up!
Cynthia is okay in this one, but she does not get to do as much as the first film and they have her in outfits more fitting for the first lady rather than a bad ass karate cop. Then there is the lead guy who looks like the main bad guy without the ponytail. Meanwhile, the main bad guy has a henchman that looks like him only with a longer ponytail! Then Billy Drago is in it looking all creepy as Billy Drago usually does.
So, the film had some good points to it in that it was an entertaining to watch type of film; however, I would have liked to see more skin from Cynthia as she looked so good in the first film. The plot is also very weak, as it is all about some dude wanting ten million dollars so he could organize martial arts matches or something. Then the final fight is a bit of a letdown considering how much they hyped up the henchman during one scene where he beat two men rather easily. I think the Carradine fight from the first film was better and it was not exactly great. -
alucifer10 September 2005the other person that reviewed this on IMDb must have seen a completely different movie than i did.everybody has their own opinion though.this stars two of my favorite martial arts actors.jeff wincott and cynthia rothrock.so you know there is going to be lots of good fight scenes in this movie.cynthia rothrock once again proves she is the queen of martial arts movies as she does some amazing kicks to the head in her many fight scenes.and just like he did in martial outlaw jeff wincott delivers some brutal kicks and punches to the villains.so my advice to anyone looking for a martial arts movie with lots of fighting in it should go buy this movie.
-
Leofwine_draca15 March 2016This cheapo sequel to the original MARTIAL LAW jettisons the star pairing of Chad McQueen and David Carradine and brings in straight-to-video action hulk Jeff Wincott instead. Thankfully, Cynthia Rothrock reprises her role from the first film, so at least there's one reason to watch.
In any case, this is below average for a cheap '90s straight-to-video action offering. The fights are unspectacular and often staged in the dark, and the acting is very poor. Rothrock is the best thing in it, but I didn't go much for the evil-looking Wincott, who feels more like a shoe-in for a villainous role rather than the hero. Billy Drago is welcome in the part of a cop, but is given limited screen time, and overall there are few reasons to watch - even for fans of this particular genre of film. -
Imagine a world wherein direct-to-video movies could be good on purpose; wherein the cast, director, and producers actually made an effort to match Hollywood; and wherein performers who had never been seen on theater screens matched the big-name action heroes of the day. Whether I'm romanticizing things or if such a time really existed is a matter of opinion, but it's plain fact that MARTIAL LAW II is a very good low budget martial arts feature, able to match the offerings that Van Damme, Seagal, and Norris were putting out at the time and still good nowadays.
The story: The star police team of Sean Thompson (Jeff Wincott) and Billie Blake (Cynthia Rothrock) is broken up just as an ambitious lord of the underworld (Paul Johansson) rises to prominence, killing a policeman in the process. The two will have to reunite undercover to unearth the crime and expose it with their lives intact.
At the time of this one's release, the only performer who was properly established in the action genre was Cynthia Rothrock, but surprisingly, this isn't really her vehicle. She gets her share of the action, but Jeff Wincott - making his action movie debut - is the one who really takes the helm in driving the story, showing excellent poise as both a legitimate leading man and an action hero. He's supplemented by a minor super group of performers also on their way to becoming B-movie dragons: in addition to Johannson as the lead villain, there's Evan Lurie, Leo Lee, and James Lew as respectively awesome henchmen and Billy Drago as a conflicted police captain forced to go straight. Nobody's really pressured into heavy acting, but I daresay everyone performs - physically and dramatically - to the best of their ability and to the extent their roles allow them.
The fight content really shines. Be warned, Hong Kong fans, none of it is overly flashy or terribly acrobatic - it's just good, solid western martial arts action with an emphasis on kicks and minimal gunfighting. It's hard to believe that this is the first karate film Jeff Wincott ever did, considering his proficiency in varied disciplines, including forms and weapons handling; his scene with his trademark batons is particularly vicious. A few of Cynthia Rothrock's fights seem like filler despite her stellar forms, but she's afforded at least one standout battle at the end with the ever-worthy James Lew. Evan Lurie gives possibly the best martial performance of his career when he takes on two huge bodyguards in a handicap match and gets to show off just how tough he really is. Of the 'round eight or nine fights, few of them are standout material on their own but, in a rare feat, manage to come together to create a fulfilling tapestry of hand-to-hand action.
The film's production values are deserving of praise as well. All too many times when I watch a modern DTV movie, I get the impression that the filmmakers or the studio are discouraged from presenting quality production on account of their movie's relatively low distribution. MARTIAL LAW II, on the other hand, seems to have been made with the mindset that, specifically because it wasn't bound for a theatrical release, it had to try all the harder to impress viewers with its good-as-Hollywood presentation. Even the VHS cover looks like it could belong to a theatrical movie. Therein, like most action films from this era, it's a bit superficial, but what were you expecting? The story's interesting enough to keep you interested as you await the next randori and the whole package is attractive enough to interest even viewers who haven't been weaned off of the big budget productions yet. Why this one hasn't gotten a Region 1 DVD release yet is beyond me. -
BandSAboutMovies15 July 2022Detective Sean Thompson is no longer Chad McQueen, now he's Jeff Wincott, but Billie Blake is still Cynthia Rothrock and that's the whole reason why I'm watching this.
This time, they're on the case of Club Syntax where the elite get favors from beautiful women while being protected by numerous martial arts masters who are all battling to determine which fighting group rules the world of combat. Well, they eventually are, but their team is briefly split up while Thompson moves up to detective and gets a new boss, Captain Krantz (Billy Drago).
I mean, it's pretty much what you want it to be. A fight club gets infiltrated by Wincott and Rothrock; also she dresses up as a hot dog vendor and then becomes a bartender inside that nefarious club.
Directed by Kurt Anderson with a script by Richard Brandes and exploitation producer master Pierre David, this movie is like ordering a hamburger. You know exactly what it is, but you take that first bite and it's so rewarding and you think - this is why I ordered this. -
Kelleyscope30 November 2006Steven Segal, pony tail and all, stepped onto the scene somewhere around 1990-ish with Above the Law. About a year or so later Martial Law 2:Undercover comes out ... and I have to tell you a movie with more pony tails has never been made.
But this is not to knock the movie. Trust me there is lots to knock in this movie (like how the biker gang from the opening sequence intended to transport the guns they were trying to purchase back to their homes).
No, I am not going to knock this movie. Why? Because I love this movie. It is over-the-top, well produced (seriously, Kurt Anderson -- the director-- has got some of the best performances out of the cast, good fights, a good look and good editing), comical (both on purpose and not-so-on purpose in scenes).
The replacement of Wincott for Chad McQueen's character from part one gets a better fighter in the male lead (and in my opinion a more diverse actor).
But what is it about this movie that really sets it apart, outside of all the hair and even a yawn by one actor in a scene. It is the acting by uncredited (both on IMDb and in the final credits) as Danny Borelli. I don't know why or how this guy did it, but he plays perhaps the best recovering alcoholic in film history ... well maybe second best to Ray Milland. Don't take my word for it, watch this movie. Watch the way the Borelli character continues to be engaged in conversations and scenes when he is doesn't have lines (yes I realize as an actor that is his job ... but come on, how many actors actually follow through with their jobs.
Charles Taylor is credited for playing Borelli as well as Dobbs, but Dobbs is the character that Borelli was following, and while they list Borelli's wife in the end credits of the film, I did not see the actors' name for Borelli listed ... -
Cops Sean "Martial Law" Thompson (Wincott) and Billie Blake (Rothrock) are back in this sequel which is a quantum leap ahead of its lackluster predecessor.
When one of their fellow officers ends up dead, the trail leads to a popular nightclub run by the smarmy Spencer Hamilton (Johansson). His muscle includes meathead Tanner (Lurie) and other sidekick Bree (Rose). To get closer to the truth, Billie goes undercover as a bartender. Naturally, all manner of illegal doings are emanating from the club, not least of which is high-stakes, underground Punchfighting. But why is Captain Krantz (Drago) so touchy about this subject? It's now up to Sean and Billie to take out the trash.
As stated earlier, this installment in the Martial Law trilogy is far superior to Martial Law one. The colors are brighter, it has a more professional sheen to it, and not only do the main stars Wincott and Rothrock really shine, it has a solid supporting cast featuring Billy Drago, Evan Lurie, Sherrie Rose, Max Thayer and Nicholas Hill in a small role.
The decision to replace Chad McQueen with Jeff Wincott was an inspired choice. Wincott is a lot more charming, and has Martial Arts skill to spare, and we just love his energetic style. As in the follow-up to this film, Mission of Justice, Wincott gets to do some stick-fighting along with his traditional vigorous style. Seeing as he resembles - in this film at least - Matthew McConaughey, rather than being a laid-back "surfer dude" who's just livin' life, he's breaking the arms and knee joints of baddies.
Evan Lurie, Slash Gallagher himself, lumbers into view in an extra-meatheady performance. He has strange speech patterns in this movie. He sounds like Stallone on half speed. But his clothing choices are pretty...well...choice. It's odd seeing Billy Drago as a police captain, as he looks like an emaciated gargoyle, but you'll see why he was cast in the role. Hopefully these descriptions don't come off as too crass, we love these actors and we've seen them so many times, they're like our friends.
But the main reason to watch Martial Law 2 are its quality fight scenes. It has the fights you want from the stars you like. That could almost be a tagline. Wincott and Rothrock get off some great moves, and what's cool about their scenes, is that you can see they are really doing the moves - as you all know, the way to see if a actor/Martial Artist is genuine is to see how many moves they do without a cut. For example, in some of the best Shaw Brothers movies, there are anywhere from 8-12 or more moves with no cut and it's extremely impressive. Wincott and Rothrock can also achieve this level of prowess, and it's a lot of fun to watch.
And while there is a lack of Wincott in the middle of the film, and it would have been nice to see a much longer fight scene between Rothrock and Sherrie Rose, this is a classic early-90's "abandoned warehouse" actioner with a lot to offer.
NOTE: Fascinatingly, there is an introduction on the U.S. VHS tape with Cynthia Rothrock advertising some of her movies. That's a really cool feature on the tape.
For more action insanity, drop by: www.comeuppancereviews.com -
ebiros214 September 2012This movie is a significant improvement over part 1 in almost every way. Actors are better and so is the cinematography by leaps and bounds.
The story actually has little sub-plots in it between Billie and Tiffany, and the places shot are much more posh than the first installment.
I liked this movie. Actions were much better too, but there could have been more. I wish the action were at the level of Hong Kong action movies. Cynthia Rothrock did better in HK movies, so they should have gone all out on this one as well.
Good movie for Cynthia Rothrock fans, that's actually worth your time watching. -
FlashCallahan17 July 2010Sean and Billie are undercover cops and martial arts masters. Investigating the death of a cop, they uncover a deadly ring of murder and corruption at a glitzy nightclub where the rich are entertained by seductive women and protected by martial arts experts.
Billie goes undercover to infiltrate the crime ring, leading to an explosive finale....
There is nothing to like at all about this movie, we know what is going to happen the minute when Wincott starts his new job. If the captain is Billy Drago, than obviously the department is going to be corrupt!! And when we meet his friend at the beginning, we know he is going to wind up dead the way he acts when he see Dobbs.
But i have a little place in my heart for films like this. Between 88'-92' the video shelf were rife with these. Some instant cheesy classics like this, others really not so good.
The film has aged really badly, the clothes look like something from a Rick Astley video, and the hairstyles are in pony tail heaven.
The fight scenes are typical from these sort of releases, they just get a little bit more tougher for the hero, just like a video game, until they face the final boss at the end.
The two leads are what you expect, and if you have seen their other movies, you will get some enjoyment from this.
this also includes the best opening credit music in a movie ever.
Trashy but enjoyable. -
kosmasp10 May 2019One of the finest things on the disc was the introduction by Rothrock herself. I don't remember seeing something like that which can be considered a special feature or extra nowadays on a DVD or Blu Ray. Not sure where this was shown (on TV on other videos as a sort of trailer kind of things? Who knows?), but it is a nice curiosity.
The sound effects on the fights are classic and even when this does not display the best of the movies of that era, it's still decent enough. The change in the male leading role really helped and Cynthia is on her A-Game too. Of course you can ask yourself, why is no one shooting guns, especially when they are being almost used by the villains ... but there we go. -
If there's anything that I've come to expect from a Cynthia Rothrock movie, it's action, acting, and direction that's blunt and over the top, if not also inauthentic and ham-handed. These qualities were sorely missed from this title's predecessor, as 1990's 'Martial law' was played weirdly straight, and the screenplay made the bizarre choice to deemphasize martial arts as it languished under a lethargic pace and meager plot development. As sequel 'Undercover' begins, though, it offers hope: the opening scene, filled with kicks, punches, and throws, forces a bewildered reaction, and the opening credits are accompanied by a wholly unnecessary training scene. To my pleasure, as the movie begins it sure looks like screenwriter Richard Brandes - perhaps with the aid of co-writer Jiles Fitzgerald - has learned from his mistakes and seen what pictures of this tenor are supposed to be. From one scene to the next we continue to be treated to elements that are awash in the forthright, overt, gauche flourishes and stylings we're used to, and it just feels right.
The acting is intentionally exaggerated, whatever the mood of a moment, even as the assembled actors demonstrate glimmers of range and nuance. Paul Johansson absolutely chews scenery as antagonist Spencer, while recognizable Billy Drago, and more ham-fisted star Jeff Wincott (replacing Chad McQueen from the first film as protagonist Thompson), alternate between deliberately restraining themselves, and totally leaning into the silliness. Supporting cast members are allowed greater room to illustrate their capabilities - though some, like Evan Lurie (clearly used to employing his muscled physique more than Shakespearean fancy), are distinctly (though pardonably) wooden. And of course, as has been true in more than one of her other features, Rothrock is (sadly) no more than second fiddle in a title where she gets top-billing. Director Kurt Anderson, competent as he is, arranges some shots with purely unnecessary airs of artistry, while the editing and sequencing is a tad overzealous. Composer Elliot Solomon, also returning from the 1990 movie, shows a measure of growth with a more refined score that carries similar sensibilities of 80s rock, and sometimes jazz - while the use of his excellent music throughout some scenes is just as jarring and mystifying as some of the other choices on hand.
I'm not going to say that 'Martial law II' is a must-see second-tier martial arts classic, but it's unmistakably an improvement over 'Martial law,' and a good bit of outlandish fun! There's a welcome increase in the amount of martial arts we get this time around, sometimes more than would be sensible or advisable in a more straight-laced action-thriller - just the way I like it in pictures of this nature. Some other points in the scene writing bear some swell, cheeky levity, while the screenplay also shows more dexterous capabilities in progressing the narrative, or enriching the experience and keeping audiences engaged broadly. In a similar vein, the plot is much more mindful of its constituent parts, tighter and more balanced as it keeps a steady and levelheaded pace and avoids pitfalls that would reduce its momentum. I think the attention to lighting is admirable - naturally, the fight scenes are genuinely outstanding - and the technical craft and rounding details all look pretty great so far as I'm concerned. To the same extent that this feature's antecedent was lacking and dull in its relatively sober approach to film-making and storytelling, 'Undercover' comes across as one of the more earnest and carefully made movies in Rothrock's history, or the credits of many of those involved. I'm actually a little impressed, I think.
The unlikely push-and-pull between serious crime thriller and outrageous martial arts romp does have an unfortunate effect of preventing the production from feeling entirely whole, or even-handed. Put aside all the action and fun-loving touches, and the plot is a hair thin, with less going on from beginning to end than the finished product would have us believe. However, ultimately these are the only specific criticisms that come to mind - much more than I could say for the picture that unconvincingly preceded this one. All the curt directness of any shot, scene, or story beat - any of the overblown aspects, whether acting or stylistic choices or anything else - are totally conscious decisions, conjured and realized only with the aim to have a good time. And rest assured, that's just what 'Martial law II' provides, in spades. For any peculiarities and subjective flaws one may perceive, the movie is engrossing and even exciting, with wonderfully strong fight choreography and music as the chief draws. I certainly had low expectations as I began watching, if nothing else than just based on the 1990 film, so I am over the proverbial moon to speak to just how worthy and solid this turned out to be. From wild exposition, to viscerally satisfying climax, through to a surprising and jolting sudden ending - I kind of love this.
Anyone who isn't on board with the type of bombastic fare that martial arts films can represent at their B-movie best or worst probably won't find anything in this flick to change their minds. For anyone simply looking for an entertaining slice of action-thriller cinema, on the other hand, this is a pretty good way to spend 90 minutes. Not essential, but far more meaningfully enjoyable than I could have anticipated when I started watching, 'Martial Law II' gets two bruised, calloused, possibly broken thumbs up from me! -
refinedsugar17 September 2023'Martial Law II: Undercover' gains Jeff Wincott while Cynthia Rothrock reprises. You lose David Carradine as a villain, but you get Billy Drago. It's an up and down battle for cast points and the story here is still rather generic, but the sequel delivers funny moments, action and doesn't have the stupidity of the original which I found slightly irritating. I think it's a better package overall.
Sean Thompson (Wincott) takes down some bikers running guns with Billie (Rothrock) which gets him a promotion to detective & moved to another precinct. He meets Captain Krantz (Drago), Sgt. Dobbs (L. Charles Taylor) and is reunited with a troubled old buddy who's dead before Sean can see him again. Not accepting it was an accident leads to a trail of police corruption and a nightclub run by Spencer (Paul Johansson) seems to be tied into things.
The thrust of the story you've seen done before - a friend, partner dying which launches the whole movie - but there's no shortage of bad dudes to break and martial arts moves. The decent fight choreography is by Jeff Pruitt (who also plays a bad guy) and can be seen in another Wincott title 'Mission of Justice' in a speaking role.
'Martial Law 2: Undercover' sticks to the early 90's martial arts b-movie cheesy formula, but comes out better than the original in my opinion. It's always fun to see Billy Drago even if it's not the biggest role and Wincott & Rothrock make for a good team busting heads in together or off solo doing their own piece of the investigation.