Infernal Street (1973)

I think I may have watched all the good films in Mill Creek's Martial Arts box set by some kind of coincidence, because if this reflects the quality of what's left, I'm giving up.

Honestly, I don't want to see drama in a martial arse film and I don't want to see martial arse in Emmerdale (note: I DO want to see martial arse in Emmerdale). This film has too much of it's run time taken by folks interacting dramatically. Like this: There's this kung fu kid who's been adopted by a doctor and is very keen on the martial arts, but his doctor half-dad wants him to help all the junkies in town, who are hooked because of the local Japanese casino, and also the doctor's daughter fancies him, and then there's this junky guy and his wife who kind of want to help but also work for the bad guys, and then there's this mysterious boss and then there's some sort of marriage and the doctor keeps giving in to the Japanese who set up the young guy and blah blah blah blah blah I hate films like this.

Eventually, right before the end, this film remembers it's all about kung fu and there's a pretty not bad showdown, but there's a huge slog through lots of drama here that's not welcome. Also, another reviewer here said this was packed with action. It's not. People slag off Godfrey Ho films? At least he knew when to insert footage of Richard Harrison teleporting and shooting flames from the end of his sword.

Slight positives: There are some really violent bits contained within and the hero does get to spit a dislodged tooth into a guy's forehead. Plus he also cuts the ears off an awful lot of fellows (including the keyboard player from Sparks!).

Nevertheless, this is a downer from a box set that contains such glory as Ninja Wars (eh...unless you buy it now, because it's not on there), Ninja Death, City Ninja and The Big Fight.