Best of the Best

Plot

A team from the United States is going to compete against Korea in a Tae Kwon Do tournament. The team consists of fighters from all over the country–can they overcome their rivalry and work together to win?

Release Year: 1989

Rating: 5.8/10 (5,363 voted)

Director:
Robert Radler

Stars: Eric Roberts, James Earl Jones, Sally Kirkland

Storyline
Team USA gets rid of personal ghosts while fighting Team Korea in Taekwondo championship. "Adversity overcome" formula with excellent fighting scenes.

Writers: Phillip Rhee, Paul Levine

Cast:

Eric Roberts
–

Alex Grady

Phillip Rhee
–

Tommy Lee

James Earl Jones
–

Frank Couzo

Sally Kirkland
–

Catherine Wade

Chris Penn
–

Travis Brickley

(as Christopher Penn)

John Dye
–

Virgil Keller

David Agresta
–

Sonny Grasso

Tom Everett
–

Don Peterson

Louise Fletcher
–

Mrs. Grady

John P. Ryan
–

Jennings

Edan Gross
–

Walter Grady

Simon Rhee
–

Dae Han Park

Master Hee Il Cho
–

Korean Coach

James Lew
–

Sae Jin Kwon

Ken Nagayama
–

Yung Kim

Taglines:
There's a kind of inner strength you never know you have…until it's ALL you have.

Release Date: 10 November 1989

Filming Locations: Los Angeles, California, USA

Opening Weekend: DEM 76,480
(West Germany)
(4 July 1989)
(33 Screens)

Gross: $1,700,000
(USA)
(18 November 1989)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

The character Walter Grady is named after the father of Eric Roberts: Walter Grady Roberts.

Goofs:

Continuity:
During the match between Alex and Sae Jin Kwon, when both teams rush to the stage, Dae Han when he jumps on the stage in wearing sneakers. When Dae Han runs to break up Alex and Kwon, Dae Han is wearing Shin Instep guards instead of the sneakers.

Quotes:

Travis Brickley:
You shouldn't block with your face.

User Review

The Best is the Best

Rating: 8/10

I'm not sure why I liked this movie so much. The plot is just another
Rocky
derivative and the dialogue rather pedestrian. However, it does have
James
Earl Jones which is always a plus. Despite the cliché story I still
actually cried at the end. I was moved. I felt for these characters,
their
struggle and their triumph. This movie is a good guilty pleasure. It
shouldn't be as enjoyable as it is. Here's to the emotional power of
cheese.