by Robert Scocchi
| Published
What do you get when you combine the agility and elegance of gymnastics with the discipline and precision of karate? There is only one correct answer to this question, and it is 1985 Gymcata -One of the most unintentionally funny martial arts movies you'll ever watch. I know it may sound like I'm talking hyperbole, but I've watched every Steven Seagal movie late in my career that the bargain bin at Walmart has to offer, so I consider myself an expert at unintentional comedy; A title that ruined my life because I watched so many movies that ironically I honestly don't even know what I actually like anymore.
Gymcata It may not be available through any My neighbor Subscription service, but available through on-demand purchases. That's right, for the price of a Happy Meal, you can watch this wreck of storytelling, combat, romance and strategically placed gymnastics equipment in the darkness of your living room if you're willing to drop a few IQ points.
The terrible game
Based on the 1957 novel by Dan Tyler Moore Jr., The terrible game, Jimkata It is a mess of a film that is impossible to look away from. Featuring the acrobatic maneuvers of Olympic gymnast Kurt Thomas as SIA contractor Jonathan Cabot, I have to admit that a number of the fight sequences are well choreographed and will hold your attention. But like most fight movies starring an athlete first and an actor second, the storytelling falls flat in favor of stunts and punches while most of the dialogue and exposition feel like an afterthought.
Focuses on a merciless sporting competition known as “The Game”, Gymcata He attempts to piece together a story about international relations with the fictional country of Parmestan. SIA approached Jonathan to participate in the game, a 900-year-old tradition that has never had a winner. Those who win the game are not only allowed to live, but are also granted one wish upon completing the competition, which is a complicated sort of survival-of-the-fittest race with no clear rules as far as I can tell.
Desire
Like most action films set in the 1980s, the threat of nuclear war is the driving force behind Jonathan's involvement in the game. Working under SIA's direction, Jonathan is tasked with winning the same game that claimed his father's life so that he can wish the United States to install a satellite surveillance system in Parmestan that will serve as an early warning system for any potential future nuclear attacks.
Jonathan trains under an oriental sensei (Tadashi Yamashita) and a Parmesan princess named Princess Rupali (Tichi Abiani), and develops gymkata, an unconventional fighting method that combines gymnastics and karate so that he can gain a competitive advantage during the upcoming game.
If you thought there would be punching bags and long jumps during the training montage, you were sorely mistaken. Most of Jonathan's training involves being asked to listen to the wind while for some reason having to walk up the stairs with his hands. Although I can't say this is a traditional way to prepare for a life-or-death type competition, I can't argue with the results after watching. Gymcata.
How convenient!
I can come in Gymcata A complex plot about a coup organized by Commander Zamir (Richard Norton), the right-hand man of the King of Parmestan, to overthrow the government by changing the rules of the game to ensure that no one wins, but all you really need to know is that the rules are broken, and it is up to Jonathan to survive. And win so that he can fulfill his only wish for national security.
She wonders how Jonathan fights his various followers and Baramistan warriors?
Fortunately for Jonathan, when he is chased down a dark alley leading to what one might think is certain death, there happens to be a high barricade for him to turn around and get out of trouble. I was initially concerned for Jonathan's safety when he found himself surrounded by a group of terrorists and warriors in the town square, but those concerns were quickly erased from my tense mind after discovering the pommel horse in a convenient location where Jonathan could also flip, spin, and kick his way out of trouble. .
It functions primarily as a means of displaying Kurt Thomas' gymnastics and martial arts skills, with each trap or ambush being set. Gymcata It has commendable choreography, but it's placed throughout the film in a way that doesn't make much sense while being a lot of fun to look at.
Watch Jimcata
Gymcata It has certainly earned its place as a cult classic, and is definitely a film worth seeking out for its inherent entertainment value. The story arc (or lack thereof) may leave a lot to be desired, but among the game's rivals being violently thrown off cliffs and loudly splashing onto the rocks below, Jonathan's unique and disorienting form of the mixed bag stands out. Martial arts The fight, and his means of courting Princess Rupali by executing numerous twists and turns, will leave you stunned and amazed the next time you need to turn off your mind and just let Gymcata It happens to you.
If you want to see Gymcata For yourself, it is available upon request through Google Play Movies, Apple TV+, Fandango at homeand Amazon Prime Video. And if you also want to supplement your viewing experience, you can also check out the RiffTrax version if you want to laugh at the commentary.
