Episode 113 ~ Masterminds (1997)

The idea of "Die Hard In A School" is not a new one for Cannon Cruisers. In fact, every one of them we've covered has been very telling of the era it was made in. 1887's Masterminds is very much a product of the sanitized PG-13 era, and as a consequence holds back in a way Toy Soldiers and Demolition High never did. It is far more corporate.

That said, it is not an unpleasant watch. There is still quite a lot of the '90s charm certain family movies had that this movie still contains. Just do not expect anything too intense or anywhere near as over the top as those earlier films' highs..

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: UHF!

Episode 109 ~ The Last Match (1991)

This is a movie about a football team that illegally infiltrates another country to rescue the daughter of one of their players held on dubious charges. They do not free her gently and not without extreme malice on their part.

That said, there is still a bit more you need to know about the movie. This is an Italian movie from the 1990s, after all. It goes without saying that it will not be a smooth ride. The Last Match is not all sunshine, but it is worth seeing!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Detention!

Episode 108 ~ Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983)

Bet you didn't see this one coming!

Today we not only finally dive into a Wuxia movie, but also a Tsui Hark film as well as a Golden Harvest flick! This one is quite well known for being the inspiration for the excellent Big Trouble in Little China as well as countless others to come. But how does it hold up to that film? You might be surprised!

You're definitely not going to guess where this one is going. The '80s were wild, but so were Hong Kong movies. This film will show you by just how much they were!

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: The Last Match!

Episode 107 ~ Dollman (1991)

We're back with more Pyun! This is a clever little actioner with some fun ideas you don't hear too much about. 1991's Dollman is fairly unique even for its time, and one of Albert Pyun's more overlooked flicks.

Puns aside, this is a fun one. Check out today's episode to learn why!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Zu Warriors from Magic Mountain!

Episode 106 ~ Undefeatable (1993)

Easily Cynthia Rothrock's most infamous movie, there is nothing quite like this insane fever dream of a martial arts and slasher movie mashup. The script is awkward, the direction is helmed by the infamous Godfrey Ho, and it is a tonally bizarre movie.

And despite of all that, it somehow works incredible well at what it's trying to do and is a very engaging watch. Find out what makes Undefeatable such a crazy watch in today's episode! We promise you've never seen anything like this movie.

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Dollman!

Episode 104 ~ Quiet Cool (1986)

We really go obscure for this action gem from the 1980s that hasn't even seen disc release! In a bit of a weird wrinkle, this flick is part-survival flick, part 80s actioner, and part-western in places you might not expect! It's out there.

That said, it's still an '80s action movie at heart which might dull some of the surprises. That said, it's a good watch. Check out today's episode to learn how good!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Prehysteria!

Episode 102 ~ City of Violence (2006)

Here's a rarity from us: a '00s movie and one from Korea! This is City of Violence, a little gem of a film from a part of the world we have yet to cover on Cannon Cruisers before!

That said, it's also a lot of fun! Check out today's episode to learn how.

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Bubba Ho-Tep!

Episode 97 ~ Fortress (1992)

Here's a rarity for us, and a bit of a treat. Finally we get to cover another Christopher Lambert film, and it also just happened to be directed by Stuart Gordon. On top of all that, it is a futuristic prison movie with quite the build up and possibly a bit of a heist movie element(?) . . . we'll have to check with Randy on that last part.

Regardless, 1992's Fortress is a bit of a hidden gem with a lot more going for it than you might expect. It doesn't hurt to have Jeffrey Combs in it either.

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Fortress!

Episode 89 ~ Magic Crystal (1986)

Time for another curveball! This week we covered our first pure Hong Kong production with 1986's grossly underrated classic Magic Crystal. This flick has everything you love about 80s movies: action, comedy, adventure, weirdness, and fun characters, all from the era when Hong Kong was still one of the best producers of movies (up there with the US and Italy).

Unfortunately not well known, we'll talk about it and why you should run, not walk, to see this one as soon as possible. Magic Crystal is a real gem! (Sorry.)

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 5/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Christmas!

Episode 86 ~ Demolition High (1996)

You aren't seeing double! We watched a movie with a very similar title to the previous one we covered last week. However, these two are very different movies.

1996's Demolition High is a bit of a b-movie gem, a Die Hard-like with style of its own and an unabashed sense of fun and insanity. This setup has been done before, but the cast and the director have so much uniqueness to add that it stands out above the crowd.

Check out today's episode to learn why and how!

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Surf II!

Episode 85 ~ Demolition Highway (1996)

This time we decided to go back to basics: real low budget action. We're talking almost no budget and almost no idea what to do with what you have. Time to head back to 1996 where action movies were on the way out. There is some nostalgia here.

Despite all that this is still one weird misfire of a movie that gets by entirely on its charm and nothing else. If that's not enough for you, maybe reconsider. Check in on this episode to see just what madness the infamous Donald Farmer was planning.

Randy's Score: 1/5

JD's Score: 2/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Demolition High!

Episode 84 ~ Nightmare at Noon (1988)

This week we come back with a curveball! In this weird western, horror, and action, hybrid, we get cult favorite Nico Mastorakis' most infamous movie, Nightmare at Noon from 1988! Starring three b-movie titans in Wings Hauser, George Kennedy, and Bo Hopkins, there isn't quite another movie like this out there.

Of course it does have its warts, so be sure to check out today's episode to see what they are! I promise you, there is nothing quite like this movie.

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Demolition Highway!

Episode 73 ~ Penitentiary II (1982)

Finally back with a sequel we've been meaning to get to for awhile! It's the follow up to the '70s cult favorite and the prequel to the '80s Cannon gem! Today we get tot talk about the last final flick in the trilogy, 1982's Penitentiary II!

After watching this trilogy out of order we came to a very strange conclusion about it, though maybe not in the way you would think. In many ways this is the perfect middle ground to the more grounded original and the insanity of the Cannon-produced finale. This one is also fortunate enough to have Ernie Hudson's most insane performance ever.

Check out today's episode to learn how they might be the case!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Happer's Comet!

Episode 71 ~ Tremors 4: The Legend Begins (2004)

It's very rare that you can get three entries into a series and it manages to retain quality. It's even rarer that a fourth entry manages to stack up and be recommended, but Tremors has not only managed a hat trick, but has scored a fourth goal as well.

Essentially a weird western, Tremors 4 shakes up the formula by not only completing the life cycle of the Graboid (something each movie has contributed to) but also goes as far the formula can go. Check out today's episode to see just what that means.

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Phantasm IV!

Episode 70 ~ Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite (1996)

A sequel to a legendary '80s action movie that was not only locked to video but never got a proper release anywhere else? Surely this doesn't body well for 1996's Bloodsport II. You would certainly not be blamed for thinking so.

However, this sequel not only holds up against the original, it manages to add new wrinkles to it while respecting what came before. Be sure to check out this week's episode to check out a hidden gem you've never seen before!

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up next: Tremors 4!

Episode 69 ~ Howling II: Your Sister is a Werewolf (1985)

We finally get around to the sequel to director Joe Dante's breakout movie, and boy is it not what we expected. I hope you like Christopher Lee and Reb Brown (and you should!) because they are in fine form in this bizarre flick!

I don't know what else to say because there isn't anything about this movie that is straightforward. Check out today's episode to learn why that might be!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Bloodsport II!

Episode 68 ~ Kickboxer II: The Road Back (1991)

Finally we get to another sequel we've meant to cover for some time now! It's the sequel to the Van Damme classic Kickboxer. This one stars Step By Step's Sasha Mitchel and is directed by the one and only Albert Pyun!

However, it might not be the movie you are expecting from either of them, for good or bad. Check out today's episode to see why!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Howling II: Your Sister is a Werewolf!

Episode 66 ~ Tremors 3: Back to Perfection (2001)

Finally, we made it back to Perfection! In our sequel summer special we made the jump to the third entry in Tremors! Though there are a lot of different opinions on the movies past the first one, there is one thing that remains true: (so far) they have all been worth watching. The third entry continues the trend.

How do they manage to do it? Find out in this episode where we learn that somehow the crew has still got it!

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Phantasm III!

Episode 65 ~ Best of the Best II (1993)

Finally, we return to the world of Eric Roberts and Phillip Rhee! How do you make a sequel to a surprise hit sports film? Well, by doing something entirely different! In Best of the Best II, things go sideways, and not in ways you might predict.

Coming at the tail end of the action movie era, this sequel changes genres and manages to sell itself while doing just that. Does it succeed totally? Check out today's episode and learn exactly what is going on here!

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score 5/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Tremors 3!

Episode 62 ~ Trancers II (1991)

Welcome to our new sequel special! For the summer we're going to be spending our time looking at the sequels to movies we've already covered before over the years! This week we start with long-awaited follow-up to fan-favorite Trancers!

You might figure this low budget actioner would stumble after years in production hell, but that is not quite the case. Check out today's episode to understand just why that might be. It's as wild and out there as you'd hope!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Troll 2!