Watch Bloodmoon

Bloodmoon is a 1997 martial arts action movie that follows a hard-nosed detective passing as a martial arts instructor who sets out to solve the murder of his mentor's daughter. This is a simple premise for a movie that packs a lot of action punches in its runtime. Gary Daniels plays the lead character of Ken O'Hara, who teaches martial arts in Los Angeles. His mentor, Master Yoshida (played by veteran actor James Shigeta), calls him to his dojo one day, revealing that his daughter has been murdered. He wants Ken to investigate and find the killer, and Ken agrees.

As Ken starts his investigation, he meets various suspects and connects the dots to a crime syndicate called the Circle of Iron. The leaders of the Circle of Iron are Donnie Hansen (played by Chuck Jeffreys) and Miles Langford (played by Darren Shahlavi). Frank Gorshin plays the role of Sonny, a shady businessman who has a connection to the Circle of Iron.

The plotline is predictable and generic, but it's the fight sequences and action that stands out in the movie. The fight scenes are choreographed well, and the martial artists' performances give authenticity to the fights. The martial arts used in the movie are Taekwondo, Karate, Hapkido, and Kung Fu.

The main protagonist, Gary Daniels, is a skilled martial artist. His moves are sharp, quick, and precise. His fight scenes with Chuck Jeffreys are the highlight of the film. Jeffreys also puts on an excellent performance, and his skills match his rival's. Some of the scenes between the two actors are reminiscent of Jackie Chan movies, with comedic yet intense fights.

Frank Gorshin, who is best known for his role as The Riddler in the 1960s Batman TV show, plays a different type of character in Bloodmoon. He plays a creep who has a thing for underage girls. His character adds some sleaze to the movie, but his performances are passable.

The movie has a bit of romance added to it, with Ken falling for one of the suspects, Christine (played by Meg Foster). The romance is a bit undeveloped, and the subplot feels like an afterthought, but it doesn't detract too much from the main focus of the movie - which is action.

The movie has its flaws. The dialogue is cheesy, and the acting isn't terrific. James Shigeta's performance, in particular, feels wooden, and his scenes with Gary Daniels are awkward. The sound quality of the movie isn't the greatest, and some of the dialogue is hard to hear. The film's cinematography isn't top-notch either, with some of the scenes looking poorly lit.

Overall, Bloodmoon is an action-packed movie that delivers in its fight scenes. The movie's storyline is generic, but it serves its purpose. Gary Daniels puts on a fantastic performance, and Chuck Jeffreys matches him step for step. The martial arts scenes are well-choreographed, and the performances by the martial artists give authenticity to the fights. The romance subplot is unnecessary, and the acting isn't top-notch. All in all, Bloodmoon is a B-movie that delivers the action it promises.