Fist of the Warrior
Encyclopedia
Fist of the Warrior, formerly known as Lesser of Three Evils, is a martial arts
/crime film
directed by Wayne A. Kennedy in his feature film directorial debut. It stars Ho-Sung Pak, Peter Greene
, Roger Guenveur Smith
and Sherilyn Fenn
, and features fight choreography
by Ho-Sung Pak and Wayne A. Kennedy. The film was shot in 2004 in Los Angeles, California, USA, and was released by Lionsgate Home Entertainment
on February 10, 2009.
took place in August 2004. Fist of the Warrior was produced by Ho-Sung Pak, Wayne A. Kennedy and Matthew Chausse who created together the film company GenOne. It was initially produced by CatchLight Films under the title Lesser of Three Evils and was originally to be distributed by Fabrication Films. The film was featured at the 2005 Cannes Film Market However it was not released and was the subject of a legal dispute that ended in January 2008. In 2008 the film was renamed as Blood Money with Boll World Sales owning the international distribution rights. After being re-edited by Aglet Post
, the film was ultimately released in the USA by Lionsgate on DVD in 2009 under the title Fist of the Warrior.
Martial arts film
Martial arts film is a film genre. A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently...
/crime film
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
directed by Wayne A. Kennedy in his feature film directorial debut. It stars Ho-Sung Pak, Peter Greene
Peter Greene
Peter Greene is an American character actor.A native of Montclair, New Jersey, Greene did not pursue a career in acting until his mid 20s...
, Roger Guenveur Smith
Roger Guenveur Smith
Roger Guenveur Smith is an American actor, director, and writer.-Early life:Smith was born in Berkeley, California, the son of Helen Guenveur, a dentist, and Sherman Smith, a judge...
and Sherilyn Fenn
Sherilyn Fenn
Sherilyn Fenn is an American actress and filmmaker. She came to international attention for her performance as Audrey Horne on the 1990 cult TV series Twin Peaks...
, and features fight choreography
Stage combat
Stage combat is a specialized technique in theatre designed to create the illusion of physical combat without causing harm to the performers. It is employed in live stage plays as well as operatic and ballet productions. The term is also used informally to describe fight choreography for other...
by Ho-Sung Pak and Wayne A. Kennedy. The film was shot in 2004 in Los Angeles, California, USA, and was released by Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Lionsgate Home Entertainment is the home video and DVD distribution arm of Lions Gate Entertainment and most former Artisan Entertainment releases. Its library of more than 8000 films owes some of its size to output deals with other studios...
on February 10, 2009.
Plot
The film follows three characters, a hit-man, a mobster and a corrupt detective who confront each other when events come to a head for them. Hit-man Lee Choe decides to retire to live a normal life. After refusing an order from mobster John Lowe, Lowe has Lee's girlfriend killed. In order to seek vengeance, Lee goes on a mission to kill Lowe, who turns to corrupt detective Craig Barnes to frame him. At the same time, Barnes, who's being investigated by internal affairs, has to deal with his unhappy, alcoholic wife Katie.Cast
- Ho-Sung Pak as Lee Choe
- Peter GreenePeter GreenePeter Greene is an American character actor.A native of Montclair, New Jersey, Greene did not pursue a career in acting until his mid 20s...
as John Lowe - Roger Guenveur SmithRoger Guenveur SmithRoger Guenveur Smith is an American actor, director, and writer.-Early life:Smith was born in Berkeley, California, the son of Helen Guenveur, a dentist, and Sherman Smith, a judge...
as Det. Craig Barnes - Robin Paul as Sarah Reeves
- Sherilyn FennSherilyn FennSherilyn Fenn is an American actress and filmmaker. She came to international attention for her performance as Audrey Horne on the 1990 cult TV series Twin Peaks...
as Katie Barnes - Rosa BlasiRosa BlasiRosa Blasi is an American actress.-Early life:Blasi was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Rocco and Joyce Blasi. Blasi is classically trained as a mezzo soprano. She also comes from a strong theatre background; ranging from the esteemed Piven Performance Company, as well as The Second City, to...
as Woman in Black - Antonio FargasAntonio FargasAntonio Juan Fargas is an American actor famous for his roles in 1970s blaxploitation movies, as well as his portrayal of Huggy Bear in the 1970s TV series Starsky and Hutch.-Biography:...
as Father Riley - Ed MarinaroEd MarinaroEd Marinaro is an American former football player turned actor.-Football career:Marinaro played high school football in New Milford, New Jersey, for the New Milford High School Knights....
as Raymond Miles - Michael DornMichael DornMichael Dorn is an American actor, and voice artist who is best known for his role as the Klingon Worf from the Star Trek franchise.-Early life and career:...
as Arnold Denton - John DyeJohn DyeJohn Carroll Dye was an American film and television actor known for his role as Andrew in the television series Touched by an Angel.-Early life:...
as I.A. Officer - A MartinezA MartinezAdolfo Larrue Martinez, III , better known as A Martinez, is an American actor and singer with roles in the daytime soap opera Santa Barbara and the primetime dramas L.A. Law and Profiler.-Early life:...
as Anthony Black - Brian ThompsonBrian Thompson (actor)Brian Thompson is an American actor. His distinctive square-jaw profile, powerful voice, and imposing stature has led him to be typecast as a villain in many action films and TV series, and a some comedies: Joe Dirt, The Three Amigos, Weird Science, Key West, and Life Stinks.-Career:Thompson has...
as Max - Isaac C. Singleton Jr.Isaac C. Singleton Jr.Isaac Charles Singleton Jr., sometimes credited as Isaac Singleton Jr., Isaac C. Singleton, Isaac Singleton or Isac Singleton, is an American film and television actor...
as Frank - Richard GantRichard GantRichard E. Gant is an American film and television actor. His credits include the films Rocky V , as a possessed cornoner in Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday , Deadwood, Babylon 5, Special Unit 2, NYPD Blue, Living Single, Posse and Charmed...
as Chief Matthews - Lara PhillipsLara PhillipsLara Phillips is a film and TV series actress, mostly known for her lead roles in independent films such as Kwik Stop in 2001 and The Aviary in 2005....
as Jenny Reeves - Marina SirtisMarina SirtisMarina Sirtis is a British-American actress of Greek descent. She played the role of the human/Betazoid Commander Deanna Troi, ship's counselor, on the television and film series Star Trek: The Next Generation.-Life:...
as Mary - Gina St. JohnGina St. JohnGina St. John is an American actress and television presenter. She has hosted shows including CNET Central and E! News Daily, and has had roles in television dramas such as Crossing Jordan and Commander in Chief.-References:...
as Det. Georgette Wilson
Production
Principal photographyPrincipal photography
thumb|300px|Film production on location in [[Newark, New Jersey]].Principal photography is the phase of film production in which the movie is filmed, with actors on set and cameras rolling, as distinct from pre-production and post-production....
took place in August 2004. Fist of the Warrior was produced by Ho-Sung Pak, Wayne A. Kennedy and Matthew Chausse who created together the film company GenOne. It was initially produced by CatchLight Films under the title Lesser of Three Evils and was originally to be distributed by Fabrication Films. The film was featured at the 2005 Cannes Film Market However it was not released and was the subject of a legal dispute that ended in January 2008. In 2008 the film was renamed as Blood Money with Boll World Sales owning the international distribution rights. After being re-edited by Aglet Post
Aglet Productions
Aglet Productions is a "no- and low-budget" movie production company, headed by Karl T. Hirsch and responsible for the 1998 movie Green....
, the film was ultimately released in the USA by Lionsgate on DVD in 2009 under the title Fist of the Warrior.
External links
- Fist of the Warrior DVD program description (Doc) by LionsgateLions Gate EntertainmentLions Gate Entertainment Corporation is a North American entertainment company. The company was formed in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1997, and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California...
- Lesser of Three Evils at CatchLight Films