My review was written in July 1990 after watching the movie on Xenon video cassette.

Champion kickboxer Anthony Elmore tries his hand at filmmaking with poor results in "Iron Thunder", an exercise in self-glorification.

Filmed in 1987 in Memphis with the title "The Contemporary Gladiator", this direct-to-video release opens with Elmore training with taskmaster Julius Dorsey in karate class. Dorsey violently severs relations with out hero, claiming he's not true to the real spirit of karate.

Pic includes what looks like documentary footage of actual Elmore battles in the ring against a variety of opponents including Bill Morrison and Eddie Monger as he rises to fame. Staged finale is a lengthy championship bout against Danny Bumpus.

Main problem with "Iron Thunder" is that Elmore violates a cardinal rule of sports drama in not being an underdog. He's a tall, well-built athlete who literally towers over nearly every opponent -the antithesis of Bruce Lee and Sylvester Stallone who typically battle mountainous foes.

Picture's theme, apart from the corny black self-awareness message of the opening reels, endorses the act of selling out. Instead of atoning for his betrayal of mentor Dorsey's purity message, Elmore expresses here the desire to become popular and make his "sport" popular, even to the extent of acquiescing to pal George M. Young's gimmick of adding ring girls for show. What ever happened to the hero who learns the error of commercialism and returns to his original idealism?

The martial arts subgenre features martial arts techniques, choreography, and combat as central elements of the story. These stories often revolve around skilled martial artists who use their expertise to navigate challenges, seek revenge, protect others, or engage in epic battles.

The action genre features fast-paced, thrilling, and intense sequences of physical feats, combat, and excitement. The characters of these stories are involved in daring and often dangerous situations, requiring them to rely on their physical prowess, skills, and quick thinking to overcome challenges and adversaries.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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Contemporary Gladiator

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