Search - New Gladiators on DVD

New gladiators

skip,a | fla. | 01/05/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The New Gladiators is a excellent look at the marital arts scene from back in the 70"s. As a long standing martial artist i throughly enjoyed it.But i did feel it was wrong to not have footage of Elvis Presley praticeing Kempo Karate, especialy since this documentary originated as his own project.......Skip.A"

The Parker & Presley Production

K.H. | 03/08/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I remember, as a young karateka, hearing the whispers about a film underwritten by Elvis Presley with a heavey dose of Ed Parker's influence. The rumor was in dojos and martial arts journals, yet, this rumor appeared to be more urban myth than reality until it was once again disocvered, freed from purgatory, and Rising Sun Productions releases this long awaited film (well, long awaited for us martial arts geeks who have been waiting to see this thing for about 30 years).



The initial buzz wasn't really good about this flick, so I waited to buy it. Finally I got it and watched it immediately and the final word is - the movie is not really that good. The film quality is poor, due in part for it not being produced and cared for (it was left in producer Wait's home for most of this time). Further, it severly lacks a well developed script and direction and could have taken its cue from the producers of "Fighting Black Kings" which is a superior karate documentry, or for that matter, "The Warrior Within" which is also a better film that was also produced during 70s.



With the negatives aside, the flim does allow us 40-something and over martial artists to revisit an era with heroes and legends. There is footage of Ed Parker demonstrating Kenpo and providing sparring advice to the US Karate team. We watch Benny Urquidez just before he enters full contact. We observe Steve Sanders coming back to fight in a tournament one more time (this was before he changed his last name). We get to see Roy Kurban take the US championships and we observe other legends who carried the sport karate torch.



For those reasons alone, the DVD, although of very poor quality, is worth the watch and purchase for us 40+something American martial artist. It is a part of history and a part of our American Martial Arts culture, for good and ill, and as such, worth adding to your collection."