Movies

Strange and Fantastic Tales of the 20th Century: ‘Showdown in Little Tokyo’

Naked sumo wrestling, awesome fighting, and one-liners. What more do you want?

February 5, 2022

Strange and Fantastic Tales of the 20th Century is a look back at the weirdest, most memorable, and most off center movies of the 20th century. From head turning horror to oddball science fiction, this column examines the films that will leave a lasting impression for centuries to come.

1991 was an interesting year for fashion. There were so many silk shirts and the hair gel flowed like Canadian Clearly water. 1991 was also a busy year for action movies. From Terminator 2: Judgement Day to Point Break, muscles and blood thirst dominated the silver screen. Schwartzenegger, Seagal, and Reeves are just a few of the household names regularly casted in the genre, but newcomers were on the rise.

Brandon Lee would go on to become immortalized in Alex Proyas’ The Crow, but before that he was already making a name for himself. Lee’s first American film Showdown in Little Tokyo is very much a product of its time. It has insane fashion, strange explanations around cultural appropriation, and just the usual run of the mill 90’s insanity. Showdown in Little Tokyo is a buddy cop film about vengeance and maybe even love? Starring Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee, this week’s strange and fantastic tale is Showdown in Little Tokyo. Watch Lundgren and Lee team up to take down the Los Angeles faction of the yakuza.

The film has a five minute opening that already sets the stage for magic. The credits come up on screen as the central image is a muscular torso with tattoos. I believe that Mac McDonald from Always Sunny would love this opening. I can just imagine his demand for shots of abs, weapons, and tattoos in his next Project Badass video. Opening credits aside, the film wastes no time in getting to the point. Dolph Lundgren plays Chris Kenner, a cop assigned to the Asian Task Force. He has been looking to bring down the yakuza for a while, but cannot seem to keep a partner. Lucky for him, he is teamed up with Johnny Murata (Brandon Lee) who also can’t keep a partner. Instantly, seriously it happens in a flash of a second, they decide they love and hate each other and must be partners.

Strange and Fantastic Tales of the 20th Century: 'Showdown in Little Tokyo'

Kenner has a personal score to settle with The Iron Claw Clan. As a child growing up in Japan, Kenner witnessed a member of the clan murder his sleeping mother and father. Naturally, even the baby version of Lundgren would be a badass because Kenner manages to slash the villain’s face and escape with his life. Imagine his post traumatic surprise when his grown up self comes face to face with the very man who murdered his parents, Funeiki Yoshida. Will he finally get vengeance?

It would seem so, but they run into each other a few more times before having a real showdown. Lee plays Johnny Murata, a Japanese cop who grew up in America. His culture is American and does not understand why Kenner, a white guy, has such an intense affinity for Japanese culture. The two actually have an interesting conversation about identity that is done in such a way this talk makes perfect sense in this otherwise over the top film.

No buddy cop movie of the 90’s is complete without a ham – fisted love story. We get this with the character of Minaka Okeya, played by Tia Carrere. Kenner rescues Minaka who has been raped by Yoshida. She plans to kill herself, but she is carried away by Kenner. After sharing zero chemistry together or developing any kind of tension, Minaka and Kenner get down and have some pretty awkward sex – and I for one am happy for them.

LEOFROMTHEDARK — Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991) dir. Mark L....

Some films are self aware and know they are over the top. Showdown in Little Tokyo knows what it’s doing for the most part, but there are some scenes where one can’t be too sure. Lundgren beats up a gang while wearing a studded leather jacket and suede parachute pants. There are a couple of scenes where people are extra killed in an effort to make sure they are super dead. In addition to keeping his outfit in tact, he manages to beat up everyone while never spilling his cup of coffee which he sips with his pinky up.

Lee has some pretty corny dialogue, but has great comedic delivery and his jokes are very silly even though they have some strange timing. I would love to see Joe Bob Briggs’ Drive-In Totals on this. I can see them now. One death by car compactor, decapitation while aardvarking, gratuitous abs, and the list would go on. We should all petition to make this happen. I will not even spoil the final ultimate death scene because it’s too ridiculous and glorious, but get off your phones and head to HBO Max and check it out..

It’s hard to think of Brandon Lee and not feel a surge of sadness. Brandon Lee’s life was cut too short by a senseless accident. Showdown in Little Tokyo not only showcases his martial arts skills, but also shows his comedy and charisma. Who knows how far his star could have risen? Put on some parachute pants, gel your hair, and watch Showdown in Little Tokyo.