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Information Exchange => Reader Comments => Topic started by: (tj) on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM



Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: (tj) on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
Sorry about my last comment, I was very p**sed when I wrote it! Fist of The North Star truly is an amazing piece of speculative fiction. Should it be re-released today I would start many petitions to ensure it wins an oscar for animation!
Again, I'm really sorry for my audacity!


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: DaveS on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
Uh, Dim Mak roughly translated means "horse s**t." I was reading some of the other comments and someone mentioned that this "ancient and deadly" martial art was the inspiration for Hokuto no Ken. While it may indeed have influenced the anime, I can't believe some people give credence to the idea that there was ever a martial art so deadly that one touch could kill. Give me a f**king break. It's a cool concept for an anime, but in the real world it's just wishful thinking.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: marco on December 10, 2001, 11:16:57 PM
I love fist of the north star it is my favourite anime and movie in the world .Iam 16 and i saw this anime when i was 6 and i still watch it and its still the best and i never get sick of it and never will cause its f**king sweet.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Matthew Revert on August 06, 2000, 08:52:39 PM
I think it's great that you put Fist O' the North Star up on your site. Its certainly one of the best anime's I have ever seen. It probably gives Dead Alive a run for its money in the gore steaks.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: gash on August 07, 2000, 02:27:11 AM
I have to agree this is one of those films that make you say what did I just see?!? The plot is a little convoluted, but the song before the final showdown is well worth it.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Squishy on August 11, 2000, 01:03:57 PM
Awful, true, but nothing compared to its live-action version--featuring Malcolm McDowell, Downtown Julie Brown, Clint Howard, and Chris Penn...as "Stalin." And NO on-screen exploding heads or guts. What the hell was it made for, the great storyline? Ewwwwwwwww.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Allen on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
I had both the Anime and the live action movie (directed by Tony Randal!). A friend of my daughter borrowed and lost both. Lesson learned, never lend your good movies out.  Good news! I found and bought the DVD live action movie at Fry's Electronics in California and just bought the DVD anime on Ebay!  It's out of print everywhere else.

Anyway, I'm having a "Fist Fest" this weekend!


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Bill on October 02, 2000, 01:17:22 AM
"Boo dot com" here says "its one of the brst mangas!"  With 'brst' he/she/it could be meaning 'best', but I think perhaps 'burst' is a better typo correction.  I don't think even Frankenhooker had better exploding people, though the hookers blowing up WAS impressive.  It also provides some handy medical advice:  Next time you have a splitting headache, poke some holes in yourself with your finger, and you'll be right as rain (with a little tissue damage, perhaps).


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Paul Gadaloff on October 21, 2000, 03:49:56 AM
  I saw this one a few years back, and two things stand out in my memory (other than all the points you've made in the review).  

(A)  I was TOTALLY WRONG all my life thinking that "Ken" ain't a particularly he-man name,  and

(B)  In the parched, poisoned, irradiated futuristic nightmare world, there's enough food around for men to be thirty feet tall, 8000 kilograms and mega-muscular....

 

  You couldn't want to change a thing about Fister of The North Star.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: CONAN on November 24, 2000, 06:42:04 AM
FONS (Fist of the North Star) is the best anime ever made: Jet.  I have watched it over 3 dozen times, it never stops being funny.  If you dont like the movie there is something wrong with your BRAIN.  The only thing it is missing is the predominatly asian theme of school girls being penetrated by tentacles.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Kasumi Kenshirou on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
As an English Dub, this great movie was very misunderstood. It left out a lot of key elements that explained all the violence that so many have a problem with.  Read the Japanese Script translated to English to see what I mean, the movie should become much more clear:

http://www.geocities.com/denshousha/script.htm

Furthermore, there is a lot more to Fist of the North Star (originally called Hokuto No Ken) than just this Anime Movie.  There is an Anime TV Series of 152 Episodes, 36 of which were translated to English but hopefully more can come.  Most of the 152 episodes have been subtitled at least, and what Ken is all about really becomes clear. The Movie was made in Japan with the assumption that everyone watching has read the Manga already and knows most of what's going on even though there is some explanation if you look at the original script.  So in an English Dub, with all of the few explanations in the original taken out, it leaves the viewer to believe that nothing is going on at all.  Which is just not true.  Ken is out not only to save Yuria but to free the world of evil.  He knows Hokuto Shin Ken and that is basically a martial art that is focuses on pressure points to destroy the enemy from the inside and Ken is strong and skilled enough to strike them so his enemies will explode.  Raoh and Jagi knows this style, too obviously.  In the Movie, Rei and Shin are Nanto Seiken Masters. Their style is the opposite of Hokuto Shin Ken and destroys the body from the outside using slicing techniques.  By reading the script and looking more into what Hokuto No Ken really is, I hope any negative views you have for this Anime will change. It is truly the greatest Anime of all time.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Richard P. on February 20, 2001, 01:42:18 PM
I agree with Kasumi Kenshirou; the English dubbed version of the movie is very wrong. The Japanese original movie contains better dialouges and you understand the story more. Or even better: read the comics (Manga), and I hope you will see that Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken) is the best anime in the whole world!


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: DantesInferno on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
I remember seeing this movie for the first time at an Anime double-feature about 6 years ago in Las Vegas (the other movie was The Professional: Golgo 13, which is a sweet-ass movie).  I've been an HNK fan ever since.  This is a great movie, but I want to find a subbed version so I can seen it in its true form.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: D on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
There is nothing better than 'Fist of the North Star'.  I can't wait for the rest of the books and the series to be translated into english.  My greatest regret is that the series and film were never released on DVD.  Shame.  
D.
PS. If you liked the film, I suggest you find a SNES emulator and download 'Hokuto-no-ken 7'.  
PPS.  If you can't get this, try 'Hokuto-no-ken 6', or get a Genesis emulator and download 'Fist of the North Star' game.
PPPS.  You wont be disappointed!


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: FroPower on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
As others have said, pick up the manga. It has so much that the movie did not have. I first saw the movie in 1992 (I was lucky enough to see it on the big screen at mega decibel volume... MY head almost exploded when Ken picked up Lynn's psychic scream), and I picked up the Viz mangas as soon as I was aware of their existance (last week).

The Fist of the North Star movie is to the manga as Dune was to the series of books. The manga features better character development all round, even for Ken's fist fodder. It KILLS me that only volumes 1 - 4 are available. I hope Viz plans on releasing the rest of the series soon.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Wally on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
Hokuto Shin Ken is probably based on an existing martial art call "Dim Mak" or "Death Touch". It concentrates on striking major chi (energy) points on the body. Only, instead of releasing the energy like in acupuncture (spelling?), Dim Mak is the art of cutting off the energy flow. I've never seen it make anyone explode before (Damn!), but it can easily knock someone out with one blow, cause extreme pain, and yes, it can kill. Anatomically, it has been discovered that most of the chi points in the body are also major nerves to the brain and heart. A blow from Dim Mak one day can cause serious brain and heart trouble years later. It is not an art to take lightly and takes decades of practice to be made effective, and to ensure that the student is judicious in their use of Dim Mak. DON'T TRY THIS s**t AT HOME!!!


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Joe Stalin on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
 I love this movie. The Exploding Heads And Cut Up Bodies style of Kung Fu totally rules. I'm opening up my own dojo.
 Question- In a nuclear wasteland devoid of food and water, how the hell did all the guys get so big and ripped? I assume that the Fists and anybody else who practices E.H.A.C.U.B Kung Fu has some funky magic dealy going on, but what about all those biker punks? I await an answear while I practice E.H.A.C.U.B Kung Fu on that snot nosed little kid next door.
 


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Akarnai-kun on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
Why don't I/do I like this series?  Four words: Muscle Control Spin Kick.  I laugh my ass off.  Your head go 'splody now!!  WAOGO!!  Worthwhile plot?  Who needs it?!  He makes people's heads explode by stepping on their toes!!  What?  You mean there's other animes I could be watching?  But I want bad dubs and stupid fight scenes!!  ...waitaminute...in that case, I'll go watch Dragonball Z.

If you're looking for a lot of gut-wrenching laughs, then by all means, watch this embarrassing series.  On the other hand, if you actually like it, do me a favor and let me rip off your moustache so you'll strangle yourself to death.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: KYLE on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
Fist of the North Star rocks!! Luckily in my area Sactown, CA we get to see episodes on Showtime Beyond.Of course they are only the episodes that are english dubbed, but they were good enough to get me totally hooked!! Now I am on a mission to find all the episodes even if they aren't dubbed. It's a major challenge, but I am determined to see more heads pop, bodies vaporized,and lots of body parts flying!! If anyone knows where to find what I am looking for let me know! I leave this with one of my favorite quotes from Ken that he said to amoeba before he smoked him!"You don't practice martial arts, you emulate their effects" How cool is that?!!!!


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Shawn Bradley on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
Man no contest, hands down, "Fist of the North Star" is the greatest feature EVER! A classic in all rights! I hope they release ALL the tv episodes here and translate it to English!


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Kasumii Kenshirou on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
Please note that the English version movie you are reviewing is a disgrace to the original version of the movie.  The English version was butchered to say the least to the point where it's not even the same movie any more. Ken did not lose to Raou in the end, it was a draw.  Streamline cut the frames so Ken looked like he lost but he didn't.  I recommend anyone who's watched this English version and liked or disliked it to give the original a chance.  Plus check out the Comic and Anime Series for a better understanding of the deep story that was only shortly explored in the movie.

If you're a fan of Fist of the North Star or someone interested who wants to learn more then join the number one worldwide group for it right here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fistofthenorthstargames


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Gabe Kelly on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
Yes, the voices are the ones from the movie, but the series is better developed. The story line is much more fluid, and character development (yes,CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!) is there. I am an old fan of anime and I am glad (abd saddened) at the treatment anime is getting. But, here's hoping for better development. Maybe you can cover live-action "anime-ish" shows too, like Ultraman?


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Pete on November 25, 2006, 04:09:03 PM
Gmachine you can find the whole series here in japense, but with english subtitles.

http://www.discountanimedvd.com/dvd_detail.asp?dvdno=1634


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Leviathan on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
Hello everybody.
First I like too say that I agree with all of you. Fist of the north star RULES. I saw it for the first time when i was 10 years old, and sice then i've been a huge fan of Fist of the north star. I got it on DVD about a year ago. Man it's hard too find. So i went too Ebay. There i found it and won the auction. Now i've got it on Whs and DVD.
Soon the series is coming too DVD. But there is only 8 volumes on Whs and just stops. Like the manga comics, there's only 4 volumes and it just stops. I really wish read the read the rest of the books, but no they are in Japnese,Italian and French only.
I really hope that Viz is gonna translate the rest in english. It must happen, Right????

And, have any of you read Souten no ken??? "Fist of the blue sky" Fist of the north star in Japan in the sixties. Before the nucklear war. Sounds fun.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Luis Reyes on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
Finally, an anime on this webpage! Although gory, Fist Of The North Star captures the spirit of the manga it was based on completly! Don't hold back, give us more anime!!!


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: No Nukes on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
This movie spawned a TV series and a bunch of really, really sucky video games. I'm sure you've been exposed to the Fist Of The North Star NES game at some point and I feel your pain. They were in such a rush to get the game over here that they forgot to translate it, so when you boot up the NES you're greeted by a screen full of kanji. Even worse, they kept the punchy-explode element of the story intact, which angered parents to no extent measurable by man. (the US version of the game, by the way, was the SEQUEL to the Famicom Disk System Fist Of The North Star game. I'm afraid to find out what THAT one looked like.) Take a look at this vile spinoff here:

http://www.seanbaby.com/nes/w20-10.htm


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: octo on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
This movie sucked as a kid... i watched it and instantly i could see it sucked especially the ending when two men fight to the death, they are both hurt immeasurably and then this little girl shouts out' stop...' and the action ends WHATS ALL THAT ABOUT??!! and ray... he was tops and he dies.
BUT later on i read alittle about the anime and its actually quite a good story despite the poor tv series. apparently the movie consisted of clippets of the full anime, so thats why when ppl watched it you are introduced to some wierd questions of why's and how's, later on you will discover the answers. The movie in my eyes now wasn't as bad as it seemed when i was young. the musical score was pretty good, the action was good and u have to understand the 2 difference types of art, the nerve exploding one and the cutting one...
You will c that all characters end up in the same place but in reality the movie has missed other powerful characters and the journeys of ken... the voice overs r better then the series and also better drawn!
Watch this movie, then read the anime, then watch the TV series and finally if u must watch the western movie (shrug).


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Stoegen on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
I had seen "Fist of the North Star" last I was eight years old. Now (17) I had bought the Movie @ ebay! Last Sunday I watched "FotNS" on Television with all my friends. We had a good Time. There is no better "Anime" Movie! I can only recomand it to you!!!
FIVE DROPS


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Shaenharaz on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
My email is seriously jacked right now, so I thought I'd try to post a question via this comment and see if anyone later posted an answer. If as a neophyte I'm violating the rules, I'm sorry; please elucidate me. But on the subject of "Fist of the Northstar," my question is:

Does anyone know the meaning of the kanji character "ra" in Raou's name? I know the second character means "king," but I don't know what "ra" means. It even appears in that other name of Ryuuken, "Ramon." But every site I go to is like, "Raou left the dojo and changed his name to 'Kenou' (Fist King) and blah, blah, blah..." I know what "Kenou" means, so how about "Raou"?

Any help in this matter will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: HokutoLover on November 25, 2006, 04:09:03 PM
This is one of those animes that cannot be appreciated the first time you see it. The story of the hokuto brothers is a great tale. Too bad the movie version had to change a lot of things, including removing Toki, the fourth hokuto brother. But it is a good introduction nonetheless.

If you are interested in seeing the story as it was meant to be told, grab one of the TV series box sets from Ebay. I dare you to stop watching after episode 30, where the movie version leaves off, and the series really begins to shine.

Awesome, my favorite series next to Berserk !


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Al Lopez on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
Hey folks! I remember back in 1988 when I was about 12 years old my cousin had a bunch of tapes entitled fist of the north star. He was a big fan of the series and took numerous trips from hawaii to japan just to buy anime comics and what not. Anyhow I remember the series being subtitled in english while being dubbed in japanese. The whole series rocked but it was so long ago I can't remember any specifics other than it was my favorite anime at the time (I was an avid comic book collector back then). Ok, it is about 1994 or so and I manage to see it at the local video store in NY. Now the series seems to be much shorter and I am rather disappointed in it. Trying to remember but I can remember at the age of 12 watching characters like Juzo of the Cloud and Raul's name was Ken-o or something like that. Now I am looking for that original series, is my memory correct? Was their a character named Juzo? Bah, it's really fuzzy now, that was like 15 years ago.... If anyone has any info on what I am talking about please feel free to e-mail me, I'd love to get some copies of those. Maybe I should try to locate my cousin in hawaii... sigh....


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Craig on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
Fist of the North Star is by far one of the greatest animes ever and probably one of the longest next to DBZ... I got my box set on ebay and I've watched it twice... definitely worth the amount I paid for...


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Paul on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
I loved this movie since the day I seen it. Which was when I was 9 years old.  I like the movie just the way it is, even though its not the original plot. I've seen it over 30 times and plan on seeing it a whole lot more!


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Chris on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
This is the greatest movie to ever exist. THEY WEAR SUCH TIGHT PANTS! Quit WHINING about how it's not the orginal or whatever. I just wish there was more anime like this, now it's all cartoon network garbage and teeny bopper stuff like DBZ and Inuyasha. This is classic, I've been watching this stuff since before it was popular and this movie is genius. This movie and Wicked City has made my friends who hate anime like DBZ realize that some anime has redeeming features. Also, BARBARIANS VERSUS NINJAS, the two coolest warrior groups ever. I can't mention this movie without someone going: "YEAH, Barbarians versus Ninjas!" This is the best movie ever, and I don't care that it was edited.*

*Sure I'm going to check out the edited version, but this movie (version) holds a special place in my heart.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Thief in Chief on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
I watched the movie almost ten years ago, but I just saw the entire series (over 160 episodes).

If you liked the movie, your gonna like the series. A lot more characters, superb graphical style and innovative action sequences

The movie and series together created a defining moment not only in the world of anime but also of action movie making in general.

Countless directors have lifted ideas from this movie, including the Wachowski bros.(MAtrix), John Woo and so many others.

The origins of this style of Anime can probably be traced to two sources. 1. Chinese Kung-fu comics, and 2. Japanese art.

I am a Malaysian and have been exposed to asian cinema all my life. There are many titles that the west has never heard of let alone seen.

I'm planning to dedicate a website to Classic Kung fu flick and Anime - With a special page dedicated to The Fist of the North Star... Will make another post once its completed.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Nathan on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
I first saw the fist of the north star when i was around 16, and have recently spent most of my free time watching the entire t.v. series (157 episodes)> As you can probably tell I just can't get enough!!! For anyone who can enjoy the violence, yet see through it to understand its real motivation this story will, as it is for me, be the geatest experiece of your televisual life... ok that sounds a bit anal, but are truely an awesome set of movies, t.v. series and comics. Action packed, bloody, thoughtful and down right hillarious, if I could give it 6 drops it still wouldn't do it justice.

 Hey you! Where are you going, i`m not finished with you yet!!
            Thats funny cause your already dead!!!


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Golgo 13 on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
Yeah, Ray was the s**t with Nanto Seiken.

My favorite part:

"Hey... These belong to you?"


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Corey on September 03, 2004, 09:52:26 PM
Great anime. So much better than the live action movie. I had no idea that one person could spew that much blood.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Felicity on November 25, 2006, 04:09:03 PM
Oh, *that* Fist of the Northstar.  The original.  The anime.

When I saw the title in the index I guess I assumed you would be reviewing the much-cheesier 1995 live-action version with Malcolm McDowell, Chris Penn, and Vader (the pro wrestler, not the Sith).  That I rented with my friend Patrick, who was both an anime and wrestling fan, and this was during such a great era of my life that I loved it even though it was completely terrible.

The 1980s anime isn’t a bad movie; it was just edited and translated wrong.  Plus I think there was a whole TV series (which in turn was based on the manga by writer/artist Buronson) leading up to it which might have helped it to make more sense.

I *love* that 1980s Toei style of art--the exaggeratedly strong chins and muscular bodies, the extra shading.  Also, today’s audiences should be reminded that it was the anime physics in animation like this that predated by many decades what we now think of as wire-fu or Matrix-fu.

As with 99% of the anime I’ve seen, this movie does have the standard Japanese problem with pacing--long sequences of no dialogue, action, or plot while people stand around looking dramatic, or walk slowly from point A to point B while we’re forced to experience *every single footstep* in loving detail.  To a western audience member like me, it seems excessively padded.  Chris Warner talked about a similar problem with manga, in an article in Pulp (a magazine about manga and Japanese popular culture in general).  Warner called it “compression”--Japanese creators and audiences simply do not consider it a problem when it takes three pages just to show the sun rising.  For all the supposed hyper-accelerated speed that is the Japanese lifestyle, it sure takes a long time for their fiction to get to the point.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Felicity on September 30, 2004, 03:32:32 AM
Oh, PS--I saw two different versions of this.  The first was an untranslated Japanese version that was pirated for me by the local anime fan club back in the 1980s, when you couldn’t rent or buy this stuff (so it was morally OK to pirate it!).  I didn’t speak any Japanese at the time, but I got the gist of the story anyway.  A few years later I saw that it was playing at an actual movie theatre downtown and I dragged some friends to see it, telling them it was great.  This of course was the dubbed into English version, and my friends looked at me with such hurt and betrayal in their eyes afterwards...I was left wondering if I had somehow seen two completely different movies, written by two different writers, that just happened to have the same title and the same star character!


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Glommer on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
Wow, getting stoned and watching this series is awesome.  I am disapointed that the live action version of this seris is so s**tty.  But the music is very cool (the ending in particular) and you cant go wrong with dude that cut fools with there fingers and other that can make people body parts explode.  I don't like anime, but i love fist of the north star.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Bloodysin on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
Hey, i wonder where kenshiro get the extra clothes after they're ripped off when he "powers up" for battle. I'm sure everybody asking the same question when they watch the movie.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Derrick on November 25, 2006, 04:09:03 PM
I loved watching Fist of the North Star on TV. I have seen all the episodes they showed on Showtime beyond and the Movie.
WHY DID THEY EVEN STOP SHOWING THEM?

Who win the battle between Ken vs. Raoh?

The Real movie with the real actors SUCKED!!! The ANIME is the best


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Yoshimitsu on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
It is one of the best videos I have brought and it is a lengendary movie. It's cool to finaly find a web site on one of the most popular animes ever, I believe they should do more web sites on some of the more memorable anime's out ther. Nice site keep it up!


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Scott Newlan on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
Hokuto No Ken has been my favourite anime\\manga of all time ever since I first came across it years ago. I have the entire series in manga and anime and the new OVA's entitled 'New Fist of the North Star' in its English release and I've got the anime movie.
Anyway, I'd like to raise a point which might be of some interest. Dim Mak, an ancient martial art which was erradicated because of its deadliness hundreds of years ago, is obviously what Kenshiro's martial art, Hokuto Shinken, is based around (although there's no exploding body parts in Dim Mak). Dim Mak was the opposite of Accupuncture - as accupuncture was used to heal the body, Dim Mak was used to destroy it using the exact same principles.
My point is, around the time of the late Bruce Lee's death there was much suspicion as to exactly what caused his unexpected demise. Doctor's said that it was because of a hyper sensitivity to the pill that his wife gave him to take care of his migrain, however some people like to believe that it was due to a grand master of Dim Mak, who Lee had been reported to have fought that day or the day before, who might have struck a pressure point on Lee's body that would cause this delayed death. Believe what you want, I think this is a much more valid version of the story.
Another thing of interest is another ancient martial art entitled 'Grandmaster Fist' or, as some people may know it,'Fist of the North Wind'. This art, along with Dim Mak, was abolished hundreds of years ago, however in an ancient Chinese myth, it was said that the grandmaster of Grandmaster Fist demonstrated to groups of people how his art worked. In one such demonstration, he was reported to have lightly slapped a horse on its side, and seconds later the horse dropped dead. When the people opened the horse up to see what had killed it (the horse had no external damage, of course), its internal organs in their intirity were turned to mush. He also did some demonstrations of lesser note, like lightly slapping the top of a pile of tiles and having all of the tiles smashing to pieces. Alot like Hokuto Shinken, this art could only have one successor, and it was practiced in utmost secrecy, and was usualy only passed down through family. The grandmaster of this style was said to be feared by all, as everyone was so afraid of even being touched once by him in fear for their lives.

Thanks, if you have a particular interest or any questions, please email me by all means.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: tyler on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
I've seen this movie numerous time and everytime I see something new and wonderful. Whether it be when Ray stands up holding a vail and the wind starts to blow and when he sits down the wind stops. or just the utter hilarity of the scene when that giant, who's army fights Raoh, turns himself to steel and then claims he doesn't believe in magic. Then there's just the plethora of ridiculous lines and cheasy grusome humor. And of course you have to appreciate that scene when Ken gets off of that table and it explodes, disaparing into thin air and then he smashes through that door and it completely dissapates. And Then, in that scene when bat and lynn are being chased by those guys on motorcycles, does anyone notice the animation slowing down drastcally and the men on the bikes go down those stairs? This movie is hilarious. I recommend it to anyone get kicks out of sucky artwork and terrible animation


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: tj on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
I immensely agree my dear sir. The animation is of the lowest quality. The translation is simply amazing. Especially when Ray says "Ray is me." What a perfect translation. The fact that when Bat and Lynn are being chased by some villians and clouds of dust pour out from behind their car despite the fact that they are on a highway. Be it from characters who change in size throughout the movie (example: When Ken is fighting Zed, I believe that is his name, and the fellow is about twice his size. Then, when Ken knocks him to the ground, he slowly rises up, and his head is about as large as Ken's whole body.) As Tyler has mentioned, the beauty of the veil scene. A motionless desert, but when Ray stands, dramatic winds blow against his body. Yet Ken is not affected by this wind.

Plot Summary:
Ken goes on a quest to find Julia from his old friend Shin. Along the way, he encounters many foes, of all which die by their head exploding. From powerful enemies who tower above him (yet when they die there is no remains despite the fact they are shown blowing up and blood gushing everywhere) to young children (one who has the ability to grow ugly plants.) This film is truly a tear jerker (trust me, you will laugh that hard.) And be in store for a 'twist' ending.

Animation:
A swear, this is some of the worst I have ever seen in my life. Jackets flash different colors randomly. Not just a quick change of color but a continuous change for as long as a whole scene.
I cannot describe this monstrosity. It's so bad it's good. A must see.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Zach on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
I remember renting this at a local blockbuster in the early '90's. Though I wasn't new to anime, Fist of the North Star blew me away.  To this day I've been searching for this on DVD to no avail.  Everything about this story was awesome. The fights. The deaths.  Julia's lack of pubic hair.  I was also a huge fan of the manga witch was a retelling of the story.  Just recently I was in blockbuster again and what do I find?  The new Fist of the North Star which picks up where the first left off.  How this can be considered a bad movie is beyond me!  If you like boring, s**tty anime rent Harmegeddon. By the way, the HBO version of Fist of the North Star IS the biggest piece of s**t on earth.  That's what I thought this site was referring to.  Beware the man with seven scars!


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: mapatric on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
So my friend tells me this is one of the 'must see' animes of all time when I ask him what some good ones are, so I find a copy of this...thing... and manage to force myself to watch it all, although I did have to take a few 15-20 minute breaks to get me all the way through.  After I recover, I ask him why he would be so cruel as to decieve me in to watching this and to my shock I discover he actually believes it is a masterpiece of animated glory.

In short, wtf?

I mean, are people exploding all thats needed to go down in anime history? s**t I'm in the wrong business.  I'll go draw up some stick figures with their heads exploding and sit back waiting to collect my profit.  No need to bother with dialouge , animation, or a plot.  If this movie is as popular as it seems to be they can't be that important.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: MC Chemistry on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
I can say only one word: great. Fist of the North Star is the greatest anime that was made. It's not only the violence and the blood that makes it so good. You have a clear and simple plot that can everybody understand, but it's not negative that  it's so simple. The story is an utopia of a near future that could everyone imagine, world was devasted by a nuclear holocaust, this is not an impossible scenario. I mean there are a lot of films with easy stories, think about Star Wars, Alien and so on. No one would say these are terrible and boring films.

And there is another fact that makes the movie so unique. It's the langugage. There are so many cool verdicts that are legendary. I don't know about the original one, which is in Japanese of course, but I think it's great too. I'm a big fan of this anime and I can only advise you to watch it. It's a legend.


Title: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Southern Cross on November 25, 2006, 04:09:03 PM
Absolutely one of the greatest movies of all time.  Probably one of the only animation movies on this list.  If you like, or respect in any way, japanese animation then you have to see this all time classic.  

After this movie was released in Japan there was literally an enormous public outry because this movie was marketed toward young children.  And we all thought that disney had its bad moments...


Title: Re: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Intangible Skeleton on December 06, 2007, 09:02:14 AM
I've only seen the Japanese version of this movie all the way through (along with the TV series and manga), but I've seen enough and know enough of this one to realise the hilarity of some of the dubbing in it. I mean, the Japanese version is comical simply because of the subject matter, but when you add terrible dubbing to that you get 100% more laughs. I especially like "Say your goodbyes lardass, coz you're already dead." and Raoh telling Rei that death is like a fine wine which must be savoured: "You smell that, Rei? That's the smell of death!"

As for people saying this has terrible animation, I don't know what you're talking about. I think it's excellently animated and very detailed (unlike the TV series), however it is inconsitant, if that's what you're talking about: Zeed grows fifty feet for no apparent reason. But that's anime for ya!


Title: Re: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Red Mystic Ninja on March 11, 2008, 05:29:43 PM
I have Watching Fist of the North Star, Then I Read Graphic Novel Manga. my Former Best Friend Has VHS in UK. I am Biggest Fan of Anime.


Title: Re: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Tom on May 04, 2008, 09:56:40 AM
Hey man, I liked your review and I think you should do one of the live action Fist of the North Star movie, that is if you have seen it. Thanks for reading.


Title: Re: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Andrew on May 04, 2008, 11:11:31 AM
Hey man, I liked your review and I think you should do one of the live action Fist of the North Star movie, that is if you have seen it. Thanks for reading.

I do have the live action film in my collection, and will review it sooner or later.  Have actually held it in my hands a few times, ready to take it to the DVD player and start a review, but I've always stopped myself and looked for something less painful.  Not a good movie. 

Of course, to do "Fist of the North Star" right as a live action film you would need gallons of stage blood and lots of fake body parts flying everywhere.  In other words: quite a bit of SFX money and talent.  I don't think the people who made the live action version had much of either.


Title: Re: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Tom on May 05, 2008, 03:06:58 AM
True.


Title: Re: Fist of the North Star
Post by: DistantJ on May 05, 2008, 02:54:49 PM
I do have the live action film in my collection, and will review it sooner or later.  Have actually held it in my hands a few times, ready to take it to the DVD player and start a review, but I've always stopped myself and looked for something less painful.  Not a good movie. 

Good on yer, andrew. There's something just that much more depressing about an awful movie which was based on something awesome, isn't there!


Title: Re: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Tsukasamacleod on June 25, 2008, 03:38:49 AM
Fist of the North Star is probably the greatest Anime series ever (It was a TV show first.) If you wanna review a REALLY bad movie Andrew.... There's a live action Fist of the North Star movie.


Title: Re: Fist of the North Star
Post by: j.oiles.s on January 02, 2009, 01:16:11 PM
This movie is awful. As it turns out it's awful dubbed, it's awful in Japanese, and it's just awful to watch. I say many of the same things about Akira and people point and scream "HERETIC!" those times too. Bah. I hate the GIGANTIC SHOULDERS + 84 PACK STOMACH + TINY HEAD art style. Also, Ray's "fighting style" may be extremely deadly, but he still looks silly doing it. Consider for a moment what exactly it looked like - a very large, peculiar-looking muscle-bound man delicately flailing his hands about, occasionally doing what appears to be a leaping breast stroke, and oh-so-powerfully flicking his fingers (with bent wrists) at his opponents. Yeah. Just like that.


Title: Re: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Intangible Skeleton on January 10, 2009, 08:07:06 PM
And if you've read the manga or seen the anime, you'll know that Rei's rival, Yuda, is an even more effeminate man, who looks like a cross between Boy George and a metric tonne of steroids.


Title: Re: Fist of the North Star
Post by: Holy Emperor92 on August 30, 2009, 11:27:19 PM
This is definitley one of my favourite movies ever. Sure I can see why most people dislike it, but it's just too awesome and I'd take it over any other anime film. The dub is pretty bad, in that it doesn't explain much but I pretty much knew what was going on already so it was good that the boring talks about trivial stuff was skipped.

Also the ending (the credits) gets me everytime.


Title: Re: Fist of the North Star
Post by: zelmo73 on September 26, 2013, 05:35:35 PM
Complaining about the quality of a film on a website devoted to bad movies is a self-defeating and therefore futile logic strain, so I'm a bit perturbed by some of the comments about this wonderfully bad movie. It is a movie that revels in being bad, makes fun of itself as a result (the guy complaining about his "splitting headache" after getting a saw blade through his forehead is a perfect example of this), and focuses on being fun instead.

The real debate ought to be: Are bad movies better when their creators and actors know that they are involved in making a bad movie, or are bad movies better when their creators and actors are seemingly unaware that they are partaking in crap?

Fist of the North Star is one of those movies that I love to refer to as "classic '80s cheese". All worthwhile '80s movies possess this quality that was unique to that decade. The joy is in pointing out the funny and very obvious flaws in these films. Like in this one, for example, when Ken fights the Fat One who is blocking the entrance to Lord Jagi's fortress, causing the oversized fellow to burst in a shower of blood and guts, then proceeds to walk through the doorway -- the scene changes to a frontal shot of Ken walking through the doorway and into the fortress, but where is the Fat One's mangled body parts in the doorway? Not a drop of blood remains. Classic!

This film is better enjoyed over a fifth of vodka or a few 40-ouncers of Olde English, depending on the delectable tastes of your palate!  :cheers: