a review of

A cheesy martial arts adventure set in a post-apocalyptic future where cars run on burning trash. It's like a big, dumb Saturday morning cartoon. I can't rightfully call something this ridiculous, goofy, and maybe even downright stupid "good," but I still loved nearly every second of it. That's because I grew up on things like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Men in Black, Godzilla, and Schumacher's Batman films. So sillier, more absurd movies from the '90s like this have a way of transporting me back to my childhood. However, the familiarity it has with so much of what entertained me in my youth is something of a double edged sword. As even back when this originally released all of its story beats had been done many times before. The narrative feels generic as a result and lacks surprises as it goes through its assemblage of clichés. So what ultimately ended up keeping me entertained were the gonzo world, energetic pacing, and the enthusiasm with which it delivered the setpieces. For a film set in a ruined city where the rivers are so polluted they're flammable and the only way the police are able to maintain a sense of peace during the day is by giving the multitude of street gangs control of the night, it's remarkably upbeat and lighthearted. The plucky, charming protagonists are always ready with an amusing quip whenever they caught up in a fight or some other form of antics. This was clearly aimed at children and aside from the filmmaker's (totally understandable) obsession with a young Alyssa Milano's well-shaped rear end it nearly succeeds at being an acceptable piece of entertainment for all ages. I felt like a kid again while watching this. It captures that one of a kind feeling you can only get from playing a NES game. Which considering it's actually based on a NES game is about the highest praise one could give it, even if it does come with the understanding that's it's dated and inherently flawed by design.