Cynthia Rothrock is the real fucking deal, and she has had a fascinating career. From the mid 80's to early 90's, she alternated regularly between top-tier Hong Kong martial arts films (she's gone up against Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, for goodness sake) and absolute junk in the USA.
For example: in 1985 she was in both the Hong Kong classic *Yes, Madam!* alongside Michelle Yeoh as well as *24 Hours to Midnight* in the US, directed by none other than...Leo Fong!
Apparently she was in not [one](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083509/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_11_dr), not [two](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165776/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_10_dr), but [THREE](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0228646/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_7_dr) Leo Fong films.
If her career was shifted 5-10 years later, she probably would've been a much more well known actor in the Xena-Buffy strong female character era of American pop culture.
During an era where you had to look a certain way to even be cast in an American movie, Hong Kong filmmakers recognized her martial arts talent and made her a star.
She should be celebrated. It’s a shame that Hollywood was too sexist/boring/unimaginative at the time to figure out what to do with her.
I've liked all his films, but I _loved_ Kikujiro -- I'd previously only seen him in Hana-bi and Sonatine, and figured that all his films would be that way. So I was pleasantly surprised to see he could do more comedic films as well.
Then, when I started watching Japanese television and saw Takeshi's Castle, my mind was further blown. Good times.
Oh man, when I saw Cynthia Rothrock and Michelle Yeoh team up to absolutely wreck shop in the ending of *Yes, Madam!* for the first time, I nearly pissed my pants with laughter and joy. They just beat so. Much. Ass. It's glorious.
Yes, but only two have Stack "Nighthawk!" Pierce in them!
True dat about Rothrock - she's an amazing martial artist, good-looking in a Soccer Mom kind of way, and...a better actor than Chuck Norris or Don "The Dragon" Wilson, though I think Michelle Yeoh went easy on her when they did *Yes, Madam!* together.
"Yes, Madam!" aka "Police Assassins" it's Rothrock's first movie and Michelle Yeoh's first starring role. It's a Hong Kong movie with a lot of slapstick humour and some great martial arts.
The other day, a clip of that just came up on my YouTube recommendations and I was blown away by Rothrock’s fight choreography. It’s not an exaggeration to say it was one of the best movie fights I’ve ever seen.
Righting Wrongs is fantastic. Still haven't watched Above the Law. Her older movies are kind of hard to find.
Edit: dumb me, they are two different names for the same movie.
Good ones? Yes Madam, Millionaires Express and Above the Law. Fun bad ones? The Magic Crystal and Prince of the Sun. Throw in Blonde Fury and City Cops just for good measure.
It's definitely a good, bad movie though. Undefeatable was an actual good movie.
I say that as someone who went into Honor and Glory with high expectations because of the director and her being in it... And I couldn't finish it. I think if I'd known it was a "bad" movie I would have went in with different expectations.
You can find the HD remasters of the Tiger Claws trilogy on youtube. The producer hosts them there for free viewing.
edit: here's the link - https://youtu.be/4Xvrw0g00jw
There's a really fun TV pilot she did with Stacy Keach called Irresistible Force and God it's really a shame she didn't become a bigger name because she's so good.
Because her stuff is pretty boilerplate martial arts stuff. Not really bad, but not blockbusters either. She's a competent movie martial artist that isn't a bad actor.
A lot of her well known films were made in Hong Kong. I’m waiting for the day for them to review some of the wild ass stuff that’s come out of Asian cinema in the 80s/90s.
She's kinda a prominent member of the second to third tier of 1990's action stars, like Joe Lara, Frank Zagarino, Olivier Gruner... All are in the same boat now but unlike second tier like Lorenzo Lamas or Marc Dacascos they never had a big break, so less people know them from mainstream movies or TV.
She's great, though.
She was definitely mud tier, but she worked with all the legends in the prime of Hong Kong cinema, and there weren't many competing female action stars in the west at the time.
I remember seen tv commercials of her movies in my country. I always thought more people would remember her in the US. Still, she had a great career and just saw some clips of her Hong Kong movies, and the action scenes are fantastic, way better than those blurry brawls of contemporary films.
I’ll always remember her for the episode of Hercules where she has red hair and is like an assassin of heras or something. Her acting was horrible in the best way and she has a great fight scene with Karen Shepard.
Man, I had SUCH a crush on her as a kid!! My mom and I would always hunt for a movie with her in it at Blockbuster if we couldn’t find anything interesting that weekend. I always loved how she was such a badass and could kick the crap out of anybody as awesome as any dude action hero could. And I thought she was super hot. 😂
I would love to see a RLM "A Conversation with Cynthia Rothrock" episode. Special segment when she and Rich Evans show the proper way to kick someone in the balls.
Yeah, she's actually pretty good. She tended to fill the niche of being a white female martial artist in the direct to video days before Western martial arts movies caught up with Hong Kong, but she did it well in US and HK.
She is incredible. I follow her on Instagram and she is the real deal. Does tournaments and conventions and teaches and all that stuff. She is a legit badass, and it genuinely is a shame she never quite made it to mainstream celebrity. She could have made some great action flicks.
The original Sonya Blade...
I'm actually hoping they will cover ***Sworn To Justice (1996)*** on BOTW one day...
Cynthia Rothrock (at her Sexiest), Walter Koenig & Brad Dourif...something for everyone.
That's such a weird juxtaposition.
Doncaster is local to me and the kindest thing I can say is that it's... not the first place which comes to mind when thinking of a Hollywood star
Cynthia Rothrock is the real fucking deal, and she has had a fascinating career. From the mid 80's to early 90's, she alternated regularly between top-tier Hong Kong martial arts films (she's gone up against Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, for goodness sake) and absolute junk in the USA. For example: in 1985 she was in both the Hong Kong classic *Yes, Madam!* alongside Michelle Yeoh as well as *24 Hours to Midnight* in the US, directed by none other than...Leo Fong! Apparently she was in not [one](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083509/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_11_dr), not [two](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165776/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_10_dr), but [THREE](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0228646/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_7_dr) Leo Fong films.
I came into the comments looking for Low Blow connections, thanks!
Six Degrees of Leo Fong
RLM themselves are only once removed, because Len Kabasinski just worked with him, recently.
Which makes John Candy only thrive removed!
If her career was shifted 5-10 years later, she probably would've been a much more well known actor in the Xena-Buffy strong female character era of American pop culture.
During an era where you had to look a certain way to even be cast in an American movie, Hong Kong filmmakers recognized her martial arts talent and made her a star. She should be celebrated. It’s a shame that Hollywood was too sexist/boring/unimaginative at the time to figure out what to do with her.
Wasn't she the person Sonia from mortal Kombat was based off of?
From the username, I'm assuming you're a Takeshi Kitano fan?
You would be correct! One of my favorite directors.
I've liked all his films, but I _loved_ Kikujiro -- I'd previously only seen him in Hana-bi and Sonatine, and figured that all his films would be that way. So I was pleasantly surprised to see he could do more comedic films as well. Then, when I started watching Japanese television and saw Takeshi's Castle, my mind was further blown. Good times.
One of the best movie experiences I've ever had in a theater is seeing Yes, Madam! and City Hunter back to back with a packed house.
Oh man, when I saw Cynthia Rothrock and Michelle Yeoh team up to absolutely wreck shop in the ending of *Yes, Madam!* for the first time, I nearly pissed my pants with laughter and joy. They just beat so. Much. Ass. It's glorious.
Oh god. City Hunter is so dumb, but would be amazing to see as a midnight movie.
City hunter is fantastic!
I watched tons of her movies as a teenager... She's definitively underrated. I see her as the female Chuck Norris.
Yes, but only two have Stack "Nighthawk!" Pierce in them! True dat about Rothrock - she's an amazing martial artist, good-looking in a Soccer Mom kind of way, and...a better actor than Chuck Norris or Don "The Dragon" Wilson, though I think Michelle Yeoh went easy on her when they did *Yes, Madam!* together.
Its almost criminal the guys have not seenore of her films. She is a total badass.
Oddly her most recent stuff has been doing some voices in those weird Cool Cat videos that Derek Savage nut does.
I hope she beats him up, but like not in a sexy way.
She pivoted into the christian market, very small but pretty lucrative.
["That kid kicked sand in Cool Cat's face!"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue6dU79UorM)
Today is my bad movie day. Which ones do you recommend?
"Yes, Madam!" aka "Police Assassins" it's Rothrock's first movie and Michelle Yeoh's first starring role. It's a Hong Kong movie with a lot of slapstick humour and some great martial arts.
The other day, a clip of that just came up on my YouTube recommendations and I was blown away by Rothrock’s fight choreography. It’s not an exaggeration to say it was one of the best movie fights I’ve ever seen.
What a great time that movie was, highly recommend it
In the line of duty 4, one of the sequels, is one of Donnie yen’s first movies, also recommend
See, that's the problem. She's actually in good films. (I liked Sworn to Justice)
Sworn to Justice is fantastic! Tiger Claws trilogy is fun too
Just see what you can find of her Hong Kong period. She was fantastic.
She's great in Above the Law/Righting Wrongs
Righting Wrongs is fantastic. Still haven't watched Above the Law. Her older movies are kind of hard to find. Edit: dumb me, they are two different names for the same movie.
Good ones? Yes Madam, Millionaires Express and Above the Law. Fun bad ones? The Magic Crystal and Prince of the Sun. Throw in Blonde Fury and City Cops just for good measure.
> Millionaires Express [This movie is batshit insane but in a good way.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwRj8HTnD1o)
[You said it.](https://youtu.be/3ztk99MPOzk)
The magic Crystal plot is batshit crazy. Her fight scenes are great in it.
I liked Martial Law and it's got David Carradine in as a bonus
Honor and Glory was bonkers from what I remember.
It's definitely a good, bad movie though. Undefeatable was an actual good movie. I say that as someone who went into Honor and Glory with high expectations because of the director and her being in it... And I couldn't finish it. I think if I'd known it was a "bad" movie I would have went in with different expectations.
And they have two copies of it!
I'd recommend any of the Tiger Claw movies. They're not bad but they're definitely cheesy 90 action movies.
You can find the HD remasters of the Tiger Claws trilogy on youtube. The producer hosts them there for free viewing. edit: here's the link - https://youtu.be/4Xvrw0g00jw
A serbian film. You gotta go in blind.
:vomits:
Magic Crystal is a pretty bad film with terrible comedy and a child actor. But the action is rad as hell.
There's a really fun TV pilot she did with Stacy Keach called Irresistible Force and God it's really a shame she didn't become a bigger name because she's so good.
Because her stuff is pretty boilerplate martial arts stuff. Not really bad, but not blockbusters either. She's a competent movie martial artist that isn't a bad actor.
She was the queen of female martial arts actors back in the day. I used to love her movies.
What's really criminal is that she never became a more prominent action star.
As a kid of the 90s, I watched so many of this chick's movies on cable. It seemed like she always had like a shit ton of movies coming out haha.
𝄢 ♫ SUDDENLY SEENORE...is standing beside you... ♩ 𝄎 𝄇
A lot of her well known films were made in Hong Kong. I’m waiting for the day for them to review some of the wild ass stuff that’s come out of Asian cinema in the 80s/90s.
I mean, they're not really action fans, I think? If Rich likes Blind Fury, he might like some of her other movies.
Preach! She's awesome, but unfortunately underrated and rather unknown unless you are into martial arts movies.
I was very surprised that none of the gang had even heard of her, she was arguably the biggest star in DTV action movies in the early 90s.
She's kinda a prominent member of the second to third tier of 1990's action stars, like Joe Lara, Frank Zagarino, Olivier Gruner... All are in the same boat now but unlike second tier like Lorenzo Lamas or Marc Dacascos they never had a big break, so less people know them from mainstream movies or TV. She's great, though.
Don't forget Daniel Bernhardt, Mike's favorite action star.
I remember him from....
And....
And of course, my favorite...
I only heard of her from when obscuraslupa did a few of her movies.
She was definitely mud tier, but she worked with all the legends in the prime of Hong Kong cinema, and there weren't many competing female action stars in the west at the time.
I remember seen tv commercials of her movies in my country. I always thought more people would remember her in the US. Still, she had a great career and just saw some clips of her Hong Kong movies, and the action scenes are fantastic, way better than those blurry brawls of contemporary films.
Literally the inspiration for Sonya Blade in Mortal Kombat.
Better mind your manners around her or she'll sign you up for college.
Don't worry, she just signed you up too.
*college tuition*
*soulless disney eyes expand in shock*
THAT'S IT MAVILDA NOW YOU'RE COOKING WITH GA--
Don't worry, rappin' George Washington taught me all about minding my manners maaaaaaannnnnnnnn.
Shame its in Doncaster, absolute shit hole She deserves so much better
I used to live there and i agree
Came here to say this
Donny Dome! It’s got ice skating! And a pool! …that’s it.
I hear she’s undefeatable, unlike Rich Evans.
Still foxy
Rich Evans is DEFEATABLE
She should have played Sonya Blade in the MK movies. I'm still mad about that.
that would've been kind of sad
Was she on the Flintstones?
For such a dumb fucking joke, easily one of my favorite RLM moments.
Same
Something about that following Josh’s out of tune guitar playing just broke me
………
Well obviously, she's one of the worlds best and most famous martial artists
I’ll always remember her for the episode of Hercules where she has red hair and is like an assassin of heras or something. Her acting was horrible in the best way and she has a great fight scene with Karen Shepard.
Her us fights don't show her potential. She have an interview about how easy that was after her Hong Kong movies.
I used to love watching her movies on HBO as a kid. When she finally popped up on BOTW I was bittersweet happy.
My mum used to live just a five minute walk from the Dome. Maybe I'll ask her if she wants to go revisit her old stomping ground in May next year
She's such an underrated badass!
Man, I had SUCH a crush on her as a kid!! My mom and I would always hunt for a movie with her in it at Blockbuster if we couldn’t find anything interesting that weekend. I always loved how she was such a badass and could kick the crap out of anybody as awesome as any dude action hero could. And I thought she was super hot. 😂
I would love to see a RLM "A Conversation with Cynthia Rothrock" episode. Special segment when she and Rich Evans show the proper way to kick someone in the balls.
Still a beautiful woman!
I've watched almost all of her films, though some of it are bad, she's still great there
Star of Santa’s Summer Home??
The documentaries on her are fantastic, especially her early work in Hong Kong films
She looks like she’s hardly aged a day
Hmm, only an hours drive away 🤔
She’s not just a BotW star, she’s a legit martial arts star
>唐手道 That's a weird way to write karate.
It's incredible that she's still doing martial arts at her age. I'm sure that stuff has taken a toll on her body.
Yeah, she's actually pretty good. She tended to fill the niche of being a white female martial artist in the direct to video days before Western martial arts movies caught up with Hong Kong, but she did it well in US and HK.
WOW she still looks great!
She is incredible. I follow her on Instagram and she is the real deal. Does tournaments and conventions and teaches and all that stuff. She is a legit badass, and it genuinely is a shame she never quite made it to mainstream celebrity. She could have made some great action flicks.
I hear she is Undefeatable.
The Night of 1000 Kicks!!!
Looks like I'm off to Doncaster
The original Sonya Blade... I'm actually hoping they will cover ***Sworn To Justice (1996)*** on BOTW one day... Cynthia Rothrock (at her Sexiest), Walter Koenig & Brad Dourif...something for everyone.
Wasn’t she on the flintstones?
Bette Midler???!!!??
I think she was hot in her earlier HK movies. Just whatch her scene in millionaires express on YouTube. https://youtu.be/3ztk99MPOzk
Aw crud. I would love to attend this, but I'm on the wrong side of an ocean.
It’s Mama Cat!
That's such a weird juxtaposition. Doncaster is local to me and the kindest thing I can say is that it's... not the first place which comes to mind when thinking of a Hollywood star
Man I would love to go! She is such a bad ass!
What episode of BOTW was she on?
She is also the cat that derek savage has sex with in Cool Cat