CHINA O'BRIEN (1990) Revisited - Action Movie Review
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- Опубликовано: 1 дек 2021
- Welcome to Reel Action, where we pay tribute to some of the best action movies and action stars of all-time. And that includes some that a few of you might not have heard of, but definitely should. One of those is my favorite ass-kicking lady ever, the original Atomic Blonde herself, and the first western Hong Kong superstar, Cynthia Rothrock. And if she had a magnum opus it's definitely 1990's China O'Brien.
The 5-foot-3 Rothrock was and still is a true badass. In the 1980s, she was an undefeated fighting champion, earning five black belts in more styles than I've got toes. But it was in Hong Kong that she decided to try her hand at acting, and became an instant smash when she teamed with the great Michelle Yeoh in cop flick Yes Madam! She worked with all of the greats at the time, from Gordon Liu to influential director Corey Yuen, to Andy Lau, to Sammo Hung, and even Jackie Chan.
But it was when her studio Golden Harvest decided to make Rothrock a star in America that things took off. China O'Brien, a clever play on Rothrock's eastern/western backstory, would see her united with writer/director Robert Clouse, famous for directing Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon and Game of Death. Plus, she would co-star opposite fellow action movie badass Richard Norton. Get the scoop on this underrated and under-seen kung-fu movie classic! And hey, if you like it there's even a sequel - China O'Brien 2! Get all the scoop here!
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#CynthiaRothrock #ChinaOBrien 
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I worked at a Mom and Pop video store in the 90's, Cynthia Rothrock movies were the best rentals for several years.
Same
Cynthia Rothrock is one of the OG she kicked ass all over the place and deserves more recognition
Cynthia Rothrock movies are always fun to watch! She should be better known than she is!
This was my dad's jam. He rented and even bought almost her entire collection. RIP Pop🙌
I used to compete in martial arts tournaments around Florida. It was always a pleasure to see Cynthia and Karen Shepard in the forms competitions. Both were amazing performers.
She's absolutely right about the Expendables. She *should* have been there.
Dame right
100%
Amen, tragic oversight.
Agreed. The only reason I can guess as to why she didn't is because she never really made the A list in Hollywood. All her movies were straight to video. Those who are unfamiliar with the early nineties martial arts movies are probably unfamiliar to her work.
DUUUUUUDE!!!!
yesss! Cynthia Rothrock! thank you for featuring her.
she was like the female Bruce Lee in terms of speed. i remember being in awe with her of that.
she definitely shoulda been in Expendables! if not as one of the OG crew, then as a villain-woulda been doubly interesting.
Petition to make Cynthia Rothrock facts a thing.
She should start a RUclips Channel. Honestly its worked for Scott Adkins and Micheal Jai White. Im sure tons of 90s fans would love to hear old stories about the training for these movies and what it was like at that time.
She has her own RUclips channel and has posted loads of videos about the behind the scenes stories from her movies.
Here's her channel ruclips.net/user/CynthiaRothrockChannel
Her movies were my saving grace as a kid. There just weren't enough strong women in Western cinema at the time. She is definitely one of the defining action stars of my childhood.
She's got a point. I'd rather have seen her in The Expendables rather than Arnold or Seagal. And her acting range is superior to the latter's.
Arnold and Seagal are way more iconic action heroes than she ever was, but she sure as hell deserved a spot instead of Randy ¨filler¨ Couture
Rather than Arnold ? Get you head out of your as s dude
It's a shame that 'The Expenda-belles' didn't happen as I was hoping for Stallone to cast her in there, as he should.
I never even heard of this women until now 😂
@@jaybirdgotgame4631 she is probably the most famous female martial arts star of all time. You should go watch her movies.
I had VHS tape of China O'Brien an let me tell you that tape was glued to my VHS, as soon as movie was finished I will hit the rewind button and watch it all over again. Memories sweet memoires :) Thank you Cynthia for great childhood.
Finally we get the Queen of 80s action Rothrock! I had a good chunk of her films on VHS even the NES games...which my dumbass later realise it was Jackie Chan (I wasn't a smart kid). I love Rothrock and was genuinely baffled how they put Rhonda (drama queen) Rousey in before her. She is one of my OG heroes
As a huge fan of Rothrock back in the day, I remember being especially pleased when she rocked up on an episode of Hercules during the 90's for a reunion/rematch with her 'Above the Law' co-star, Karen Sheperd. And in a unusual link with The Expendables, it was an episode that was essentially the show's version of Terminator 2.
This woman was more bad-ass than Ripley.We loved her back in the day.Can't count how much time we have rented her films on VHS in the early 90's and watch them on a loop.Glad Scott Adkins did an interview with her few months back.I am glad i have lived in a time when she kicked on the big and the small screen.
I’ve never forgotten how amazing she was, but I did forget how much I loved this movie! Great work!
A severely underrated B-movie actress.
Cynthia is awesome, we would always watch her movies when they came out on video. Tons of action and amazing stunts. Great stuff!!!
Its time Cynthia did a modern movie. She's still in great shape and if Michelle Yeoh can get a role kicking ass in Shang-Chi, then Rothrock can pull a modern cheesy movie for sure.
🙄
Incredible that she'll be 65 years old in March.
Damn, when you listed all those names of direct to video stars I went nuts and named very movie you showed! My brother and I would go to the video store just to see if there were new movies out on any of those stars. Thank you for that
One of my favorite face offs: Lady Dragon 2 - Cynthia Rothrock against the legendary villain that is the late Billy Drago!
Rothrock was a marquee name in this part of the world during the eighties and nineties
Dude, that list at the end of action stars that never quite got their due... manly tears...
THIS VIDEO HAS MADE MY DAY!!!! Ask any of my friends and they'll tell you my rants about Cynthia Rothrock and how underrated she is. I don't know who owns the rights, and with everyone gobbling up IPs left and right, you're absolutely correct -- I've said they should do a China O'Brien reboot. My candidates are either Amy Johnston (stuntwoman) or Katheryn Winnick (Vikings). Cynthia could either be the sheriff mom that gets murdered or China's sensei who fights alongside her at the end. And then let Netflix give Cynthia her own series or something! 1000 percent agree with everything in this video and love it. Excellent work!
I remember I was 8 years old when this movie came out. I had kickboxer and it was a trailer on that vhs....I watched that trailer easily a thousand times for the next year or 2 until my father eventually came in with a pirate vhs copy for me lol... 40 years old now and still know the trailer word by word..."I can't see u back there but I can feel u" lol
Ah Cynthia Rothrock and Cynthia Luster, the latter whom is actually Japanese are among those who make up my 90s Hong Kong action flicks.
Thank you for the introduction to China
Obrien. She looked amazing.
First time I saw her was on...
No retreat no surrender.... or was it...
No retreat no surrender2...either way...
Fell in love with her ever since....
Sasha Mitchell absolutely got his do; he put out many movies and starred in a primetime T.V series for years.
I always remember the way her kicking foot would be turned in on the video covers. That was like her defacto signature.
I watched CHINA O'BRIEN all the time when it was on premium cable. I may have to find a digital copy to watch it again.
The orgional Sonya Blade
I was gutted when she wasn't cast as Sonya when she was obviously the inspiration.
Yukari Oshima was another great female martial artist in the 80s and 90s.
Also Moon Lee
I see Cynthia Rothrock and immediately hope there’ll be a review on Undefeatable.
Hmm, never actually heard of her. Thanks for a great video!
You're welcome!
Never heard about 'China O'Brien', I guess it never made its way over the ocean ;-)
FYI --- Richard Norton played two characters in the chuck Norris film The Octagon. He plays the guy Chuck kicks in the balls (and says, "oh, my balls" which was a line given to him by John Belushi who he bodyguarded) and the big bad ninja Chuck fights at the end!!
Never heard of her or her movies, thats a "draw back" from growing up in Quebec.... and thats why im sub to this channel, probably gonna try to watch this movie this weekend, if i can find it!?
I loved the China O'Brien movies when I was a kid. I always thought Cynthia Rothrock was so cute, and she was a badass at the same time.
YES!! I loved “China O’Brien!” Came on Cinemax all the time as a kid. 🤣🤣
Good god! I think I remember watching it on Cinemax or one of the movie channels. Those were the days.
Oh man.. I kind of recall this movie, but remember her in Tiger Claws with Bolo Young. Was absolutely crazy about smoking hot Bobbie Philips who starred with Billy Blanks in TC2000.. yeah all low budget martial arts 90's straight to video stuff.. cheesey but fun to watch.
Bolo "Yeung", not Young.
10 outta 10 Rothrocks; and she's a TEN!!!
My favourite fight scenes in the movie is in the gym segment always used to rewind that part of the film on vhs.
Yessss I remember her!!!
Being a female I loved her tough as nails movies, so did my brother.
THE Sonya Blade
I’ve never heard of this movie. It looks awesome! Gonna track down a copy hopefully.
woah....never heard of her until now
No mention of Jeff Speakman on that list of under-appreciated action stars of the 80s and 90s? Otherwise that list is pretty accurate. I remember when Gary Daniels made a live action First of the North Star with some pretty good production value for the time. I think I will add Joe Lara to the list as well, because a version of the screenplay for his movie American Cyborg went on to become the Oscar winning Children of Men about 16 years later.
Cynthia Rothrock is awesome.
Keith Cooke aka Reptile/Sub Zero ....I had forgot he was in this film....I forgot how much I like this film...😃😃
she is the greatest of the great!!
I see Cynthia Rothrock, I upvote. Such a badass and daring as hell. Love some old Hong Kong cinema.
you should do "No Retreat No Surrender"
I need that "Peacekeepers" poster NOW
definitely video rental store memories!
I always used to call her the female van damme still do this was and is by no means an insult love em both wish they still made movies like these today I miss them sooo much
She should star in a movie with Dwayne Johnson so we can get The Rock meets The Rothrock.
Ha, that's a Good 1 😂
Was'nt there supposed to be an all female spin off of the Expendables? It was announced as being in production, but then it went silent.
Yeah, that's right! Why isn't she in any of the Expendables movies?
I remember a scene, I think it was one of the China O'brien, where ( the 5 ' 3") China easily picks up a barbell with some weights on it, then tosses it to a very large guy, which knocks him down and pins him to the floor. Realism was never that movie series forte.
in that movie Fast Get Away she was kicking Corey Hames ass. ..
I watched many of her films. Cinemax showed them during the overnight hours.
Anyone know where to watch or buy this film?
Both these movies are coming out on bluray and 4k in the uk and vinegar syndrome in the us in may
I remember this movie used to be on hbo all of the time
Nice video man but you have some of the dates wrong. Its says 1990 in the title which is correct but then you go on to say the sequel was released 1 year later in 1989. Plus it sounded like you said Road house was released a year later too in 1989 so it seems like China o Brian was released in 1988.
"one of them "chop suey" fighters" lol
I loved her movies as a kid and still do, tbh though maybe it was the cheesy writing but her acting skills did not seem to match her martial arts skills.
Gymkanna was awesome
she'd never appear in shows like expendables cuz fact is lot of ppl never even heard of her
Love this badass babe 🤟🤟
09:23 Are you listening Mr. Stallone?
Will you be doing Recoil, Blood Moon or White Tiger starring Gary Daniels?
Good choices
All good suggestions. I might! Keep watching.
All good suggestions. I might! Keep watching.
🤘🤘🤘
Do king of the kickboxers
I agree with her why she wasn'r in The Expendables, instead of Ronda Rousey, Cynthia should've be there
Does anybody know the title of the movie clip at min 9:50 - 9:55 ?
Cynthia Rothrock is a real badass.
She is the female Chuck Norris
Cynthia should be in the next Expendables,maybe in the next Fast&Furious?? OH,never mind she'd over shadow her female/male counter points,because someone would have HURT feelings!! LOL.
Damn my dad is in these movies
The truth is male fighters never want to be showed up by female fighters that are better than they are. This was the case with Cynthia Rothrock who could easily go toe to toe with the Seagals , Van Damme's, Jackie Chan's, The Lee's or what ever male martial artist that claims to be the best. They were too afraid of her being a woman that they might hurt her which is a cop out so they wouldn't have to deal with the truth of being beaten by a woman. At least that's my take on it.
She made a DAM Good Point.... how come she was NOT in the Expendables!!!! It would have been much better...
was she in "kool cat"?
TRIVIA : WTF was up with the native Americans giant bracelet? what the point,what did it do,did he hit anyone with it,did the big bolt sticking out of it go through his wrist?
She definitely gave me some of my first bone?s when I was a kid.
Hang on this must all be fake. Jennifer Lawrence said there were no female action heroes before her!
Love Me Some Cynthia Rothrock 😍 Still Crush'n On Her 😘
does she make good sandwiches
She's just not that pretty. I'm not trying to be insulting but that was the reason she never really took off in a big way.
First time I saw her was on...
No retreat no surrender.... or was it...
No retreat no surrender2...either way...
Fell in love with her ever since....
I trained with Cynthia. She is an amazing woman and totally lovely. If you can meet her, she is amazing. If you can TRAIN with her, even better.