Fist of the North Star (1986)    Streamline Pictures/Sci-Fi-Action    RT: 110 minutes    No MPAA rating (graphic bloody martial arts violence throughout, language, brief nudity)    Director: Toyoo Ashida    Screenplay: Susumu Takahisa    Music: Katsuhisa Hattori    Cinematography: Tamio Hosoda    Release date: November 29, 1991 (Philadelphia, PA)    Cast (English language version): John Vickery, Melodee Spivack, Wally Burr, Dan Woren, Michael McConnohie, Gregory Snegoff, Holly Sidell, Tony Oliver, Barbara Goodson, Jeff Corey.    Box Office: N/A

Rating: ***

 One critic in his review of Fist of the North Star referred to it as a “splatter-toon” due to the high amount of graphic violence and gore. That’s what prompted me to see it. It was the Friday after Thanksgiving 1991. That day, I went to the Ritz theater at the Bourse with a friend to see City of Hope and Slacker. My decision to stay and watch Fist of the North Star afterwards was one of those spur of the moment things. My friend had to go to work so I was on my own for this one. That critic wasn’t kidding; this thing is super-violent and bloody as hell. As you all well know, I live for this kind of movie. It goes without saying that I really enjoyed Fist of the North Star. It was cool! I didn’t even care that the story made little to no sense.

 I suppose that describing Fist of the North Star as a wild, blood-soaked ride is a better way of putting it. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, the world has become a contaminated wasteland where survivors fight for food, water and survival. The main protagonist is Ken (Vickery) who holds the title of “Fist of the North”. He practices a deadly form of martial arts that relies on the use of pressure points to defeat the enemy. It usually results in the defeated fighter’s head exploding.

 While traveling with his fiancee Julia (Spivack), he’s challenged to a fight by Shin (McConnohie), his former friend and “Fist of the South”. Shin practices a different form of martial arts. Shin beats Ken and leaves him for dead, taking Julia with him. All the while, Ken’s older brother Raoh (Burr) watches from a distance. He was always jealous that his youngest brother was chosen by their sensei Ryuken (Corey) to be “Fist of the North”. After killing him, Raoh declares he will be the ruler of the new world.

 A year later, Ken arrives back on the scene with the intention of finding Julia and killing Shin. He’s become a lone wolf hero who protects the weak and innocent from bad guys. He teams up with Rei (Snegoff) who’s looking for his kidnapped sister. The sister was kidnapped by Jagi (Woren), another one of Ken’s brothers. It’s Jagi who tells Ken where he can find Julia and Shin. Elsewhere, Raoh has amassed a huge army and plans to take over Shin’s territory. Basically, it comes down to Ken rescuing Julia and fighting Raoh.

 A lot happens in Fist of the North Star. I told you some but not all of it. The plot is all over the place. Yet it’s never incoherent. Messy, yes. Incomprehensible, no. The animation is pretty good. It’s crude but keep in mind it was made in the 80s. For me, the true selling point is the gore and violence. The fight scenes are also quite good. I say this, Fist of the North Star isn’t lacking in the action department. There’s plenty of that too. The characters are cool. It’s not the best anime movie I’ve ever seen but it gets the job done.

 Staying to watch Fist of the North Star that Friday night 25 years ago was a good decision. It’s a lot of fun.