Prepping for LA’s Best of the Best Experience, I rewatched the 1989 original and was taken back to my childhood as a movie loving youth who got into Tae Kwon Do, inspired by Bruce Lee, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Phillip and Simon Rhee. BotB is funnier than I remember with lots of quips and banter. The soundtrack and training montages get you Rocky style pumped, the fights crescendo, growing in technicality with the brothers putting on a kicking clinic showcasing their 7th degree blackbelt prowess as Tommy Lee and Dae Han. Many of the emotional beats still hit, especially Eric Roberts’ Alexander Grady getting his dislocated shoulder popped back into place to finish his bout with James Lew along with the final scene where the Korean team give their medals to the Americans.
Not quite sure what to expect from a Q&A plus martial arts seminar, it was a fantastic day that was inspiring as it was humbling. The black and white uniforms used in the final tournament were on display and it was photos galore on the red carpet. Phillip and Simon Rhee were joined by James Lew (Sae-Jin Kwon in the flick and a stunt coordinator), Rick Avery (pilot, director, author, boxer, Robert DeNiro’s long time stunt double), director Steven C. Miller (Werewolves, Escape Plan 2) and Azu Lawson (Best of the Best 3) to talk origins of the franchise as both brothers, Avery and Lew were on the tournament circuit before taking on Hollywood. Phillip reiterated that part 5 is in the works and will go back to the original’s focus on being from the heart. Also to never give up and made the audience say it with him. “NEVER GIVE UP!”
Simon shared that the original ending had Sally Kirkman’s character translating Korean to English but on the day, she wasn’t on set and they had to pivot to Simon delivering the lines in broken English. The tears were real for the first takes and a little encouragement from Phillip got Simon to deliver the emotions that lead up to that weepy and sweaty freeze frame finale. Phillip reminisced on how rare the opportunity was that after BotB, 20th Century Fox called and told them to go make part 2 and they’d write a check. Then after BotB 2, the Weinstein’s did the same thing for parts 3 and 4. Avery was poignant about the difficulties of breaking into the business, it should be the last thing you think about at night and the first on your mind upon rising, otherwise, don’t bother. Miller and Simon got into the importance of having a vision, knowing what you want as a director and not being afraid to step on toes to deliver a final product that has your name on it.
After the panel, I picked up one of Avery’s books, Too Old To Tell Lies: Journey of a Hollywood Stuntman, that Simon referenced more than once during the panel. Along with a custom poster highlighting the Rhees and James Lew as they’ve been making more appearances together. I brought a Best of the Best 2 poster which made Phillip pause, surprised to see one and he called Simon over to check it out and sign. Another attendee had a VHS of the original which was a nice touch. Chatting with James Lew, he recalled how cold it was standing under the waterfall in the Korean training scenes as it was melted snow. I wanted to ask him, “Hey man, who is this guy?” a la his character in Big Trouble In Little China.
