When a nuclear winter descends on the entire planet, the last survivors of humanity forage the globe in search of food, fuel and fisticuffs, not necessarily in that order. In fact, any yearning for the first two items on the list only seems to exist so these last men standing have a reason to throw down. With a grand total of three body types in play (child, inconceivably muscular and, in just one instance, morbidly obese) there's clearly a distinct appearance that's best suited for surviving an apocalypse, and on the surface it would appear that we're walking into a series of evenly-matched competitions. But that's when the Dragon Ball Z-styled aural superpowers kick in, and the mass of limbs begin their lazy, bloody, individual arcs through the sky. There's very little substance to this story - really, it's just a nonstop barrage of enemies against differing backdrops a'la the fighting games of the mid '90s - so it's good news that the battles are at least viscerally entertaining. Gorier than Mortal Kombat with the blood set to high, it's amusing at best if not terribly consequential.

Like Clint Eastwood in FOR A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS or Yul Brynner in THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR- and dressed like Mel Gibson in THE ROAD WARRIOR-, Kenshiro comes walking out of the desert ready to take on all comers. He wanders a post-apocalyptic wasteland, doing good wherever and whenever he can. (And, in fact, FIST OF THE NORTH STAR inspired my own post-apocalyptic comic story, WASTELAND.) Hara and Buronson eschew subtlety: when Kenshiro unloads his devastating combinations, the results are invariably explosive- literally. Heads and bodies alike erupt in founts of blood and bone and brains that shower the battlefield. Not for the weak of heart. Or gorge. Ultra violence has been a mainstay of anime for as long as I've been a fan, so it doesn't faze me, but I can see how kids weened on Americanimation might blanch.

A) I am not big on the blurry Effect. When I was in the 3rd grade in 94, I remember it being Crystal clear, ULTRA violent. Had a Warning on the back of the VHS Tape. LOL, Luved it. Flawless movie. B) Julia and the Kids Bat, and Girl, Lin, go flying off in a Tornando Whirl Pool Effect. AFTER the Cross is Dropped with Julia ( onto the Troops ) When they are Taken off again. Julia disappears? In my opinion, The Kids are Alright, clearly they find some plants. And get over excited. Geesh, that flower was the size of a pea. Lol. Any ways. lets get the point. When the kids say " I'm sure he will find her " He goes off on a adventure of his own to find her. No Forest Illusions, He sees a Real Forest I think, or believe. Because he says " Julia " the Forest reminds him of his girl. The Forest is probably real, why would they make it a illusion? That would just ruin the ending totally. Any ways. No, he doesn't find her, yet. He goes into the Forest, and has illusions of her picking Fruit. etc. And at the end. Hes back where he started. At the Tower with the destroyed boat through it. and the Canyon. Awesome movie.

Its so deep,profound and overall accurate on everything it portrays.listen to Ryukens opening speech on the meaning of life-it sets the tone for the whole film.The music score rules-in a weird Japanese,experimental kind of way.Ken is so rock hard, yet pure of mind and full of perception.Rao is everything Ken is-with one fundamental flaw-he lacks humanity or as the film calls it perception. Best Line-Even Julia put up more of a fight than this,so did Ryuken, our dear,departed father.He's dead Ken,i KILLED HIM!That line makes Ken more angry than ever before.Why does Rao get him so worked up?Because now the final contest is at hand!