12 Surprisingly Awesome Straight-To-Video Movies

2. Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006)

Universal Soldier Day Of Reckoning Jean Claude Van Damme Dolph Lundgren
Nu Image

Why It Should've Sucked: Four years after 2002's Ving Rhames and Wesley Snipes-starring boxing flick bombed with critics and audiences, an STV sequel hit stores with half the budget, neither of the original's stars and a guy best known at the time for directing Power Rangers episodes at the helm. A disaster in the making, then.

Why It's Awesome: World-renowned martial artists Michael Jae White and Scott Adkins do a terrific job filling the void left by Rhames and Snipes with an unexpectedly superior sequel that serves up exceptionally shot and choreographed fight scenes, and a terrifically charismatic protagonist in White.

The film substantially boosted the careers of Adkins and Florentine, who have collaborated frequently since, including on the aforementioned Ninja series. A third Undisputed film starring Adkins was released in 2010, and he also returns for a fourth film due for release early next year.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.