2. Blind Fury (1989)
Rutger Hauer is most famous for his career defining performance in Blade Runner and has had a bit of a resurgence as of late thanks to starring roles in Sin City and Batman Begins. But somehow one of his better performances has been lost to the masses. That of a blind Vietnam veteran trained in Martial Arts in a film known as Blind Fury. This was one of my favourite movies to watch as a kid and it features a number of staple actors from the late 80's and early 90'. Although most might not have heard of these people, the aficionados will recognize names like Terry O'Quinn (Now mostly a tv actor, you might know him from Lost), Child Star Brandon Call (Step by Step, Baywatch), Noble Willingham (City Slickers, The Last Boy Scout), Meg Foster (They Live), the previously mentioned Sho Kosugi and Randall "Tex" Cobb, whom was one of my all-time favorite support actors. Directed by Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games) and loosely based on Zatoichi Challenged, the 17th film in the Japanese Zatoichi film series, this modern take (for the 80's) tells the tale of Nick Parker, whom after being blinded by a mortar explosion while on tour of duty in Vietnam, he is found by local villagers, nursed back to health and trained in the way of the swordsman. Upon his return to the United States 20 years later, Nick unwittingly becomes the father figure and protector for his best friends estranged son, whose mother is murdered by a major crime syndicate whom are trying to blackmail his now chemist friend into making designer drugs by kidnapping his boy.. A definitive 80's action film that should be held in much higher regard in my opinion, it features great performances all round and even though it is a tad violent with Rutger Hauer slicing and dicing his way through various henchmen, it does have tender moments that gives it a more emotional feel than a lot of its peers. This is one movie I am actually surprised has not gotten the reboot treatment. With the tagline of "quick as a snake, strong as a bull and blind as a bat," how can you go wrong really? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjzUYoVfj5w