KARATE KID IMITATION AT ITS UNEXPECTED BEST   March 27, 2004

DVD?????   September 26, 2003

Sidekicks   June 9, 2003

In summary;this film is an undoubted masterpiece which also created it's own sub-genre;the martial arts religious epic. Every scene and camera angle is seemingly perfectly crafted to serve the whole and like a sculpture in granite this film will stand forevermore as one of the archetypal testaments to man's effort to make great art from nothing;this film being the great art and Chuck Norris being the nothing. It is truly serendipitous that the craftsmanlike Aaron Norris and his famous brother Chuck accidentally ended up working on the same film and the bit where Barry's bike is stolen is quite sad too.


Nothing special, but surprisingly enjoyable   May 28, 2003
  4 out of 4 found this review helpful

First off, let me say that I only bought Sidekicks because Danica McKellar from The Wonder Years appears in it. I'm not a big fan of martial arts with the exception of Bruce Lee movies, I'm lukewarm toward Chuck Norris and Beau Bridges, and I am certainly no fan of Jonathan Brandis and Joe Piscopo. That being said, I have to say that I rather enjoyed this movie, despite the fact that Danica McKellar's role is pretty insubstantial in the balance of things. I can identify in some ways with the main character Barry, a little guy who gets picked on and laughed at by his classmates but who dreams big dreams indeed. Barry's dreams, though, unlike my own, involve feats of strength and endurance. Actually, his daydreams are getting out of hand; far too often he loses himself completely in fantasies wherein his hero Chuck Norris and he take on and vanquish scores of bad guys and, as often as not, rescue little ladies such as Barry's teacher or McKellar's character (who, early on, feels sorry for Barry and wants only to be the poor little guy's friend). Barry begins taking martial arts lessons from a Mr. Lee (Mako) and eventually amazes everyone, including himself, by standing up to the class bully. His true test comes in the state karate championships, however, where he finds himself in need of a partner in order to take on his nemesis from school and the boy's arrogant instructor (Piscopo). Wouldn't it be cool if Chuck Norris showed up and agreed to be Brandon's partner? The one thing I did not like about Sidekicks is the ending, wherein a few questions were raised in an effort to blur the line between fantasy and reality again. Obviously, Sidekicks is very similar to The Karate Kid, except this movie has two things The Karate Kid does not - Chuck Norris playing himself and the wonderful Danica McKellar lending her divine presence to the proceedings. This movie will most likely appeal to young people, but if you enjoy films featuring underdogs achieving success, Sidekicks might just be up your alley.


about time   April 7, 2003
chuck norris is a great actor and i love his movies but i havent seen all of them because im not old enough to rent 18s i do own some of his films even way of the dragan.so when i seen this in the video shop ex rental 3 pound my mouth waterd it is great the film itself is great it did remind me a bit of no retreat no surrender but i didnt care this was better the story was good funny dramatic and the fights are great this is much better than top dog which is rubbish but this is five star material