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List Price: $19.97 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 19912
Released: January 30, 2007 |
| Our Price: $12.85 |
| Used Price: $24.94 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Johnathan Cabot (Kurt Thomas) is a champion gymnast. In the tiny, yet savage, country of Parmistan, there is a perfect spot for a "star wars" site. For the US to get this site, they must compete in the brutal "Game". The government calls on Cabot, the son of a former operative, to win the game. Cabot combines his skill at western gymnastics with his fighting secrets of the east and forms Gymkata.
Description of Gymkata:
A camp classic and one-time staple of late-night cable, Gymkata stars former Olympic gymnast Kurt Thomas as a master of Gymkata, a fighting style that blends elements of martial arts and--what else?--gymnastics. Sent to a fictional Middle Eastern country on the Caspian Sea called "Karabal, on the Caspian Sea," Jonathan Cabot (Thomas) must survive a high-stakes competition called the Game that had previously claimed the life of his father. But winning could mean shifting the balance of power in the cold war. (The movie was made in 1985, and Thomas missed out on the 1980 Olympics because of the U.S. boycott.) Fortunately, being a master of Gymkata means that as you run through the village streets with bad guys in hot pursuit, in between the buildings you'll find a conveniently placed high bar from which you can swing and unleash powerful villain-crunching kicks. Moments like that earn Gymkata a 9.5 on the unintentional-comedy scale. With Tetchie Agbayani as the love-interest princess, and Buck Kartalian as a fearsome villain who looks like Mel Brooks. --David Horiuchi
Gymkata Reviews:
One of the worst movies I've ever seen... 
2009-08-11 - Gymkata was one of the worst movies I've ever seen. But, it was so cheesy and poorly done that it was hilarious! I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys finding humor in bad movies.
It Hurts So Good 
2008-12-13 - This film was shot in Yugoslavia in 1985, a few years before the Yugoslav Wars broke out. Watching this movie is not a bad way to see some Yugoslav scenery.
As for the movie itself, it is so bad it is good, and it is tremendously funny at times. Some say that Gymkata is an unintentional comedy, but such a view requires an unimaginable level of incompetence on the part of the movie's producers, writers, and director. I suspect that the ridiculous campiness and the spoofing of the martial arts genre were intentional. Consider the line from our hero, Jonathan Cabot, as he tells the main villain to put his weapons away: "You can put your hardware back in your pants now." And then there is the exciting scene when the princess tears off her regal gown to reveal the sexy black ninja tights underneath. And the inexplicable scene when a crazy person deliberately cuts off his own hand. Or the touching moment when Jonathan hugs the father he thought was dead and the father is shot in the back with an arrow, but later comes back to town on horseback, still with the arrow sticking out of his back but otherwise looking fine. Stuff like this MUST be intentional! The only complaint I have is that none of the movie's worst villains die horribly or funny enough.
I would recommend this movie to anyone in the mood for some silliness and laughter.
Gymkata...not Jim Carter (with a Boston accent) 
2008-06-12 - Okay, I have never written a review on Amazon before, but I could not resist when it came to Gymkata. Let me start out by saying that I am a big fan of 80s movies. Gymkata is no exception, either. I saw this movie when I was 12, I think. We were all gymnasts back then, and there was this crazy move from Gymkata that we kept trying to do (when he is talking with the Princess, and playing the role of both parties). This movie had everything in it; love story, drama, suspense, comedy, thriller, and then some. I absolutely love this movie for the sheer cheesyness of it all. The princess is supposed to be Kurt Thomas' trainer, but never really teaches him anything, except an inferred, "Don't trust anyone." If you look closely, you'll see some recycled scenery. And I love when he's running through the town trying not to get shot; mind you, he decides to run in a RED sweater. Yes, he might as well have painted a big bulls eye on himself. And how his hands magically have chalk on them, and how poles are conveniently placed between buildings during chase. This is classic stuff. The story line talks about how all the nations of the world are training their fighters for the "Game," yet, only about 6 fighters show up. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love this movie, because it is sooooo cheesy and fun to watch. The sound effects are the same for every move during hand to hand combat. Plus, you will get a kick out of watching Kurt Thomas in the town of the crazies. My recommendation is that you purchase this oh so awesome film. It's one of a kind. Cheers!
-JC
If you love Creme Brulee 
2008-02-15 - If you love creme brulee, then watching this is like eating dog turds wrapped in fig leaves.
That's not to say this film doesn't have it's unique contributions to American culture. I can think of no other film that has both gymnastics, and a Balkan wearing a mask behind his head who moons the protagonist.
Recommendation: watch this with a bottle of vodka. You can thank me later.
Yahk-Mallah! 
2007-08-10 - Mind-numbing fight scene coordination. Explosive action. Breathtaking locations. Intriguing story. Oscar worthy performances. What more could you ask for? Do yourself a favor and own this movie today. You've got to see to believe it. Yahk-Mallah!
BTW, the famous "voice-of-the-action-movie-preview" guy delivers one of his most memorable performances that can be viewed/heard in the original theatrical trailer exclusively on this disc! "His only weapon? Himself. And that's all he needs..." Classic!
