Gymakata – Rest In Peace Kurt Thomas
Director: Robert
Clouse
Cast: Kurt Thomas,
Tetchie Agbayani, Richard Norton
Gymkata has been on my watchlist for many years, but the
unfortunate demise of American Gymnast turned lead actor of the film – Kurt
Thomas, prompted me to finally watch the film as a tribute. There is a
dedicated cult following of the film, and now I understand why it has such
loyal followers, the film is an absolute classic in the league of b-movies.
Of course, there are so many flaws in the film, but then
again the entire concept of b-movies is to ignore the shortcoming and enjoy the
guilty pleasures. The film is profoundly entertaining right from the start, and
some scenes are remarkable, especially a deserted town sequence, which can be
easily considered as an art-house film. Gymkata is directed by Robert Clouse,
director of Bruce Lee classic – Enter the Dragon. One cannot help but compare
certain strange similarities between the two films. The film’s music is also
very impressive.
The fight choreography is unique and mixes martial arts with
gymnastics, which is experimental, but considering Kurt Thomas’s background in
the same sport, it is entertaining. Unfortunately, the film launched as well as
destroyed his acting career concurrently due to his lack of acting skills, but
it is not unbearable – in fact, he has a unique charm about him, and I loved
it. Apart from Kurt Thomas, the film also features the likes of Richard Norton,
Conan Lee, and Tetchie Agbayani as Kurt’s love interest.
Gymkata is one of the last few films directed by legendary
Robert Clouse before his demise in 1997. He may not be remembered as the most
influential directors of our generation, but he has given his fair share of
cult films than anyone ever has. Gymkata can be easily compared to his best
work - Enter The Dragon, but the iconic presence of Bruce Lee is way more
significant than Kurt Thomas. Again, it is unfair to compare them.
Kurt Thomas may not be a household name for cine-lovers, but
Gymkata is his legacy, and till the time the world of b-movies has a cult fan
base, Kurt and Gymakata will always remain a cult classic.
Note: B or not to B is series of articles based on the B Action movies of the 80’s and 90’s. I am a big fan of these movies because they have a certain flavor not everyone can cherish. Many may cite them as sheer work of misdirected minds, but to me, they are a source of real inspiration. These movies never had the budget to back them but still, the action and stunts were no less than any big studio. This is my tribute to some of the unsung films of the past.
Soumit 'The Top' Nath
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