It's much better than the routine chop-socky karate film.

A few lively action scenes do little to help out this uninspired affair, directed by John Frankenheimer and shot in Japan.

A beautifully made, handsomely filmed and thoroughly engrossing action movie that has much more going for it than martial arts.

Under Frankenheimer’s confident direction, The Challenge steps on the gas so masterfully I’m unsure how the film isn’t more highly regarded or strongly remembered as a tough guy cinema undiscovered masterpiece.