Return of the Sister Street Fighter (4 Stars)

Directed by Kazuhiko Yamaguchi, "Return of the Sister Street Fighter" is rougher, stranger and more entertaining than many of the better-known martial arts films of the 1970's. Etsuko Shihomi returns as Li Koryu with the same ferocious energy that made the earlier films memorable, but this sequel pushes the series further into comic-book absurdity. The villains are grotesque caricatures, the action scenes are gleefully excessive, and the film barely pauses to pretend that realism matters.

What makes the film work is Shihomi herself. Unlike many martial arts stars of the era, she projects both charm and genuine physical danger. She doesn't just pose between fight scenes; she moves with speed and conviction, making the chaotic choreography feel exciting rather than staged. The film also has a grimy exploitation atmosphere that separates it from the polished elegance of many "Enter the Dragon" imitators. It feels disreputable, loud and slightly unhinged, which is exactly its appeal.

The plot is nonsense, but that's beside the point. "Return of the Sister Street Fighter" succeeds because of its wild energy and Shihomi's magnetic screen presence. It's the kind of film that punches straight through good taste and becomes unforgettable because of it.