Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread (4 Stars)

This is a direct sequel to "Sister Street Fighter". Koryu Lee, a Japanese woman who lives in Hong Kong, receives news that her sister Birei is being forced to work for a diamond smuggling gang in Tokyo. She heads to Tokyo to rescue her single-handedly, although to be fair, she does have occasional help.

I enjoyed this film, but it isn't up to the quality of the original. The plot is strung thinly. The film seems to be an excuse to show as many fight scenes as possible. But wow! The fight scenes are amazing. The actress Etsuko Shihomi, who holds black belts in Karate, Kenjitsu and Shorinji Kempo, has formidable skills.

The film has the annoying habit of pausing whenever a new fighter is introduced to tell us the name of his fighting skill. I don't need it. I'm watching the film to be entertained, not to be educated about martial arts. Descriptions like that belong in the commentary track, not as on-screen text.