Well Bronson sure has a real scumbag to shake down in this film, KINJITE:FORBIDDEN SUBJECTS, in pimp Juan Fernández(whose name is Duke!)who seduces minors(mostly female 16 year olds)into becoming prostitutes for "wealthy perverts". He and partner, Eddie Rios(Perry Lopez)are assigned by their superior to find the teenage daughter of a Japanese businessman, Hiroshi Hada(James Pax), kidnapped by Duke and his vile associate, Lavonne(Sy Richardson). You see Duke and Lavonne drive down LA streets searching for "fresh stock", teenage runaways desperate for attention, luxuries, bed, board, and food, the amenities. Kids believe Duke only wants the best for them(as is the case when Bronson's detective Crowe questions the loyalties of one such prostitute played by a young Nicole Eggert who tells him the Duke is a good man, better than her step-father!)and so they hook for him and in return he gives them what they believe is "the good life." In J Lee Thompson's final film, KINJITE is obviously an indictment on the exploitation of teenage girls and how they are consumed by lecherous fiends who promise them great things in exchange for prostituting themselves. There's also a statement, through the character of Crowe, about the discontenting nature of festering racism..take the scene where Crowe becomes enraged with Japanese tourists and businessmen who he considers "invaders", buying up everything in America. This racism extends from an incident where Hiroshi himself "cops a feel" of Crowe's daughter while she and some of her friends are on board a bus heading home(Crowe doesn't know who it was exactly, just "some Oriental guy"). Thompson and company know how far to go and thank goodness Crowe's family isn't raped and murdered as was often the case in the Winner DEATH WISH movies. By '89 Bronson could no longer hide the fact that he was around 70 years old and that his geriatric cop hero roles were soon to be retired. Unbelievable as it might be, Bronson would actually return to his Kersey role five years later for DEATH WISH V, not to mention the A FAMILY OF COPS series, even as he was approaching 80! Fernandez is a really depraved kind of monster who actually gets off a bit easier than you'd think(hell, even a client of Fernandez, although off-screen, gets a dildo up his ass by Crowe!), though his fate is rather fitting. The subject matter for this film is really off-putting but relevant, and Thompson uses subtlety instead of elaborating in exact detail. Thompson's action-packed finale lets him go out with quite a bang as explosions and machine gun fire there are aplenty.
63 Reviews
Taboos can't stay hidden.
lost-in-limbo6 March 2008
It's been a couple days since I watched it, and I just had to let it sink in. Fans of the Bronson/Thompson pairing will know what to get (being no restrictions within a Cannon production), but for some particular reason it didn't hit home for me. Well not straight away. This is probably the pairs' most daring work (yeah more so than "The Evil That Men Do (1984)"), and fittingly the last they would make together in a technically well-made fable. What ruffled a lot of feathers when this came out was the exploitative topics at hand (child prostitution, repressed sexual desire and drug addiction), and the way they were handled and brought across. They are gruelling, stomach churning and sleazily downbeat, but never did it struck those cords with almighty, gut-busting force. The ugliness of these facets definitely creeps in, but the emotional drive while being there, feels quite thin with an uneasy and bitter underbelly taking hold.
Thompson's sufficiently polished direction (though a more raw edge to it would've been better) paints a rotten, grimy and scummy texture through heavy atmospheric vibes than anything visually punishing. Gideon Porath's leering cinematography streamlined the feature. For a Bronson film, action makes little head-way. Quite strange, but its slow going pace lets the basic premise evolve, with its two separate stories eventually interlocking with each other with a neat slice of irony and karma, which made the material not so predictable and largely authentic. However don't worry too much, as Bronson does gets his hands dirty, just the way we like it too. Serving out his 'own' unpleasant justice in few memorable sequences!
Some might say that Bronson in the latter end of his career (mainly through the 80s) made a living out of the same character and motivation. But an earnestly scathing script, helps give Bronson something interesting to work with (even a bit of western and eastern cross-culture differences plant themselves in early, and play a bigger part to story's progression) and makes for a weathered, but righteously hard-hitting performance of a multi-facet character. In support; Juan Hernandez's seedy pimp is a disturbingly slimy portrayal and James Pax's square Japanese businessman with an uncontrollable sexual urge effectively counter-punches Bronson and Hernandez's characters. None of these are clean characters, even though Bronson has the badge. He shows his insecurity, of the subject and uses it to make his actions justified. In the lesser co-starring roles is an exceptional Peggy Lipton as Bronson's wife. Perry Lopez is good in the loyal, but tired cop partner. An imposing Sy Richardson plays one of Hernandez's goons. Amy Hathaway shines as Bronson's on screen daughter and Kumiko Hayakawa impresses with a movingly gusty turn as the young kidnapped girl. As for Greg De Belles' funky music score, I found it sloppy and unsuited instead of sapping bleakness. I just wanted the musical pieces to get under my skin.
The dark, unsparing perverse tone doesn't make it enjoyable entertainment. However it really does linger on the mind, and holds a steady curiosity to it.
Thompson's sufficiently polished direction (though a more raw edge to it would've been better) paints a rotten, grimy and scummy texture through heavy atmospheric vibes than anything visually punishing. Gideon Porath's leering cinematography streamlined the feature. For a Bronson film, action makes little head-way. Quite strange, but its slow going pace lets the basic premise evolve, with its two separate stories eventually interlocking with each other with a neat slice of irony and karma, which made the material not so predictable and largely authentic. However don't worry too much, as Bronson does gets his hands dirty, just the way we like it too. Serving out his 'own' unpleasant justice in few memorable sequences!
Some might say that Bronson in the latter end of his career (mainly through the 80s) made a living out of the same character and motivation. But an earnestly scathing script, helps give Bronson something interesting to work with (even a bit of western and eastern cross-culture differences plant themselves in early, and play a bigger part to story's progression) and makes for a weathered, but righteously hard-hitting performance of a multi-facet character. In support; Juan Hernandez's seedy pimp is a disturbingly slimy portrayal and James Pax's square Japanese businessman with an uncontrollable sexual urge effectively counter-punches Bronson and Hernandez's characters. None of these are clean characters, even though Bronson has the badge. He shows his insecurity, of the subject and uses it to make his actions justified. In the lesser co-starring roles is an exceptional Peggy Lipton as Bronson's wife. Perry Lopez is good in the loyal, but tired cop partner. An imposing Sy Richardson plays one of Hernandez's goons. Amy Hathaway shines as Bronson's on screen daughter and Kumiko Hayakawa impresses with a movingly gusty turn as the young kidnapped girl. As for Greg De Belles' funky music score, I found it sloppy and unsuited instead of sapping bleakness. I just wanted the musical pieces to get under my skin.
The dark, unsparing perverse tone doesn't make it enjoyable entertainment. However it really does linger on the mind, and holds a steady curiosity to it.
A Diet Of Rolex
bkoganbing24 August 2008
When great director/actor combinations are talked about the team of J. Lee Thompson and Charles Bronson is not usually mentioned. Probably because the output of nine joint ventures between the two of them runs the gamut from the really good action entertainment to the mediocre. Unfortunately Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects falls in the latter.
That's sad because Kinjite could have been a whole lot better. But for the life of me I don't understand why it was necessary to make the father of the missing Japanese girl, a guy used to getting some cheap jollies because the romance in his marriage has run out. That might have been good for another film altogether, but it served no purpose here.
A straightforward cop drama with Charles Bronson as a vice cop who's seen a bit too much in his line of work and has a strong prejudice against orientals. That part could also have used a little explaining as well. But he's going to have to overcome it if he and patient partner Perry Lopez are going to locate a captured Japanese school girl.
Bronson's time in the vice squad have told him exactly where to look for the kidnapper. A stylish, murderous pimp played by Jaime Fernandez is the guy and he and Bronson have some history. In fact in the film's best scene, Bronson made him eat an expensive rolex watch and set his car on fire.
At one point Fernandez happens to spot Bronson and Lopez in an all night delicatessen and this being after his rolex snack, he sprays the place with an Uzi killing everyone, but Bronson and Lopez. I really think that little incident would have had more than a couple vice cops from the LAPD after Fernandez. But that's another terribly big hole in the plot.
Still there is a very rough justice in the end for Fernandez. I wish the whole film had been better though. This was the last film of the Bronson-Thompson team and J. Lee Thompson's last as a director. He should have gone out with something better.
That's sad because Kinjite could have been a whole lot better. But for the life of me I don't understand why it was necessary to make the father of the missing Japanese girl, a guy used to getting some cheap jollies because the romance in his marriage has run out. That might have been good for another film altogether, but it served no purpose here.
A straightforward cop drama with Charles Bronson as a vice cop who's seen a bit too much in his line of work and has a strong prejudice against orientals. That part could also have used a little explaining as well. But he's going to have to overcome it if he and patient partner Perry Lopez are going to locate a captured Japanese school girl.
Bronson's time in the vice squad have told him exactly where to look for the kidnapper. A stylish, murderous pimp played by Jaime Fernandez is the guy and he and Bronson have some history. In fact in the film's best scene, Bronson made him eat an expensive rolex watch and set his car on fire.
At one point Fernandez happens to spot Bronson and Lopez in an all night delicatessen and this being after his rolex snack, he sprays the place with an Uzi killing everyone, but Bronson and Lopez. I really think that little incident would have had more than a couple vice cops from the LAPD after Fernandez. But that's another terribly big hole in the plot.
Still there is a very rough justice in the end for Fernandez. I wish the whole film had been better though. This was the last film of the Bronson-Thompson team and J. Lee Thompson's last as a director. He should have gone out with something better.
Bronson just can't take it anymore
Dr. Gore12 August 2005
Warning: Spoilers
*SPOILER ALERT* *SPOILER ALERT*
Charles Bronson has had enough. He's had enough of the low down punks who are turning Los Angeles into a disease ridden swamp. He can't stand the sight of Japanese businessmen buying up his city. He gets sick of all the exploitation that surrounds him day after crushing day. And why won't somebody cover up his daughter when she comes out of the pool for Pete's sake? Lousy punks. They're not going to get away with it for much longer.
"Kinjite: Forbidden subjects" is about Charles Bronson getting in touch with his soft, nurturing side. Just kidding. It's a typical Bronson flick in which he gets to bash in the head of anybody he doesn't like. This time a young Japanese girl gets kidnapped by a slimy pimp and Bronson has to find her. This gives him plenty of opportunity to run into many sleazy situations. "Kinjite" doesn't really have any graphic violence but it does keep up a very strong sleaze vibe. It doesn't deal with child prostitution delicately. It's a nasty piece of work. Speaking as a sleaze fan, I enjoyed this film. It could have had a little more action and gun play, but I enjoyed it for what it was.
Charles Bronson has had enough. He's had enough of the low down punks who are turning Los Angeles into a disease ridden swamp. He can't stand the sight of Japanese businessmen buying up his city. He gets sick of all the exploitation that surrounds him day after crushing day. And why won't somebody cover up his daughter when she comes out of the pool for Pete's sake? Lousy punks. They're not going to get away with it for much longer.
"Kinjite: Forbidden subjects" is about Charles Bronson getting in touch with his soft, nurturing side. Just kidding. It's a typical Bronson flick in which he gets to bash in the head of anybody he doesn't like. This time a young Japanese girl gets kidnapped by a slimy pimp and Bronson has to find her. This gives him plenty of opportunity to run into many sleazy situations. "Kinjite" doesn't really have any graphic violence but it does keep up a very strong sleaze vibe. It doesn't deal with child prostitution delicately. It's a nasty piece of work. Speaking as a sleaze fan, I enjoyed this film. It could have had a little more action and gun play, but I enjoyed it for what it was.
Sleazie And Cheesie 80's Detective Morality Tale
TheAnimalMother21 March 2014
With more holes than a sunken U-boat, and more cheese than a medium pizza, Kinjite still manages to entertain those who are fond of Bronson, or those who are fans of the more gritty action films of the era. The film has strong moments, but it also suffers at times from overly lazy dialogue, direction and overall storytelling, and it's hard to forget the painfully bad 80's music in this film. The fight scenes are also far from great, however there is enough grit, sleaze and action to make the film a worthy watch for many. The film is undoubtedly a fairly confused morality tale, or perhaps a morality tale within a confused society is the better way of describing it? In the end, the film does rely on a sort of karmic justice to satisfy it's audience, and to a decent degree, it works, at times however it just leaves us asking some very strange questions. There are a few parts that don't really make sense. Of other note, there is an early but very small appearance by Danny Trejo in the film, as well as a decent performance from a very young Nicole Eggert, as well as a strong performance by the little known but hard to take your eyes off of Amy Hathaway. Worth a look for some, but not to be touched with a ten foot pole by others. My rating... 5.5/10.
Bronson: unstoppable bad ass.
Hey_Sweden29 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
The final feature film for the celebrated director J. Lee Thompson unfortunately isn't the kind of swan song that I'm sure many people would have preferred to see, but it delivers acceptable seedy entertainment. His final teaming with the almighty Charles Bronson features the actor as Lt. Crowe, an extremely angry vice detective with a vendetta against an especially depraved pimp, Duke (Juan Fernandez). Dukes' specialty is turning underage girls into prostitutes, so you can see how he'd raise a persons' ire. While this is going on, a Japanese man named Hiroshi Hada (James Pax) has arrived in L.A. with his family, and struggles to adjust to a different way of life where woman strive to be independent and not subservient.
There's the element of serious themes here. Not that they're explored all that well, but at least "Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects" is attempting to be more ambitious than the usual Thompson-Bronson-Cannon Group potboiler. It takes a look at the differences between American culture and Japanese culture of the times. It also gives Bronson a little more to work with by making his character an anti-Japanese xenophobe. But Thompson and screenwriter Harold Nebenzal do wallow in sleaze, much as Thompson did with the earlier Bronson collaboration "10 to Midnight". Some scenes are certain to make some viewers highly uncomfortable, especially as Hiroshis' daughter Fumiko (Kumiko Hayakawa) gets victimized over and over by Duke and his disgusting associates.
The movie is not without its silly pleasures. The most fun is seeing Lt. Crowe terrorize Duke and forcing the pimp to *swallow his own $25,000 watch*. The finale is pretty typical but reasonably rousing action movie stuff.
The supporting cast is good: Perry Lopez as Crowes' partner, Peggy Lipton as his wife, Sy Richardson as Dukes' most prominent henchman, Bill McKinney as a priest, Nicole Eggert as one of Dukes' girls, etc. Blink and you'll miss Danny Trejo, in one of his pre-stardom convict roles, near the end of the picture.
Overall, a trashy, fun action picture with an ending where you really feel, for once, that the bad guy is *really* going to get what he deserves.
Seven out of 10.
There's the element of serious themes here. Not that they're explored all that well, but at least "Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects" is attempting to be more ambitious than the usual Thompson-Bronson-Cannon Group potboiler. It takes a look at the differences between American culture and Japanese culture of the times. It also gives Bronson a little more to work with by making his character an anti-Japanese xenophobe. But Thompson and screenwriter Harold Nebenzal do wallow in sleaze, much as Thompson did with the earlier Bronson collaboration "10 to Midnight". Some scenes are certain to make some viewers highly uncomfortable, especially as Hiroshis' daughter Fumiko (Kumiko Hayakawa) gets victimized over and over by Duke and his disgusting associates.
The movie is not without its silly pleasures. The most fun is seeing Lt. Crowe terrorize Duke and forcing the pimp to *swallow his own $25,000 watch*. The finale is pretty typical but reasonably rousing action movie stuff.
The supporting cast is good: Perry Lopez as Crowes' partner, Peggy Lipton as his wife, Sy Richardson as Dukes' most prominent henchman, Bill McKinney as a priest, Nicole Eggert as one of Dukes' girls, etc. Blink and you'll miss Danny Trejo, in one of his pre-stardom convict roles, near the end of the picture.
Overall, a trashy, fun action picture with an ending where you really feel, for once, that the bad guy is *really* going to get what he deserves.
Seven out of 10.
Charles Bronson vehicle confronting pimps and punks in this extremely violent fare
ma-cortes22 February 2011
This thrilling picture titled Kinjite (which means "to forbid" in English) contains suspense , noisy action-packed , intrigue , thrills and lots of violence . The meaning and relevance of this movie's title is that it refers to subjects such as sex, child molesting, prostitution which are forbidden topics in Japanese culture . It deals with the cop Lt. Crowe (Charles Bronson , he was about sixty-seven years of age) who takes on a pimp (Juan Fernandez) and a slimy hoodlum (Sy Richardson) whose speciality is recruiting adolescents including the daughter of a Japanese business man (James Pax). The lieutenant married to Kathleen (Peggy Limpton) has a teenager girl (Amy Hathaway) and is helped by another policeman (Perry Lopez). He then stalks the baddies and takes the law into his own hands , acting as judge , jury and executioner ; searching vengeance on crooks , pimps making the neighborhood safer and bumping off delinquents and street scum.
This standard Bronson movie is full of action , thrills, and disturbing scenes . Bronson in his usual stoic acting displays efficiently his weapons such as ¨Harry the Dirty¨ and killing mercilessly nasties . This is the last movie Charles Bronson made for Cannon Films and it represents the tenth and final of ten teamings between producer Pancho Kohner and star actor Bronson . It's certainly thrilling , though the morality may be questionable , even in this time, as the spectators were clearly on the Lt. Crowe Bronson's side . Disagreeable scenes and loathing theme as abuse of children with terrible end . Screen debut from Baywatch's Nicole Eggert as a teen prostitute and Danny Trejo as an inmate in a final brief appearance -almost extra- . Unappropiated and anti-climatic musical score composed by means of synthesizer .
The fare was badly directed by J. Lee Thomson , in his last one , he previously had a nice track record in the English cinema from 1950 until 1961 , directing good Western (McKenna's gold , White Buffalo) and all king genres as Sci-Fi (Conquest and Battle of planet of apes), terror (reincarnation of Peter Proud, Eye of the devil), adventures (Flame over India ,Kings of the sun, Taras Bulba , Tiger Bay) and Warlike (Guns of Navarone, Von Braun , Chairman , The passage) . His two biggest successes turned out to be ¨Guns of Navarone¨and ¨Cape Fear¨. Thereafter , the filmmaker's career subsided in a morass of slickly realized but middling films . He moved into the field of international spectaculars , at which point his filmmaking seemed to lose its individuality . J. Lee Thompson working from the 50s in England, finished his career making Chuck Norris (Firewalker) and Charles Bronson vehicles (Caboblanco, Evil that men do , Messenger of death, Death Wish 4 : Crackdown, Caboblanco, St Ives). Rating : Below average . Lousy results for this disagreeable thriller that has many depressing failures.
This standard Bronson movie is full of action , thrills, and disturbing scenes . Bronson in his usual stoic acting displays efficiently his weapons such as ¨Harry the Dirty¨ and killing mercilessly nasties . This is the last movie Charles Bronson made for Cannon Films and it represents the tenth and final of ten teamings between producer Pancho Kohner and star actor Bronson . It's certainly thrilling , though the morality may be questionable , even in this time, as the spectators were clearly on the Lt. Crowe Bronson's side . Disagreeable scenes and loathing theme as abuse of children with terrible end . Screen debut from Baywatch's Nicole Eggert as a teen prostitute and Danny Trejo as an inmate in a final brief appearance -almost extra- . Unappropiated and anti-climatic musical score composed by means of synthesizer .
The fare was badly directed by J. Lee Thomson , in his last one , he previously had a nice track record in the English cinema from 1950 until 1961 , directing good Western (McKenna's gold , White Buffalo) and all king genres as Sci-Fi (Conquest and Battle of planet of apes), terror (reincarnation of Peter Proud, Eye of the devil), adventures (Flame over India ,Kings of the sun, Taras Bulba , Tiger Bay) and Warlike (Guns of Navarone, Von Braun , Chairman , The passage) . His two biggest successes turned out to be ¨Guns of Navarone¨and ¨Cape Fear¨. Thereafter , the filmmaker's career subsided in a morass of slickly realized but middling films . He moved into the field of international spectaculars , at which point his filmmaking seemed to lose its individuality . J. Lee Thompson working from the 50s in England, finished his career making Chuck Norris (Firewalker) and Charles Bronson vehicles (Caboblanco, Evil that men do , Messenger of death, Death Wish 4 : Crackdown, Caboblanco, St Ives). Rating : Below average . Lousy results for this disagreeable thriller that has many depressing failures.
Ignore the rating as it's essential Bronson.
hitchcockthelegend16 December 2008
Lt. Crowe is a no nonsense aged cop who almost goes over the edge after his daughter is molested by an unidentified Asian male. As he battles to curb his anger and racial prejudices, Crowe knows he must focus on the job at hand, the safe return of a kidnapped child, and the arrest of a child prostitute pimp...........vengeance and duty are about to become an uneasy alliance.
Showing his aged years and looking frazzled around the edges, this is actually one of Charles Bronson's best performances. Casting Bronson as Crowe now looks like an inspired decision, Crowe is a man getting old as the world around him changes its ideals and principals, with Bronson stepping into character and grasping the irony of his career overview. Not that there is anything remotely sad about the work here, it's a Bronson film with Bronson kicking arse, his character's conflicting beliefs allowing Bronson put some emotional blood into Crowe's sinewy veins.
Personally, what i find most engaging with Kinjite is its duality centre, we root for Crowe as he thunders on in pursuit of the vile bastards who exploit children for their own and monetary ends, yet the confusion reigns as Crowe's racist slant towards Asians reaches fever pitch. It's safe to say that a lot of Bronson pictures are beef for beefs sake, but this really isn't an excuse for just throwing punches, or a Bronson working for food scenario. Don't get me wrong here, i would be a liar if i said this wasn't seeping with 80s sweat, it so is an 80s movie, but it's got balls the size of Bronson himself and perfectly captures the point of change for society and leading man alike.
Underseen, undervalued and most definitely worth a look, 6/10.
Showing his aged years and looking frazzled around the edges, this is actually one of Charles Bronson's best performances. Casting Bronson as Crowe now looks like an inspired decision, Crowe is a man getting old as the world around him changes its ideals and principals, with Bronson stepping into character and grasping the irony of his career overview. Not that there is anything remotely sad about the work here, it's a Bronson film with Bronson kicking arse, his character's conflicting beliefs allowing Bronson put some emotional blood into Crowe's sinewy veins.
Personally, what i find most engaging with Kinjite is its duality centre, we root for Crowe as he thunders on in pursuit of the vile bastards who exploit children for their own and monetary ends, yet the confusion reigns as Crowe's racist slant towards Asians reaches fever pitch. It's safe to say that a lot of Bronson pictures are beef for beefs sake, but this really isn't an excuse for just throwing punches, or a Bronson working for food scenario. Don't get me wrong here, i would be a liar if i said this wasn't seeping with 80s sweat, it so is an 80s movie, but it's got balls the size of Bronson himself and perfectly captures the point of change for society and leading man alike.
Underseen, undervalued and most definitely worth a look, 6/10.
Just plain vile.
gridoon4 August 1999
Repugnant Bronson thriller. Unfortunately, it's technically good and I gave it 4/10, but it's so utterly vile that it would be inconceivable to call it "entertainment". Far more disturbing than a typical slasher film.
Still Kickin' at 68
bodine-112 February 2005
This is the last movie that Charles Bronson made before the death of his second wife, actress Jill Ireland. At 68 and with a string of mediocre action thrillers littering his 1980s output, this sleazy cop movie turned out to be one of his better efforts of the decade. Bronson plays vice detective Crowe, a racist veteran of the force who has grown weary of seeing the scum of Los Angeles dragging innocent children into prostitution and drugs. A parallel storyline follows visiting Japanese businessman Hiroshi Hada (James Pax) who struggles to adapt to American values and soon after arriving loses his young daughter to slimy pimp Duke (Juan Fernandez). Crowe has already had run-ins with Duke, so when he is assigned to find Hada's daughter, the stories merge with tragic results. Bronson is still trim and performs well as Crowe, with several good action sequences. Largely maligned as an actor because he underplayed his leading roles, Bronson always fit this type of role because you could believe that he actually does the things he is portraying. There is a nice little scene involving an ethnic event where Crowe vents his frustration on some startled Japanese that speaks volumes about character motivation. Juan Fernandez is exceptional as Duke and makes his character truly evil. Veteran British director J. Lee Thompson does a fair job of keeping the movie plugging along and has a great set piece at the end of the movie involving a crane and crashing automobiles. The subject matter isn't as exploited as it could have been, but it's still pretty rough and loaded with nudity and violence. Bronson fans won't be disappointed and even non-fans (like my wife) enjoyed it.
The last in the line of truly depraved '80's Bronson films
chas772 April 1999
The '80's were not very kind to one-time major star Charles Bronson. Starting with 1982's "Death Wish II" and ending with this truly gruesome film from '89, Bronson's screenwriters seemed to be trying to top each other in progressive grossness. "D.W. II" left little to the imagination in its depiction of the rape and suicide of Bronson's character's daughter, (a rape and murder of his housekeeper was also shown in disgusting detail). "10 to Midnight" was the sort of loathsome film that made you want to take a bath afterwards. Nothing redeeming about it. Other films like "The Evil that Men Do" and the remaining "Death Wish" films from this period straddled the line between high camp and high barf with their earnest depictions of brutality and revenge. I'm not sure if the producers (usually Pancho Kohner) got a kick out of showing a weary looking, senior citizen-aged Bronson destroying punks young enough to be his grandchildren or what, but the shoddy craftsmanship (and terrible scripts) of these films usually destroyed what little energy they may have generated.
"Kinjite" -- the last of these films -- is fairly well-made but truly takes the cake in cinematic wretchedness. In this film Bronson: sodomizes a perverse john; forces a pimp to eat his Rolex watch; allows a male prisoner to get raped by another prisoner; makes incredibly xenophobic remarks among other things I've thankfully forgotten. Also depicted is the gang-rape of a young Japanese girl (fortunately, this was off-screen, though well-implied).
What were people thinking when they made this film? What was Bronson thinking when he decided to ruin his career with these horrible films? For anyone interested in his best movies, check out most of the films he made in the '60's and '70's like "The Mechanic", "Death Wish", "From Noon til 3", "Once Upon a Time in the West", "Red Sun", "The Great Escape", "The Magnificent Seven", "Rider on the Rain", etc., etc....
"Kinjite" -- the last of these films -- is fairly well-made but truly takes the cake in cinematic wretchedness. In this film Bronson: sodomizes a perverse john; forces a pimp to eat his Rolex watch; allows a male prisoner to get raped by another prisoner; makes incredibly xenophobic remarks among other things I've thankfully forgotten. Also depicted is the gang-rape of a young Japanese girl (fortunately, this was off-screen, though well-implied).
What were people thinking when they made this film? What was Bronson thinking when he decided to ruin his career with these horrible films? For anyone interested in his best movies, check out most of the films he made in the '60's and '70's like "The Mechanic", "Death Wish", "From Noon til 3", "Once Upon a Time in the West", "Red Sun", "The Great Escape", "The Magnificent Seven", "Rider on the Rain", etc., etc....
Underrated film!
luigi70020 March 2018
This is a pretty good movie, it is disturbing, dark, and depressing but these are things that happen in real life. We can't hide from these things, the movie is exposing the lifestyle of these scum and the man set out to destroy them. It's not Bronson's best movie but I thought it was pretty solid, I give it a 7.5/10. This movie is pretty underrated, it's such a good movie that touches on sensitive topics. People need to seriously stop being sensitive all the time and realize that the movie meant to expose these criminals. You can't just rate a movie low because it's depressing or doesn't fit your ideal world. the movie is about crime and that is what was shown here, you knew what you were getting into when you were going to watch this movie. You did read the synopsis, right?
Overall a pretty solid film, not the best but certainly not the worst.
Overall a pretty solid film, not the best but certainly not the worst.
Low, but watchable
The Bronson Fan10 June 2002
Warning: Spoilers
May be spoilers. Kinjite:Forbidden Subjects is not one of Charles Bronsons best movies, but is better then what most have said on here. The movie deals with a cop (Bronson)trying to take down a lowlife child pimp and rescue a Japanese girl from him. As with most Bronson films, he deals out his own brand of justice rather then doing it by the book. As one reviewer said already this is truly a movie about what goes around comes around. For instance,the father of the Japanese girl molests Bronsons daughter on a bus and ironically its his daughter that gets snatched by the pimp "duke". Forbidden Subjects does not contain the large body count that Bronson racks up in other movies, but contains some great moments, such as Bronson forcing the pimp to eat his diamond Rolex and then let some jailbird have his way with the pimp, thats justice. Although the subject matter is a bit sickening, the movie is well made and the actors do a good job with there roles. Although Bronson is by far not the best actor in Hollywood there are far worse actors out there getting praise for nothing. Overall, its good for a watch but I would probably skip on buying it.
* * OUT OF FIVE
bronsonskull7230 August 2003
Charles Bronson stars as Lt Crowe a police detective who declares war on a pimp named Duke (Juan Fernandez) who kidnaps the daughter of a Japanese businessman who is the man who sexually harassed Crowe's daughter (Amy Hathaway) in this sleazy yet stylishly helmed revenge thriller. Kinjite may not be for everyone with it's somewhat disturbing plot threads but it is well made and indeed entertaining.
Worth it for Nicole alone!
SpringsteenRules21 December 1999
OK, this isn't the best movie ever made, but it does have some positive qualities. Nicole Eggert has a medium to small size part, but looks GREAT! This was the stage of her career where she looked the very best; long before the Gen-X style took her over and she got those ridiculous breast implants. Amy Hathaway is also in this movie as Charles Bronson's daughter. She is very beautiful - though a bit young in this. Don't take it too seriously and enjoy the eye candy!
Entertainment seems to be forbidden as well..
fmarkland323 July 2006
Charles Bronson continued his 80's slump with what could possibly be his worst movie of the decade, if not ever. In it he plays a detective who goes to great lengths to track down a pimp who has abducted an Asian girl and is currently selling her to the highest bidder. It's a shameful attempt at action and is quite possibly the most depressing movie ever made. A lot of people consider the Death Wish sequels to be Bronson's worst movies. The Death Wish sequels weren't great movies but were in most cases competently made and very watchable. Kinjite however is an utterly dull thriller which is punctuated by mean spirited racism and child molestation. It really is a rephrensible film and all of it is made worse by the fact that it tries to preach a "Law and Justice" mentality that is too overwrought to really say anything. Indeed the movie begins with underage sex being interrupted with Bronson then anally raping the pedophile with a dildo. The Chicago theater I watched this in just gasped at the awkwardness of this scene, only to gasp at the awkwardness of the pimp raping the girl in this film. It has no point other than to exploit and really the movie wasn't well written enough to rise above the exploitation level and deliver something that would work. Bronson seems more into things but clearly this is far too repugnant to save. I want to point out that I think Charles Bronson is the coolest actor ever but this effort is ultimately his worst. The action sequences are poor also.
1/2* out of 4-(Awful)
1/2* out of 4-(Awful)
Unpleasant actioner is last of Bronson-Thompson pairing
paul_johnr14 September 2005
Warning: Spoilers
In 1975, Charles Bronson was introduced to British director J. Lee Thompson on the Warner Brothers crime story 'St. Ives.' The two artists found an immediate groove and began one of the most unheralded collaborations in film history. Bronson and Thompson made nine films over thirteen years, sometimes uneven in their work but rarely failing to entertain. During the 1980s, Thompson directed Bronson through some of his most rugged outings, including '10 to Midnight,' 'The Evil That Men Do,' and 'Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects.'
'Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects,' Bronson's final appearance for the Cannon Group and the last film directed by Thompson, closed out the 80s on a vicious but highly effective note for both men. Written by Harold Nebenzal (associate producer of 1972's 'Cabaret'), 'Kinjite' deals with sensitive issues - child prostitution and sexual mores - while paying homage to the decade's crime exploitation genre. The film is an odd mix of social commentary and action, which both helps and hinders its viewing power.
Bronson plays Lieutenant Crowe, a bigoted Los Angeles vice detective who is fed up with the ills of society and considering retirement. In a subplot that will later intertwine, Japanese businessman Hiroshi Hada (James Pax) has accepted a position with his company in L.A. He must quickly adapt to American culture, particularly in the sexual arena. Hada is a womanizer, voyeur, and heavy drinker who mingles with prostitutes in bars, intently views women being felt up on crowded subway trains, and holds an ambivalent attitude over the feelings of his wife (played by Marion Yue).
Hada molests Crowe's teenaged daughter Rita (Amy Hathaway) while drunk on a bus, which heightens Crowe's prejudices towards the Asian community. In an ironic twist, Hada's own daughter Fumiko (Kumiko Hayakawa) is kidnapped by Duke (Juan Fernández), a local pimp who specializes in minors. Crowe, already fuming over the molestation of his daughter by an 'oriental' (but not aware of Hada's involvement), is assigned to the case and must overcome his racist feelings to save her.
Bronson and Thompson were never shy about depicting unpleasant situations and it's no surprise that 'Kinjite' holds nothing back. Harold Nebenzal's script contains everything from teenage prostitution to sadomasochism to drug use to gang rape to torture, although most of this is alluded to or represented off-screen. In the opening sequence alone, Crowe and his partner Rios (Perry Lopez) bust an older john, with Bronson ready to inflict punishment via a dildo before the scene ends. Later on, Crowe makes Duke drive at gunpoint to a vacant lot, forces him to swallow (yes, swallow) his diamond-studded wristwatch, and nonchalantly sets his Cadillac on fire. Racist overtones abound, with Crowe chewing out a group of Japanese who are blocking traffic in front of the Los Angeles Hilton.
'Kinjite' reaches depraved heights when Duke begins 'renting out' Fumiko to wealthy clientèle. Perversion is only discussed, but these chats are more than enough to generate outrage. While 'Kinjite' is designed largely to shock and offers no palpable solutions to the real-life trafficking of minors, it never fails to shed light on a problem that is rarely thought about. Bronson gives one of the strongest performances in his career, helped by a solid supporting cast with Lopez, Peggy Lipton (as Crowe's wife), Bill McKinney (as a Catholic priest), and Fernández as an irritating scum-of-the-earth. Thompson's direction is his best in years, keeping a tight pace and easily alternating between Los Angeles and Tokyo. Excellent cinematography by Gideon Porath ('Death Wish 4') gives 'Kinjite' a cold, unpleasant gloss.
While 'Kinjite' is handled with competence, there are also signs of a film that was rushed through Cannon's last days. The film suffers from mediocre editing by Mary Jochem and Thompson's son Peter, who make embarrassing goofs in continuity. The soundtrack by Greg De Belles (TV's 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch') nicely contrasts L.A.'s 'riff-raff' atmosphere with the serenity of Japan, but his music is synthesized rather than played by an orchestra. Also look for a change in race after Duke's enforcer Lavonne (Sy Richardson) falls from an apartment balcony into a swimming pool: Lavonne is black, but the stunt double floating underwater is obviously white.
The main flaw, however, is Kinjite's lack of focus on serious issues. Had 'Kinjite' devoted more time to social commentary and less to action, it may have risen far above its exploitation status. There are major gaps in plot, serious questions are never delved into, and it seems as if Crowe can find Duke in Los Angeles on a moment's notice. Bronson is solid throughout, but the role could have been his absolute best of the 1980s with superior writing. As a finished product, 'Kinjite' at least brings an unpleasant and usually ignored problem to the surface. Crowe is certainly one of Bronson's most assertive parts and a strong finish to his low-budget era that began with 'Death Wish II.'
'Kinjite' was recently offered on DVD by MGM Home Entertainment, who holds marketing rights to the Cannon Group's library. The disc is in widescreen and standard format with Dolby presentation of the original mono track; French dubbing is included with subtitles in English, French, and Spanish. Despite budget limitations, Cannon's last films are of good visual quality, including 'Kinjite.' Gideon Porath's searing images come through nicely and Greg De Belles's dynamic soundtrack is clear on speakers. The only extra is Kinjite's theatrical trailer, which is expected for a film that has slipped into obscurity. 'Kinjite' is repugnant and will never be fully accepted, but it's certainly an impressive end to the decade for Bronson and Thompson.
** ½ out of 4
Roving Reviewer - www.geocities.com/paul_johnr
'Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects,' Bronson's final appearance for the Cannon Group and the last film directed by Thompson, closed out the 80s on a vicious but highly effective note for both men. Written by Harold Nebenzal (associate producer of 1972's 'Cabaret'), 'Kinjite' deals with sensitive issues - child prostitution and sexual mores - while paying homage to the decade's crime exploitation genre. The film is an odd mix of social commentary and action, which both helps and hinders its viewing power.
Bronson plays Lieutenant Crowe, a bigoted Los Angeles vice detective who is fed up with the ills of society and considering retirement. In a subplot that will later intertwine, Japanese businessman Hiroshi Hada (James Pax) has accepted a position with his company in L.A. He must quickly adapt to American culture, particularly in the sexual arena. Hada is a womanizer, voyeur, and heavy drinker who mingles with prostitutes in bars, intently views women being felt up on crowded subway trains, and holds an ambivalent attitude over the feelings of his wife (played by Marion Yue).
Hada molests Crowe's teenaged daughter Rita (Amy Hathaway) while drunk on a bus, which heightens Crowe's prejudices towards the Asian community. In an ironic twist, Hada's own daughter Fumiko (Kumiko Hayakawa) is kidnapped by Duke (Juan Fernández), a local pimp who specializes in minors. Crowe, already fuming over the molestation of his daughter by an 'oriental' (but not aware of Hada's involvement), is assigned to the case and must overcome his racist feelings to save her.
Bronson and Thompson were never shy about depicting unpleasant situations and it's no surprise that 'Kinjite' holds nothing back. Harold Nebenzal's script contains everything from teenage prostitution to sadomasochism to drug use to gang rape to torture, although most of this is alluded to or represented off-screen. In the opening sequence alone, Crowe and his partner Rios (Perry Lopez) bust an older john, with Bronson ready to inflict punishment via a dildo before the scene ends. Later on, Crowe makes Duke drive at gunpoint to a vacant lot, forces him to swallow (yes, swallow) his diamond-studded wristwatch, and nonchalantly sets his Cadillac on fire. Racist overtones abound, with Crowe chewing out a group of Japanese who are blocking traffic in front of the Los Angeles Hilton.
'Kinjite' reaches depraved heights when Duke begins 'renting out' Fumiko to wealthy clientèle. Perversion is only discussed, but these chats are more than enough to generate outrage. While 'Kinjite' is designed largely to shock and offers no palpable solutions to the real-life trafficking of minors, it never fails to shed light on a problem that is rarely thought about. Bronson gives one of the strongest performances in his career, helped by a solid supporting cast with Lopez, Peggy Lipton (as Crowe's wife), Bill McKinney (as a Catholic priest), and Fernández as an irritating scum-of-the-earth. Thompson's direction is his best in years, keeping a tight pace and easily alternating between Los Angeles and Tokyo. Excellent cinematography by Gideon Porath ('Death Wish 4') gives 'Kinjite' a cold, unpleasant gloss.
While 'Kinjite' is handled with competence, there are also signs of a film that was rushed through Cannon's last days. The film suffers from mediocre editing by Mary Jochem and Thompson's son Peter, who make embarrassing goofs in continuity. The soundtrack by Greg De Belles (TV's 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch') nicely contrasts L.A.'s 'riff-raff' atmosphere with the serenity of Japan, but his music is synthesized rather than played by an orchestra. Also look for a change in race after Duke's enforcer Lavonne (Sy Richardson) falls from an apartment balcony into a swimming pool: Lavonne is black, but the stunt double floating underwater is obviously white.
The main flaw, however, is Kinjite's lack of focus on serious issues. Had 'Kinjite' devoted more time to social commentary and less to action, it may have risen far above its exploitation status. There are major gaps in plot, serious questions are never delved into, and it seems as if Crowe can find Duke in Los Angeles on a moment's notice. Bronson is solid throughout, but the role could have been his absolute best of the 1980s with superior writing. As a finished product, 'Kinjite' at least brings an unpleasant and usually ignored problem to the surface. Crowe is certainly one of Bronson's most assertive parts and a strong finish to his low-budget era that began with 'Death Wish II.'
'Kinjite' was recently offered on DVD by MGM Home Entertainment, who holds marketing rights to the Cannon Group's library. The disc is in widescreen and standard format with Dolby presentation of the original mono track; French dubbing is included with subtitles in English, French, and Spanish. Despite budget limitations, Cannon's last films are of good visual quality, including 'Kinjite.' Gideon Porath's searing images come through nicely and Greg De Belles's dynamic soundtrack is clear on speakers. The only extra is Kinjite's theatrical trailer, which is expected for a film that has slipped into obscurity. 'Kinjite' is repugnant and will never be fully accepted, but it's certainly an impressive end to the decade for Bronson and Thompson.
** ½ out of 4
Roving Reviewer - www.geocities.com/paul_johnr
Thoroughly dislikeable exploitation potboiler.
barnabyrudge11 February 2011
Warning: Spoilers
In their ninth and final film collaboration, star Charles Bronson and director J. Lee-Thompson tackle the serious theme of child prostitution and invest it with all the depth of a shoot 'em up arcade game. This extremely dislikeable little thriller is badly written, lazily acted and carelessly directed. It is typical of the vulgar garbage churned out by the Golan-Globus production duo throughout the '80s – these Israeli cousins produced 90 or so titles, but only about 10% of their output is worth the time of day. Kinjite: Forbidden Subject belongs in the other 90% - nasty, exploitative, brainless rubbish that any half-respectable viewer will do their damndest to avoid!
Japanese businessman Hiroshi Hada (James Pax) is transferred to Los Angeles with his family. Meanwhile, L.A. vice cop Lt. Crowe (Charles Bronson) is busy trying to bust a child prostitution ring in the city headed by sleazy low-life Duke (Juan Fernandez). Crowe is a fairly angry and unstable cop – he's wildly over-protective of his teenaged daughter, and increasingly disgusted by the slimeballs he's assigned to arrest. Furthermore, he hates the way that L.A. is becoming a multi-cultural city with its heavy influx of Japanese immigrants. When Hada's teenaged daughter is kidnapped by Duke's gang and forced into a life of sexual abuse and degradation, it is Crowe who is assigned to get her back. He must put aside his prejudices against all things Japanese to bring the bad guys to heel. But throughout his quest for the girl, Crowe finds himself questioning how far is enough when you're out to bring sex traffickers and paedophiles to justice?
Such serious matters really deserve a better treatment than they receive in this trashy potboiler. Child prostitution, sex trafficking and cultural differences all weighty themes, for sure. Certainly not the sort of thing that should be exploited for the sake of a bit of trigger-happy entertainment. Bronson looks utterly bored by his role and the action sequences are depressingly dispirited. Bronson and Thompson never were renowned for their subtlety, but Kinjite is pretty tasteless even by their extraordinarily low moral standards. There are a couple of positives in the film, though they hardly make the overall thing worth watching. One is Fernandez's astonishingly slimy turn as the villain (not great acting, but if there was an award for the most thoroughly rotten character to grace the screen he'd be a hot contender!) And then there are the film's occasional "did-I-just-see-what-I-thought-I-saw?" scenes – such as Bronson anally assaulting an offender with a dildo, or forcing a bad guy to swallow his Rolex watch
Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects is thoroughly obnoxious and offensive stuff, and a sad end to the long directing career of J. Lee-Thompson (how could the man who gave us The Guns Of Navarone and Ice Cold In Alex have also made this?!?)
Japanese businessman Hiroshi Hada (James Pax) is transferred to Los Angeles with his family. Meanwhile, L.A. vice cop Lt. Crowe (Charles Bronson) is busy trying to bust a child prostitution ring in the city headed by sleazy low-life Duke (Juan Fernandez). Crowe is a fairly angry and unstable cop – he's wildly over-protective of his teenaged daughter, and increasingly disgusted by the slimeballs he's assigned to arrest. Furthermore, he hates the way that L.A. is becoming a multi-cultural city with its heavy influx of Japanese immigrants. When Hada's teenaged daughter is kidnapped by Duke's gang and forced into a life of sexual abuse and degradation, it is Crowe who is assigned to get her back. He must put aside his prejudices against all things Japanese to bring the bad guys to heel. But throughout his quest for the girl, Crowe finds himself questioning how far is enough when you're out to bring sex traffickers and paedophiles to justice?
Such serious matters really deserve a better treatment than they receive in this trashy potboiler. Child prostitution, sex trafficking and cultural differences all weighty themes, for sure. Certainly not the sort of thing that should be exploited for the sake of a bit of trigger-happy entertainment. Bronson looks utterly bored by his role and the action sequences are depressingly dispirited. Bronson and Thompson never were renowned for their subtlety, but Kinjite is pretty tasteless even by their extraordinarily low moral standards. There are a couple of positives in the film, though they hardly make the overall thing worth watching. One is Fernandez's astonishingly slimy turn as the villain (not great acting, but if there was an award for the most thoroughly rotten character to grace the screen he'd be a hot contender!) And then there are the film's occasional "did-I-just-see-what-I-thought-I-saw?" scenes – such as Bronson anally assaulting an offender with a dildo, or forcing a bad guy to swallow his Rolex watch
Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects is thoroughly obnoxious and offensive stuff, and a sad end to the long directing career of J. Lee-Thompson (how could the man who gave us The Guns Of Navarone and Ice Cold In Alex have also made this?!?)
'Death Wish'-stops-child-prostitution a guilty pleasure
talisencrw20 January 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Their ninth and final film together over a 12-year partnership, 'Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects' basically plays out as a Death Wish installment with Charles Bronson portraying Lieutenant Crowe instead of Paul Kersey, and being focused in anger both over child prostitution and that his own teenage daughter was molested by a Japanese businessman. Many would write this off as simply an exploitation film, but I love the fact that, like 'Gentleman's Agreement', it shows both that different degrees of racism are possible in anyone, but is also stoppable, as in seeing that a Japanese father cares about his daughter just as much as he cares about his own, he changes his own perspective. And the ending, that the criminal gets what's coming to him, is very satisfying, and makes many of Bronson's films such guilty pleasures...
Kinjite
BandSAboutMovies1 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The final film between director J. Lee Thompson and Charles Bronson, Kinjite was the ninth movie they made together and was going to be shot back to back with The Golem, a movie I wish had been made.
When reviewing the movie, the Los Angeles Times said, "If you think you might be offended by it, don't go. You will be."
While in Japan, a businessman had watched a woman be assaulted on the subway without complaint. And when he comes to Los Angeles, that moment continues to obsess him to the point that he attempts to recreate it and he learns that American women refuse to suffer in silence. Running from the scene of his attempted crime, he's mugged and as others in the community learn of the crime and begins attacking men who resemble the businessman.
The woman who was involved is Rita Crowe (Amy Hathaway), the daughter of LAPD vice-squad detective Lt. Crowe (Bronson). And when he learns that the man that tried to hurt his daughter has just lost his own daughter to a child prostitution ring. Now he must get past his hate for the man and prejudice against the Japanese to do his job.
There's not really a happy ending here - the girl is saved but the experiences she's endured have ruined her to the point that she overdoses - and Bronson and his partner (Perry Lopez) go against their badges and attempt to murder the gang to stop them from ever doing what they did again.
Beyond the last film they did together, this was Bronson's last Cannon movie - he would make Death Wish V with Golan - and Thompson's final movie. It's a dark movie in two careers where plenty of equally dark corners were explored ending with a man satisfied with finally finishing the job he set out to do.
When reviewing the movie, the Los Angeles Times said, "If you think you might be offended by it, don't go. You will be."
While in Japan, a businessman had watched a woman be assaulted on the subway without complaint. And when he comes to Los Angeles, that moment continues to obsess him to the point that he attempts to recreate it and he learns that American women refuse to suffer in silence. Running from the scene of his attempted crime, he's mugged and as others in the community learn of the crime and begins attacking men who resemble the businessman.
The woman who was involved is Rita Crowe (Amy Hathaway), the daughter of LAPD vice-squad detective Lt. Crowe (Bronson). And when he learns that the man that tried to hurt his daughter has just lost his own daughter to a child prostitution ring. Now he must get past his hate for the man and prejudice against the Japanese to do his job.
There's not really a happy ending here - the girl is saved but the experiences she's endured have ruined her to the point that she overdoses - and Bronson and his partner (Perry Lopez) go against their badges and attempt to murder the gang to stop them from ever doing what they did again.
Beyond the last film they did together, this was Bronson's last Cannon movie - he would make Death Wish V with Golan - and Thompson's final movie. It's a dark movie in two careers where plenty of equally dark corners were explored ending with a man satisfied with finally finishing the job he set out to do.
The last pairing of Jack Lee Thompson with Charles Bronson, "Kinjite" was Bronson's back to the form, even if he was 67 years old when this was filmed...
DeuceWild_775 September 2019
Ninth and final collaboration between J. Lee Thompson with Charles Bronson, it was also Jack Lee final film before retirement and the last one Bronson made for the two cousins of Cannon Group, Menahem Golan & Yoram Globus, "Kinjite - Forbidden Subjects" was a return to the action / crime / thriller genre, a territory covered by the duo in several films before, from "10 to Midnight" ('83) to "Murphy's Law" ('86), after the more mystery / 'whodunit' oriented, "Messenger of Death", made the previous year.
Bronson plays his usual cop on the edge to be acting above the law (he was in full Eastwood's "Dirty Harry" mode here), this time chasing a pimp who is forcing minors into prostitution, played by the forever baddie Juan Fernandez ("Salvador", "Crocodile Dundee 2") in an one more sleazy performance, who kidnapped the 12 years old daughter of a yuppie japanese businessman (James Pax from "Big Trouble in Little China") new in town. After his own daughter was molested (ironically by the same oriental) during a bus ride, Bronson's feel of bigotry towards the japanese who are taking L.A. grow bigger, but his sense of integrity and the fact he's father of a teenage girl himself, makes him on the loose through the city's underground to find the missing child.
The movie deals with several relevant issues, such as cultural differences, hidden sexual desires and the execrable child prostitution ring, but ultimately (and unfortunately), it doesn't balance them well, cutting the plot to pieces to acommodate a Charles Bronson's action vehicle, and it was a shame, because the material was there for a great 'serious' crime / drama film such as Paul Schrader's "Hardcore" ('79) or William Friedkin's "Cruising" ('80).
The budget seems even shorter than "Messenger of Death" due to Cannon's financial bankrupt around '89, and some of the shots look cheap enough to be the "made for TV" film of the week and not even the cinematography is that good in this one, but Jack Lee & Bronson compensate it with more fights, more gunshots and more action, including an over-the-top big finale that all the Bronson's fans will be pleased.
The shocking subject of the movie, and its infamous, not showed but suggested, scenes it may be too exploitative for some mainstream public back then and even now, that's why Jack Lee, probably with conservative Bronson's aval, shot them in a more "light" tone, instead of going too nasty or visually sordid.
Besides Bronson, Fernandez and Pax, the supporting cast features several well known faces such as the beautiful & future "Baywatch" mermaid, Nicole Eggert, in her debut film; Perry Lopez ("Kelly's Heroes", "Chinatown" & "Death Wish 4") playing Bronson's partner; Sy Richardson ("Straight to Hell") as the pimp's henchman; Amy Hathaway & Peggy Lipton, playing respectively, the daughter & wife of Bronson's character and even cameos from Alex Hyde-White ("Biggles - Adventures in Time", "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", "Pretty Woman") & Danny Trejo ("Runaway Train", "Heat", "Desperado", "Machete").
In short, "Kinjite - Forbidden Subjects" isn't the best of the Jack Lee Thompson / Charles Bronson pairing, neither is the worst, but works as the last hurrah from both veterans together, from the Cannon Group before bankrupcy, and the 80's Era of the OTT / cheesy / full of witty on-liners, action films.
I give it a 6 !!
Bronson plays his usual cop on the edge to be acting above the law (he was in full Eastwood's "Dirty Harry" mode here), this time chasing a pimp who is forcing minors into prostitution, played by the forever baddie Juan Fernandez ("Salvador", "Crocodile Dundee 2") in an one more sleazy performance, who kidnapped the 12 years old daughter of a yuppie japanese businessman (James Pax from "Big Trouble in Little China") new in town. After his own daughter was molested (ironically by the same oriental) during a bus ride, Bronson's feel of bigotry towards the japanese who are taking L.A. grow bigger, but his sense of integrity and the fact he's father of a teenage girl himself, makes him on the loose through the city's underground to find the missing child.
The movie deals with several relevant issues, such as cultural differences, hidden sexual desires and the execrable child prostitution ring, but ultimately (and unfortunately), it doesn't balance them well, cutting the plot to pieces to acommodate a Charles Bronson's action vehicle, and it was a shame, because the material was there for a great 'serious' crime / drama film such as Paul Schrader's "Hardcore" ('79) or William Friedkin's "Cruising" ('80).
The budget seems even shorter than "Messenger of Death" due to Cannon's financial bankrupt around '89, and some of the shots look cheap enough to be the "made for TV" film of the week and not even the cinematography is that good in this one, but Jack Lee & Bronson compensate it with more fights, more gunshots and more action, including an over-the-top big finale that all the Bronson's fans will be pleased.
The shocking subject of the movie, and its infamous, not showed but suggested, scenes it may be too exploitative for some mainstream public back then and even now, that's why Jack Lee, probably with conservative Bronson's aval, shot them in a more "light" tone, instead of going too nasty or visually sordid.
Besides Bronson, Fernandez and Pax, the supporting cast features several well known faces such as the beautiful & future "Baywatch" mermaid, Nicole Eggert, in her debut film; Perry Lopez ("Kelly's Heroes", "Chinatown" & "Death Wish 4") playing Bronson's partner; Sy Richardson ("Straight to Hell") as the pimp's henchman; Amy Hathaway & Peggy Lipton, playing respectively, the daughter & wife of Bronson's character and even cameos from Alex Hyde-White ("Biggles - Adventures in Time", "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", "Pretty Woman") & Danny Trejo ("Runaway Train", "Heat", "Desperado", "Machete").
In short, "Kinjite - Forbidden Subjects" isn't the best of the Jack Lee Thompson / Charles Bronson pairing, neither is the worst, but works as the last hurrah from both veterans together, from the Cannon Group before bankrupcy, and the 80's Era of the OTT / cheesy / full of witty on-liners, action films.
I give it a 6 !!
Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects (1989)
fntstcplnt21 March 2020
Directed by J. Lee Thompson. Starring Charles Bronson, James Pax, Juan Fernández, Perry Lopez, Sy Richardson, Gerald Castillo, Amy Hathaway, Peggy Lipton, Bill McKinney, Nicole Eggert, Marion Kodama Yue. (R)
Astoundingly sleazy and tasteless crime thriller pits stern, racist LAPD detective Bronson against a grotesque pimp (Fernández) who preys on underage girls, including the daughter of a transferred Japanese businessman (Pax) who, as it happens, already groped Bronson's daughter (Hathaway) on a bus. Slick and formulaic handling of repellent subject matter, designed for titillation followed by brutal comeuppance; any sordid satisfaction one may get from watching scumbags get it in the end is spoiled by the seedy, corrupt nature of the "hero," who assaults criminals with sex toys and forces jeweled watches down their throats. Last of nine collaborations between Bronson and director Thompson. Danny Trejo can be briefly seen as an inmate. Not for nothing, "kinjite" translates to "forbidden," making this movie's title: "Forbidden: Forbidden Subjects" ("Manos: The Hands of Fate" oughta feel ripped off).
11/100
Astoundingly sleazy and tasteless crime thriller pits stern, racist LAPD detective Bronson against a grotesque pimp (Fernández) who preys on underage girls, including the daughter of a transferred Japanese businessman (Pax) who, as it happens, already groped Bronson's daughter (Hathaway) on a bus. Slick and formulaic handling of repellent subject matter, designed for titillation followed by brutal comeuppance; any sordid satisfaction one may get from watching scumbags get it in the end is spoiled by the seedy, corrupt nature of the "hero," who assaults criminals with sex toys and forces jeweled watches down their throats. Last of nine collaborations between Bronson and director Thompson. Danny Trejo can be briefly seen as an inmate. Not for nothing, "kinjite" translates to "forbidden," making this movie's title: "Forbidden: Forbidden Subjects" ("Manos: The Hands of Fate" oughta feel ripped off).
11/100
Paul Kersey with a badge!
GOWBTW4 January 2020
Charles Bronson is at his baddest, when he has a badge, he at his worst on the bad guys. In "Murphy's Law", he was a drunk with a badge, who can still fight crime with the rest of the other police officers. In "Kinjite", he's a little more hardcore. He plays Lt. Crowe, a cop with serious issues. A loving family man, but he is very vigilant with the bad guys. He hunts down a man named Duke, criminal who preys on young women. Kidnaps young girls, and forces them into prostitution. In the beginning, Crowe sodomized the pervert. He has issues with other cultures. Especially the Japanese. When his daughter is groped by a businessman, Crowe gets unhinged. But when the businessman's daughter is kidnapped, Crowe begrudgingly helps him out. Though he may have gotten over some of his prejudices, he is still on the hunt for Duke.
The 80's are known for its style, that won't go away. The young cast of Nicole Eggert(Baywatch) and Amy Hathaway(My Two Dads) makes a way for young talent.
Liked it better than "Murphy's Law", still good fun with Bronson at his best.
3 out of 5 stars
Bob bye Charlie, a departure flick, I don't forbid you to see
videorama-759-85939130 April 2014
You can't help loving this B film, that delves into fetishes, child perversion, abduction, and forbidden vices. I must say the scene with Bronson confessing to his priest/psychologist, played by the wonderful Bill Mckinney, I couldn't stop from grinning a tad. I know why. It's stereotypical Bronsoniitis, via J Lee Thompson, as we've seen many of Charlie's other Golan Globus flicks. It too had me wondering, does Charlie really enjoy this, or how is he on this, with how his career's plummeted. Another scene, that brought stereotypical vibes back, had him going off, publicly at Asians, making a stand, claiming, "They think they own the joint, goddamn cars, whatever". To race haters out there who see this, later on in the movie they could have a change of heart as does Charlie. Lately Charlie, has had a hard on for busting this sleazy pimp, Duke, (Fernandez) who runs a stable of young girls for perverted clientele. His latest beauty is an Asian schoolgirl who can't be more than thirteen, who he discreetly abducted from a private school, and groomed quick, courtesy of hishelp. Kinjite has some cheeky, saucy scenes, others, repulsive ones, like when the girl goes with an old guy in a limo, or later when she's taken to an apartment to fuel the hunger for a lonely female paedophile. We're off to a great start with Charlie and the boys, raiding a hotel room, busting up a trick, who has a big briefcase of kinky stuff, about to go to work on sexy Eggert's rear end. As having been with Duke, she even warns him later on that's his apartment is about to be raided. Now the forced Rolex swallowing watch scene, I must say, left me with a bit of a sore throat, this was a great stand out, "Are you kidding me" scene. Obviously Charlie wasn't. Although the end of Kinjite isn't all roses, as to some of the characters fates, what we have here is some really sleazy addictive B grade product. The sexy mistress in blue, with the Asian businessman, the father of the Asian daughter who's taken, I must say had nice hooters. This Asian guy presented a little shock revelation and unease to how he carried himself. But of course it's Charlie who carries the movie, where I wouldn't say this is the best departure out of Golan Globus ville, but it is addictively entertaining and I said before, stereotypically Charlie.
Rare Bomb
kols20 August 2013
For Golan-Gobus and I can only think it was produced as a favor to Bronson who, by 1989, had perhaps suffered brain damage from too many "Death Wish" movies (actually he was very effective in "Yes, Virginia ...", 1991, so maybe not).
Whatever, here he's a cop unloading tons of vigilante-style justice to a lot of bad guys in what is a very boring paranoid's, or bullied 9-year-old's, wet-dream.
What makes it boring is that everything is a set-up, predictable and poorly depicted. Same with the dialog: almost a parody of tough-guy-cop-gone-over-the-top movies. But none of the action scenes, non-action scenes, dialog, pacing, or acting rises to that level. Just a really bad and pointless waste of film.
Whatever, here he's a cop unloading tons of vigilante-style justice to a lot of bad guys in what is a very boring paranoid's, or bullied 9-year-old's, wet-dream.
What makes it boring is that everything is a set-up, predictable and poorly depicted. Same with the dialog: almost a parody of tough-guy-cop-gone-over-the-top movies. But none of the action scenes, non-action scenes, dialog, pacing, or acting rises to that level. Just a really bad and pointless waste of film.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
