Review of The Power Within (1995) by Bill S — 21 Jul 2013

Though largely inoffensive for a PG-13 film, "The Power Within" feels like it should have been a video game instead of a movie. When hearing the fantastical history of the rings, and watching the action sequences, I couldn't help but think of the old-school "beat 'em up" games, such as "Double Dragon" or "Street Fighter". The cheesiness of it all makes it seem like a product of the "decade of excess" instead of a 1995 release. Martial arts fans will probably enjoy this, but others should find something else to watch.

Content Concerns: Even though the film wasn't very good, as noted above, its quotient of offensive content is low for a PG-13 movie. There are less than ten profanities (that I heard, anyway). The "martial arts action violence" noted by the MPAA is neither bloody nor graphic; however, two intense scenes--a guy gets hit by a car, and it isn't fatal; another guy gets stabbed, and it appears to be deadly--might be a bit much for some folks. Sexual content is limited to hearing of two high school kids renting a hotel room; it's never said that they actually do, though. At the beginning, one buxom woman is seen in a low-cut outfit, and two others are briefly seen in bikinis. Two main female characters tend to wear skirts that are a little on the short side. All that is small potatoes compared to the "R-lite" movies that are called PG-13 today.

Score: 2/5.