Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Miami Connection 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 4, 2022

Cult films are a difficult thing to force on audiences. Typically, cinematic junk needs time to cure in obscurity, developing a fringe appreciation before widespread acceptance arrives. “Miami Connection” isn’t a DOA offering that’s been basting in the juices of bad moviedom for decades now, it’s a harmless, clueless 1987 Floridian production that’s been plucked out of obscurity so film geeks and students of schlock can point and laugh at its awfulness, developing a new midnight movie secret language. There’s no doubt that “Miami Connection” is awful, but a celebratory, gut-bustin’ kind of awful? Not exactly. In fact, you might walk away feeling sorry for the earnest amateurs who pieced this effort together back in the 1980s.

The story, and I’m using that word loosely, concerns trouble in Orlando, where a group of orphans/University of Central Florida college students live together by day and rock the city at night as the band Dragon Sound. Swearing to an oath of friendship forged in the collected mastery of Taekwondo, Dragon Sound rules the Park Avenue Nightclub, where their hot tunes have driven out a rival band, and the goons aren’t taking the news well. Mixed up in a nightmare of cocaine smuggling, motorcycle-riding ninjas, and merciless street attacks, Dragon Sound, and their unofficial leader Mark (Y.K. Kim), harness their Central Florida strength to fight back against oncoming evil, trusting in their impressive self-defense skills and the power of positive thinking.

The great thing about cult favorites like “The Room” and “Birdemic” were their relative Z-grade authenticity. Guided by filmmakers who genuinely didn’t have a clue about what they were doing behind the camera, the features rode a wave of appreciation inspired by derision, with audiences eager to mock unpolished shenanigans. “Miami Connection” is equally ignorant of storytelling needs, yet there’s an earnestness here that’s a tad heartbreaking to see marched to the gallows, with co-director/star Kim looking to alter the rotation of the planet with his picture, issuing broad scenes of friendship and tragedy to push his worldview on the audience. There’s even a closing card expressing hope for a peaceful future. Of course, this comes after 80 minutes of hardcore violence featuring sliced throats and chopped limbs, but his point is endearing, packaged in a movie that means well, yet can’t help but fall flat on its face with every forward step.

“Miami Connection” is an odd one, with little room for coherency. In fact, it’s not actually attempting to assemble a plot, just a random collection of antagonism from loosely defined outside forces, allowing the production a chance to show off its collection of martial arts skills. Campus demonstrations and battle zone displays litter the film, and the low-wattage showdowns work as intended, puckered with brutality that keeps the hits hard and fast, with Kim’s fist-first language of pain (as opposed to the Korean star’s severe limitations with the English language) especially impressive. “Miami Connection” doesn’t have to make sense to orchestrate this literal battle of the bands, but the general incoherent atmosphere of the effort tends to dial down the electricity Kim is aiming to project, making the picture little more than a commercial for an Orlando Taekwondo school.

Miami Connection 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Originally released by Image Entertainment in 2012, "Miami Connection" returns to disc courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome, who make the leap and bring the B-movie to UHD. The new release offers a 4K presentation "newly restored from its recently unearthed 35mm interpositive," and it appears to be a solid upgrade from the previous viewing experience. Colors are rich, leading with the heavy blue lighting that carries throughout the feature, and greenery is vivid, touring the college campus and parks. Costuming offers crisp primaries and period hues, and skintones are natural. Highlights retain the warmth of the Floridian sun and intensity of brighter lighting elements. Detail goes as far as possible, exploring the varied facial particulars of the cast, and their choices in hairstyles. Interiors retain a clear view of decoration, and exteriors are dimensional. Clothing remains fibrous, doing well with period fashion. Blacks are deep, securing evening action. Grain is heavy but film-like. Source has some light scratches and brief wear and tear.

Miami Connection 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix is a fresh, loud understanding of the "Miami Connection" aural experience, leading with sharp dialogue exchanges, offering intelligibility necessary to keep up with this collection of amateur actors and heavy accents. Heavy synth dominates the track, offering pleasing fullness to help with atmosphere. Musical performances and soundtrack selections are crisply defined with distinct instrumentation. Sound effects are pronounced.

Miami Connection 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

UHD

• Commentary features actor/producer Grandmaster Y.K. Kim, writer/actor/associate producer Joseph Diamond.

Blu-ray #1

• Commentary features actor/producer Grandmaster Y.K. Kim, writer/actor/associate producer Joseph Diamond.

• "Resurrecting the Dragon" (32:55, HD) is a making-of featuring interviews with actor/producer Grandmaster Y.K. Kim, writer/actor/associate producer Joseph Diamond, actor/grip Vincent Hirsch, production assistant Faith Cotter, actor Maurice Smith, makeup FX and composer Jon McCallum, actor/musician Angelo Janotti, actor Kathee Collier, and sound FX artist Jeffrey A. Okun. Kim's story opens the documentary, tracking the development of his taekwondo dream, eventually settling in Orlando, amassing a large collection of students. An idea to make a movie was hatched, and Kim soon joined director Richard Park, with the men working without a script, a schedule, and permits to create "Miami Connection," going into the plan with big Oscar dreams. The production took the work seriously, with Kim a perfectionist, which complicated the final sound mixing sessions. The editing process is explored, with an early cut failing to attract any distribution, inspiring Kim to retool the film, aiming for a brighter version. A plan to four-wall "Miami Connection" was killed by low box office, but a cult resurrection finally occurred in 2012, helping to revive Kim's vision for future audiences.

• "Friends for Eternity" (19:20, HD) is a 2012 making-of, featuring interviews with actor/producer Grandmaster Y.K. Kim, writer/actor/associate producer Joseph Diamond, actor/grip Vincent Hirsch, actor Maurice Smith, and actor/musician Angelo Janotti.

• "The New American Dream" (22:07, SD) is an undated infomercial, selling Y.K. Kim's plan for good health through exercise and positive thoughts.

• "Dragon Sound Reunion" (10:07, HD) is a 25th anniversary concert featuring the actors from "Miami Connection" and a collection of musicians. "Friends" and "Against the Ninja" are performed, and Y.K. Kim provides a brief martial arts demo for the crowd.

• And a Trailer (2:17, HD) is included.

Blu-ray #2

• "Escape from Miami" (85:14, HD) is an early cut of "Miami Connection," likely the version Y.K. Kim shopped around to distributors and was understandably turned down by all of them. This is no radical reworking of "Miami Connection," offering some extra scenes with Dragon Sound (exploring more of their musicianship) and a grim conclusion, which was wisely reshot for the final cut. "Escape from Miami" is sourced from a 35mm interpositive, and presented with a 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix and English subtitles.

Miami Connection 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The feature lurches all over the place, with a few minutes of the film set aside to take in the revelry shared by a group of drunk bikers, while time is also spent with Dragon Sound as they conquer an Orlando bar with their positive music, with only a few of the cast members familiar with the instruments they're playing. "Miami Connection" goes goofy from time to time, especially anything involving the ninjas who periodically show up to cause trouble, with most of the picture attempting to find a balance between Disney-style emphatic affection for its sincere characters (the keyboardist is especially amped to meet the father he never knew) and fantastic presentations of bloodshed. With bad haircuts, bad edits, and bad ideas galore, there are plenty of '80s cornball happenings to devour. However, "Miami Connection" doesn't strike me as particularly hilarious or outrageously inept, just woefully misguided by individuals out to launch a nuclear bomb of positivity with their furious work, only to discover they barely knew how to make a movie.