RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

ChicDragon It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Phillida Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

lemon_magic Rocker Karate Guys vs Biker Ninjas. Does this really need elaboration?I rate this as 3 stars out of 10 because it's has the feel of something written and acted by a bunch of amateurs who wanted to star in a movie about themselves and their friends. But I have to admit: there's an earnestness and a positive message throughout the movie that makes "Miami Connection" quite likable...in a silly and half-baked way. And while the movie wastes a lot of time in pointless cul-de-sac scenes with the band members hanging out (and one member in a "missing father" subplot that would make Godfrey Ho scratch his head) , the energy level is usually pretty high. The performances and songs are hilariously 80s anthem/Cheese Whiz that will stick to all the crevices in your brain and gum up your mental works. Apparently, being "Against the Ninja" is a "thing", did you know that? (Or was it "Kill The Ninja"? I couldn't tell. But the singer sure was Celine-Dion-level serious about it!)Worth seeing once if you are a fan of directors such as Andy Sedaris.

MisterWhiplash I had the suspicion that the lead actor YK Kim, who also directed the film (uncredited) and basically backed the making of the film, wasn't a professional in the movie industry, and I was right. He was a Tae-kwon-do instructor, apparently (according to here on IMDb) very popular in Orlando (though the movie is shot there and Miami) and there's even a point in the middle of this movie where everything just stops - whatever there was in the story that one could follow, if barely - and we see a demonstration of his skills. And I don't mean in a fight, I mean with him and John, played by Vincent Hirsch, demonstrating their skills in like practice mode. Not that there still isn't some requisite slow-motion cinematography of course, and (as if anticipating Zack Snyder by 20 years) sometimes going into slow-motion just briefly in a shot, and then going back to regular speed. Because you got to see that foot grab on to a dude's nose! Miami Connection is some silly stuff, but done in the 1980's, and the movie never lets you forget it. Despite Kim most likely being more into the fights than the actual filming or acting, he did know to get some production designers and just, you know, people off the streets from Florida at the time to get that 80's FEEL. The hair is there, the clothes, the music... good lord the music. There's a moment when one of the bands is playing on stage - not the 'friendship' one, the 'Against the Ninja' song with the girl singing, and I swear if you look around the room it's not smoke going up around the air, it's cocaine. It's somehow made the room smoky.There is a plot involving coke deals, and rock-n-roll ninjas, and bikers at some point, and other ninjas who looks like a lift from every other ninja movie ever made (with the fleet of black-suited ninjas with the white-suited master - because, you know, camoflauge), and characters who you kind of see some relationship going on, and then the one black guy will get a letter and pour out a monologue about his parental troubles and... plot? Perhaps it's so simple but it goes to show that the filmmaking muddies it all up. Far as I can gather is this: the motorcycle ninjas are the bad guys, smuggling in drugs, and the rock band Dragon Sound (haha) is tired of it, and their master (played by Kim) is going to take it to them and stop what they're doing for good.The French Connection this certainly is not. And if you're by chance going into it thinking it'll be any good, you will be mistaken; this 7/10 rating is in large part due to the guilty pleasure factor. Actually, that's not true in that I don't feel much guilt in laughing about this movie, and staring at times in slack-jawed disbelief at the ineptitude of things like audio dubbing of lines (it's so bad it makes The Room look professional), and the moments when in the fights (and those make up most of the running time) things just get ridiculous. Watch when any time super-violence gets into the mix, anything to do with blood and gore, and the filmmakers don't skimp on that, not in the least.But why it's so pleasurable is that there's a kind of innocence to the whole enterprise. This Tae-kwon do master just wanted to expand his horizons and try something different, and somehow with his collaborators - most of them as inept as he at making movies, but passionate about martial arts and, you know, all things 80's and wussy rock & roll (seriously, these songs, the Ninja Turtles do a better job in Coming out of Our Shells). It's bad, but you don't feel bad watching it, and with a bunch of friends at home, or with the right crowd in a theater, I'm sure it's a blast. Oh, and watch for any LONG montages, including one on a beach where they're just driving along, and they cut to a shot of a couple supposedly meant to be still on the beach... after the tide's come in!

Scott LeBrun There's knowingly silly low budget garbage and then there's the sublime "Miami Connection". So far it's the only movie that this viewer has seen where the heroes are also the musical attraction. "Dragon Sound" are an ethnically diverse group of martial artists who moonlight as a pop rock band. They sing ditties such as "Against the Ninja" and "Friends", and believe me, these songs will be stuck in your head long after the movie is over. When they're not rocking the house, "Dragon Sound" take on villainous motorcycle riding ninjas and other assorted lowlifes trafficking in drugs in the Miami area.If you want high class or real technical proficiency, look elsewhere. But if you just want a fun time, relax and enjoy the goof ball pleasures of "Miami Connection". The music alone commands a viewing. The action is all that it needs to be: good fun, and people who stick it out to the final bit of fighting will be rewarded with some hilarious bursts of splatter. Also ensuring hilarity are the attempts by our not quite A list cast to emote, in particular Maurice Smith as Jim and co-story author Y.K. Kim as Mark. There are also a number of bare breasts on display in the last half hour.The bad guys are far from being the scariest you'll ever see in this kind of diversion. Angelo Janotti as Tom sports a glorious mullet and often parades around without a shirt on. Kathy Collier as Jane adds valuable sex appeal, playing the love interest to group member John (Vincent Hirsch). It seems that Janes' brother Jeff (William Ergle), who happens to be one of the villains, is possessive of her, and who can blame him?The script, written by director Woo-Sang Park and cast member Joseph Diamond, has a couple of howlingly funny lines, such as "They don't make buns like that down at the bakery" while the guys ogle the lovely ladies at a beach.Grand entertainment for one and all. The fact that it's inept is essential to its appeal.Director Park also has a small role as Uncle Song.Eight out of 10.

bronteboghopper Oh my god, this movie took my breath away. The movie script appears to have been written by a word-smith genius who must have exchanged his soul for superhuman talent. Y K KIM has a level of screen presence that would shame even Morgan Freeman. KIM is a silver tongue devil, whose witty one liners slide effortlessly off his tongue in a convincing style. I predict good things for this young man, he will go far.There are so many good things in this film I don't know where to even begin. The plot, the editing, the great casting choices and much more. It was believably gritty, the use of stock footage brought a real sense of location and realism to the moving picture box I viewed it on.The martial arts weren't all that though.