PM Entertainment stuntman, fight choreographer Art Camacho and star Don "The Dragon" Wilson penned the story. Three directors credited which might make a person think it had a troubled production history. Whatever the case you can either see 'Ring of Fire 3' aka 'Lion Strike' for the dtv piece of cheese it is (in a series that didn't exactly start off on a great foot) or turn back right now.
Low level thugs see an easy payday ripping off their mob boss Louie (Robert Costanzo), but things go sideways. Doc Johnny Woo (Wilson) tries to render medical aid and is brushed off by tuff Vinny (John Del Regno). A few moments later it's figured out the doc grabbed the bag he thought was his own, but actually has the stolen money and an important computer disc inside. Louie and a host of bigwig criminals have come together to sell highly profitable nuclear weapons and need it back. A holiday vacation for Johnny and his young son out in the country is about to get disrupted and a whole lot more deadly.
That sounds like the generic plot to just about fifty flicks I've sat thru in equal measure. The opening involving a guarded hospitalized elderly mob boss and an averted breakout by the butt-kicking doc is laughable, ridiculous. 9mm gun takes down a helicopter while the hero hangs off the side of the building with one arm. Supporting player / stuntman Carl Ciarfalio easily recognizable for his small but memorable role as Tony Dogs from 'Casino' here as a baddie like Costanzo, Regno (Another 48 Hrs) later. Michael DeLano is the only holdover from the first two flicks. Returning as detective Lopez while everyone else is gone. Only the tiniest explanation of Julie's fate.
Dialed up visuals in the form of big explosions made the first sequel 'Blood and Steel' slightly better than the original. 'Lion Strike' doesn't get that same honor plodding all too familiar ground and with not much to show for it. Russian bad guys get inserted of course and a lame but predicable new love interest in forest ranger Kelly (Bobbie Phillips). Keep an eye out for Michael Jai White in one of his earliest roles if you're gonna give it a go otherwise not much worth talking about.
