Razor Sharpe (2001) Online

"Razor Sharp" is a shot on video feature co-written, produced and directed by Troy Nikolo Ashford designed to showcase the martial arts prowess of its star, Troy Nikolo Ashford. It plays more like a demo tape to be shown at auditions than a real feature as it has an obvious home movie quality not much more advanced than "The Blair Witch Project." On the plus side Ashford shows he can whup ass and gets into a scrape every five minutes. The action scenes are well choreographed and shot considering the shoestring budget Ashford had to work with.

Plot? Ashford plays Justin "Razor" Sharp, struggling actor aspiring to be the next VanDamme or Lundgren. After being wrongfully fired from a supporting role in a martial arts flick by its tempremental star, Sharp finds himself blacklisted and set up as the patsy for an armed robbery suppossedly staged as part of another film shoot. (This is about as believable as the cameras which are nowhere in sight). On the run, Sharp looks for those who framed him. You already know where this leads.

As an actor Ashford has an ernest eager to please air to him which any struggling actor can identify with. Unfortunately he has no discernable screen presense and his love scenes are the most awkward I have seen in years as he clearly wants to be somewhere else.

Hopefully Ashford will find a better vehicle to showcase himself than this. This film is recommended only for the indiscriminating martial arts fan. You've seen worse, but you've seen much better too. I give it a 3 out of 10.

Troy Nikolo Ashford is a musclebound martial arts type, obviously trying to be the next Billy Blanks. All he appears to have going for him is a terrifc physique, which he doesn't flaunt enough to make this trite actioner worth indulging in. I'd have found any excuse in a storm to take off my shirt. Very low rent.

I only watched this film from beginning to end because I promised a friend I would. It lacks even unintentional entertainment value that many bad films have. It may be the worst film I have ever seen. I'm surprised a distributor put their name on it.

Okay, so this film suffers at times from it's low budget and sometimes uneven casting. But for sheer "showcasing" power, I haven't seen a film introduce a new action hero this well since "Pumping Iron" took Arnold Schwartzenegger from Austria to international celebrity. Troy Nikolo Ashford is a powerful screen presence: more muscular, more intense and certainly better looking than Vin Diesel and any of the other contemporary film tough-guys. Watch for this guy to get snagged by a major studio for some sort of "Conan The Barbarian" or "Scorpion King" role!

This...This is how NOT to make a film (can I call it that?). Even the intro credits are bad beyond belief, you see the same three names for like 2/3 of the entire credits and between each name, the same clip of Razor plays over, and over, and over! The fighting is bad, Razor uses ONE move to defeat all his opponents....the neck snap! Certain "Gaps" in the movie are never explained. Some characters are introduced and you never see them again. Razors car is rented and it changes twice. Razors house is empty, except for a couch. The guns only *actually* start to fire half way through. A scene where Razors roommate is supposed to be nude, he is wearing pants, no attempts to even crop above the waist to suggest he's not. There was no sound equipment so you get crazy wind noise during some scenes so you can't hear dialog if you wanted to. sound effects are canned and off. Was there a plot?! This movie is pointless. Its not even funny how bad it is. I love unintentional humor in movies but this goes beyond that. WAY beyond.

Avoid this please!!! This is 90 minutes better spent cleaning the cat box...really...AVOID

"His Vengeance Is Cutting Edge." -Troy Nikolo Ashford "Our destiny is not by chance...it's by choice" - Troy "Nicolo" Ashford "I made my choice..." The saga begins... - Troy N. Ashford "The most riveting independent action film of the year!" - Karen Hyatt, Midtown Projection "Razor Sharpe" is a shot-on-video vanity project for one Troy Nikolo Ashford. Some of his many credits in the movie (writer, stunts, producer, director, etc., his middle name is spelled "Nicolo" with a C, other times "Nikolo" with a K).

It is extremely admirable that TNA (Troy Nikolo Ashford, not the wrestling organization) was able to film this and get it out there. Sure, it's mainly a non-professional production, but somehow he actually got it out there and in to stores. That is very commendable.

TNA plays Justin Sharpe, an action movie star who is kicked off the set of his latest project when he catches an arrow shot from a bow and arrow. His agent calls him "leper boy" and only his "comical roommate" can console him with his comedic stylings. Rik Cooper, his egotistical co-star, doesn't appreciate this very much. Then, Sharpe accepts a job on another set where he is tricked into committing a real-life crime. Somehow he doesn't catch on while a shooting is taking place. Then, Sharpe's girlfriend is kidnapped by thugs and Sharpe is now on the run trying to save her. Add to that two cops following the situation, one of whom looks EXACTLY like embattled golfer Tiger Woods. Will Sharpe cut a swath through through all the baddies in Georgia? Find out tonight! Of course, Ashford casts himself as a movie star, and has at least one unnecessary training sequence (it's before any conflict occurs in the movie, so he's not training FOR anything). He meditates with a bottle of Coca-Cola and takes his shirt off often.

During the credits sequence there is a "Razor Sharpe" song. It could have been better. Also, the guns don't really shoot and the actors' outfits change mid-scene, but on the bright side, there are some decent stunts, and the "comical roommate" should be the next Mike Epps and gets off a few good zingers.

Everyone involved seemed to be trying their best, and we truly wish effort alone was worth more in this world, because it is obvious a lot of good effort went into "Razor Sharpe". But there are a lot of choices for action out there, and it seems hard to believe someone would choose "Razor Sharpe" over something else. Like, say, Night of the Kickfighters (1988).

We say congratulations to Mr. Ashford and his worthy effort, but the lack of professionalism and shot-on-video quality is amateurish. Too bad this is his only credit, as he may have improved given some time and experience.

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