I've heard this movie was unique, but it ultimately was disappointing. I enjoyed the premise of the movie in which people who die go to The Gate to make one of three choices, but the biggest problem with the movie is that it never figures into the movie in spite of the fact that it's hammered into the viewer's head through the whole movie.
It is constantly repeated what the three choices are, yet there are never any big decisions based on those three choices, and they don't effect the outcome of the movie.
Another problem with the movie is that it tends to get very preachy. It almost felt like a Christian produced film with its message of how one goes to Heaven or Hell. That really spoiled the film for me as I did not want to be beaten over the head with a message that almost seemed too religious.
The acting is good, and Kitamura's sense of direction is very attractive. There are 4 noteworthy fight scenes that are all done well. (It was especially nice to see Yumiko Shaku of "Princess Blade" NOT get doubled for her action scenes.) But the action is not the focal point of the movie, and with all the peachiness of the movie it was hard to appreciate it. This movie is a rental at best.
Drunken Master 2 (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Obviously, this is Jackie Chan's best movie and it's impossible to explain why without repeating what everyone else said. With that, the movie speaks for itself. Although it's nice to point out that the movie actually does have a good story, and it's not one of those movies where you just want to skip to the fights.
My favorite movie. ("Kill Bill" as one big feature.)
I've been a fan of Tarantino for many years, and I was overjoyed when I found out he was making an Asian influenced action movie. The story is good, and the interaction between characters combined with Quentin's flawless direction was a total treat.
The Japanese version doesn't just feature the House of Blue Leaves scene in color. Somehow, the camera angles looked wider, and it was easier to SEE the action taking place which made the sequence all the more excellent.
A huge disappointment. For a "Die Hard on a Cruise Ship" movie, it was really slow moving and whenever there was any action, it was too short or it kept intercutting with other scenes, thus taking the viewer out of the excitement.
The movie's hero, Kenny Ho does employ some good techniques such as soaping up a room so that henchman Bobby Samuels keeps slipping while Kenny stays afoot with bath mats tied to his shoes, and Kenny while locked in a freezer stays warm by making a camp fire with his jacket.
Christy Chung was very charming, but it was a shame that she didn't use her real voice. Her fight scene in the movie is very funny in a goofy sort of way, and it ended up being the best fight in the whole film.
The other fights were just missing a lot. Kenny Ho fights a superkicker, but it's over before you know it, and the finale with Kenny Ho vs. Collin Chou spent too much time intercutting with other parts of the movie.
Shadow: Dead Riot (product link) Action/Adventure / Horror This movie is garbage, but I enjoyed it for some reason. It's wannabe grindhouse cinema, but there's still plenty of decent fights, gore and nudity to keep one entertained.
I do kind of wish that some leniency was shown for certain characters like a pregnant woman and a prison guard (Ilsa Thorne! Combination of Dyanne Thorne and Ilsa from her infamous prison movies.) who for being a reference to the real Ms. Thorne turned out not to be evil, but just sexually frustrated.
Azumi (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Very good movie. Not as fast paced as "Versus" but still in the same league. Aya Ueto shows great screen presence in spite of not being an experienced actor, and she handles her action scenes well and without the use of excessive doubles. Very fun.
A Bittersweet Life [Korean SE DTS 2-Disc Director's Cut] (product link) Action/Adventure / Crime Damn good! Lee Byun Hyung was the ultimate protagonist and was so cool, he could bleed it.
The movie takes a familiar story of how a gangster's life can be glamorous at one point, and then get taken away for the slightest of reasons. It's a good reminder how such a lifestyle will make you think you have friends, but in the end they don't care about you.
The story was told in such a way that it felt brand new. Every actor did a great job and were able to convey such emotions without having to say a word. Even though there is plenty of talking in the movie, people speak the loudest with a simple facial expression.
The action is really the cherry on top of the ice cream, and it's well done. It's quality is accentuated by the drama that precedes it, and the charisma of the star.
The Great Yokai War [HK SE 2-Disc Set] (product link) Fantasy / Action/Adventure Really fun! It's great to see Takashi Miike take a break from horrible violence (nothing wrong with that) and do something on par with "Labyrinth" or "The Dark Crystal."
The movie makes great use of prosthetics and puppetry and is a real adventure!
Born To Fight [2004] (product link) Action/Adventure / Martial Arts With all the cool things in this movie, none of them matter when they're just done for the sake of being done and there's no real choreography.
Matters aren't helped by the sappy national pride that's used to convince the villagers to fight the bad guys. I'm all in favor of being loyal to one's country, but they didn't have to make it this mushy.
As stated, the action scenes are not constructed like they're supposed to be. They're just individual stunt pieces that look unrealistically out of place with the movie. The players are great athletes, but more relevance to their scenes would have helped.
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