Agreement:91% of 159 voters agree with TheDenizen's reviews Gender: Male Age: 34 Location: Ontario, Canada Lists:WISH LIST (7) / OWNED LIST (296)
Bio: Kung Fu fanatic from Southern Ontario, Canada. I'm also into Samurai films, splatter horror, Spaghetti Westerns, Film Noir and grindhouse exploitation flicks.
Goyokin (product link) Action/Adventure / Drama A melancholy samurai tale which uses extensive flashbacks as part of the storytelling structure. Tatsuya Nakadai is incredible as the bug-eyed samurai haunted by his past failings. His weary performance is the best reason to watch this film.
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Bastard Ronin is correct. This is a truly special film, made by one of the best Japanese directors -Hideo Gosha - and starring the finest Japanese actor - Tatsuya Nakadai.
The Foot Fist Way (product link) Comedy / Martial Arts A pretty funny parody of martial arts instructors who take themselves way too seriously. I know guys just like Danny McBride's character. The ending is sorta' cliche and it drags a bit in the middle, but there's lots to enjoy here if you like McBride's style.
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I think I'm a bigger Danny McBride fan than you, but yep. It's two for one crab legs--at Captain Orlander's!
R-Point [Korean LE 2-Disc Box] (product link) Horror / Thriller I generally hate ghost/haunting movies because I find them so implausible and silly. This one actually delivers some chilling moments and a nice dose of violent war action to boot. Worth a look for anyone who likes horror with suspense and atmosphere instead of just gore.
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A very solid and chilling psychological thriller with a eerie atmosphere
The Machine Girl (product link) Action/Adventure / Girls With Guns This is the best over-the-top cheese gorefest since "Riki-oh". Hot chicks, cool ninjas, sick weapons, and buckets of blood. Awesome, check your brain at the door and have a blast.
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A real treat with tons of blood and fun. Great party movie too!
Sword Of Justice [3-Movie Set] (product link) Action/Adventure / Swordplay/Sword(s) An okay story, and it's novel to see Shintaro Katsu acting with his eyes open, but WTF at this flick? Since when is rape a police interrogation tactic? Weird.
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they gave a whole new meaning to the term "meat tenderizing". :)
Death Trance (product link) Action/Adventure / Thriller Not quite as clever as "Versus", but this is a pretty fine vehicle for showing off Tak Sakaguchi's unique screen fighting style, along with the willingness of his stunt crew to take a punishing beating. Also features a suprisingly excellent climactic battle.
Dobermann (product link) Action/Adventure / Crime Explosive, vicious, and funny, this cult gangster flick from France offers up plenty of enjoyable thrills. Vincent Cassel is excellent as the charismatic thief Dobermann, but Tcheky Karyo steals the show as the psychotic and brutal cop tailing Dobermann's gang. This flick is stylish without taking itself too seriously.
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This flick moved along at a nice clip and than came to a screeching halt in the club scene. This movie is still alot of fun though.
Deadgirl (product link) Horror / Thriller Sooooo...this flick has zombie sex. And not the campy silly kind like in "Zombie Strippers". This is a filthy zombie girl chained to a bed and raped a bunch of times. The high school drama stuff framing it all is ridiculous, and nothing about the backstory is ever explained. The movie just hits you over the head with its premise pretty bluntly...again and again. The message: rape is bad. Uh yeah, thanks.
Pretty much everything that comes out of anyone's mouth is LOL-worthy, the CGI is total crap, the dialog about Megalodon is literally lifted word for word from Wikipedia, they re-use the same action shots over and over, and Lorenzo Lamas' character completely disappears out of the movie with no explanation.
Tokyo Gore Police (product link) Action/Adventure / Horror Wildly inconsistent tone hurts this splatterfest. Over the top gore works well in stuff like "Riki-Oh" or "Evil Dead", which is obviously kinda' campy and not taking itself too seriously. TGP is DEAD serious from the get go, the story is very dark, and Eihi Shiina never cracks a smile or lets the audience know she's in on the joke. The whacked out sci-fi premise was pretty interesting but undermined by the silliness of the gore.
Kinda' like an uneven mix of "The Machine Girl" and "Blade Runner", it's still worth a look.
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Too tedious. The gore effects were shot poorly. It needed to be more consistent like Dead Alive or Story of Ricky.
I agree the tone was inconsistent and hurt the film a bit, but disagree that the film is attempting to be dead serious. I think there's just a clash between this particular deadpan comedy style and the slapstick gore.
Wolverine never comes across as even remotely badass in this film. He sure cries a lot though, usually while staring upwards into a spinning camera, clutching the body of a dead loved one and screaming "Nooooooo!" (seriously, this happens like three times at least).
The final battle was pretty lame, too. Bad CGI throughout. Wolvie's claws looked really dumb and fake. Vaguely entertaining, this movie is nowhere near as cool as it should have been, which ultimately makes it a disappointment.
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Not great I must say. It needed blood and disembowlments. I recommend the video game over this.... uh thing!
Didn't bother to watch this one because it looked like exactly what you described. Why take such a high-profile character from a high-budget franchise and do this to it? They just diluted the crap out of the franchise's most popular character.
Twilight (product link) Thriller / Romance Mormon Vampire Abstinence Porn strictly for chubby teenage girls. I hate myself for being cajoled into seeing this. Chock full of bad acting, bad effects, and the leads gazing longingly at each other for ENDLESS takes.
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I also have not seen this movie but agree completely with you and slave 2. I believe that knowledge of this movie and the book series has permanently lowered my sperm count and contributed to the decline of civilized advancements.
I've never seen this film and yet through empathy regarding the trailers I saw of the film i hated it! (and i probably abstained from 10 years of mental deterioration not watching this garbage. ignorance is sometimes bliss)
Army Of Darkness (product link) Horror / Comedy "This is my Boomstick" will live forever. Campbell returns as Ash from the "Evil Dead" flicks to unleash his particular brand of violence against an army of skeletal soldiers. Classic one-liners and novelty gore.
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"That was just pillowtalk, baby." Yeah, I'm down with Ash too. Mad fun.
We used to have this on constantly at the video store I used to manage, since it was rated PG-13 (and therefore appropriate for in-store play) but still kicked so much ass. :)
Ip Man (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Donnie Yen continues to impress. I'm sure plenty of creative liberties were taken with this pseudo-biographical account, but the straight-forward story hits all the right emotions to give the fight scenes extra weight. Oh, and the choreography is sublime and amazingly fast.
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I'd give it the full five stars but beyond that I couldn't agree more. Donnie cannot be stopped.
Killing Zoe (product link) Crime / Drama An American safecracker teams up with some French junkies to rob a bank. The heist part of this movie is good, but the best part is the drug-fueled bender the night before the job. "If you smoke this, you will feel as if the world is inside a bubble of glass, and you are rubbing up against it like a bad windshield wiper." Awesome. Plus, anything with Julie Delpy's boobs is okay by me.
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Damn, I thought I was the only one who saw this movie. Good calls.
A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (product link) Horror / Thriller My personal fave of the NOES series, this one isn't as frightening as the original, but introduces audiences to the pun-spewing, wisecracking Freddy that I grew to love so much. :) Full of corny jokes and awesome death scenes, plus the concept of "dream powers" was really cool.
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Not my favorite Elm Street movie but it completely rocks regardless.
I have to agree with you completely here. This was my introduction to the series, and was the first "real" horror movie I ever saw. Some absolutely brilliant effects here, an unquestionably high water mark in the genre and the series.
Star Crash (product link) Science Fiction / Action/Adventure This Italian "Star Wars" wannabe is so hilariously bad I don't even know where to begin. Let me just say this: it's got David Hasselhoff in mascara having a lightsaber duel with stop motion animated robots. If THAT doesn't make you want to see "Star Crash", nothing will.
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OMG I do not want to watch{{{{SHUDDER}}}}David Hasselfhoff! You should warn people if you are going to use his name! And he always wears mascara. Exscuse me I am about to be physically ill!
Battle Royale 2 (product link) Horror / Thriller Not as clever or exciting as the first film, "Battle Royale 2" still features tons of bloody action. Fans of the original movie might be disappointed, but it's still a decent war/action flick.
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I don't entirely dislike this film, but it is so greatly inferior to the first film that it makes me sad. The story had already been told, and there was no reason beyond profit to go any further.
Duel To The Death (product link) Action/Adventure / Swordplay/Sword(s) An excellently made martial arts movie which depicts Chinese vs. Japanese swordfighting styes. Some pretty cool ninja action (including one strange but brief scene involving a topless female ninja), and a final fight that really makes you wince with empathy seeing the damage caused by the sword strikes. Highly recommended.
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Just a terrifically cool, entertaining film. The "Japanese" look thoroughly Chinese in their every move, but so what? It is very good for repeated viewings.
Danny The Dog (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Probably Jet Li's best movie filmed outside of Asia. Bob Hoskins is always a pleasure, and this flick has some pretty brutal fights. A nice departure from the smooth wushu normally performed by Li.
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I would go even further than William Giordanella. Kerry Conlan does not appeal to me, but everything else is extraordinarily good. After this and "Fearless," Jet Li has nothing left to prove.
Circle Of Iron (product link) Action/Adventure / Fantasy A nice attempt at bringing an original Bruce Lee script to life, but Jeff Cooper is just so terrible and awkward (with both his acting and his action scenes) that he drags the film down to the level of camp.
For Bruce Lee completists or lovers of cheese only.
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Jeff Cooper's real world fighting abilities do not translate well into this film, and he was no kind of an actor, so he is a lead weight on "Circle of Iron."
Romeo Must Die (product link) Action/Adventure / Martial Arts DMX needs to stay the hell out of martial arts movies. Jet Li + rappers = crummy flick.
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The filmmakers had no faith in their hugely talented star to hold the screen on his own. Jet Li is not comfortable with love stories or hip hop culture. He's a Chinese warrior: How about letting him do Chinese warrior roles?
Samurai Rebellion (product link) Drama / Swordplay/Sword(s) Toshiro Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai are both brilliant in this intense samurai drama. You can see the rage slowly build in Mifune as his loyalty is tested, abused and tested again by his superiors. Torn between following orders and maintaining his personal/family honor, eventually there is no recourse for Mifune but to unleash his fury.
A thoroughly enjoyable drama with an explosive battle at its climax.
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I'd go much higher in my rating, although I don't like this quite as much as Kobayashi's "Harakiri" or "The Human Condition." Mifune's speed and energy are remarkable in his action scenes.
Fearless [2006] (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure **NOTE: This review is for the director's cut of "Fearless".**
For all the hype about Michelle Yeoh's scenes being cut from the theatrical cut, I have to say that the (very) brief section with Yeoh at the beginning is silly and was probably better left on the cutting room floor. However, the rest of the footage restored in this cut of "Fearless" adds character depth, longer fights, more detailed dialog and one extra fight scene. Plus the order of the film is switched up so it is all chronological instead of starting at the final fight and then flashing back. All things considered, this is the superior cut of a great film.
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It's a marvelous film either way, and better in the director's cut.
I agree with you about the Michelle Yeoh scences. It was defintely a Chinese promo for the olympic committe. This cut really made me see this film in a whole new light
Hell In The Pacific (product link) War / Drama Practically a silent movie since neither character speaks the language of the other, both Mifune and Marvin rely on their incredible physical acting skills to convey all the fear and frustration of being stranded on a desert island. This tale, of two enemies forced to cooperate to survive, is timeless and haunting, but unfortunately it falters at the end. Apparently unhappy with an ambiguous finale, the studio tacked on a horrible and nonsensical ending, but everything leading up to it is gripping.
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4.5 star main body of the film + 2.5 star final sequence = 4 star rating. I remember thinking "This is really good" when first watching it, and then "THAT's the way they're tying it up?" at the end.
Ong-Bak 2 (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure It's Conan meets Apocalypto with kung fu and elephants. Awesome.
While some might bemoan the lack of tons of stunts and Muay Thai (there aren't as many "WOW" moments as in his previous efforts), the variety of unarmed and weapons fighting on display is tremendous. I was especially thrilled to see an extended sequence using the three-section staff during the finale. Jaa clearly put in a ton of work here, but it's a shame the production ran into problems and we are denied an ending to the story.
Here's hoping the sequel rises even higher than the bar set by this film.
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While quite incomplete as a story told-in-one, this seems to be a grand setup for a longer series. The martial arts choreography is first rate.
Mad Monkey Kung Fu (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Lau Kar Leung is simply incredible. He and Hsiao Ho showcase some of the greatest monkey style kung fu ever put to film. Add in the incomparable Lo Lieh as the insidious villain and you are left with a "must-have" movie for any serious martial arts fans.
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I would say unquestionably excellent martial arts, but not alone at the summit of Lau Kar Leung's work. He's been awfully good awfully often.
Shaolin Prince (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Just as brilliant as Tang Chia's "Shaolin Intruders", this movie packs more action into the first 20 minutes than most action films have in 90 minutes. Demons, magic, crazy weapons, the 18-man Lohan array, this flick has it all.
Drunken Master (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure One of the first Kung Fu comedies ever, and still one of the very best. Jackie Chan in his prime.
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This is Jackie Chan and Yuen Woo Ping in perfect synergy. It's juvenile, steeped in Canto-comedy and exactly what most of us want from Jackie Chan. I like "Drunken Master" even more, but both are exceptionally good.
I just do not get the praise heaped on this movie. It is not funny, rather it is highly annoying. And to make matters worse this movie spawned countless imitators who rushed to put out their own horrible "comedies", practically ruining the genre.
Great fighting throughout. I've noticed some people see this as far inferior to Legend of Drunken Master. I don't agree. Both films have great fighting and the latter lacks the irreplaceable Hwang Jang Lee.
The Chinese Boxer (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Historically significant for being one of the first movies to depict a gang of Japanese fighters taking over a Chinese boxing school/town, a common plot in following years. Unfortunately this flick is seriously undermined by the weak kung fu skills of its star, Jimmy Wang Yu. He's young and handsome here, but Wang's fighting ability is just not up to snuff. I felt bad for Lo Lieh (as the head Japanese fighter) having to act like he was afraid of Wang. Tons of spraying blood in every fight, though.
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It is almost always best to use talented martial artists in martial arts films. Not doing so was Shaw Brothers' biggest mistake in this movie.
Wang Yu is a brawler not a kung fu guy. Sorry but this film is awsome. Plus this film define kung fu films as we see it today before the times Bruce Lee which wasn't long.
House Of Flying Daggers (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure The story disappointingly breaks down in the final act, but everything leading up to it is incredible. Gorgeous cinematography, exquisite costumes and sets, and some tight and fast-paced fight choreography.
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I agree with everything you say. This is beautiful to behold but sadly incoherent in plotting.
The ravings about the cinematography, and this being a "masterpiece," are off. The cinematography doesn't reach the brilliance of Yimou's "The Road Home". And neither cinematography or story, separately or together, achieve the quality of "Crouching Tig
The Prodigal Son (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Definitely a genre classic, "Prodigal Son" is loaded with a superb and skilled cast, excellent choreography and a story that covers more ground than just the usual "you killed my teacher!" plot line. This one begs for multiple viewings.
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Some of the best action choreography to be found. This is a great film.
Shaolin Temple [1982] (product link) Martial Arts / Drama Jet Li's film debut is required viewing. Jet is at his physical peak, and the Drunken Pole vs. Drunken Sword battle is one of his very finest. This whole film is packed with amazing training sequences and fights.
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Yes, Jet Li was very young, but he and the entire cast were on top of their games. The action is mesmerizing.
Come Drink With Me (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Historically significant and stunningly beautiful, "Come Drink With Me" features the original great teahouse fight that all other teahouse fights in martial arts cinema want to be. A classic.
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Cheng Pei Pei is delightful, and the film is far ahead of its time in the coherence of the action sequences. This is very historically significant, but holds up even without that proviso.
Master Of The Flying Guillotine (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure AKA "One Armed Boxer 2", this is Wang Yu's best movie, featuring a fantastic tournament (including lots of gimmicky fighters and weapons) and some inventive kung fu traps! Wang Yu was never the best screen fighter, but this flick does a great job of hiding his weaknesses and playing to his strengths.
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This and the first two One Armed Swordsman films probably do the best job of disguising Wang Yu's lack of martial arts training. His acting chops and some bizarre plotting go pretty far.
Zombie Strippers (product link) Horror / Dark Comedy Well, it has zombies, and strippers, and zombie strippers, so it certainly delivers what it promises. However, this flick is hampered by bad acting, terrible production values and cheesy jokes, although Robert Englund has a few funny moments as the sleazy club owner. The 15 second Tito Ortiz cameo was probably the best thing.
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Aw man! You didn't dig the dialog? I thought this film was a lot better than it seemed on the admittedly crappy surface.
Shuttle (product link) Horror / Thriller Decent little thriller wholly grounded in reality. A couple of minor plot holes are easily glazed over by the breakneck pace which is maintained throughout. Good suspense and a nasty ending.
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For me the true test of this film was how much it stuck with me months after viewing. Immediately after first watching it I was pretty unimpressed, but it gets creepier with time.
Magnificent Warriors (product link) Action/Adventure / War The story and characters are somewhat derivative, but the action is top-notch and the movie never slows down enough to get boring.
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