The Americans are celebrating and bragging about the bomb that stopped the Japanese. They give no credit to the men who fought and died fighting the Japanese any way they could. When an officers car runs over a civilian an angry crowd gathers and Jet is the angriest. A Captain, who is very tall steps out of the car and moves towards Jet. A brief struggle ensues and they drive off. Jet spends a great deal of the movie getting the hell beat out of him. He is always fighting guys twice his size. So different from virtually all others. In the final fight scene you start to see Jet is not the same . He has been changed by the war and every repercussion. The murders he is avenging. The innocence is gone. His expressions make him look older and world weary but his moves are wire free and very creative. The end fight is brutal but well deserved. Anyone who saw these movies knew Jet has a special place in the world of martial arts.

Jet trains and wants to get revenge as soon as possible. He has to develop more skills if he is going to kill the warlord. He has difficulty fitting in because Shaolin Monks are not supposed to be out for revenge. It's during this time he meets a young woman who tends sheep, who is the daughter of one of the monks. He fathered her before becoming a Shaolin Monk.

Jet cannot control his desire for revenge and so he leaves Shaolin and goes looking for the man who killed his father. When he finds him he also discovers the girl who tended sheep has been kidnapped by the warlord. He uses a varity of forms including Drunken Boxing. He rescues the girl but is unable to kill his sworn enemy.

Times are difficult and the warlord attacks the Shaolin Temple. Jet (and everyone else) have to fight long and hard to save Shaolin. When the Abbot is killed the monks lose their peaceful order. A fantastic end fight scene is the icing on the cake. You are never going to see so many real martial artists fighting at the same time! It is a very long and you will be glad it is!

Can he ever find peace in his heart? See it and find out! You will be watching it more than once. The gore factor is excellent, only a bit here or there.

This is a wonderful movie--a real gem!

My ability to read Chinese was a little less perfect than now, and I thought it was about a heroic woman cop fighting drug lords. Well it is, sort of. I think the title was "Heroine", or maybe not, as I was beginning to perceive there was something unholy about the wretched thing! I also began to wonder why I had not found this "Jackie movie" when I had found much older and superior films such as the Shaw Brothers.

The ONLY reason I am writing a thorough review is in an attempt to save those amongst you who think you can handle it. And you must have in your possession every movie Jackie is in--or not really in, but was on the set, or a guy who kinda' looks like him, or...but I digress.

People: don't go there, in any sense of the phrase! I would like to say something good about the flick, but there is naught but dark grainy film--shadows, mysterious lights--no wait, that's the guy with the camera. Where is our star? Despite the horrid clothes, sets, vehicles, and acting, you will be able to find his bell bottomed butt underneath the "Guinness World Record Of International Silly Costumes AND Cosmetic Prosthetics". Just look for a guy who seems to be fighting off an attack by a marmot about the neck and face. There ya' go.

Jackie was supposedly the action director, but he seems AWOL on that job. Sometimes people kicked or hit each other and occasionally a car would drive around a parking lot pretending to be chased. I can't take anymore! It's awful! It's some kind of mind control experiment gone horribly wrong! And be not fooled by the treachery of its name of "Rumble In Hong Kong". Only those well experienced in dealing with terminal tediousness should even allow themselves to be within a few meters if possible, BUT DON'T PICK IT UP! DO NOT LOOK UPON THE CRAPPY VHS TAPE!

My duty done I will rest a bit easier hoping a few people be spared the catatonic experience.

Not being one to use the phrase “chop socky”, I am quite familiar with old school martial arts movies, but this one was even below the time wasted meter.

Cliff Lok stars (and I use that term very loosely) as the “Genius” of the title. He even calls himself a genius. Now in your basic premise, when someone says they are “invincible”, “undefeatable, “brilliant”, etc., they always have to train or get beat up so they are not so cocky and they learn something. Lok’s character learns nothing and is obnoxious and a smart ass from the start. I doubt anyone would call it a “spoiler” to say Lok is the same at the end as at the beginning. Lok’s skills, whatever they may be, do not show in the film. I’ve seen much better work from junior stuntmen.

Wilson Tong, both the director and the teacher of the Spiritual Style, managed to make one of the worst movies ever and he even had time tested and highly skilled martial artists to work with, including the excellent Hsiao Ho ("Mad Monkey Kung Fu", "18 Legendary Weapons"). With the assembled cast, all of whom have worked with Sifu Lau Kar Leung, you would think that at least there would be some excellent fighting along the way. You would be wrong. The only exception is a fight between the “Genius” (gag) and Hsiao Ho with both using weapons. Cliff uses a stick (pole, staff) and Hsiao uses a hoop. That is actually pretty rare in martial arts movies, most likely because it doesn’t exactly strike fear in the opponent. I thought it was interesting to watch, so if you do watch this film just FF>>> to the fight scene and skip the rest. You’ll thank me later.

The production values are even worse than anticipated, and I wasn’t expecting much. Lok’s sidekick, Cheng Hong Yip, always plays the goofy guy who adds comedy--if you can call it that--and he is stuck in this wretched work too. He convinces Lok that he should open a martial arts school and call it the “genius” school. So they open a school which is next to a gambling parlor and brothel and also manage to insult the Spiritual Style school. Okay we have a plot: the two schools fighting for superiority! Bad guys making dirty money! Never mind. For those with any sensitivity, especially about people who are mentally ill, or developmentally disabled, be prepared for not just one but two characters who are not treated with kindness. It doesn’t get better.

I could have tolerated the movie if the “genius” had talent, which if he does, he hides it well. Nothing about him says hero. Nothing about him seems special. He is just annoying. And so I grudgingly give it one half star for the Lok/Hsiao fight, and wonder what the cast must have done to be sentenced to making this movie.

I refuse to spend any more time on this horrible waste of a perfectly good CD case!

I have to admit there was one small kinda cool thing. If you don’t know where your opponent is, you can put your mirrored shades on the ground to see their position.

Ghosts can't go over steps. See, even this wretched debacle of a movie can be educational! Only one thing I enjoyed in this movie, other than the words "The End", and that was the herd of psuedo muscle cars circa 1970- ish. It was then I realized the absurdity of it all and had a good laugh, those cars really got to me. If you have nothing to do, still do not rent this movie or for heavens sake do not buy it!

If not for a friend sending it to me to get my opinion I doubt I would have ever watched it. I think Paana has a deathwish - at least for the stuntmen. Things blow up. People blow up... oh wait the plot. Actually that is the plot, more or less. A cop depressed over his partner's death while busting a drug warlord joins his sister on a trip to a remote Thai village. They also join a small group of soccer players, coach and gymnastic performers who come armed with soccer balls.

No sooner than they arrive a gang of hard core bad ass dudes show up and capture the village, holding the residents as ransom to get their evil drug lord out of jail. The bad guys also have a nuclear weapon(s?) they threaten to use. (what, are they going to have the soccer player kick it into space?)Thanks to the "plot" and the horrible acting I found myself incapable of caring what happened to anyone. Before long I was actually hoping someone would fiddle with the nuke and end my misery! No such luck.

The makers of this crap have the audacity to compare it to Ong-Bok! Some of the same people show up minus a script and Tony Jaa, but armed to the max. Hey if you get hit by a soccer ball it could hurt. But not to worry this mess is overflowing with gratuitous violence! There are enough rounds of ammo and explosive devices to give John Woo ballistic envy! Dueling semi's, dueling vehicles, dueling acrobatics (I kid you not)and children who get to watch mommy and daddy get blown into pieces. Bullets fly, arms and legs fly, brains fly, the poor villagers homes fly - the only thing that doesn't fly is the script! The athletes manage to turn peace loving Thais into psychotic, sadistic killing machines in only a few minutes.

The "Heroes" look like Team Adidas.

How many new action stars are there in Thailand? That title clearly goes to Tony Jaa, but the cover boasts Dan Chupong, who is not going to be the next martial arts phenomenon, trust me. If you want to see villagers attacked by bad guys get Seven Samurai or if you must have a western movie you could get the Mangificent Seven, a bastardization of the Japanese movie directed by Akira Kurosawa. On the other hand if you are content to watch mindless violence for 97 minutes then Born To Fight is the movie for you.

Mom and dad are brilliant, capable fighting machines for the goverment. A new and improved weapon, the Power Glove, was designed to supersize the abilities of the person using it. But as such things usually turn out to be it was not only used for good. One of the agents steals the Power Glove with help from a dazed and sedated looking Biao. Through flashbacks we learn that dad was working on an invincible type of martial art called the "Avenging Fist" when things started to go wrong. While mom is about to deliver *enhanced* twins dad is being brain - washed by the evil leader and Samo must use the Power Glove to stop a still dazed looking Biao, and everyone presumes he dies from his injuries. But no, he lives on as a virtual slave. One day Darth, I mean dad is sent to bring back one of his own children to the evil leader. It so happens it is the kid's birthday. Mom decides it's time to give Nova the Power Glove his father wanted him to have. Just in the nick of time because dad is breaking down the walls and engages mom in a fight as she tries to protect her kids. Of course she loses quickly and evokes a memory in dad of early times. We know that he is tortured because he makes a tortured soul yell under the cheap mask over his nose and mouth. Mom is fading and in her last few breaths she tells Nova to save his sister, whom has just been kidnapped by dad. However there are still bad guys remaining so he practices on them and then falls apart because he killed someone. This is to show us he has emotions plus it gives a couple of lines to his girlfriend. Meanwhile Ironsurfer is fighting dad, and unlike every other person who dared battle with Darth dad he isn't dead yet. Dad knocks down Ironsurfer about twenty times. This is to show us the kid is not a quiter and he will not give up a battle. Right before he is incinerated or tossed through a wall Samo shows up to save him and to blast his opponent. Oops too late. Dad has carried off daughter. Darn! This means the movie is not over yet!

The ambience has been said to be "dark", like Blade Runner. Unfortunately it is nothing like Blade Runner. The darkness doesn't tell us anything - except it is dark. We know it is in the future because Samo wears a hat covered with aluminum foil (really!)The CGI looks as though it was done on an Atari computer. The bad guys were Nazi looking clothing right down to the boots. I suppose they were going for a good vs. evil tone but it didn't work. The film just dissolves into a mess all the time playing loud and annoying muusic. People flying around sans flight vehicles, ridiculous dialogue and atrocious acting with nary a plot - don't get this one or you will most definitely regret it!

Although this movie is already pretty spoiled! However for the low price I can't complain in that regard.

It began promisingly enough with some creepy goings on and started to ramp up the tension. So far so good.

There is supposed to be a big mystery surrounding the house and people that die there. Everyone who lives there, goes there or knows someone who has been there die, not necessarily right away. Some have time to freak out and one soon to be victim closes her curtains and hides her head under a pillow. A sure cure for evil supernatural killers! Even knowing this people continue to go there, by themselves so they can die or they can leave and have others they know die and then they die. There is even a cop who quit the force years ago because he was part of an investigation and the cops all died so he retired. But then he goes back to the house and....yep he dies! Here's the big secret...someone who lived in the house got offed a few years back and yes they certainly do hold a grudge. There is a little boy in the house that shouldn't even exist at least at his young age and then there is this black blob that looks like a guy in a black scuba suit with red scary eyes.

Obviously I did not enjoy this movie. Worse I wasn't frightened by this movie! After awhile you see the pattern and it doesn't change. I admit the ending did surprise me. It surprised me because there was absolutely no resolution whatsoever! They could have torn the house down. Or called in a Buddhist Monk or an exorcist or a Feng Shui expert - someone or something! Anything! The only time I felt fear was when I realized the way they ended the movie there could be a way to do a sequel or twenty sequels and people just keep going off to die!

I saw a film recently called "The Eye" which is quite good although the plot is totally different. I highly recommend it for a movie that keeps up the psychological tension and it does have a resolution.

Skip this one. HKFlix has a number of good quality scary movies to choose from. Ju-On isn't one of them.

Henry (Jack Nance) is the primary character and his hairstyle is responsible for the name of the film. His world has always been black and white, figuratively and literally. I suppose shooting B&W was meant to add to the classic appeal. Henry's world, at least what we see of it seems bereft of any of the things you would usually see. People coming and going, cars and maybe even a taxi, people going about their lives and work. The viewer doesn't really know if there are three people in Henry's apartment building or three hundred. If they are there they don't show themselves with one exception.

One day Henry's girlfriend comes to tell him he should come to her home for dinner right away. He does and meets her family who are all at least as strange as Henry if not more so. Before too long his girlfriend's mother backs him into a corner and insists upon knowing if he and the daughter have had sex. When Henry finally says yes she immediately hits on him. More than the daughter can bear as she blurts out that she had a baby and they must pick it up from the hospital. Even more shocking is that the doctor's don't know if it IS a baby! Her mother says it was just premature. The next thing you know the girlfriend and the "baby" have moved into Henry's apartment. The baby is driving his mother crazy because he won't ever let her sleep. One day her frazzled nerves get the best of her and she leaves telling Henry he better take good care of the uhm, baby. (At this point my other friend asked if I had any beer. Then the other friend asked the same question and picked up the newspaper). After Henry's girlfriend leaves he discovers the baby won't let him leave, or sleep much either. The entrapment Henry feels about commitment, marriage, having children are pretty obvious. Day after day he grows more and more delusional. The radiator talks to him with a tiny singing lady who serenades him at times. He sees things that turn out to be but shadows. He grows more and more angry and frustrated by this kid and it's behavior - it's begun to take a physical and mental toll. The suspense I guess is when will Henry go completely out of his mind.

Everything in the movie is industrial, old technology, grimy, grainy, dim with lots of mechanical noises even in the soundtrack. There are deformities of all kinds everywhere. Disfigurement seems to be a common theme, who knows why. The creator, David Lynch is supposed to be so edgy, so willing to take a risk and totally unwillingly to talk about this crap.

I don't care what people say about me this film is crap! And the horror label? Just because the kid looks kinda like ET's head with it's body swaddled in wraps? It actually reminds me more of Little Shop of Horrors plants. Of course any woman would be horrified to give birth to…whatever it is but I still couldn't find the horror aspect unless Henry getting married and having kids is a "horror" to him. For what it's worth my two viewers rated it "1" and "½" stars. And Lynch took five years to make this stuff!

I gave this movie every chance but I just did not like anything about it. I wouldn't even advise a rental! One thing no one could argue with is that there are a whole lot of movies to watch before you see this one.

This review is for a VCD that has a Thai audio with English subtitles. Actually let me make this more clear, if possible. At times the subtitles come and go--and in different languages. Sometimes it is obvious that a scene or dialogue is missing but it really doesn't matter.

Two archeologists (thieves?) searching the golden triangle manage to find the "Golden Stone". With thieves chasing them one is cut down by bullets and the other manages to hide the stone before being captured by a gang loyal to a general with money, therefore power in the region. The general imprisons and tortures the archeologist, demanding the location of the golden stone. In the meantime the scientists daughter, Vicky, rounds up men to help her get her father from the crazy general. Tony Jaa does get to do some fighting but it is hard to see since one third of it is off screen. If you are someone who MUST have all Tony's movies, well here you are. Otherwise spend the money on the "blowouts" movies. You are will surely find something at least as (good?) bad? as "Mission Hunter 2"!

The movie begins in Japan with Jackie and Biao following a known crook. They end up in a amusement park, have a brief fight with the bad guys and Biao is kidnapped. Jackie realises he needs help and has Sammo released to help him. Crooks are better at fighting and capturing other crooks? So Sammo and his gang of bungling buddies are released to a female cop, Sibelle Hu. Sibelle Hu must have been desperate to sign on this insulting role. Sammo and his buddies are constantly trying to think of ways to get laid, or at least cop a feel. This goes on and on seemingly forever. The very few Japanese words that are used are insulting translated incorrectly. If not for that and the group gropes I would have given this movie a higher rating.

This was 1984/85 and is/was the end of the Shaw Brothers films we had come to depend on for great kung fu with some humour mixed in between fights. A number of the films directed by Lau Kar Leung became true classics, but he did not direct or act in "Disciples". If you stay with it long enough, you will discover there is a plot, but it is rather convoluted; and the only one who seems comfortable and understands his/her role is Gordon Liu. Which means of course he is a Shaolin monk.

The key element in the story is a gold medallion which, if it were to fall into the wrong hands, could result in massive destruction. Somehow it has become the task of one family to keep it safe and away from bad guys, and Lo Lieh in particular. The matriarch of the family is worried her offspring will be injured or killed because of his association to the medallion so she sends him off to the monastery. Of course he does not like this arrangement but has no choice in the matter. At the monastery there are men from the North, the South and several levels of Shaolin monks. Humour is brought about by pitting these different groups against each other, and against their fears. Most of the jokes are of the "gee why is the water in this pool suddenly warmer" variety but there are still some amusing pieces. But the sophomoric jokes were hard to take yet continued.

This is one Shaw movie I had not seen because it was at the end of the run and without Lau, and I assumed it would feel a little sad. With so many other great movies I just put this one off. I wish I had put it off a lot longer!

There are several subplots, but they are not worth discussing. If you have nothing at all to do and have watched every SB film ever made and want obnoxious silly giggling - well then here ya' go.

Gordon Lui is the Eleventh Prince and the next in line for the throne. Unlike most of the other princes, he enjoys traveling about, spending time and money on wine, women and antiques--not necessarily in that order. The movie begins with the prince and "Dirty Ho" (Wong Yu) in separate entertainment rooms (no, not that kind of entertainment--get your minds out of the gutter!) at a floating brothel. These are rooms for eating and drinking and charming the ladies with jewels and money. The Prince is using a room that usually is occupied by the thief, Ho. He is rude, crude and would have to pay to be with women. This song and dance crap goes on far longer than necessary, but the Prince helps out Ho because he thinks he is a good man. Ho ends up fighting the Prince with the assistance of one of the prostitutes and is injured by a weapon that was covered with poison. When the local medical people cannot help him, he is forced to return to the prince for an antidote to the poison. Ho agrees to be the Prince's servant in exchange for the antidote.

Even though Hsiao Ho ("Mad Monkey Kung Fu", "Legendary Weapons Of China") is listed fourth in the cast, he is on the screen for approximately four minutes; and if you are not watching carefully, you'll miss the scene, and he is killed after saying a few words. No doubt the idea was to pull in more people by having him do a cameo. It didn't help, rather it only makes you wish you were watching one of his other movies.

"Dirty Ho" is very disappointing on several levels. The characters are two dimensional with no real appeal or development. There is nothing to make you care about anyone. Most movies where someone is pushed into being a servant develop until the servant loves and respects his master. That never really happens. There are a couple of fights where he helps defend the Prince, one with a group of assassins led by a--transvestite???, but even then it's a lackluster effort. When the Prince suffers a serious injury to his leg, he decides he needs to train Ho. Hell, even the training was boring! The end fight scene was uninspired and at times downright silly. The Prince has to help Ho fight but can only use one leg. This only makes the fight more unwatchable.

Save your money on this one and get "Legendary Weapons of China" instead. I promise you won't regret it!

In his overwhelming desperation to find another Bruce Lee, Clause missed the talents of Jackie completely.

Everyone, including Jackie had their own ideas they insisted were the only way to go. The result was a big time movie mess.And Warner Brothers was backing it until something, who knows?, and pulled out of the deal. No one paid any attention to continuity, wardrobe, props, product placement, the set or much of anything else. But there are some good points too. Jackie manages to use his acrobatic skills and usual fight with what you have style. He pulls off some unique moves while looking cool. Jackie insisted on bringing in his of own stuntmen to fight men. That did help but you still have the feeling life has become slow motion.

* To those who have stated that Jackie "hates" this movie, Jackie says that about EVERY movie that he did not direct, produce, head choreographer, etc. Jackie wants and usually receives everything and more that he needs.

Jet plays a Taiwan agent sent to the US to retrieve some stones that look like black diamonds, except they are in reality miniature weapons of mass devastation. In order to get them back, the original thieves kidnap the leader's daughter Vanessa. Some stuff happens and there is a four wheeler whatever vehicle chase up and down stairs and across building roofs.

It's inconceivable that the thieves would have something so completely priceless they didn't bother to think about guarding them! However we do need a reason for the big fight. Sigh, unfortunately the big fight is short and poorly edited. It's an okay rental to watch while doing something else but not much more.

The plot, such as it is that a wealthy businessman becomes interested in a young woman who kept him from being lost at sea by Emil Chau (bad guy?) He gets Brad Allen, an American Martial Arts champion to fight C.N. with the intention of humiliating C.N. who hasn't been in the gym much and not in fighting form. What takes place next is one the most unrealistic fights I have seen in a Jackie Chan movie. Things are polite. Brad comes prepared for everything and different weight gloves. And tunes. When Jackie falls down and just stays there Brad leaves and Emil is sad rather than gloating. Emil does not work as a bad guy. Jackie wants a rematch with Allen and starts to work out again, often with the help of Ah Bu.

Of course there needs to be another fight between Jackie and Brad. It's difficult to see many shots of Jackie because he is wearing all white and every thing in the room is white too. Rather blinding. I won't spoil the outcome of the fight nor the repercussions so I'll shift to this movie apparently has had all the specials removed.

The movie itself is 120 minutes and is not a great film. Jackie seemed to be having a lot of fun when talking during interviews. He had one of his best friends act as the most useless bad guy along with a stunt team member to have pretend fights with. The only thing I have heard about this movie that is so special is that Jackie finally has a romantic kiss. Well the kiss is in the special features so no one will see it now anyway, and Jackie has kissed women before in movies like "Red Bronx" ("Rumble In The Bronx"). Jackie seemed very happy during the interview segment but this reviewer did not share in his elation. This movie did not deliver as advertised. Pretty fluff and everyone's happy does not necessarily a good movie make.

Yes this is an early Wes Craven flick. Yes it supposedly has a so-called "cult following", and yes they made another one. And it does seem to have fans who still watch the original although a more recent version has been made. The production values are of the economy brand. Of course people wander around alone when they are supposed to be staying together and all the other clichés of bad horror movies. There is definitely a degree of tension, but I felt it disappear when the movie became way too predictable. The cannibals (I mean inbred cannibals) were pretty frightening at first, but at times I was rooting for them!

It delivers enough gore and viciousness to suit most horror fans, but I just did not feel that tension that should keep you on the edge of their seat. About halfway into the movie it seemed to lose its way somewhat. The biggest fault of the film is the predictability of the characters. Better horror films are readily available.

Jackie plays a world famous archeologist who is well known by even those outside of his colleagues. He is invited to help another archeologist find the tomb of China's very first emperor! While he is excited about the mission he has begun to have disturbingly real dreams about being a warrior of some position in ancient China. He is stunned to realize his dreams are not just REM stage random images but actually based upon the truth! A spirit of a princess of the time is played by India's Mallika Sherawat. She helps out when the warrior dreams come into conflict with the present which is not just about the dig, but that there are those who would stop at nothing to learn the tomb's secrets. It could have been done well but alas, it was not. There are more than a few times the scenery looks great but not enough to save the movie as for some reason they used what appears to be some of the cheapest, lousiest CG I have seen in a big - budget film. In addition they used the CG with stunts and action which made both look cheap and almost like an old days trick. There is no reason in the world it had to be that way. Although Jackie always complains about having to spend money, he never talks about making it. He has more than enough bucks to have top notch effects. If it doesn't enhance the film - don't use it! Aside from two or three fight scenes there is not a lot of action, at least it doesn't feel that way. There is something strangely two dimensional about the whole movie. A lifelessness that permeates the whole film. Even though there are a half dozen spirit angles it just doesn't work.

Jackie doesn't have to do risky stunts and major kick ass fighting to be entertaining. Nor does he need to play the goofy fish - out - of - water scenario. But he absolutely must do something besides fax in the performance! Jackie can act well -when he wants to do so. I didn't get the impression he really wanted to be there. He was not alone! Jackie still wields a lot of power/money. He doesn't have to "settle".

The offers he has had for other films do not show Jackie as a superstar of action and desire of every women and he doesn't want to lose that. The only way is to make himself the star. I was a hardcore fan well before "Rumble in the Bronx", the real name of the whole unedited movie is "Red Bronx". I watched the original "Police Story" until the VHS tape snapped. I lost count of how many times I watched the early years with "Drunken Master" "Young Master" and "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow". I was enthralled - there was something about Jackie that was special that went beyond stunts and acrobatics. There were a lot of years and many fantastic movies and for that I am very sincerely grateful. But things began to change a few years ago. By the time I purchased (I know, I know) "Medallion" and "Tuxedo" I began to worry about Jackie and where his films were taking him.

I am often accused of disliking a movie because Jackie is no longer able to be an action superstar. Nothing could be more from the truth. I don't want him injured or in pain because of a movie! What I don't like seeing is Jackie, well, embarrassing himself. It has to be damned difficult to age graciously when you have been so very physical all of your life. But there are still avenues open to Jackie that don't require jumping off an eleven story building to grab onto a helicopter.

Here's to many great films from Jackie and company to come! (But "The Myth" just isn't one of them.)

The treasure being sought is the "Scripture With No Words." The origin of the Scripture has been lost in the mists of time but it is reputed to be the most magnificent object known to humans! The history is a broken line that Dr. Wai must piece together when the Chinese Government assigns him to find the Scripture which is rumored to be somewhere in China. The Scripture was said to be priceless, of unlimited power, but difficult to wield. There would always be some price to pay for such a thing. It was assumed it could be used for whatever purpose the one who possessed it desired; the Scripture could even reveal the future! It would be up to Dr. Wai and his assistant to keep it out of the hands of the Japanese!

The primary character in the "Scripture With No Words" is Dr. Wai. He is a fictional character written by Chow Si-Kit who writes cheap novels about Wai's adventures. Chow has developed writers block since he discovered his wife (the evil Japanese officer who wants the Scripture) wants a divorce.

The story bounces back and forth between the "real" world of Chow Si-Kit and Dr. Wai. All that happens to him is enhanced so that his quiet life turns into the devil may care, adventurer Dr. Wai. The idea behind the movie does have possibilities. It has better than average production values and the set, costumes and props all work well together. Unfortunately Jet seems to be unfamiliar with comedy. Perhaps he is trying to be the stoic hero but the comedy really was needed and is even a part of Raiders. Here it just falls flat. Even when doing exposition Jet just doesn't really seem all that interested. Since Chow has a deal to finish the book his assistant Shing (Takeshi Kaneshiro) takes over the task of finishing the story. He portrays Dr. Wai as opposite of Chow. Wai is a real hero to his country and the world in general. His tasks are impossible and yet he always manages to get the job done and stay alive. He is popular with the ladies, courageous, brilliant, sophisticated.

Chow's wife is played by the very talented Rosamund Kwan. In the Scripture Wai finds her attractive until he realizes how easily she could upset his mission. He decided this turn was appropriate when she informs him she wants a divorce. Kwan is turned into a man hating Dom who is interested in Wai but more interested in the Scripture. She grows increasingly sinister as the movie progresses. Kwan is the only one who seems to understand her role in the film and can carry it through.

Considering this is a movie with Jet you naturally expect him to fight and do a few cool acrobatic kind of things but it just doesn't happen. He does fight, but not what most viewers are used to seeing. Very little *real* fighting takes place. When someone is fighting there are lots and lots of wires. And that would have been okay if the characters (Jet) could have convinced us Dr. Wai was supposed to be over the top. It was a lackluster performance to say the least. The fx and cg were not the highest of quality but they are tolerable. I really can't recommend this movie unless you are a die hard completist. Take a look at "Fist Of Legend" "Once Upon A Time In China", or "Tai Chi Master" instead. You won't regret it.

Be warned, this is not a movie for children or people sensitive to deathly violence. There is also a graphic rape, actually two. The odd thing is most people don't understand why those scenes are included. In the story, I understand Sammo "needed" a catalyst to justify certain actions, but I cannot explain that comment without spoilers, so you will just have to see it for yourself. First time directorial mistakes are a given, but if Sammo thought it was required, it could have been handled much differently without negating the impact. There are also a few more deaths in vivid detail, but that is not unusual for a period piece, especially set up with Manchu against Han.

Instead of a flowing plot, I felt as though I was in a vehicle teaching someone how to drive a clutch. Forward. Back. Stall. Fight. Humor. Hate.

Sammo made the same mistake many young directors have made: he not only acted, worked on the script, choreographed fights, supervised every action scene, had numerous fights, and directed too. You can't do it all, and well, at least not the first time. With time Sammo honed his abilities and learned to smooth the abrupt changes between scenes. But not here. The fighting seemed uneven and sometimes almost hesitant, milking the scene for more than its worth.

Fortunately, by the second half of the film Sammo starts to pull things together, and it shows! The Manchu officials continue to make life unbearable for the Han. One thing that confused me was that Six Miller (Sammo) was wearing a Manchu hairstyle. For that matter the official was wearing a Han hairstyle. WTH? Ah, well it is a small matter, but for a few minutes early on I wasn't sure who was really on what side of the conflict.

The last 10-20 minutes almost make up for the sins of the first half. Almost. Sammo seemed to begin to find his rhythm. Pacing. The fighting was excellent! Sammo was never in better shape and he was so eager to do everything well! Fighting is probably what Sammo knows best, and yeah that definitely shows! I have no complaints once he stops being patient and is validated in his reasons to kick some serious ass, strewing the path behind him with a large number of obviously dead bad guys.

When Sammo was just a kid, he broke his ankle while at the Yuen Opera school and he never was able to do many story-to-story jumps. The shots were not always framed the best, but there were some innovative setups that worked well and are still used by photographers today. There were a number of very long takes that you just don't see anymore unfortunately. It has reached the point it feels like some movies are using stop animation, moving the person or scene almost like a cardboard cut-out, resulting in even some fight shots running 8 seconds. Sammo was in great shape for this one. What he lacked in finesse he made up for in enthusiasm, and it was wonderful to be able to see that aspect of him! Sammo stated in the movie "Red Trousers: The Life Of The Hong Kong Stuntmen" that even though he had grown quite large he could still do martial arts. True, however this fine display was not to be seen again.

This is definitely a film those who follow martial artists and martial artists movies should view, but I couldn't give it a higher rating because of the numerous problems, especially in the first half of the movie. "The Iron Fisted Monk" merits further discussion, and I hope everyone will consider joining me.

One minor question I have had since a youngster: is Dean Shek really that friggin' disgusting, or is it all literally an act? Wait, maybe I don't want to know.

In a fairly prosperous village, the primary source of commerce is the local dye factory that turns out high quality dyed material. One day the peace and quiet is shattered when evil Manchus storm in and set up a rival factory. Before long, acts of sabotage and violence are visited upon the locals. They decide to stand up and demand their rights, but they all end up defeated and wounded. In desperation they ask one of the local con men to help them. He agrees and decides that he will impersonate a Shaolin Monk--in particular, San Te. (Why on Earth would anyone think of putting the one person who was known as San Te (Gordon Liu) in the film not as San Te but as another character, in a film about Shaolin and San Te?)

There are numerous ways the script could have easily had Gordon Liu being San Te. Maybe Liu Chia-Liang was trying too hard to make it different, or maybe he just lost interest. There is definitely a "dead end" feel to the movie.

When the con man sees the villagers are even worse off after his scam, he seeks out Shaolin so he can learn to fight and return and help his friends get rid of the bastard Manchus. The con man is told he cannot be a regular Shaolin disciple, and if he wishes to stay they have some work for him to do. He is required to build a new structure for the Shaolin monastery. The con man is not happy with the arrangement, but he is determined to learn something to return to the village and help the ones he let down. So while he is building for the monks he is also watching everything they do. The training is different than I have seen before, a method he calls "scaffolding kung fu" or "construction kung fu". It is interesting to watch but drags on too long. By the time the building is done, the former cheat has been transformed to calm and rational action when called for in a situation. The villagers are not impressed, but soon he is taking on all the bad guys.

I really thought this was going to be very cool and it's just not. The "funny" characters' funny prosthetics just weren't funny. There is some sort of smoldering feeling, almost like bitterness sometimes, but there were enormous changes going on in the industry and some of that comes through the movie. I understood what Liu Chia-Liang was going, for but he totally wasted Kara Hui and Hsiao Ho. What a disappointment.

Known as "Squad 701", they were used in countless situations where the mission was likely to result in death for the 701 and another accomplished mission for the group. Their "keepers" discover that that the 701's are beginning to show an anomaly that makes them too dangerous to control. The 701 squad is beginning to revert to the way they were before and are beginning to experience emotion. This prompts a death sentence for the entire squad, but the leader (Jet) discovers the plan and flees after setting free the others in his group.

Jet yearns for a simpler existence and becomes known as "Tsui". He gets a job at the library where he at last can let down his guard, at least a little. Tsui is a very quiet man, content to work in the library and play chess and talk strategy with a new friend who is a detective on the police force. The detective cannot imagine Tsui being a danger. And one of the clerks he works with (Karen Mok) develops feelings for him, and he for her, though he is not comfortable with the situation. Unfortunately there is no chemistry between Li and Mok. Slowly he begins to remember feelings and know they are not always violent. All is going well until bodies start showing up and Tsui's detective friend is put on the case. Can Tsui/Black Mask contend with keeping his new friends safe while he deals with the 701's that are left, including his former lover who has taken up B&D? It's not too difficult to see where this is leading.

At one time I believe there were about a half dozen different edits available, each different enough to change the story significantly. You will see Yuen Wo-Ping moves and wire fu that would be punched up a bit and used in "The Matrix". But there is plenty of fighting, wire fu, and mid-range FX. Although I kept feeling I must have wandered into the wrong studio--"Green Hornet", "Batman", or "Blade Runner". If you love wild wire fu, you will enjoy the movie, and the finale is fantastic, as well as the pre-finale fight. Unfortunately the characters are not very well developed and neither is the story. This is a so-so flick even Jet fans won't list as a favorite.

The city actually began as any other area would develop but for a host of reasons, far too complicated to discuss in depth in a review it began to take a turn for the worse and for at least thirty years it earned the term City of Darkness. The only rules imposed by authorities outside the city were that the "skyscrapers" could be no higher than fourteen stories and all buildings must have electricity. The first rule was necessary because the city smacked up against the airport the Japanese built, and the second rule was due to great and valid concerns over fires starting from generators, lamps, candles etc. The city population was as high as 50,000 people. Fifty Thousand! Even at half that number it boggles the mind. Ramshackle buildings built helter skelter on top of each other with no buildings codes. The police didn't even try to enforce laws because of the threat of violence. The Walled City had it's own set of rules and the penalty for breaking one of those rules could mean losing your life.

The British expanded their property in Hong Kong in 1898, and somehow managed to get a 99 year lease for the Kowloon Peninsula area. That included the Walled City but even the British didn't try to impose jurisdiction there. It was becoming a city unto itself. It was literally dark because of the buildings and rooms built anywhere possible even if it was likely to collapse. All manner of drugs including cocaine and opium could be bought anywhere. Gambling houses were omnipresent, prostitution and live sex shows were abundant. Triads, loan sharks, extortion, robbery, assaults and murder. From this hell a father was doing all he could for his two sons. He insisted they get an education and tried to teach them values. The older son is respectful and obedient but the youngest seems to care nothing for family or position. Their father wanted nothing to do with drugs and had told the boys to never have anything to do with them as well. One night during his shift at a gambling house he throws out a guy selling drugs. The angry dealer murders him right in front of the two boys and there is no one to help them. The older brother tries to protect the young but he is always getting into trouble. Many of the actions aren't really planned, just turned out bad because of circumstances. Nevertheless the boys were growing up with a reputation.

Chia-chin managed to stay away from gangs and robbery while his brother Chia-kang seemed to always be in trouble or running from it. When a cop finds out Chia-kang has been seeing his daughter he has him hauled into the police station stripped and tied to the desk and beaten. Chia-kang seems to always be getting into trouble. Little issues become larger ones requiring giving face to several seniors and he does but then turns around and does something offensive or insulting again!

This could be a spoiler if you have not seen the description or plot.

Things go from bad to tragic when the cop's daughter finds out she is pregnant. Her father makes her get an abortion and she is miserable. She goes to Chia-kang but they are followed by the gang wanting revenge and in the melee Mei-ling falls off the roof of the building, nearly on top of her father. That's the brutal mean father/cop who now is completely psycho nuts and charts a coarse far beyond cruelty. I must warn viewers this is not an uplifting film. Watch it with friends so you have peer support, and on a sunny afternoon. Really.

Most reviewers haven't bothered with this because it was not a huge money maker, but it is a good movie. You do start to care about the characters and see their dilemmas are not so easy to overcome. Random events combined with seething poverty was just another day. People making seemingly simple choices that can affect everything else in their lives. When immersed in such an environment it's all anyone can do is survive another day.

One: People, Demons, Anti - Demons, Fairies, Ghosts, Spirits, Bodies in general, Objects, Objects Not Yet ‘In' the movie and things of all manner are going to fly around. A lot.

Two: This movie will not win any awards in it's country of origin or anywhere else.

Three: Wires, wires, wires.

Four: If you accept these facts and keep in mind this movie is from the late 80's it actually does have entertainment value. In fact it was actually better than I anticipated given the known limitations. The movie begins with a battle between "Thousand Year Evil Girl" and an old Master who keeps the Evil in it‘s own realm, and out of the world of Men. There is a lot of flying and typical fight choreography but also more acrobatics than you usually see. Articles of clothing turning into whips, swords and other weapons. Fireballs and lightning spears shoot across the screen. The Master calls upon two of his pupils (sister colleagues?. The subtitles are burned in on top of others with very poor translations) to help him prevent Evil from destroying the world of humans. He tells them to get the Bead of Hell, then find the Bead of Heaven. When his students ask how they will know what to do he tells them their honesty and righteousness will help guide them. When he is killed it is up to the two students to rescue mankind. In the fight with Evil Girl one student is killed and the other escapes into the future to look for the other bead.

Meanwhile a thousand years later the police are in a standoff with a local gangster and his henchmen. The police overcome the bad guys but then a strange "storm" happens and no one is able to move. The four gangsters escape and promise their boss they will avenge him. This turns into a running gag. Captain Mambo (Jacky Cheung) of the Serious Crimes Division police unit literally runs into a beautiful girl (Joey Wong) who is really the fairy come to find the other bead and send Evil Girl back to her world forever. Mambo is drawn to her and takes her back to his apartment thinking romance will ensue. She stays at his apartment because she really has no where to go and is afraid to be alone.

The cops are definitely a quirky bunch and some of the humor wasn't planned perhaps but it does offer a few laughs. Yun Yi Yun realizes Mambo is in love with her and she is starting to feel love towards him but knows that can never be. Still they spend a good deal of time wandering around Hong Kong as any other couple. Mambo eventually wants to get married and is crushed when she refuses him. He ends up at a bar getting totally wasted as he mourns lost love.

Assisting the cops is Sifu (Hsiao Ho) who is in touch with the spirit world and helps out with difficult and cases involving evil. Being wise in such matters he is called in to help solve some pretty grisly killings courtesy of the Evil Girl. Don't expect to see Ho doing any martial arts, though he is certainly quite capable. He does do enough to show he doesn't seem to have lost anything, but it only makes the viewer want more. (More likely he was doing the choreography) There are a couple of things that may remind some of Ghostbusters, however Ghostbusters took a lot from The Fake Ghost Catchers, even stealing the name! (Watch the movie for further information.) But his role is spiritual not physical and only he knows what they must do to find the other bead and send Demoness Evil Girl back to her world where she can harm no humans. More than one character must make sacrifices to ensure the safety and future. But can they? Will they?