"Red Cliff" was reported as being the most expensive mainland Chinese film to date (around $80 million), and legendary director John Woo didn't waste a penny on this production. The cast was fabulous and really matched my vision of what these folk heroes may have been like 1800 years ago (could this film be a literal anniversary production?). The action was also fantastic as the lengthy scenes were very gutwrentching and realistic, making action director veteran Corey Yuen a vital piece of this film's success. I could go on forever about the positive aspects of the film, but will leave that for the viewer to discover on their own.

I am a major fan of the novel and the video game series and was prepared to complain especially after reading that some changes have been made to the story, but actually found that the film was pretty consistent with the book. The changes that I did notice were done to make this a more interesting movie, and I think they worked very well. The most noticeable change was Sun Shang Xiang (Vickie Zhao) luring the Wei army into a trap near the end of the film. This was not a historical event, but who cares since the "Three Kingdoms" novels are only about 70% historical anyway? This scene was a clever addition to add some more action after a long period of dialogue as the film was nearing the end and also further establishing the allied generals as phenomenal warriors.

There can't be enough said about the overall quality of this film, and I can't wait to see part 2. I also hope the rumor is correct about a part 3 that could highlight the souring of the Shu and Wei relationship over the Jingzhou province, resulting in the rivalry between Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and Zhou Yu (Tony Leung) reaching its ultimate climax.

Release the doves, John Woo has returned to greatness.

So the next night they are bored again since they don't have a job to wake up to. What can they do tonight...I know: attack the gas station again! This time the owner hides the money, so the punks decide to take him and his three clerks hostage and work for the night and keep all the cash. Let the hijinks begin...

This film is very fresh and maintains a great pace that never gets boring, and the gags are funny. Even more impressive was how the director took a little time away from the current joke and gave us some background info on what makes these guys tick, and the viewer can find it believable that these losers put themselves in this situation. Amazingly, I found these punks to be very likable punks and really want them to get away with their nonsense.

Overall this is a very enjoyable flick that was very smart and witty, and the ending was quite clever too, since up to the last five minutes you wondered how the hell could they pull this off.

Also, watch this to view one of the worst police forces on the planet...

Warning!!! May make you want to create chaos in your neighborhood and take annoying people hostage.

I'm usually quick to criticize wire-fu choreography, but some of the scenes in "Iron Monkey" were amazing. I still think that some parts were a bit excessive, but the choreography from Yuen Wo Ping, Yuen Cheung Yan, and Yuen Shun Yee was, for the most part, incredible! Donnie Yen was tremendous in his role as Wong Kei-Ying and really showed his great fighting abilities. Even Yu Rong Guang was convincing as the Iron Monkey, handling his duties admirably. Tsang Sze man was also impressive as a young Wong Fei-Hung, especially since the character was played by a girl.

It's a shame that "Iron Monkey" was a box office flop because it is certainly one of the best martial arts films of the 1990's. With that said, "Iron Monkey" has thankfully gone on to receive the respect and admiration that it deserves, even becoming well known in the West.

If one wanted to sample a wire-fu film for the first time, there is no better place to start than "Iron Monkey".

Highly recommended!

As ludicrous as it sounds (and it is), "Sex and Zen" has a very solid and entertaining story for your typical softcore Hong Kong CAT3 sex romp. I believe there are 3 categories that define a great Hong Kong CAT 3 sexcapade. Those are creative sexual scenes, ridiculously raunchy comedy, and beautiful settings, costumes, and cinematography. These three elements separate the good CAT 3 films from mindless sleazy softcore porn. Films such as "The Erotic Ghost Story", "Eternal Evil of Asia", and "A Chinese Torture Chamber Story" (To name a few) have incorporated those elements effectively, but few, if any, have excelled at the level of "Sex and Zen". This may be the holy grail of CAT 3 madness and well worth the praise from Penthouse which is the first thing you see in the closing credits!

The sex scenes are very creative and range from sensual to downright bizarre. Another important aspect of this type of film is to create that one memorable moment that the viewer will always remember. "Sex and Zen" has several of these moments, but its hard to get past the image of CAT 3 legend, Elvis Tsui, ravaging his wife (Kingdom Yuen) on the floor leading to the point where he decides he should toss a chain to the rafters like a grappling hook to further spice things up. Wow! I never thought to do that! There are also some creative uses of sticks, flutes, and paint brushes on display.

The second strongpoint of "Sex and Zen" is its raunchy and hilarious dialogue. The interaction between the characters is great as some scenes are legitimately gut wrenchingly funny. The horse prick transplant scene is one of the most bizarre and funny things I have ever scene in a CAT 3 film, which is saying something. I recommend the English dub version that really highlights the absurdity of the dialogue. Who can forget Lo Lieh discovering that for the first time in his life he gave a man a stiffy with his swordplay or when the Doctor's dog runs off with Lawrence Ng's severed penis resulting in him calling out, "Hey dog give me back my dick, its not a bone". Haha classic material, indeed!

There are several CAT 3 thrillers that incorporate great cinematography along with beautiful costumes and locations, but few rival "Sex and Zen". The use of sexual art (Yuen Dynasty porn) and the silk rolls was a nice touch that added to the beauty of the film. The settings were also phenomenal as some of the tea houses, whore houses, and other outdoor scenery rivaled locations from more respectable productions.

The only negative aspect of the film was some the final scenes that seemed lazy and out of place although the film did manage to end with some words of wisdom that seemed straight out of a fortune cookie.

Sometimes I feel sleazy for watching and reviewing these types of films, but they can be a hell of a fun time if given a chance and "Sex and Zen" does not disappoint on any level. I always thought that there was no way a CAT 3 sleazefest should get more than 4 stars, but "Sex and Zen" is as good as it gets from this genre making it the holy grail well worth a recommendation from Penthouse and I.

Highly recommended as long as your over 18 and don't think sex is dirty!

The plot is very straightforward. A lonely man (Andy Lau) is diagnosed with a terminal illness, resulting in him playing a cat-and-mouse game with a police negotiator (Lau Ching Wan). The negotiator is also a lonely man that dedicates all his time to his job, having no personal life at all. The two form a bond, or even an awkward friendship, as Andy Lau continues to outsmart and be one step ahead of the police. This motivates Lau Ching Wan, who guarantees he will make an arrest, as Andy Lau is determined not to die in a police station. But some conflict arises as both men realize that their supposed enemy may really be the only friend they have in their otherwise lonesome existence.

"Running Out Of Time" has a great story and some superb acting. Andy Lau is excellent in this role, and Lau Ching Wan continues to prove why he is one of Hong Kong's most underappreciated actors. The score is also tremendous, which is often a strongpoint in a Johnnie To film, and will stick in your head for a long time. Another great aspect of the theme song was that it was only used in key situations, so it never got boring or repetitive. This is also a great film to see Andy Lau in various different disguises, which was well done. Other Johnnie To (Milky Way Productions) regulars, such as Lam Suet, Hui Siu Hung, Yoyo Mung Ka Wai, and Ruby Wong Cheuk Ling, can also be spotted throughout the film.

"Running Out Of Time" is an excellent film with a great concept and story that will probably be discovered and exploited by Hollywood some day.

Highly Recommended!

The film sticks to the script and never strays a foot from the action or the unfolding plot. I was a little worried when a female character appeared that seemed to take an interest in the hero of the film (John Liu). I thought we were going to see a meaningless subplot involving love and feelings, but was relieved when that never came to fruition. "Invincible Armour" also features a great cast of underrated stars, such as John Liu and Hwang Jang Lee. Even action director Yuen Biao shows up for a cameo only to show his skills and die.

This is definitely a pure kung-fu film that focuses on the action and many different styles and weapons are on display. "Invincible Armour" is a great old-schooler that is a must-see, especially for fans of leg fighters.

The story centers around the Kang family starting when the father (Park In-Hwan) gets fired from his job and moves his family to the mountains where he buys a lodge that seems to be cursed as various guests slowly begin showing up and croaking the first night. He decides the bodies should be buried because if the news got out it would hurt his dismal business even more. As the bodies begin to pile up, the family's level of desperation and creativity increases.

Other members of this family of degenerates include the short-tempered mother (Na Mun-Hee), Uncle Chang (Choi Min-Sik) who is a lonely loser, the only son (Song Kang-Ho) who loves peeping and has a criminal record, and the two 17 year-old sisters (Go Ho-Kyung and Lee Yeon-Sung) who are cynical and lazy.

The entire cast did an amazing job, but the standout performance for me was Song Kang-Ho, whose laughter, mannerisms, facial expressions, and crappy attitude were highlights of the film.

Another aspect of the film worth mentioning was the soundtrack. The first WTF moment of the presentation happened in the opening credits when you hear the song "Tres Delinquentes" by Delinquent Habits. I haven't heard that song for years and how it fits in a Korean film is beyond me, but it was great. There were many other strange musical choices throughout the film, but none match "I Think I Love You" by The Partridge Family during the final credits. After some thought, I believe it was a brilliant choice for nothing more than highlighting one last time that the grim and cynical Kang family are no Partridges.

In many ways "The Quiet Family" reminded me of Takashi Miike's "Visitor Q" as both are great films that explore how violence and dead bodies can bring an otherwise disconnected and dysfunctional family together in a crisis. With that said, it should not be a surprise that Takashi Miike remade this film taking many of the same elements of "The Quiet Family" and turned them up a few notches resulting in "The Happiness Of The Katakuris". Miike made a few changes as he added a grandfather and young girl along with ridiculous sing-alongs, zombies, zombie sing-alongs, and of course, claymation. "The Happiness Of The Katakuris" is a very entertaining film but doesn't come close to "The Quiet Family's" cast performances, charm, or storytelling abilities.

"The Quiet Family" is a very tightly wound flick full of sharp and subtle humor with an excellent script and a talented cast and crew. This is a film that one could watch multiple times, always finding something they never noticed in the previous viewings.

I strongly recommend "The Quiet Family", especially to people with more of a dark sense of humor.

Very good preformances all around as Jimmy Wang Yu particularly shines coming off his 1967 classic, One Armed Swordsman. The action choreography of the great Lau Kar Leung is fast and furious as the viewer often needs to rewind and pause to see how Silver Roc cut down so many men with one stroke.

Director Chang Cheh also puts more emphasis on the characters' relationships and feelings (the love triangle) than many of his other films as it becomes the central plot instead of evil gang lords coming for revenge. Also notable is the beautiful scenery (mountains, waterfalls, sunsets) that is often seen throughout the film, which seems to go beyond the typical Shaw Bros. sets.

This is a great film that is a more than worthy addition to the King Hu/"Come Drink With Me" legacy.

A great thing about this film is that it never takes itself seriously and people are slaughtered in comical fashion. I'm pretty sure that even unlimited machine gun rounds would not turn someone into a bloody skeleton. Adding to its over-the-top nature is the famous Japanese blood fountain which operated in overdrive in this one. The gore and makeup team did a great job in this as many of the kills were well made (especially the gangster that got shot in the back of the head).

This is a very fun film, but probably not recommended for the squeamish or people who ask questions. Turn off your brain and enjoy the ride as the cult classic hall of fame should be rolling out the red carpet for this one while Quentin Tarantino wishes he could make a film this cool.

"Magic Blade" is a undeniable champion of kung fu cinema with an always welcome twist ending that should not be missed.

This film is very biased against Japanese martial arts, but well made and fun to watch. The film is also informative as it introduces several forms of Japanese martial arts although the director doesn't seem to be fond of any of them (especially ninjitsu which is basically called an ambush and dishonorable). Gordon Liu does a great job playing with several great Chinese weapons which easily trump anything the Japanese have to offer. It did seem that Leung doubled for Liu in the twirling 3 part staff scene which was almost identical to the motion Leung used in "Operation Scorpio", which he acted in and is an expert with that very challenging weapon.

Other than the fact that it's obviously biased, I can't find much to complain about. It's well worth a look.

My favorite part was the creative ending that showcased Sammo's acting ability after his undeniable physical skills. These types of surprise endings should be used more especially in the growingly predictable Hollywood "action" flick. This movie had it all with an underlining message that crime may have an unexpected consequence no matter how far you think you are on top.

I only wish they had a larger budget to add more fight scenes in the first half of the movie like Donnie Yen wanted...oh well still good.

I was also impressed with the kung fu and comedy skills of the underrated Hsiao Ho. Lau Kar Leung was brilliant as usual and used very creative fights sequences to convey the comedic elements and show off the actors acrobatic abilities. I especially loved the scene when monkey slapped like 10 men surrounding him forcing them to turn towards the camera with silly facial expressions (I rewound and paused like 10 times). Lo Lieh, once again, did an admirable job playing a skilled villain--can't go wrong with that.

My only knock on the film is that the plot was based on dramatic elements that were barely followed up on. Lau Kar Leung seemed to care more about his dead monkey than his sister (Kara Hui) being forced into prostitution by a man that framed him and broke his hand to pieces. He never seemed too interested in rescuing her or any type of revenge and showed no emotion after the word of her demise and had no mention of this event at the end, which was a major flaw to the dramatic element of the film.

Finally, Curious George R.I.P.

"Protege" is one of the finer films to come out of Hong Kong in recent years, plus it's hard to go wrong with a Derek Yee film. Yee has an amazing ability to direct films that are not only commercially successful, but artistically acclaimed. Yee has also succeeded in getting star quality performances from relative newcomers.

I've always thought Daniel Wu was kind of hit or miss as a leading man, but I will acknowledge that he did a fine job here, as he did in Derek Yee's "One Nite In Mongkok". It was also interesting to see him onscreen with Andy Lau, because in some ways I see a bit of a resemblance between the two--not that I'm predicting Wu will enjoy the same level of success in his career. I believe the two standout performances came from Louis Koo and Zhang Jing Chu as two individuals addicted to heroin. Zhang Jing Chu was particularly effective and was involved in many of the film's most powerful scenes.

"Protege" is also a very smart film, giving a lot of insight on the drug trade. Yee also does a fine job bringing all the characters and story full circle to the climax, where the supposed hero must put his confusion aside and make a life-altering decision.

Highly recommended.

The story centers around a supreme martial artist that trains a group of five delinquents with no previous kung fu training to rescue a revolutionary being held in an impenetrable mountain fortress. There are some lengthy training scenes mixed with preliminary battles, and some comedy thrown in for good measure. After the ragtag band of kung fu commandoes are trained to the best of their abilities, they embark on their incredible kung fu mission, facing many obstacles and ambushes.

The pacing of the film and the character development is excellent, as the deaths in the film really mean something, which was an important element in the success of "The Dirty Dozen". The action choreography from Robert Tai is very solid, and he also does a fine job as the lead villain. [Possible spoilers.] Another welcome addition was a twist following what most viewers believe to be the final battle. This gives everyone a bonus fight after the epic final showdown. Well done! [End spoilers.]

"Incredible Kung Fu Mission" or "Kung Fu Commandoes" is a real crowd pleaser that is highly recommended.

The only real issue I had with "Sonatine was the middle of the film, when the gangsters were hiding out on the beach. This was where most of the humorous moments occurred but seemed to drag on forever, causing me to stir a bit. This scene led to the final battle, which was a bit of a disappointment after I was itching for violence after all the extended scenes of male bonding, male and female bonding, and yakuza members playing childish games.

"Sonatine" is an entertaining and noteworthy yakuza film that is highly recommended.

I thought "Zatoichi" was beautifully shot, as the location seemed very intimate and tranquil--aside from the clans that threatened the citizens' normally happy lives. Enter the nomadic blind swordsman, Zatoichi, and his superior skills. I'm not going to get into the whole plot, but it is very well done and executed effectively. "Zatoichi" also had some humorous elements and the action was swift and deadly. I thought the action scenes were very strong and added many creative elements, which should be expected from a great filmmaker like Kitano. I also thought Kitano did a good job playing the blind swordsman, as his acting was stiff, but pretty solid. [Begin spoilers.] I also really liked the twist at the end, as the viewer was thrown a bit of a curveball as he got people to believe that Zatoichi's condition is not what everyone thought it was, only to reveal he was lying and everyone was right all along. Nice touch! [End spoilers.]

I only have three minor complaints about the film. First off, I thought it was a little too long, as some of the scenes seemed a bit unnecessary. Secondly, I thought his final duel with the samurai (Tadanobu Asano) was over too quickly. A large portion of the film was dedicated to building this guy up as a badass with unmatched skills, and I would have liked to see him put up a better fight. Finally, the dance number was pointless and ended the film on a bit of a negative note, although the blending of the young and older versions of people was well done.

The blind swordsman "Zatoichi" may or may not stay true to the "Zatoichi" legacy, but I think this was a very solid film and is recommended for everyone.

I won't go in further detail on the events that follow because it may include spoilers, but this film has a few twists that will keep the viewer glued to the screen.

"Shutter" is often very reminiscent of some popular J-Horror films ("Ju-On", "The Ring", etc.) but can definitely hold its own. In fact, I believe "Shutter" is one of the best horror films to come out of Asia in years. The cast did an admirable job and the two young directors really did their homework, creating a well thought out story with some compelling evidence. What I mean by compelling evidence is the use of real pictures of spirit photography which takes a major role in the film. The directors went out and researched spirit photography to see if it had a high level of interest, resulting in individuals and universities allowing them access to ghostly photos, some of which are quite amazing and can be seen in the film. Another spooky aspect of "Shutter" was that they filmed what they believe to be a real ghost in the scene where the young girl is hit. This is the direct result of the directors investigating different stories, deciding to film in a region that has been notorious for sightings. The filmmakers really seemed engaged in the subject matter, resulting in a top notch horror film.

"Shutter" is a very compelling and eerie horror film. With that said, it shouldn't shock anyone that Hollywood producers chose this as their next remake--or the next Asian horror film that needed a serious butchering. Hollywood filmmakers could seriously learn something from these two young Thai directors because this is how it's done!

Highly recommended.

"Opium And The Kung Fu Master" is excellent, especially among the later Shaw Brothers productions. I liked how they took a serious issue like opium use--which undoubtedly is a sore spot in Chinese history (which is evident when a character in the film states "that's why foreigners think we are weak")--and incorporated it into a martial arts film, which I cannot recall seeing done before at this level. The first half of the film had some comedic moments, but the tone drastically changes when a family's suicide is the direct result of opium use. We also witness the deteriorating kung fu skills of the master, the leader of the Ten Tigers Of Kwangtung (Ti Lung) and its effects on his own well-being and the people around him. Before he can get his revenge, he must realize his addiction plunged the town into peril and cost the lives of close friends, requiring him to get help to sober up. This film is unique in that I never saw the typical martial arts training sequences used to help cure drug addiction.

"Opium And The Kung Fu Master" is a top notch film with strong action, great performances (Ti Lung especially), and a legitimate message that far exceeds most films of this genre.

The first half of the film seems to focus more on plot development and humor as Sammo is a third rate P.I. and Yuen Biao and Jackie Chan are selling burgers, visiting wacky people in the mental institution, and trying to impress a woman with sticky fingers. Some of the humor works well, but other parts kinda' fall flat and seem outdated. Overall, there is enough here to keep you entertained until the second half, where the plot and relationships between characters come full circle, resulting in more action which is what really makes "Wheels On Meals" stand out. After some goofing around, the final fights were very intense and hard-hitting. Well done!

Highly recommended for everyone.

It's obvious that some effort was put into character development, but that is not the main priority of the film, which is fine since its real appeal is their mission and all the mysteries surrounding it. In this aspect "R-Point" really shines. This film has an amazing aura of creepiness that lasts from beginning to tragic finale. Every shot was beautifully done and the locations were extremely eerie. I loved the first ghost scene, which reminded me of stories of phantom regiments reported in Gettysburg. I think that some of the ghost scenes after that were not as effective because they had too much of a human/human contact feel to them. I also would of liked a better explanation on the history of a certain character that emerges at the end of the film.

"R-Point" does a great job of emphasizing the solders losing touch with reality as the mission becomes even more intense and unbelievable with each passing day. It is evident that a lot of work was put into this production, but I think it falls a little short of being a horror classic because of a few minor flaws, although it is quite innovative and highly recommended.

Aside from its bizarre nature, this is an excellent film. The film features an all-star cast full of martial arts stars and attractive Shaw Brothers actresses. Everyone involved does a solid job, but Lo Lieh undoubtedly steals the show as the crazed skin collector. It was also nice to Lo Meng make an appearence as a guest assassin.

This is easily one of Sun Chung's best directed films, as everything was spot on. The eerie lighting and gorgeous set locations were superb, and one of my favorite aspects of the film.

"Human Lanterns" is a great addition to anyone's Shaw Brothers library or for collectors of quality cinema in general.

This was a very solid film with great performances from the entire cast. Lo Meng was definitely in top form, but I think it was Phillip Kwok that really stood out in this one. His ring and stick work was phenomenal, not to mention his convincing role as a blind man, especially when the camera focused on his eyes. The martial arts were fantastic, reaching almost a level of poetry in motion in the final sequences. I also liked how the rings that were used in the previous training sequences became relevant in the final battle.

Director Chang Cheh was on top of his game with this one, showing an attention to detail and adding many clever ideas to enhance the plot. Some of the little things that made this film great were the use of mirrors and drums to either help or hurt the heroes' handicaps, and how the sound was cut off in scenes involving the deaf man. Another minor but good touch was how Chen Kuan Tai's hair grayed from the time his young son was handicapped to when he was grown. I like this because aging is often an overlooked event in martial arts films, and Chen Kuan Tai looks more bad ass with the grey streaks.

I have to admit that I have two minor complaints about the film. First of all, I would have liked to see the heroes struggle more in their training regiment, as it seemed like they caught on too quickly, even if the viewer was told it took three years. The final result was the crippled avengers seeming almost superhuman, probably being able to go toe to toe with the X-Men if needed. I also didn't like the final scene as the victorious Venoms exited the battlefield without noticing their fallen comrade, who was vital to their success.

"Crippled Avengers" is a highly recommended film not only for Chang Cheh and Venoms enthusiasts, but all martial arts film fans.

The martial arts and acting were very strong, even though the Japanese and Chinese swordsmen (Norman Chu, Damian Lau) were given superhuman abilities as the wirework got a little excessive. For reasons unknown, the director decided to add some weird moments that sometimes seemed out of place from the story of the two chivalrous warriors and the ulterior motives of this decade's tournament. Some of these include a talking parrot, tunneling ninjas, a female ninja that can make her clothes explode off her body, and more ninjas on kites.

"Duel to the Death" also managed to grab a CAT 2B rating, which is above the normal rating of films from this genre. The reasons for this are probably the naked ninja and the large amount of blood and dismemberment. In fact, "Duel to the Death" is a very violent movie that features decapitations and many shredded body parts.

I also found "Duel to the Death" to have some of the most beautiful locations, lighting, and backgrounds I have seen from this era. It may take multiple viewings to notice, but this is a gorgeous film.

As the abbot said to the naked ninja, "Buddha's name be praised".

Highly recommended!

There was also some good stuntwork to be found. The car chase scene was solid, but the helicopter climax was crazy. This was definitely not for anyone scared of heights.

My major complaint with the film was the fairly weak story that often dragged along at times and some of the short and uneventful fights.

My final thought include:

• Wow! The Bolo workout program paid massive dividends for Melvin Wong. He was in really good shape.
• Wow! Louis Fan was very skinny in his youth. He must have gotten Bolo's number before "The Story of Ricky".
• I definitely prefer the original ending and also prefer the title, "Righting Wrongs". "Above The Law" sounds too Steven Seagal-ish.
• Someone tell Corey Yuen that not all white women are built like a brick shithouse.