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JACK BROOKS: MONSTER SLAYER [BLU-RAY]
 
SHAOLIN MASTER KILLER [BLU-RAY]
 
12/8/2009 2:00:00 PM
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AH1706's Profile

Avg. Film Rating: 
 3.62 / 5

Agreement: 87% of 134 voters agree with AH1706's reviews
Gender: Male
Age: 29
Location: Reading, Pa

Bio: I am a current student at Penn State University and also studied at East China Normal University in Shanghai. I have a good grasp on Mandarin, but I don't know a lick of Cantonese. My favorite genres include kung-fu, gangster, horror, early 90's CAT 3, and anything weird and out of the ordinary. Oh, and Hollwood stinks, pass it on

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    by AH1706

Challenge Of The Masters (product link)
Martial Arts / Action/Adventure



"Challenge of the Masters" was definitely not one of my favorite films from Gordon Liu, Chen Kuan Tai, or Lau Kar Leung. I didn't really like the story, and the whole Pao competition and the training sequences were solid, but nothing that hasn't been seen before. The amount of action scenes was very disappointing and the few that existed were not very memorable. This would have been somewhat acceptable if the story was more interesting. I guess Lau Kar Leung thought the film would be unique if he focused heavily on a Pao competition, but sadly it kind of falls flat with the rest of the film.

One point of interest for me was the casting choices. I thought it was odd that Chen Kuan Tai (fully equipped with the badass grey hair) played a good guy as the wise teacher and Lau Kar Leung stepped in the villain role. It seems natural that those two roles would be the opposite, but the theme of this film seemed to be that the legendary martial arts director, Lau Kar Leung, wanted to try some different elements, resulting in mediocre results.

I don't want to say this is a bad film, but definitely not a highlight in the career of any of the talented performers involved. My main recommendation is not to expect too much going into this one, especially in the kung fu department.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
NJay Lee is correct. Lau Kar Leung's weapons handling and Hung Gar are on a different level than CKT, much as I like him in his own element.Jeffrey Frawley
YA couple of fights were good, but yes this film was average at best, if not worser.XslaveX
NCKT couldn't have done the weapons work that LKW pulls off here. The Lau bros. had their respective skills and timing down to a science! That's probably the reason!JAY LEE
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    by AH1706

The Eagle Shooting Heroes [Film] (product link)
Fantasy / Martial Arts



It seems as if people either love or hate this film, and I had high expectations considering past Cantonese comedy films I have seen; but I really did not enjoy "Eagle Shooting Heroes", barely making it to the finish line. It would be a very difficult task to try and explain the plot and all the strange events that follow, so I won't bother as I started to ignore the plot 30 minutes into the film. This movie also features one of the greatest wastes of talent that I've seen in a Hong Kong film, as the majority of the cast gave poor performances in my opinion. I know they were trying to ham it up, but only Joey Wong and Bridgette Lin's characters were entertaining--but that should be expected from Lin, who could always make something out of nothing.

I know they were poking fun at the martial arts genre, but I found the ridiculously sped up action to be a distraction and waste of Sammo Hung's talent, which seems to be a trend in "Eagle Shooting Heroes".

It's possible some of the humor was lost in translation, but I did not find this one very fun, as each scene went from lame joke to another, many of which seemed to have gone on forever. There were a few chuckleworthy moments, but not enough for me to recommend this film.

There are some positive aspects, such as high production values, great sets and costumes, and an all-star cast, even if many of them gave awkward, subpar performances considering their previous work. My personal opinion is that people should be cautious before purchasing this (the back cover of the DVD makes it sound like it's a quintessential comedy classic), but a weekend rental would be fine.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
NI thought this was a high-powered, very amusing romp.Jeffrey Frawley
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    by AH1706

Crime Story (product link)
Action/Adventure / Crime



"Crime Story" was based on a true story of the kidnapping of Teddy Wang, a Hong Kong multi-billionaire. The film is considered to be fairly accurate, although director Kirk Wong had to make some changes and the police would not release a lot of information on the case. Wong still tried to portray the events as accurately as he could--for example, the location of the kidnapping in the film was very close to the real event. It has also been said that the original ending of the billionaire drowning was likely his real fate, but was changed to a happy ending at the request of his widow, Nina Wang, who owned the cineplexes.

"Crime Story" was also Chan's first film based on a true story and one of his first major dramatic roles. The action was also pretty good as Chan took more of a streetfighting approach and showed no sign of his normal lighthearted sense of humor which is probably why some fans do not like this film. There was a lot of intensity in the fighting and Chan and his stunt team took many nasty falls. The explosions and fires were also well done as the old Kowloon walled city was burned and leveled.

The acting throughout the film was very good as Jackie Chan more than proved he can pull off this type of role. Kent Chang was great as always as police inspector/kidnapper Hung. It was also amazing how actor Law Kar Ying and actress Au-Yeung Pooi San looked like the real Teddy and Nina Wang.

I think this is a good film that allowed Jackie Chan to take on a new and challenging role that could be used as an example to critics who think Chan cannot act or take dramatic roles as he progresses in age.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
YSuperb quality work from Jackie and Kent Cheung! Ashley the world is not black or white. As you go through life you will find a lot of gray. There are times when "the truth" will only kill more people. What little was left out did not change the story.Cinema!
YIt's certainly not what one expects from Jackie Chan, but is still quite good.Jeffrey Frawley
YJackie Chan and Kent Chang were excellent in this police drama. I agree with you on Chan silencing his critics for this particular dramatic role. Jackie was also good in " The New Police Story"!Sgt. T
NThe movie was such a disappointment because in order to tell a true story the audience needs a true story of what actually happened. The action in the film was good but the truth of the story should have been told.Ashley
YThis is JC going serious, but it did have some fantastic action sequences, I liked this pic a lot.JV47842
Yi like this film makes a change to see jackie take on a more serious rolekung fu kid
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    by AH1706

Pistol Opera (product link)
Girls With Guns / Crime

A train wreck of a film that has a story that is utterly impossible to follow with really no direction. The only positive qualities are some of the action and impressive visuals.

Is creating a sensible script for a female assassin flick really that hard? Apparently it is for some.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
NThis is what one must expect from Seijun Suzuki: Coherent plot is his enemy, but he creates a pretty canvas.Jeffrey Frawley
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    by AH1706

Dragon Tiger Gate (product link)
Martial Arts / Action/Adventure



"Dragon Tiger Gate" is a martial arts/fantasy film based on a popular Chinese comic book series, and is directed by Wilson Yip and stars Donnie Yen. Although I never read the comic, [this film] has been described as not very consistent with the series to appeal to a more international audience resulting in it being a box office flop in Asia.

Donnie Yen does a good job with the martial arts side of the film, especially when working with the other two lead actors (Nicholas Tse and Shawn Yue) who do not have a martial arts background. The action was a bit over the top with too much wire-fu for my taste, but that can be expected from a fantasy film based on a comic book.

The director, Wilson Yip ("SPL", "Bio-Zombie") has always proved to be innovative and gives some impressive visuals in this one, but even that cannot fix the film's many shortcomings.

It's hard for this type of film to succeed without a strong villain, which was clearly the case here. Why should anyone care when he's that generic looking with no background information and doesn't even show up until 45 minutes into the show? He totally mailed it in until he kicked Turbo Shek and Tiger's ass resulting in Dragon (Donnie Yen) thrashing him later, which made all three characters look weak. In fact, Turbo and Tiger looked inferior the whole film. But why? Does Donnie Yen need that much of an ego boost after winning awards for "SPL"?

I know this is a film that you need to shut off your brain when watching, but that can be hard when it is not very entertaining. The worst thing that could have happened to this one is the high expectations that resulted with the insane comparisons to far superior films such as "Storm Riders" and "SPL". It's probably a good idea to skip this and watch "SPL"; and if you've seen that before, watch it again.

Somebody needs to offer an explanation on how this made it to Cannes.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
YThis film just left me cold. I have no idea where the fault really lies, but it just doesn't work.Jeffrey Frawley
YBlack Belt Ninja
NI can't help but disagree. I found the choreography to be creative,ecclectic and enjoyable. You should probably watch it again. You say it has to much wire work and then you say it is inferior to "Storm Riders"? I think you are confused about something.Bastard Ronin
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    by AH1706

Running Out Of Time 2 (product link)
Action/Adventure / Crime



Sadly, this sequel is nowhere near as sharp as the original, with Ekin Cheng replacing Andy Lau and Lau Ching Wan returning to his previous role. I'm normally not a fan of Ekin Cheng, but he does a decent job here, although he is still no Andy Lau. There is more comedy in this one, mainly provided by a sad gambling-addicted character played by Johnnie To regular, Lam Suet.

This film tries to be stylish but often comes up empty. It really has no resemblence to the original except for some of the charcters, a charity donation, and Lau Ching Wan enjoying a bucket of chicken after failing to capture his suspect. The previous ultra catchy theme song was also brought back and given a French sounding remix. There were some good scenes, such as the bike ride on a rainy night, but I thought the ending was a complete letdown and never fully understood the use of the bald eagle.

This is still a decent film, as Johnnie To appears to be incapable of making a total stinker. It can be recommended but never compared with the original.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
YI truly admire the first film, but this is a pointless, inferior rehash. Andy Lau's character engaged me, while Ekin Cheng's just made me restless.Jeffrey Frawley
NThe movie was all right but not as great as the 1st.Rambo part 5 please
Ntoo nice of a review for this film even for Johnnie To fan. sadly this movie just falls flat.KungfuManiac
NRunning out of time 2 is a awful film, it shouldn't have been made.JV47842
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    by AH1706

The Machine Girl (product link)
Action/Adventure / Girls With Guns



If you're looking for a strong detailed story with good acting then stay away; but if you want insanity, gore, cool weapons, and most importantly a fun time then watch this. The plot could be summed up in two sentences but that's not what people are here for. Who needs that when you have ninjas, machine guns, chainsaws, flying guillotines, drill bras, and a fine meal of tempura Ami (Minase Yashiro)?

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.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
Yother than the prolonging gore scenes this film is grindhouse cinema of the new millennia. SUCKAZZZZ!!XslaveX
Yyou're right it is all that dude.kung fu kid
Nseriously it's really not all thatKungfuManiac
Ygood review- this pic is over-the-top but somehow it's funJV47842
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    by AH1706

The Boxer's Omen (product link)
Horror / Thriller



Crazy Shaw Bros. film that involves kickboxing, revenge and sorcery. This film is far out there with two plots that involve Chen Hsiung (Phillip Ko) pursuing revenge on a Thai kickboxer (Bolo) who paralyzed his brother in a match and Chen getting involved in a ancient battle between Buddist monks and black magic sorcerers.

This is a strange film that offers a naked zombie chick that is born from a dead crocodile stomach, an army of crocodile skulls, a character inserted in the film to further reach the T&A quota, an odd green head that looks to be either made of green slime or otherworldly that drips wax, bats that look like evil Beanie Babies, a decapitated wizard's head that spawns tenacles, regurgitation for consumption by your friends, and much, much more--a little something for everyone!

Highly recommended for anyone wanting to spend a wacky 1 1/2 hours or people curious about some of the darker Shaw Bros. films.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
YA bit too weird, even for me *gasp* but all around entertaining.XslaveX
Nnot that amazing- could of been a classic.KungfuManiac
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    by AH1706

Ebola Syndrome (product link)
Horror / Thriller



A low level gangster (Wong) kills his boss (Shing Fui On) and his wife after he is caught sleeping with her, causing him to flee to South Africa where he works in a Chinese restuarant. His new boss (Lo Meng) hired him to work cheap and his wife always bullies him, prompting him to kill them too and return to Hong Kong with the dreaded Ebola Virus he received after raping a Zulu woman. It turns out he is one of a small percentage that is immune and is able to carry and spread the disease. Wong takes it upon himself to return and spread the virus in response to a lifetime of being bullied.

This film is another collaboration between director Herman Yau and Anthony Wong as they clearly tried to push the envelope even farther than the cult classic, "Untold Story". This is a very sleazy and dark film, with Anthony Wong rising to his repulsive peak. Like "Untold Story", Wong perfectly portrays a vile human being that alone makes the film worthwhile for viewers with a strong stomach.

Also included are several comedic quotes from sleazeball Wong that add lighter moments before and after the mayhem. Some of these lines are very amusing but probably not suitable to repeat. Director Herman Yau is an expert at setting the mood for these kind of films with many intense and repulsive moments. One great scene was when a mouse was run over by the cab Wong was riding in, showing that death follows this man no matter what type of breathing creature or the circumstances. Not even children were spared in this one.

Despite its many disgusting moments, "Ebola Syndrome" is a well made film with another great preformance from Anthony Wong in a role he seems all too comfortable in. This may also be the most unsanitary film ever made as blood, sweat, semen, and saliva were flying all over the place throughout the 98-minute runtime. I like that Herman Yau brought back the human beef buns from "Untold Story" (Africa Buns in this film) and also added a nifty spit cam that gives the audience an extra disgusting close up view. The moral of the story, if it has one, is to watch who you bully.

Highly recommended but not for the squeamish.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
Y4 stars is appropriate.Jeffrey Frawley
NThe movie was all right but nothing really impressiveKungfuManiac
YYep this film is on the disgusting level but it's actually worth watchingJV47842
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    by AH1706

Death Trance (product link)
Action/Adventure / Thriller



"Death Trance" was a film made by the star and action coordinator of the wildly popular film, "Versus". It seems that Tak Sakaguchi and Yuji Shimomura tried to capitalize off the previous film's success by creating the same style of action in the same never ending forest. What we have here is another stylized film that somehow managed to have less of a sensible plot than versus that disguises itself as a period piece from an unknown time and place. Unfortunately for "Death Trance", this time the mayhem and style couldn't make up for the lazy script unlike the incredibly entertaining film, "Versus".

I do really like Tak Sakaguchi's screen presense and action sequences showing great promise when he figures out a believable story is important. The action scenes were intense and very believable since he would really hit people with his padded hands that were covered by his costume sleeves.

This film also included fun but very over the top action such as bazookas with homing missiles, zombies?, and strange pale people similar to the ones in "Seven Swords".

Still this film is fun but it comes back to questions like who are these people, what's the purpose of those girls, where did that weapon come from, etc...

Many people who like mindless violence and mayhem like I do will have a great time if they are able to put their mind on stop and "Death Trance" on play, but to people who ask questions during movies--beware

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
YThis is a pretty weird movie, but its entertainment value is at least the three stars you gave it.Jeffrey Frawley
YI agree with everything you said, and 3 stars to me as about right. This had the potential to be as good as Versus, but in my mind falls a little short. As you said, too many holes in the story to be a great film, but it is fun to watch.William Giordanella
NToo goofy to be worth 3 starsBlack Belt Ninja
N3 stars that's too nice for a film like this.KungfuManiac
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    by AH1706

Hot Rod (product link)
Crime



Crime drama about a group of friends who get caught up in the glamour and treachery of gang life. One night they celebrate a birthday at a club when they manage to piss a off a gangster, which leads to a confrontation in the alley in back of the disco. The four friends are greatly outnumbered but stand their ground which impresses the boss (Wai), who shows up just before the fight breaks out. Now the boys join the gang and actually run the disco and achieve success within the gang but still have to deal with Wai's underboss Kei who refuses to forget his grudge. One night the boys are set up while collecting a debt from a rival boss and everything spirals downhill from there.

It is obvious from the opening scene that this is an extremely low budget Hong Kong flick. It is largely plagued with very amatuerish acting and awful action scenes. The action always seems to involve machetes and are annoyingly in your face and slowed down and sped up to mask the lack of training of the actors. The only person involved with this film with any name recognition is the director, Ivan Lai (of cat 3 fame). Although slow at times, it maintains a solid story and level of interest that could have been much more with more seasoned actors and a larger budget to work with...still not too bad.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
NThe film was not good or all right. The movie was everywhere & the actors we're dull.Ashley
Nlow-budget and very bad.KungfuManiac
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    by AH1706

Tokyo Rampage (product link)
Crime / Action/Adventure



"Tokyo Rampage" is a very intense film from up and coming director Toshiaki Toyoda. It is centered around Arano (Koji Chihara), who is a psycho with few emotions or words. His only concern seems to be eliminating all yakuza and other undesirable people, which are described by him as "not needed". This is not only his catchphrase but a large portion of his dialogue. But he still manages to shed some charisma and shows acts of mercy in his bloody quest of destruction. Arano gets involved with an independent gang of pimps after he defiantly kills a yakuza solider outside the door of the yakuza boss. Kamijo (Onimaru) is immediately impressed with Arano's bold emotionless audacity and tries to recruit him. Kamijo then finds he may have gotten more than he bargained for with this cold calculated killer that could self destruct at any second taking everyone with him.

This film moves very fast as it tackles some problems facing the youth within Japanese society today. This movie only has a few violent scenes that are not ridiculously violent but instead focuses on their intensity. They can also be described as very realistic except for the always popular blood spray that seems to hit every corner of the room and the excessive blood puddles on the floor.

My main gripe is a lack of background information and character development of some of the interesting people such as Arano, Kamijo, and the very cool and sexy female grunge assassin. Oh, and the two westerners terrible acting.

Overall this is a very intense thriller that sucks you in and spits you out 98 min later leaving the viewer wandering if they took a single breath.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
Nnot a 4 star movie- it has it's moments but nothing really lives up to it.KungfuManiac
Ydef. agreeJV47842
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