Agreement:70% of 416 voters agree with Bastard Ronin's reviews Gender: Male Age: 31 Location: Cincinnati- come get me, chumps
Bio: When not trying to score with your mom, Bastard Ronin is usually roaming the countryside and eating string cheese while sampling the finest 40 ounces and pornography from all the villages. Recently incarcerated for public indecency and killed in a prison pillow fight Bastard Ronin's legacy is carried on by an alternate reality's Bastard Ronin from Earth-13. Apparently this has happened before...
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Battle Royale 2 (product link) Horror / Thriller Let me start off by saying this movie was not at all what I thought it would be. "Battle Royale 2" is an extension of the mythology developed in the first "Battle Royale" movie, yet it fails to capture the first film's intensity, passion and sheer rawness. There seems to be a definite quantity over quality theme here. The action in this one has a stronger favoring towards firearms and conventional warfare, thus eliminating that "anything goes" feeling of the first.
Despite all of the proceeding, it actually is an alright action film that does provide a glimpse of what happens next in this reality, even though it disregards all of the sensibilties developed in the first film--kinda like Kill Bill vol. 2 ,hmmm...
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What you say is true, but I didn't appreciate it beyond **1/2.
This movie is absolutely awful. Any rating above zero stars is being way too generous. Aside from Casshern, this is the worst Japanese film of all time.
Now this is the kind of movie I have been waiting for. After reading a very foul review of this movie I was somewhat discouraged to get it. However, I had been wanting to see the movie for a while so I went for it. Thankfully the poor review was due to ignorance of the material he was reviewing. Don't get me wrong, this movie is not for everybody. This is NOT a fanboy martial arts flick. There are no wires, no CGI, no pop stars or poorly-trained actors. You will not see flashy camera tricks that convince you that a crappy move is pretty. Sorry. "Geochilmaru: The Showdown" is actually for the well intiated. That's right: finally a true martial arts film for true martial artists.
The film takes the viewer through an introspective exploration of not only martial arts but sociology while also tackling the somewhat taboo subject of reality vs. perception in a fairly classy manor. The fights are very well choreographed and you get to see very good displays of the martial arts that are showcased. My only complaint is that you don't get to see a good exponent of Korean martial arts and it's a Korean movie. Everyone said there was Tae Kwon Do fighter in it- there isn't. I guess you do get to see the gangster do a few good Hapkido techniques when he's not street-brawlin' but that's still kind of weird that they wouldn't include a bunch more of their own goodies. I rated it 4 stars [out of 5] just to generalize. For fanboys it's 2.5- 3 stars. For open minded veiwers who like movies it's 3.5- 4 stars. For true appreciators of martial arts 4.5 stars. If you are a collector, get it.
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You are right. Viewed purely for its writing and acting, this is nothing special; Viewed for the fighters' ability, it is at least ****. I enjoyed it much.
Once again I read some funky reviews and yet I see the movie anyway and strike gold. This movie verges on phenomenal based solely on its visual poetry if nothing else. The characters (both good and evil) do a good job of exuding a classic yet distinctly unique presence.
Though this may not have been Donnie's best martial arts performance--as it was missing all of those pimp-daddy trademark kicks--it was still impressive and it has however the best Donnie Yen fight choreography I've seen--ever (and I've seen most of it). The fights were flat out sick and contained the best nunchuku choreography ever put onto film. That's right I said it.
"Dragon Tiger Gate" did contain CGI and some wire stuff, but it was what I like to call tasteful wire fu, as it was performed in a fluid manner to aid the fantastic realism of the film. This is unlike standard jerky, hokey and unrealistic line flying that defies physics like in movies like "Romeo Must Die". The type of special effects used in this film wound up adding to the comic book feel of the movie and enhancing the experience. Iconic, slick and beautiful.
If you want to see a movie that presents a quality mythological intensity with breath-taking eye candy, this is where you should go.
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Your comments about the wire work are spot on; I normally prefer little or no wirework, but I can understand it when it's used for a comic book type storyline.
The movie is to campy compared to the brilliant comic book series. The movie is suppose to be an orgin story but it fails becuz they made the stars too silly, I hope a darker version of Dragon Tiger Gate will come out.
Love this movie. Nic tse's screen fighting skills have come a long way since Gen X cops. and gets better with everything he does. proving that canto pop idols CAN fight. You just have to teach them.
Throw Down [Director Signature Edition] (product link) Martial Arts / Drama Utter perfection. Deep, inspiring, powerful. This movie has it all: fascinating characters, good comedy, bold, realistic action and exemplary cinematography. "Throw Down" is the quintessential contemporary samurai film. A complete masterpiece.
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Johnnie To's most powerful film he has ever made. The whole film is a tribute to Kurwasowa, and it def. shows. The film moves smoothly & it is highly entertaining underdog story.
Spin Kick [Korean SE 2-Disc Set] (product link) Action/Adventure / Martial Arts This film is possibly the greatest Tae Kwon Do movie around. Don't get it twisted though- this movie is no action extravaganza. The fight sequences are spaced out due to rational progression and all of which are choreographed realistically yet aesthetics do come into play. All of the action is somewhat secondary as the fluidity and integrity of the film's story and message take precedence thus making it a true film and not just some "chop-saki" flick. Spin Kick winds up being a very entertaining and inspiring film with the central message that we can make our own destinies as we see fit. Loaded with great performances, humorous moments and authentic TKD this movie is well worth your time.
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The movie has decent choreograpy but the film to pokey & cheesy at times.
Shadow: Dead Riot (product link) Action/Adventure / Horror Complete crap. Avoid altogether if possible. Chock-full of the poorest quality everything. Bad acting, mild and less than generic fight scenes and the most gratuitous nudity of some of the ugliest girls that you would probably avoid at even last call. I gave it a half a star for it's concept-zombies, martial arts, nude women in prison-you know, sounds like a plan. Unfortunately the ridiculous execution of said idea made for one of the lamest things anyone would attempt to resell. Don't waste your time or money.
I had never played a single final fantasy game ever yet the trailers for it looked cool. Many told me that I would not get the movie or enjoy it fully if I had never played the game. Don't believe the hype. If you watch anime or mystery noir then you are used to putting together a grand story with minimal information but regardless if you pay attention to the movie it is easy to follow. However if for some reason you still can't get what's going on at least you can enjoy other things the movie has to offer- such as some of the most phenomenally extraordinary action and fight sequences ever crafted and put onto disc. After watching this movie I became disappointed with every Jedi or mutant or super soldier I had already encountered. Final Fantasy 7 blows away almost every action or sci fi/fantasy film you have ever seen. I can't help but thinking that this is how the star wars prequels should have been. It has something for every kind of action fan. Gunplay, violent chase scenes, meta human style fist fights with healthy portions of martial arts, kick-ass sword fights? All present and accounted for. If you are a sci fi/fantasy or action fan get it, watch it and spread the word.
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I love the video game series, I thought the movie was good-like 3 and half or 4 stars good. I thought it could of introduced the characters in a better way.
Great review. A lot of the fanboys has issues with it because it wasn't exactly what they wanted. As a huge FF fan I thought it was amazing. The soundtrack alone is worth a watch.
Samurai Chicks (product link) Action/Adventure / Martial Arts Absolute crap. Nothing worthwhile contained here-in. Try not to waste your time. Fights-virtually none and all pathetic. Drama-soap opera quality trash. Half a star for a couple cute chicks. Don't throw away your money-you will regret it. I did.
Spirited Killer (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure I saw all these crappy, trendy-ass, snobby reviews and I had to say something about it. A lot of folks have been crapping on this movie because of the deceptive packaging and not enough Tony or they bitch about the directing or acting. First off, only a flaky tool would even think that quality acting or directing is a reason movies like this are watched. Genre, kids. We watch this crap for the quality violence and the graceful destructiveness as well as the artistic expression and all that good shit. What these snots are failing to mention is that this is a very fun and energetic martial arts flick that captures the feeling and pace of those old school kung fu flicks that were made on shoe string budgets yet still featured break-neck precision choreography that made you want to go out and jump kick something. This movie rocks--it's the reviewers that suck.
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"Genre" is no excuse for suckiness. There are many great films in each genre (or should be, anyway. I am not aware of any great transsexual dwarf musicals, but it could be done). I saw this, found some quality, but was not highly impressed.
Did you actually watch this campy thai low budget fu movie? The movie is horrible, the style of film making was repeative & annoying, each fight scene was a disappointment. This is a huge disgrace for any viewer to review this film 4 stars.
You know something? I haven't seen the movie yet. But given what I just read in your review, I think you might have a point. Some people watch certain films, often for tedious and stupid reasons. I think I'll give this one a chance someday soon :-)
Nomad [2005] (product link) Action/Adventure / Drama A very mild, pedestrian film that somehow got very over-rated. The movie's "epic" action sequences are all mediocre and uninspired, lacking true intensity as well as excitement. There is nothing that stands out about this movie as a war movie or a film about a peoples' struggle against oppressive antagonists. While it does contain a few good performances from its actors and some decent cinematography, it still comes off as a boring rehash of things already done before. Not as good as "300" and NOWHERE near as good as "Musa: The Warrior". Avoid this movie. Not because it sucks (because it doesn't entirely), but because you've seen better.
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A waste of cameras & talent. The movie is a mess, and I can see why it was hidden away from movie theaters.
This movie is a total joke. And as the box design makes clear, it tries to blatantly, and unsuccessfully, rip-off 300. I agree that this is absurdly overrated
Ridiculously over-hyped flick that is smothered and covered in heaping portions of nothing special. A truly bland film that sacrifices substance for style. Not a good film on many levels with poor angles and editing for the fight and action sequences. There seem to be many reviewers out there with very little knowledge about Asian films and even less knowledge of martial arts, reviewing these movies, telling people good movies are bad movies and bad movies are classics. This is not fair to the consumers who don't know any better and expect a knowledgable opinion about these films but instead read reviews by children or under-experienced "critics" with very limited exposure to the culture. If this is the best Korean movie you have seen, you haven't seen many. If this is the best martial arts movie that you have seen, then you haven't seen any. Its predecessor, "Bichunmoo", was ten times better. Don't waste your money. Instead check out "Seven Swords" or "Azumi" if you want something in this ballpark but done much better and with higher overall quality.
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The film is fun. "Shadowless Sword" also has a great story to back up the amazing action scenes. The cast was flawless, and the violence was harsh but in the end it's one hell of a beautiful film.
I agree. This film is like too many other Korean swordplay films. Just like Bichunmoo, the filmmakers seem to care more about how it looks than anything else.
I totally disagree with you. Shadowless Sword is an amazing movie with such a nice feel to it, it's a simple yet touching story with a great cast. The Martial Art scenes are well done and the musical score and vibrant colours add to all-round great movie.
Fearless [2006] (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure
People by nature want to be pioneers. When they find something new first or early on they want to believe that they have discovered a hidden gem. This is where trends find their roots. Unfortunately reality trumps poorly formulated thoughts by means of time and reason. Because of this we now know that disco is dead, actors shouldn't be politicians and bell bottoms look stupid. In ten years we will be kicking ourselves for caring about who the next American Idol is or watching celebrities dance but back to the point at hand. "Fearless" is yet another ridiculously over-hyped mediocre movie that is probably best for people who haven't seen previous Jet Li movies, otherwise they might know how banal it is. Sorry, but nothing special. Sure it's entertaining but nowhere near his (Jet Li's) best anything. His all-time bests will always be "Fist Of Legend" and the original "Once Upon A Time In China". Sorry that's just how it is. The choreography was standard and nothing new. The fight choreography was not even as good as it was in "Lethal Weapon 4". His screen presence was not as strong as it was in "Unleashed" or "Hero". It will be a holy grail to fanboys but just pretty good to us veterans of Asian cinema. It's a shame he can't crank out the quality he used to, but oh well, Donnie Yen will save us all.
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Jet Li filmed with respect and understanding trumps "Lethal Weapon IV"'s travesty of a quaint running gag.
I really cannot imagine what would make you give this 3 stars?! This is some of Jet's absolute best and perhaps the only one to come full circle. There is a much larger philospohical context greater than "kung fu...train to be healthy and don't fight" LW4
Did u watch the movie? The choreography was amazing, each fight set the stage for Jet Li's final outing in the fu world. The movie is great! Lethal Weapon 4 was cheesy & for a Jet Li movie it is horrible.
I have to totally disagree with you here. I think that "Fearless" is definitely among Jet's best work, and I'm by no means a Jet Li fanboy. I think that overall this film pulls together the best elements of both filmmaking and action to tremendous effect.
Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter (product link) Comedy / Horror HOLY SH-T !!! This movie was sooo bad it actually hurt. "Friends" told me to check this movie out and now that is time I will never get back. No redeeming qualities whatsoever. I don't get cult acclaim for movies that fail to entertain on every level. It wasn't so bad that it became funny-just lame. After having watched this movie I somehow became embarrassed and ashamed for ever having it in my poor DVD player that has done nothing to deserve that type of treatment. This movie shall continue on a path of destruction seeking out and eradicating brain cells wherever it comes into contact. Protect your children and pets. Humanity has failed.
The movie is crap- but it's also a good way to break the ice with any stranger. JCVH is a movie that is out there, it's weird, & I am ashamed that I still have a copy of this film.
The man cannot be stopped. Donnie Yen once again chooses too dazzle us and proves that classic Hong Kong action still thrives and amazes. I mean, really, hit after hit: "Seven Swords", then "SPL", then "Dragon Tiger Gate", and now "Flash Point". This player ages like wine. Donnie provides some fresh choreography utilizing a wide range of styles and techniques from boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jujitsu, Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Chinese boxing, and God knows what else. The movie is just about as good as "SPL", with one exception. In "Flash Point" you only get one grand wall-to-wall throw down of an epic nature whereas in "SPL" you get two. This movie had a good feel and was littered with raw intense moments as well as pretty decent performances from the cast. The end fight was absolutely tight and one of the best within several years, causing it to break into the top 25 all time best end fights (also like "SPL"). This flick is definitely worth your time. I mean, seriously, "That is a tasty burger". If you are interested in end fights done right see the following: "SPL" (duh), "In The Line of Duty 4", "Shanghai Express", "Gorgeous", "Drive", "Fist of Legend", "Dragons Forever", "Who Am I?", "City of Violence", "Lethal Weapon 4", "Freddy vs. Jason", "Final Fantasy: Advent Children", and many others that I can't think of at the moment. Thanks for the time. Later.
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I can't agree with rating it as high as SPL, which is a far more accomplished film - but this really is a well constructed thriller which delivers what it promises. ****, but no more.
I liked the film, but compared to Wilson Yip's "SPL" this movie falls flat on originality, the action does not really show until the end. I thought Mr. Yip could of made a remarkable picture, but it just lacks original style.
Donnie Yen is one of the best in the business today. Unlike Jackie and Jet, he's not slowing down yet. It's nice to see him adding the repertoire even after such a long career.
donnie yen is a try hard, he could never match jet li or tony jaa, he is really traying too hard , i think he would not last in a real fight, if all the action star fight for real, i rate bruce lee no.1, jet li no.2, sammo hung no.3, tony jaa no.4, donie
SPL: Sha Po Lang (product link) Crime / Drama I just finished watching this movie for the ninth or tenth time a couple of nights ago and it still maintains the same effect as it did when I first got it over a year ago. It just kicks ass on many, many levels: as a hardboiled cops vs. gangster action flick; as a film about tragedy, twisting fates and the many demensions of family and loyalty; or flat out as a hardcore comeback for contemporary Hong Kong martial arts action movies. There are good fights throughout but two of these fights will put you on your ass: Donnie vs. Wu Jing and of course Donnie vs. the great Sammo Hung. It oozes class with a story told with the integrity of classic literature presented through good cinematography and editing with impressive performances from the entire cast. This movie is a must-own for any true fan of Hong Kong kung fu/action flicks or Asian film fans in general.
You are exactly right. This is a magnificent film. (This should certainly be in technical notes, but here goes: The Chinese mainland print edits out the end of the final fight - quite an omission.)
Afro Samurai (product link) Animation / Action/Adventure I'm surprised that no one has even reviewed or commented on this brilliant piece of work. Easily one of the best anime mini-series of all time and, if watched together, one of the best anime films of all time. It has a feel that is as distinct as "Cowboy Bebop" and "Samurai Champloo" and action that is as vicious and energetic as "Ninja Scroll". Absolutely entertaining and artistically fluid and original. If you like samurai movies or just contemporary anime then this is definitely worth your time.
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Compared to Samurai Champloo or Cowboy Bebop this series never comes close. The series does not know what kind of story it truly wants to tell, though some scenes are spectacular- as a whole I was not that impressed.
Spike television really hit the gold mine, with this stylish samurai story. The series is cool & it shows. The animation is also vibrant & plus w/ a great score from Rza- the series is a must-have for everyone.
Kill! (product link) Action/Adventure / Swordplay/Sword(s) This film was absolutely entertaining from start to finish. It presents a gritty atmosphere of desperation with a quirky sense of insights on the circumstance that are both funny and thought-provoking at times. The sword fights are raw and realistic with an unpolished feel that seems to give them greater credibility. "Kill" invokes feelings of old westerns and classic "Twilight Zone" episodes that made you really feel the journey as if you were taking it yourself. This movie easily makes my all-time top 25 samurai films list.
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I loved this on the screen when I saw it many years ago, and it is just about as good on dvd. I'm not sure I've disliked anything starring Tatsuya Nakadai,and this stands with many of his best.
The film is spectacular and it is very impressive piece of work, I have to say this is one of my top 5 samurai movies. The director is amazing, and the movie shows how awesome the man really is.
DOA: Dead Or Alive (product link) Action/Adventure / Martial Arts Entertaining. Seriously. It is not some deep soul searching film with oscar quality performances--no it's more like an ultra glossy Hollywood b-movie. That does not change the fun involved. We are talking some of the hottest women in the world in bikinis doing spinning hook kicks. We're talking son-of-ninja Kane Kosugi cleaning clocks like it's going out of style. Yes there are healthy doses of cheese and silly but littered about are also some pretty eye catching fight sequences. Don't get me wrong this is not the big martial arts/action event of the year by any means but it is a guilty pleasure for anyone who wants to have a little fun that can be had after a long day of work with a brain on auto-pilot. Worth checking out.
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The movie is ridicolous, I have played the game and I enjoyed it but Corey Yuen really made a mistake for this venture. The film is too pokey for it's own good, it never seems to satisfy any viewer but I guess I should rephrase that statement, u liked it
Truly an enjoyable spectacle. Arguably the most entertaining independent martial arts movie to surface. It's right up there with "Drive" and "Six-String Samurai". This movie is loaded and packed with irreverent and zany characters and comedy as well as energetic fight scenes that are reminiscent of classic 80's Hong Kong fu flicks. You can tell what these guys watched back in the day. I definitely notice a big Jackie/Sammo/Yuen Biao influence in there style. The fights were plentiful, inventive and very fluid and utilized a good range of combat styles from Hapkido to Kung Fu to Tae Kwon Do to Escrima. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who even remotely likes martial arts movies, independent movies or just fun movies in general. Simply dope. If you haven't gotten this yet get it now while you can. This is crucial material- kind of like required viewing for MA movie fans. Take notes there will be a test on this. You don't want to get left back a grade, do you?
Blood Of The Samurai (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure This movie begins with words from the makers explaining what camp is and encourages the viewer to talk and all kinds of other crap while they watch the movie to get the total experience. Basically a cop-out. If you were to pay attention to the movie you would notice it plays out like a very noticeably low budget "Dude Where's My Sword". The movie bites, I don't care how many bullshit awards it won. Across the board low quality (writing, directing, acting, cinematography, etc.). I was generous to give it one star; but at some moments through the movie you are entertained by how poor and corny it is, and in those moments it does achieve a degree of camp--but for the most part it's crap.
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This is a cheap, shoddy exploitation film, but a ***worthy entertaining cheap, shoddy exploitation film.
Some people seem to be confused about a lot of things regarding purpose, function, and obviously entertainment value. I seem to read a lot of reviews from individuals who are missing the point of having different types or genres of movies. You can't use the same grading system to score basketball and boxing the same way you can't you can't judge "Seven Samurai" and "Fist of Legend" on the same scale of measurement. Though "Seven Samurai" and "Fist of Legend" are both 5-star movies they are so for different reasons and should not be rated in the same manner because they are two different creations seeking to accomplish different things while entertaining in their own respective manners. That being said, THIS is a 5-star movie. "Tom Yum Goong" is hands down the best martial arts movie to surface in the last decade. I didn't write a review for this for awhile because I just figured it went without saying. Of course then I read a few douche-soaked reviews about what is arguably one of the top ten all time greatest martial arts movies. Well fuck that. If you are not hip--get hip. This is one that will go down in history for its break-neck, balls-to-the-wall action choreography. Possibly the best fights you have ever witnessed. HA, now you have to buy it. But remember, for proper and optimal enjoyment of all of your Asian viewing, you have to watch the original Asian versions or you are not even watching the real movie. Thanks for reading and I'll see you all at the fight club for our weekly therapy. Oh crap, I wasn't supposed to talk about that...
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This is an exceptional genre film. There is a distinction between that and unambitious dreck.
The only thing I disagree with is that something nowadays can go without saying. There's always someone behind a keyboard with no taste or class, but with lots of free time.
Sin City (product link) Action/Adventure / Crime One of the slickest movies I have ever seen. Easily the best and most faithful adaption of a comic book ever put to film. This movie's gritty, noir-drenched, stylized feel combined with its intense and poetic expressions of good vs. evil make this possibly one of the greatest movies you could spend an evening with. Frank Miller's genius is finally utilized by Hollywood and it is so worth it. A complete masterpiece that helps you forget the long string of horrible comic book movie adaptions. This movie is enriched and fortified with graphic violence, captivating performances, a raw-pulpy detective and samurai essence, and possibly vitamin c. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who likes movies, but especially fans of comics, noir, fantasy and well crafted stories. Don't look for a shovel but you might dig it.
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I'm not sure this approach would work with many other adaptations of comics, but Robert Rodriguez does extremely well with Frank Miller's Sin City universe. I shudder to imagine doing it any other way.
Magnificent Natural Fist [9-Movie Set] (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure One of the dopest old school kung fu flicks ever. Superb and smooth choreography powered by high quality Longfist and Chou Jiao. The end fight is crucial and one of the greatest end fights of all time, despite a goofy bit towards the end. This film deserves a better rerelease [than Ground Zero's double feature DVD]. "Magnificent Natural Fist" is criminally under-rated and it belongs in the library of every true kung fu aficionado.
A highly flawed middle-of-the-road slasher flick. Rob Zombie manages to be pretentious and repugnant all in one bound. Too much time is spent on young Michael Myers, a kid you just want to push down some stairs. This is where Mr. Zombie takes the time to rationalize twisted depravity due to a screwed-up childhood. Nice. The mask shit got old real quick, and there is an unnecessary rape scene that either displays that the whole town is trash or just Rob. That being said, once it gets going and Mikey has grown to nice a XXXL, there is some fun to be had. Maskface takes on all comers big and small (mostly small) and slashes and stabs his way to a classic yet cliched rhythm. Let's face it, this crap does get kind of creepy. There are some very fun and varied kills and nude teens, so the movie is not completely without its charm. For die-hard horror junkies I give it a 3 - 3.5 stars. For everyone else 2.5. It's okay.
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Your review is too generous. Seriously, anytime a Rob Zombie "project" gets above zero stars, the review has gone wrong somewhere.
I think that's a very fair assessment. As a huge fan of the original, I was more insulted by this trailer-trash bastardization of one of my favorite films. But on its own perhaps this film is worth 2.5 stars rather than 1...
Once again it is time for me to play fire starter and conflict with the popular established opinions of this movie for the sake of balance and fairness. That was a bit over the top. Moving on...
To begin with, I dug it. A lot of folks are mad that Jet Li didn't really showcase enough of his martial arts ability and that he somehow gave a bad overall performance. Well that's kind of bullshit. First off, if you folks are the big Jet Li fanatics you pretend to be, then you already read his numerous interviews where he flat out stated that "Fearless" was going to be his last epic martial arts movie. There it is. He told you himself there would be no more wall-to-wall kung fu movies coming from him, and here you people are waiting for him to be proven a liar.
So "War" is an action movie that feels like an anime and not a kung fu flick. So what? Nobody seems to mention that the dialog, basic story, and plot twists are well written. Nobody seems to mention that there are some pretty decent performances from the cast and that the action has a raw tactical quality that feels more real than a bunch of action and fu flicks circulating currently. Nobody mentions this because they all wanted to see what they expected to see, and it's not fair to factor in your preconceived notions into your reviews, kids. I know you're annoyed that you didn't see enough Jet fu. Well guess what? I'm fucking annoyed that I didn't get to see enough Jet fu; but I can't deny when I see an enjoyable movie, and it is what it is.
Jet Li's performance as an ice cold killer who is always ready to put a few rounds in somebody is quite captivating as he smirks and utilizes subtle mannerisms that convey maximum menace. Definitely a movie for people who love bad guys.
If I was totally unbiased I would have given it 4 stars, but even I was petty enough to hope for a few more flashy kicks. Shame on all of us. If you can leave your expectations at the door and watch this movie objectively I think you will see it is a pretty cool action flick that is worth a look or two. If you want to see a real crappy Jet Li movie, check out "Bodyguard From Beijing" or "Romeo Must Die"--his two worst.
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I have never wished for suicide, but this movie has made me see things in a whole new light.
This film was horrible. If you like Jet Li so much this is not a good film the story was messy & the goofy plot twists was a disaster. The movie is a mess that is why it came out in late August.
this movie total sucked, who ever like this movie must got no brain, how can you say it's good? the writer of this film must be drunk when he wrote the script, the action director corey yuen must be half asleep when he direct the movie, jet li worst film!
Best Of The Best [1989] (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure An American classic. This film has one thing many other martial arts flicks don't: a plot. The plot in question feels real and natural and the performances from much of the cast are exemplary. The fights are very well arranged and performed, which is necessary for a movie like this to attain any level of credibility. "Best of the Best" is probably the the second best TKD movie around. Phillip and Simon Rhee trade almost every smooth move they got in one of the best end fights in American cinema history. My only complaints involve James Lew doing Chinese shit when he is playing a member of the Korean team (he is Chinese actor by the way, not Korean), and a few non-martial artists on the American team hindered the movie's full potential from manifesting. Beyond that it is a damn good flick worth veiwing and owning.
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the fighting didn't do it for me, in this one! but like with flicks such as THE KARATE KID and AMERICAN NINJA, I can enjoy it as pure 80's cheese instead!
Rapid Fire (product link) Action/Adventure / Martial Arts Nobody has written a review for this movie yet? You people should be ashamed of yourselves. "Rapid Fire" is one of the greatest American martial arts movies in history and stars the son of a legend. Brandon Lee busts so much ass in this movie it's retardulous. He shows fools what authentic, high quality Jeet Kune Do is all about while displaying a charismatic and focused presence that hasn't really been seen since his father. The gunplay/action and martial arts are all gelled together in a smooth manor a decade before American directors really got hip to genre blending, so in a lot of ways this film was really ahead of its time. THIS MOVIE IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR ANY MARTIAL ARTS MOVIE COMPLETIST. Also at the [HKFlix] price it is quite a bargain. Seriously, go buy it now. Go.
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You are way too praiseworthy of this film. It has a hokey feel to it and the dialogue is way too clunky. Furthermore, Powers Boothe's acting seems to say "What the hell am I doing here?"
Um, yeah. I don't know where to start. I guess I liked it. I think. It was a somewhat entertaining pile of demented garbage. Lactating hookers?!? Ex-soldier with carrot fixation??? The movie is so absurd that you can't help but get a kick out of it. This movie is a straight-up big budget Hollywood campy B-movie. The dialog and plot are ridiculous. The action however is plentiful and ranges from raw and enjoyable to flat-out ludicrous and corny with plenty of cliched devices that both hurt and help the action sequences. "Shoot Em Up" by title alone is not for someone looking for a meaningful film or even a logical one. It is more for fans of trash cinema that is fueled by over the top graphic violence, random and pointless sex/nude scenes, and cheesy lines spoken in cheesy ways. I kinda liked it cause I'm kinda weird, but to be fair the average person should probably avoid it altogether. For fans of trash cinema it's a 4-4.5 star flick; for regular movie goers it's 1-2 stars; for cats like me who just need a healthy dose of gratuitous violence from time to time it's about 3 stars. Watch at your own risk.
Equilibrium (product link) Action/Adventure / Science Fiction A really awesome flick. Nothing like "The Matrix", even though it is compared to it all the time. It's actually more like George Orwell's "1984" mixed with "Farenheit 451" and a heavy splash of John Woo, blended well and served hot. Seriously, come for the dystopian dark alterna-future, stay for the "Gun Kata" and leave satisfied after witnessing one of the most innovative and slickly choreographed end fights around. Good story, good actors and excellent action insure that this movie will entertain on at least a few levels. Well worth your time and money.
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Exactly so. You don't oversell it, but it is definitely worth seeing/buying/recommending. The cast is unusually good for this genre.
This flick is a blast. It's probably one of my top-five favorite trashy films around. The plot and story are garbage and irrational, as mentioned in a previous review. Madame M's methodology was idiotic and would have left her bankrupt. The acting is of the pre-teen soap opera style reminiscent of "Saved By The Bell". The action and fight scenes however are off-the-chain. The fight choreography is excellent and well composed with a good variety of Wushu styles on display. Some very nice Longfist, Ditang Chuan, Eagle, Karate and supurbly applied Bagua keep the fights very kinetic and multi-dementional. Did I mention that you get to see Maggie Q topless? That's right. Definite bonus to any movie. That fact alone would be a ticket-seller in some places.
Anyways, to sum up, sure "Naked Weapon" is loaded down with more cheese than an extra large traditional crust from Papa John's, but it's so damn fun that it's worth the time. I would recommend it to fans of action, kung fu, sexploitation, Russ Meyers, Roger Corman, Andy Sedaris, and various other entertaining trash. Now dance with me, bitches.
Don't do it. I know what you're thinking. The cover looks all sweet with Mark looking bad-ass standing on top of a truck with a shotgun while a legion of zombies swarm and engulf the city. The flick is nothing like that and of a much lower budget than insinuated. "I Am Omega" is low on all the thrills you would expect in this type of movie: weak action with crappy sound and special effects which include cheap blanks; virtually no fights (well maybe more like three, but they all sucked ); and melodramatic b-movie acting to go with the noticeably b-movie everything else. Do not buy this movie as you will be very disappointed with your purchase. I was being very generous with the 1.5 stars because I like Mark Dacascos and it does have a cool cover, but even I have to face it on a purely rational level that this movie does in fact blow. If you want to see a good zombie flick check out "Dawn of the Dead" (the new school version by Zach Snyder) or "Versus" (preferably the ultimate edition, but all "Versus" are good "Versus"). Thanks for reading. Sleep tight and have a pleasant tomorrow.
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Ugh, I wanted so badly for this movie to rock, but you're totally right. It was unwatchable. The saddest part? Dacascos is getting a bit older, and it looks like he'll never get the chance to top "Drive". Such a shame.
Dawn Of The Dead [2004] (product link) Horror / Thriller Hell yeah, sports fans! What we have here is a big five-course helping of total fun and mayhem. This is my personal favorite and arguably the best zombie movie ever. Great characters and action combined with a classic story blend well with Zach Snyder's distinct style of direction and seem to give his films a more comic book feel even when he is not necessarily doing a comic-based movie. "Dawn of the Dead" is packed with zombie brains painting the walls and the sheer awe of an apocalyptic setting displayed in a somewhat relatable surreal fashion. This movie is the phunk. If you dig zombie flicks, action flicks, horror flicks or just fun violent-ass quality flicks, get going and buy this damn movie. It's worth it. Trust me.
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While not my favorite zombie flick of all time, I really couldn't agree with you more on this one. The sheer love of the genre shines through in every aspect of this unduly maligned film. Hugs and kisses, The Bottle Kids.
One of the all-time best kung fu movies ever. If you don't have this movie in your martial arts movie collection, then your collection rides the short bus and requires guidance. This is arguably Jackie, Sammo and both Yuens' best collaboration ever, packing high energy superbly choreographed fight scenes with memorable performances from the majority of the main cast. A lot of people believe that the Jackie vs. Benny "The Jet" fight in "Wheels On Meals" is their best on-screen match-up. They're wrong. Their match up in "Dragons Forever" was their best throwdown and incorporated a higher level of more technical combinations with better shots of the larger and more flamboyant techniques. If you don't have it, you must obtain it some way if there is ever hope to complete your collection properly. Oh yeah, and watch for Benny "The Jet" kicking Yuen Biao in the dome with a 360 back kick off of a table that looks like it connects so harsh that it had to put someone in a damn coma. Tell your friends. Tip your waitresses. I'm out.
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I'm not sure about the rankings of Jackie Chan's films, but this is a very good one.
I 100% agree that this is better than Wheels on Meals. The final scene in the factory is much better than the castle scene in WOM. Plus, I don't have to watch Jackie and Yuen sell hamburgers.
truly spoken. Wheels on Meals doesn't come close to Dragons Forever which is clearly a better movie with better fights. The Jackie Chan vs. Benny Urquidez fight scene is top notch (and in my opinion better than Wheels on Meals). The HKL version rocks.
I was kind of disappointed here. Okay, very disappointed. I thought, here is a story with the opportunity to showcase these super-powered characters battling in epic brawls and battles for the balance of good and evil. Whatever. The fights basically bite due to poor choreography and no inherent physical skill/conditioning/ability among the entire cast. It's about a half an hour too long and packed full of long-winded, cheesy, biblically referenced tirades. The shit was boring. There is some okay gunplay in the flick, but the action sequences are few and far between, as well as not entirely satisfying when they do pop up. "Gabriel" did have a cool and unique look courtesy of the green screen treatment, but neat scenery does not make an awesome movie, it can only help an okay movie to suck a little less. It's not a total pile of crap, but it ain't far from it. Don't waste your time, do something cool--something else.
What's that you say? You like seeing people kicked in the head but you don't own this movie? Sounds like a problem. I'd get on that. It's hard to say something about this flick that hasn't been said before so I'll do my best not to get too cliche or generic. For me this is more of a root for the bad guy kind of flick. Don't get me wrong I love Lau Kar Leung and he was good in it but no matter how much I tried I just didn't like the hero character. He was kind of sad and almost as big a tool as Mike Lee. Kim Won Jin as the bad guy's son steals the damn show with his funky scorpion style and a kicking arsenal that puts almost everyone you have ever seen to shame. I got to level with you I kick like the devil but when I watch Kim Won Jin do his thing it makes me feel like I need to carry my ass back to gym and try a lot harder because that man stands on top of the kicking food chain and we are all gonna need better goodies to keep up. This movie is just plain fun and full of good reasons to enjoy despite minor cheese deposits. I probably would have gave it a slightly higher rating but like I said the main character was kind of a chump. Get it for the bad guy. Collection Status: Mandatory.
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Great review - to the point and totally accurate. Not to worry about the kicking I think it's probably partially genetic : )
I'm glad to see a lot of good reviews for this flick because it does kick so much ass that the asses that don't get kicked still live in fear. This review is for those of you who have not bothered to check this out yet. You're missing out. It's a well balanced blend of "old school" and "new school" sensibilities with influences ranging from classic samurai films to westerns to contemporary noir.
"City of Violence" is at its core a really tight revenge flick that plays out kind of like "Four Brothers" meets "Kill Bill" with, of course, a fairly standard twist. The martial arts aspect of the film is first class with Tae Kwon Do being showcased as an all purpose weapon that is clearly more vicious and functional amoung the people who originated it. The fights had true grit and a rawness that was mixed well with plenty of flash that gave them a distinct flavor. As for the end fight finale--it will knock your wobblies around. Wall to wall style and substance with a good story told in a good way using good talent.
If at this point you are still not interested in giving this movie a chance then fine but please move to the back of the bus and don't say shit when we pass your stop. Thanks for reading and remember nothing says "happy Easter" more than strippers and crack. I gotta go, the warden's coming.
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No, I wouldn't have said it quite the same way, but this is an extremely good martial arts/revenge/thriller. The fights seem unusually authentic and direct. I have to watch this again right away.
All right you asked for it. History lesson, kids: Bruce Lee is the shit. He is the man that reconfigured the whole paradigm of contemporary martial arts training and modern combat philosophy and psychology. He trained with the absolute best (many that went on to become grandmasters of their styles) and he would take on any challenge that came his way. On a radio interview he once said "to be honest I am the best fighter in the world currently". Do you know who sought him out, beat down his door and whooped his ass? Nobody. Nobody said shit because they had more sense than at least one reviewer here. I know all this because, like many of my fellow reviewers here and also like many of my fellow martial artists here, Bruce Lee was an inspiration and a legend--a profound innovator and thinker and perhaps the truest form of a warrior--but beyond that he was a hero to a lot of us. While it was true that he was a mere 5' 7" and 140lbs., his punching power had been measured to be on a par with that of a heavyweight professional boxer. It is not fair for some reviewers with dangerously low I.Q.'s and very little understanding of everything to soil the name of a deceased hero to millions in the name of "truth". Truth is connected to reality. Reality is all perception. The perceptions dictate the truth making it subjective. Meaning the "truth" for a "special" needs kid is not the same truth for the rest of the class. Oh yeah, that reminds me--"Enter the Dragon" was the best fucking movie ever made. There's my damn review. Oh and as for you, Mike Lee, "Man you come right out of a comic book".
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The battle with the critics was magnificent. Your reviewing skills are extra-ordinary. And I was going to ask you to join us!
Im not a huge Bruce fan. But this is a classic. And I think Bruce was more hands on with this movie, than he was given credit for. Watch the steaming pile, that is GYMKATA, and tell me, the same guy directed this gem.
I'm afraid not. That should just about cover it. Every question you might want to ask about this flick should be covered with the preceding. Was there a good story or some good acting? Was there something unique and/or awesome about this flick? Is there any real reason that you should make the effort to check this movie out? I'm afraid not. But it kind of works both ways. Was it the worst thing that I have ever seen? Is this movie totally worthless? I'm afraid not. It has its moments and there are some enjoyable fight scenes scattered about but overall it lags. Often. Corny and definitively independent b-movie standard blah-blah that basically screams: "I made this movie with everyone that I know and there is no way of hiding it." The fights overall are about 50/50--some of the fights are lame but the ones that have actual Stunt People in them are pretty nice. Move on or watch at your own discretion, but don't act like I didn't warn you. Because I did.
Corny. There was cheese. It was garbage. Thankfully for me it was my kind of garbage. To really dig it you kind of have to see past a lot of things. Ignore the sad acting and very generic plot. Disregard the fact that the CGI blood looks like animated bubblegum. If you can manage to suspend your disbelief or you are into things like comic books, anime or kung fu movies then this might be a fun little flick for you as well. The action had good flair and there was definitely some memorable kills. Marko Zaror is a pretty slick cat. Homeboy has got some superb kicking skills. There were a few slow points in the movie and it could have used perhaps a couple more fight scenes seeing as how it was not quite as battle-rific as say "Tom Yum Goong","Ong Bak" or "Contour". A few more fights might have raised my rating for it but I still dug it none-the-less. For anyone willing to give this oddity a try I say go for it and beware of Korean schoolgirls. This is Bastard Ronin reminding you to enjoy your weekend even if it is at another's expense. Now here's Tom with the weather...
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I agree with you on this- but if you look at it more of a western then a martial arts flick you'll see what it was trying to do. Yep, it is cheesy but it is what it is.
Invincible [2001] (product link) TV Shows/Movies / Martial Arts
Like a slap and tickle from a drunk girl that you have never seen before I am here to show you the way. I need to quit smoking that shit. Anyways, "Invincible", right. So I first saw this flick on TNT I think and it was basically what you would expect to get out of a television movie, but for some reason I really enjoyed it. It was covered with cheese. The acting wavered from inconsistent to crap-tastic. The story was of your generic comic book/cartoon variety, i.e. find and protect the sacred item before the bad guys get it and destroy the world. The classic "elements of nature" device was put to use here as well. Very camp. So what? I like comics and I like exciting and creative Hong Kong style fight choreography, which this movie has a decent amount of. Some good styles on display and some talented stunt performers get to shine. Purists beware though, if you like your kung fu movies performed by true martial artists (and I can relate), stay away from this movie, as this flick is very stunt-double heavy. If, however, you have seen and enjoyed things like "D.O.A." and both "Mortal Kombat" flicks and you are one of those desperate martial arts fanatics who has watched many episodes of "Power Rangers" in the past just hoping to see a few good fights, then I would absolutely recommend this movie to you. And I'm not judging, by the way. Loser. I'm just fucking with you I did that shit too, but in my defense I drank a lot and I had a crush on the cute cheerleader. What was her name-oh, right, Billy.
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This mel gibson Tv Movie was a big let down- it was messy, the fights were not good at all-yeah I hear you say it was cheesy but it wasn't even good cheese. I agree with you on DOA & MK -but this movie was horrible.
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