Jackie Chan: The Kung Fu Years (product link) Documentary / Martial Arts This is the worst documentary film about Jackie Chan ever! Old movie versions taken from a 4:3 picture format. The narration is very simple, you don't get any rare information or pictures.
"Angry Ranger" is a very brutal action film from star director Lo Wei. I bought it because I collect Jackie Chan featured films and as Jackie produced this one it was clear for me to buy it.
The plot is nothing new: A man comes out of jail after a few years where he covered a friend of him. As he is free again he gets into trouble because of a very attractive girl who is a "slave" of a drug tycoon, so he has to manage the new situation of working in his uncle's store, building up his new life and prevent trouble and fighting with his enemies--but it doesn't work. In the end--the grand finale--you see him getting his love back somehow and killing other people, so he gets into jail again...
Pretty depressing, I guess. And that's even the whole movie. There's a lot of blood and murder, animals (in uncle's sea fruit store) get killed (for real!). I personally don't like such movies that in reality during shooting are gruesome, so that's the reason I just gave 1 star. As a good fact, I can say that the fighting of course is good. Fast und strong.
Worth to complete a Jackie Chan film collection. Worth seeing it only because of the attractive female protagonist named Jane...
The One Armed Boxer (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Wang Yu is the one armed boxer - but this only happens halfway through the film! One question I had was: why are two Tibetan monks fighting for the evil? This doesn't make any sense but looks quite original.
The plot is nothing new (revenge), the characters are standrad fighters except the specialists: Tibetan monks, Thai boxers, yoga expert...
The movie itself is poorly cut, the fights are more street fights than well choreographed kung fu action scenes. Wang Yu is a street fighter not an acrobat!
The film is brutal and bloody and a typical 70s eastern. 1 1/2 hour entertainment which even has a stolen US soundrack in it!
The Himalayan (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure "The Himalayan" is a great kung fu movie. "Flesh Legs's" aka Dorian Tan's skills are breathtaking and always worth watching--especially in a movie with Angela Mao, Chen Sing and a lot of ex-Chinese opera school students (Yuen Wah, Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan).
This movie is a long lost one, now distributed as a classic kung fu movie from 1979 starring stars like Yueh Hua, Hsu Feng and Lo Lieh.
The reason I bought this DVD is that I collect all Jackie Chan featured films, and the distributor of this DVD tells that Jackie should be the face behind the mask, so I naturally was interested in that one. I cannot tell that Jackie really is the masked assassin--you can't clearly see his face--and even his kung fu skills and movements don't really match with the ones by Jackie Chan. Besides, at that time Jackie already has had his breakthrough, so I think that if he really is in the movie it was a favour towards the director or producer and Jackie didn't want to be seen in it.
The movie itself is a typical kung fu classic. A lot of sword and fist fights. What surprised me was that the movie even has a deeper plot with a lot of figures. Some of the locations in the movie are well known, so the family's home where Half a Loaf of Kung Fu was once shot for example.
The reason why I just give 3 1/2 stars for this DVD is that some fight scenes, especially those with the masked assassin, are brutal and very slow. This is also a reason why I think that Jackie might not be the masked man in the film.
Concluding, The Face behind the Mask is a classic kung fu movie and for fans of Hsu Feng, Lo Lieh or Yueh Hua - even Jackie Chan fans like me who study Rip-Offs - it is a 90 minute adventure.
The Angry River (product link) Action/Adventure / Martial Arts In some filmographies "The Angry River" is mentioned as the first movie production of Golden Harvest; in few lists it already is the fifth one.
Whatever, it is a brilliant piece of Hong Kong movie history. The sword fighting flick contains a lot of blood (effects), wirework, and even a silly-looking, life-size monster! The plot is very simple--it is about revenge. Besides, "The Angry River" shows Angela Mao as the female leading role in an early 70es action movie which also brings more emotions to the plot.
Sammo Hung, who has a small role in the movie, was the second stunt coordinator (as Chu Yuan Lung) alongside Han Ying-Chieh (he also appears in the movie). The fights--not all--though, are pretty limp and slow.
I gave it 4 out of 5 stars because of a good rhythm, a bunch of stars, and some appearing very epic frames. The monster is too silly!
Village Of Tigers (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure "Village Of Tigers" is a long lost Shaw Brothers production with Yueh Hua - it was worth the outdigging!
Beside the excellent swordfights, which are very fast-paced, the movie lives through a dramatic plot. The final fight scene is very original. A kind of skipping-fight!
Though the movie has good action and breathtaking/epic shots, the standard plot is too little. Nevertheless it is worth seeing it.
The Valiant Ones (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure King Hu is a legendary director, no doubt! "The Valiant Ones" is one of his worst movies, though it is still a good movie.
The epic pictures lost at weight. Nevertheless, King Hu has got a brilliant cast--a lot of Beijing Opera students are in this flick: Yuen Wah, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Jackie Chan should also have a small role, I could not identify him 'till now. But you also see Mars in a funny Japanese role.
The movie itself has a simple plot and is easy to understand.
Cinema Of Vengeance (product link) Documentary / Martial Arts Cinema of Vengeance is a good documentary film about the history ("fistory") of Martial Arts in the movies.
Kung Fu, Wushu, Karate and many more styles are presented by many Artists such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Bruce Lee, Sammo Hung and so on.
You can also see some scenes from early Kung Fu movies. Pretty rare pictures though.
Dragon Heat (product link) Art / Drama This is a very interesting film. When I saw the cover I thought it would be an epic kung fu drama, but then I read the synopsis and was surprised.
"Dragon Heat" is an experimental movie directed by Eric Kot and features stars like Ekin Cheng, Shu Qi, Karen Mok and Jacky Cheung. Besides, some rare (private?) scenes from other stars are visible. For example: Jackie Chan and Willie Chan at a dinner party (only a few seconds).
In the end you can see the outtakes which are also very funny and interesting.
The Private Eyes (product link) Comedy This movie is a typical Hui brothers comedy featuring a lot of well-known persons of the Hong Kong film industry, first of all the Hui brothers, Richard Ng and Shek Kin.
The movie itself contains a lot of situation comedy and even spoofs Bruce Lee and well-known Hollywood flicks.
Jackie Chan is rumored to be in the movie as a stuntman, but this isn't proved (yet)! Nevertheless, this 1976 Hong Kong comedy is a classic in the Hui brothers collection.
Thanks a lot to Joy Sales for releasing this movie on a splendid DVD--the quality is perfect!
Kung Fu Girl (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Cheng Pei-Pei is just awesome! In "The Heroine" (aka "Kung Fu Girl") she reminds the audience of Bruce Lee. In one scene she circles her leg like Bruce Lee did with his arms. In the last big fight scene she kicks a Japanese (!) bad guy through a Chinese door like Bruce Lee did in "Fist of Fury".
"The Heroine" is a very good historical drama from Lo Wei that deals with the situation between China and Japan. Although Lo Wei again uses "stolen" music from American movies, this film is a classic one in Hong Kong cinema.
I really enjoyed the 93 minutes to watch these three different stories: a gambler telling stories about mahjong, a man taking revenge on female dentists, and two other men who are telling white lies!
My personal highlight in this movie is Jackie Chan in his first and only role as a straight evil murderer who kills two beautiful women!
As this movie isn't quite so entertaining for western audiences--because the majority aren't familiar with the game mahjong--it is more entertaining for eastern cinema-acquainted people.
The Blade Spares None (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure This swordfight movie has it all: talented actors/actresses, perfect fights, a good plot and breath-taking pictures.
James Tien makes a strong fighter, Nora Miao is as wonderful as always!
The VCD I watched only had Chinese subtitles, therefore it was not so easy to follow the plot. There is a lot of dialogue in "The Blade Spares None" but it is well set.
The movie is very cruel and brutal, but the story itself is a serious one which makes one think about it. It is very inspiring as well. Although the fights are less good, the cut of the movie and the soundtrack is! Also the actors.
The only thing that was really bad was the original English audio which is in very poor quality. Nevertheless, "Chinese Hercules" is a must-see movie for all eastern fans.
Rice Rhapsody (product link) Comedy / Romance A wonderful comedy drama with a lot of well known actors and actresses.
The cinemtography of "Rice Rhapsody" is very smooth, so that you are in a kind of weightless feeling while watching the movie.
Also the original soundtrack is very good. Another hit produced by Jackie Chan.
Everlasting Regret [China SE 2-Disc Set] (product link) Drama / Romance "Everlasting Regret" is one of those epic Hong Kong dramas produced by Jackie Chan next to "Rouge", "I Am Sorry", and "Centre Stage".
Its brilliant photographed scenes and acting sequences are enjoyable to watch and insist on being admired.
Wonderful acting by the actors and actresses, beautiful scenery and locations, and the most realistic costumes ever made for a Hong Kong drama.
The Heavenly Kings [Director's Cut] (product link) Documentary I loved watching this movie! It shows the "intrigues" of the music business really well, the movie is funny, dramatic and original as well.
You see a lot of well-known actors, actresses, singers--and even songwriters and producers have their appearance in Daniel Wu's directing debut.
ALIVE - the band within the movie - was very popular and successful. But this was only in order to shoot this movie!
You can relax really well while watching the scenes.
Story Of Kennedy Town (product link) Action/Adventure / Romance "Story of Kennedy Town" is very dramatic. The movie was produced by Golden Way, Jackie Chan's former production company. The story reminds of a typical John Woo film: The brotherhood 'till the death!
The movie itself is entertaining; there are good fights in it. And although the plot is relatively simple, the characters aren't.
I loved watching the movie because it has got a lot of style.
Lady Of Steel (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure This movie is a must-have in every kung fu movie collection! Although "Come Drink With Me", also starring Cheng Pei-Pei, is one of the best of its genre, the cinematography and the used ideas in "Lady Of Steel" are even better!
I can't tell anything bad about this movie, it is 84 minutes of absolute power. Besides, in some fight scenes the actors wait for a kick or a punch or even a hit with the sword. But this doesn't ruin the speed of the movie.
Tempting Heart (product link) Romance This Jackie Chan-presented movie is a wonderful film. It has it all: comedy and drama, love and death, hope and loss! Everybody will feel with the characters in the movie. It is real AND entertaining.
It is dark-humored, erotic and has a superb plot with a lot of talented and well-known actors and actresses (Lily Ho, Yueh Huah...). Also, the drama is high-setted.
Jackie Chan didn't mention this movie in his official film list but he has a very important supporting role in it - and he even sings! It is a must for all Jackie Chan fans and for all lovers of the 70s HK erotic films.
I bought this one because Jackie Chan produced it. He is even honored in one text line in the movie.
The fights are very good and aesthetic, also humorous. The story is very good, funny and even clever. Also the music plays a big part in this film. It's kind of a Western!
You see a lot of well-known people in this early masterpiece!
Ninja Wars (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure "The epic battle between man and black magic". This sentence is written on the back of the DVD cover--and it's so true. "Ninja Wars" is an absolute classic of Japanese cinema. A must for every Asian-movie fan!
A Touch Of Zen (product link) Martial Arts / Swordplay/Sword(s) "A Touch of Zen" is the ultimate kung fu epos with Hsu Feng in her greatest role. King Hu, the director, created a magic, mystical movie. The scenes in the bamboo forest are breathtaking and classic!
The Young Dragons (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure "The Young Dragons" is one of the first movies directed by star director John Woo and features stars like Dean Shek, Hark-On Fung and Ni Tien. Besides, Jackie Chan was action choreographer for this film.
In this action highlight from 1974 you can already admire John Woo's sense of extraordinary cinematography and his cool characters. The man with his cigarettes that he lights with a aesthetic movement is nice watching.
The plot is very simple, but the cinematography by John Woo lets this film be an outstanding kung fu movie with good kung fu fights for the 1970s.
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