Agreement:91% of 134 voters agree with William Giordanella's reviews Gender: Male Location: Byron Georgia
Bio: I really prefer the older movies and I've been watching alot of Fu Sheng and Ti Lung films lately. No matter how many films I watch, my favorite is still Sammo.
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Bastard Swordsman (product link) Martial Arts / Swordplay/Sword(s) Normally, nobody complains more about wirework than me, but this movie is so well done that you can't help but sit back and enjoy. Everything about it works for me with the exception of the silkworm stuff at the very end, which was just a little too overboard, which is why I knocked off 1/2 a star. If you go into this film expecting a wuxia fantasy, you'll be happliy impressed. If you are expecting a realistic martial arts swordplay movie, look elsewhere. Highly recommended if you want something a little different.
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Exactly right. I prefer realistic martial arts,but this film is a kick.
One Armed Swordsmen (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure A really cool idea executed to perfection by Wang Yu and David Chiang. Throw in a minor performance by the always great Lo Lieh and you have a movie that doesn't disappoint. Highly recommended.
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I WANT A WIDESCREEN RELEASE! And I HATE VIDEO ASIA! :)
City Of Darkness (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Although Donnie Yen's picture is displayed on the box, he really has a small role in this one. On the plus side, there are tons of fights in this flick and most of them are very good. I knocked a 1/2 star off for some misplaced childish humor and unneccesary wirework. I also deducted another 1/2 star off for a very disappointing ending. If you like your kung fu flicks for non-stop action, you'll like this, but this is by no means perfect.
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Very true. Not perfect but still quite good. i wonder what happened to some of the younger actors in this that seemed to disappear from movies after this one.
Rage Of The Masters (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Although the bodycount is endless, this is a terrible movie featuring Wang Yu. I think there were about three people who actually looked like they had practiced martial arts; the rest were just flunkies to add to the bodycount. Add in absolutely horrible dubbing and wirework that was so bad it's laugh out loud funny. This started out with some promise, even though you've seen the "you killed my father, revenge is mine" storyline. I am a fan of Wang Yu, but this was barely tolerable to sit through.
Hanuman: The White Monkey Warrior (product link) Martial Arts / Fantasy Let's see...the story was confusing and dumb, the martial arts were lame and CGI-infused, and the only way you could tell that the lead was "The White Monkey Warrior" was because he scratched behind his ears like a monkey from time to time. Throw in some bad acting and you get a movie that I recommend you stay away from at all costs. Don't say I didn't warn you.
The Naval Commandos (product link) Action/Adventure / War First and foremost, it must be said that this is more of a war/espionage movie than a martial arts movie. There is some martial arts action, but considering the cast, it could be a little disappointing to some to see such little martial arts action. The cast is top notch, with David Chiang, Ti Lung, Fu Sheng, and some Venoms thrown in to boot. If you go in understanding this is a war picture I think you will enjoy it because it is quite good. Just don't expect non-stop martial arts mayhem.
The Shadow Whip (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure "The Shadow Whip" is more story-driven than action-driven, and I found this to be quite enjoyable. Cheng Pei-Pei is very good in this, although as one reviewer stated, a whip is not the most terrifying of weapons. Regardless, this one is definitely worth checking out.
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Cheng Pei-Pei was 24 when she made this: Very appealing then, and very appealing now, at 63.
Hitman [1998] (product link) Action/Adventure / Martial Arts Underrated Jet Li film that delivers some solid comedy as well as some tight action. The other actors involved--Simon Yam, Gigi Leung, and Eric Tsang--are great, and hats off to Tsang for a comedic performance that was truly funny, not annoying. Definitely recommended for Jet Li fans!
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Not matter how many times I watch this movie I still end up hating it...
I didn't like this at all when I first saw it, but it seemed to get better on reviewing, particularly after knowing more of Eric Tsang and Simon Yam's work. They parody themselves quite well.
Ong-Bak 2 (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure I'm not sure what some people were expecting. It was made clear before the film's theatrical release that this was not going to be an "Ong-Bak" sequel. Let's see, Jaa went to the big city in search of a relic ("Ong-Bak"), and then he went to the big city in search of an elephant ("Tom Yum Goong"). What did you want him to go searching for this time, a lost puppy dog? I agree, naming this "Ong-Bak 2" was moronic, but it doesn't make this a bad film. It makes it a badly named film. I know some people wanted more Muay Thai, but if Tony Jaa does the same thing over and over again, people will bitch "all he can do is Muay Thai"! Bottom line, if you want to see an entertaining martial arts film, I highly recommend this one. No it's not quite as good as "Ong-Bak" or "Tom Yum Goong", but how many films are?
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What you say is correct. While Tony Jaa's Muay Thai is very attractive, he has never given any reason to think that's all he had to or meant to offer. One doesn't expect orthodox southern forms from Jackie Chan. Both stars offer a widescreen spectacle.
Flying Dragon, Leaping Tiger (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure I'm surprised more people haven't seen this, because it's very good! I love when Sammo cuts back on the comedy and tweaks up the action instead. There is some wirework but it doesn't detract from the story. If you can find this, get it. You won't be disappointed.
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This was a good movie .I particularly enjoy the desert setting.
Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars (product link) Comedy / Martial Arts How do you make a movie with the likes of Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Jackie Chan, Richard Norton, Yasuaki Kurata, and Chung Fat nearly unbearable to watch? Easy, add four morons who want to do nothing but grope women and act like they're the three stooges (or four stooges, I guess).
This movie has some fantastic fight scenes--the fight in the Pepsi factory and the end fight where Sammo takes on Richard Norton and then Yasuaki Kurata are unbelievable--but over 80% of this flick is concerned with the four annoying morons trying to feel up anyone they can find.
I have to recommend this movie due to the amazing action sequences (these aren't the only solid fight scenes), but by all means have the remote handy to forward through the comedy bullshit and have patience. The fights are honestly that good.
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When I'm in the mood, I do like comedy, but this did push the envelope a little too much. The action sequences like you stated are quite amazing!
Return Of The One Armed Swordsman [3-Movie Set] (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure An excellent follow-up to the martial arts classic, "One Armed Swordsman", this time with Fang Gang (Jimmy Wang Yu's character) going up against the Eight Kings of Swords. This has a great story and Wang Yu really does a superb job as the One Armed Swordsman. There's a little crazy wirework, but other than that this one is definitely a must-see. Highly recommended.
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Yes. Jimmy Wang Yu, while not a proficient martial artist, is a very talented actor. He is very well showcased here.
Yes, Madam! (product link) Martial Arts / Girls With Guns The action and stunts are top notch in this flick, but there's way to much time given to the shenanigans of Shum, Moi, and Hark in the name of comic relief. It's a shame more time wasn't spent with Yeoh and Rothrock because they were excellent.
The Good, The Bad, The Weird (product link) Action/Adventure / Western I think if you could have taken the better parts of this film and the better parts of "Sukiyaki Western Django", you could have had one hell of a flick. I found both films to be uneven, despite the fact that both had their moments and both were indeed fun. I do recommend this film, although it could have been better and a lot shorter.
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A very strange film, but 3.5 stars-worthy: It has its moments.
Zu: Warriors From The Magic Mountain (product link) Fantasy / Action/Adventure I tried to watch it twice and give it a chance, I really did, but fell asleep both times. This movie has nice visuals (especially for the time it was released), but the story just...put me to sleep. The performances were fine, but the story...put me to sleep. I am a fan of Yuen Biao, but if I can't stay awake while viewing, how can I give it more than 2 1/2 stars?
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I might rate this slightly higher, but it really is hard to make much of the plot.
A Kid From Tibet (product link) Action/Adventure Just a so-so effort from Yuen Biao. The special effects are dated and there isn't a whole lot of action, but the storyline is fairly enjoyable. There's nothing bad about this flick but nothing that lifts it above average either.
Lady Snowblood: Blizzard From The Netherworld (product link) Swordplay/Sword(s) / Drama Many times you will see a film labeled as "classic" and the film ends up being anything but classic. Not the case here, as this film lives up to all the hype. Meiko Kaji's stare is downright scary at times, and the blood flows and spurts throughout in this tale of ultimate vengeance. Highly recommended.
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Absolutely! Meiko Kaji is the best screen swordswoman there is, and the Lady Snowblood films show her at her best.
Red Cliff 2: The Decisive Battle (product link) Drama / Historical First and foremost, it must be understood that this is not a martial arts flick but a war movie. With that being said, this is a war movie of epic proportions. Everything about this flick works: outstanding characters, terrific acting, flawless direction, great story, and on and on. One of the few times where the sequel is better than the first movie. Highly recommended.
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It's helpful having studied the actual events. This is a first class spectacle with excellent direction and very good acting.
Painted Skin [2008] (product link) Ghost / Drama As I sit down to write this review, I have to admit I'm not really sure what I just watched. This flick is part horror, part fantasy, part love story, a little martial arts thrown in, some wire work...it's just all over the place. But I have to admit, it kept my interest throughout and was never boring, even though I often wondered "where the hell is this movie going?" If you're looking for something a little different, I recommend you pick this up. However, make sure you keep an open mind when watching it.
Skinny Tiger And Fatty Dragon (product link) Action/Adventure / Martial Arts Not Sammo's best but a fairly enjoyable fick. The story is all over the place but the fights are pretty solid, including a really nice square off between Sammo and Lau Kar Wing. If you go into this thinking it's a buddy cop flick, I think you'll enjoy it. And Karl Maka isn't as bad as some have said.
Dragon Inn [1992] (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure I guess I'm in the miniority in that I was disappointed in this flick. For starters, Donnie Yen doesn't see any action until the finale. I will say the storyline is solid and the three other main actors--Tony Leung, Brigitte Lin and Maggie Cheung (who steals the show)--are quite good. What kills it for me is the martial arts displayed; they are garbage as we are once again given action which uses sped up cameras and everyone flying around. The finale (which I won't ruin for those that haven't seen it), which features a fight between Leung, Cheung and Yen (who finally sees action in the last five minutes), is laughable. I'm not sure why everyone is adorning this with 4 1/2 and 5 stars. What did I miss?
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I loved everything before the ending - which was strange, but not enough to pull this film down very far.
I really like this film but agree yen`s screen time was disappointing. When he finally does show up the movie goes way overboard. 3 1/2 or 4 stars is about right
Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog (product link) Martial Arts / Comedy This is a very enjoyable movie. Not quite up to "Odd Couple" standards, but this one definitely has its moments. Even Dean Shek is fun to watch in this one, and I usually hate his creepy roles.
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An excellent funny movie. I'm surprised this movie hasn't received the remastered treatment. Good action featuring excellent work from Sammo Hung and Lau Kar Wing.
Legendary Assassin (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure I really liked this movie a lot until the end (I won't ruin it for those that haven't seen it), where the film went from believable to a little far-fetched. Wu Jing has some great fight scenes, and co-star Celina Jade was equally fun to watch as well. I thought this was great until the end; the ending knocks this back a 1/2 star. With "Fatal Contact", "SPL", "Invisible Target", and now this film, I think Wu Jing's star is rising.
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I completely agree about the ending. Some of the material revealed made sense, but it would have been much better handled in a way that belonged in the real world.
Ip Man (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Terrific story, great acting, and some awesome fight scenes make this a must-have for martial arts fans. Even those that don't care for Donnie Yen will appreciate the fantastic job he does in this film. This is definitely Yen's shining moment in his career thus far.
Iron Monkey [1993] (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure As a fan of old school [kung fu], there was a lot for me to dislike in this movie. Non-stop flying around wirework and sped up fights are just two things that normally drive me crazy about martial arts movies. It just baffles me why anyone would have to "speed up" a guy as fast as Donnie Yen!
Now that I have that out of my system, I have to admit that this movie does have a lot of cool fights; and had they decided to keep this a little "purer", that may have made this 4 1/2 stars. I also must say that the story was very interesting as well.
As a sidenote, this movie has nothing to do with the Chen Kuan Tai classic of the same name.
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I agree on every count. Wires bite but this movie is awesome. Good point about speeding up Donnie too. He was like the Flash on a gallon of red bull.
I agree with your rating, and you have every right to dislike wire-fu, but I think wirework and supernatural abilities are very much a part of the old school (1920s-60s) Hong Kong wuxia.
Sukiyaki Western Django (product link) Action/Adventure / Western This was very stylish and had potential to be a really cool flick, but I just couldn't get past the language issue. I kept straining trying to understand, and I believe I missed a good deal of what was really going on in the process. I'll give it another viewing and maybe it'll be easier the second time around, but for now I can only give it 3 stars.
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Your ear and mine are about the same. The concept and physical action are good, but the phonetic line reading is awful.
Like many that have commented before me on this movie, I was a little (well maybe more than a little actually) disapointed in this movie. This is not the worst martial arts movie I have ever seen, as some have said, but I also won't be plopping it into the DVD player for countless viewings. A few things I did enjoy watching was Jackie doing drunken style and some of his best humor scenes I've seen from him in quite awhile (I dislike the "Rush Hour" series, which to me underutilizes Chan and seriously overutilizes the totally annoying Chris Tucker--please gag him already). I didn't care for the Monkey King character at all, and there was more flying around in this one then "The Wizard Of Oz".
For me a 3-star rating is an average flick and that's what I found this to be: average. Like others, I was hoping the pairing of Chan and Li for the first time would be historic, but unfortunately, this falls way short.
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I agree completely with your assessment of the Rush Hour series.
Chocolate [2008] (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure This is great movie and many times I found myself pressing rewind (not "rewing" as I stated by accident in Jeffrey Frawley's review) to see some of the amazing moves over and over again. I thought the story was pretty good, although I have to admit you have to realize this is not a documentary but a martial arts movie meant to entertain. And entertain it does!! I think the future looks very bright for Jeeja Yanin and those of us that like martial arts action films. Highly recommended.
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Minimal story and tedious fighting make this 2.5 stars tops. And why would you want to "rewing
With this film, The Rebel and Coweb the future is looking great for tough chicks in matial arts movies. I can't wait to see more from this new generation of skilled female combatants.
Eastern Condors (product link) Action/Adventure / War This is Sammo's take on "The Dirty Dozen", and it doesn't disappoint. This movie is worth watching for the final scene alone where Sammo and Yuen Biao battle evil general Yuen Wah (who by the way does a great job). On a side note, one thing that really cracked me up was Biao's 80's hairstyle in this movie. Classic!
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This film exemplifies the two things I like best about Sammo Hung: He has incredible moves for a man of his size, and he is happy to let the other performers shine, rather than walking over them. He gave Yuen Wah the best showcase possible.
Fong Sai Yuk (product link) Martial Arts / Comedy This is a pretty solid effort from Jet Li, but to me there was just a little too much wire work in it to catapult it over "Fist Of Legend", "Fearless", or the first two movies in the "Once Upon a Time in China" series to be called one of his best. All in all, worth watching if you can get over all the "flying around".
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It was pretty entertaining, but you are 100% correct, the wire work could have been toned down. Still a good performance by Jet Li and the cast.
Young Hero Of Shaolin (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure This version works for me. Shut Bo Wa is no Jet Li, but you knew that going in. Lots of cool training scenes and a pretty solid plot. Recommended for the old school folks out there.
Shaolin Ex-Monk (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure This isn't Liu's best, but it is an above average old school flick. The comedy is hit or miss in this one--sometimes it works and sometimes it just falls flat. Still, Liu's kicking style is used a lot (which is always a plus), and he even shows some pretty quick hands in this one. Nothing really out of the ordinary as far as the training scenes go, but what elevates this from your standard flick is the interesting mystery storyline in this (which I won't ruin for those who haven't seen it). Throw in Mark Long and you have a pretty good old school flick.
Shadowless Sword (product link) Action/Adventure / Martial Arts I pretty much agree with Bastard Ronin that this film leaves a lot to be desired. I thought the storyline was quite interesting and the actors did a solid job, but every fight sequence has everyone flying around instead of just fighting. Had they kept the fight scenes "grounded", this could have been a much better movie. Too much wirework for my liking, but overall not a bad flick just one that overdid the wirework.
I completely feel you on this one but you probably already knew that. Like a sandwich from Subway this movie could have had a little more overall substance.
Shaolin Temple Strikes Back (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure This is a terrific old school martial arts film! Mark Lung is awesome playing the drunken monk, but Chen San is equally good as an evil general looking to steal the princess from the grips of the Shaolin monks. I had never seen Wong Goon- hung before, but he is also good as a young bodyguard to the princess. I highly recommend this film for those that like old school kung fu movies featuring training scenes and tons of fights.
Beach Of The War Gods (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure There's nothing new as far as the Chinese vs. Japanese storyline goes, but this is an action-packed movie that delivers. I must also add that this is one of Wang Yu's better performances outside of the "One Armed Swordsman" flicks. Highly recommended for those that like lots of action.
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Jimmy can throw his arms around with sword in hand and make it into a cult classic. Sure copying the Japanese 'Seven Samurai' classic, but Jimmy makes it worth while.
You are right about Wang Yu: He was at his best in the One Armed Swordsman films, nearly as good in this, tolerable in the One Armed Boxer films, and much worse in just about everything else. His martial arts are minimal.
Outlaw Of The Forest (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Great Ti Lung movie. The only complaint is how short it is, coming in at around 80 minutes. The acting and action are first rate, which makes this a must-see for martial arts fans.
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Well, it's got a young and vital Ti Lung, it lets him suffer a bit, and then he's let loose with a staff. That's all one needs - but I would have preferred another 15-20 minutes of action.
He Has Nothing But Kung Fu [DOUBLE FEATURE] (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure With the cast of Gordon Liu, Wilson Tong, and Lam Ching-Ying, I thought this would be a "can't miss" classic; but this movie is awful in many ways. Start with an annoying lead actor (Wang Yue), unfunny comedy with a stupid plot, bad dubbing [on the version I watched], and the list goes on. Two stars for Gordon Liu and that's about it. You would think a fight between Tong and Liu would be cool, but it's just lame like the rest of this movie. And can anyone explain why the hell the tune "Dixie" is played continuously throughout this flick?
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- sort of. I enjoyed it a bit more than you did, but every objection you make is correct. It'
Two Toothless Tigers (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure What a shame!! This film has only one fight during the first 50 minutes. It also has some terribly unfunny comedy. However, once Wang Lung Wei enters the movie, everything changes and this flick turns into some of Sammo's best work I've seen. This one is hard to find but I recommend any fan of old school martial arts to find it. Just have patience through the first half and you'll be happy you did.
Blade Of Fury (product link) Martial Arts / Swordplay/Sword(s) I didn't care for this one at all. I can handle the flying and jumping around if it is done well, but it just looks ridiculous in this movie. The movie seems to drag on forever (I fell asleep twice watching it) and is just not interesting. I give it two stars only for Ti Lung, but even he can't save this one.
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The film is difficult to follow, somehow, and perhaps not worth the effort.
The Boxer From Shantung (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure The story is very interesting, but the martial arts are nothing spectacular. Chen Kuan-Tai is great, but the movie is too long (~129 minutes) for a film made in the 70's. The end scene is brutal and bloody but just never seems to end. For every good thing about this movie, there is something which knocks it back from being great. In my opinion, this is a good movie, not a great one.
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If one is not impressed by Chen Kuan Tai, the movie is just as you say. I think higher of him than you do, and enjoy the film very much - but it could have been better with a little less filler.
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