The story is simple, it is set in the early years of the Showa Era in 1932, Japan. The film revolves around three aspiring black belt students each trying to gain respect from their master for the kuro-obi belt. During this era the police is taking over any judo schools for their own purpose and knowledge to over run Japan. Their master suddenly dies and leaves one of his injured student to choose the man that is respectful for the belt.

The actors were terrific in their given roles, because they are real life martial art masters. Akihito Yagi who plays the respectable student Giryu is amazing. Mr. Yagi’s ability to show no anger is righteous and noble. As for Tatsuya Naka who plays the corrupt student Taikan is also great for him to go outside of his code is brilliant and daring.

The movie is a thinking man’s action picture. The cinematography is gorgeous & the fights are poetic & original. “Kuro-Obi” is a movie that demands to be seen. It is also respectable fighting movie that has been missing in martial arts pictures today.

The story is about a young man named Mike Terry who owns a self defense studio, he teaches a class following the samurai code. The studio is seeing financial problems though the young man does not seem to care. Mike Terry knows that his life is tough, but his codes make it easier for him to survive until a tragic night which triggers events which turn his world upside down.

The film amazes me because in the beginning the environment is so peaceful and throughout the movie it opens up so much from the simplicity of it to the chaotic world we live in. Nobody has ever said the road to nobility was an easy path.

David Mamet has written an intelligent film . He has opened up a new world in the modernized samurai picture and it will leave any viewer with amazement. It also has brilliant dialogue which adds so much volume to the story's twists and turns. Mr. Mamet’s alumni cast are perfect for the film. “Redbelt” is a movie that survives multiple viewings, it's one of those films that is rare in cinema today.

Americans were not privileged to see this classic picture until 2005. Upon its initial release, the movie was banned because of an uproar in Vietnam. Though the movie is set in World War II, the story could work for any generation. The film is based upon Joseph Kessel's classic novel about French resistance fighters' lives and how they kept their cool amongst their enemies. The novel was also about traitors and the paranoia of being caught. Director Jean-Pierre Melville gave a lot of input to this film for he was a resistance fighter too. He knew the risks that every fighter took.

The score is amazing and catchy, it makes the film so vibrant. Johnnie To had updated the score for his bodyguard masterpiece “The Mission”. "Army of Shadows" and "The Mission" share a lot of resemblance. Johnnie To claims to be Melville's biggest fan--he tributes his work in many of his movies. If it's not the catchy theme he takes, then he references Melville’s coolness of characters. The list of talent that admire Mr. Melville's phenomenal work goes on and on. It amazes me how a French director made such an influential impact on movies and people today.

“Army of Shadows” is a gritty film about real people and their war. The movie may not have epic gun battles or fights, but the film relies on its characters and their ongoing battle with the enemy. The story plays as a suspenseful cat and mouse game with danger at every corner.

The film is an ignition of daring moments and it’s courageous that resistance fighters would go the extreme for their country. Jean-Pierre Melville has directed a movie that demands to be seen by everyone. The picture is worth every penny, and especially in today’s society the film will question your portrayal for your country. What is a patriot? And would you risk your life for others?

It was April 2007 and I spent almost three and a half hours in a darkened theater room full of fan boys and girls. The event of this elbow-to-elbow show was "Grindhouse", one of the best movie experiences I have ever had. It's great to be in a room full of people that have the same taste in films, it makes any movie venture amazing. The film that most of the screaming fans were waiting for was "Death Proof", and it was a complete joy as soon as the title came to the screen. The film of course started with a foot fetish galore, because it is a Tarantino film.

There's is a lot of debate that this film has two halves, to me this is just another grind house experience. "Death Proof" starts off with disc jockey talk leading to bar talk. Plus a cameo from gore hound Eli Roth as a drunken partier. The film doesn't really kick into high gear until the presence of Kurt Russell's creepiness at the bar. His role of "Stuntman Mike" is funny, offbeat, and scary. The true stars of the film are muscle cars, a 1970 Chevy Nova and a 1969 Dodge Charger. The car gave Stuntman Mike's momentum to actually cause true danger, without the car he's basically harmless but still creepy. I believe it's the car that makes someone a bad ass, and without it you lose all the bad ass appeal. The same theory goes with the man with a gun, without the gun he better know some kung fu, and if he doesn't know he's screwed.

"Death Proof" is a wild ride, the last half switches gears from creepy Kurt Russell to playful Russell. Plus the stunt work from Zoe Bell is jaw breaking. The car chase is great and it never slows down, with wonderful dialogue that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The film's ending is the best I've seen from 2007. "Death Proof" is a true grind house experience mixing horror, car chases, car crashes, foot fetishes, women out for revenge, stereotypes, amazing stunt work, catchy dialogue, and a nice score. This movie has it all.

The action in “Drive” is the real showcase. The movie offers explosive action sequences one after another. It also offers witty one-liners and villains that sound and act as if they popped out from a comic book. Mark Dacascos also shows his skills in the movie--he and fight choreographer Koichi Sakamoto make a vibrant duo. The fights are amazing and the camera work is impressive. Director, Steve Wang has done an incredible job. The introduction of Brittany Murphy also adds comic relief and brings added energy on-screen. “Drive” is a B-movie, but it’s one of the best B-movies ever made. The picture stands out for its action, but the viewer gets so much more with laughs and crazy villains.

The major problem I had with the film was its open-ending. I hope some time in the future there will be a sequel of some kind. This is one of those movies that you just don’t want to end. The film paces fast from start to finish, and by the time it ends you're going to rewatch it all over again. Trust me on that, I’ve done it lots of times with this film.

The movie is a must-own for any DVD collector. The talents and action of “Drive” make it one hell of a good time!

Stephen King's short story shines in this movie, the adaptation is smooth and the open-ended short story has more of a well done ending for the viewers. I've always felt that Mr. King's earlier novels were done with more patience and effort than his later works. In my eyes Stephen King is a talented writer, shifting his genres from suspense, drama, romance and comedy. The genre changing is hard to accomplish but he does it with such ease.

The director of "The Mist" is Frank Darabont, this will make it his 4th outing with Mr. King. First was "The Woman In the Room", "Shawshank Redemption", and "The Green Mile." Darabont and King's collaboration is always amazing--the two work well together. Their movies seem to give something more to the audience.

"The Mist" is one of the best monster movies I have seen. The film did provide chills, and Thomas Jane's performances is very convincing. Plus Marcia Gay Harden's potrayal of Mrs. Camordy is priceless. The movie and short story is like a "Twilight Zone" episode. In a "Twilight Zone" episode you usually have a group of survivors clashing with a major diaster in the background. The film is entertaining and it did have one of the best endings I have seen in awhile.

The story is taken from the novel “Peaceful Days”, written by Shugoro Yamamoto. The novel was also the source for Kurosawa’s "Sanjuro" and "Yojimbo". This is the closest adaptation of Yamamoto’s novel. It’s great to see what writer Akira Murao and director Okamoto were inspired by.

“Kill!” is about two men. Genta has given up the samurai code, and Hanjiro is a farmer masquerading as a samurai. They stumble upon seven dimwitted samurai who murder a vassal of the Shogun on behalf of a local boss named Chamberlain Ayuzawa.

The samurai send Genta to their boss to inform him of the success of their mission. Hanjiro goes to Ayuzawa to get a job, and to become a real samurai. Hanjiro’s mind and heart are tested because in order to become a samurai, he has to kill Genta.

It amazes me how the characters' lives in the movie intervene. They have goals, and they could easily be accomplished, but whatever road you choose there are always consequences. The movie does go in depth in that department, but the film also offers a lot of laughs. The humor in the movie is well added, each line or action is done well and right on cue. This is a also a witty samurai movie. With that being said, the movie feels fresh and intelligent, as if it was made today.

“Kill!” is a movie that can work for any audience. The genre is an action-adventure story, but it adds drama and laughter, which makes it feel like an “every person kind of film“. I am astonished how good this picture is and how it paces itself into a truly amazing samurai picture.

The story is fascinating, about Byung-du who is a 29-year-old career criminal working for the middle-rank enforcer Sang-chul. Burdened with a terminally ill mother and taking care of younger siblings, Byung-du is feeling financial pressure as a substitute patriarch. When the big boss President Hwang is cornered by a corrupt prosecutor, Byung-du volunteers for a whack job and wins the big man's trust. However, his real trouble begins when friend Min-ho, an aspiring movie director, asks him to be a consultant for the latter's debut film.

The performances from the actors and actresses were wonderfully done. The cast made it look easy, and that is a trick, especially in a movie full of twists and turns.

I absolutely love the score of the picture. It has a classical instrumental French vibe to it, and somehow it fits perfectly in this Korean crime movie. The action--or should I say killings--was realistic and it shows. The punches, kicks, and stabbings were done realistically. There was no Hollywood element to it. The director and writer, Ha Yu, made an excellent gangster movie. “A Dirty Carnival” has beautiful shots. Though it is violent and gritty, Mr. Ha Yu has a great eye of the world. In this film we see two sides: the civilian side of living, and the gangster side of living. It’s an achievement how he captures them both.

“A Dirty Carnival” is the most realistic and violent gangster picture I have ever seen. The performances and story are captivating to watch. The score is amazing. I love this picture.

The movie "Brave" showcases his style in two good action scenes. The memorable one is inside a construction site where he dodges and kicks the hell out of people. Also in that scene there is a spectacular stunt where Mike B. jumps off the building and catches an iron rod hanging from the ledge. It was impressive, because Mike B. does his own stunts too. The second good fight is at the end where he kicks and punches his way out of the building.

"Brave" has some good action set pieces, but where that delivers everything else just fails. The story is about a young man who is forced by the mafia to steal a bank's client data in exchange for his brother's life and discovers he and his brother have been set up. It sounds simple reading it, but following it is confusing. The writer adds subplots about Mike B's fat brother which make no sense or give any added detail about the characters. There is a lot of double crossing in a movie that shouldn't have any double crossing set-up to begin with. The majority of the people that are going to watch this film are martial arts fans. The director and writer should have taken that into consideration. In "Brave" we have some nice action pieces but the story and acting are horrible. Also with "Brave" we don't get an ending, well not a clear ending--it simply just ends.

This film is a mess but I did enjoy the two action pieces. "Brave" is not a movie to get hyped up about. Aside from the two action pieces, you still have 72 minutes of a confusing story to follow. Mike B. is very talented and hopefully with his next movie it shows.

The story is over-the-top about a virus that spreads throughout England killing thousands of people. The government decides to quarantine the virus site. The quarantine is successful. Three decades later, the Reaper Virus violently resurfaces in a major city. A team of specialists, including Eden Sinclair, is urgently dispatched into the still-quarantined country to retrieve a cure by any means necessary. When I first read about the plot, I thought it was going to be exciting and original. It wasn't either exciting or original, The film had too many references to better movies.

I enjoy directors that acknowledge other directors or films in their movies. If a director can do that in his movie it makes it more personal for the audience. Quentin Tarantino does that with all his films in a way that it is personal but somehow original. The sharing of references goes for a lot of directors from Paul Thomas Anderson to the Coen brothers. Neil Marshall did a wonderful job of good reference in "Dog Soldiers"--he is a fan of Sam Rami's "Evil Dead" series and with "Dog Soldiers" it truly shows. "Doomsday" on the other hand had a promising plot but just ended up as a mess with too many references like the virus spreading, which is from "28 Days Later", to Eden Sinclair's one eye from "Escape From New York", the quarantine wall looks like it is from "Jurassic Park", the bus chase is from Walter Hill's "The Warriors", the post-apocalyptic wardrobes and car chase is from "The Mad Max" trilogy, and the castle and castle wardrobes is from "Robin Hood" or "Lord Of The Rings". The movie is just one big shout-out to better films.

"Doomsday" is not an original film, the visual style is sloppy, and either cut or uncut you still get bad editing. The many references to better movies ruins any credit of a good time at the movies. If Neil Marshall does not want be the horror guy anymore, he should have made a straightforward action picture. In "Doomsday" we get a mess of everything that Mr. Marshall enjoys and more. If you enjoy a messy film then you would enjoy this mess. There is one good point to the film which is, it's about time that we see the beautiful Rhona Mitra get a starring role. I am tired of seeing her in the background of other movies playing a supporting character. Though she may want to call her agent, because she should have been in the background of this sloppy movie.

The set-up of the movie is very slow. The audience is not introduced to the new fighting sensation JeeJa Yanin until twenty minutes in the movie, where she is catching balls (literally) and fruits that her chubby best friend throws at her. CGI fruit and balls helped her a lot on that scene to impress upon a crowd that she has fast reflexes, and then a young punk throws a knife at her. We are finally introduced to her kicks and punches in a brief altercation. This was the twenty-minute mark. If you are a patient viewer, you would have to sit through the story about a criminal boss' hench-woman and criminal boss' associate and their love for each other. The criminal boss finds out and goes bat-crazy, shooting his own foot. The man and woman are on the run, and the woman says she's pregnant. The man leaves her and the mother is all alone taking care of her deaf child. The criminal boss returns with his drag-queen goons and cuts off one of the mother's fingers as the deaf child watches and cries. Then the scene cuts to the deaf girl, we see in a montage that she is interested in Thai fighters in front of her house, kung fu movies, her chubby friend, mom, and of course chocolate. Her kryptonite is flies, she really hates flies.

The action scenes are all right, starting with the first action sequence in the ice factory where she mimics Bruce Lee but thinks about Tony Jaa from "Ong-Bak". I was a little confused by that scene--shouldn't she have thought about Bruce Lee instead? In that scene ice is thrown at her, and she dodges it left and right. The second fight is in the warehouse where she fights atop crates and wooden platforms are thrown at her. The next action scene is in the shady butcher shop where the opponents are strapped with butcher knives and again the knives are thrown at her as she dodges them left and right. The last and final action scenes are on top of a roof where she fights thug girls that look like the fly girls from the show "In Living Color". Then the fight scene in the restaurant where she fights people with swords and a man with glasses that is on crack, I suppose. The most exciting out of all the fights is the one on top of billboards and restaurant signs--it was good and enjoyable.

The major problems of the movie were the lack of character development. I personally could not recognize any of the characters in the movie; they were lacking heart or any emotional impact. The story was a major problem too. There were a lot of parts that could of been cut out, like the beginning and some of the emotional parts. Another major problem was the action: there are three action scenes that look the same but in different locations--one in the butcher shop, second the warehouse, and third the ice factory. These action scenes were all the same with the same bad guys trying to attack JeeJa Yanin. The bad guys of the movie were a major problem as well. JeeJa Yanin fights a lot of people in the movie, but none of her opponents were really worthy, which lacks any danger for Miss Yanin. This is supposed to be a martial arts movie, we need a worthy opponent for our hero. If there are no good matches in a kung fu film, then it lacks excitement for the viewer. JeeJa Yanin's character is invincible in the movie, she is like a superhero and her kryptonite is flies. If this was supposed to be a superhero film, the writers should have established that. "Chocolate" is not a superhero film, it's about a deaf girl that fights and never gets hurts except when there are outtakes. There are a lot of martial arts films out there with a hero fighting off an opponent that is worthy to fight with. In this movie our main villain shoots himself in the foot and is surrounded by a group of drag-queen goons--maybe he should have read the guidelines on being a villain and stopped running away from a deaf girl.

"Chocolate" is not a five star masterpiece. We are missing the intense and thrilling action scenes, plus a decent story to follow. The character development is also missing. "Chocolate" is not a zero star movie, it does have some fun for the viewer. I am giving the film two and half stars even though it has three action scenes that look the same and henchmen that are no match for JeeJa Yanin. I did like the fight on top of the billboards, it was creative and original. There was a scene I enjoyed, in the butcher shop, where a man throws a knife at our hero but it bounces of a springy fence and strikes him on the shoulder. To me that's priceless entertainment.

The trailer of the movie was hands down awesome! But don't be fooled by what you saw in the trailer because it is not what you get on-screen. The film is a total chick flick with short and uninspired action sequences for the men. Plus this movie is not a Donnie Yen actioner. He is one of the supporting characters. The main stars of the film are the empress and the medicine man.

There is a lot of sentimental feeling in this movie. And with the sentimental feeling comes cheesy and cliched dialogue, such as "I'll wait for you". And with the cheesy dialogue we get a homemade balloon ride over the forest with some modern, poppy, and romantic song in the background.

The action scenes are rare and brief--we get the empress protecting the medicine man's tree house. The empress in a battle scene. The empress chased in the forest. And the notable action piece, the two-minute battle with Donnie Yen kicking ass. The final action scene has the empress fighting a one on one fight. Though it may seem like a lot, it is not. Again the action pieces are short. There are too many cheesy love scenes.

I cannot recommend this film to anyone. There was bad editing, too many sappy moments, and not enough action. The film is short but there weren't enough thrilling moments. I am giving this film a half star for the Donnie Yen scene, where he fights dozens of men. Again, there is no reason to buy this flick for that one reason because it is short and not too memorable for any DVD collection.

"An Empress And The Warrior" is a chick film with so many corny lines. It's as if the director saw "Titanic" and "Musa: The Warrior", then took the background of "Musa: The Warrior" and the lines from "Titanic", and cut all the action scenes from "Musa" to make a film about an Empress and a medicine man. This film is a waste of time and talent.

Walter Salles is a talented director. In his films, he takes the audience into a world different than ours. Mr. Salles' journeys could be dangerous along the way with obstacles pushing us down, but with his movies the audience always has hope in the end. "Central Do Brasil" has so many gorgeous shots, and the ways Mr. Salles captured the sights and sounds of the country is very impressive.

The story is brilliantly told by writers João Emanuel Carneiro and Marcos Bernstein. Their screenplay gave the two main leads a perfect balance of emotions. At the beginning of the film, the audience is introduced to Dora. We see her as a letter writer and very bitter with her life. We are then introduced to Josue, who is a curious 9-year-old boy. When "Central Do Brasil's" journey does begin, we see the two characters change from naive in the beginning to full of wisdom at the end.

"Central Do Brasil" is a well told story with beautiful shots. The actors were flawless and I recommend this movie for everyone. It's a great journey.

Nai-Hoi Yau, who wrote the screenplay, is very talented. He has written the electrying traid film "Election" for Mr. To. And with this film he makes a simple story, refreshing for the audience. The story is great, about five men hired to protect a traid boss in trouble.

The ensemble cast bounces off the screen, with each character presenting their own litte traits. It was a joy to see a cast so lively, and it shows on screen how each character responds to one another working as a team.

The action was pulse-pounding, with bullets flying everywhere. This being a Johnnie To actioner, he always has this magic of making his cast in a furious action battle so cool. "The Mission" is one of my favorite Johnnie To films. It is stylish but simple and with some twist and turns. It still stands out, looking amazing every time I watch it.

"The Mission" is a 5 star film, and with a Hollywood remake on its way, I hope it also has the vibrant feeling of this one. Because without a great cast working together off- and on-screen, this film would have never worked with its intriguing story and direction.

The first time I saw this film I was a bit skeptical because I thought it was another feminist on a grudge to kick ass. I was surprised how detailed the plot was and how each character was driven to kill. It was a mind-blowing experience for me. This film takes no time to set up, with hacking and slashing at the get-go, and there is no stopping this killing machine until the final reel. Though with all this violence in this open hell world, there is some essence of beauty--for example how the wind was blown right before a kill or how there were gardens of flowers in many shots.

"Azumi" was successful to the mainstream audience for two reasons: for its over-the-top violence and its simple shots of beauty which gave the audience hope that these characters could make it out alive. "Azumi" is a wild and gory experince, but once in awhile if you look away from the violent acts you can see something nice.

This is a 4-star recommended movie for everyone and yet I have not yet achieved my goal of getting the comic. But just thinking about this film, I can't wait to get my hands on one.

Sergio Leone's "Once Upon A Time In America" is a classic and flawless tale. Sadly, this was Sergio Leone's final picture which completed his American trilogy starting with "Once Upon A Time In The West", and "Duck, You Sucker". The film is simply magnificent--every frame is breathtaking and moving.

The film was adapted from Harry Grey's inspiring book "The Hoods", about Jewish mobsters in 1920's New York. It's astonishing to me that Mr. Grey wrote this modern classic while he was in prison in the 1950's. Mr. Leone took his work and made it beautiful with an outstanding epic feeling to it. This being Mr. Leone's last movie, it was a lot darker than his other movies. The violence was more dangerous and bitter than watching the man with no name trilogy. But there was still beauty in this movie--somehow Sergio Leone always knew how to accomplish that. It makes me wonder how he made the west gorgeous and with this film the city slums into a dream-like setting. The score adds shades of beauty done amazingly by Ennio Morricone and the emsemble cast was a delight.

This is a 5-star perfect movie about a haunting tale of friends and the mob. It's simply perfect.

John Anthony Burgess Wilson wrote this classic piece of literature which college students and A.P. high school students are reading today. The novel is about a young man named Alex who wants to break free from his evil ways by going through an experiment. I thought the narrative was better told than the movie was, but both sources make a great compilation pack. I don't think Stanley Kubrick is one of the greatest filmmakers in the world--I don't believe in the hype. But I do adore his work and love all his achievements. Mr. Kubrick is a risky director who takes his audience on a compelling journey through darkness without a light bulb or flashlight for guidance. This film is a brutal & dangerous film for anyone that dares to watch it.

When "A Clockwork Orange" was initially released in 1971, America was going through tough times. We were in our second decade of Vietnam; there were riots and spontaneous violence plaguing the streets; a vicious cult leader, Charles Manson, was going on trial; and the drug scene and music scene was a getaway for many of that generation. It was perfect timing for this movie to come out when it did. It's funny how reality and entertainment can intervene. But if you view the film again you can see how this film and novel can work on today's society and the judicial system. The story of a convict trying to rehabilitate himself is a timeless tale. Mr. Burgess and Kubrick were ahead of their time--or maybe it they understood that violence is man's nature; it can't ever vanish entirely from man's world.

"A Clockwork Orange" is a controversial movie and it is disturbing and edgy, but even if you hate the movie you have to acknowledge Malcom Mcdowell's utterly brilliant performance. His role in the movie made the film and I don't think any other actor could ever reach his ugly, witty, and powerful talent. Plus he also ruined my favorite all-time musical, "Singin' In The Rain."

Stanley Kubrick adapted a novel which is violent and it is hard for me to imagine what other director could take us to this level. His whole vision of the flick is haunting until the final reel. But you cannot deny how this film or novel influenced filmmakers today, from Speilberg, John Woo, Tarantino, Oliver Stone, Kar Wai Wong, to Kim Ki-Duk, just to say a few. The novel and film also changed how the media is responsible for elevating hard boiled killers or serial killers to celebrity status. Plus, without this sick movie, we wouldn't get films or entertainment today such as "Hostel", "Audition", or Al Pacino's "Scarface". Also with the launch of GTA4 last week you can't help yourself but think of films that changed our society today, and "A Clockwork Orange" is one of those movies that influenced filmmakers all over the world. Violence is loud and you can't help to acknowledge it because there is no way of hiding it.

I am giving this film 5 stars not for its entertainment value, because there is none, but simply for its breakthrough in cinema. And another thing about Kubrick movies: you can't be forced to watch them, you just have to stumble upon them and be intrigued.

"Black Water" is a very surprising flick to me, because there have been so many dangerous crocodile movies out there--and I have seen them all--but with "Black Water" it changes the vibe from the traditional crocodile horror movie to reality. Most of the horror croc flicks have always been goofy or cheesy.

This film starts from the get go. We are introduced to the characters--a woman, the woman's sister, and the woman's boyfriend--as they set out for a road trip in Austrailia. They decided to go fishing and then all hell breaks loose with a massive crocodile ramming their boat as they try to get away by climbing a tree. The suspense was very thrilling as they decide how to get out of the tree and venture off to find help. An awesome crocodile movie. The dialogue might be bad sometimes, but the action and suspense takes care of that. "Black Water" is a great gem.