Agreement:80% of 269 voters agree with Jeffrey Frawley's reviews Gender: Male Age: 50 Location: Potomac, Maryland, USA Lists:WISH LIST (15) / OWNED LIST (454)
Bio: I like Asian film more than is good for me. Golden Harvest is good, but Shaw Brothers holds a special attraction, particularly Chang Cheh, with Ti Lung or the Venoms, or Lau Kar Leung, with or without his brothers. I'm learning more about South Korea, and find it the best cinema of the past two decades. Thai film is entertaining, but I don't have the critical apparatus to go beyond "That elbow strike was cool!"
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Amazing Masters [DOUBLE FEATURE] (product link) Martial Arts / Documentary Ken Howard's narration is lackluster and badly written; and Carter Wong's level of skill appears to be vastly overstated in the narration, although the gentleman does seem to have maintained a praiseworthy physique (at least as of whenever the footage was assembled).
Born To Fight [2004] (product link) Action/Adventure / Martial Arts The stuntwork and physical training are absolutely stunning, as you would expect from this action director. The script and acting were not first rate, but they are rather secondary/tertiary considerations. This is pure spectacle at a moderate budget, and a total joy to watch.
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great stunt work but the rest was very amatuerish and mediocre at best. Only worthwhile if you fast forward to the action scenes which is a quality that should never put a film anywhere 4 1/2 stars in my opinion
A Better Tomorrow 2 (product link) Action/Adventure / Bullet Ballet This film is very much a guilty pleasure: It doesn't really make proper sense, and it is narratively bizarre; nonetheless, the action scenes are outstanding, and the film is terrific fun to watch.
(I suspect I would watch Ti Lung in absolutely anything - he is just magnetic.)
Dance Of The Drunk Mantis (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Most casual viewers will be interested in this film because of the venerable Simon Yuen's appearance, or perhaps for Yuen Woo Ping's excellent direction, but the reason to watch it, many, many times, is "Sunny" Yuen's amazing performance as his father's new son. No one who truly enjoys martial arts films should have anything to complain about in this delightful picture.
Five Fingers Of Death (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure I remembered this film from its dubbed American release many years ago, but was unprepared for its quality in its true form. Lo Lieh was not really up to the technical standards of the very best martial artists, but he was a very talented actor who gave an excellent, convincing performance in this highly enjoyable film. It should be seen, preferably [restored and its original language and aspect ratio].
The Killer's Blues (product link) Drama / Bullet Ballet As always, Ti Lung offers his specialty: tortured sincerity. There are better Hong Kong movies (Ti Lung has been in a lot of them!) but this is a much better than standard triad drama. Besides good action choreography from Tony Leung, this film offers the large majority of its cast giving well-considered performances.
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Always wanted to see this one... but yours, is the only favorable review i've seen. I'll try and find it!
Fist Of The White Lotus (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure I had seen the dubbed version several years ago, and thought it an enjoyable but unexceptional film with good martial arts choreography. Now that I have seen it in its original form I feel very differently. Liu Chia-hui/Lau Kar Fei gives a performance worthy of his martial arts skills. Lo Lieh's direction of a familiar story is first rate, and his performance here as Pai Mei, while not superior to that he gave in "Executioners from Shaolin," is very fine.
[The remastered, original language version is] the version to see if one wants something more than a pleasant diversion.
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Lo Lieh does not play Pai Mei in this film, Wilson Tong does. Lo Lieh plays his brother, White Lotus. If you play the Cantonese language track, you can clearly hear Wilson Tong referred to as Bak Mei, which is the same as Pai Mei.
[NOTE: This review refers to the LE 3-Disc Collector's Tin released in the US by Tartan.]
Any review of the US LE 3-Disc Collector's Tin of "Old Boy" will necessarily mention the DVD extras, which are extraordinary, but the primary attractions of the film are phenomenally good direction and performances from all of the principal actors: Choi Min-sik's performance is amazing - highly believable as both the initial, pre-imprisonment, protagonist and the same man after 15 years confinement. Some have said that he looks older in the earlier-set scenes, because he was significantly heavier, than he does as the 15 years older man: I did not find that to be so, largely because of well thought out make up and hair design.
Rather strangely, when I first saw the film many months ago I thought it was far more violent than I now find it. The implications are certainly grisly, but the gore is actually quite understated.
This is a great collaboration of gifted actors and a phenomenal director, worthy of ranking with great world cinema.
Hard Boiled (product link) Action/Adventure / Bullet Ballet This is a really remarkable film. I would be hard pressed to give a coherent explanation of why I prefer it to any other John Woo film, with the possible exception of "Bullet In The Head". The emotional contents of "The Killer" and "Bullet In The Head" are rather greater. The innovation and originality of "A Better Tomorrow" (I) are greater. This movie is just a complete trip! Chow Yun Fat and Tony Leung Chiu Wai give great performances, John Woo is at the top of his game, and Philip Kwok's action direction is every bit as good as one could hope for from this remarkable expert.
Fatal Contact (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure The plot is quite run of the mill, and some of the plot twists are fairly predictable, but the quality of the martial arts is quite high. Wu Jing is convincing as both the innocent he starts as and the hardened fighter he becomes. Given the present scarcity of really high quality martial artists, this is a film real fans should not miss.
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Yeah, good fights but the rest of the package was weak. Its weaknesses shouldn't be overlooked because of the scarcity of quality modern martial arts films and preformers.
The Art Of High-Impact Kicking (product link) Instructional / Martial Arts Hwang Jang Lee's techniques are magnificent. To be more technical than he chooses to be on this DVD, he started with an excellent grounding in taekwondo (he is now a 9th degree black belt) and built on it with a real understanding of the use of angular momentum to achieve great striking force. The cinematography and lighting of the DVD are no more than serviceable, but his demonstrations are clear and useful.
The Flag Of Iron (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure For many years, I thought of Venoms films as showcases for Kuo Chui's skill and charisma. To a large degree, this is still true; but after repeated viewings of them all--most particularly "The Flag If Iron", I think Lu Feng is absolutely essential. His acrobatics rival Chiang Sheng's, his acting rivals Kuo Chui's, and his weapons skills exceed any other Venom's. Lu Feng's patented role, the former friend turned evil by ambition, is central to this very enjoyable film. See it.
Death Ring (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure The people involved have real talent, but the film is disjointed and seems like at least two different films spliced together. I don't want to discourage anyone from seeing it, because some of the fighting is good and it's interesting to see what Lu Feng, the co-director and former Venom, can do. From commentary I have heard elsewhere, it seems that the better scenes, which seem set in a timeless martial arts world, are directed by Chang Cheh and the grittier modern day sequences are from Lu Feng.
Any film that combines top quality work by Chen Kuan Tai with all five of the Venoms at their most inventive is worth seeing. I'm not really a big fan of Chiang Sheng, but he is perfectly cast here and the quality of his acrobatics is first rate. Kuo Chui/Philip Kwok/Phillip Kwok is his usual excellent self, with excellent moves, although his character shows somewhat less of the supreme self confidence many of his roles have. Lo Meng is also perfectly cast, and he gives a touching and believable performance along with his great physical talents. Sun Chien is allowed some time to shine, and takes full advantage of it. The great Lu Feng's performance is quite good, but this is not one of his best showcases (try "Masked Avengers" or "Flag Of Iron" for his very best). From most other HK martial arts actors this performance would stand out, but his very best is just that remarkable.
As many know, this film is in no way a continuation of "The Five Venoms" - different parts, a different level of suspension of belief, and a different level of violence. The first film is a delight from start to finish, but this one boasts much superior martial arts choreography and acrobatics.
If you like anything else by Chang Cheh, you will certainly like this.
Kill Bill Vols. 1 & 2 [Uncut Japanese 2-Disc Set] (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure I would give this five stars, except that the extraordinary fight choreography cannot quite bring the American lead actors to the level of the best martial arts actors. The writing is quite good - probably in the top third of Tarantino's oeuvre, the acting is up to the task, and the cinematography is extremely good. One could argue whether the "tributes" to Lady Snowblood, Shaw Brothers films of the 70s and 80s, and various other sources amount to plagiarism or affectionate nods (I tend toward affectionate nods), but the films hold up and are a blast to watch.
If one has never seen its antecedents, this is a brilliant, innovative film. If one has, it's a delightful pastiche and still very much worth seeing.
Cinema Hong Kong [3-Disc Box] (product link) Documentary / Martial Arts This is an excellent three-disc survey of Hong Kong cinema. No telling, at any practical length, could mention every fan's favorite film, but this is a well-structured, informed view of the field, and I feel better educated on the history of HK Cinema after watching these discs. Many of the interviews are informative, and the narration is well-prepared.
Haute Tension (product link) Horror / Thriller Many have claimed that this film doesn't play fair with the audience, changing its story as it goes along. While I recognize the substance of these criticisms, I think it is a very enjoyable psychological thriller (with plenty of blood, nonetheless) carried along by the lead actress's outstanding performance. If one can accept the particular point of view of the narrative, rather than expecting an objective account of events, this is a very rewarding film.
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This movie is laughably bad with a "twist" so ridiculous, it only adds to the movie's silliness.
Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong (product link) TV Shows/Movies / Documentary This is an enjoyable but far from comprehensive survey of Hong Kong film. I prefer the three-disc "Cinema Hong Kong," but this is a worthwhile one-disc effort.
Masked Avengers (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure "Masked Avengers" is not quite up to the level of the Venoms' best ("Five Deadly Venoms," "Return of the Five Deadly Venoms" and "Flags of Iron"), but it is a very worthwhile film. Lo Meng and Sun Chien are absent, but Kuo Chui and Lu Feng give fine performances. I wasn't very impressed by Chiang Sheng, but not very much was asked of him in this film, which is probably the darkest and least joyful Venoms movie.
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This movie compares favorably to "Return of the Five Deadly Venoms" particularly when considering the role of Chiang Sheng, whose performance in "Return of the Five Deadly Venoms" is just plain annoying.
Graveyard Of Honour [1975] (product link) Crime / Action/Adventure Tetsuya Watari, formerly a handsome but lightweight leading man, took a huge step forward in acting range with the depiction of a deranged and amoral thug who shocks the Yakuza world with his violence and disrespect for authority. This is based on a true story, but it's difficult to determine how close it stays to the real man. Kinji Fukasaku's direction is at least as good as it was in "Battles Without Honor or Humanity."
Graveyard Of Honor [2002] (product link) Crime / Action/Adventure This is an excellent film, and Goro Kishitani is very well cast. I do not believe the film is quite as good as the Kinji Fukasaku/Tetsuya Watari version of the 1970s, as it reveals somewhat less of the human being inside the monster, but it is still extremely good.
Anyone who likes Miike's other work will love this; So will many who do not, because it feels much more grounded in our world than many of his other films.
The New Legend Of Shaolin (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure I am a huge fan of Jet Li, and I enjoy this film primarily as a showcase for his abilities. Many viewers think it slips over the edge into implausibility--which I can understand; and some are put off by huge swings in mood, from gloomy to silly to exhilarating; but I find this an enjoyable excuse for Mr. Li's moves!
B13: Banlieue 13 (product link) Action/Adventure / Martial Arts The story and acting are quite ordinary, but the parkour and fight choreography make this film worth seeing. It's fun, not padded or pretentious, and has appealing lead actors.
Invincible Pole Fighter (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Liu Chia-Liang and Liu Chia-Hui made a brilliant, uncompromising, magnificently acted and fought masterpiece. If you don't need a leavening of humor in your martial arts fare, this is perfect, and it is particularly amazing that it works so well considering that the film had to be completely restructured after the off-set death of Alexander Fu Sheng. (I am not a big fan of Fu Sheng, so I can't imagine the film would have been as good with him in the lead--but Liu Chia-Liang had made good use of him before, so...)
The Bastard Swordsman Collection (product link) Martial Arts / Swordplay/Sword(s) I expected much less than I got from this. I thought it would be a routine tale of revenge by an embittered outcast, but in fact it is an excellent one of the development of a hero. Having seen some of Norman Tsui's later work, I did not anticipate his facility at this sort of action.
Versus (product link) Martial Arts / Horror First of all, the action and energy are invigorating, and the plot is enjoyable. Tak Sakaguchi is an excellent performer and personality--with something of a tendency to overwhelm some in smaller roles.
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can't miss mayhem even if the story is weak. Versus kicks ass!
I salute this excellent film for three things: it is very well written; the acting is generally of high quality; and the ending is not sweetened to satisfy the supposed public taste for happy endings. If people like those presented in this film faced the situation here, this is what would happen. Bravo!
What has traditionally been best in both Hong Kong and Japanese action cinema can now most often be found in South Korean film. The general quality of recent HK film has declined, and that of Japanese film has declined appallingly. Let's see how long South Korea can maintain this streak.
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A very entertaing, bone crunching, and fast paced thrill ride.
Clans Of Intrigue (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure It is delightful to see two of the best 1970s swordplay stars together in Ti Lung and Yueh Hua. I am a huge fan of Ti Lung, whose presence elevates almost every film in which he appears, and who seems comfortable in every genre: swordplay, kung fu, historic era tragedy, modern day triad drama and even comedy (not really his forte, but he can hold his own). Yueh Hua was never his equal in physical skills, but he is a terrifically talented actor who seems at home in swordplay drama. Both gentlemen made this a completely watchable action drama.
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I am sorry I am not as amazingly brilliant as you and didn't see the final twist coming, but it was ridiculously stupid and almost ruins the film.
Infernal Affairs DVD Collection (product link) Drama / Crime How often can one say that the source material of a Best Picture Academy Award winner is significantly better? "Infernal Affairs" (the first film of the trilogy) is a much tauter, somewhat more psychologically truthful film than "The Departed"--a film I thought fully deserving of the Oscar. The second and third films do not reach the level of the first, but they are quite good, and they flesh out the original story in remarkable ways.
This is a really remarkable saga, well worth being in the library of any lover of contemporary Hong Kong cinema.
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This is another classic example of a eastern classic which get's stolen and made less effective than the original (the ring and grudge are prime examples) the biggest insult is no proper acknowledgement of Infernal Affairs was made by Martin Scorsese!
Come Drink With Me (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure King Hu was one of the most visually pleasing directors of his time, and Cheng Pei-Pei is still one of the most talented, appealing and endearing actresses to have appeared in Hong Kong film. "Come Drink With Me" is probably their best collaboration, and it remains an engrossing, completely un-dated masterpiece.
The Last Hurrah For Chivalry (product link) Swordplay/Sword(s) / Martial Arts The themes which continue to fascinate John Woo were almost fully-formed in this early work, and his technical mastery was already considerable by the time he made this. The bonds between masterful warriors, whether allies or enemies, and the ease with which one can become the other, inform every moment of this swordplay adventure.
While this is not quite so good as the very best Venoms films ("Crippled Avengers", "Five Deadly Venoms", "The Flag of Iron"), it is a very worthwhile, enjoyable movie. It's nice to see Lo Meng featured as a super-fighter, as that role so often goes to Kuo Chui and Lu Feng, but he could have been in more of the film. This is definitely not Lu Feng's picture - except for one excellent sequence, his remarkable gifts are well hidden. I've liked Kuo Chui and Chiang Sheng better in other projects, but they do well here. Certain developments regarding Sun Chien seemed entirely arbitrary and unsupported by the previous storyline, but that's just the way he is so often treated, it seems.
This isn't a masterpiece, but it's among the best of the second tier of the Venoms filmography.
The plot is far more coherent in the uncut, non-English dubbed Hong Kong version than the edited dubs. I had found it difficult to enjoy my previous, Ground Zero, edition due to technical and linguistic failings.
Legendary Weapons Of China (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure If you want to know what Lau Kar Leung/Liu Chia-liang has spent the last 40 years trying to convey to the film-going public, see this wonderful movie. While it's plot is superficially about a sifu who refuses to sacrifice his students to the superstition surrounding the Boxer Rebellion, that's not really what it's all about. It's about the grace, beauty and power of the Hung Gar/Hung Kuen Sifu Lau's family has devoted its energies to for the past century. Lau Kar Leung and his younger brother Lau Kar Wing's final battle is an expression of all of that and also the philosophical tenet that virtue is stronger than corruption.
It isn't quite my favorite of Lau Kar Leung's films, but it may be the most indispensable.
Drunken Master 2 (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure This may be the final film to showcase Jackie Chan at the height of his physical abilities, and it's a terrifically well made one to boot. Those only familiar with his English language original films may be unaware of his expertise in delivering dialogue in his native Cantonese (He's actually a highly talented actor, despite his struggles in American originals); Such people should see this and many of Mr. Chan's other masterpieces from Hong Kong!
The Magnificent Ruffians (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure This is an excellent showcase for all five Venoms. As usual, Kuo Chui is the lead, and the most skillful protagonist; Chiang Sheng's acrobatics are well displayed; Lo Meng's abilities at unarmed combat are better shown than is usually the case; and Sun Chien's superleg gets a good workout. As is usually the case, Lu Feng's villain gets a chance to outfight any other Venom and to display astonishing facility with weapons. It is possible that this is Lu Feng's best performance ever.
Yakuza Graveyard (product link) Crime / Action/Adventure This film, made not long after "Graveyard of Honour," is almost as pessimistic and very nearly as excellent. Tetsuya Watari seems to have discovered depths of talent and darkness (simultaneously) under the directorship of Mr. Fukasaku. The writing, casting and acting are uniformly excellent in this tale of a fanatically honorable policeman unable to navigate contemporary (at the time) Japanese society.
Flash Point (product link) Action/Adventure / Martial Arts Donnie Yen's martial arts direction and performance are still top-notch, Collin Chou is a brilliant opponent, and the plot is actually well developed and appropriate to the action. There appears to be a small degree of under-cranking in a few of the action sequences, but nothing so extreme as to detract from the performances. The film starts off with relatively little action, but what there is later is very much worth the wait.
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Donnie Yen was definately on top of his game in this one
Iron Bodyguard (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure There are many films that are better written, and quite a few that are better acted, but Chen Kuan Tai is a riveting, convincing martial artist, conveying huge power and significant speed in each move. No suspension of disbelief is needed to accept the outcomes of the film's many battles: he's a total badass.
Warrior Of Steel (product link) Martial Arts / Action/Adventure Chen Kuan Tai is the most convincing Shaw Brothers martial artist of his era, and this is one of his best showcases. His character is not so much heroic in the traditional sense as he is hungry - for respect, power and wealth, in that order. The outcome of the story might be telegraphed early on, but the final battle alone is worth the time and expense of viewing this gem.
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