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10/12/2008 8:00:00 AM
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AH1706's Profile

Avg. Film Rating: 
 3.79 / 5

Agreement: 55% of 29 voters agree with AH1706's reviews
Gender: Male
Location: Reading, Pa
Lists: WISH LIST (19)

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    by AH1706

Gemini (product link)
Drama / Horror

Pretty good film. Had a real eerie feel to it with strange music that was used sparingly to boost its effectiveness. Good performances all around from the cast--I thought Ryo was a great choice because she is a little strange looking, but at the same time very beautiful. I also like the director's unique vision of the slums which definitely had a "Mad Max" feel to it, making it look completely out of place compared to the more privileged household. The main thing that bothered me during the film was the man's shaved eyebrows.
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    by AH1706

Crime Story (product link)
Action/Adventure / Crime



"Crime Story" was based on a true story of the kidnapping of Teddy Wang, a Hong Kong multi-billionaire. The film is considered to be fairly accurate, although director Kirk Wong had to make some changes and the police would not release a lot of information on the case. Wong still tried to portray the events as accurately as he could--for example, the location of the kidnapping in the film was very close to the real event. It has also been said that the original ending of the billionaire drowning was likely his real fate, but was changed to a happy ending at the request of his widow, Nina Wang, who owned the cineplexes.

"Crime Story" was also Chan's first film based on a true story and one of his first major dramatic roles. The action was also pretty good as Chan took more of a streetfighting approach and showed no sign of his normal lighthearted sense of humor which is probably why some fans do not like this film. There was a lot of intensity in the fighting and Chan and his stunt team took many nasty falls. The explosions and fires were also well done as the old Kowloon walled city was burned and leveled.

The acting throughout the film was very good as Jackie Chan more than proved he can pull off this type of role. Kent Chang was great as always as police inspector/kidnapper Hung. It was also amazing how actor Law Kar Ying and actress Au-Yeung Pooi San looked like the real Teddy and Nina Wang.

I think this is a good film that allowed Jackie Chan to take on a new and challenging role that could be used as an example to critics who think Chan cannot act or take dramatic roles as he progresses in age.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
NThe movie was such a disappointment because in order to tell a true story the audience needs a true story of what actually happened. The action in the film was good but the truth of the story should have been told.Ashley
YThis is JC going serious, but it did have some fantastic action sequences, I liked this pic a lot.JV47842
Yi like this film makes a change to see jackie take on a more serious rolekung fu kid
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    by AH1706

Fearless Fighters (product link)
Martial Arts / Action/Adventure

"Fearless Fighters" is an absurd but entertaining Taiwanese martial arts film that became somewhat of a cult classic among drive-in viewers in 1973. That status has also been elevated with its previous VHS and current DVD releases. Nothing about the film is groundbreaking or overly impressive, but it remains laughable good fun.
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    by AH1706

Pistol Opera (product link)
Girls With Guns / Crime

A train wreck of a film that has a story that is utterly impossible to follow with really no direction. The only positive qualities are some of the action and impressive visuals.

Is creating a sensible script for a female assassin flick really that hard? Apparently it is for some.

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    by AH1706

Flash Point (product link)
Action/Adventure / Martial Arts



Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen definitely redeemed themselves after the box office flop, "Dragon Tiger Gate". Thankfully they return to kung fu/crime drama which is a genre they excel at. "Flash Point" is a very good movie that does not quite reach "SPL" heights, but it is probably unfair to compare everything to "SPL". My main reason is that the character development was not as good, and I would take Sammo Hung and Simon Yam over Louis Koo and Collin Chou anytime--not that they didn't do a good job.

Of course the highlight of the film is the action choreography of Donnie Yen. Yen added MMA fighting to his already dazzling kung fu repertoire and Collin Chou also gave a good preformance in the long bone-crunching finale. The action was very realistic and intense, as I thought I heard some of my bones snap when viewing. Along with the fighting, there were some impressive foot and car chases.

The only problems I saw were the lack of character development (i.e. OCTB squad members, especially the female), Louis Koo not selling his leg injury to the level of being "crippled", and a pistol that can fire 16 shots in an elevator without the need of another clip. These are just minor flaws as I can't find too much to gripe about. Good film with hopefully more like it on the way.

Finally, it was also great to see big Kent Cheng back on screen, as I think he is a truly great actor and very underrated.

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    by AH1706

Dragon Tiger Gate (product link)
Martial Arts / Action/Adventure



"Dragon Tiger Gate" is a martial arts/fantasy film based on a popular Chinese comic book series, and is directed by Wilson Yip and stars Donnie Yen. Although I never read the comic, [this film] has been described as not very consistent with the series to appeal to a more international audience resulting in it being a box office flop in Asia.

Donnie Yen does a good job with the martial arts side of the film, especially when working with the other two lead actors (Nicholas Tse and Shawn Yue) who do not have a martial arts background. The action was a bit over the top with too much wire-fu for my taste, but that can be expected from a fantasy film based on a comic book.

The director, Wilson Yip ("SPL", "Bio-Zombie") has always proved to be innovative and gives some impressive visuals in this one, but even that cannot fix the film's many shortcomings.

It's hard for this type of film to succeed without a strong villain, which was clearly the case here. Why should anyone care when he's that generic looking with no background information and doesn't even show up until 45 minutes into the show? He totally mailed it in until he kicked Turbo Shek and Tiger's ass resulting in Dragon (Donnie Yen) thrashing him later, which made all three characters look weak. In fact, Turbo and Tiger looked inferior the whole film. But why? Does Donnie Yen need that much of an ego boost after winning awards for "SPL"?

I know this is a film that you need to shut off your brain when watching, but that can be hard when it is not very entertaining. The worst thing that could have happened to this one is the high expectations that resulted with the insane comparisons to far superior films such as "Storm Riders" and "SPL". It's probably a good idea to skip this and watch "SPL"; and if you've seen that before, watch it again.

Somebody needs to offer an explanation on how this made it to Cannes.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
YBlack Belt Ninja
NI can't help but disagree. I found the choreography to be creative,ecclectic and enjoyable. You should probably watch it again. You say it has to much wire work and then you say it is inferior to "Storm Riders"? I think you are confused about something.Bastard Ronin
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    by AH1706

Golden Swallow [1968] (product link)
Martial Arts / Action/Adventure



"Golden Swallow" is the follow-up to King Hu's classic film, "Come Drink With Me" with legendary director Chang Cheh at the helm and Cheng Pei Pei back for another round. Golden Swallow (Cheng Pei Pei) is living a peaceful life in a secluded valley with friend/protector Han Tao (Lo Lieh). Her world turns upside down when a mysterious swordman named Silver Roc (Jimmy Wang Yu) begins killing evil gangs in her name. Golden Swallow then begins to suspect that Silver Roc is a former classmate/love interest that disappeared years ago. Silver Roc reveals that he is conducting the massacres to lure out Golden Swallow in hopes of a reunion but conducts his business with no mercy, almost as if he is enjoying the slaughter. Golden Swallow goes off to clear her name and find the truth about Silver Roc's identity while Han Tao departs on his own mission to find out more information and protect her from harm. Silver Roc describes himself as an invincible swordsman with no home, although he often lives in a brothel with a sympathetic prostitute (Chao Hsin Yen). All of this builds up to a final climatic moment that is sure to alter everyone's living arrangements forever.

Very good preformances all around as Jimmy Wang Yu particularly shines coming off his 1967 classic, One Armed Swordsman. The action choreography of the great Lau Kar Leung is fast and furious as the viewer often needs to rewind and pause to see how Silver Roc cut down so many men with one stroke.

Director Chang Cheh also puts more emphasis on the characters' relationships and feelings (the love triangle) than many of his other films as it becomes the central plot instead of evil gang lords coming for revenge. Also notable is the beautiful scenery (mountains, waterfalls, sunsets) that is often seen throughout the film, which seems to go beyond the typical Shaw Bros. sets.

This is a great film that is a more than worthy addition to the King Hu/"Come Drink With Me" legacy.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
Yhonest review, your points were all right about this one.JV47842
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    by AH1706

The One Armed Swordsman (product link)
Martial Arts / Action/Adventure

This is one of the best martial arts films ever made, equally as important to the genre as "A Better Tomorrow" was to heroic bloodshed in Hong Kong, paving the way for Bruce Lee and many others. Wang Yu was excellent in the starring role and has good chemistry with the adorable peasant girl (Chiao Chiao) that tried to free him from the martial arts world that never has a happy ending. Great film on every level, although some may view it as outdated.
AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
Ytotally with you there i think this film is a masterpiece and it's def one of jimmy wang yu's best films.i've just got the box set and love all 3 movies. kung fu kid
YThis film is greatJV47842
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    by AH1706

Running Out Of Time 2 (product link)
Action/Adventure / Crime



Sadly, this sequel is nowhere near as sharp as the original, with Ekin Cheng replacing Andy Lau and Lau Ching Wan returning to his previous role. I'm normally not a fan of Ekin Cheng, but he does a decent job here, although he is still no Andy Lau. There is more comedy in this one, mainly provided by a sad gambling-addicted character played by Johnnie To regular, Lam Suet.

This film tries to be stylish but often comes up empty. It really has no resemblence to the original except for some of the charcters, a charity donation, and Lau Ching Wan enjoying a bucket of chicken after failing to capture his suspect. The previous ultra catchy theme song was also brought back and given a French sounding remix. There were some good scenes, such as the bike ride on a rainy night, but I thought the ending was a complete letdown and never fully understood the use of the bald eagle.

This is still a decent film, as Johnnie To appears to be incapable of making a total stinker. It can be recommended but never compared with the original.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
NThe movie was all right but not as great as the 1st.Rambo part 5 please
Ntoo nice of a review for this film even for Johnnie To fan. sadly this movie just falls flat.KungfuManiac
NRunning out of time 2 is a awful film, it shouldn't have been made.JV47842
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    by AH1706

The Machine Girl (product link)
Action/Adventure / Girls With Guns



If you're looking for a strong detailed story with good acting then stay away; but if you want insanity, gore, cool weapons, and most importantly a fun time then watch this. The plot could be summed up in two sentences but that's not what people are here for. Who needs that when you have ninjas, machine guns, chainsaws, flying guillotines, drill bras, and a fine meal of tempura Ami (Minase Yashiro)?

A great thing about this film is that it never takes itself seriously and people are slaughtered in comical fashion. I'm pretty sure that even unlimited machine gun rounds would not turn someone into a bloody skeleton. Adding to its over-the-top nature is the famous Japanese blood fountain which operated in overdrive in this one. The gore and makeup team did a great job in this as many of the kills were well made (especially the gangster that got shot in the back of the head).

This is a very fun film, but probably not recommended for the squeamish or people who ask questions. Turn off your brain and enjoy the ride as the cult classic hall of fame should be rolling out the red carpet for this one while Quentin Tarantino wishes he could make a film this cool.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
Yyou're right it is all that dude.kung fu kid
Nseriously it's really not all thatKungfuManiac
Ygood review- this pic is over-the-top but somehow it's funJV47842
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    by AH1706

The Boxer's Omen (product link)
Horror / Thriller



Crazy Shaw Bros. film that involves kickboxing, revenge and sorcery. This film is far out there with two plots that involve Chen Hsiung (Phillip Ko) pursuing revenge on a Thai kickboxer (Bolo) who paralyzed his brother in a match and Chen getting involved in a ancient battle between Buddist monks and black magic sorcerers.

This is a strange film that offers a naked zombie chick that is born from a dead crocodile stomach, an army of crocodile skulls, a character inserted in the film to further reach the T&A quota, an odd green head that looks to be either made of green slime or otherworldly that drips wax, bats that look like evil Beanie Babies, a decapitated wizard's head that spawns tenacles, regurgitation for consumption by your friends, and much, much more--a little something for everyone!

Highly recommended for anyone wanting to spend a wacky 1 1/2 hours or people curious about some of the darker Shaw Bros. films.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
Nnot that amazing- could of been a classic.KungfuManiac
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    by AH1706

Ebola Syndrome (product link)
Horror / Thriller



A low level gangster (Wong) kills his boss (Shing Fui On) and his wife after he is caught sleeping with her, causing him to flee to South Africa where he works in a Chinese restuarant. His new boss (Lo Meng) hired him to work cheap and his wife always bullies him, prompting him to kill them too and return to Hong Kong with the dreaded Ebola Virus he received after raping a Zulu woman. It turns out he is one of a small percentage that is immune and is able to carry and spread the disease. Wong takes it upon himself to return and spread the virus in response to a lifetime of being bullied.

This film is another collaboration between director Herman Yau and Anthony Wong as they clearly tried to push the envelope even farther than the cult classic, "Untold Story". This is a very sleazy and dark film, with Anthony Wong rising to his repulsive peak. Like "Untold Story", Wong perfectly portrays a vile human being that alone makes the film worthwhile for viewers with a strong stomach.

Also included are several comedic quotes from sleazeball Wong that add lighter moments before and after the mayhem. Some of these lines are very amusing but probably not suitable to repeat. Director Herman Yau is an expert at setting the mood for these kind of films with many intense and repulsive moments. One great scene was when a mouse was run over by the cab Wong was riding in, showing that death follows this man no matter what type of breathing creature or the circumstances. Not even children were spared in this one.

Despite its many disgusting moments, "Ebola Syndrome" is a well made film with another great preformance from Anthony Wong in a role he seems all too comfortable in. This may also be the most unsanitary film ever made as blood, sweat, semen, and saliva were flying all over the place throughout the 98-minute runtime. I like that Herman Yau brought back the human beef buns from "Untold Story" (Africa Buns in this film) and also added a nifty spit cam that gives the audience an extra disgusting close up view. The moral of the story, if it has one, is to watch who you bully.

Highly recommended but not for the squeamish.

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
NThe movie was all right but nothing really impressiveKungfuManiac
YYep this film is on the disgusting level but it's actually worth watchingJV47842
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    by AH1706

Police Story (product link)
Martial Arts / Comedy

What can be said about "Police Story" that hasn't been said already? This film is just that damn good. Plot, script, acting, comedy, flow of film, action and of course the stunts are all incredible. The lengthy beginning and end action sequences are phenominal and the middle ones are very good too.

The fact Jackie Chan used his own money, house, car, health insurance even adds to how great this is in his already impressive legacy.

My favorite Jackie Chan film hands down!

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    by AH1706

Death Trance (product link)
Action/Adventure / Thriller



"Death Trance" was a film made by the star and action coordinator of the wildly popular film, "Versus". It seems that Tak Sakaguchi and Yuji Shimomura tried to capitalize off the previous film's success by creating the same style of action in the same never ending forest. What we have here is another stylized film that somehow managed to have less of a sensible plot than versus that disguises itself as a period piece from an unknown time and place. Unfortunately for "Death Trance", this time the mayhem and style couldn't make up for the lazy script unlike the incredibly entertaining film, "Versus".

I do really like Tak Sakaguchi's screen presense and action sequences showing great promise when he figures out a believable story is important. The action scenes were intense and very believable since he would really hit people with his padded hands that were covered by his costume sleeves.

This film also included fun but very over the top action such as bazookas with homing missiles, zombies?, and strange pale people similar to the ones in "Seven Swords".

Still this film is fun but it comes back to questions like who are these people, what's the purpose of those girls, where did that weapon come from, etc...

Many people who like mindless violence and mayhem like I do will have a great time if they are able to put their mind on stop and "Death Trance" on play, but to people who ask questions during movies--beware

AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
YI agree with everything you said, and 3 stars to me as about right. This had the potential to be as good as Versus, but in my mind falls a little short. As you said, too many holes in the story to be a great film, but it is fun to watch.William Giordanella
NToo goofy to be worth 3 starsBlack Belt Ninja
N3 stars that's too nice for a film like this.KungfuManiac
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    by AH1706

Five Fingers Of Death (product link)
Martial Arts / Action/Adventure

This film is phenomenal and will always stand the test of time as a true classic with an iconic reputation. I would recommend this as the first kung fu film to watch for anyone interested in this genre. "King Boxer" had many distinctions in film history, which it deserves considering it excelled in every catagory.

Lo Lieh did a fantastic job and even at times showed glimpses of his future villianous talents towards the end of the movie.

This film left me with only one question: why didn't Korean-born director Cheng Chang Ho have a more successful career?

There may be films of the golden age of kung fu that get higher ratings, but few match "Five Fingers Of Death's" importance, entertainment value, and cult following.

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    by AH1706

Spooky Encounters [3-Movie Set] (product link)
Ghost / Martial Arts

Pretty good preformance from Sammo Hung that includes stellar action, humor, and now a new twist with vampires and zombies. It's not hard to see why this was such a hit and spawned a whole genre in the 80's. It was also great to see Lam Ching Ying warm up for the future classic, "Mr. Vampire". For me the two funniest parts were when the zombie hit him twice with a brick after he was copying Sammo's actions, and when he finally got his hands on his dastardly wife who caused all his troubles. Only Sammo Hung can make domestic violence hilarious.
AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
Yyes i couldn't agree more this film is hilarious classic sammo.kung fu kid
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    by AH1706

The Magic Blade (product link)
Martial Arts / Action/Adventure



This is one of Chor Yuen's masterpieces based on a Ku Lung novel. This is a very dark and serious film (except devil grandma) that maintains a strict agenda of action and top notch storytelling. The cast also are on top of their game, especially Ti Lung who adds yet another weapon to his repertoire with his saw tooth blade. It was also great to see Ti Lung and Lo Lieh destroy everything in sight until Lo Lieh returned to the dark side. The action sequences were blindingly in your face and creative, which alone will lead to several viewings. "Magic Blade" also boasts one of the best supporting casts in the era who all showed why Shaw Bros. was the best around. Another great touch was the very lavish and detailed set pieces that added to the mood and the overall beauty and grace of the film.

"Magic Blade" is a undeniable champion of kung fu cinema with an always welcome twist ending that should not be missed.

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    by AH1706

The Deadly Duo (product link)
Martial Arts / Action/Adventure



I think most people can agree that "Deadly Duo" was not one of Chang Cheh, Ti Lung, or David Chiang's finest achievements. Even still, this film has some excitement with a very basic plot. It all centers around a group of heroes trying to access a fort which houses a prince kidnapped by the Mongols and the traitorous conspirers.

"Deadly Duo" does have several free for all fighting sequences packed within a short run time of 77 minutes. It can also be said that the choreography is not up to the standards of Tong Gaai or Lau Kar Leung, although there are some really cool moments with the trademark Chang Cheh bloodiness. The film also had some mistakes such as men jumping from a river somehow remaining dry and how the heroes had such an easy access to the fort as they made their escape. Then a plot was drawn up to get close to the Mongol leader which had no chance of success and raised the question why did they sacrifice their friend and just fight from the river which would of had a better result.

All of these issues with the film and the short run time makes me think that the people were short on time as Chang Cheh, Ti Lung, and David Chiang made six films together that year. It might not be up to the standards of the participants but still has entertainment value.

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    by AH1706

Black Angel 2 (product link)
Girls With Guns / Action/Adventure

Another solid yakuza film from Takashi Ishii. This time Ishii adds a femme fatale aspect to his normal dark and brutal yakuza type film. Once again Ishii supplies ample skin and realistic violence without a feeling of overkill, as each violent scene has an impact that contributes to the story. The plot is easy to follow but sometimes seems too simple to fill 107 minutes, as some scenes seem to unnecessarily drag on. Like most yakuza films, this is based on honor and revenge but stands out due to Ishii's ability to create a realistic and intense setting with strong characters.

Well worth a look.

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    by AH1706

Fist Of The White Lotus (product link)
Martial Arts / Action/Adventure

Excellent kung fu flick based on revenge. Lo Lieh is once again great as legendary baddie, Pai Mai. This is a remake of the classic "Executioners Of Shaolin", but I believe surpasses it for mainly one reason: Gordon Liu, who was killed early in the original. Although it may not be one of Liu's finest performances, it is still worth mentioning among kung fu classics
AGREE?READER COMMENTSAUTHOR
Yi love this classic fu flick.kung fu kid
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