5 comments about Full Contact.

1. After Tsui Hark and John Woo, Ringo Lam is probably one of the greatest HK directors. Some innovative POV shots make this a must see. Plot is predictable but it has some great lines.
   
   If you like HK action, this is worth owning.



2. I gave it two stars because while I didn't hate it, it was dull and predictable. I see beter plots on TV's Starsky and Hutch. It probably wouldn't have been so bad if I didn't have to use subtitles; I found myself more interested in looking at the text than watching the movie. I know, that's only my opinion, but I watch a lot of DVD's and I think I know what I like and don't like.



3. This loose adaptation of "Point Blank" will not let you forget the original Lee Marvin version. The film eschews characterization for gratuitous pyrotechnics and bloodshed. The heavies here are so cartoonish that they're never truly menacing. On the plus side, Chow Yun Fat as Jeff, the bouncer quick with fist, switchblade, or firearm is as magnetic as ever. Director Ringo Lam keeps you engaged with his superb feel for action even if the proceedings are somewhat ridiculous. This film does not rate with Chow Yun Fat's collaborations with John Woo but if you want no think entertainment this film fills the bill.



4. Before the review to this edition, my reverence for this Powerful action classic of all times. First, don't let our man Chow Yun Fat's presence misleads you: This a Ringo Liam movie, very different from the talented genious melodrama-action director John Woo.
   
   This Ringo Liam tale of betrayal and revenge is far more based on graphic raw violence than the honor and brotherhood bullet-ballet aesthetics of John Woo. Skiping most of the melodrama, this movie is a modern western and a trademark hong kong style masterpiece. Outrageous and over-the-top, the characters have so much charisma, they are almost three-dimentional: Jeff (chow yun fat) is a stereotype in his hard-case role of a stone-cold honorable killer, the butterfly-knife fight sequence is a statement in heroism. Sam (anthony Wong) is coward and insecure as he can be. His cousin, the Judge (Simon yam in one of his best performances ever) is a flamboyant, vicious, and sleazy gang leader, a bulls-eye expert shooter, and a character hard to forget. The rest of the Judge's band, the mindless big thug and the hard-laughing prostitute, are just dysfunctional as human beings and dangerous as poison.
   
   The directing style of Ringo Liam is more direct than his famous counterpart J.W., and he introduced new fresh concepts like the bullet's eye-view (from out of the pistol, flying throught the flesh) and the mentioned 3-d characters. Loan sharks, vengeful gansters, heavy weapons truck hijacks, explosive cars... Here, we can find more, much more than that. Like John Woo's "Hard Boiled", this is the closest concept to a missile attack over urban grounds. But despite that fact, there's no unnecesary bloodsheds in here, the masterful direction creates balance to the story and rhythm between the ballistic showdowns.
   
   Ok, the Tai Seng DVD edition: What's new about it? First the DTS cantonese soundtrack, uneven and unbalanced sometimes but very apreciated. It sounds terrific in the explosions and the action in general, but of course the character's voices stay in a lower level. The english dubbed soundtrack is good, and so the cantonese and mandarin mono, and the usual "comments" by Hong Kong films expert Rick Meyers. 5 tracks to choose and enjoy, english and cantonese subtitles and 8 trailes as the only extras. Too bad, this movie earned his extras, and how.
   
   Worth the price? Absolutely YES! Recommended DVD edition to enjoy this action masterpiece, but unfortunately nothing more. Your choice.



5. Chow Yun Fat is pretty well known for the action movies he has starred in, but this is one of the few that features openhand combat. Chow uses a butterfly knife, and action director Lau Kar Wing makes him look like an expert. As if he isn't already cool enough, he's rides a motorcycle and wears biker clothes, and he has a haircut that looks like Will Smith when he was on Fresh Prince. I think this is the first Chow Yun fat movie I have seen that is directed by Ringo Lam. It's darker than most Chow movies and the story actually holds together all the way through, unlike most John Woo movies.
   
   The story is about Chow and his friend played by Anthony Wong teaming up with Wong's cousin (Simon Yam) to do a robbery. The robbery goes fine, but Wong's cousin has plans to kill Chow. Simon Yam is great as the psycho homosexual killer. I don't want to give anything away, so that's all I will say about the story.
   
   If you're a fan of violence you will really lke this. It's one of those movies where a guy will ask an old friend "hey, I thought we were friends", and instead of getting an answer he gets shot in the chest. There's a lot of cool stuff like that. People get shot in the head, the neck, all over. It's just a lot of bloody fun. If there were a few more action scenes, this movie would no doubt get the full 5 star rating. The character development is good, and the acting from everyone is outstanding, especially the 3 lead actors.
   
   I didn't know where to fit this into my review, but I must mention the shootout scene in the bar between Chow and Yam. It has the coolest bullet visuals I have ever seen.
   
   4/5
   
   The Sony DVD has very good picture quality, and the Chinese language track sounds good. There's also an English dub if your ears can stand it.

5 comments about The Replacement Killers [UMD for PSP].

1. It is really worth the money if you want to know some of the background story lines.



2. Replacement Killers stars Chow Yun-Fat(John Lee) & Mira Sorvino(Meg Coburn) in an action packed blastfest. Those who are familiar with Chow Yun-Fat(Killer & Hard Boiled)knows what he brings to the table. Lots of gunplay and high body counts. Even though this pales in comparison to his other two movies it still delivers.
   
   John Lee works as a hitman until he decides not to pull off his last hit. This angers his employer and now he wants John dead. Meg Coburn finds herself caught in this feud and has to defend herself as well. The acting is ok but it's the action that counts. And you get a good dose of it. Cheesy at times but it never gets weak.
   
   If you're new to Chow Yun Fat, his earlier movies The Killer and Hard Boiled are Gun-Fu at it's finest. I recommend those first but this is still good.



3. Hi folks! This film is having a good stuffs of non stop action and presented in 1080P with beautiful transfer and blowing sound. You will enjoy the evening with a bag of popocorn disappearing just like that as the action scenes. Yun fat is known to us and become famous in USA with this film and recently we saw him hin at Pirates at Worlds end. Folks you can try this one for your collection and never fails.



4. There's not much I can say that hasn't been covered. I purchased the "extended edition" then this one. Why? This one has all the good special features.
   
   I know it's hard to justify buying a movie twice. But the extras on this one are worth as much as the extended cut on the other version.



5. I just love watching this movie, and I only have the VHS version. I doubt that there is a better "shootem up" movie around. I also enjoy the relationship develop between Chow Yun-Fat's and Mira Sorvino's characters. All the acting was good to me. As for Mira Sorvino, there is probably not a hotter actress with a gun in her hand as she. If you like seeing the bad guys get what they deserve, this is the movie for you!

5 comments about Full Contact.

1. After Tsui Hark and John Woo, Ringo Lam is probably one of the greatest HK directors. Some innovative POV shots make this a must see. Plot is predictable but it has some great lines.
   
   If you like HK action, this is worth owning.



2. I gave it two stars because while I didn't hate it, it was dull and predictable. I see beter plots on TV's Starsky and Hutch. It probably wouldn't have been so bad if I didn't have to use subtitles; I found myself more interested in looking at the text than watching the movie. I know, that's only my opinion, but I watch a lot of DVD's and I think I know what I like and don't like.



3. This loose adaptation of "Point Blank" will not let you forget the original Lee Marvin version. The film eschews characterization for gratuitous pyrotechnics and bloodshed. The heavies here are so cartoonish that they're never truly menacing. On the plus side, Chow Yun Fat as Jeff, the bouncer quick with fist, switchblade, or firearm is as magnetic as ever. Director Ringo Lam keeps you engaged with his superb feel for action even if the proceedings are somewhat ridiculous. This film does not rate with Chow Yun Fat's collaborations with John Woo but if you want no think entertainment this film fills the bill.



4. Before the review to this edition, my reverence for this Powerful action classic of all times. First, don't let our man Chow Yun Fat's presence misleads you: This a Ringo Liam movie, very different from the talented genious melodrama-action director John Woo.
   
   This Ringo Liam tale of betrayal and revenge is far more based on graphic raw violence than the honor and brotherhood bullet-ballet aesthetics of John Woo. Skiping most of the melodrama, this movie is a modern western and a trademark hong kong style masterpiece. Outrageous and over-the-top, the characters have so much charisma, they are almost three-dimentional: Jeff (chow yun fat) is a stereotype in his hard-case role of a stone-cold honorable killer, the butterfly-knife fight sequence is a statement in heroism. Sam (anthony Wong) is coward and insecure as he can be. His cousin, the Judge (Simon yam in one of his best performances ever) is a flamboyant, vicious, and sleazy gang leader, a bulls-eye expert shooter, and a character hard to forget. The rest of the Judge's band, the mindless big thug and the hard-laughing prostitute, are just dysfunctional as human beings and dangerous as poison.
   
   The directing style of Ringo Liam is more direct than his famous counterpart J.W., and he introduced new fresh concepts like the bullet's eye-view (from out of the pistol, flying throught the flesh) and the mentioned 3-d characters. Loan sharks, vengeful gansters, heavy weapons truck hijacks, explosive cars... Here, we can find more, much more than that. Like John Woo's "Hard Boiled", this is the closest concept to a missile attack over urban grounds. But despite that fact, there's no unnecesary bloodsheds in here, the masterful direction creates balance to the story and rhythm between the ballistic showdowns.
   
   Ok, the Tai Seng DVD edition: What's new about it? First the DTS cantonese soundtrack, uneven and unbalanced sometimes but very apreciated. It sounds terrific in the explosions and the action in general, but of course the character's voices stay in a lower level. The english dubbed soundtrack is good, and so the cantonese and mandarin mono, and the usual "comments" by Hong Kong films expert Rick Meyers. 5 tracks to choose and enjoy, english and cantonese subtitles and 8 trailes as the only extras. Too bad, this movie earned his extras, and how.
   
   Worth the price? Absolutely YES! Recommended DVD edition to enjoy this action masterpiece, but unfortunately nothing more. Your choice.



5. Chow Yun Fat is pretty well known for the action movies he has starred in, but this is one of the few that features openhand combat. Chow uses a butterfly knife, and action director Lau Kar Wing makes him look like an expert. As if he isn't already cool enough, he's rides a motorcycle and wears biker clothes, and he has a haircut that looks like Will Smith when he was on Fresh Prince. I think this is the first Chow Yun fat movie I have seen that is directed by Ringo Lam. It's darker than most Chow movies and the story actually holds together all the way through, unlike most John Woo movies.
   
   The story is about Chow and his friend played by Anthony Wong teaming up with Wong's cousin (Simon Yam) to do a robbery. The robbery goes fine, but Wong's cousin has plans to kill Chow. Simon Yam is great as the psycho homosexual killer. I don't want to give anything away, so that's all I will say about the story.
   
   If you're a fan of violence you will really lke this. It's one of those movies where a guy will ask an old friend "hey, I thought we were friends", and instead of getting an answer he gets shot in the chest. There's a lot of cool stuff like that. People get shot in the head, the neck, all over. It's just a lot of bloody fun. If there were a few more action scenes, this movie would no doubt get the full 5 star rating. The character development is good, and the acting from everyone is outstanding, especially the 3 lead actors.
   
   I didn't know where to fit this into my review, but I must mention the shootout scene in the bar between Chow and Yam. It has the coolest bullet visuals I have ever seen.
   
   4/5
   
   The Sony DVD has very good picture quality, and the Chinese language track sounds good. There's also an English dub if your ears can stand it.

5 comments about Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Superbit Collection).

1. Crouching Tiger is not really a Kung Fu movie. The fight sequences are stylized and interjected with gravity-defying feats, flying, fantastical jumping, and flips. The fight scenes become almost a 3D ballet. I liked it, but don't come into this movie expecting Bruce Lee action sequences. The fight scenes are more of a dance. The fights are mainly sword fights, although there are a few hand-to-hand battles as well. The acting is superb. The story line is more of a fairy tale than straight fiction, but the movie works superbly well. Michelle Yeoh's physical acting are displayed as well as her emotional range. Chow is great as the swordsman and Zhang Ziyi is very good as well.
   
   The movie tells the story of several stories of love, of revenge, of loyalties, and of duty. It concerns duty to one's family, to society and to one's self. A fairy tale is used to tie the plot lines together. The movie has a great medieval setting. The scenery switches from deserts, to Peking, to bamboo forests, and to mountains. In every case, the views are breathtaking. The bamboo forest fight is very strange, but it works.
   
   My wife didn't like the movie because if its fantastical elements, but it is one of the best movies I have seen for a long time. I don't know much about the superbit technology, but my DVD looks great and the sound is good too.



2. How do you sum up Crouching?
   Brilliant, touching, amazing!!!
   Incredible acrobatics, incredible scenery, an awesome script and great actors and martial artists.
   What's not to like about this movie?
   Not my favorite, I liked Hero and Curse of the Golden Flower better but for different reasons.
   Still, a must see if your new to the recent wave of martial arts flicks.
   A word of advice, watch it with the subtitles on and not the English voiceovers as they are terribly done.



3. This movie was good until the ending which made no sense and sucked. Also all the people just "flying" around seemed kinda silly... And I like kung fun movies, but this one was a little over the top unbelievable...



4. I was expecting so much out of this movie because of all the hype following it. I am an avid reader and do not normally mind subtitled movies (ie.. Pan's Labyrinth and Kung-Fu Hustle.. BTW, Kung-Fu Hustle is LOTS OF FUN!) but there were PARAGRAPH AFTER PARAGRAPH, NOT SENTENCES, OF DIALOG.. FAR TOO MANY SUBTITLES GOING ON AND ON FOREVER, AND GOING BY QUICKLY, that I could not figure out who was who or what was what in this movie. I lost the plot in the first half hour. I was so busy trying to read that my contacts kept drying out and I could not enjoy anything else going on in the film. If you're a martial arts purist, maybe you would enjoy it more than myself. Also, maybe I could have enjoyed it more dubbed in English.



5. Now, I know a lot of people don't love this movie. But hear me out before you disagree.
   I acknowledge that this film was made with a western audience in mind. That means that as a typical wuxia film it is watered-down by comparison. It was also apparent that they tried to do a lot with the script, probably too much, so as to please the arthouse crowd.
   
   Because of those things I can't review it as a traditional HK film. Also, this movie was the final part in a three-part process that was absolutely critical to American cinema.
   
   Part 1: The introduction of Jet, Jackie, Michelle, John, Chow, Tsui and Ringo to American audiences. It got them used to seeing the kung fu, the wires, and stylistic, kinetic bullet ballet.
   
   Part 2: "The Matrix". "The Matrix" took HK choreography, wires and all, and made it mainstream acceptable. Sure, a lot of our directors tried it and failed, but at least the audience was ready for it (and even now anticipating it).
   
   Part 3: "Crouching Tiger". A full Asian film, starring Asian actors, loaded with HK choreography and stylish wirework. A film that 5 years prior would have been an arthouse flick, at best, was now a mainstream, widely accepted, critically acclaimed, award winning film. This film finally made it acceptable to import more and more of HK to our shores.
   
   Look at what has happened since this film came out. Look how many more Asian action films find their way to our theaters...and not just the little theaters. We've been given Dragon Dynasty so we can get great picture quality, no editing to our movies, subtitles that actually mean something, and extras that have translation to them. Asian re-makes are all the rage in the US. And on and on. . .
   
   As an up and coming filmmaker who grew up watching all the great classic asian action films, it is now acceptable for me to incorporate a true HK style into my work. When I tell the studio I want to hang 2 of my actors from wires and have them fly around fighting one another, there's no fights or strange looks. Hellboy 2 was loaded with wire work. And we owe it all to CTHD.
   
   Besides that I do enjoy the film immensely. I got a little choked-up during the first fight between Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi when people in the theater were cheering, watching something I'd known existed for decades. Better late than never.
   
   Wo Ping is a true artist, and CTHD gave him the talent and the leeway to create- talent and leeway that the Matrix was lacking. The visuals are spectacular. The performances are incredible. I always liken Chow to Morgan Freeman. No matter what role they play, they always bring a certain degree of respect and sophistication, with just a hint of the regal, to it.
   
   It is a fantastic movie. And more than that, it is an important movie. No, it is not pure HK. It is watered-down and it does have its flaws. But I love it and I will always be grateful to it for the doors it opened.

5 comments about Hard Boiled - Criterion Collection.

1. Some brief back-story: I first experienced "Hard Boiled" in 1997 and, like all of it's fans, my jaw hit the floor. I had never seen anything like it in my entire life. Soon after seeing it, I bought the Hard Boiled/Killer VHS pack. That followed with "A Better Tomorrow" on VHS and "A Better Tomorrow 2" on DVD. Every so often, I would see the Criterion Collection version of "Hard Boiled" and "The Killer" but not wanting to shell out the money and believing it would be around forever I never picked it up.
   
   Fast forward to 3 years ago when I make a concerted effort to own the best DVD versions of all the films I love. Believing that Criterion did it better then anyone, that's the one I wanted and that's when I discovered it was out of print. At that moment I made a vow to myself that I wouldn't watch either "Hard Boiled" or "The Killer" again until it was re-released on a special edition DVD.
   
   Fast forward again to this July when I look in the weekly Best Buy ad and see "Hard Boiled: The Ultimate Edition". As quickly as my balloon became inflated, it was popped upon going online to read these facts about it:
   
   
   1. It was not going to be presented in it's original aspect ratio.
   
   2. Instead of upgraded subtitles, it would be subtitled with the script
   from the dubbed version of the film.
   
   3. No John Woo commentary track.
   
   4. No interview or commentary track with Chow Yun-Fat about the film.
   
   
   It was also disconcerting to read that no DVD version(not even the Criterion) of this classic was without it's flaws but more on that in a bit. Weighing my options, and feeling like a sellout, I purchased the Dragon Dynasty edition of the film.
   
   This week, I finally got around to watching it. How do I feel about my four biggest reservations now?:
   
   
   1. While not visually presented in the way that it was meant to be seen,
   it is a MAJOR upgrade in quality over my VHS version.
   
   2. To not have decent subtitles is ridiculous but the "dubtitles" weren't
   so egregious that it ruined my enjoyment of the film.
   
   3. The 37 minute interview with John Woo on Disc 2 almost completely made
   up for not having a full length commentary.
   
   4. Chow Yun-Fat was shown doing voiceover work for the game
   "Stranglehold" but not having him speak about his experiences during
   shooting still bothered me.
   
   
   In addition, I had a whole new appreciation for Tony Leung's performance after this viewing. I was disappointed he was not included on any bonus features.
   
   A couple of more things before I give my summation...the Bey Logan commentary track gave me more information about Hong Kong cinema then I was ever going to find out otherwise. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the genre made me wonder why I haven't gotten more into Hong Kong cinema beyond a few John Woo films. This makes up for a few of his assertions about the film itself which are probably off the mark. The Terrance Chang, Philip Chan, and Kwok Choi interviews are insightful and entertaining. Overall, the location guide didn't give me a sense that I was seeing where "Hard Boiled" was filmed but that might just be because the landscape has changed so much.
   
   In conclusion, I can't understand why no distributor of this film has ever given it the proper DVD release it deserves. Like the back of this version says, "Hard Boiled" is a landmark in film history and deserves to be treated as such. Why Dragon Dynasty failed to achieve this on their crack at it is beyond me. This means that fans have to compare and contrast the 4 or 5 different editions of the film that are out there and decide which one suits their individual needs the most. Therefore, all I can say is that the Dragon Dynasty version of "Hard Boiled" suited my needs the best because:
   
   
   1. It was major upgrade in picture quality.
   
   2. It wasn't the dubbed version of the film, just the "dubtitles"
   (which still bother me but not enough to not enjoy it)
   
   3. It has some cool bonus features(if not everything that I wanted).
   
   4. I could walk into my local Best Buy and purchase it.
   
   
   Until a true "Ultimate Edition" comes out(if it ever does) 10, 15, 20 years from now, I will be happy with this edition. But that doesn't mean you are going to be.



2. It is debated whether or not John Woo's films lost a touch when he came to America. Well even if you don't like his newer films, this movie should not be missed. Amazing shootouts leaving you wonder where they get 50 round magazines for pistols...



3. A great action movie. John Woo delivers in this film. Also check out The Killer.



4. A quick note on the new Dragon Dynasty edition: To me, the skewing of the aspect ratio was quite noticeable. I thought there was something wrong with my TV or DVD. Until I got on the interweb and found others were having the same issue. The people all appear to have gained 15lbs. (maybe they all just started college). And the use of the dubtitles is pretty bushleague considering it's a DD release. If you have either of the previous offerings there's no need to replace them with this one unless you must have the extras.
   
   "Hard Boiled?" I think not. We simply like to refer to this film as "John Woo/Chow Yun Fat: Unleashed And Fully Funded". Because that is exactly what this film is. The Scorsese and DeNiro of Hong Kong come together for the single greatest display of cinematic action in the history of the medium. And they certainly had to go through enough to get there. "Once A Thief". Two "A Better Tomorrow" flicks. "The Killer". How many classics does one have to turn out in HK before they finally agree to just let you at it?
   
   Either way, HB is a film that sees John Woo at the peak of his action powers. The action is so loose, so massive, and so intricate that it may never be matched again. What's funny to think about is that this film only has three action sequences. That's it. It just so happens that the first one is about the size of any other major action film's closing action finale. After that, they just get bigger. Once you get to the third one, you can sit back and just watch the genius unfold for over 30 minutes solid.
   
   But there is more to this film than just the action. The story is pretty engaging. I've always thought "The Killer" had a bit of a silly story. The hitman doing one last job so as to pay for eye surgery was always a little cheesy (don't get me wrong, it is probably the movie that would be occupying the "greatest action movie" slot had "Hard Boiled" not been made). But the story of a rogue cop and an undercover cop playing cat and mouse and eventually coming together to set it right plays out brilliantly. Also, one thing I rarely see mentioned is just how excellent Tony Leung's performance is. *mild spoiler* When he has to kill his own guy in front of the boss to keep his cover, and walks toward his boss in slo-mo with the smile on his face and then, as soon as he passes the boss, instantly goes to the verge of tears, that is incredible. That is first-rate, all the way. No amateur or stock action star could pull off that performance. *end spolers*
   
   While I've always thought that the action in "The Killer" had a little more artistry and grace to it than "Hard Boiled", HB's action is pretty much fueled by rage and testosterone. It's possible that there have been modern-era wars that had less shots fired than this film. But the action in this film has what must be the most creative "bullet ballet" sequences ever. It's one thing to just have big and long action spots. But the massive puzzle that John Woo assembles here is like a "how-to for gun-fu". The centerpiece of this all being the several-minute, uncut, hand-held single shot that follows our two protagonists through the hospital, into and elevator, up a floor, and out onto a new floor, all while firing guns, reloading, diving, grabbing more guns, dodging, co-ordinating, etc... It must have taken a week just to set that shot up and rehearse it. That shot should go down in the history books.
   
   There's really nothing more to say than just buy it. Seriously. Do you like action movies that have people shooting at one another? Great. This is the best one ever made. When I dropped this movie on the arthouse dorks in my film school, even they had to admit that it surpassed any and all other action flicks ever committed to celluloid (or digital, nowadays). See, the fact that it's Asian and subtitled means you can slip it past your artsy friends. So it's a win/win for everyone. Oh yeah, and Chow has to work on keeping his girlfriend happy, too. So, it's a romance as well. Now you can watch it with your girlfriend, too. It's such a brilliant movie that everyone wins. See, how can you go wrong?
   
   One last thing I forgot to mention, if you have a "Y" chromosome, it is mandated that you see this film. I heard a rumor that Jewish boys have to watch this after their Bar Mitvah to fully complete the process of becoming a man. Some African tribes send their boys into the wilderness with nothing but a spear and a portable DVD player with this film on it in order to attain the "rights of manhood". It doesn't matter how old you are or what you do for a living. If you haven't seen this, you're not a man, yet. I think you get the point.



5. As has been stated before, this was John Woo's last Hong Kong cinema work before going on to Hollywood. (In a way, I wish he'd stayed, his HK cinema flicks are masterpieces) This film rightfully takes it's place as one of the greatest action movie ever made. Woo tells the tale of a man working in the Hong Kong police department, Inspector Tequila. Tequila plays at the local Jazz Bar, and, having been dumped, spends a lot of time there. The movie begins with him playing a tune that acts as a sort of theme for parts of the movie. Tequila is on a case to find gun runners smuggling Chinese weaponry into the province, and ends up killing a lieutenant in the crime organisation, but not without loosing his partner. Embittered by his loss and inability to help more in the teahouse shootout, he proceeds to disobey orders to leave the case. Meanwhile, the other protagonist, a mob killer (won't say much, it spoils a major plot twist) makes a hit on a man who betrayed his boss, Uncle Hoi, to a major competitor by the name of Johnny Wong. Alan (the killer) will play a major role, and though the film may be rated by some as a stereotypical buddy cop action movie, it's nothing of the sort. Gunfights ranging from raiding a gun shop to saving a hospital make this an electrifying epic, and a fitting swan song to Woo's HK cinema flicks. I highly recommend this, but you might want to keep the kiddies away.

5 comments about A Better Tomorrow II.

1. The Hong Kong Godfather. Without a doubt this movie proves that John Woo is the best action director of all time, the vision, style, and the sher genious that he (Woo) uses in the direction of this movie is what sets it apart from and american action movie ever made. The action in this movie plays out like a ballet, a dance with bullets and blood. So put down those typical american action movies and pick up the movie that they want to be. You will not be dissaponted by this movie, one of if not the best hong kong action movie.



2. This is another one of John Woo's finest films!!! This is the second volume of the Better Tommorrow series and it's action packed!!! Will make a great companion to volume 1!!! Anchor Bay's DVD of this clasic Hong Kong film is awesome!!! 16:9 widescreen,2 trailers,multiple language tracks,great subtitles and production notes round out this grea DVD!!! A+



3. This movies is cool. I like the scence when chow yun fat is about to shoot a man in the head if he does not eat the rice.The last 40 or 30 minutes is when it start to get good. If you love voilence as much as I do buy this movie. The one I brought is not in english but it has subtitles. There is to parts where chow yun fat speakes in english in this movie. I like when he take the shotgun and start blow the men all away. then he takes the pistols slides down the stairs shooting a man. There are two good action scence but they last for 3o minutes. The last 15 minutes will have you supised it is the best part of the movie.That about all.



4. I ordered A Better Tomorrow II on DVD and received it so fast that I just couldn't believe it. I bought it as a gift and it was extremely well received. The quality was so good that it has been played over and over again. Thank you for your prompt and contientious response to my order.



5. The movie starts out showing Ti Lung in jail. He is given an offer to go undercover to bring down a counterfeit money operation. He says no, but immediately changes his mind when he finds out his brother (Leslie Cheung) is working on the case. The crime boss that Leslie Cheung is after is played by Dean Shek who gives a great dramatic performance. Dean Shek is best known for playing very goofy characters in Drunken Master, Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog. When Shek is framed for murder, he must hideout with a friend in New York. Leslie Cheung and Ti Lung also head to New York when they find out Mark (Ti Lung's friend from the last movie) has a twin brother. If you have seen A Better Tomorrow, then you know that Mark (Chow Yun Fat) couldn't come back for this movie, so they just say he has a twin brother. This would be fine if it was the only part of the story that seemed to be hastily glued together, but there are too many things that fall into place unnaturally. Some scenes must have been cut out and the movie is just a mess. There are a few good action scenes and the end is very exciting, but sadly this is not one of John Woo's better efforts.
   
   3/5
   
   Picture and sound quality on the Anchor Bay DVD are good. Subtitles are well written and there is also a really bad English dub.

5 comments about Anna and the King.

1. This is a great film with different cultures that manage to accept each other..... just love watching it



2. This was a good purchase. I wanted to see it to compare to the King and I. I like it. High quality it came in a reasonable time span.



3. I love this movie! It is beautifully filmed and generally well-acted. The story portrays the cultural and philosophical differences and subsequent personal growth of the characters without being "preachy". It is easily as good as any Jane Austen remake and has better storylines and incredible scenery. The role of king is brilliantly portrayed by Chow Yun Fat and shows the deep and thoughtful wisdom of this leader. Great movie.



4. The DVD Anna and the King was fine. I'm so glad I found it on Amazon



5. I purchased a new copy of the 'Special Edition' of "Anna and the King" which was listed as being widescreen in the product description of this web site--and it is actually full-screen! The back cover of the case lists the DVD as being anamorphic widescreen and there is no way of choosing full-screen vs widescreen in the menu--so buyer beware. Perhaps it was just my copy that was in error. Has anyone else had this problem?

5 comments about Bulletproof Monk [Blu-ray].

1. Tibetan Buddhism is a pure betrayal of Buddhism, of Buddha himself. It dares go beyond Buddha's teaching and reinvent a divinity of some kind where Buddha had taught there could not be any God anywhere. The great force that leads the universe in the eternal cycle from birth to rebirth via decay and death is transmuted into some kind of prophecy about some kind of truth to keep against human greed in order to save the world, and that truth is entrusted to one person who remains beyond aging, will not decay in other words, for as long as he will carry this trust and responsibility. When the time has come he will have to transmit his responsibility to the newly elected person who fulfills the three prophecies and the guardian will finally age and take a vacation leaving the burden to the new warden. Buddha would be ashamed of such primitive beliefs if he could witness such naïve sagas. And the film goes slightly beyond by deciding that the new warden will be double and will be a man and a woman, a heterosexual couple in one word, Hollywood trying to save Tibetan Buddhism from the righteous accusation of being deeply and profoundly and exclusively sexist, that is to say anti-women, or at least closed to women. It also takes advantage of the film to move Tibet to New York, to add a little bit of Nazism in all that, and to entrust the serious mission to two Caucasian non-Tibetan "goyim" instead of one good old Asian, Tibetan if possible, Buddhist monk. But that is only a film. True. But what a laughable fable. Luckily there are the spectacular fights and contortions and acrobatics to save the whole fairy tale from too much shallowness.
   
   Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines



2. Okay... this is a bad movie. I'm fully aware of this. The story line is cheesy, its historical accuracy is grossly questionable, and a good portion of the acting is overdone. So why in the world did it get three stars from me? I have to come clean, this is a guilty pleasure. I'm fully aware it's not a good movie, in fact I'm probably out of my mind for enjoying it this much, but I thought it was fun!
   
   Basically the movie premise is about this ancient Tibetan scroll that supposedly gives its reader power over the entire world. The movie starts off in the past, around 1943, where a Nazi general comes to find it. Yes, like everyone else, I was wondering why the Nazis were in Tibet in 1943. Chow Yun-Fat is introduced and becomes the protector of the scroll, then the movie fast forwards into more modern times where he ends up running into Seann William Scott's character, Kar. This is where the film takes more of its comedic twist, sometimes Scott's character can get annoying, but I think the movie gets a lot better when Jaime King's character enters the picture. For some reason her character tempers Scott's over abrasive presence on the screen, because he's playing the guy that always has something to prove and she has nothing to prove. It just blended well. Anyway there are people after the scroll and it essentially falls to these three people to protect it. That's basically how the action is generated throughout the film.
   
   I'm not a connoisseur of martial arts films by any means, so I won't even pretend to be. The martial arts and action throughout the film, I found, to be pretty good and entertaining. Though I wish King's character had fought the German guy's granddaughter for a lot longer. There was definitely enough action to keep the film moving. For me I just found the movie fun to watch. Watching Chow Yun-Fat trying to deal with Scott's character definitely had its amusing moments.
   
   Anyway, there really isn't much else to be said for this film. Ultimately it's not a good movie, but I had fun with it, which I think is what was intended. It's clearly not meant to be a very serious movie so if you can get beyond that, you might be able to find some merit in it. Granted I don't see how this could ever become someone's favorite movie of all time, but I certainly wouldn't say this is the worst by any measure.



3. Bulletproof Monk simply makes the mark. Chow Yun Fat is the perfect pickfor the humble monk who packs a punch. Along with Seann William Scott,the duo make for a light-hearted yet action packed adventure fightinga Nazi cult and a gang of street thugs while trying to protect an ancient secret.A must see movie that I think you will enjoy.



4. I say "spoof" because this movie isn't to be taken seriously. It's a fun movie to watch Yun-Fat Chow; the Monk with no name, and Seann William Scott (Kar) interact. The old story of the teacher and the student of martial arts; only Kar learns his martial arts from the movies, at the movie theater in which he works. Mako makes a cameo appearance as his boss Mister Kojima, at the theater. This movie kind of reminds of Indiana Jones' "The Last Crusade," in which the Nazi (in this case - Karel Roden) tries to gain immortality. Karel Roden, cast as the aging Nazi Strucker, is mis-cast; as anyone can tell, his accent isn't even close to being German. Sounds too Russian. Despite that, he does okay as villian in this movie. Jaime King, plays Jade/Bad Girl is Kar's love interest, but kind of superfluous, even though she was the co-recipient of the scroll powers in the end. This was really more Seann William Scott's movie, than Chow Yun-Fat's.



5. This movie does not rank among cinema masterpieces such as Gladiator or Titanic, but the film serves up solid, fun, and funny entertainment. An excellent movie for families, teens, and adults alike, it provides a great escape into the land of make believe. It's light fare for an evening of relaxing enjoyment.

5 comments about Hard Boiled.

1. Some brief back-story: I first experienced "Hard Boiled" in 1997 and, like all of it's fans, my jaw hit the floor. I had never seen anything like it in my entire life. Soon after seeing it, I bought the Hard Boiled/Killer VHS pack. That followed with "A Better Tomorrow" on VHS and "A Better Tomorrow 2" on DVD. Every so often, I would see the Criterion Collection version of "Hard Boiled" and "The Killer" but not wanting to shell out the money and believing it would be around forever I never picked it up.
   
   Fast forward to 3 years ago when I make a concerted effort to own the best DVD versions of all the films I love. Believing that Criterion did it better then anyone, that's the one I wanted and that's when I discovered it was out of print. At that moment I made a vow to myself that I wouldn't watch either "Hard Boiled" or "The Killer" again until it was re-released on a special edition DVD.
   
   Fast forward again to this July when I look in the weekly Best Buy ad and see "Hard Boiled: The Ultimate Edition". As quickly as my balloon became inflated, it was popped upon going online to read these facts about it:
   
   
   1. It was not going to be presented in it's original aspect ratio.
   
   2. Instead of upgraded subtitles, it would be subtitled with the script
   from the dubbed version of the film.
   
   3. No John Woo commentary track.
   
   4. No interview or commentary track with Chow Yun-Fat about the film.
   
   
   It was also disconcerting to read that no DVD version(not even the Criterion) of this classic was without it's flaws but more on that in a bit. Weighing my options, and feeling like a sellout, I purchased the Dragon Dynasty edition of the film.
   
   This week, I finally got around to watching it. How do I feel about my four biggest reservations now?:
   
   
   1. While not visually presented in the way that it was meant to be seen,
   it is a MAJOR upgrade in quality over my VHS version.
   
   2. To not have decent subtitles is ridiculous but the "dubtitles" weren't
   so egregious that it ruined my enjoyment of the film.
   
   3. The 37 minute interview with John Woo on Disc 2 almost completely made
   up for not having a full length commentary.
   
   4. Chow Yun-Fat was shown doing voiceover work for the game
   "Stranglehold" but not having him speak about his experiences during
   shooting still bothered me.
   
   
   In addition, I had a whole new appreciation for Tony Leung's performance after this viewing. I was disappointed he was not included on any bonus features.
   
   A couple of more things before I give my summation...the Bey Logan commentary track gave me more information about Hong Kong cinema then I was ever going to find out otherwise. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the genre made me wonder why I haven't gotten more into Hong Kong cinema beyond a few John Woo films. This makes up for a few of his assertions about the film itself which are probably off the mark. The Terrance Chang, Philip Chan, and Kwok Choi interviews are insightful and entertaining. Overall, the location guide didn't give me a sense that I was seeing where "Hard Boiled" was filmed but that might just be because the landscape has changed so much.
   
   In conclusion, I can't understand why no distributor of this film has ever given it the proper DVD release it deserves. Like the back of this version says, "Hard Boiled" is a landmark in film history and deserves to be treated as such. Why Dragon Dynasty failed to achieve this on their crack at it is beyond me. This means that fans have to compare and contrast the 4 or 5 different editions of the film that are out there and decide which one suits their individual needs the most. Therefore, all I can say is that the Dragon Dynasty version of "Hard Boiled" suited my needs the best because:
   
   
   1. It was major upgrade in picture quality.
   
   2. It wasn't the dubbed version of the film, just the "dubtitles"
   (which still bother me but not enough to not enjoy it)
   
   3. It has some cool bonus features(if not everything that I wanted).
   
   4. I could walk into my local Best Buy and purchase it.
   
   
   Until a true "Ultimate Edition" comes out(if it ever does) 10, 15, 20 years from now, I will be happy with this edition. But that doesn't mean you are going to be.



2. It is debated whether or not John Woo's films lost a touch when he came to America. Well even if you don't like his newer films, this movie should not be missed. Amazing shootouts leaving you wonder where they get 50 round magazines for pistols...



3. A great action movie. John Woo delivers in this film. Also check out The Killer.



4. A quick note on the new Dragon Dynasty edition: To me, the skewing of the aspect ratio was quite noticeable. I thought there was something wrong with my TV or DVD. Until I got on the interweb and found others were having the same issue. The people all appear to have gained 15lbs. (maybe they all just started college). And the use of the dubtitles is pretty bushleague considering it's a DD release. If you have either of the previous offerings there's no need to replace them with this one unless you must have the extras.
   
   "Hard Boiled?" I think not. We simply like to refer to this film as "John Woo/Chow Yun Fat: Unleashed And Fully Funded". Because that is exactly what this film is. The Scorsese and DeNiro of Hong Kong come together for the single greatest display of cinematic action in the history of the medium. And they certainly had to go through enough to get there. "Once A Thief". Two "A Better Tomorrow" flicks. "The Killer". How many classics does one have to turn out in HK before they finally agree to just let you at it?
   
   Either way, HB is a film that sees John Woo at the peak of his action powers. The action is so loose, so massive, and so intricate that it may never be matched again. What's funny to think about is that this film only has three action sequences. That's it. It just so happens that the first one is about the size of any other major action film's closing action finale. After that, they just get bigger. Once you get to the third one, you can sit back and just watch the genius unfold for over 30 minutes solid.
   
   But there is more to this film than just the action. The story is pretty engaging. I've always thought "The Killer" had a bit of a silly story. The hitman doing one last job so as to pay for eye surgery was always a little cheesy (don't get me wrong, it is probably the movie that would be occupying the "greatest action movie" slot had "Hard Boiled" not been made). But the story of a rogue cop and an undercover cop playing cat and mouse and eventually coming together to set it right plays out brilliantly. Also, one thing I rarely see mentioned is just how excellent Tony Leung's performance is. *mild spoiler* When he has to kill his own guy in front of the boss to keep his cover, and walks toward his boss in slo-mo with the smile on his face and then, as soon as he passes the boss, instantly goes to the verge of tears, that is incredible. That is first-rate, all the way. No amateur or stock action star could pull off that performance. *end spolers*
   
   While I've always thought that the action in "The Killer" had a little more artistry and grace to it than "Hard Boiled", HB's action is pretty much fueled by rage and testosterone. It's possible that there have been modern-era wars that had less shots fired than this film. But the action in this film has what must be the most creative "bullet ballet" sequences ever. It's one thing to just have big and long action spots. But the massive puzzle that John Woo assembles here is like a "how-to for gun-fu". The centerpiece of this all being the several-minute, uncut, hand-held single shot that follows our two protagonists through the hospital, into and elevator, up a floor, and out onto a new floor, all while firing guns, reloading, diving, grabbing more guns, dodging, co-ordinating, etc... It must have taken a week just to set that shot up and rehearse it. That shot should go down in the history books.
   
   There's really nothing more to say than just buy it. Seriously. Do you like action movies that have people shooting at one another? Great. This is the best one ever made. When I dropped this movie on the arthouse dorks in my film school, even they had to admit that it surpassed any and all other action flicks ever committed to celluloid (or digital, nowadays). See, the fact that it's Asian and subtitled means you can slip it past your artsy friends. So it's a win/win for everyone. Oh yeah, and Chow has to work on keeping his girlfriend happy, too. So, it's a romance as well. Now you can watch it with your girlfriend, too. It's such a brilliant movie that everyone wins. See, how can you go wrong?
   
   One last thing I forgot to mention, if you have a "Y" chromosome, it is mandated that you see this film. I heard a rumor that Jewish boys have to watch this after their Bar Mitvah to fully complete the process of becoming a man. Some African tribes send their boys into the wilderness with nothing but a spear and a portable DVD player with this film on it in order to attain the "rights of manhood". It doesn't matter how old you are or what you do for a living. If you haven't seen this, you're not a man, yet. I think you get the point.



5. As has been stated before, this was John Woo's last Hong Kong cinema work before going on to Hollywood. (In a way, I wish he'd stayed, his HK cinema flicks are masterpieces) This film rightfully takes it's place as one of the greatest action movie ever made. Woo tells the tale of a man working in the Hong Kong police department, Inspector Tequila. Tequila plays at the local Jazz Bar, and, having been dumped, spends a lot of time there. The movie begins with him playing a tune that acts as a sort of theme for parts of the movie. Tequila is on a case to find gun runners smuggling Chinese weaponry into the province, and ends up killing a lieutenant in the crime organisation, but not without loosing his partner. Embittered by his loss and inability to help more in the teahouse shootout, he proceeds to disobey orders to leave the case. Meanwhile, the other protagonist, a mob killer (won't say much, it spoils a major plot twist) makes a hit on a man who betrayed his boss, Uncle Hoi, to a major competitor by the name of Johnny Wong. Alan (the killer) will play a major role, and though the film may be rated by some as a stereotypical buddy cop action movie, it's nothing of the sort. Gunfights ranging from raiding a gun shop to saving a hospital make this an electrifying epic, and a fitting swan song to Woo's HK cinema flicks. I highly recommend this, but you might want to keep the kiddies away.

5 comments about Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon [UMD for PSP].

1. Crouching Tiger is not really a Kung Fu movie. The fight sequences are stylized and interjected with gravity-defying feats, flying, fantastical jumping, and flips. The fight scenes become almost a 3D ballet. I liked it, but don't come into this movie expecting Bruce Lee action sequences. The fight scenes are more of a dance. The fights are mainly sword fights, although there are a few hand-to-hand battles as well. The acting is superb. The story line is more of a fairy tale than straight fiction, but the movie works superbly well. Michelle Yeoh's physical acting are displayed as well as her emotional range. Chow is great as the swordsman and Zhang Ziyi is very good as well.
   
   The movie tells the story of several stories of love, of revenge, of loyalties, and of duty. It concerns duty to one's family, to society and to one's self. A fairy tale is used to tie the plot lines together. The movie has a great medieval setting. The scenery switches from deserts, to Peking, to bamboo forests, and to mountains. In every case, the views are breathtaking. The bamboo forest fight is very strange, but it works.
   
   My wife didn't like the movie because if its fantastical elements, but it is one of the best movies I have seen for a long time. I don't know much about the superbit technology, but my DVD looks great and the sound is good too.



2. How do you sum up Crouching?
   Brilliant, touching, amazing!!!
   Incredible acrobatics, incredible scenery, an awesome script and great actors and martial artists.
   What's not to like about this movie?
   Not my favorite, I liked Hero and Curse of the Golden Flower better but for different reasons.
   Still, a must see if your new to the recent wave of martial arts flicks.
   A word of advice, watch it with the subtitles on and not the English voiceovers as they are terribly done.



3. This movie was good until the ending which made no sense and sucked. Also all the people just "flying" around seemed kinda silly... And I like kung fun movies, but this one was a little over the top unbelievable...



4. I was expecting so much out of this movie because of all the hype following it. I am an avid reader and do not normally mind subtitled movies (ie.. Pan's Labyrinth and Kung-Fu Hustle.. BTW, Kung-Fu Hustle is LOTS OF FUN!) but there were PARAGRAPH AFTER PARAGRAPH, NOT SENTENCES, OF DIALOG.. FAR TOO MANY SUBTITLES GOING ON AND ON FOREVER, AND GOING BY QUICKLY, that I could not figure out who was who or what was what in this movie. I lost the plot in the first half hour. I was so busy trying to read that my contacts kept drying out and I could not enjoy anything else going on in the film. If you're a martial arts purist, maybe you would enjoy it more than myself. Also, maybe I could have enjoyed it more dubbed in English.



5. Now, I know a lot of people don't love this movie. But hear me out before you disagree.
   I acknowledge that this film was made with a western audience in mind. That means that as a typical wuxia film it is watered-down by comparison. It was also apparent that they tried to do a lot with the script, probably too much, so as to please the arthouse crowd.
   
   Because of those things I can't review it as a traditional HK film. Also, this movie was the final part in a three-part process that was absolutely critical to American cinema.
   
   Part 1: The introduction of Jet, Jackie, Michelle, John, Chow, Tsui and Ringo to American audiences. It got them used to seeing the kung fu, the wires, and stylistic, kinetic bullet ballet.
   
   Part 2: "The Matrix". "The Matrix" took HK choreography, wires and all, and made it mainstream acceptable. Sure, a lot of our directors tried it and failed, but at least the audience was ready for it (and even now anticipating it).
   
   Part 3: "Crouching Tiger". A full Asian film, starring Asian actors, loaded with HK choreography and stylish wirework. A film that 5 years prior would have been an arthouse flick, at best, was now a mainstream, widely accepted, critically acclaimed, award winning film. This film finally made it acceptable to import more and more of HK to our shores.
   
   Look at what has happened since this film came out. Look how many more Asian action films find their way to our theaters...and not just the little theaters. We've been given Dragon Dynasty so we can get great picture quality, no editing to our movies, subtitles that actually mean something, and extras that have translation to them. Asian re-makes are all the rage in the US. And on and on. . .
   
   As an up and coming filmmaker who grew up watching all the great classic asian action films, it is now acceptable for me to incorporate a true HK style into my work. When I tell the studio I want to hang 2 of my actors from wires and have them fly around fighting one another, there's no fights or strange looks. Hellboy 2 was loaded with wire work. And we owe it all to CTHD.
   
   Besides that I do enjoy the film immensely. I got a little choked-up during the first fight between Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi when people in the theater were cheering, watching something I'd known existed for decades. Better late than never.
   
   Wo Ping is a true artist, and CTHD gave him the talent and the leeway to create- talent and leeway that the Matrix was lacking. The visuals are spectacular. The performances are incredible. I always liken Chow to Morgan Freeman. No matter what role they play, they always bring a certain degree of respect and sophistication, with just a hint of the regal, to it.
   
   It is a fantastic movie. And more than that, it is an important movie. No, it is not pure HK. It is watered-down and it does have its flaws. But I love it and I will always be grateful to it for the doors it opened.