1 comments about Black Mask [Blu-ray].

1. This is a review for the blu-ray version of this Black Mask movie. I was really looking forward to this movie coming out on blu-ray and was very disappointed in it when I finally got the chance to watch it. I loved this movie when it came out on dvd with its "campy" storyline and martial arts action. This blu-ray version is barely an improvement over the dvd. I watched this on a PS3 system and hdtv with an Onkyo TX-SR606 receiver and a decent set of surround sound speakers so I was able to take advantage of the 7.1 DTS HD Master Audio soundtrack available on the disc. The video was very "grainy" looking and barely looked "cleaned up" at all. I put in my standard dvd version of this movie and could hardly see any difference at all between the two. The sound wasn't much of an improvement either. The background music sounded pretty flat throughout the movie and the only improvements were in the explosions and some of the higher action sequences. Whoever did the blu-ray transfer of this film really "dropped the ball" on this one. As far as the movie itself, if you have never seen it, you are in for a treat and a fun ride with this one. For those of you who have seen the movie and were looking for a high-quality upgrade, I would recommend renting it first to see how you like it before shelling out the bucks to purchase a copy.

5 comments about Fist of Legend.

1. This movie contains two of my favorite fights of all time: Jet Li vs. Chin Siu Ho, and Chin Siu Ho and company vs. a buttload of Japanese fighters. Just astonishing. The film is a remake of Bruce Lee's "Chinese Connection" about Chen Zhen, the fictitious student of the real Huo Yuan Jia, who Jet Li would later portray in "Fearless". This movie differs from Lee's in that some of the Japanese characters are sympathetic to the Chinese, plus the addition of a complicated romance and the school's internal conflict.
   
   The Japanese have set up shop in mainland China. Jet is studying in Japan when he learns of his master's death back in Shanghai, from a match with the master of a rival Japanese school. He comes home and immediately sets about getting his school's reputation back and letting the Japanese know who the best really is. The trouble is that Master Huo's son (Chin Siu Ho) is now in charge but everyone wants to follow and learn from Chen Zhen. Complicating things further is a plot to implicate Chen in the death of the instructor who killed his master, and a Japanese woman who is in love with Chen and sacrifices her life in Japan for him.
   
   This may be Yuen Woo Ping's best choreography, though it is not completely flawless. Too often props are broken rather ridiculously, and some scenes are a little too heavily edited. It's a minor complaint though and you won't care until you're on about the 22nd or 23rd viewing. If you don't already own it, BUY THIS. English dubbed only. 4.5/5
   
   1994



2. This is the best kung fu movie ever. Don't watch it! If you do, you will be disappointed with every other movie. And not just other kung fu movies, ALL MOVIES.



3. One of the best martial arts movies ever.The stuff tony jaa is doing now that people are making such a big fuss about was done here...
   There's even some muay thai clinching!.I saw elements of wing chun,chin na,jujustsu,muay thai boxing,aikido and of course kung fu in this.
   actually an educational film as well as a brutal,hard hitting martial arts movie.The dubbing and acting are above par for this sort of thing.The best thing jet li has ever done by far.



4. Read the other reviews but this movie rocks beyond imagination.
   
   Questions we have for Jet Li might be
   
   1. How come your other movies don't have such wonderful martial artistry, presumably the terrible "The Forbidden Kingdom" where it looks like you and Jackie are flailing arms rather than doing art.
   
   2. I'm sleepie but this'll do.
   
   The movie rocks!



5. This movie is amazing in every way, but you should probably wait for the dragon dynasty release. They do an excellent job with their Martial Arts movie releases.

5 comments about Lethal Weapon 4.

1. I got this for my Man Boss for his birthday. He likes all of the Leathal Weapons & so do I. I have watched them serveral times myself over the years.



2. Another tale in the saga of the leathal weapon series, As with the others I found this to be entertaining. Joe Pepsci does an awesome job though his heart breaking story about froggie does go a bit too far. But keeping things in thier correct perspectives this movie is quite enjoyable. Plenty of action and suspense with just the right amount of romance.



3. out of all four movies in the series,this is probably the loudest and
   most chaotic,but that doesn't mean it was a bad movie.i think the
   storyline was a bit thin and not really all that original,but just like
   in part three,the action,and the chemistry of the stars makes up for
   that.and this movie also has more laughs than the previous
   installments,many courtesy of both Joe Pesci and Chris Rock.Rene Russo
   is back,along with Mel and Danny.Jet Li joins the proceedings in this
   one,and brings some spectacular fight scenes courtesy of his martial
   arts skill.i don't know if this is the best of the series,but i thought
   it was as good as number three,which i really liked.for me,Lethal
   Weapon 4 is a 3.5/5



4. Having worked and lived in five countries and seen about 4000 movies (at least) in three languages, I can confirm that this shows what America is still made of when you want to see amazing action, point.
   Not many countries makes that kind of adrenaline positive rush action movies...Lethal weapons movies are A for ace!



5. I really enjoyed the first 3 Lethal Weapon movies, but this one is a snoozer. Chris Rock is funny as a comedian, but as an actor he's in need of some serious help. The whole movie was so overblown that it's just ridiculous!
   
   Don't waste your money. If you really must see it borrow it. It's not even worth the time to watch really, much less the cost to rent. Even Mel Gibson can't save this one from the trash heap.

5 comments about Kiss of the Dragon [Blu-ray].

1. After seeying the for me quite dissapointing "Romeo Must Die", I saw this film: Kiss of the Dragon. This film I found way better than "Romeo must Die" and it was very entertaining. It is a very serious and dark film with an energetic Li who shows what he's got!
   
   The story follows a Chinese Agent (Jet Li) who is sent to Paris, France to help the local cops there with an ivestigation. When on the mission he finds out that he is in a web of traitors who will try to kill him at any costs. Now, with the prove of a crime on a cassettetape, he has to run for his life!
   
   Kiss of the Draghon features 5 energetic and well choreographed action sequences that gets the adrenaline pumping. Li is absolutely fantastic and kicks and punches his way through the movie with great speed. There is one scene where Li has to fight with about 25 men, which is a may it be short but spectacular scene to see. Next to being good in the fighting, he also succeeds in giving his caracther some dramatic depth. He acts good and gives a satisfying performance.
   Bridget Fonda stars next to Li as the hooker with the golden heart. She acts good as well. She manages to stay on her feet and knows how to play the dramatic scenes well.
   As the bad guy there is Tchéky Karyo, who plays his character with such evil and anger that you just can't wait till Li gets the chance to kick his butt good!
   
   So overall, Kiss of the Dragon is a good film with good acting performances and great action. Action fans will not be dissapointed and Jet Li fans will love this film. So, an absolute must for Jet Li fans and a good film to see for action fans.



2. This is has to be one of the worst movies I have ever seen . It ranks up there with Godzilla 2000 ...



3. The crew that has something to do with Luc Besson seem to rotate jobs as films are made. From Besson there comes a line-up of action films created by Cory Yuen, Louis Leterrier, Pierre Morel, and more, all taking turns at direction, cinematography, or choreography.
   
   These movies have always been fun and easy to watch, with charming moments of clever action and a smart twist on the normal plate. "The Transporter," "Unleashed," "District B13," "Wasabi," the upcoming "War," and, of course, "Kiss of the Dragon" are among this collection.
   
   I give my review of "Kiss of the Dragon" by pointing to the contributions of Cory Yuen, the director and fight choreographer, and actors Jet Li, who co-wrote, and Cyril Raffaelli.
   
   Of the actors, this latter one is the silent blonde martial artist Jet Li fights in the climax of the film. Though examples of him are not prolific, he is swift become my favorite martial artist of the day, due partially to his enthusiasm for le parkour.
   
   "Kiss of the Dragon" features very fine action from Jet Li at the hands of Cory Yuen, highlighted with Jet Li's defeat of a room full of karate students, a brutal fight in a noodel shop with a much larger gentleman, and the seminal moment, the fight against Cyril Raffaelli. The acrobatics and speed on display in especially this final conflict are a pleasure to watch.
   
   Of course, it is the action which shines, more than making up for decent connections. One staple of the films produced by this crew is an unusually intelligent script or, instead of plot, a unique and refreshing take on the action scenes themselves. The action was great, but the plot seemed to rely too heavily on crutch of the female protagonist's status as a prostitute. Dealing with her destructive personal life in a serious way was an admirable attempt for an action film, but not enough to justify calling the script intelligent, making this an anomaly among the collection of films I've mentioned.
   
   It's a fun movie, especially in a nostalgic way- it's one of the earliest movies put out by this group of filmmakers, and for an early attempt it does well for itself. They've certainly polished themselves up with time, sort of leaving "Kiss of the Dragon" behind. But it's still fun to watch, and fun to see the early stages of some of my favorite industry names.



4. The moive itself is your standard low-budget, over the top action film. It has the usual plot and the usual action. I am not here to talk about the film, but the BD quality.
   
   The BD quality is very good and pristine - for a single layer BD with DTS-HD MA! I see the specs on Amazon do not mention that! DTS-HD Master Audio is THE reason to get this disc! It is also the reason the price is so high.
   
   The film is not bad, but if you were looking for a true martial arts film or a believable action film, this is not it. Jet Li had great promise, but most of his movies do not compare to his scenes in Lethal Weapon 4. It is something to watch, but not something to keep.



5. This movie makes me want to kill myself.
   
   F*** Bridget Fonda. Shes terrible.

5 comments about Jet Li's Fearless (Unrated Director´s Cut).

1. Like many people who had posted reviews here, I too received the incorrect DVD (i.e. the US theatrical version, not the original Director's Cut). As suggested by the helpful individuals here, I emailed Universal Studios Home Entertainment and got a response: they asked me to email them my home address so that they can send a postage paid envelope to mail back the defective DVD (Disc 1). Universal promised to mail the correct one within two to four weeks. I received it in about two weeks, and after having viewed this new disk, I am relieved and satisfied with their prompt response at rectifying the situation.
   
   In terms of the movie itself, the correct Director's Cut is in every respect better than the US theatrical version. Approximately 35 minutes of original footage were cut from the US version -- both a disservice and disrespect to the American audience, who I imagine would have appreciated the relevant backstory and details that make this epic even more powerful and nuanced. For example, the extended scene where a boy was beaten by the neighboring villagers (that the US version deleted) really adds to Huo Yuanjia's mental, emotional, and physical recovery, as do other shorter deleted scenes. In fact, this version provides a much more chronological perspective that unfolds naturally and gives us a better idea of what happened to other minor characters, such as Huo's boyhood rival. In the end, I was able to appreciate this movie even more. As a side note, I wonder why there had been such a big media push to promote "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and so much less given to this vastly superior movie.
   
   As previous reviewers have mentioned, please visit: http://www.universalstudios.com/contact_form.php?email_id=10 in order to notify them of your incorrect DVD as I did, so that a replacement can be sent. Finally, please encourage anyone else interested in this movie to only purchase and see the original Director's Cut; maybe one day, "Fearless" will be restored in US theaters the way it was meant to be shown.



2. As I was lucky enough to receive the correct copy of this dvd, I'll forgo the misprint snafu and rate the directors cut simply by the film.
   
   Let me first state that I loved the original theatre release of Fearless. I would easily put in my top 10 favorite films of all time. However, this cut does what seems to be impossible these days - it takes a great film and vastly improves on it. When you watch the extra footage that has been added in, you aren't thinking "Well, I can see why they left that out..." The film moves just as quickly as the first film, however as a previous poster states, the film feels much more epic. You get a greater sense of the main characters reasoning, and what drives him to act the way he does. You also get a greater sense of his redemption by the film's end.
   
   Also, it seems to me that since the director's cut is unrated, you get a few more broken bone and blood spitting scenes that were cut from the theatrical release to ensure a PG-13 rating. This can be a good or bad thing, depending on your taste in violence in Wushu flicks. Personally, I thought it fit well with the character's hubris during that part of the film.
   
   Finally, this being an Olympic Year, and with the games being held in Beijing, the scenes with Michelle Yeoh hit home just a little bit harder than they would in any other year. With China wanting to show its best side for these games, this movie shows one of the many reasons why this is the case. I found myself seeing a totally different perspective of both the movie and the games with the coincedence of the disc's release time, and it made me appreciate both just a little more.



3. Brought from seller: rm_group https://www.amazon.ca . I just watched the Directors Cut last night, the added 40 minute footage was a wonderful addition to the whole movie. I had watched the US version many times and enjoyed it. Then reading the comments left on it I found that Canada was selling the actual directors cut with the additional 40 min footage. Skeptical at buying from an unknown source, I took the chance and bought it anyway. Shipping was very quick, the seller very nice, the DVD came in original wrapping, price was good.
   
   The Directors cut was totally awesome and explained so much more and was so more indepth. You could understand the story so much more as well as the connection with all those involved in the story.
   
   There are still 2 more versions in the 2 disk CD for me to watch, The Unrated Version and the Theatrical version. I don't think that they can give me as much pleasure nor live up to the directors cut, but I shall watch the Unrated Version, since I've seen the Theatrical version, here in the US.
   
   For those looking for the Correct Directors cut version I've put the link to the place were you can get it, you wont be disappointed.



4. Fearless is one of the best martial arts movies ever made. However, this DVD does not contain the Director's cut of the film. In fact, I contacted Amazon Customer Service and was promised a refund on the purchase price of "Fearless-the Director's Cut." I was informed, after Amazon received my DVD, that I would not receive the refund. Amazon definitely needs to pay significantly more attention to customer service consistency.



5. Based on the real life tale of Huo Yuanjia. The chinese want to add the Wu Shu Tournament into the olympics. They feel due to the honor and history of the sport it would make a great addition. This begins an epic tale of basic human error and the consequences of pure arrogance.
   
   It's no secret to anybody that I love fighting, violence, just plain good ol' fashion beatdowns to the third power. But they all take a backseat to a great story. And without a doubt Jet Li's Fearless delivers a damn good one.
   
   Fearless does an excellent job painting a picture using the themes of revenge and arrogance. Huo Yaunjia(Jet Li) is a very down to earth character that I found very easy to relate to. I think the storytelling is brilliant helping the viewer get to know the main character by beginning with his childhood. This part of the film clearly explains his recklessness going into manhood.
   
   The film moves at a great pace and the events are given enough time to actually feel believeable. The character development for me, is the strongest point of the film. I also enjoyed the way characters were used. Nong Jinsun's(Dong Yong) character was very likable as the loyal friend, who was trying his best to be an angel on the shoulder.
   
   Now of course anyone who comes into a Jet Li film are expecting great fights. The fights are pretty good but my favorite battle was early in the film. The later battles weren't bad to me but after a certain battle. I just felt it was so good nothing else really came close action wise. Overall, you get a very good dose of well done fights even consisting of weapon play.
   
   I consider this to be one of Jet's best works. This isn't an average, mindless fu flick that delivers good action and overdone ridiculous comedy. You can actually come into this expecting to take it serious. I highly recommend picking up this Director's Cut, especially if you're a Jet Li fan. Or looking for a great story with a meaning.

5 comments about Kiss of the Dragon.

1. After seeying the for me quite dissapointing "Romeo Must Die", I saw this film: Kiss of the Dragon. This film I found way better than "Romeo must Die" and it was very entertaining. It is a very serious and dark film with an energetic Li who shows what he's got!
   
   The story follows a Chinese Agent (Jet Li) who is sent to Paris, France to help the local cops there with an ivestigation. When on the mission he finds out that he is in a web of traitors who will try to kill him at any costs. Now, with the prove of a crime on a cassettetape, he has to run for his life!
   
   Kiss of the Draghon features 5 energetic and well choreographed action sequences that gets the adrenaline pumping. Li is absolutely fantastic and kicks and punches his way through the movie with great speed. There is one scene where Li has to fight with about 25 men, which is a may it be short but spectacular scene to see. Next to being good in the fighting, he also succeeds in giving his caracther some dramatic depth. He acts good and gives a satisfying performance.
   Bridget Fonda stars next to Li as the hooker with the golden heart. She acts good as well. She manages to stay on her feet and knows how to play the dramatic scenes well.
   As the bad guy there is Tchéky Karyo, who plays his character with such evil and anger that you just can't wait till Li gets the chance to kick his butt good!
   
   So overall, Kiss of the Dragon is a good film with good acting performances and great action. Action fans will not be dissapointed and Jet Li fans will love this film. So, an absolute must for Jet Li fans and a good film to see for action fans.



2. This is has to be one of the worst movies I have ever seen . It ranks up there with Godzilla 2000 ...



3. The crew that has something to do with Luc Besson seem to rotate jobs as films are made. From Besson there comes a line-up of action films created by Cory Yuen, Louis Leterrier, Pierre Morel, and more, all taking turns at direction, cinematography, or choreography.
   
   These movies have always been fun and easy to watch, with charming moments of clever action and a smart twist on the normal plate. "The Transporter," "Unleashed," "District B13," "Wasabi," the upcoming "War," and, of course, "Kiss of the Dragon" are among this collection.
   
   I give my review of "Kiss of the Dragon" by pointing to the contributions of Cory Yuen, the director and fight choreographer, and actors Jet Li, who co-wrote, and Cyril Raffaelli.
   
   Of the actors, this latter one is the silent blonde martial artist Jet Li fights in the climax of the film. Though examples of him are not prolific, he is swift become my favorite martial artist of the day, due partially to his enthusiasm for le parkour.
   
   "Kiss of the Dragon" features very fine action from Jet Li at the hands of Cory Yuen, highlighted with Jet Li's defeat of a room full of karate students, a brutal fight in a noodel shop with a much larger gentleman, and the seminal moment, the fight against Cyril Raffaelli. The acrobatics and speed on display in especially this final conflict are a pleasure to watch.
   
   Of course, it is the action which shines, more than making up for decent connections. One staple of the films produced by this crew is an unusually intelligent script or, instead of plot, a unique and refreshing take on the action scenes themselves. The action was great, but the plot seemed to rely too heavily on crutch of the female protagonist's status as a prostitute. Dealing with her destructive personal life in a serious way was an admirable attempt for an action film, but not enough to justify calling the script intelligent, making this an anomaly among the collection of films I've mentioned.
   
   It's a fun movie, especially in a nostalgic way- it's one of the earliest movies put out by this group of filmmakers, and for an early attempt it does well for itself. They've certainly polished themselves up with time, sort of leaving "Kiss of the Dragon" behind. But it's still fun to watch, and fun to see the early stages of some of my favorite industry names.



4. The moive itself is your standard low-budget, over the top action film. It has the usual plot and the usual action. I am not here to talk about the film, but the BD quality.
   
   The BD quality is very good and pristine - for a single layer BD with DTS-HD MA! I see the specs on Amazon do not mention that! DTS-HD Master Audio is THE reason to get this disc! It is also the reason the price is so high.
   
   The film is not bad, but if you were looking for a true martial arts film or a believable action film, this is not it. Jet Li had great promise, but most of his movies do not compare to his scenes in Lethal Weapon 4. It is something to watch, but not something to keep.



5. This movie makes me want to kill myself.
   
   F*** Bridget Fonda. Shes terrible.

5 comments about Romeo Must Die.

1. I was surprised I enjoyed much of this since martial arts movies are okay but nothing I really get into often. Jet Li plays the only likable character in this Asians vs. Blacks gang story.
   
   Some of the stunts were tremendous. Some were so over-the-top, so unbelievable that they were funny. The movie certainly isn't one to be taken seriously.
   
   The wild action scenes, fairly involving story and nice colors and interesting sound track all make this movie a cut above the normal martial arts fare. The excellent surround sound and sharp picture make it a good one for DVD.



2. Jet Li plays en ex-cop who went to prison in Hong Kong for crimes his father committed. The father and younger brother move to the U.S. and continue with their criminal enterprises. Their main competition comes from a black family headed by Delroy Lindo. When Li's brother is killed, he breaks out of prison and comes to the U.S. to find out who did it. He meets Delroy Lindo's daughter who is the only one in the family not involved in the family business. She helps Li investigate who killed his brother. Along the way, her brother also gets killed and their are people in both organizations who are not as loyal as their bosses believe.
   
   Romeo Must Die was an enjoyable movie. The story moves along at a decent pace and Jet Li and Aaliyah have good chemistry together. There were some excellent fights with imaginative use of items at hand. I especially liked a fight Li was having with a woman. Deciding he couldn't hit a woman, he used Aaliyah's body to throw the punches and kicks.



3. This is one Jet Li movie I believe could've been better if Li was the villian and Russell Wong was the lead!
   Try as they will, Jet and Aaliyah did not have the chemistry to pull off a believable romance, not too mention, they didn't even look good together. Handsome Russell Wong, on the otherhand, could've easily pulled off a realistic romance with the beautiful Aaliyah.(RIP)



4. As an Aaliyah FAN (1979-2001), ROMEO MUST DIE was an stepping stone for Miss. Aaliyah.. GOOD MOVIE



5. Nothing spectacular to add, just that the movie is fun to watch... especially Jet Li's fight scenes. Also a tribute to Aaliya - she showed promise. Plot was pretty tried and true - acting average to good. Fight scenes, not overly realistic but lots of fun!
   
   If you missed out on this movie somehow... I recommend!
   
   All the best,
   
   Jay

5 comments about The Warlords (First Print Edition) DVD.

1. 
   . . . And understandable motivation, better editing and oh yes, some logic.



2. There's the Jet Li that we know from American movies and the expectation of international audience towards what he's offering us and the Jet Li, the actor who's coming of age in his Asian context. The blood brothers in this instance are played by the major stars of the Asian scene now: Takeshi Kaneshiro (father from Taiwan & mother from Okinawa), Andy Lau (a superstar in acting & singing in Asia) & Jet Li. I agree with other reviewers to say that the background premise of Taiping Rebellion is an excuse of us seeing the three brothers come together at turbulence time of famine & poverty in China to find redemption by beating the opponents. For history buffs, you would probably appreciate that this is the origin of triads in China. Then, you also learn about warlords siding together and later, ganging against one another all in the name of power. Jet Li's character, Pan Chin Yun commands with his head whilst his second brother rules from his heart (Andy Lau). The movie is narrated by Takeshi's character who seems to be the ever loyal and impartial party between two idealogies. No matter how talented people are, they are simply being played and manipulated by crafty politicians behind the scene. As one said, power corrupts and it corrupts wholeheartedly which in the end simply bringing to the destruction of the bond of three brothers. A definite epic with twists and turns, with a dash of complexity that's more rampant now with Asian movies offering. It seems Chinese movies have definitely coming of age and no longer its genres are limited to Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige's offerings. A very well-made movie with international backers & affiliations. At the end of the day, I suppose Asian audience is still yearning for those two dimensional action movies whilst this movie is more historial and political in context. Highly recommended.



3. In "The Warlords," another rendition of the classic Chinese tale of loyalty and betrayal of three brothers, we see evidence of something many may not realize: when not hampered by his horrible accent, Jet Li can act, in fact, for this role he received an Asian Film Award nomination for Best Actor. He may not be a Deniro or a Denzel, but he's at least got that certain intensity that makes Clint Eastwood. We do not, however, get to see what American audiences know Li for, his martial arts prowess.
   As winner of the Hong Kong Film Awards both for best film and best director, Peter Chan ("The Eye," 1 through infinity it seems), we see here an exemplary piece of cinema which demonstrates the high quality of movies coming from China today.
   The cinematography is well done, costumes are excellent, epic battle sequences are choreographed beautifully and the characters and complex character relationships are well developed, sincere and sympathetic. In addition to Li, we see moving performances by Andy Lau, a winner of numerous Asian film awards, and Takeshi Kaneshiro, both who Americans may know from "The House of Flying Daggers."
   If you are looking for a "Jet Li movie" you may likely find yourself bored. Despite the war background of this movie it is, at heart, a
   drama, and a very good one at that.
   
   [...]



4. If you are looking for a film similar to "Hero", "The House of Flying Daggers," or "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" then "Warlords" is DEFINITIVELY NOT what you want to watch. In the first three movies, you have actors defying the laws of physics as they fight like string-puppets and show supernatural stamina.
   
   Warlords is nothing of the above. It is set during the Taipeng Peasant Revolution (circa 1850-1875), which was the largest uprising in Modern History. It took the lives of 70 million people ---surpassing the staggering death toll of World War II. In this scenario, ordinary people had only two choices: to arm themselves in order to steal food from others --or to die of starvation. This film is a story of betrayals, massacres, and rivalry. It opens with a scene of General Pang (Jet Li) who lost his troops to a rival army. Pang is the only survivor. He had committed a terrible dishonor: he pretended to be dead while his brothers-in-arms were butchered. The disgraced General Pang is tormented by his terrible act of cowardice. In time, he joins a gang of bandits lead by Zhang, and Zhao. Then Pang teaches these farmers-turned-soldiers how to fight against the odds with such cruelty and disregard for human life that shocks even throat-cutters like Zhang and Zhao. The three, by means of a bloody ritual, became blood brothers. This act would help the three to survive in an unforgiving and deadly country side. In due time, the three brothers became enemies as old oaths are forgotten...



5. I really enjoyed watching The Warlords, so much in fact that I decided to buy it - something I rarely do. However, after searching Amazon and choosing a seller (hissarlikway) I discovered I was sent a bootleg copy of The Warlords. The item was described as follows:
   The Warlords (First Print Edition) DVD [DVD] (2008) Andy Lau; Takeshi Kaneshiro
   Condition: New
   Seller note: BRAND NEW FACTORY SEALED FAST TRANSACTION
   
   However, even though seller states "BRAND NEW FACTORY SEALED" it became clear shortly after starting to watch it that this DVD was edited for television viewers. Many important scenes are missing including what the central characters did to become blood brothers (clue: they didn't just swear allegiance to each other). Also in my version, three-fourths of the way through the movie, a TV station logo popped up in the lower right hand corner of the screen. Finally as far as editing and missing scenes go, the epilogue subtitles are missing and you'll never know how the story wraps up.
   This is a great movie and I still recommend watching it but you don't want the copy that has important scenes missing. Don't buy it unless the seller can authenticate it is not a bootleg copy. I found that "Factory-sealed" just means the counterfeiters have some shrinkwrap equipment. Buyer Beware!
   
   FYI: The original, unedited movie I saw was bought in Hong Kong and brought over to the US by a friend.

5 comments about Unleashed (Unrated Widescreen Edition).

1. This was thrilling and disappointing all at once. It takes western martial arts movies to a whole new level, then lets you down gradually, instead of sucking from the very start. As much as I love Jet Li, most of his American movies suck, which is not his fault in the least. Nor is it the fault of his choreographers like Cory Yuen, or in this case, Yuen Woo Ping. These large Hollywood companies just butcher the hell out of the fights in post-production, and this is almost an exception. Does Hollywood believe that that's what we want to see? Six angles for one punch, filmed on a shaky hand-cam? Not me. I hate that. This is still easily Jet's best film since he came to America and blows away crap like "Cradle 2 the Grave" and "The One". Though I must admit that for some reason, I loved "Kiss of the Dragon".
   
   Jet plays Danny, a "dog", raised since childhood by gangster Bob Hoskins to help with collections and other assorted tasks. Hoskins will warn potential deadbeats by threatening to remove Danny's collar, which has a Pavlovian effect on Danny where he knows it's time to kick the tar out of everyone. An accident later leaves Danny injured, wandering, assuming that Hoskins is dead, and into the care of kindly old blind piano-tuner Morgan Freeman and his step-daughter Victoria. Under their influence, Danny starts to come out of his very shy shell and appreciate the nicer things in life, like music, ice cream, warmth (temperature and human), cleanliness, and non-violence. Hoskins isn't dead of course, and Danny will have to fight again for his own freedom.
   
   What bothers me about this movie is that is sets up a silly premise and almost, almost pulls it off. Which wouldn't have bothered me as much if I wasn't so engrossed in Danny's plight. The acting is good all the way around, with an especially impressive performance by Jet. He really pulls off a combination of vicious and deadly under the care of Hoskins, and sweet, shy, and inquisitively wide-eyed under the care of Freeman. It totally sucks you in to the contrasting duality before falling short. It certainly raises some interesting questions about our own feral nature and the effects of civilization. Even more so than Tim Allen's "Jungle 2 Jungle".
   
   The fights are really what attracted me to this, as it should be. After all, this is a Jet Li movie. It likely won't disappoint. All the fights are good, but I am bothered by a film that fails to improve on the opening rumble. The final fight is flawed only by its absurdity of origin, otherwise it rocks. Jet and a bald dude duking it out in a bathroom that's barely larger than a phone booth. These brawls are quite a bit different than any that Jet & Woo Ping have done in the past, together or otherwise. Again, they are over-edited, but in the grainy, dark, "Snatch"-like film quality, they don't suffer as much.
   
   If you like American martial arts films (even though it's technically European), you should see this. It's in a league far beyond most, if not all, in that genre, and nearly transcends several others too... but not quite.
   
   2005. aka: Danny the Dog



2. Unleashed (Unrated Widescreen Edition)
   
   This is a great DVD featuring an incredible movie. Unleased is probably one of Jet Li's best films, featuring him as a poor, mistreated "slave" fighting for a cruel master. One day he tastes freedom, and the rest is a dramatic roller coaster. The DVD itself is pretty thin on features, but what's there is pretty decent (behind the scenes, fight sequences, etc). Pick it up! For such a low price, you should unleash it on your home theatre!



3. Not at all what i thought it would be like based on other jet li movies. He is a good actor, but this movie is gross and hard to follow much less understand. Surprised Morgan Freeman got involved in this one.



4. basically its a story of hope, redemption, and rebirth. Danny(Jet Lee) has been raised as nothing more than an attack dog for his entire life(that he can remember). he has been forced to hurt. forced to kill. he never gets anything in return for the atrocities. he is forced to live in a cage. its the first movie in a while that actually made me care for any characters.
   
   one day a hit is taken out on his owner and company. after things quiet down and the smoke clears Danny is the only man left breathing. he takes his first steps out of the car and to freedom.
   
   He ends up being taken in by a blind Morgan Freeman and his step daughter. their kindness awakens the humanity inside Danny.
   
   i dont want to elaborate on the story beyond that. ill just say this was an amazing movie, and anyone should see it (even non action fans)
   
   great action, great story, great soundtrack, and great acting(the most and best acting ive ever seen from Jet Lee)
   
   apparently the violence was a bit much for some. now, while it was the most brutal violence ive scene in its own stylized subgenre, theres deffinitely more violent fights out there. if the sound of bones bones breaking bothers you, walk away.



5. This is a cool martial arts flick that has heart. Its not just about fighting. Its along the lines of Jackie Chan's Heart of the Dragon in that both films show people caring for each other. Both movies show characters who are mentally handicapped and are helped by someone. The non-violence side of the movie shows that Jet Li can really act. That only makes the action scenes where violence is needed all the more better. The martial arts scenes are execellent with Li fighting like a mad, stray dog. Some of the best fighting is in the pit scenes, especially when weapons are dropped in. It isn't as good as Fearless or the Once Upon a Time in China, Tsui Hark series but it does have better acting between Morgan Freeman and Jet Li then pervious Li movies.

5 comments about Once Upon A Time In China: Collection.

1. This is a classic trilogy for fans of Jet Li and/or period Kung Fu. Jet Li is 'wong fei hong', a legend in China. As is common for this genre, there's quite a bit of slapstick humor in the first movie. The second and third movie may seem better if you're not so into the clowning around. As usual, Jet Li's kung fu is truly impressive, although the wired choreography is a little annoying at times.
   
   All in all, well worthwhile for anyone interested in (period) kung fu movies or simply admiring Jet Li's talent!



2. Be warned that this transfer is so blurry and bad that I couldn't imagine anything being worse. It looks like a bootleg and it was so bad I couldn't even finish watching the first movie...



3. The items I purchased were in excellant condition. Recommend buying from this seller in the future.



4. First off, buy the "Once Upon a Time in China" Trilogy, not Collection. Collection has far more technical issues than the Trilogy. Unfortunately, since Amazon groups all of its reviews, there's confusion as to which version is being referred to.
   
   Second, there are 6 movies in this series. The first 3 are the ones to focus on (and the ones sold in this package). 4 and 5 don't star Jet Li. Number 6 (Once Upon a Time in China and America) stars Jet Li, but has a different director (Sammo Hung) than 1-3 did (Tsui Hark, HK's Spielberg-some would argue) and is, at best, mediocre.
   
   The OUATIC series is about the adventures of Wong Fei Hung, a Chinese folk hero. This character pops up a lot (as a child in Iron Monkey, Jackie Chan's character in the Drunken Master series). Each portrayal is very different and most aren't based but on the slightest detail to the actual historical character. But that aside, here's what the movies are really about:
   
   Yes, Jet Li's character struggles with a HK overrun with British Imperialists and the woman who loves him and all the drama that follows and. . .honestly, no one really cares. The story is an odd mix. When there aren't action sequences, much of the story plays out like a routine period piece. The story is decent and worth a look, but subsequent viewings will have you simply skipping ahead to the action sequences because. . .
   
   . . .these are simply the best collection of HK/Kung Fu/Wire Fu fight sequences you will ever find. You have an actor at the top of his kung fu game with choreographers who are given a lot of freedom and creativity to use the actors talents, all captured by a director at the peak of his powers. These fight sequences are the stuff of legend, the yardstick that all kung fu fights are measured against. Not to take anything away from other flicks of Jet's like Fist of Legend or Fong Sai Yuk, but these are the best. And to get them all in one package for such a cheap price is nothing short of criminal. I paid a small fortune to get these three films from HK before this version was released.
   
   You'll see some of the most innovative and intense wirework, skill, and choreography you've ever witnessed, stuff that makes the Matrix look tame by comparison, despite coming out years before the Wachowski's ever put word 1 to paper. Every scenario you can imagine is captured, Jet vs. 1, Jet vs. some, Jet vs many, Jet with weapons, Jet with bare hands, Jet with props=like an ubrella, Jet vs. flaming arrows, Jet vs. boss characters in the most insane environments you can imagine. I can't stress it enough, this is as good as it gets. Even skipping over the story, the fight scenes will entertain you and your next several generations long after you're gone. Simple as that. If you're into Kung Fu flicks and somehow have slept on this one, just buy it.



5. This is a bit of a renaissance-man-film, if one can say that. It does a lot of things simultaneously. Firstly, it is a great kung fu flick, with some of the best names in the buisness including of course Jet Li, the inimitable Yuen Biao as well as Yuen Wo Ping of later Matrix fame. Secondly, it is a big, well told drama about doctor Wong Fei Hong, a real life character and something of a Chinese folk hero, and the modernisation/changing of Imperial China some hundred and a bit years ago. If you took away the fighting, it would still be a good film, a very rare thing with martial arts films. Thirdly, it is a great opportunity to see how the Chinese themselves (if "only" the Hong Kong Chinese) look upon their own history and their own heroes. That particular time in Chinese history, in which "Once Upon a Time in China" plays out, is not only tumultuous and chaotic, but the actual transitional period between imperial and repulican China.
   
   It is well acted, wonderfully directed, beautifully scored, and a blast to watch. Definitely one of the best films ever to come out of Hong Kong.