No comments about Jet Li - The One & Legend of the Red Dragon double feature.

No comments about Water Style Boxing Vol.2.

No comments about Swords of Vengeance - Fall of Ako Castle (Ako-Jo Danzetu).

5 comments about 2009 Lost Memories.

1. Shortly after seeing Vincenzo Natali's CYPHER, I became aware of two other films that appeared to have been cut from a Philip K. Dick cloth; Min Byung-chun's NATURAL CITY and Lee Si-myung's 2009: LOST MEMORIES. Where CYPHER felt close to Dick's "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" and NATURAL CITY his Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, 2009 was under threat of falling through the cracks as it smacked of a Dick novel that has yet to have an "official" adaptation, The Man in the High Castle.
   
   What if the Axis powers had won WWII? That's been a question long posed in alternative versions of history. 2009: LOST MEMORIES goes back further to the 1909 assassination of Chosun Governor Ito by Choong-Kum Ahn, proposing that this event could have sparked a flurry of dramatic shifts in history. No longer enemies, the United States and Japan would have fought as allies in World War II, atomic bombs would have been dropped on Britain, and "The Great East Asian Union" would serve as the second largest superpower in the world.
   
   The majority of the movie takes place in Seoul--third largest city in the Japanese Empire. When the Korean Republican Army (also known as the Hureisenjin) take over Ito Hall, Japanese Bureau of Investigation agents Sakamoto Masayuki (Jang Dong-gun) and Saigo Shojiro (Toru Nakamura) are called in to diffuse the situation. Like their American counterparts, the JBI tends to shoot first and never ask questions later. The sole exception to this is Sakamoto who insists on digging into the KRA's activities.
   
   Sakamoto uses his Japanese moniker despite being a Korean. In this brave new world, Korea is merely an extension of the East Asian Union's territory. Korea's cultural history and language have long ago been officially dissolved and its citizens are second class at best. When Sakamoto's investigation into the KRA threatens to rock the foundation of the illustrious and mysterious Inoue Foundation, he's framed for murder and told by his superiors, "You'll find lots of friends in jail since most of them are Korean."
   
   While Dick's use of an alternative future is far from wholly original, The Man in the High Castle is a highly satisfactory science fiction tale. Dick's novel lacks an organized rebellion to the alternate timeline but has The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, an underground novel which paints a much more familiar world in which the Axis powers fell. 2009: LOST MEMORIES also owes a debt to Chris Marker's LA JETTEE in Sakamoto's future/past dream.
   
   Moreover, director Lee Si-myung appears to be aping the style of John Woo just as Jang Dong-gun shares quite a few facial expressions with Chow Yun Fat. Additionally, the relationship between Sakamoto and Saigo recalls the tempestuous alliance between many of Woo's characters. It's ironic, then, that the disassociative plot of 2009: LOST MEMORIES should so strongly recall the work of Philip K. Dick when Woo would later helm the adaptation of Dick's "Paycheck."
   
   Rather than tracking down the overlong 2009: LOST MEMORIES, I recommend sticking with Peter Hyams' TIMECOP for a much better time travel adventure film.



2. The course of Korean history has been damaged through time travel! That is the secret of the whole film. I would have put up a spoiler warning, but if your read the back of the box, watch the opening credits, or read the product discription, you already know the BIG SECRET. The movie wants to be a very high minded affair, but you don't feel enough of the time changes (most of the over the top action gets in the way) so that you have a lot of sympathy for what is going on. The movie is also hurt by the fact it falls into every Asian movie cliche that doesn't involve a sword and martial arts.
   
   Hero sees person they care for killed and becomes so overcome with grief they must kill 100 people. Check. Best friends end up opposing each other. Check. Symetry scene between best friends going through similar experiences at different locations. Check. Flashback to unimportant person who now give film emotional meaning. Check. Slow action to a crawl to add emotional drama. Check. Two characters pointing pistols at the others head. Check.
   
   Not a bad flick, but not worth $20+ either.



3. First of all, either you will like the film "2009 Lost Memories" or you will not. The film reminded me a lot of Philip K. Dick's "THE MAN IN A HIGH CASTLE." Only from an Asian perspective. As for myself, I found the film very entertaining--not the best time travel film, but entertaining enough to rent the film at least. [I own it] The film centers around two main characters: A Korean policeman and Japanese policeman from a special anti-terrorist police unit. Both are assigned to the JBI. (Japanese Bureau Of Investigation) based in Seoul. They are combating a terrorist group trying to gain independence from Japan: As Japan in this alternate future allied itself with the USA, and helped to defeat the Axis powers. Moreover, because the future has been altered with Japan as an ally; the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been erased from the past, and therefore, Berlin, Germany was the recipient of the first atomic bombing.
   
   Enter two JBI agents, Sakamoto Masayuki (Jan Dong-gun) and Saigo Shojiro (Toru Nakamura). After the agents are assigned to investigate the Korean terrorist organization responsible for the latest attack on the corporation which sponsored the event; one of the agents, Sakamoto, begins his own internal research on the corporation. Sakamoto discovers that the attack which took so many of the terrorists lives centers on an ancient artifact, and the terrorists were all willing to die for it. But what is so significant about this artifact? Furthermore, Sakamoto is of Korean descent, and during his investigation of the the Mega-corporation, which is Japanese run, he finds himself in hot water as this corporation begins to go after him. This is a powerful corporation, and their reach is very far and wide. Also, since Japan was never defeated in this alternate reality, then Korea never became independent, and is still occupied by Japan.
   
   As events unfold in the film, it become apparent to Sakamoto that the artifact holds the key to events that occurred in the year 1909, which affected the future: The foiled assassination of one man which has altered the future and changed history. The film shifts to events in 1909, which show how history was altered. When Sakamoto discovers what really happened, it is up to him to go back in time and put the past in its proper place--as he has discovered that Korea is an independent nation [Divided] in the true reality. However, there is trouble for him within his own agency. His best friend is the Japanese JBI agent Saigo Shojiro--who has been told what really happened in time. Therefore, Saigo must stop his good friend from attempting to return history to its rightful place, lest his own Japan suffer defeat. Will Sakamoto succeed? Or will he be thwarted by his good friend Saigo? And will history be altered for the better if Sakamoto succeeds? This is a very good film, not great, but definitely worth a watch. Rent it first. [Stars: 3.5]



4. I'll make it short and sweet. This was a really good movie. The english track was a plus. It was put together good and the plot kept me on my seat and the end was a twist. I can't wait till more Asian/futuristic action packed movies are re-released into english tracks. I own a couple of movies like this one that has the english track and they are great. The american market is flooded with the same plots.. Movies like this one give you a different outlook on the way it is made...which makes it an all around good movie.. A must get.



5. I like these stories but I confess that this one is I thought weak. It is one of these what-if stories of how history would have been different if a Japanese governor in Korea in 1909 had not been assassinated. In the story it changed much of history. The Japanese empire survived and Korean become a second-class in Japanese society although democratic, rich and prosperous they are only fully accepted if they became Japanese. To correct this a Korean terrorist group tries to change history to make it what it was in our time.
   
   While watching it, I was thinking considering what Korea when though in our time. Since 1909 they went though a tough Japanese occupation, a bloody civil war, have had two terrible communist dictators in the North, many military leaders in the South and a threat of major war with nukes now. Maybe this alternate future was better for Korea which is something this film should have tried to analysis.
   
   Still it is a story. I did not find any characters interesting.
   
   The acting was okay.
   
   Some of the action scenes were good.
   
   The filming reasonable.

No comments about Muay Thai Fights Volume 2 DVD.

No comments about Advantage: Lethal Ladies.

2 comments about The President's Man.

1. Chuck Norris is getting on in years, and must be eligible for a pension right about now, but if you have even a shred of doubt that the Chuckster still has the moves, look no further than this for proof that he is still THE man when it comes to a bit of US chop socky.

   The rest of the movie is pretty standard TV fare, with an unknown guy I've never heard of doing a second rate Norris impression, some 1995 style editing and the kind of sub-standard dialogue you would expect from a TV action movie, which is watchable but not enjoyable.

   but this is what makes it so great. this is an unshamedly retro TV movie, not letting story get in the way of the reasonably good action scenes, and having leads give performances that would make Keanu Reeves blush (Chuck Norris excluded naturally)

   And of course, Chuck is the reason to watch this movie. He still has the moves, still has the stare, and still has the charisma to make you watch straight to video movies. warning: rent but don't buy this movie, as it probably won't hold past one viewing.




2. This is one of the best Chuck Norris movies I have ever seen. The martial arts in this film was very thrilling. Chuck Norris
   works directly for the President. He does a great job on keeping matters confidential, and when it comes to impossible jobs to be done, the President goes directly to Chuck Norris. He also has the task of rescuing the First Lady from terrorists, and then once again, he must face new missions. This is a movie not to be missed. If you like Chuck Norris, you will love this action packed movie. I will definitely buy any Chuck Norris movie I can find.

5 comments about Kung Fu vs. Yoga.

1. I found this film highly entertaining.I have never before seen the art of yoga used like that to deliver blows.Definately a unique film.



2. A young fighter enters and wins a kung fu contest and wins the right to wed the daughter of a local wealthy figure. After winning the daughter refuses to marry him, and in desperation the father thinks up a way to save his daughters future. He decides to make his "Son in law" gather three objects for him: 1) a secret shaolin book from a monk; 2) the scarf from a prostitute; 3) and last but not least the ruby off the turbin of a yoga master. After getting by the first two tasks by the skin on his back, with the help of a friend he attempts to close the deal not knowing what lies ahead of him? The Yoga master will shock you with the amazing flexibility and joint work he does, and the comedy and kung fu make this a must have! If you pass this one up I don't know what to tell you.



3. This movie, which I originally found on VHS back in 1994 at the 99cent store, is quite simply the best kung fu movie of all time. the final fight scene with the yoga master truly must be seen to be believed. ever seen someone fight 2 dudes with their leg behind their head, standing up? didnt think so. thats one of the yoga masters more unremarkable feats. possibly the best twelve dollars or whatever you could ever spend



4. Chien Yuet Sang and Alan Chui star as 2 good friends who love kung fu. Yuet Sang is better at fighting, and when he gets kicked out of his Dad's house, he takes Alan Chui with him to stay with his uncle. After winning a kung fu tournament, Yuet Sang is awarded by getting to marry a beautiful woman. If you don't know who Chien Yuet Sang is, then it would help to know that he is not the most attractive person. I am not a good judge of good looking males, but his face kind of looks like a mouse. So obviously she doesn't want to marry an ugly and poor man and forces him to steal some treasures she wants. Stealing a kung fu manual from San Kwai would be the best scene, but the finale takes one of the most unique turns ever.
   
   This is only an average kung fu movie. The highlights are Alan Chui and Chien Yuet Sang's acrobatics and San Kwai's hilarious performance. The end of the movie is where it finally gets interesting. The fights with the Yoga kung fu master are not for the squeamish, but worth a look if you want to see 2 of the craziest scenes ever put to film. All I will say is that every part of the Yoga guy's body can bend any way you can imagine. Most of the ways he bends I would have never thought of. This movie more than lives up to it's title.
   
   3/5
   
   Picture quality on the Video Asia disc is not bad.



5. Ok, so this movie is basically about a buck once alls said and done. You can find that on the ground or between the cushions anyday. That said, this movie is simply the best value martial arts film you'll ever buy. I guarantee you haven't seen a fight scene quite like two guys battling a guy that likely has playdoh for bones. Just buy it so you can say you've got the most far out kung fu movie ever made.

5 comments about Kill! - Criterion Collection.

1. This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.
   
   Kill! known as "Kiru" in Japan is the story of two samurai who is enter a poor town and become entangled in a feud between two rival clans. The film is based on Sanjuro but is not a good adaptation in my opinion.
   
   The Criterion DVD only has a theatrical trailer as a special feature which I think is not a good thing for a Criterion release. The DVD is available by itself or in a box set with the film "Samurai Rebellion", "Sword of the Beast", and "Samurai Spy". The box set is the better version to get.



2. The film "Kill," is not one of your usual samurai flicks, therefore, it might not be for everyone. However, I thought it was pretty good, and I certainly liked the parody that the film delivers in this samurai flick. This film was directed by Kihachi Okamoto, who also brought the world the epic samurai film, "Sword of Doom," [which also stars Tatsuya Nakadai]. The film is very dark, and humorous at the same time. I remember first seeing this film with my best friend years ago, and it was a pleasure to finally purchase it and watch it again. I liked it when I first saw it, and many years later, I still enjoyed the film. Only, I liked it more now, as the films dark humor and parody which I did not understand at the time no longer allude me. This humor is infused into the characters. This is what makes the film so different.
   
   Quite frankly, I really laughed hard at the parts where the samurai were running around during the battle scenes, only the film was put into fast forward motion, and what you have is an early 1920s type vignette of a film in which the samurai are intentionally moving at a fast pace. Now that's funny. Especially when you have a film starring (Tatsuya Nakadai) in the starring role. [Who can forget his character in "Sword of Doom?"] The film centers on three warriors. The first one, Genta, (Tatsuya Nakadai) is a wandering yakuza. The second one is Hanji, (Takahashi Etsushi) a farmer who wants to better his lot in life, and poses as a samurai. While the third character is named Tetsutaro, and he is a true samurai.
   
   Tetsutaro is basically being set up by his Lord as the patsy. His lord convinces him that it is necessary to kill a rival lord. He wants Tetsutaro to gather up a group of assassins to kill this rival official. However, things do not go well for him, as he is betrayed by this very same lord after the deed has been accomplished. Genta, good natured as he is feels responsible for the other two friends, Tetsutaro and Hanji, and attempts to play two sides in order to help the other two. [reminiscent of Yojimbo starring Toshiro Mifune]. The film is a very good watch, I would recommend it to anyone who likes samurai films. The film is infused with dark humor, and the film is a very enjoyable watch. I own it, and like the film very much. Highly recommended.



3. This excellent samurai film skewers the self-important preoccupation with duty and honor that this genre of film can lend itself to. Genta (Tatsuya Nakadai) has given up the life of a samurai to pursue the life of a wandering yakuza after duty compelled him to kill a friend. Hanji (Takahashi Etsushi) is a farmer and would-be samurai whose native honesty and good humor makes it hard for him the follow the path of bushido. Tetsutaro (Kubo Akira) is a more conventional samurai hero, whose sense of duty allows him to become the pawn of an unscrupulous man. Nakadai, Takahashi, and several other cast members give wonderful comic performances. Although this film pokes fun at the conventions of the samurai film, it still delivers some great action along with the humor.



4. This film has a hilarious love triangle set up. Like in the realm of the senses two or part of rashamon. The Japanese know how to rock some good humiliation. But ultimately the film is forgettable. Not a stand out samurai film by far.



5. Take a piece of Akira Kurosawa, blend in a big portion of Sergio Leone, then add a little of Mel Brooks on Xanax and you'll have an idea of one of the oddest and most amusing examples of chanbara satire. The "sword-fighting movies" from Japan nearly collapsed under the weight of cliches, just as American "gun-fighting" westerns nearly bit the dust in the U.S. Kihachi Okamoto piles on the cliches in this tale taken from the same source material as Sanjuro. While elements of the plot are described, it's not the plot that's too important, but what Okamoto does with it. You might have a hard time afterwards watching some of those popular Italian westerns with a straight face (or even some of Kurosawa's eastern westerns).
   
   Two ragged men, one a former samurai, Genta (Tatsuya Nakadai), who is disillusioned and has become a wandering yakuza, and the other, Hanji (Etsushi Takahashi), a farmer who wants to become a samurai, meet by chance in a dusty, decaying village. The two suddenly find themselves in the midst of corruption, betrayal and assassination. They wind up fighting rival gangs and, sometimes, each other. Along the way we encounter the loving cliches of samurai flicks as well as the loving cliches from Italian westerns...all that running back and forth, noble love, beatings, the really evil villain...as well as pratfalls, a monk who seems to be channeling William Hickey, a flying finger that lands on the ground right in front of the camera and probably the scrawniest chicken ever to have a major role in the movies.
   
   The year is 1833 when Japan's rigid class system was decaying. Tatsuya Nakadai as Genta is marvelous as the quizzical and disillusioned ex-samurai who long ago had enough of the posturing and false honor of his class. He has no intention of being a hero, yet he finds himself against his better judgment being drawn into a clan battle between corruption on one side and naivety on the other. He also is a realist. "Kill or be killed," he says at one point, "either would leave an unpleasant aftertaste." Almost as good is Etsushi Takahashi as Hanji. He may only be a farmer, but Hanji is tired of that back-breaking work. He sold his land and bought a samurai's outfit with the two swords. If he can become a samurai, he knows honor will be close behind. Hanji is energetic and impressed with titles. When the two meet, they make an odd-couple team, even if at a various times Hanji is determined to stick a sword through Genta's chest.
   
   Two-thirds of the way through the movie, however, Okamoto lets the cliches regain their rightful power. The laughs are few and far between as battles are fought between muskets and swords (the swords lose), a good man dies and a fight to the death takes place between Genta and an evil usurper. We're left with the carnage of dead samurai, caused by betrayal and suspicion..and with Genta's comment to Hanji, "Now do you understand what samurai are like?"
   
   Wait, there's more. This is a satire, after all. Our last view is of the two men, one a realist and the other now also a realist, leaving the village. They're followed by the admiring young women of the town's one pleasure house, all determined to journey with them. That leaves the scrawny chicken, strutting around and pecking in the dust, unimpressed with all that has just occurred.
   
   This Criterion DVD is part of the Rebel Samurai four-movie set. It can be bought separately. There are no extras to speak of except for an overblown written essay on the movie that comes in the case.

5 comments about Game of Death.

1. As a long time Bruce Lee fan I found "Game of Death" to be a disgrace. Bruce Lee died tragically during the production of the film and for some reason the film company decided to finish it and release it with out him. A very bad decision, because the finished product is one of the most broken and comically bad kung Fu films ever made. It's not that I'm angry that they decided to finish the film with out Bruce, but if you're going to finish a film make sure that your star is in at least half of the footage. Instead Bruce Lee is in about 10% and the rest is his body double with a Bruce Lee head pasted on his shoulder. He'll be fighting and the head will remain motionless and expresstionless, it's like a gag video from youtube. On the other hand, the 10% that Bruce is in(Not his evil pasted head clone)is classic. No one can forget his fight with Kareem and it's truly one of the most memorable fights in Kung Fu film history. The rest of the film is a painful bore. I find out fast that this wasn't really a Bruce Lee film at all. Just a poorly fabricated movie built around 15 minutes of Lee footage that only comes in at the end.I felt really cheated after watching it. For Bruce Lee fanatics only. If you're looking for a good Kung Fu flick or just a good flick in general then "Game of Death" is not for you.



2. 
   If you like Bruce Lee, then you should buy this movie. I consider it a nice collectible.



3. This is my favorite Bruce Lee movie. It arrived in a fast and timely manner. I would order again.



4. This film is great to me due to the fight scenes of course which i thought were well done. The actual tape recieved from this seller was in a nonworking condition however.



5. The Game of Death is the biggest disappointment you can watch as a Bruce Lee fan. It is not even a Bruce Lee film. It is a film with a terrible story, a stunt double, Bruce Lee's face pasted on the shoulders of the stunt double (yes it is actually like a photo on someone's shoulders), sequences taken from other Bruce Lee films you have seen before and the two fight scenes filmed with Bruce Lee before he died.
   
   So most people want to watch it for the 11 minutes of Bruce Lee where he appears right at the end. There is the nunchaku fight scene and the Kareem Abdul Jabbar fight.
   
   The bottom line is that there is a much better way to do this than watching this train wreck. The film is absolutely chronically bad and the production should have been shelved and the fight sequences released in a documentary. That is the way this should have been done... in fact it has been done! It's called "Bruce Lee - A Warrior's Journey" (2000). If you have any sense you would get that if you want to watch this for the Bruce Lee fight sequence. It contains all of this sequence and more (outtakes).
   
   The fight scene is a classic though, although it is debatable if it's his best. It is Lee with more experience and his styles are even wider than before. He also wears a legendary yellow jumpsuit with black stripes and cute matching shoes. The outfit appears in the Tekkan games with the character Marshal Law.
   
   This terrible film should never have been remastered for release in the Martial Arts section of Contender Entertainment Group's `Hong Kong Legends'. It should have been omitted from the Bruce Lee box set and replaced with A Warrior's Journey.
   
   Anyway, A Warrior's Journey is where it is at. Bruce Lee would have personally smashed this production to splinters.