5 comments about Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 47 - It's On!.

1. UFC 47 "Tt's On!" Has to be one of the most exciting and anticipated events in UFC history. April 2, 2004 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas with a sold out crowd of 11,413 that included celebrities like George Clooney, Shaq, and many more..
   
   In spite of all the pre fight predictions promising that Tito would prevail...surpise! surprise! surprise! Chuck Lid dell got busy and unleashed a massive blitz of power punches that put Tito Ortiz down on the canvas..and out for the night. It was the first time that the cocky and always animated former UFC light heavyweight champion had been knocked out. Down for the count and unable to defend himself, Tito was saved by the ref for the event, Big John McCarthy. The official cause of death..technical knockout.
   
   Once again Joe Rogan, better known to most television addicts as the host of fear factor, is in charge of describing all the blow by blow action for this event. And he delivers on the goods. I love Joe Rogan hosting UFC..he is an interviewer that knows the MMA! As a former 4x Kick boxing champ from mass, he has been in the ring and can comment with intelligence..unlike some of the yahoos that stumble into the octagon to do the post fight wrap up lately. Get Joe Rogan...acept no substitutes.
   
   This DVD features video stories chronicling the rise to fame for both Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz and how they came to be the most anticipated match up in UFC history.
   
   Other mini clips include:
   Randy Couture Back in Training
   Wes Sims and Mike Kyle Post-Fight Controversy
   Robbie Lawler and Nick Diaz Prepare for Battle
   Nick Diaz Post-Fight
   Yves Edwards Breaks Down His Win With Coach Lewis Wood
   The Ultimate Grudge Match: Ortiz Vs. Liddell
   Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz Post-Fight
   
   Fights include:
   Mike Brown vs Genki Sudo (Prelim) [2:44]
   (Prelim) Wade Shipp vs Jonathan Wiezorek [3:22]
   Wes Sims vs Mike Kyle [6:52]
   Robbie Lawler vs Nick Diaz [4:43]
   On the Mat With Mark Laimon (Demonstration) [3:29]
   Cabbage vs Andrei Arlovski [6:26]
   Yves Edwards vs Hermes Franca [6:19]
   Chris Lytle vs Tiki [:36]
   Tito Ortiz vs Chuck Liddell [7:29] Main Event!
   
   The UFC started in 1993 as a fighting tournament that featured no rules other than you tap out or get knocked out. You progressed from fight to fight until there was 1 ultimate winner left standing.
   
   The best analogy for UFC is to say..It's like if someone said I wonder what who would win if you put bruce lee, mike tyson and hulk hogan in a ring together and told them to go for it..and that the last man standing get's all the marbles!
   
   This quote from espn summs it all up:
   
   As a budding major sport, UFC works for me because it combines many of my favorite boxing-wrestling traits- mayhem, theatrics, unintentional comedy, ring girls, championship belts, and especially the "I don't know what the hell might happen next" factor. Maybe eight out of ten times, a Pay-Per-View boxing card lets you down. Not the UFC. Throw a UFC party and invite 10 friends some time...I guarantee that nobody budges for three hours.
   
   A great DVD for a guys night in!



2. UFC 47
   
   Great video for martial artists to watch not just for entertainment but also to learn about what is effective and what is not in a fight. Analyze how some fighters successfully used basic principles to emerge victorious while others suffered severely for neglecting those principles. Compare and contrast similarities and differences between the fighters and their styles of fighting.
   
   Genki Sudo took a beating from Mike Brown but was surprising able force a submission onto Mike Brown by staying calm and waiting for the opportunity to present itself. It is very difficult to stay calm and focused while taking a beating and for an opportunity. Genki Sudo's victory was a small suprise.
   
   Jonathan Wiezorek demonstrated how a rare person can do everything wrong and disregard all principles of common sense and still emerge victorious by using brute strength to wear the opponent out. He offered almost no effective offense or defense until the very end while constantly absorbing strikes by Wade Shipp. Wade Shipp appeared to simply run out of energy after punishing Jonathan Wiezorek for having no other means than to charge forward and use his heavier weight to try and trap his opponent against the cage. Wade Shipp should not have entered any fight with so little stamina and endurance.
   
   To me the two most exciting fights of the event were the match between Robbie Lawler and Nick Diaz and the match between Cabbage and Andrei Arlovski.
   
   Robbie Lawler has awsome speed, energy and knock out power. Nick Diaz said that Robbie Lawler looked a little sloppy in a prefight comment. But, it was Nick Diaz who displayed intentional extreme sloppiness of his own to lure Robbie Lawler repeatedly by dropping his guard and opening himself up to offer himself as an easy target for Robbie Lawler again and again. The big surprise was that it worked. The next big surprise was Robbie Lawler's defeat suddenly at the moment that he appeared to be taking control of the fight. I thought that Robbie Lawler was about to put Nick Diaz to sleep on the mat. Then, Nick Diaz displayed use of his very good sense of timing to catch Robbie Lawler with a strike to his face as Robbie was moving forward. Robbie Lawler took another blow as he landed forward on his face and lost all sense of direction as he struggled to recover himself. Nick Diaz won by good timing in applying the martial art principle of using the opponent's strength and energy against the opponent himself though his means of creating a distraction by dropping his guard to tempt a fighter as good as Robbie Lawler to take the bait was foolishly hazardous. Never the less, it worked for Nick Diaz in this fight.
   
   The fight between Cabbage and Andrei Arlovski again pits a very skilled kick boxer, Andrei, against an indestructible brute, Cabbage. Andrei was demonstrating to anyone who was paying attention how to stay out of the assailant's direction of attack and to counter strike at the instant that the opponent's attack passes by or loses momentum. This is what Bruce Lee was talking about when he said, "Be like water" and "harmonize with the opponent's movements." It paid off for Andrei as Cabbage could not touch him. The indestructible Cabbage fell like a tree from the blows of a lumber jack's axe.
   
   The match between Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz was actually somewhat disappointing to anyone who knows anything about skillfull fighting. Chuck did not win due to superior skill, tactics or strategy but rather due to dumb mistakes by Tito Ortiz. Tito Ortiz's own comments afterwards reveals that he let his ego be his guide while engaging the fight in ignorant manner. Chuck was not all that quick. Tito's first serious mistake was projecting that he was hurt by wiping his face where Chuck landed his first stinging blow and grimacing with a painful expression after breaking out of an initial confrontation with Chuck in the second round. Seeing Tito hurt was the signal for Chuck to close in on him again before he could recover. Tito successfully blocked the first couple of punches which were not that fast. I thought Tito had enough time to maybe either apply a reverse arm bar on Chuck, since it seemed as though Chuck left his arm extended too long after throwing the first couple of punches, or escape to one side or the other so as not to have the cage at his back while trying to avoid Chuck's strikes. Instead he stays in the same space with the cage at his back and then regresses in unprofessional manner to trying to avoid Chuck's blows by covering his face with his arms instead of continuing to block or to try to trap Chucks arms or to escape. I slowed the DVD down. It took 12 strikes by Chuck to send Tito down to the mat. It might not have happened at all if Tito had been thinking about what he might been able to do. Tito Should have been paying attention to how Andrei Arlovski was able to deal with the same situation successfully again and again without being touched by his opponent.



3. Date: April 2, 2004
   Location: Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas
   
   The first fight truly worth watching is between Ruthless Robbie Lawler and Nick Diaz. These are two of the youngest stars of the UFC. Diaz is a better technical fighter, but Lawler is far more powerful, bringing straight heat and rage. Lawler seems to have more immediate "fight-stopping" ability. On this night, however, we see Diaz taunting Lawler throughout the fight. Lawler grows increasingly angry and reckless - leading to the startling ending to the fight.
   
   Cabbage then faces off against Andrei Arlovski (a personal favorite to watch). Arlovski strikes accurately and effectively, as usual, but Cabbage has a seemingly inhuman ability to take punishment, which keeps him in this fight for a while. Pretty exciting.
   
   Chris Lytle takes on Tiki in a decent fight. Lytle is impressive, as always.
   
   The main event of the evening: the bout between Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell. There was a great deal of hype behind this fight. It should have happened before they both lost to "The Natural" Randy Couture. Tito originally didn't take the fight, but after losing to Couture, he has to save some face and finally face the Iceman. Chuck Liddell is always ferocious, but he is particularly frenzied during this fight. He barely gives Ortiz a chance to breathe. Tito strangely allows the fight to stay on the feet, which is obviously a poor choice against Liddell. This was a superfight a long time in the making - and the finish to the fight is equally dramatic.
   
   As always, there are some good behind-the-scenes bonus features that provide insight into the fighers' preparation for their fights, as well as post-fight footage. Great stuff.
   
   Highly recommended.



4. Yeah, what else is new right? SO Tito has to be acting like a little baby sayign that "oh me and Chuck said we would never fight". Well when you are in line to be the champ, you may want to fight the person and make some money. Here are the matches on this disc.
   
   Genkei Sudo vs. M. Brown-very good match and if you have not seen the ninja Sudo, then this is a must see.
   
   Wade Shipp vs. Jonathan Wiezorek-I think I actually had the best time watching this match. The ending is hilarious! You really have to see it to believe it.
   
   Mike Kyle vs. Wes Sims-pretty good heavyweight match.
   
   Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler-Lawler again proves to be the most reckless fighter in the UFC.
   
   Cabbage vs. Arlovski-now that is a heavyweight matchup, unfortanately this fight is a little too short.
   
   Yves Edwards vs. Hermes Franca-how can you not love Yves and his Thugjitsu?
   
   Chris Lytle vs. Tiki-I wish this fight could have gone a little longer but it was a great fight.
   
   Ortiz vs. Liddell-if I gave anything away people would probably be mad at me. I will just say that I was dissapointed.



5. This what people had been waiting for. Always the question, what if? What if Tito Ortiz ever took on Chuck Liddell? Tito said, "We were really good friends, and we were never going to fight." Yet in reply, Chuck simply stated, "There was NEVER any agreement NOT to fight." It was time for somebody to put up and shut up, and stay out of the other guy's path. This is UFC 47, and it wasn't too bad. Here is what took place, as well as the main event. Read below.
   
   Jonathan Weizorek vs. Wade Shipp: In my opinion, if Shipp would have focused on teeing off early on, the fight would've ended sooner than it did. Tough ending, but better preparation on both parts would've made this a little more entertaining.
   
   Genki Sudo vs. Mike Brown: Brown wanted to knock off Sudo's horseplay. Genki is always an entertaining match up, and you never know what to expect from him. Can Brown withstand the crazy crap?
   
   Mike Kyle vs. Wes Simms: This was pretty intense on both parts, but you have to be ready, and not get gassed. Somewhat of a surprise ending, but good fight to say the least.
   
   Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler: Diaz chooses to strike with a striker! Is he crazy, or is he a fist to be reckoned with as well? Good match, good action, not disappointing in the least!
   
   Andrei Arlovski vs. Cabbage Correira: Ok, Arlovski is a world class striker, and Cabbage has one of the toughest heads in the MMA. Mind over matter, or is this gonna get ugly? Good stuff, once again!
   
   Yves Edwards vs. Hermes Franca: This goes to a split decision, for good reason. Yves Edwards is impressive to say the least, and he's one of my favorites. This could've gone either way. Both fighters were hungry.
   
   Chris Lytle vs. Tiki: I think both of these guys came prepared, but only one of them really wanted this. The win was by submission, but it wasn't my favorite match of the night.
   
   Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz: Could've been an easy chess match, but somebody decided to throw some quick, cold fists! The victory was well earned, and the defeat was accepted, yet not so humbling.
   
   With one or 2 fights that I really didn't care for, this didn't make for too boring of an event. I'm glad I picked it up, and hope to see some more of these fighters in the future!

No comments about Shaolin Temple Kung Fu, Snake Form - by Steve DeMasco.

5 comments about Beginners Guide to Kendo and Iaido - d.

1. The right DVD to start off your training in Kendo/Iaido. These DVD teaches you all the proper and right techniques for a beginner in this martial art.



2. Hmmm ... where to begin. While the author may be a successful martial artist, it is painfully obvious from watching this video that he has NO knowledge of kendo at all, and very little of iaido. The movements and techniques that he espouses as correct are so sloppy as to be almost unrecognizeable. His movements and precision are laughable. Combine this with the terrible quality of the video, and it wasn't even good enough to enjoy for its comedic value, although I did laugh out loud several times.
   
   Definitely a waste of time and money for anyone that is truly interested in the Japanese sword arts.



3. While I can't speak for his skill in other martial arts, I know for a fact that this man knows next to nothing about kendo. His technique is sloppy at best and all of his movements are laughable. He may have had some training but it is obvious that, at the most, he attended a handful of practices, thought he "mastered" kendo, and decided to produce this film and make money off of it. Please, do yourself a favor and do not waste your time on this man or this DVD.



4. Just by looking at the cover, I can tell that this person knows nothing about kendo. If this is for beginners, then he shouldn't even be bothering with joudan no kamae. Besides, it's all wrong. When you hold a bokken, the left hand doesn't grip the end of the handle. Basic joudan no kamae is done with the body essentially square to the opponent. His right hand is in a useless position. His left hand is too far from his forehead. It is also too low; his hand is blocking part of his field of view. In basic kendo, both hands are supposed to grip the sword evenly. You control the swing of the sword with your pinkies and the ring fingers. Because his right shoulder is so far back, his right hand is gripping with his index and middle fingers. If I attack from the direction of the camera, he'll have to shift his body around so he can use both hands to swing. Or he'll have to try a kata te waza, which is not a beginner's waza. And I can tell you right now, he would miss. His left wrist would turn out, and his blade would veer off to my right.
   
   Don't waste your time with this. You can't really learn much from a video without real, personal instruction. Until just recently, all the sanctioned kendo dojo in the U.S. were non-profit organizations. I don't know why it changed. But in any case, the really good sensei are volunteers. So, the fees are very minimal. If you're really determined to learn correct kendo, you'll find a sensei who will teach in Japanese. Kendo is not something you master in a year. Even people who have been doing it for 20 years are called beginners. Just my opinion.



5. Although I have not seen this video in it's entirety, I have seen excerpts of Mr. Wilson's "kendo". It's obvious for any knowledgeable person that he has had little or no formal training in kendo. This is my opinion based on 25 years of practicing kendo.
   
   If you must have training videos, e-bogu sells some that are made by Taro Ariga, a well-known international competitor. But really I'd recommend you find a dojo if kendo interests you.

5 comments about Dreadnaught.

1. This is not your average kung fu classic, more of a comedy chase caper. Yuen Biao does his normal share of amazing stunts but what makes this film cool is the unique fighting styles and the endearing relationships between the bumbling protagonist and those around him. Not as hard hitting as YOUNG MASTER or MAGNIFICENT BUTCHER, this film is still a gem worth having in the finest of kung fu collections.



2. Has fun comedy scenes but there are some grisly moments when the killer attacks. Great fight sequences and an entertaining and interesting application of Yuen Biao's "washing" style.



3. This is a star-packed occasion, and when that happens, no matter what the genre, the end product is usually dissappointing. "Dreadnaught" is no exception. If I were rating this movie on kung fu alone - and if you are looking to add to an "old school" collection, this movie is not worthy - a single star(I beg to differ with an earlier reviewers). If you are looking for a decent movie with good acting (for a kung fu film)then this is not too bad. I will breakdown my rating a bit more:
   
   Original Chinese: gives one star
   Old Wang Fei Hong: Great job - would've like to see him in more fight scenes. The same actor plays Wang Fei Hong in another movie (I wish I could remember the name here) and is much more active and creative. (star number 2)
   Decent Story: 1 star
   
   Remember: If you are buying this as a gong fu flick - DO NOT BUY. Yuen Biao and Lueng Ka Yan have much, much better movies (Knockabout, The Victim)... you can actually buy both for the price tag on this film!



4. i had the prevelige of seeing this film at a cinema in birmingham when it first came out and i was speechless its a top draw film in my opinion



5. Yuen Biao stars as a young man who does not know kung fu, but he wants to become a disciple of Wong Fei Hung. His friend Foon (played by Leung Kar Yan) wants to help him out. Leung Kar Yan is just great in this movie. Phillip Ko stars, and wants to get rid of Wong Fei Hung's school. He hires a crazy killer played by Yuen Shun Yi to help him with his evil deeds. It's not a great story or anything, but it's passable. I was a bit disappointed with this movie, but with such a great cast and plenty of good fights, I can't really complain. I just wish the final fight was done differently. Having Yuen Biao not know kung fu hurt the movie, especially in the final fight. I had a good time watching this, but I would put Knockabout, Prodigal Son and at least a couple others far ahead of it as Yuen Biao's best movie.
   
   3.5/5
   
   I have the Megastar version and the picture quality is good.

1 comments about Legends of the Poisonous Seductress #2: Quick Draw Okatsu.

1. Second in series entry has great/fun with second banana teen slasher providing support for our lead's (perpetual) revenge. As Chris D points out in the commentary (always very low key but welcomed and insightful) these Legends films are stock plots made viable by fairly astute directing. This color offering, "Quick Draw," is a good place to start. It has all the cliches of the genre, yet it's still very watchable.

2 comments about Small-Circle Jujitsu, Vol 1 - Foundations.

1. Small Circle Jujitsu Volume 1 by Wally Jay
   
   This is volume 1 of a 5 volume series of Wally Jay's Small Circle Jujitsu available on VHS or DVD. There is also a book by the same title written by Wally jay with easy to follow illustrations and text sold separately which can be used with these videos.
   
   Wally Jay explains and demonstrates application of force used in his small circle jujitsu, which uses the physical forces of leverage in a two way torquing rotation applied against the joints of an opponent or assailant to achieve compliance through the application and control of pain.
   
   Wally Jay lists ten principles to practice in performing Jujitsu to achieve winning results.
   
   Wally Jay explains safety principles to the viewer to observe to protect the practice partner from injury while learning or practicing Jujitsu.
   
   Wally Jay demonstrates sensitive pressure points of the body martial artists take advantage of in addition to the application of pressure of leverage upon joints.
   
   Wally Jay demonstrates an arsenal of holds, wrist locks, elbow locks, arm bars, finger locks and holds. Demonstrations of moves and techniques are detailed for maximum effect. The 5 volume series of Small Circle Jujitsu is well organized and full of information. The applications of Jujitsu moves covered are credible more oriented for self defense than for competition. Anyone practicing these moves while keeping Wally Jay's 10 principles in mind should feel confident and prepared to deal with the scenarios examplified in the video. Anyone who does practice the moves and techniques demonstrated by Wally Jay with a partner should practice slowly and with care not to injure the partner since the information contained in this video has real potential for serious injury if practiced carelessly.
   
   I think what is missing in this series is coverage on dealing with armed assailants and multiple assailants. If these things were added, the topics of self defense would seem more complete in terms of grappling solutions to assalt scenarios.
   
   The book and the VHS or DVD series complement each other very well as excellent sources of learning. I think any serious student will be satisfied with his or her purchase.
   
   Small-Circle Jujitsu
   
   Small-Circle Jujitsu, Vol 3 - Grappling Techniques
   
   Small-Circle Jujitsu, Vol 4 - Tendon, Tricep, Armbars and Armlocks
   
   Nihon Jujitsu by Norm Belsterling Volume 1
   
   Nihon Jujitsu by Norm Belsterling Volume 2
   
   Nihon Jujitsu by Norm Belsterling Volume 5
   
   Chin Na In Depth - Courses 1 - 4 (YMAA grappling)
   
   Chin Na In Depth - Courses 5 - 8
   
   Chin Na In Depth - Courses 9 - 12
   
   Comprehensive Applications of Shaolin Chin Na: The Practical Defense of Chinese Seizing Arts for All Styles (Qin Na : the Practical Defense of Chinese Seizing Arts for All Martial Arts Styles)



2. I totally enjoyed both dvd's . As a seasoned martial artist I found them to be excellent resource of original material. I happened to experience personally the Small Circle Jujitsu at a recent seminar by the Founder and son Prof. Wally Jay and Master Leon Jay. The whole series is a must in my most humble opinion.

5 comments about Ranma 1/2 - The Movie 1, Big Trouble in Nekonron China.

1. Ranma the movie was very funny. In the movie akane is kidnaped (of corse). And ranma saves her, but on the way he gets into some interesting perdicaments. The movie was great. My only conplant was the lack of pronouns, and over use of proper verbs, but if you can over look that you will love it.



2. This was a funny film, Ranma and co. have to head to China when, true to series form, Akane is kidnapped, and once more by a guy named Kirin who wants to(what else?) marry her, so it's up to the usual gang(and thankfully, Ukyo's not with them, she only makes a brief appearance), along with their reluctant ally Laichi, who is ticked off at Happosai, because Kirin was supposed to marry her, but he mistook her for Akane, as well as her elephant, Jasmine, and save Akane from him! There's a bit more humor than action in this one, and the fight scenes in the 2nd film are a bit better, but it's still worth at least checking out. It also has one of the rare times Soun uses his infamous, "Demon Head," form in the anime, plus also features a HUGE chase scene at the beginning with nearly every character to ever appear in the series, including Mikado, Asusa, Ryoga's dog, the Dojo Destroyer, Gosunkugi, Dr. Tofu, the Gambling King, the little pork and bean bun-headed guys that wanted the Dragon Whisker, the Ghost Cat Maomolin, and more! I also think the end theme, "It's Love," by Rabbit, is also pretty catchy! Although people not familiar with the series may not know what's going on, if you're a Ranma fan, I recommend you check it out!



3. I have never seen any episodes of the real Ranma series sadly. I have only read the manga. >.< Well This Was an awesome movie! I was impressed; when I saw the front cover I thought it wouldn't be that good. It was increddibly funny and exciting. I really loved this movie. Sadly I don't own it; I borrowed it from my library once. It was a really good movie. (I also suggest you get the CD! ^^)



4. I saw this and it was so funny! The story was your typical save akane routine, but in the beginning, it shows all of the characters in the past chase after Ranma and Haposai. A great opening. The animation is very traditional, the characters are funny as hell, especially panda, and Ranma soups up his incredible fighting moves. See this one for hilarious laughs and good times.



5. The Seven Lucky Gods of Martial Arts have come for the girl who holds half of the legendary scroll! Whoever holds it also gets to marry Prince Kirin and fly away in his flying barge back to China. Too bad Akane was holding it! Now Ranma and gang must get to China to get her back. But Lychee, the rightful owner of that half of the scroll, and her giant elephant Jasmine, also want the scroll back! Cooking, Pickles and the Five Gates!
   This early movie seems to have the same style and production value of the TV series. At 75 minutes it isn't that long and goes swiftly, with lots of humor and funny scenes. But remember, while kids might enjoy it there is no rating.

5 comments about Tekken: The Motion Picture.

1. UGH,
   
   Horrible anime even by game anime standards. The dub is made worse by horrible American music that was stale when the orignal VHS was released.
   
   The story is VERY Loose on the dealings between Kazyua and Heihachi. Yoshimitsu a Tekken Favorite gets like no screen time.
   
   Stay away stay far away



2. I Bought the vhs for a buck and I want a refund.
   
   It's possible that I saw the 'edited version', but I doubt more gore or nipples would make this anything other than a way to make a buck off impulsive fan-boys.
   
   The animation, even for its time, is third rate, Saturday morning cartoons have delivered better plots, and Keanu Reeves has delivered better philosophical dialogue.
   
   Don't bother.



3. This movie is awesome! Even though the storyline is different from the game, it's still pretty awesome. Everybody rocks in this movie, but Kazuya rocks even more better! The songs in the background is alright, but the ending song, "Meaning of Life", makes me wanna rock with it. I'm sure you're gonna love the ending song. You should get the album, Offspring, because there's a "Meaning of Life" song and other songs that you could like. You should get this movie and enjoy with it. Trust me, it's actionable and you'll never forget Tekken. I just wish that there's a Tekken 2 movie!



4. This movie is totally awesome! Even though the storyline is different from the game, it's still pretty awesome. Everybody rocks in this movie, but Kazuya rocks even more better! The background songs are alright, but the ending song, "Meaning of Life", makes me wanna rock with it. I'm sure you'll love the ending song. I think this is one of the best Tekken anime movie that I ever watched! Trust me, once you buy it, you'll love it! I just wish there's a Tekken 2 movie!



5. Jun Kazama watched as a little girl when Heihachi tossed his son Kazuya off a cliff. She is then sent to investigate Heihachi's criminal organization. Kazuya returns seeking revenge.
   
   Hardly ever would I take shots at other reviewers. But I have to say anyone who gives this title anything above 2 stars. Are only trying to get rid of their copy. This anime is god awful, even for a video game turned anime.
   
   Usually one should set their sights low for these titles. But Tekken doesn't even strive to appraoch mediocrity. The animation is atrocious and fighting scenes lack imagination.
   
   This is not a hate review, more like a warning. If you value your cash at all. Stay away from Tekken. I only seen one anime movie worst then this. But Tekken is very bad still. 0 Stars!

5 comments about Enter the Fat Dragon.

1. a classic film that makes fun of all the Brucexploitation in Chinese Cinema in the 70's and early 80's. The movie is very funny and is a well done spoof. The plot is very similar to Bruces Return of the Dragon - a young country boy traveling to the city to help out a restaurant and running into trouble with local gangster types. Sammos hero in the movie is Bruce Lee and he does a great job copying all of the moves(occasionally throwing in some of his own)and can pretty much whip everybody until he runs into three bodyguards - one white dude(an expert in boxing), one chinese dude(an expert in kung fu), and one black/chinese dude(an expert in karate) this is when the movie
   steps up the martial arts - the final fight scenes are very well
   done as well. A great addition to any kung fu movie collection and a must for any Sammo Hung fan.



2. Terribly charming, that is. Sammo Hung portrays a starstruck Bruce Lee fan, imitating him down to the haircut and monkey-like shrieks. Otherwise a simple-minded man, he displays throughout the movie Bruce Lee-like fighting prowess which, coming from a man his size, is hilarious to behold. The storyline is crap, there's no two ways about it, but the content is what makes it great. The various stupid moments (Sammo trying to buy sunglasses that look like a Bruce Lee picture, the millionaire's "revenge" daydreams, any time Sammo goes into Bruce Lee mode, the terrible english, the Black-faced Asian) are incredibly corny and fun to watch.
   
   Not only that, but the action scenes are actually decent. Normally I hate watching Bruce Lee's fight scenes, finding them FAR too contrived and silly, but Sammo manages to pull it off quite well. Maybe it's his funny and intense charisma, I don't know. Not only that, but Sammo even chooses to integrate some traditional Kung Fu fight scenes in the movie, bringing its worth in my eyes way up.
   
   The movie harkens back to the days when heros were idealized and worshipped, something severely lacking in today's society, with the dirt sheets and Hollywood scandals appearing everywhere. Chuck Norris did a similar theme with Sidekicks, and ideal heros, unfortunately, has become a dying breed of people. Something that endears the movie to me is that there's little swearing and the violence is surprisingly non-violent. Sure there are kung fu punches and kicks and the like, but the reactions are always almost Loony Toon-ish in their reaction, the victims having huge and goofy-looking sores where they were hit. And other than a single sex joke at the beginning of the movie, it's surprisingly clean, resorting to slapstick and farce for it's humor.
   
   So why am I giving it only three stars? Firstly, the movie quality is terrible in every aspect. It's easily seen that there was no budget for the movie (blackfaced Asian? What the hell?), although that definitely added to the campy silliness. Secondly, the video quality is horrible. The DVD claims to have it remastered, but it's incredibly grainy and looks antiquated, with even some marker markings showing up in some stills. The subtitles, as well, are pale and fuzzy white, making them really hard to see a lot of the time. Thank god the movie's plot is unimportant.



3. I never thought it would work but Sammo Hung does a fantastic Bruce Lee imitation in this film. But not of the lame parody kind. He really does move fast and performs many of the techniques and mannerisms of the man himself. Not only that, he does a lot of other fighting styles as well. The goofy comedy is great too. This is one of the few unique kind of movies that is fun to watch and not take too seriously.



4. Indeed a guilty pleasure! One of Sammo's greatest(and unjustly forgotten) films, Enter The Fat Dragon stars Hung as a pig farmer obsessed with his "hero" Bruce Lee and who spends most of his time getting into trouble and hamming it up(get it? Pig farmer... ham? Sorry, that's the last one I promise) while doing it. Rarely has Sammo been able to balance action with comedy so flawlessly. Don't get me wrong, I'm an enormous Sammo(get it? Enormous... Sammo? He's fat people, and THAT is the last one... I hope) fan but... we all know that he nearly always brings great action, but his comedy? It doesn't always work so well, I mean there have been moments in his other movies but nothing like this, which plays out ridiculous scenario one right after the other that actually provide laughs... and when all else fails, he resorts to mimicking Bruce Lee in uncanny and amusing fashion(sure to induce smiles EVERYtime). Now obviously my 5 star rating will be more than a little skewed for most. I mean, can the movie really stack up to other so-called cinematic "classics" such as ET, The Godfather, or Citizen Kane? The answer is "hell yes!" Well, for fans of Kung Fu and Sammo Hung at least... Sammo using Jeet Kune Do on a herd of unruly swine, Hoi San Lee(36th Chamber Of Shaolin, Last Hurrah For Chivalry, Twin Warriors) painted black and sporting an afro and puffy purple shirt as an African American fighter(not the most PC thing ever... but bizarre and must-see to be sure), and my personal favorite scene featuring Sammo breaking up the filming of a Bruceploitation film by taking on the main imitator and his entire entourage(in a matchup featuring plenty of Lee's trademark howls and posturing). This film comes highly recommended for fans of classic martial arts mayhem or even those with any passing interest in this films star OR the man he obviously greatly admired. As for the DVD from Crash Masters? It's complete garbage unfortunately, with an awful print of the film and subtitles that are so small and light in color that they become near illegible oftentimes(and even when you can see them, they rarely read right... like the word "is" whenever "have" should be used), also no dubbed track is available here either. An extremely poor, bare-bones release for a film worthy of far more... hopefully someday it will get the release, and viewing public, that it rightly deserves.



5. Sammo Hung is amazing in this movie. The way he combines Bruce Lee's acting and fighting style with his own style is such a joy to watch. There's not much of a story here. Peter Yang plays a really weird guy who kidnaps a girl and Sammo has to save her. But Peter Yang has 3 tough fighters who Sammo needs to defeat in order to save th girl. Doesn't sound like much of a movie does it? Well, it's not. But the fighting is great and I don't ask for much more than that. Sammo uses a modern type fighting style the whole movie, and I love how he saves the only classic kung fu type fight for the finale. The comedy is decent at times, but the fights are what make this movie worth watching. It's a must see for Sammo fans. And not only is there Bruce Lee imitating going on, but also Jim Kelly. But couldn't they have found a black actor to play the Jim Kelly clone? What was Sammo thinking?
   
   3.5/5
   
   The picture quality on the Crash DVD is decent. Widescreen with subtitles that are readable about 80% of the time.

5 comments about The Ultimate Fighting Championship Showdown XIV (Volume 14).

1. well, if you're a mark kerr fan - this is the video. kerr explodes into action, virtually un-challenged, making it look pretty easy. the man has serious ground and pound skills. also, a stunning upset as markcoleman gets beat buy maurice smith in a classic grappler vs. striker matchup. 3 1/2 stars.



2. In the ever evolving UFC, fighting styles have been the most interseting evolution. In the beginning there was Jiu-Jitsu and it's various ground submissions. Then there were the world-class wrestlers who brought unbelievable lightning shoots and overpowering techniques. Fighters at that time were classified as either grapplers(jiu-jitsu & wrestling) or strikers(boxing,kickboxing). But leading up to this event (and the last few) cross-training and appreciation for the a complete style was evident. Grapplers would exchange a bit on their feet, before finishing their foe on the ground. This event would show the world(UFC) that a kickboxer with ground skills could take out a once invinsible champion.

   UFC XIV. was yet another 2 tournament + superfight package. The middleweight(under 200lb) tourney would see the debut of Olympic Gold Medalist Kevin Jackson. Jackson would compete against a weak field, and show his superior skills.

   The heavyweight tournament would usher in another great wreslter. The debut of Mark Kerr in the UFC would turn heads and impress all. Kerr,(already known for his tournament victory in Brazil) had competition coming from UFC vet Brian Johnston and 300 pounder Daniel Bobish.

   The Superfight would see the return of the dominating champ Mark Coleman. Coleman was at the point invinsible. His proclamation as the best fighter in the world was hard to argue against. His toughest opponent, Don Frye would fall in about or around 10 minutes. His ego was sky high leading up to his match-up against kickboxing legend Maurice Smith. Smith was already experienced in MMA and was eager to shut Coleman out. The match-up was intriguing and fight itself was an absolute classic. Still regarded as one of the greatest fights, this Superfight was just that:SUPER!




3. You have to watch the video several times and let time pass and see that the main event was okay, it was not the best. Mark Coleman's performance was not that spectacular as compared when he met Don Frye in part number 10; now part 10 was a hit between Coleman and Frye. In part 14 Maurice Smith the kickboxer-World class athelete challenges Mark Coleman for the belt, but you have to expect more from these two. Mr. Smith and Mr. Coleman had spectacular past events, and they were good, check out the past videos, but for this tournament it was so so it was actually a long distance race in where the end mark coleman just ran out of gas and then maurice smith just whacked him with his kickboxing skills on his legs and chopped him down. Dont get me wrong this fight made news, but like i said. see the fight, and you will think the following, "both guys would have had a brawl if both stood up and fought each other with their fists....just like in part ten." it seems everyones moment arrives in one of the parts and then they just have okay fights from then on or not spectacular fights. But i recommend part three AND four of EFC-EXTREME FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP Where Maurice smith shines like a star, and in part 10 mark coleman flourishes with his destruction of Don frye-it is really a great combat fight with out a doubt. it be nice if the ufc went to the old format-forget the weight classes and place all in the same category, but i guess change has to occur, and with that change i feel it has brought down the excitement of the fights. part 14 review of this video-no good at all not recommended "The Showdown"...............



4. I thought UFC 14 was great. Maurice Smith whipped Mark Coleman, who always finds a way to tire himself out. Mark Kerr was great that night. The other matches were OK.



5. July 27, 1997
   Boutwell Auditorium
   Birmingham, Alabama
   
   This UFC event consisted of middleweight and heavyweight tournaments, plus a Super Fight main event. We see the UFC debut of fighters Mark "The Smashing Machine" Kerr and Kevin Jackson who would take part in the tournament at their respective weights.
   
   The first fight is between Yuri Vaulin and Joe Moreira. This fight is not much more than a stalemate. Moreira gets Vaulin to the ground and rides the round out, without much action. The fight goes to overtime, where we see the same result. This very dull bout goes to a decision.
   
   Next, Todd Butler faces Kevin Jackson, a highly decorated wrestler. Fans of the UFC are excited to see Jackson try his hand at mixed martial arts - and the time had come. This fight doesn't last long. Jackson makes a solid octagon debut.
   
   Mark Kerr, in his UFC debut, takes on Moti Horenstein. Horenstein is coming off of a loss to Mark "The Hammer" Coleman in the last UFC tournament - and this one isn't much different. Kerr is simply too strong for him. Kerr takes him down immediately and imposes his will, quickly stopping the fight with ground & pound. Kerr appears to have a bright future in the UFC.
   
   Dan Bobish vs. Brian Johnston: Bobish is a monster of a man, weighing in at over 300 lbs. This fight has an exciting opening, with both fighters coming out swinging for the fences. The flurry from both fighters eventually slows down and the tactical wrestling of Bobish takes effect.
   
   As Joe Moreira is unable to compete in the finals, alternate Tony Fryklund steps in to face Kevin Jackson. Fryklund is absolutely dominated and choked out promptly. Jackson is making an impressive first appearance in this UFC tournament.
   
   With Bobish and Kerr meeting in the heavyweight finals, we have two huge wrestlers set to face off. It doesn't turn out to be the battle I was hoping for, as Kerr takes it to Bobish and gets a submission.
   
   The Super Fight between Maurice Smith and Mark Coleman is up next. Smith does some trash-talking about Coleman's fighting style, belittling the striking ability of the champ. In this fight, we would see a kickboxer vs. a wrestler - both at the top of their game. Coleman is dominant in the opening minutes. He controls Smith and drops down punches on him from the top and mount positions. Coleman even attempts a few chokes, but Smith survives. When the fight finally comes back up to the feet after 9 minutes, Coleman appears to be severely gassed. The fight goes into overtime. Coleman gets another takedown in this round, but Smith finds his way to his feet again and stalks Coleman around the ring, landing leg kicks and carefully chosen strikes. Coleman looks half-dead, to be honest, with nothing left in the tank. He continuously checks the clock and avoids Smith. I'm sure this is not how Coleman wanted to "go out", but that's how it plays out. Mo Smith is the new champion.
   
   This is a decent UFC event. The main event is solid and makes up for some lackluster fights that had taken place earlier on the fight card.