1 comments about Pride Fighting Championships - Shockwave 2003.

1. shockwave 2003 was a good show but not better than shockwave 2002.In this event are great mma legends,such as royce gracie,sakuraba,don frye,gary goodridge,mario sperry and yoshida.
   
   best fights
   1)rogerio nogueria vs sakuraba 2)gary goodridge vs frye 3)gracie vs yoshida 4)quinton jackson vs minowa

5 comments about The Restless (Standard Edition) DVD.

1. The RESTLESS(aka: Jeong-Cheon) is the latest in South Korea's foray into the Fantasy- epic-romance/WUXIA Swordplay genre. This fantasy-adventure can definitely charm the viewer because it looks amazingly beautiful. The set designs are superb and the action is very entertaining.
   
   Jung Woo-Sung(Musa the Warrior) is Gwak Yi, a former Chuyongdae(Royal Demon hunters) who after an encounter with demon-hybrids to protect a village, unexpectedly finds himself in Mid-Heaven, a pseudo-Buddhist holding where deceased souls gather to wait 49 days for their eventual reincarnation. There, Gwak Yi meets So-Hwa(Kim Tae-hee), a heavenly deity who is assigned an important task. So-hwa must deliver the so-called "Holy Stone" to the "Pool of Reflection" in order to prevent evil-doers from upsetting the balance between Earth and Heaven; if they succeed no one will be reincarnated. Noble and fearless, Gwak Yi enlists in Son-Hwa's cause immediately but he has his own hidden motivation.
   Son-hwa is a dead ringer for Gwak Yi's former love Yon-Hwa, who he failed to protect from an untimely death. Actually, they are the same being, Son-hwa is a "Chuneen", whose a deity with no recollection of their past life on Earth. This complicates matters for both Gwak Yi and Son-hwa even further when Gwak Yi's former comrades(led by Hur Jun-ho)as a "Chuyongdae" are the ones who threaten the stability of Mid-Heaven. Meaning that in order to help Son-hwa, he must once again send his former comrades(to whom he owes a debt of honor) in the earthly plane to suffer a second death.
   
   People who love SFX-laden epics will no doubt embrace "The Restless". There is plenty of action and they are very enthralling, thanks to the top-notch visual effects and awesome fight choreography. Highlights include a cool forest fight, and the very awesome epic finale, where Gwak Yi takes on about 10,000 demonic warrior spirits all by himself.(Azumi and Casshern, eat your hearts out!). The CGI effects are well-done and is sure to impress PS3 fanboys. The set designs are awesome and stunning.
   
   The story itself is not very original, but quite bearable. It is about Love and Hate, promises and loyalty, good and evil. The costumes and set designs may remind audiences of Tsui Hark's "Legend of Zu". The film's main WEAKNESS may be that the plot/characters may have a difficult time connecting with some viewers. The two leads do a decent interpretation of their characters. Jung Woo-sung suits the character of Gwak Yi, while lovely Kim Tae-Hee fills the screen with her charisma.
   
   I bought the KOREAN (region-3) 2-disc Special Edition when it came out a month ago. Korean released dvds have such good presentation, which is why it's no wonder they're expensive. Great DVD from CJ Entertainment.
   Take note that dvds made in Taiwan(like the unofficial ones circulating in Amazon)may be compressed in a way that may freeze in most stand alone players. They are encoded with no region coding to fool U.S. players.
   PICTURE: 2.40 ratio Anamorphic Widescreen. The video transfer is phenomenal, sharpness and detail is awesome. Colors are very vibrant and the flesh-tones are very good. No complaints.
   AUDIO/Subtitles: 5.1 Dolby Digital-Ex and DTS-ES Korean Language track. The sound is POWERFUL(especially on DTS), the channels are very nicely separated. English Subtitles are well-timed and translated.
   EXTRAS: Music video, commentary, "making of", Behind the scenes, trailers and more.., unfortunately there are no subtitles in most of the docos.
   
   CLOSING REMARKS:
   The Restless may not be wholly original but it is a very well-made feature. You can really tell that they spent most of their budget in the visual effects, costumes and set designs. It is worth seeing and is quite entertaining. Fans of Wuxia Swordplay epics will definitely embrace it for the action, if not, for it's beautiful visuals.
   
   RECOMMENDED!



2. The plot of the film is not really a strong one (nor original for that matter) but a good one never the less. There will be times where you are left scratching your head hoping for an explanation for certain things but they are not harmful or have a great impact to the plot so it is forgivable. But what truly saved the film more for me and for some people who agree with me is the graphics and the landscape of Midheaven. And the action sequences even though there are not many, they don't disappoint. The biggest scene stealer would have to be the protagonist vs. 5,000 to 10,000 demon soldiers. The acting is a bit stiff and the female star of the film (Kim Tae-Hee) really needs to learn how to have more than just two facial expresions (wich are only just a surprised expresion or a sad expresion). She has shown promise but she has long way to go. This film is more for the WUXIA fan freaks including my self and in no way should it be compared to Crouching tiger (overhyped film) or Hero. It should be compared with films like The Duel, The Storm Riders, and mainly Bichumoo. So in closing, the story could have been executed better but the graphics deffinetly makes up for it. And the movie is not really a martial arts film so don't compare the film with them. See it only if you are into the WUXIA Asian fantasy genre.



3. The copy I bought was titled "Joongcheon" with English subtitle. It's visually beautiful. It also has some substances in the plot but overall it's not a good movie. It's because relationship between the 2 main characters are not touching at all. The fighting scenes are not good as in other Korean-made movies such as "Shadowless Sword" or "Warrior".
   
   It's worth watching once.



4. Warning: Spoiler Alert!!!
   
   The story...
   
   This is just a general collective that I gathered from watching this movie. There wasn't a lot of really descriptive dialogue, so if I have one or two (or ten) things off key...blame the lack of explanation.
   
   As far as Fantasy films go, I thought that there was a good general idea behind this one; a lone demon slayer named Yi Gwak finds himself in "midheaven", a spirit world of sorts, where he's caught in a conflict between "evil spirits" and "reapers".
   
   The evil spirits are a troupe of demon slayers whom Yi Gwak was formerly associated with in the human world. And the reapers, I would describe as "Valkyries" of sorts who bring human spirits into midheaven.
   
   The strange coincidence about the conflict is that the evil spirits were Yi Gwak's friends and allies before their deaths in the human world. They're lead by Master Ban-Chu, who Yi Gwak formerly held in high respects.
   The reapers on the other hand, (also known as "Chuneen"), are lead by a spirit with the appearance of Yi Gwak's former wife, Yon-Hwa, who, upon becoming a reaper, has lost all of her worldly agonies and memories.
   
   So it's kind of a moral struggle or so to speak. Should Yi Gwak align with his brotherly band of demon slayers, or the amnesiac spirit of his wife?
   
   A few bad notes...
   The lame-factor ensues here when Yi Gwak discovers that his friends have all turned evil for a seemingly unknown reason. I'm given the impression that they mindlessly follow the orders of their master, Ban-Chu, with no questions asked.
   
   Yon-Hwa, who goes by the title So-Hwa (now that she's a Chuneen), is basically the victim of the conflict. So-Hwa's master asks her to carry a special stone that has the power to open a portal between the spirit world and the human world, and So-Hwa herself states that she's only a pupil, and that she's unfit to carry out such a task. Lo and behold, she really is unfit!
   
   Throughout the entire movie, So-Hwa is being rescued by Yi-Gwak! Somehow I was lead to believe that the Chuneen were not an easy opponent, but apparently...they suck at everything they do!
   It's their job to keep midheaven safe, and at the start of the movie, we see them failing to do so when midheaven is overrun by demons! So-Hwa, who's the absolute wrong person for the task of carrying such an important relic, is nearly taken out during every single fight scene in the movie! Fortunately enough, Yi-Gwak is always there to rescue her. Cliché cliché!
   
   A few more nit-picks...
   Bad Chemistry...
   My biggest complaint is that we're lead to believe that Yi-Gwak and So-Hwa are supposed to have some kind of romantic relationship together...it's blatantly obvious that they're supposed to fall in love, despite the fact that So-Hwa has no memories of him...
   Unfortunately, as another viewer mentioned, the actor and actress who play Yi-Gwak and So-Hwa had absolutely NO chemistry together.
   
   Bad Costumes...
   This is usually the last thing that I look at when I'm watching flicks such as this...But for some reason, the costumes all seemed really out of place, even for a fantasy movie. Yi-Gwak was the only character who accurately dressed the part of an untidy demon slayer. Yon-Swa on the other hand was dressed in what looked like...some kind of wedding dress. One of the evil spirits from Yi-Gwak's former demon-slaying troupe wore almost the exact same dress in a different color. And if I didn't have a high def t.v., I would have thought that the bad guy who was wearing a silver mail was actually wearing sequins.
   
   My last beef with this movie is that it was really hard to watch without raising my eyebrows every time So-Hwa snarled her lip. Yes...throughout the entire movie, she was crossing her eyes, and snarling her lip.



5. The last Battle of this spiritually powerful Martial EPIC has the hero taking on a literal army of dark spirit-demons to reach the one he loves. The emotion of this film in the manner that the characters interact MAKES THE MOVIE outstanding. That awesome last battle makes you believe one man alone can stand for something higher against staggering odds....and prevail. The Restless is, hands down for plot, martial skill and special effects one of the greatest Action films of all time.

5 comments about Incident at Blood Pass.

1. High in the mountains, a remote inn is the setting for a gathering of double- and triple-crossing bad men, each with his own secret and agenda. Sprinkled though out these villains is a collection of innocents, unknowingly standing on the lid of an over-boiling kettle that will soon scream. A web of deceit and action, each player attempts to survive as best they can.
   
   "Incident at Blood Pass" (Japanese title "Machibuse" or "Ambush") is a fun but not outstanding Samurai flick. The main draw is the star cast of Toshiro Mifune ("Yojimbo") and Shintaro Katsu ("Gentetsu"), who is best known for playing the blind fighter Zatoichi. The film is ably directed by Hiroshi Inagaki, known for his Musashi epic "Samurai I, II and III" and his adaptation of the 47 Ronin tale "Chushingura." While Inagaki has his moments, he is not on the same level as Kurosawa or even Masaki Kobayashi, and doesn't quite maximize the talents he has available. This was his final film.
   
   Mifune again assumes the role made famous in the Kurosawa-directed "Yojimbo" and "Sanjuro," that of the nameless, a-moral Ronin who appears to be bad but always seems to fight for the weak. In this case, he has been hired for a mission that he does not even know, with his secret boss passing details onto him in the form of coded notes. Katsu, taking a different tact from his amiable hero Zatoichi, is a hard, dirty bandit, a former Doctor who lives in a barn and plans and plots for unseeable ends.
   
   Inagaki doesn't bring out the performance from Mifune that Kurosawa did, and his Yojimbo lacks the dirty nobility of previous incarnations, with motivations remaining obscure. He tries to find the humanity behind each the icon, with a love interest in the form of a battered wife rescued in the film's opening scene. However, it is great to see Katsu as such a horrible human being, and to see his range as an actor.
   
   Like Inagaki's other films, the pace is a slow build up to an explosive finish. The side characters, such as the flashy but poor gambler, the kindly innkeeper and his naive pretty daughter, the obsessed police officer and his tortured captive, all get ample time to annoy, entice and betray each other before the main plot is even revealed. The film plays out like a Samurai version of "The Petrified Forest," with the innkeeper, his daughter, the suitor and the gangster.
   
   While not anywhere near the level of a masterpiece, "Incident at Blood Pass" is certainly an enjoyable flick and worth watching. Story and character driven, those seeking a high-action flick would do better to look elsewhere, as that is not Inagaki's trade mark.



2. This is a period suspense drama set at a remote inn located at a crucial mountain pass in Tokugawa-era Japan. It takes the time-honored premise of gathering a motley cast of characters and forcing them into close quarters together as trouble brews before a major confrontation. Toshiro Mifune stars as a wandering yojimbo' (bodyguard) who has been hired to go to this pass and wait for something to happen.



3. This 1970 released samurai film has two major draws. First and foremost, the famed actor (Toshiro Mifune) who portrayed the unknown ronin made famous by Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo and Sanjuro, reprises his role for the fourth and last time. Second, the film's other star, Shintaro Katsu, noted for his portrayal as the blind yakuza in the Zatoichi film, and who also starred with Toshiro Mifune in the Zatoichi episode #20: "Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo," both star in this film. However, don't expect to be blown out of the water by this film. It it an entertaining samurai film, but not a great one. Directed by Horoishi Inagaki, "Incident at Blood Pass," centers on double-crossing [and triple crossing] web's of deceit.
   
   And although the film is not a great samurai flick, it does have some entertainment value. However, if you go into this film expecting a Kurosawa type of film, or an impressive Toshiro Mifune characterization of the legendary Yojimbo, then you will be disappointed. If however, you don't mind an average samurai film, then the film will not disappoint. The films setting takes place at a remote mountain top inn, deep in the mountains. It is here that events will transpire which will find both the innocent and guilty caught up in a backstabbing and double-dealing by the films antagonist(s).
   
   Mifune is ordered to the mountain top to await futher orders. Here he observes the goings on, and notices things are not what they appear to be. He was hired on this mission at this remote mountain top, and ordered to await further instructions. However, he slowly becomes aware that there is double-dealing going on. The film has very little action in it, and this is mostly saved for the ending. And while I do recommend the film to all samurai lovers, the film was more of an average film. The second film to star Toshiro Mifune and Shintaro Katsu, that left me a little disappointed. I really wanted this film to be great. However, it is an interesting watch, and I do recommend watching the film.



4. While Mifune is, as always, fantastic in his role here, some of the pace is quite slow, and the film is not terribly good from a technical standpoint, so for stretches there isn't quite a lot to keep you interested. Like other reviewers have said, this is no "Yojimbo". Even the sort of fighting the main characters do in this film is really simplistic, brawler sort of stuff. I would even go so far as to say it's not worth owning, unless you're a collector of samurai films (though this is hardly a samurai film).



5. This film is sure to appeal to fans of its famous principle actors Toshiro Mifune (Yojimbo), Katsu Shintaro (Zatoichi) and Yujiro Ishihara (Baby Cart series). The film was the last film in director Hiroshi Inagaki's long career. It will please the fans of the jidai geki (historical period drama) more than the those looking for chambara (sword fighting flick).
   
   The film is considered to be the last of four films featuring the 'yojimbo' (bodyguard) character or nameless samurai created for Mifune by Akira Kurosawa. The first two films, "Yojimbo" and "Sanjuro", are classics of the genre and have much more ambitious goals than the film we are considering here. The third film, the weakest offering amongst the the four, was "Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo" directed by Kihatchi Okamoto in which Toshiro Mifune does not really play the same character we are considering here and is a film which fits more comfortably into the chambara category.
   
   This film feels much like an extention of the Japanese television 'period drama' of its day which I confess to being somewhat partial to. It is elevated by the star studded cast and their performances however it is limited by a tendency at times toward melodrama, the use of stock genre character types and what appears to be a hastily tacked on ending to provide resolution to one of the major narrative threads. It is the last element which is the most unsatisfactory and the film would probably have been better served without tying up this thread at all rather than handling it in a manner which makes it appear to be a cursory afterthought.
   
   Still the film does have much which will satisfy fans of the genre with good performances, an interesting if complex interplay of events and an examination of human behaviour when looking at individuals placed in a high pressure situation. I have heard the film compared to Archie Mayo's "The Petrified Forest" with Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart. This is an apt comparison from the standpoint of the situation which the characters find themselves in.
   
   For those solely interesting in the action elements: The film does have two interesting scenes of sword play, the first beautiful and brief, the second longer and exciting if somewhat less beautifully choreographed. It also features a ham handed fist fight near the beginning of the film which would make John Wayne appear a well schooled boxer by comparison.
   
   But really for those looking for a blood and guts samurai flick you would be much better served by picking up something like "Sword of Doom" or something from the Zatoichi series. This is a film for fans of genre, looking for a rather standard period drama elevated by good performances by Mifune and Katsu.

2 comments about Tai Chi Chuan: The 27 forms by Marshall Ho¿o.

1. This is a great way to gain insight into authentic Tai Chi. Master Ho is a true Chinese Master of the art. His dialogue throughout may seem a little corny, but after viewing a few times, he and his assistant(the perfect Miss Malory) make great old friends who have actual personalities! Definately refreshing to see the forms done with such precision. A sweet, if slightly dated, and groovy way to get in some QUALITY Tai Chi time. Includes ALL correct forms, temple exercises & more.. not new-age yuppie adaptations!



2. PER AMAZON, I SHOULD RECEIVE THIS APRIL 9 2007

No comments about Street Stick Fighting.

No comments about Tang Soo Do Forms Volume 2: Black Belt.

5 comments about Ong Bak Thai Warrior.

1. First of all, if you want anything originally produced by foreign country, it is ALWAYS the BEST to STICK WITH FOREIGN IMPORT. Do not buy USA (North American edited/re-produced Version). WHY? Because it cut best scenes usually, and dubbing makes the act stupid. Watch this film in ORIGINAL language with English subtitle. The film is incredible. It is because REAL. Muey Thai is one of Strongest Standing Ring sports on the Planet, right next to Mas Oyama's Kyokushin Karate/World Oyama Karate (USA). Now, if you are TRUE fan of Martial art. or Practice Full Contact Martial Art system. You are guaranteed to love this IMPORT version of the film. Enjoy..and tell me what you think. This is a keeper.



2. Action fans around the world rightly rejoiced when this film came out. Why? Because people are SICK and TIRED of computer-animated and computer-assisted action, and martial arts fans are REALLY sick of Matrix-style wire work. Ong Bak (Thai Warrior) was, therefore, a sigh of relief for many fans. It proved that someone, somewhere, can still make a good action film. Tony Jaa, hailing from Thailand, and practicing Muay Thai, a martial art renowned for its brutal knee and elbow strikes, has been praised as the next Jet Li/Jackie Chan/Bruce Lee, etc. He's quick, efficient, and truly amazing. The fights, thankfully (gloriously!) look more like real martial arts fights and less like dance rehearsals. (Is anyone else getting sick of how over-choreographed most martial arts fights look nowadays?) The blows look, and sound, like they really hurt. I've read that critics literally cheered at screenings of this film, wincing during fights, and yelling disbelief whenever Jaa took to fleeing his opponents in his amazingly jaw-dropping way. Ong Bak will certainly delight martial arts fans with its no nonsense, brutal fights. Equally astounding is Jaa's sheer mobility. Some of the film's scenes are almost bewildering, especially when one keeps in mind that there were no stuntmen or wires being used. A good example of this is the scene where Jaa, running, comes upon an SUV backing out. Instead of running around it, he jumps into the splits, and, grabbing one leg, literally slides on the ground under the SUV while doing the splits! The man is pure excitement, and reminds one of Jackie Chan in his younger days. With all of this said, however, the film is not perfect. Some of the fights are a tad unrealistic, with Jaa literally hurling himself through the air and landing an elbow or knee on the opponent's head. Any real-life martial artist will attest to the how farfetched it is when, in a film, a fighter lets his opponent fly through the air at him. Watch Prodigal Son with Yuen Biao if you doubt why this is so. Also, and MUCH to my disappointment, despite the thrill of the brutal fighting, and despite the lack of wirefu (THANK GOD), it is nevertheless obvious that quite a few scenes during the fights are sped up. It's too bad that editors think they need to speed up certain moves, as these moves look just as good a little slower (in fact better - you can actually see what's going on!) Other annoyances are present in Ong Bak's story, such as the fact that Tony Jaa never really has a real mano-y-mano fight with his main adversary. Both times he confronts the villain the villain resorts to some type of steroid to hulk up to superhuman powers. Also annoying, and out of character, is when in the pit fight Jaa's character won't step in to save a small man who's literally being stomped to death. He waits until a woman is attacked before he'll step in. This scene very much so detracted from my opinion of Jaa's character. However, all-in-all, all self-respecting martial arts fans should own Ong Bak. It truly deserves its cult status. For fans of this film, I also recommend District B13 (an amazing French martial arts film featuring the founder of Parkour), Ong Bak 2, and Sha Po Lang (an amazing Hong Kong action film), all of which are excellent, recent returns to form for the action/martial arts genre. It must be added, so that fans of the film don't start flocking out and studying "Muay Thai" thinking they will be learning Jaa's martial art, that many critics, writing about Ong Bak I, state that Jaa is a Muay Thai master. He doubtlessly is, but this statement is misleading. Muay Thai is a sport that is more similar to boxing than the martial arts displayed in Jaa's films. What Jaa is practicing is a much older martial art called Muay Boran, which is an older form of Muay Thai. It could be said even that Muay Thai is the "sport version" of Muay Boran, which was practiced by soldiers as a means of still fighting effectively after they had lost their weapons. Many of the moves in Muay Boran are illegal in Muay Thai competitions, and it is actually very, very difficult to even find anyone today (even in Thailand) who teaches Muay Boran. Many schools that claim to teach Muay Boran are really only teaching Muay Thai and claiming otherwise in order to attract students!



3. It may be uncut, but the 20th century fox version has much better picture quality and good subtitles too. The only thing you are missing out on is a couple mroe parts in the village. It is just not needed. If the story was actually good, it might matter. But the reason to watch this is the stunts. The fights are some of the hardest hitting stuff you will ever get but Tony Jaa's stunt work is second to none. If you are a fan of watching great action movies, check this out casue it is the best one that has come out in a while.



4. While this movie is good, it is not his best work. See The Protector for a great martial arts film.



5. Tony Jaa is a new and powerful force that can recieve the torch that will be passed on by Jet Li, if he retires I only hope that the film makers can find a more creative and credible way to show his talent. This film is a 3 star at best only because I can see their, the film makers, struggle to develope a format to justify some of the crazy fight scenes. Some of these fights were good to watch but the over the top story line got in the way most of the time, martial art films don't have to get into heavy stories because the focus is on the fighting but this one didn't work for me.

1 comments about Kung Fu Fighter.

1. First off, I'd like to say that there is no "Vannessa Wu." It's a male by the name of Vanness Wu, who is the lead and also popular Taiwanese performance artist.
   
   Kung Fu Fighter follows a lot of martial art conventions, while at the same time it starts to break out of them at many turns. As the lead, Vanness is charming and likable; I daresay he isn't unattractive either. The actual fight scenes are top-notch, and once or twice, you even have a slightly funny Jackie Chan-esque moment.
   
   Even if you aren't a Vanness Wu fan, it's good if you just want a nice, clean, not-cheesy martial arts film with likable leads.

5 comments about Discover Tai Chi With Scott Cole - Weight Loss (Digital Collector's Edition).

1. I was really excited about trying Tai Chi, so I was a little disappointed by "Discover Tai Chi". Scott Cole is personable enough, but his instruction leaves something to be desired. I found it hard to follow the movements, even after viewing the DVD several times. You get a little of the feeling that you are being taught basic math by a nuclear physicist. The camera also switches angles at inopportune moments, which makes it hard to follow the movements.
   
   Overall, the scenery is great, the soundtrack relaxing, and even though you may not be following the movements exactly, it will leave you with the nice, relaxed feeling you get after a low intensity workout. I get the feeling that this might be a great DVD for someone who is already familiar with the basics of Tai Chi, but if you are looking to really learn Tai Chi, as I was, you may be better off with a workout more geared toward beginners.



2. I have 3 of Scott Cole's Tai Chi workout tapes. I was very happy with the other two Scott Cole Tai Chi workout DVDs that I use. I have to say that this one is disappointing to say the least. In my opinion, I shouldn't have bought it in the first place. I enjoy the slow meditative movements involved in traditional Tai Chi and this DVD is none of that. I was better off buying a Cardio workout or a Billy Blanks Tae Bo DVD if I wanted to have a nice traditional weight loss workout.



3. This DVD helps me to wake up and move. I am glad I purchased his Tai Chi for Beginners and Tai Chi AM/PM workouts first since they accustomed me to the type of movements Tai Chi includes. I enjoy his discussion of the moves and his thoughts on life in general. Hopefully it will help me to lose a little weight and tone up.



4. This is a great alternative workout if you're looking to vary your exercise. The production is great, the music perfect, and Scott Cole a patient and clear teacher.
   
   I started with his Tai Chi for Beginners DVD and I think you would want to do this as well. Highly recommend that DVD, too. Great combination of meditation and exercise.
   
   This DVD is a perfect next step after the beginning DVD.
   
   If you are looking for a peaceful, mindful way to exercise, you couldn't find a better DVD than this one. As a former runner and cancer survivor who needed something more gentle and soothing, this is a great find!



5. This video features a tai chi introduction that is not exactly traditional. It is front view oriented though. This is usually bad for people who cant translate what they are seeing into body motion. But you can mirror him exactly and he calls out the actual leg or arm u are using if you mirror him. He'll raise his left hand while your raising your right and he'll say "right hand". This is enough reason to recommend it. Even if its simplified, even if he's a little smarme. Its easy to mimic from the start. Not a struggle that your going to throw down after one try because theres no one there to straighten you out.

2 comments about Azumi.

1. Azumi comes to us from the same great director of Versus. What's interesting is that the 'Uncut' version is listed at 128 minutes, while this version clocks in at 142 minutes, like most of the import versions of this film. Either way, this is the longer, original version as the director intended. The English dub is great, audio and picture are great quality. The only drawback is it comes with zero extras. There is a menu option for 'Special Features', but when you click it a graphic appears asking you to insert the second disc. And, since this is only a single disc volume, you may scratch your head for a few minutes, as I did.
   
   Basic breakdown, group of assassins (good guys) heads out to do what they do. Naturally, the people on the receiving end of said assassinations (bad guys) are somewhat reluctant to the idea. This means the two groups spend 2+ hours trying to outdo one another. There, of course, are little twists and turns and introductions of peripheral characters. But the most important thing to note is that the action is about as plentiful as it can be. Probably no more than 7 minutes goes by before someone pulls out their sword and starts swinging.
   
   For those familiar with Kitamura, this film bears his trademarks. For those who aren't, his films would be most likened to Sam Raimi (Evil Dead 2, Army of Darkness, the Quick and the Dead), cult/Indie flicks with style and over-the-top gore and violence, all done with a hint of comedy and melodrama (read: what mainstream audiences consider movies for dorks and people that dress up and go to Comic-Con). You still get that 'indie' feel to the action and the dialogue, mixed with a very slick and stylish choreography. While most of the action is sword fighting, it is not Crouching Tiger or Hero. This isn't a Chinese movie with lots of one on one battles. Most of the action consists of a few people mowing down many with one clean strike after another. It's fast and furious and fun.
   
   The film is definitely on a bigger budget than Versus was. Yes, there's a lot of forest-running again. But now, we're treated to a few sets here and there. The costumes of the main characters are definitely of the "anime-come-to-life" variety. They strike me as what it would be like to see something like Naruto or Inuyasha or Ninja Scroll turned into a live-action film. But despite having a bigger budget and a more talented cast, it is still a true Kitamura film (that, of course, is a good thing). You'll even see your favorite Versus characters make appearances throughout.
   
   Like Versus, if you're averse to somewhat over the top action, acting, and gore, mixed with a fairly simple story line, this ain't your thing. This movie doesn't take itself too seriously and it never tries to be anything other than what it is: an awesome action movie. There are definitely those that will be thrown by what seems like a group of young kids in cartoony costumes engaging in some serious violence and gore (all done with superior style and grace throughout). Hey, what can I say? I love this stuff.



2. It has good fighting scenes. There are some interesting points in the plot. It's based on a comic book.
   
   I love Azumi 2 too even though it's not as good as part 1.