5 comments about Elektra (Widescreen Edition).

1. Ok, although I worked in a movie store, and I am usually a good judge of films (thus no need to review movies less than 3 stars, generally)...I bought it for the cover and a few previews.
   
   I thought that this movie would be an intense, butt kicking, action packed film with a hot chic superhero cutting her way through obstacles. This movie has not left as strong of an impression in my mind, as most films do. I only vaguely recall the plot and some rather boring scenes.
   
   Don't get me wrong, the actress is hot, and she does a little butt kicking, but if you want action I'd recommend movies with Milla Jovovich, such as Ultraviolet (Unrated, Extended Cut), Resident Evil - The High-Definition Trilogy (Resident Evil/ Resident Evil: Apocalypse/ Resident Evil: Extinction) [Blu-ray], etc., or Kate Beckinsale; Underworld (Unrated) [Blu-ray], Underworld - Evolution (Widescreen Special Edition), and obscure flicks such as Bloodrayne (Unrated Director's Cut)(DVD ROM game is included).
   
   Elektra was not very electrifying. I give it a "watch it once" rating, but I was not very impressed with the movie.



2. Ah yes, super heroes, those eccentric, maladjusted, social pariahs, forever troubled by their pasts. Ben Affleck was effectively blind and dysfunctional as Daredevil; Christian Bale much less appealing (in my humble opine) as a wimpy Batman. But when it comes to a super hero who can simultaneously kick arse and hold a guilt-ridden pity party, no one can hold a candle to sleek bombshell Jennifer Garner; not only that, she wears a red outfit that makes Viagra a mere breath mint, and she moves and grooves in ways that make ELEKTRA serve its very own call of the wild.
   
   The plot is campy and goofy, but name me a super hero plot that isn't. Garner's Elektra is a professional assasin (what a way to go), only she's taken a gig she can't complete; meanwhile, she's pitted against some supernatural ninja-types (talk to the Hand) who share a commonality with her high-drama past. She fights, she pouts, she swims to relieve her guilt, then--like all action heroes--she comes back from near-death to become an invincible villain mauler.
   
   Garner makes this film so much fun to watch; she's beautiful, graceful, exotic, and deadly, and I want to take my next vacation in her dimple. Heck, in that outfit she could just stand in front of a camera and read the phone book; I would not be entertained any less. Jennifer, sweetheart, you are my alltime favorite super hero as ELEKTRA. And you've got the costume to prove it.
   --D. Mikels, Author, Walk-On



3. I have to say that I am not familiar with any Daredevil or Elektra comics, games or had had any other contact with the characters apart from the two movies so I cannot compare the characters to other sources, nor can I take part in discussing the technicalities and the specifics like other reviewers have. Therefore, coming from someone that did not "know" Elektra prior to the film I have to say that the movie was pretty good.
   Jennifer Garner (who is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!) and the rest of the cast carry out their performances very well, allowing for an entertaining movie. On the negative side, there were several parts that were too predictable/obvious taking away from the overall enjoyment of the movie.
   In short, the plot, the setting, the special effects, and the music are all good.
   Overall, though not a masterpiece, it is definitely a movie worth watching, as it will provide for an evening's entertainment! 3.5 Stars



4. I like Garner and think she's an appealing actress, and I liked her in Daredevil, but in this movie the action scenes are so weak and unbelievable. She is supposed to be a great fighter, but we hardly see anything, it's just implied that she is able to get past an army of ninjas or armed thugs. Then the battles with the superpowered guys are even more absurd, because any one of them could end the fight in a second. The story?.. not much there, there's a young girl who is supposed to be a good fighter so she protects her, and something about her learning from a blind teacher. Not as bad as Catwoman though.



5. The beautiful Jennifer Garner is back as Elektra! After being reborn from DareDevil, Elektra assassinates the bad guys. During Christmas time, Elektra moves to a cottage and meets Mark Miller and his 13-year old girl, Abby. She find out that her next mission is to assassinate them both. After having Christmas dinner, she doesn't want to and all three of them are being hunted down by an organization known as The Hand. There are a lot of special effects and action sequences. If you love action, and sexy Jennifer Garner, you'll love ELEKTRA!!!

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

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



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



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



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



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

5 comments about Pistol Whipped.

1. ...unfortunately, "Pistol Whipped" is an incomprehensible kettle of kaboom. Unlike Segal's previous film - the tight and fun "Urban Justice" - this one has no discernible story, no explanation for who's doing what, done what, or why and has more plot holes than it would take to fill the Albert Hall.
   I watched it with my wife (who, like me, likes Segal) and she had the same reaction: why were all these people doing this and who were they?
   No answers were forthcoming...



2. Another great movie recommended by Sid the Elf!
   
   Have been a fan of Steven Segal since he's been kicking but in the late 80's as slick Italian cop with attitude. This more recent movie takes a different direction with Segal's trademark attitude, and it surprisingly works.
   
   First thing I noticed about this movie is that Segal looks awful! Looks like he's been in a real bad accident and had tons of reconstructive surgery on his face. But alas, this imitation of Elvis' famous I-Just-Died-On-The-Toilet bloated look is just time catching up with the actor. That and the frizzy hairpiece he's now wearing.
   
   The movie itself is classic Segal: snapping arms, blurring punches, and a scowl that still scares. His most famous--if not most used line--of `Let me ask you something," is used more than 20 times in this movie. Count for yourself and see. We are also blessed with the guy most unlikely to bed a girl, as Segal snatches a girl from a bar. Putting on more than 50 pounds since his slimmer days, this gives us "average Joe's" hope for an unlikely future. And we also see Segal's tender side--a great change from the wife-beater we all know--as he tries to be a good father to his daughter, despite being a degenerate gambler who owes too many people too much money.
   
   I was highly impressed with this movie, learning once again to trust Sid the Elf and their many reviews. Always a skeptic, I like to see for myself. Glad I did. Segal still has it, bloated-with-hairpiece or not!



3. Once in a rare while, there comes along a Steven Seagal film about which I'll be really torn. Whereas most of his DTV releases can be classified as either good ("Urban Justice") or bad ("Attack Force"), a few really make me scratch my head as to whether the film's plusses outweigh its faults. "Pistol Whipped" clearly falls into this category because it is a movie that resembles neither Seagal's worst work nor his best.
   
   In the film, Matt Conner (Seagal) is a disgraced ex-detective, having all but forsaken his career and family for the vices of gambling and alcohol. After losing a costly poker game, Matt is approached by the agent of a mysterious "Old Man" (Lance Henriksen, "Aliens" ) who promises to wipe out his towering debts in exchange for assassinating the city's most influential gangsters. Matt's second thoughts regarding his employment are realized when he finds out that he is to kill his daughter's stepfather (Mark Elliot Wilson), who has been a force in his life ever since aiding him during his expulsion from the police department...
   
   The plot eventually gets a bit too confusing for your run-of-the-mill action film, but not in such a manner that a vigilant viewer wouldn't be able to follow it. Even if you are lost, all of the murders and double-crosses come to a head at the end, so there won't be too much head-scratching going on by the time the credits roll. While previous Seagalian ventures like "The Foreigner" ended up being confusing in the process of trying to appear smart, there doesn't really exist a moment in "PW" during which it seems the storyline is consciously outshining the action. Alas, one might be quick to think so on account of there being relatively little action in the movie: two gunfights, a couple of hand-to-hand encounters, and a car chase seem rather meager when you consider a 96-minute production. Luckily, most of what you see is pretty decent: Seagal finally gives his stunt doubles a day off to perform his own aikido, and the car chase is thoroughly decent for a DTV attempt (the gunfights, however, are old-hat, with Seagal being able to dodge bullets at will ).
   
   Thankfully, there's a strong supporting cast to back up the theatrically clumsy Seagal (who actually does a marginally better job than usual): Paul Calderon as a two-faced assassin, Renee Goldsberry ("One Life to Live") as Conner's love interest, and Mark Elliot Wilson as the dirty cop are all stellar co-stars, and even the lower performers like Lydia Jordan as Matt's daughter do their jobs well.
   Oh, and the music was cool. No, it wasn't extraordinary, but this is officially the first film of Seagal's in which I noticed the score - going to show that even the smallest of details can make a difference.
   The film deviates surprisingly from the standard focus of Seagal's other movies: while most of those were focused on our hero's quest for vengeance, "PW" takes considerable time to portray Matt Conner as more than a killer. Throughout the movie, we never forget that Conner is vulnerable through his love for his family. Though this isn't as effectively incorporated as I would've wished, it opens subliminal character opportunities that the likes of Casey "Invincible" Ryback sorely lacked.
   
   In all, "Pistol Whipped" is a bit too different from my favorite Seagal films to give a higher rating, but make no mistake: I'd watch this a dozen times before I tortured myself with "Out for a Kill" again. Only those fans of Steven who are wary of him taking his talents in a slightly different direction should consider this a rental. For other devotees, it's worth owning, and maybe even worth playing for your buddies on a slow night.



4. Alright, first of all He always wears a jacket. Is it because he is 50 lbs overweight? Seriously the whole movie, people wearing shorts and tee shirts and mister Wayne Newton, with fake, slicked back hair and crazy fake spray on dark A tan, is walking around wearing a jacket the whole damn movie.
   
   OK, enough of the petty stuff (but seriously more will come later), this movie has absolutely no plot. He can shoot the tip off of a match, but when it comes to a target the size of what should be an out of work actor he misses constantly, and in a very boring, but consistently boring way. You know the scene in the Matrix 2 where Keanu beats a bunch of agents with a parking meter for 45 min.? The way it made you want to go to the Warner Brother Studio with a parking meter of your own an 45 min to spare? THE WHOLE MOVIE WAS LIKE THAT. It just kept going, and going.
   
   Every time an expensive car is shown in the movie get ready for the director's attempt to get his foot in the door of the car commercial industry. It was to the point that it COMPLETELY detracted from what should, but probably couldn't ever be an actual movie. The director knew that at best he could shoot a car commercial, which is probably how he ended up with Segal, at a Hyundai dealership, hatching up this whole movie as a genius scheme to get a sweet Santa Fe for free. So, so very insane, and transparent. Tisk, tisk Segal.
   
   Last and least was the conversation between the girl at the bar and Segal. I don't know how else to put it, but the manner of speech changed drastically when he was around this African-American woman. If my mind was not entirely consumed with other obvious and constant flaws in the movie, it might have the capacity to be offended by this. On a completely different note, what the hell is the deal with his contact with Blue? Is he supposed to be Jamaican? He sounds undeniably Jamaican in exactly two scenes, but in all the rest of the scenes, just sounds like a regular bad actor that is not unsuccessfully attempting a Jamaican accent.
   
   For the love of God, don't watch this movie. If someone recommends it, punch them in the face or at the least the face of their groin, then just empty a large bag of skittles over the victim on the floor (the guy that just got groined), trust me it really, REALLY confuses people.



5. "Pistol Whipped" is one of the better films of Steven Seagal in recent years. It is far better than "Flight of Fury" and "Attack Force," two dismally terrible flicks that can kill anyone's career instantly. Somehow Seagal has survived them and come back with "Urban Justice," which is certainly an improvement over the previous ones. And now "Pistol Whipped" arrives, which is not a bad film, thanks largely to the capable supports and nice stunts, but still is not as good as his earlier films made back in the 90s.
   
   The biggest problem is Steven Seagal himself, or the character he plays. "Pistol Whipped" is about Matt, a compulsory gambler who, despite his down-and-out life, still loves his daughter. Seagal plays this anti-heroic protagonist, who is also a disgraced elite cop and now perpetually drunk, but he simply does not look like the man he is supposed to play.
   
   But when action scenes start, things get better. There is a nice car chase and a shoot-out in the cemetery. However, you have to wait for these actions very long. As to Seagal himself, martial arts action scenes are only slightly better than choppily-edited ones seen in his previous flicks, but are still disappointingly brief and few in number.
   
   Probably the film's greatest merit is its supporting actors: Lance Henriksen and Paul Calderon. Lance Henriksen appears as a mysterious man who hires Seagal's character as assassin. His charismatic presence is intact, but he spends most of his screen time (which is too short) doing nothing particularly impressive. Paul Calderon, who almost became Jules in "Pulp Fiction" (but the role eventually went to Samuel L. Jackson), fares better as an enigmatic henchman "Blue." You can see this underrated actor is in fact as talented as Samuel L. Jackson. Perhaps the film could have been better with them as the leads with Seagal as support.

5 comments about The Hunted (Widescreen Edition).

1. Yes, we have seen this plotline before, but that didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the movie. Tommy Lee is at his laconic best and Benicio definitely has the eyes of a cold blooded killer. The tracking and knife fighting scenes were as authentic as it gets, and the setting provided a beautiful backdrop to the cat and mouse hunt that takes up most of the movie. The action is relentless and exciting. I strongly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoyed Rambo when it first came out. The highly skilled loner evading both a mob of law enforcement officers and a highly skilled tracker makes for a good viewing experience, especially in the hands of a world-class director like William Friedkin.



2. **** 2003. Directed by William Friedkin. Four years before Bug (Special Edition), his last film to date, Friedkin, in THE HUNTED, already took an interest in the case of a soldier suffering from a mental disorder. But when one knows that it was his teacher/father who had the duty to stop him, the movie acquires a very interesting dimension. Recommended.



3. Director William Freidkin, know for his terrifying THE EXORCIST and non stop action ride THE FRENCH CONNECTION, has made more films than most remember. The problem is that anything he makes must always be measured beside these two. But, if you take that away from the equation, you find that there are a number of other films he's made that are equally as impressive in their own right.
   
   That being said his latest, THE HUNTED, is a non stop action film that holds you from beginning to end. Proof? As I was watching it, I hit the display button on my DVD player to discover that the film only had 7 minutes left to go. And it felt as if it had only just started!
   
   The movie tells the tale of Aaron Hallam (Benicio Del Toro), a special ops agent working for the government in Kosovo. On a mission to take out a violent official, he witnesses so much death and carnage that he snaps. He accomplishes his mission but it takes its toll on him.
   
   Change of local and time and we find Del Toro now hiding in the woods of Oregon. When two hunters with high powered scopes attempt to take out a deer, Hallam takes them out instead, first toying with them and then delivering the final blow. Blending back into the woods, he leaves behind a bloody legacy.
   
   Moving forward we are taken to Canada where L.T. Bonham (Tommy Lee
   Jones) is tracking a wounded animal. Bonham is the type of person who could track any animal in any environment. Taking care of the animal, and the man who harmed it, he is approached by a US official who escorts him back to Oregon to help in the investigation of the murders.
   
   It seems that Bonham was the man who trained Hallam and the only man with a chance of finding him. Bonham is the only man with the expertise in killing and survival tactics to discover his location and to bring him in. Using theses skills (and having a tracer placed on him by the FBI) Hallam is captured and taken into custody.
   
   Hallam tries to get Bonham to talk to him, has been trying to get his attention for some time now, or so he claims. As he begins to blurt out information about covert operations, Bonham stops him with the warning that he could be killed if he does so.
   
   While Hallam awaits charges, a trio of government agents arrives to escort him to who knows where. Along the route the choose to take, Hallam escapes, killing all three. Now the hunt begins anew as Bonham starts once again to track down the renegade ops agent in an effort to put an end to the tragedy he began years ago.
   
   Action aplenty is the name of the game here, but not at the cost of story. A tension lies beneath the surface of the relationship between Bonham and Hallam, an unspoken series of words that says there is more going on here than meets the eye. The relationship between the two seems more like father and son than instructor and student. The use of Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" with the story of Abraham's order to kill his son is put to good use in helping explain. For Hallam is Bonham's son, if not in the physical sense than in the spiritual one.
   
   There is no waste of time or film in this movie, as every scene, every shot carries you to the next level. It holds you tight, sometimes allowing you insights into the real person behind each character, sometimes setting you up in predictable sequences where you know the outcome and ending with a twist that might seem minor but tells more once you think about it.
   
   The DVD comes with extras such as documentaries on the production, stills and more.
   
   All in all, this is one good movie that stuns you when you realize how long it's been since it started. The acting is nothing less than would be expected of the leads, first rate and professional. And the directing. Let's just say that Freidkin has not lost his touch. And let's hope that in seeing this film, viewers wander back to check out all of the other films he's done over the years. They won't be disappointed.



4. The Hunted is one of William Friedkin most underated pictures.The Director who defined Film as an art with classics like French Connection or The Exorcist brings us the story of a burnt out soldier who starts a killing mission.His instructor is the one who is chosen to hunt him down.The film is a well structured action cracker full of violent knife- duels and very tight action pieces.It doesn't use wire-tricks or CGI.The DVD itself has a very informative commentary by Friedkin and short making of featurettes.Highly Recommended.



5. I walked into The Hunted expecting a action movie and that's what I got. William Fredkin has made one of his best action movies since The French Connenction and To Live & Die In LA. Tommy Lee Jones is in his top form as usual but for me Benicno Del Toro made the movie as a ruthless crazed vet. The film is full of intense action sequences and is pretty violent but if you're a action movie buff then you'll like it. Forget the story just sit back and enjoy the ride.

5 comments about The One-Armed Swordsman.

1. Jimmy Wang Yu starred in many Shaw Bros. swordplay films in the 1960s, but it was THE ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN (1967), directed by the prolific Chang Cheh, that put him on the map as the leading action star of Hong Kong cinema at the time and shifted the direction of HK sword films to a harder-edged, bloodier style with a greater emphasis on martial arts. It was the first film of its type to stress the training aspect of swordplay and gives the hero a half-burned manual which teaches him left-hand sword techniques after his right arm had been chopped off in a jealous pique by his master's beautiful but impetuous daughter. Having gone into hiding with a loyal farm girl (whose father had been a swordsman and was the original owner of the manual), Wang Yu goes back into action, after the requisite training period, to aid his former master when his school comes under attack from evil swordsmen led by Long-Armed Devil and Smiling Face.

   The villains have a lethal device on their swords which locks on to the sword of their opponent and enables them to deliver the killing blow with a dagger held in their right hands as they fight. Only Wang Yu's broken sword (left to him by his dead father, who was killed when he was a boy) can counteract the effects of the sword-lock.

   Wang Yu had the proper dark and brooding quality for such a role and he is well served by the violent, bleak tone of the film. He returned to the role in one official sequel, the nonstop slaughterfest, THE RETURN OF THE ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN (1968), and later went to a rival studio to star in ONE-ARMED BOXER (1971). Shaw Bros. countered with THE NEW ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN (1971), starring David Chiang in the title role, which had less intensity and more spectacle.




2. OK if you have never seen this movie and are interested in classic kung-fu movies, by all means get this release, the quality is great. My complaint is that the Weinstein company lied about the special features. I already owned a great region 3 copy of this film, and was surprised to see that the new American release had commentary by Quentin Tarantino, which is stated on the package. I know that he is a big Shaw bros fan and was interested in hearing his insight on the film. I could care less about the film scholars opinions as they don't really state anything a fan wouldn't already know. Well the DVD does NOT have commentary by him, and my purchase was completely pointless. This review is to mainly to warn others out-there like myself who are huge fans that might also be considering purchasing this version for that reason.



3. The Weinstein Company has to be commended for finally releasing "The One-Armed Swordsman" completely restored on DVD. The video and audio restoration that went into this release is truly amazing. This 1967 Martial Arts Classic is presented in it's 2.35:1 Widescreen format and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions. This is without a doubt the best version of "The One-Armed Swordsman" I've ever seen. The video transfer is just spectacular and the colors are sharp and vibrant. The sound is clean and crisp albeit in mono. The sound options include original Mandarin or English dubbed version and choice of Subtitles. The special features I found most interesting were the Interview with Jimmy Wang Yu and the Stills Gallery and Trailer Gallery. Sadly the commentary of Quentin Tarantino listed on the rear cover under the special features section of the DVD is missing. Martial Arts fans will be amazed by the incredible quality of this release and the non-stop blood filled action. The One-Armed Swordsman is filled with magnificent swordplay,incredible Kung Fu and it's a definite must see for any fan of the Kung Fu genre. Outstanding Martial Arts Movie, Highly Recommend !!
   
   DVD Bonus Features:
   * Feature commentary by film scholars David Chute and Andy Klein
   * Interview with Star Jimmy Wang Yu
   * Interview with film scholars David Chute and Andy Klein
   * The Master: Chang Cheh
   * Stills gallery
   * Trailer gallery
   * Commentator biographies



4. What a film! The One-Armed Swordsman is the story of a humble student who in a terrible "accident" loses his right arm and is then forced to make tough decissions on where his life will go from there. Jimmy Wang Yu is fantastic as our lead and uses incredibly great facial expressions and body language to support the emotional beats thrown his way(best performance of his career in fact). The direction by the legendary Chang Cheh is some of his best as well with quite a few of the most beautifully shot scenes I've ever scene in the genre. The incredible thing about that is the film is almost exclusively shot on sets which when teamed with Chehs direction gives the entire film almost a surreal fairy tale quality. Now the effects are a little dodgy at times but when taking into consideration that this was released in 1967 it is easily forgivable (and makes them actually pretty good overall). The choreography and fights also aren't much to get overly excited about but that's never really been Wang Yus strongest trait anyways (that's why fighting with one-arm works well to help discuise his already shaky skills)... this one puts great acting, story, and themes at the forefront making it a classic movie for all viewers rather than just a must-see for genre fans alone. Much like Dragon Dynasty's other Shaw Bros. release "King Boxer," the movie is truly a early work of art filled with so many influential elements (it helped create the entire one-armed martial arts sub-genre) that you watch it in awe whether it's your first or tenth time seeing it.



5. One Armed Swordsman is an excellent film that combines drama, great story telling, and action. It's rare to find any type of action film that keeps you gripped without introducing another fighting scene for the sake of it.
   
   The main character loses his right arm in an accident. He's forced to physically and mentally deal with being crippled forever. There is also another plot taking place that deals with revenge. This also adds a great deal to the story and is pulled off very well.
   
   The characters are well acted and Wang Yu's performance stands out the most. He delivers some very powerful scenes. There is also a good deal of character development. It's very hard not to feel the main characters plight and I found myself waiting impatiently for the villians to finally get theirs. The action scenes are pretty good, very well coordinated and some good gore. Another strength is the fighting happens for reasons. Multiple fight scenes aren't being used to cover up a poorly written plot.
   
   The transfer is done to perfection. This is a huge plus because it brings out the best in the scenery. Which is beautiful to say the least. And the well orchestrated music score. I also enjoyed the short documentary The Master: Chang Cheh which runs for almost 20 minutes. The commentary by Quentin Tarantino is not added but I'm not bothered by that at all.
   
   This was a great buy for me. And I'm sure anyone looking for a good film to watch most likely won't be disappointed.

No comments about The Battle of Red Cliff (First Print Edition) DVD.

5 comments about Out for Justice.

1. Just to keep all our fans up to date, we, Sid the Elf, have decided that to degrade these movies with a label such as "B movies" is wrong. Therefore, henceforth the movies formerly lumped into the B genre will be known as "Unintentional Comedy." Anyway, Sid the Elf can hardly believe what a terrific masterpiece he has just seen. Out For Justice stars the immortal pony-tailed warrior, Steven Segal playing a total guido Gino Felino. Yes, the main character's name rhymes. Also making apperances are Gina Gershon, Juliana Margulis, Uncle Junior, and the one and only First Base. The First Base sighting made Sid fall in love with this movie. And as youse all know, Sid always does his research, so we found out that John Flynn directed this flick (yes, the John Flynn, as in the same John Flynn who directed Lockup) which quelled our suspicion that Rog moonlighted as an Unintentional Comedy director in his younger days. It was a logical guess though, with Segal spouting a "Maddon'" every few seconds.
   
   So, this was a Segal movie. Which of course means that he plays a rouge cop who doesn't follow one law the entire movie, and actually wants to murder the bad guy. Whith that said, Segal does such a great job in this movie, those small oversights are so easy to forgive. Sid has a theory on this one: Segal studied every bad mob movie ever made and imitated the stupidest goomba in every one. We can't get across how entertaining it was to watch Segal try to be his usual tough self, speak with a Brooklyn accent, and try to sprinkle a few Italian words in every few minutes.
   
   Out For Justice was a supperior Unintentional Comedy flick. The second First Base appeared on the screen it was sealed. WOO-PAH! So it definitely gets the Sid the Elf Seal of Approval. Ya hear?



2. Like I said, this was my favorite Steven Segal movie! I also like Jerry Orbach, he appears briefly in this movie. This is great, Steven Segal chasing Richie all over Brooklyn, for gunning down Segal's partner.



3. You must see "Above The Law" and "Marked For Death". Along the same lines, very action packed.



4. I recall seeing this movie and Marked for Death for the first time on cable T.V. At the time I didn't notice it was censored; I actually thought both were Seagal's least violent films...but when I bought the DVD and re-watched it...let me tell you if I am asked which is the most Brutal Seagal movie I've seen I would say now that it's Out For Justice and Marked For Death. Both of them are two blood thirsty movies. This one in particularly is a guilty pleasure. The drug content and the violence is way over the top; especially the profanity, The "F" word is said 114 times through the movie. That's a WOW to me, and that's excluding the other hundreds of cursing that is spurred on to the screen.
   
   The movie begins with a bang and ends with a bang. A no good criminal shoots an officer down in front of his wife and children. He leaves as if nothing happened. Seagal plays Gino, a cop, with an attitude, who knows this criminal very well; He knows he has no conscience and will do anything...And he is not kidding, there is a scene that I didn't see in the cable version, which caught me by surprise; I won't say what it is so you can take a look at it. Any how the man responsible for shooting this officer is a criminal named Richie Madano ( William Forsythe) He grew up with Gino,he was never a good sport. Now Gino is going out for justice in search of clues, and answers as to why Richie killed his partner in front of his wife and kid.
   
   The best thing about the movie is Seagal, he may not be an extraordinary actor but he does a pretty darn good job here. Don't get me wrong Seagal is a good actor, just that his acting went down as he gained weight and got older. Here he gives his character a cockiness that is acceptable and enjoyable. Also the fight in the bar is classic "Has Anybody Seen Richie? ...Gosh it's beautiful. Definitely worth owning.
   
   PERSONAL RATING: 5 OUT OF 5



5. So personally this is one of my least favorite Steven Seagal movies, maybe cause I think it reflects the worst in the character. But I guess that's the character of Gino. I've read interviews and watched interviews of Seagal Sensei's and he speaks about manners of peace and harmony. I am an Aikido student myself and when I watch this movie, I believe he goes against a lot of the philosophies that he gives when teaching. Yes, I know that this is not an Aikido film nor is the character Seagal sensei. However, there is a part of me that does wonder why Seagal Sensei would play a cop like Gino who in my opinion is a horrible, brutal cop. I like to think the whole movie is a twist of irony because there is no true "Justice" in this movie. lol

5 comments about Crime Story.

1. Jackie Chan takes up his usual cop role in this crime thriller and is hired to protect a very wealthy business man. The business man fears that he is going to be kidnapped, and that is exactly what happens. The kidnappers are holding him for ransom and demand 60 million dollars for his safe return. They order his wife to get the money. The cops do a great job of surveillance on the wife and do everything they need to do to catch the criminals, but they don't know that one of their top detectives is one of the kidnappers. Kent Cheng (Butcher Wing AKA "fatso" from Once Upon a Time in China #1) stars as the dirty cop and Jackie gets assigned to work with him. It gets very inense when Jackie suspects that Cheng is helping the kidnappers.
   
   Jackie Chan has had many good acting performances in his career, but this tops them all. His usual slapstick comedy is completely absent, but he still does a few of the other things you have come to expect from him. In one scene he is in a car chase and his car gets tipped onto its side. Well, Jackie just pushes the car back on its wheels and keeps on driving. Jet Li was supposed to play this role which seems like it would have been a good choice, but Jet's acting wasn't as good back then as it is now. Jackie plays this role to perfection, and in my opinion, there is no way that Jet Li could have pulled this role off as well as Jackie. If you have ever doubted Jackie as an actor, then check this movie out to see what he can really do. I would actually recommend this movie more to non Jackie Chan fans, but Jackie's die hard fans will also enjoy it.
   
   I have always known Kent Cheng as somewhat of a bumbling idiot on screen, so this movie was a real eye opener for me. He shows that he is a great actor when given the oppurtunity. He couldn't have played his role any better.
   
   The movie also stars Chung Fa and Ken Lo who are involved in a group fight with Jackie, and Blacky Ko has a nice cameo as a captain of the Taiwan police force.
   
   There is not as much fighting as most Jackie Chan movies, and they keep it more real. The stunt work is top notch and will have you saying ouch, but it is actually the car chases and huge explosions that give the most excitement.
   
   This is almost a perfect movie. Rating- 4.5/5
   
   The picture quality is very good. Subtitles are well written. The original Cantonese mono and Cantonese 5.1 tracks sound good. There is also an English dub that I didn't mind too much.
   
   Dragon Dynasty gives the best special edition possible by having a commentary with the director Kirk Wong. Bey Logan joins in to provide information and ask questions to the director. One thing they talk about is how this movie is based on a true story, and they actually filmed on some of the real locations where real events happened. This is my favorite Dragon Dynasty commentary I have heard. Unlike the movie, there are many laugh out loud moments in the commentary. I just wish the movie was longer than 107 minutes so that they could have talked longer. Lucky for me Kirk Wong has a great 29 minute interview where he gives his thoughts on the cuts that Jackie made to the final cut of the movie.
   
   The 12 minute interview with Teddy Chen (one of the writers) is very informative. He talks about the script itself and gives his thoughts on the actors.
   
   3 deleted scenes are included.
   
   The last special feature is interesting. Dragon Dynasty always includes the original trailer, which is nice, but this one is different than most. Since it was based on a true story, they actually show news footage and interviews at the start of the trailer.
   
   The only problem I have with this DVD release is the cover art. Jackie looks like he is posing for a rap album.



2. a great action flick. a good jackie chan movie.a must for your collection.



3. Supposedly based on true events, Crime Story puts Jackie Chan in his usual hero cop role against a group of criminals and their kidnapping scheme. Unlike his Police Story movies, this film plays it straight with an emphasis on realism and drama over martial arts and stunts. Missing here are any of Jackies usual over the top antics and absolutely none of his humor or charm. It's interesting to see Jackie play this stiff of a role and he does a fine job but I'm not sure why you would ever cast him to be this bland. I guess they wanted to differentiate this from the Police Story films (he goes by Eddie Chan here rather than his real name like in Police Story 1 & 2)but I for one yearned for those pictures while watching this (in fact it forced me to rethink my original rating on Police Story 2 to 4 stars instead of 3). This is still worth catching once at least... and who knows, maybe I'm missing something that the other reviewers are seeing? If you always wanted to see what Chan's career would have been like if he wasn't one of the greatest martial artists ever this is for you... for those who watch Chan movies for unique fights and exhilerating stunts you'll have to go elsewhere. No matter your feelings on the film Dragon Dynasty has released it in usual top notch form here.



4. An excellent well put together package. The special collector's edition of Jackie Chan's classic 1993 Crime Story. With added special features including Deleted Scenes (3), Feature Commentary with Director Kirk Wong and Hong Kong Cinema Expert Bey Logan, A Journey to the Underworld: An Exclusive Interview with Director Kirk Wong, From The Page to the Silver Screen: An Interview with Writer Teddy Chen and Trailer Gallery.
   
   If you already have the first edition of this great movie. I would still invest the collectors edition as it brings more action, suspense and intrigue. Jackie Chan plays a cop that is witness to a kidnapping of a prominient businessman and his wife. The wife is forced into giving the kidnappers almost 60 million dollars. As the movie progresses Jackie runs into all kinds of people out to kill him for what he knows and a secret or two buried right in his own office. The movie is fast paced and full of classic Jackie battles. Crime Story won't be one of those movies that disappoint either as it still holds up despite all the time that has passed.



5. It's Jackie's most rare movie, it is very graphic, realistic feel to it about a hard life of honest cops. This is not a martial arts flick, although it has that, it is much more, a real detraction from Jacky Chan's usual funny style. It's not a comedy. It is a suspense detective. Enjoy one of Jacky's rarest, but wonderfully made movies.

5 comments about Step by Step Tai Chi with Tiffany Chen.

1. I realize that this DVD is step by step, however for beginner's the instructions are confusing and visually it is confusing also. The approach of this instruction also seems to be rather goal oriented rather then being about peace and movement. Tiffany's perfectionistic manner makes this rather less enjoyable than it should be. I find other DVD's of Tai Chi to be better.



2. I am favorably impressed with this complete introduction on the William C. C. Chen Yang-style form. This form is unique enough that it will take months to truly learn the 60-movement choreography. I have the opportunity to learn this form and its related martial arts from a Chen certified instructor but didn't want to waste the first 3 to 6 months just learning the basic form movements. The competence gained through practice with this DVD will allow me to enter into the refinement phase where master instruction is more valuable. Yes, Tiffany's instructions are precise and that is the goal of a good instructional program. "Peace and movement" can be a result of diligent practice, as well as other more beneficial effects, but not the goal of this DVD. This is about grounding the student in the solid fundamentals of the mechanics necessary to perform the movement correctly from which all other things flow.
   
   The innovative features of this DVD are very valuable in understanding the mechanics and breathing of the form performed well. I've found the automatic continuous looping of each segment (12 segments in the entire form) an invaluable tool in learning the form. The momvements in each segment are presented 3 times from slightly different angles and with different vocal instructions on each pass. These can then be looped continuously until sufficiently familiar. The whole DVD can be shown in mirrored format making it much easier to mimic the movements.
   
   If I have one gripe it is that the director of this DVD (as well as other Tai Chi instructional DVDs I've tried) can't stop himself from switching viewing angles in the middle of a movement. It's enough that each segment gets 3 seperate treatments.
   
   Thanks for a great introduction to Grandmaster Chen's form.



3. Maybe fancy camera tricks are cool, but they are a burden when you have NO idea what is going on and are trying to learn something. Here's a hint: Let's NOT focus on the face when the whole body is moving. Let's NOT focus on a side angle when the opposing, blocked, leg is moving. And so on. Also, Ms. Chen, perhaps actually describing your movements in layman terms for all of us who have not been raised by a Tai Chi Kung Fu master would be helpful. Kthxbai ...
   
   I'm a total noob to Tai Chi, and really want to be successful. This video is NOT for you if you have NO idea what you're doing. Thank goodness I got it as a freebie from another site!



4. I basically cannot disagree with any of the reviews. However saying that, I absolutely love this dvd. I don't know whether it's the music or the movements themselves or Miss Chen, but I find the whole thing hypnotic. I don't think it's so much confusing as much as the fact that this is a very complex art form, I mean it is so deep you could spend a life time on it and still be learning.
   
   I think it is an enchanting video, and yes I am just starting out with tai chi, and it may take me the rest of my life to really learn this form. But I get so much out of doing just one or two movements, even though shifting from one leg to another properly is still a mystery to me, a lot of it is. I just keep looping the first movements over and over and if I'm stuck there forever, so be it. I'm enjoying my ineptitude in some way. I may never get it. but it is worth the pursuit, even if I remain in tai chi kindergarten. Thankyou Tiffany Chen!



5. I enjoyed Tiffany Chen's peaceful approach to Tai Chi and to life. It is a pleasure to have her insight into the mystery of Tai Chi. I highly recommend this DVD.

4 comments about UFC: Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra.

1. I liked this season. I liked Mac Danzig and a couple other guys. Though Serra was annoying as all hell :).



2. THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER SEASON 6
   
   Following in the tradition of season's 3 and 5 this time around it is two coaches that have a genuine dislike for each other. At one end is the former welterweight champ Matt Hughes, and at the other current champ Matt Serra. The story is Hughes doesn't think Serra is a deserving champion, and Serra can't stand Hughes because of the way he acts and treats people. Now I would like to stat off the bat that each season has a coach that really impresses me, like Tito Ortiz and Jens Pulver before him Matt Serra did that for me on this season. I have a lot more respect for these guys due to how they treated their fighters on this show, Serra was a really good coach. From the first episode Hughes and Serra have their opening face off with Danna White when they first get together. That of course leads to Matt Hughes playing head games by acting like he wanted Joe Scarola as his first pick. The thing is Joey is a good friend of Serra's, so naturally Serra picks Joey first letting Hughes pick his real first pick. That leads to the first fight of the season pitting Joe against Mac Danzig. But before that my pick to take the whole show Roman Mitichyan got injured during the evaluation, his visit to the doctor sets off one of the most memorable segments of the show, he goes crazy because he is told he can't fight. Unfortunately he has to leave the show and is replaced by Jon Koppenhaver. The fight between Joey and Mac was disappointing; Joey put himself in a triangle so he could get out of the fight. Of course Serra was not pleased with this at all. In the second episode Joe starts on his whole feeling sorry for himself thing, which would continue for a couple more episodes. He even skips out on the next practice session, so Serra tells every one how he really feels about the situation. Serra even has to come to the house and talk to Joe, Joe even says he'll stay and help coach. After that Hughes puts down an optional Bible Study during his training session. Then once again Joe goes crazy and wanting to leave to see his girl, Serra gets beyond mad when he finds out. The fight that episode saw Dorian Price lose to Matt Arroyo due to a rear naked choke. In this episode everyone got to watch a UFC pay per view event, and of course Joe was outside sulking. The drama keeps going on as Joe keeps up the sulking, and wanting to leave. Serra even tells him if he leaves he looses his job back home, even Danna White comes to talk to Joe and he still decides to leave. What a waste of air time this show wasted on him, so many others wanted to be there. In the fight Billy Miles comes up short against John Kolosci. The next show starts with team Hughes being punished because Billy lost his fight. This is also the infamous confrontation between Dorian and the production crew, Dorian almost has to leave the show. Danna White lets him know what the deal is, and Dorian's commentary about the situation and Danna White is hilarious. The fight for this episode was Blake Bowman taking on Richie Hightower. This was an insanely quick fight with Hightower taking out Blake in the first round. In this episode Mac lets his feelings be known about Blake, things get worse when Cole Miller beats Andy Wang at the TUF season 5 finale. Blake is cool with Cole and Mac is cool with Wang. Also Mac saves a bee, and wants to save the flies, he is one with nature. Paul learns that his 19 year old cousin has died so he has to leave the house after his fight, and Team Serra's Mac head made out of a milk carton is funny. The fight of the night was Troy Mandaloniz vs. Paul Georgieff, this is an excellent fight. The fight was really good both were throwing some good strikes, and both worked really well on the ground. When it finally gets back to the stand up Troy knocks Paul out with a nice right hand. The next episode shows how Barrera breaks his hand during practice with Matt Hughes. Barrera gets a call from his wife who had a seizure while he was gone, so this whole episode he had a lot of challenges he had to face. The fight was Dan Barrera taking on Ben Saunders. Saunders gets dropped in the first round but recovers quickly and makes a triangle attempt, but Dan escapes it. When the fight is standing it is a wild brawl, but the other half of the first round is Dan standing there and Ben laying there. The second round was a mirror of the first when they were standing; Dan even got dropped by a knee. The next episode Matt Hughes is talking about leaving the show because he believes that his team isn't listening to him, Danna White even has to come talk to him. After this talk between the two Hughes punishes his team. And Team Serra is all kinds of mad at George for not waking them up in the mornings. Jay rock ends up getting injured before his fight on this episode. The bout for the evening was Jared Rollins taking on George Sotiropoulos. George basically picks Jay Rock apart during this fight, and George takes Jay Rock out with a little over a minute left in the first. Jay Rock's impression of Serra is funny as well. This episode was all about Tommy being a strong farm boy like Matt Hughes, and War Machine being a little nutty, Serra has some funny things to say about him in this episode. The finial fight was Tommy Speer vs. Jon Koppenhaver, the round starts with War taking Speer down and getting a rear naked choke. Tommy eventually gets on top and just rains down punishment with some ground and pound on War. The second round starts with Tommy taking War down with ease, and pounding again. Tommy ends up winning by judge's decision. This episode is about Team Serra picking the next round line up, and some of his guys have to go to Team Hughes. Also it is about Mac being nothing but negative. The fight was Mac Danzig vs. Jon Kolosci; Mac dominates the fight and wins by rear naked choke. In the next episode we have the coach's challenge, which is bowling. Matt Serra ends up beating Hughes in a really close game and getting 10 g's. Next up was the fight between Troy Mandaloniz and Matt Arroyo, the fight ended early in the first when Troy taps to an arm bar. The last fight of the episode was Richie Hightower taking on George Sotiropoulos. This fight ends when Richie taps to a kimora at the end of the first. The next episode is the infamous upper decker show, were Jay rock goes off on Team Serra kicks down their door. The fight was Tommy Speer against Ben Saunders, Team Serra vs. Team Hughes again. The first round was good, both displayed good ground game. Second round was about the same, Tommy controlled with some ground and pound and getting the win. In the next episode Matt Arroyo gets an injured rib and chooses to leave the competition, even though the doctors say he can fight. So John Kolosci stepped up and took his place and got a rematch against Mac Danzig. The fight ends the same way he first did, Danzig wins by rear naked choke. The last semi final fight was Tommy Speer vs. George Sotiropoulos; Tommy wins the fight by knock out after he pokes George in the eye. So both of Hughes's guys are in the finals, I was rooting for Serra's team. So the show was over and all that was left was the finale. The first fight of the night was Jonathan Goulet vs. Paul Georgieff; Goulet gets put to sleep by a rear naked choke with less then a minute left in the first. Next up is one of my favorite fights of the night pitting Dorian Price against Roman Mitichyan who had to leave on the first episode because of an injury. Roman wins this fight in seconds after taking his opponent down and getting a deep ankle lock. Next was John Kolosci taking on Matt Arroyo, with seconds left Arroyo locks a nice arm bar and forces John to tap. Next Richie Hightower got it on with Troy Mandaloniz, in one of the best fights of the night Troy knocks out Richie in the first round. Then Dan Barrera fought Ben Saunders in an excellent rematch from the show, Ben wins by decision after a great fight. Next George Sotiropoulos went against Billy Miles, and George dominates this fight and ends it with a rear naked choke. Next was Jared Rollins vs. Jon Koppenhaver in a bloody brawl that saw Jon turn the fight around in round three with a knock out over Jayrock. Finally the fight between Mac Danzig and Tommy Speer is upon us, and Danzig straight dominates Tommy and chokes him out with a rear naked and becomes the ultimate fighter. Lastly is a classic between Roger Huerta and Clay Guida, Clay lands a sick punch on Roger after faking a take down. But Roger wins the fight with a rear naked choke, this was a great fight, classic for sure. This was a great season of the ultimate fighter, even rivals' season 5 for the most entreating season ever. I recommend this box set to everybody out there, also it has some good special features like season 5 did.



3. This UFC show is interesting. You take a bunch of young fighters competing, make them live in a house where they can't leave, mix in some alchohol, and you've got Lord Of The Flies. Why do they trash the house every season? I don't condone them acting like animals, but it's a nice psychological study. Plus, I'm into MMA. And they aren't all bad. There are always a few good eggs mixed in for good measure. The way Serra and Hughes interact is also interesting. Speaking of interesting, for lighter consumation, I recommend this: The Little Guide to Happiness: How to Smile Again



4. The show isn't weird. What is weird is I thought I already reviewed this and now my review is gone. So I'll make this next one short as I don't want to type a long couple paragraphs only for it not to post. I dug it. Long and short of it. I dig all the seasons of this show.The Little Guide to Happiness: How to Smile Again