No comments about Japanese Swordsmanship Vol 3- Tameshigiri- The Art of Cutting.

2 comments about Wu Tang Swordsman.

1. i can honestly say i have never seen a bad movie with carter wong .like every thing else that he does this movie will become a collector's favorite.great fight scenes and excellent drama



2. THIS IS WHAT I CALL A TRUE KUNG FU CLASSIC. CARTER WONG HAS CRAZY FAST HANDS. I MEAN ITS BRUCE LEE FAST. THE CAMERA MAN SUCKS SO BAD THAT ME AND MY SISTER WAS LAUGHING THROUGH MOST OF THE MOVIE AND ITS NOT EVEN A COMEDY. THE CHICK IN THIS MOVIE IS NICE AS HELL. I MEAN SHE REALLY SHOWS SOME SERIOUS SKILL IN THIS MOVIE. CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON GOT ITS FOUNDATION FROM THIS FILM OBVIOUSLY. "THE GREEN SWORD" THAT CUTS THROUGH ANYTHING. THE END FIGHT SCENE IS SO SERIOUS. I LOVED IT. THE CAMERA MAN TRIED HIS BEST TO KEEP UP IN THIS LOW BUDGET AFFAIR SO I CANT KNOCK HIM TOO MUCH. I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS FILM FOR TWO DAYS AFTER I WATCHED IT. IT KINDA STAYS WITH U AND MAKES U THINK. THIS IS A FILM FOR TRUE OLD SCHOOL KUNG FU FANS. BEGINNERS STAY AWAY!!!!

1 comments about The 18 Bronzemen, Part 2.

1. This is definitely no way to prepare for another sequel! This film would have got five stars but for the fact that the ending was very poor.
   There were plots left undecided and business left unfinished.
   So many questions left unanswered!
   I'd still advise real martial arts fans to see the film simply hoping that there will indeed be a third part to conclude this saga.

5 comments about The Heroic Trio.

1. Forget Batman, this is the way a super-hero movie should be done. Incredible imagery (some shots will take your breath away) prevails in a film genre that traditionally should not look as good as this does. There is also a plot (underground demon lord stealing babies to find an heir) and Anita Mui sings, too... what more could want? A warning the film is gritty violent, and contains a scene with an infant that may disturbing to sensitive viewers.



2. That's all I needed to see to make this a classic movie. Some very good fight scenes, but you have to be pretty hard-core into these movies to really like this. Also some very weird fight scenes. The final fight I have never made it through to the end, not cause it was too sick, just because I did't like it. But I did like the whole movie up to that point. It is great to see Iron robe yim from OUATIC playing a REAL baddie.
   
   The dubbing is a different story, this would have easily get a 4/5 if I could get my hands on the original language version. Seriously, this movie is like 86 minutes long, that is just a horribly done dvd, they remaster the picture to perfection, but can't give any type of other feature on this, how freaking hard is it to pu the original language on these.



3. Some fairly good martial arts action does not excuse a nonsensical plot and frivolous acting.



4. There was nothing of note about this movie. I honestly don't see how anyone could watch this and feel satisfied that they saw a worthwhile fim. Avoid at all cost. I like the actressess involved, but the film was bad. very bad.



5. what more can be said. Low-brow stuff...gotta love Maggie Cheung as the little pyro "Happy New Year Everybody!" as she blows up the sewers.

5 comments about Tokyo Raiders.

1. starring Tony Leung, Ekin Cheng, Kelly Chan , Cecilia Cheung Toru Nakamura, Hiroshi Abe, Kumiko Endo, Maiju Ozawa, Minami Sirakawa, Yuko Moriyama, Pauline Yam and directed by Jingle Ma

   Tony Leung stars as Lam, the toughest private eye in Tokyo. Despite his small stature and broken Japanese, he owns the Tokyo streets with his suave charisma and fighting skills. He falls in with Macy (Kelly Chan), who arrives in Tokyo chasing her groom Takahashi. Follwing her is interior designer Yung (Ekin Cheng), who's after Takashi to settle a debt. Soon their paths cross and becomes a chaos.

   comedy is allright, action is over the top, and characters are silly to the max.Tony Leung showed off his skills by doing most of his stunt. Too bad i cant say the same about HoNam...Kelly Chan looked great as usual, and Cecilia Cheung was just cute.

   This movie is enjoyable, but if you are looking for Godfather quality, watch Blow, or The Goodfellas




2. I am a big fan of Ekin Cheng, and this was an excellent movie, with a well developed plot and memorable characters.

   Tony Leung stars as a Tokyo private investigator, trying to track down a gangland boss. Tagging along are Macy, (Kelly Chen) and John, (Ekin Cheng)a Kung Fu master, (who also happens to be an interior decorator, LOL).

   Together, the trio tries to solve the mystery of Macy's missing fiancée, but run into trouble from the CIA, rival gang lords and local police. A romance develops between Macy and John, and is exacerbated by distrust on both sides.

   There are several great fight scenes. My favorite involved Ekin Chen and the vacuum cleaner, and the fight upon the car transport truck! This had a lot of really original material, and just enough romance to also appeal to female fans.

   Great movie!! Where's the sequal?




3. Depart from the popular Jackie Chan fare and take a look into popular Hong Kong kung fu cinema. It's a silly tale of spies, lies, and lovers but not obnoxiously stupid as has been the trend for HK flicks of late. Kelly Chen is Macy whose Japanese boyfriend is a no-show at their Vegas wedding. She jets back to HK to find him but instead bumps heads with Yung, played by a perfectly coiffed Ekin Cheng, a smooth interior designer who has yet to be paid for fixing up their pad. The two knock out some baddies, who just happen to show up at the house, and they end up in Japan, whereupon Lam, Tony Leung's shady private detective, proceeds to get all up into their business. The rest of the plot is, how shall we say, confusing, and secondary; basically everyone's after Macy and the girl just wants to find her fiancée. Let's all admit that we're not really watching this movie for profound insight and agree that the narrative stays on track in it's own disjointed way, which means it doesn't always make sense. The important thing is that every character is hiding something so no one really knows what's going on.

   Despite big names and beautiful faces in this Lunar New Year production, the acting doesn't really stand out, except for Tony Leung Chiu-Wai's performance. He continues to demonstrate why he's one of the best actors, ever. Though he won't be grabbing anything at Cannes for this one, he ups the charm factor a few notches and plays the spy who I wished loved me. Since the key word here is "cool," the bland script matters less than sleek sets, suave spy fashion, and fluid fight sequences. All this movie asks of you is a handful of brain cells and the willingness to indulge in a nonsensical spy caper.




4. Making its stars look cool seems to be the main purpose of this film. The plot is pure contrived nonsense: the CIA is somehow trying to devalue the Japanese yen through counterfeiting and working with a Japanese mobster; somehow, as part of this scheme, a CIA agent is assigned to marry a Hong Kong banker's daughter (in Las Vegas!); instead, the agent elopes with the Japanese mobster's wife and has a car accident in which the moster's wife dies; the CIA agent is hospitalized and he misses the wedding with the banker's daughter; the banker's daughter goes to Japan to look for him; the mobster, the CIA, and the Japanese secrete service then all try to use the banker's daughter to find the CIA agent, while the banker hires a kung-fu expert disguised as an interior decorator to protect his daughter. All of this convoluted plot is explained through about one minute of fast dialog. I had to rewind and listen to the dialog twice to understand what was going on. The MTV-style editing during the fight sequences is effective in hiding the stars' lack of kung-fu skills. This movie could have been great if only it had a more comprehensible and better developed plot. The stars are pleasing to the eye and the action sequences are fun. Unfortunately, it degenerates into style without substance.



5. `Tokyo Raiders' is not a great film, but is certainly very entertaining. Three handsome and sexy stars are all attractive, and the location of the modern city of Tokyo (where most of the film was shot) is another asset for the film, which lacks originality in the storyline.
   
   The film starts with a bit comical fighting scene in Shinjuku, Tokyo, with Tony Leung and Japanese thugs in suits (one of them apparently ex-sumo wrestler) following him from behind. Leung's character Lin with affable smile fights back deftly using an umbrella and some 007-like gadgets in the well-choreographed sequences, shot in the street of Kabukicho, Shinjuku, one of the night life district in Tokyo. (Incidentally this place is very close to the hotel where Bill Murray's character stayed in `Lost in Translation.') The scenes are no Jackie Chan action, not intense as Jet Li, but still amusing in its own way.
   
   Then we meet beautiful Macy (Kelly Chen, `Infernal Affair') in Las Vegas. She is waiting for her bridegroom (who is Japanese) who would not show up at the church. Impatient and dismayed, Macy flies to Japan, with a handsome guy from Hong Kong named Yung (Ekin Cheng), who claims that he needs his money back from Macy's fiancé. In Tokyo, both of them soon get involved with a case of stolen secret information, CIA, yakuza, etc. Plenty of actions and a bit of romance ensue.
   
   Actually, though the story constantly attempts to surprise us with twists and turns, it is not the most important part of the film, which is made virtually for the three stars Leung, Chen, and Cheng. These three likable players from Hong Kong, all charming and delightful, perfectly fit the light-heated mood of the film, where people fight fiercely, but not get killed, and even the yakuza (Japanese gangsters) look like gentlemen compared with the fearful gangsters in `Kill Bill Vol. 1.'
   
   Among the actors from Japanese side, Toru Nakamura (`Purple Butterfly') would be the most famous, but his role is sadly a very small one. Equally small are the roles of cute Japanese idol turned actor Kumiko Endo and actor Hiroshi Abe with his trademark eccentric acting. That is simply disappointing for the Japanese viewers like me. Cecilia Cheung also appears briefly, and her role is not a big one either.
   
   But with these three attractive leads, maybe we should not complain. The film is generic in its story, but is greatly helped by the presence of these actors, plus its good (if not great) action sequences and fast-paced direction, `Tokyo Raiders' is an amusing film, forgettable but fairly good entertainment for rainy day afternoon.

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

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



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

5 comments about International Vale Tudo Championships "6 & 7: Ultimate Bare Knuckle Fighting" (Chuck Liddell).

1. This has Chuck in his Early days fighting against the legendary Pele. Great fight nice striking and big win for the iceman. Also on the dvd The Ax Murderer Wanderlei Silva shows his skills in dominating ufc veteran Mike van Arsdale. If you enjoy mma this is worth adding to your collection.



2. It made me laugh when I heard the jackass Bill O'Reilly complaining about how brutal the current state-regulated MMA is, calling these fights "showcases of brutality". I guess he never saw the old Vale Tudo videos or even the old UFC. There are only two rules in Vale Tudo, no biting and no eyegouging, everything else is legal, including elbows, soccer kicks, stomps, and knees to the head of a grounded opponent, groin strikes, you name it. And they don't stop a fight because of a cut either. And they go one full 30 minute round. Lots of good fights, my only complaint being that some of them were dragged out a little too long, especially the Chuck Liddell x Pele fight. The Wanderlei x Van Arsdale fight was a relatively quick beatdown. Buy this DVD if you're a fan of old school no holds bar fighting, with MMA everywhere becoming a legitimized sport with rules and regulations, you might never be able to see stuff like this ever again.



3. Never knew Chuck competed in VTC in 1998. VTC, (Vale Tudo Championship) in Brazil. Bare knuckle & brutal. (They only pause the fight to wipe the blood off so the fighters can continue)! Pure guts. I bet that's when Chuck wanted a piece of Wanderlie way back then. I gave this 4 stars because it's enduring, but interesting. I would recommend this DVD to true MMA fans as part of a collector's item.



4. It is nothing short of being viscious, to review a DVD and give out the results of the fights. Who wants to buy an MMA event when they know who the winners are?
   
   Liddell vs Pele was Awesome - that was in IVC 6. However, that was not a tournament - unlike all the other IVC's and it was only 3 fights so I was dissappointed overall.
   IVC 7 was a tournament, and although it did not reach the same intensity as earlier events, I would still recommend it.



5. First of all, it's not as violent as you might think. Headbutting is the main difference from what you are used to seeing in the US. No KOs or injuries occur with headbutts in this DVD. Just some cuts but no worse then cuts due to elbows in the UFC.
   
   Second, The superfights are very good. Big names in their earlier days. Chuck has a great war with Pele!
   
   Third, the only reason I don't give this a high rating is that many of the regular fights are average at best. The production values are low (think KOTC) and WARNING: there is no English, the DVD is all in Potugese (no big deal, I don't care what the commentators day).

5 comments about Ultimate Fighting Championship Vol. 12.

1. The last UFC(Ultimate Ultimate 2) saw a scattering of injuries, this UFC we would see 2 tournaments, (a heavyweight and an under 200 lb. tournament) and of course the long awaited return of Dan Severn vs. Mark Coleman.

   The heavyweight tournament saw the return of "The Rotund One", Scott Ferrozzo and the debut of BJJ sensation Vitor Belfort. Belfort only 19 yrs. old would impress all in this action-packed tourney.

   The lightweight tourney(now known as middleweight) saw the return of Lions Den fighter Jerry Bohlander, along with the debut of BJJ fighter Wallid Ismail, and Japanese fighter Yoshiki Takahashi. Takahashi and Ismail would battle in a crazy match that saw a lot strange things. Bohlander would be his same solid self and prove his skills.

   As far as the Super Fight, Dan Severn would battle Mark Coleman for the gold. Dan Severn was without one defense since winning the Superfight in UFC IX. While Mark Coleman was "given" a shot at the title via Don Frye's injury. This would be a rare chance to see a wrestler vs. wrestler fight. Many questions had to be answered,(who would strike first?, who would shoot in first?, who would wind up taking guard?) and this fight would show all this.

   A good show with great fights and great fighters.




2. The first two tournament format in the UFC reaffirmed my belief that weight classes aren't needed. There was a five-pound weight difference between the winners of the middleweight and heavyweight tournaments. Both tournaments were action-packed, with commentators Ken Shamrock and Tank Abbott. Tank is a riot. He should replace the normal commentators. The first heavyweight champion is crowned in a Dan Severn-Mark Coleman battle. Listen to what Severn says when Bigjohn asks him if he has any questions. Severn's really too old for this kind of thing. Of course, that was in '97, and he's still fighting. He's like some kind of...non-stopping...wrestling guy...



3. i expected dan severn ultimate ultimate champion to actually put on a great show against the hammer, but he just tensed out. it would have been a great match if the beast was to be unleashed. dan severn has great wrestling background, so that is really a let down. mark coleman showed in the final that he had the superior strength to defeat severn. ufc 12 is o'right



4. UFC 12 was on February 7, 1997 from Dothan, Alabama. This is the first UFC with weight classes. And with guest commentating from Ken Shamrock in the lightweight tournament, Tank Abbott in the heavyweight tournament and Don "The Predator" Frye in the main event.

   In the lightweight tournament is Lion's Den fighter, UFC 8 and 11 veteran and Super Brawl 1 Middleweight tournament champion Jerry Bohlander, Pancrase veteran Yoshiki Takahashi, Universal Vale Tudo Fighting veteran Wallid Ismael, and rookie fighter Rainy Martinez. This was a good tournament but I didn't care for it.

   In the heavyweight tournament is Lion's Den fighter and Super Brawl 1 heavyweight tournament champion Tra Tellingman, Super Brawl 2 veteran and Carlson Gracie Jr. student Vitor Belfort, UFC 8 and 11 veteran Scott Ferrozo and kickboxer Jim Mullen. This tournament was good too, but finals were great.

   The main event is between UFC 5 Champion, UFC Ultimate Ultimate 1995 champion and UFC 9 "Super" fight winner Dan "The Beast" Severn and UFC 10 and 11 champion Mark "The Hammer" Coleman. This fight was to crown the first UFC Heavyweight champion. This was good but not great.

   Overall good tape.




5. February 7, 1997
   Dothan Civic Center
   Dothan, Alabama
   
   UFC Judgement Day.
   
   Jerry Bohlander vs. Rainy Martinez:
   This one ends quickly. It appears that one of these fighters has no business in the UFC and the other has what could be a bright future.
   
   Wallid Ismail vs. Yoshiki Takahashi:
   This fight evolves into a standing battle briefly, then turns into a standing struggle for position. Ismail's protective cup somehow gets ripped out of his pants, which I'd never seen happen in a fight before, nor have I seen it since. The fight grows less and less interesting - and it eventually goes to a decision.
   
   Scott Ferrozzo vs. Jim Mullen:
   Ferrozzo is a mess and he bothers me, haha... Tank Abbott, who amazingly lost to Ferrozzo, sits in on commentary for this fight. Ferrozzo looks more than ridiculous in his WWF wrestler-like tights with his huge gut hanging down over them. Ferrozzo predictably bulldozes Mullen into the fence and basically lies on him until the fight ends with a TKO. Granted, Ferrozzo uses his weight effectively - he's just amusing as a comical figure, not a fighter.
   
   Tra Telligman vs. Vitor Belfort:
   Belfort, the young phenom, simply overwhelms Lion's Den fighter, Tra Telligman... Very entertaining fight. Belfort has amazing hand speed and strength.
   
   Takahashi had broken his hand in his first fight of the event and us unable to continue. Alternate Nick Sanzo steps in to face Jerry Bohlander in the finals of the tournament. This is another joke of a fight for Bohlander. It ends quickly.
   
   Scott Ferrozzo vs. Vitor Belfort:
   This one lasts 52 seconds. The fat man in tights gets absolutely lit up by Belfort... He lunges for Belfort after the fight has been stopped, attempting to lift Belfort and slam his. It is broken up and the octagon is filled with Belfort's team who carry him around in celebration. Ferrozzo didn't belong in there with the likes of Vitor Belfort. Not at all.
   
   Mark "The Hammer" Coleman vs. Dan "The Beast" Severn:
   This was to be an exciting fight. Severn, already 38 years old at this point, takes on the new bad boy on the block, Mark Coleman. Two of the finest grapplers the UFC has ever seen will go at it. The fight, however, is something of a letdown. It doesn't last all that long and it doesn't end all that spectacularly.
   
   Not a bad night for the UFC, but certainly not too notable an event. I recommend at least seeing it, but it is not exactly "required viewing" for MMA and UFC fans.

5 comments about Kill and Kill Again.

1. I remembered this movie from daytime HBO in the early 80s. I was on a forum and we were discussing favorite martial arts movies, and I suddenly remembered this "classic". A poor man's(dirt poor, bordering on destitute) version of Enter the Dragon, it has average martial arts until the very end, when there are a couple of good scenes in the final arena battles. When I saw that it was on DVD, I immediately ordered it. The movie was just like I remembered it, and it is worth the $10. However, the print of the film is very poor, with certain parts very grainy or dark. The character of "Gorilla" played by Ken Grampu has no distinguishable facial characteristics at times. There isn't even a menu on the disc - both the quality of the disc and the quality of the print make it like you are watching a 20 year-old VHS tape. Plus, there's a picture on the back of the DVD case with two women (one of them with her shirt open and black censor circles over her nipples) that isn't even in the movie. By all means get it if you remember this campy classic and your VHS has worn out. My one star rating on this is for the DVD itself, not the movie.



2. This is one of the best cheesy movies of all time. James Ryan plays world Karate champion Steve Chase and he has to rescue a scientist. The scientist's daughter comes along and Steve gathers all his crazy friends for the mission. That is really all that needs to be said about the story. The great thing about this movie is the extreme corniness. The villain's voice is beyond classic, the dialogue should have won an Oscar, there are really too many good things to say about this, you just have to see it. The action is not great, but not bad. Some of the karate moves are very good and the tournament scene is AWESOME. The stunt double for James Ryan also enhances the action. 4/5 The DVD from Liberty International Entertainment is sadly full screen and the picture quality is not bad, but too dark in some scenes.



3. All the previous reviews hit the nail on the head when talking about the campiness of this flick. It rolls up Enter The Dragon, Magnificent Seven and {Insert any Steven Seagal movie here} for the cheesy plot of a kidnapped professor who has created an alternative fuel source from taters {which is also a powerful mind control drug} and must be saved by a band of kung-fu good guys.
   
   I wanted to second the notion that the DVD version of this film is as good as the VHS version. There are literally no special features and no care taken to create this DVD. The producers of this DVD version did NOT digitally remaster this film; it was simply transferred into a digital video format.
   
   If you really want to see this film, pick up the VHS copy for $5 - $10 and do not get rooked into paying $30 - $40 for the DVD. This flick is worth the view, but since the quality is the same on either format, save your money and go old school.
   
   {Quick note: I found my copy in a Value City bargain DVD bin for a $1.99 a couple years back. I suggest checking those cheap-o bins; sometimes you can find nuggets of DVD joy in the unlikeliest of places. Just don't expect the version you find to be Criterion quality.}



4. James Ryan, a blatant Bruce Lee wannabe, stars in one of the best "so bad it's good" martial arts flicks of all time. I remember this thing being on late-night cable in the early 1980s constantly, and I'm here to tell you it's just as hammy and over-the-top as you remember it. Ryan and a bunch of middle-age posers (who seem to think they actually ARE martial artists) race to save the world from an evil madman bent on enslaving the planet with his mind-control serum. Of particular interest is the scene where Ryan stops a fired bullet from killing someone by jumping through the air and intercepting the bullet with a handheld 3" x 3" steel plate. Oh yes, it's THAT ridiculous!



5. Kill and Kill Again (Ivan Hall, 1981)
   
   There are some bad movies I love, and I can't justify my love of them in any way save pure nostalgia. Kill and Kill Again, a movie I was obsessed with throughout my teen years, is one of them. It is, I believe, the first martial arts movie I ever saw; while I have seen many since, some worse, most better, this one holds a spot in my heart that nothing will ever replace.
   
   Steve Chase (James Ryan) is a martial arts superstar who is called upon by the beautiful, deadly Kandy Kane (Anneline Kriel) to save her father from the clutches of the evil Marduk (Michael Mayer), who is planning on releasing a mind-control drug (developed by Kane's father) into the American water supply. Of course, Marduk has leaked all this in order to attract Chase, so he can pit Chase up against his own pet martial arts champion, Optumis (Eddie Dorie). Chase gets together a team of fighters, and off they go to save the world.
   
   It's astoundingly bad, even more so than I remembered. The script is derivative, the acting wooden, the plot convoluted and manipulative. And yet it's a stupidly fun movie to watch, one I could (and have, at many points in my life) see again and again without it ever getting old. Though I grant you, if you didn't first see it when you were young and impressionable, I doubt it will hold the same magic for you. **

2 comments about Dragon Fire.

1. Daniel Travanti stars as an ex-green beret trying to make sense of his forgotten flashbacks,making others fell uncomfortable as he becomes a target.It's a good spy flick!!



2. The Memory Hole has a claim upon this feature made for cable television, and more's the pity since it is all that one might reasonably ask from a tale of covert deception between governments, a well-cast production that pleases on most levels, notably due to its competent direction, cinematography and scoring. Daniel J. Travanti plays John Tagget, owner of a large electronics manufacturing firm, who is disabled due to injuries incurred as a tortured prisoner of the North Vietnamese, and suffering from cryptic flashbacks of his P.O.W. experiences that, in combination with what may be attempts by his erstwhile intelligence community peers to murder him, create a situation that Tagget naturally tries to probe, whereupon more complications ensue, some quite deadly. Though Tagget's disability may be psychosomatic, the film's content is uncommon in that its principal character is in fact disabled, and many of his employees (assemblers, etc.) are wheelchair-bound, but this is only one fresh aspect of this work that, with a limited budget, offers generally clever plotting and neatly crafted filmmaking. Even when the continuity is plagued by problems with logic, there are attempts at explanation, whilst the creative lighting and camera skills of cinematographer Billy Dickson, a concinnate score from Michel Colombier, and the taut direction of Richard T. Heffron all intensify the proceedings that also benefit from nifty acting turns by Travanti, William Sadler as a crafty Russian operative, Leon Russom, elegant Guy Doleman, Peter Michael Goetz and Sarah Douglas; a discriminative cineaste will not rue having viewed this motion picture, titled DRAGONFIRE upon its initial release.