5 comments about Denise Austin: Blast Away 10 Lbs..

1. I have been using this video for years! I had the VHS of it and recently bought the DVD version because my VHS is dying from using it so much. At first look, I was very unimpressed with the video as the group behind Denise is not together and Denise herself jumps around quickly without cues. However, once you start doing the routines and becoming familiar with them you will realize what great routines they are. They are incredibly challenging, especially the first one and I get amazing results with both routines, but especially the first routine. Many find Denise too peppy, but when I feel like i'm about to pass out, her cheerfulness helps keep me going. If I do these routines and combine them with her yoga and her get fit fast dvd and a healthy diet, I find I can easily drop 10 pounds in about a month.
   
   I love this tape! The exercises are incredibly effective.



2. I first bought this DVD after I gave birth. I turned it on and barely made it 5 min! But once I continued doing it I finally caught on, it took about a week. Soon I felt my endurance building up and I could make it longer and longer without stopping. If you engage all you muscles while doing it you will see major results. I did lose the 10 pounds...then 10 more. This was all with the DVD and a healthy eating plan. I suggest this to everyone!



3. I bought this for my cardio...and I could not keep up. I was confused on the foot work (and I am a very coordinated person). I put it in once tried it and decided the treadmill was what I would rather do that try to figure out these step kick punch side punch kick slide back back front kick punch..well you get the hint.
   
   I think it was a waste of money. She is not very good at instructing at this pace.



4. EXCELLENT !! A really tough workout. If you are ready to do some serious workouts this is the one !!!



5. About 3 years ago, I was trying to lose weight. I worked out about 3-4 times a week to the Blast Away excerise program (just the 20 minutes aerobics part) and I lost about 23 pounds over a period of 4 months. Doing the exercise alone will not cause you to lose the weight. I also followed a very strict calorie restriction diet. Well, I have gained back some of that weight so it is time for me to work out to Blast Away again. BTW, this is very good exercise for doing at home.

5 comments about Kill Zone.

1. I really did like "Flash Point" more than this movie. The story just seemed really dull and I couldn't really feel for the characters (I tried hard!). The action was decent but also not engaging enough for my taste, especially with the long periods of time between it.
   
   
   Also, that one reviewer is right. That fat guy does move rather fast for his size.
   
   
   Don't believe the hype.



2. This is the worst excuse for a martial arts movie ever! Donnie and Sammo really let you down on this one. the plot sucks, the dialogue sucks, and there is very little action until about the last 20 minutes of the movie. I feel dumber for having fallen for the reviews written by the other people on amazon!



3. It sounded like a great idea at the time: A few good lookin' police officers, one ugly and mean mob boss, lots of fight scenes and great visuals. FUN!!!!! Let's go make this movie!
   
   ....not. There's one thing they're forgetting: A good storyline. A few minutes in, I was thinking "OK, did they accidentally place this under the Action genre instead of the Drama section?" But 10 minutes later: Time to switch to Action mode. A few cops in Hong Kong, one with a Tumor and is about to retire, raiding a drug house. Ooh, this is exciting!!!!!
   
   Killzone is a thriller from the director of Flashpoint, which is a Martial Arts action flick that certainly had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I knew this would have a little more meat in the bun for me since I liked Flashpoint a lot. And this movie did have SOME meat in the bun- a dark, complex action thriller that has good fight scenes and good blood and gore. But on the other hand, this movie just bores me to tears.
   
   Had it not have been for the fight scenes, this would have been a one star review. It is too slow to be an action movie in general, too depressing to be a cop drama, and too over-the-top to be a drama in general. But if you look at it from an extremist's point of view, this might grow on you when watching it. I know I didn't enjoy watching a single minute of it (despite good intentions and good action).



4. Ok, I hope that anyone reading this gives me a chance to explain my rating. I know how big Kill Zone is and my friends don't hesitate to tell me either. I can understand because anything with the amazing Sammo Hung and Donnie Yen is a must see. So Kill Zone is no doubt incredible but trust me when I say how much I cannot overlook its huge flaw.
   
   Basically Kill Zone is very simple, Sammo Hung (Wong Po) is a triad boss who cant seem to be detained. Yen (Ma Kwun) among others is a hard working detective trying to put Wong Po behind bars but it seems that Wong Po runs everything, even some cops. Wong Po is very slick and finds his way out every time he gets captured. Yen seems to be the only detective that is capable of finding him and taking him down but his partners are getting cut down quickly. When Kwun has a huge dispute with his superiors over how the case is being handled, he quits and this is where the real action begins. The question now is if Kwun can take out a vicious force of triads by himself and survive to tell about it.
   
   SPL had amazing fight scenes, choreography, stunts, and camera work. Especially the angles, great slow motion takes and replays on breath taking stunts. The problem was not the story for me but the overall pacing was awful. The film was very slow and the fight scenes were badly placed. If the action was managed better by maybe putting some more in the middle and some in the beginning, the film would have been the classic it could have been. You literally ask yourself if you have the right movie because the opening scene feels like it takes 25 to 30 minutes with boring talk and no action.
   
   What I loved about SPL was the realness and grit of the fight scenes in there. Yen did an amazing job choreographing the scenes in there and he showed amazing athleticism and range with his stunts. For me the acting was not a problem, the story was not a problem, but overall SPL gets 3 stars for great action scenes but bad pacing and placing of the scenes. It's a good film worth watching for the battle between Yen and Hung. Also the fight between Yen and that crazy guy with the white jacket was sick. I hope people understand my rating cause I like the scenes but hated the flaws I pointed out.



5. It's one of the best martial-art movies ever. The actions are riveting, intense, fast and brutal. It's definitely one of the best movies of Donnie Yen. Others are Flash Point and Iron Monkey.
   
   I own it. I've watched it three times.

5 comments about Flash Point.

1. i thought it was.
   
   Flash Point addresses the mistake made in SPL (overly melodramatic in several scenes, usually the ones wherein Simon Yam is forced to mask his acting skills by standing with a tense upper body. C'mon, Simon Yam is a better actor than this! They should have gave him something better to work with) and instead presents a well-rounded script with better editing.
   
   the fight scenes were good beyond belief, and many reviewers already have that well-covered.
   
   if you don't think Simon Yam has range, watch him in 2001's Full Time Killer, then compare that to 2006's Exiled.



2. It's Dragon Dynasty, so the quality of picture and sound and extras are all top notch. Simple as that.
   
   This is not a movie that wants you to watch it because it has an incredible story or deep and fascinating characters or incredible plot twists. No, this is a movie that wants you to watch it because it wants you to be entertained by the awesomeness of its action sequences.
   
   It's true, the movie does lack action in the front-half. But, the story is good enough that it's not painful to sit through. It certainly isn't boring. Straightforward, sure. And the characters aren't unique. But it's not bad at all.
   
   The bottom line is that when the action comes, it comes with a vengeance. Donnie Yen has flirted with incorporating the MMA/UFC-style into his movies. And in this one, he brings it strong, alongside his always-flawless Kung Fu skills. The bad guy in this movie is the guy who played Seraph, the guardian of the Oracle in the 2nd and 3rd Matrix films, the only guy with some real Kung Fu talent. So when he and Donnie get it on, it's as good as you've ever seen it. The gunfights are great, the fist fights are even better.
   
   If you're looking for a top-notch martial arts film or you're trying to find one of those "HK action movies" that you've heard so much about, this is definitely one of the ones to see. No two ways about it.



3. Flash Point does two things well. It sets up the villains as not only bad guys, but sadistic, nasty, brutish bad guys for whom you have absolutely no sympathy and every desire to see hurt or maimed. The other is deliver some incredible fight scenes, particularly the finale between Donnie Yen and Collin Chou. In fact Flash Point recently won a Hong Kong film industry award for best action choreography.
   
   The story is typical of the genre, about a Hong Kong cop who goes to extremes in apprehending the bad guys. He is given cause and official leave to go after a group of Vietnamese drug smugglers after they blow-up a friend's dinner party, then kill all the witnesses scheduled to testify in proceedings against one of their members. The characters are rather bland and the middle section of the film, including a romance, is entirely forgettable.
   
   I don't claim to be an expert in the genre, just a casual fan who started watching martial arts movies back in the days when they were packaged as something like "Kung Fu Theater," inexpensive foreign films on low-budget terrestrial stations broadcasting over UHF. I've been around and seen a few. And Flash Point is one of the best of recent memory, including Yen's other recent project, Kill Zone.
   
   Hiyaa!
   
   #



4. This is a great movie. I like how donnie put in some of that MMA into the movie. Fight at the end is bonkers.



5. It contains one of the best martial-art fighting scenes of all times. It's also one of the best movies of Donnie Yen. It reminds me of Jackie Chan's movies. They also contain very good kung fu scenes but they are not as serious as this movie.
   
   The plot contains some big logical holes but who cares? I watch this kind of movies for actions and fun not for logic.
   
   I own it. Other excellent films of Donnie Yen are Kill Zone and Iron Monkey. Iron Monkey is a period/fantasy movie but the actions are top notch.

5 comments about The Infernal Affairs Trilogy (Infernal Affairs 1 / Infernal Affairs 2 / Infernal Affairs 3) (Special Collector's Edition Box Set).

1. "The Infernal Affairs" is a very interesting movie. I like it better than "The Departed." Got the whole set within 2 days after purchase. Thanks Amazon for the great service!!



2. Although Infernal Affairs 3 is so boring, getting all is the best choice.



3. I am a huge fan of foreign movies and as of late been renting several Asian movies. The Infernal Affairs Trilogy is my favorite! Way before the hoopla of "The Departed", this movie has stood out amongst alot of Asian viewers as a 5 star! Andy Lau, star, director and writer leads a team of undercover and dirty cop characters twisting and turning in the police force. Who is good and who is bad, that's what keeps you hanging in your seat till the very end.
   
   Anyone who likes cop thrillers, and a cast of characters that keep you guessing should pick up this trilogy. Highly entertaining!



4. The IA trilogy is easily one of the best movies of it's genre (crime-thrillers, Triad films). Although the screenplay is slow early-on, the end-game is what makes this series an instant classic. I would write more, but this is the most important point; It's a great movie. Better, I would argue, than The Departed (overall, in the sense that there is significantly more plot development in IA, rather than scene-to-scene action). Both are great in their own right.
   
   Waste no more time. Get these movies.



5. I love the series. But the spoken languages are English and Cantonese, no Thai as it is advertised on Amazon! Anyway, still great series.

5 comments about Lethal Weapon 4.

1. I got this for my Man Boss for his birthday. He likes all of the Leathal Weapons & so do I. I have watched them serveral times myself over the years.



2. Another tale in the saga of the leathal weapon series, As with the others I found this to be entertaining. Joe Pepsci does an awesome job though his heart breaking story about froggie does go a bit too far. But keeping things in thier correct perspectives this movie is quite enjoyable. Plenty of action and suspense with just the right amount of romance.



3. out of all four movies in the series,this is probably the loudest and
   most chaotic,but that doesn't mean it was a bad movie.i think the
   storyline was a bit thin and not really all that original,but just like
   in part three,the action,and the chemistry of the stars makes up for
   that.and this movie also has more laughs than the previous
   installments,many courtesy of both Joe Pesci and Chris Rock.Rene Russo
   is back,along with Mel and Danny.Jet Li joins the proceedings in this
   one,and brings some spectacular fight scenes courtesy of his martial
   arts skill.i don't know if this is the best of the series,but i thought
   it was as good as number three,which i really liked.for me,Lethal
   Weapon 4 is a 3.5/5



4. Having worked and lived in five countries and seen about 4000 movies (at least) in three languages, I can confirm that this shows what America is still made of when you want to see amazing action, point.
   Not many countries makes that kind of adrenaline positive rush action movies...Lethal weapons movies are A for ace!



5. I really enjoyed the first 3 Lethal Weapon movies, but this one is a snoozer. Chris Rock is funny as a comedian, but as an actor he's in need of some serious help. The whole movie was so overblown that it's just ridiculous!
   
   Don't waste your money. If you really must see it borrow it. It's not even worth the time to watch really, much less the cost to rent. Even Mel Gibson can't save this one from the trash heap.

5 comments about Kung Fu Hustle (Widescreen Edition).

1. I wasn't sure what to expect when I popped this into the DVD player.
   I loved Crouching Tiger and Hero, but a Martial Arts comedy???
   My expectations were NOT high.
   
   Surprise, surprise..........it's one of the best Martial Arts movies I've ever seen.
   As for being a comedy, it's a very dark comedy which is right up my alley.
   Well, pretty dark. Some of it isn't quite as dark, the looney tunes scenes with the lady with the rollers in her hair are fall off the couch funny.
   The acting is great from everybody, there really isn't one performance that stands out, but considering it's a comedy........everyone does fine.
   
   The FX are out of this world good, some of the best high wire combat moves I've ever seen.
   Easily right up there with Crouching Tiger, and Hero.
   Kung Fu Hustle has one thing so many movies are lacking.....atmosphere!!!
   The part where the two guys (assassins) with the lap guitar (don't ask me what the instrument's name is, I don't know) is probably one of my favorite scenes in the movie, total atmosphere.
   
   The music does exactly what it's supposed to do.
   It adds to the movie when it calls for it, it never detracts from the movie.
   
   Out of all the Martial Arts flick that have come to the U.S. recently I would have to say Kung Fu Hustle is easily one of my favorites.
   It has the best high wire stunts from Crouching Tiger and Hero but it takes that formula and turns it into a somewhat dark comedy.
   
   Brilliant!!!
   Simply brilliant!!!
   Do yourself a favor and check this one out.
   Highly recommended!!!



2. If you like Jackie Chan flicks, comedies, action films or just something to watch 'cause you're bored, I would suggest that you get this movie. It's funny, filled with kung fu style antics and it's even got a love story tucked away in the background for you sappy types. I would also suggest watching it in the original Chinese and subtitles, since a couple jokes didn't transfer over when they did the English dubbing.



3. What a great film,this was one of the suprise imports in the movie theaters,very funny stuff indeed,a very funny kung fu flick with a great story line too,The evil cigarette smoking landlady is very funny and memorable,as well as all the other great elements of this ultra cool film!!! I've had it twice on DVD (the original Widescreen and Axe Kicking Edition),but this Blu Ray Disc takes it even a step further witn great visuals,sound,and pretty much the same extras that were on the original Widescreen DVD release!!! A very recommdended Blu-Ray release!!! Two thumbs up!!! A+



4. I've heard a number of glowing reviews of this movie. I'm in a martial arts movie phase right now. In my opinion, this movie is just "not good." It had a few rather funny moments (few being the operative word). Other than that it was pretty much just an unredeemed bloodbath and not especially funny.
   
   I really didn't care much for this one, sadly. I'll stick with some of the better actual martial arts movies and keep an eye open for a GOOD martial arts spoof. The White Dragon just didn't do it for me either. I'm hoping that Kung Pow - Enter The Fist, Kung Phooey! or Where Is Mama's Boy will be better send-ups of the genre.
   
   Again, Kung Fu Hustle was pretty much an abominable, bloody mess of a movie (both literally and figuratively), in my opinion (having recently watched MUCH better fare like Hero, Fearless, Curse of the Golden Flower, Legend of the Black Scorpion, Tai Chi Master, The Warrior, The Forbidden Kingdom, The Myth, etc).



5. This movie is fantastic. I could watch it once a week... maybe even more. The visuals, the story line (if you're a kung-fu enthusiast) the characters... everything is so fun.

5 comments about Come Drink with Me.

1. If you are familiar with Shaw Brothers, then you know that this is not your first choice of their films. First, to it's credit (or more specifically to the credit of Dragon Dynasty) the film is restored really well and has a great picture.
   
   What I don't like is that nearly every fight scene, of which there are many, are implied martial arts. It is edited in such a way that you really don't see a whole lot of action. What you do see is simple, and disapointing. The story is decent for a kung-fu film, but compared to other Shaw Brothers classics, especially their earlier releases, this leaves much to be desired.
   
   If you are looking for some great martial arts, this is probably not a good choice.



2. This is a good strong Chinese martial arts revenge movie. I was surprised to see a VERY young actress that plays one of lead roles in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon! See if you can spot her.



3. A gang of bandits ambush a small convey in an attempt to rescue their leader. They kidnap the son of an official to force a trade. In retaliation a highly skilled agent is sent to rescue him and force the group to surrender.
   
   I'll start by pointing out the incredible job DD did on this DVD transfer. The picture is very clear and sharp. There isn't the slightest bit of grain and the sound is just as good. I had to watch this film with the volume at full blast. Simply because the music score is so well done.
   
   Now for the film itself. Unlike many fu flicks that rely solely on the action to give you a rush. Come Drink With Me moves at a pretty good pace and the characters push the story. Now the action scenes are given in good doses but I didn't really think they were that special. I found alot of them to be too slow and I don't feel the characters lived up to their over deadly reputations. If it wasn't for the very solid acting and a cruel villian, I wouldn't have cared too much for it. Anyone who comes into this film for quick paced over the top action and leave disappointed. Have a legit complaint in my view.
   
   Still, I enjoyed the film from start to finish. Chang Pei-pei was incredibly beautiful in her young days. And if you dig asian chicks then you owe it to yourself to see this beauty in action. The extras are pretty good too with some trailers and a couple of interviews. I found them to be pretty enjoyable with some good info. Those searching for gory, very quick paced action should be careful with this. It just might not be for you.



4. Back in the early 80's a local TV station here in the Detroit area used to have something called Kung-Fu Theater every Saturday night. These were very cheaply made films with little plot and even less character development but it didn't matter...These were Kung-Fu films and young male viewers ate them up. It seemed they all had a Bruce Lee clone as the star and they even used variations of the late actor's name such as Bruce Lei or Bruce Le. It was all good stuff!
   
   Come Drink with Me is an early martial arts classic from 1966, written and directed by legendary martial arts filmmaker, King Hu. It's choreography and wire stunts would influence such modern films as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Kill Bill. In fact, its lead actress, Cheng Pei Pei, would play an important role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon over thirty years later.
   
   A bandit clan has kidnapped the son of a governor and is holding him as ransom for the return of their leader who is imprisoned. Instead, the Governor sends his daughter, the expert swordswoman named Golden Swallow to rescue her brother. The bandit second-in-command, Jade Faced Tiger, sends a group of his men to try and kill Golden Swallow at a nearby Inn. This sets up the first major fight of the film as Golden Swallow shows off her skills, easily defeating the bandits. Quentin Tarantino was heavily influenced by this scene for the restaurant fight in Kill Bill Part 1. Golden Swallow was the prototype for Uma Thurmond's character.
   
   When she tries to rescue her brother from the temple the bandits have taken over, she finds herself vastly outnumbered but gets aid from the near-mythical master martial artist known as Drunken Cat. Pulling the strings behind the bandits is Drunken Cat's rival the evil Abbot Liao Kung who murdered Cat's master years earlier.
   
   Come Drink With Me is a remarkable film on several levels. Neither of the main two stars were proficient in the martial arts before making the film. Their abilities came from a combination of training during the film, brilliant choreography, and clever film tricks. The film techniques look a bit dated over forty years later but you can certainly see why this film was such a hit in Hong Kong and considered one of the best martial arts films ever made.
   
   Cheng Pei Pei is dynamic as Golden Swallow and the fact that a female was cast as the heroic lead in a film from the 1960s is truly amazing. She is beautiful, tough, and yet still sensitive in her portrayal, reluctantly taking aid from Drunken Cat. Yueh Hua was equally adept as master Drunken Cat, providing comic relief initially appearing as a drunken fool but aiding Swallow so skillfully that it went without notice.
   
   The widescreen DVD release is a gorgeous transfer and you'd never guess the film was over forty years old. The rumor is that Quentin Tarrantino is planning on doing a remake of the film.
   
   
   Extras
   
   Genius Products has provided fans with several outstanding extras for the DVD release. There is an audio commentary with Cheng Pei Pei and Hong Kong film expert Bey Logan. Other features include:
   
   "The King and I" Acclaimed filmmaker Tsui Hark remembers the late King Hu
   
   "Come Speak With Me" an interview with Cheng Pei Pei (15:00) who still looks fabulous over forty years later.
   
   "A Classic Remembered" Bey Logan provides a retrospective on the film and its tremendous influence on modern directors (17:24)
   
   "Return of the Drunken Master" An exclusive interview with the lead actor, Yueh Hua, who played Drunken Cat (18:00)



5. "Pei Pei is wonderful in her role as Golden Swallow and Yueh Hua as the drunken beggar/martial arts master incognito is fantastic here. This film boasts the inspiration for what was to become martial arts cinema as we know it. Shaw Brothers productions make an all out attempt at realism. The villians are cruel, and very brutal, especially the White Faced Killer. The dialogue is extremely well thought out and the english dubbed translations may be a little better than the mandarin translations to english subtitles. Another interseting feature to the disc are the interviews. Yueh Hua actually confess' in his interview, to having been actually drunk during the scene where he's drinking while under guard by the villians, interestingly the director informed Yueh that's one of his best scenes in the film. The sets are simply fantastic examples of rustic 18th century china. The scene where Yueh Hua is tending to Pei Pei's wounds at his humble abode (any beggar would be truly fortunate to have a waterfall in their back yard), and is accosted there by the villians who wish to remove Pei Pei by force, is very well done and the set is beautiful. This is where Yueh Hua reveals his true identity, and his disguise of being a drunken beggar to all involved in the stories plot, though Pei Pei is wise to this very early on. The final fight is a bit of an anti-climax but not enough to cause the veiwer to be disappointed. A must have for any who truly appreciate classic Shaws Bros. martial arts films. The picure quality of this DVD is absolutely beautiful."

5 comments about Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie.

1. I love street fighter this movie continues the series and offers fans the fight they waited for Ryu vs Ken and I loved watching it. The fast pace kept the action smooth and the plot was just what a street fighter movies needed. Its a noteworthy buy and great add to Street Fighter IV fans since this a movie bases sequal to the series.



2. Excellent DVD, interesting storyline, and great animation. Received in perfect condition, and quick and easy transaction.



3. The product that I recieve came to me a short time. The product was well package and there were no issues with the dvds. Thank you for the dvds and deliver of the dvds as well. Merry Christmas.



4. First the positive: I have to give this DVD some props, as it is the first time giving fans both the original Japanese audio version, as well as a widescreen presentation.
   The negative: Unfortunately, the transfer is quite horrible, probably the worst I have in my collection. VHS quality at best, plus it doesn't help that the transfer is only letterboxed in 4x3, which means HDTV owners (like myself) have to zoom the image in, magnifying the bad quality elements.
   Another note on the letterboxing: it's not quite 1.85:1. I've compared it to a couple other of my non-anamorphic dvds and noticed that too much picture is zoomed out on the top and bottom of the image, which leads me to my final complaint.
   This is a double-sided DVD, with the English on one side and Japanese on the other. The English transfer is worse than the Japanese transfer, and furthermore, the English transfer is not centered on the screen. The bottom black bar is much larger than the top bar. Now I don't know much about DVD authoring, but why couldn't they just put both audio tracks on the Japanese transfer?
   Anyway, as much as I have slammed this DVD, I would still recommend it to fans. This isn't a very high profile movie, and I don't really expect a better release in the future, so this is probably the best we're going to get. I was disappointed, though.



5. Street Fighter 2- The Animated Movie
   If you have ever seen the first Street Fighter movie, you are probably terrified of even checking this one out. I don't blame you. The original movie was not animated and was horribly made. This movie however is something I like to call "Americanized Anime." The movie has an anime look to it, but the subject matter has all been made for typical Americans of the 90s. These movies contain tons of action, fast cars, rock music, cheesy lines, and little story. Does this make for a good movie? Nope.
   
   Street Fighter 2's story is that Shadowlaw, a terrorist group ran by M. Bison, is trying to track down the amazing street fighter named Ryu. Ryu is near untraceable though do to his sporadic movements throughout southern Asia. M. Bison uses mind control to run Shadowlaw; he feels that he can control Ryu and have a very powerful ally. Unable to track Ryu down, Bison begins to trace Ryu's training partner, Ken Masters. All the while the government is trying to track down Shadowlaw and stop them. Chung-Li and Guile are your main characters on the government's side of the story.
   
   If you've played the video game, you know all of the characters I've named already. If you don't, they are all just jacked up fighters. Some of them can do crazy abilities. That is all there is to them. One problem I had with this movie is that the Street Fighter characters are gigantic. Not only are the overly muscular, but also they look as if they are nine feet tall. It just makes them feel too unrealistic.
   
   One huge problem I have with this movie is that most of the movie has no importance. Most of the time you are watching random fights that have nothing at all with the story. Characters like Fei Long, Blanka, and others just seem to be added for no reason. If you take out all the pointless things, you may have a thirty-minute episode.
   
   Voice acting and animation are both sub par. Most Voice acting ranges from horrible to average. Animation looks like typical dated 90s anime. You might dig this look, but I personally do not.
   
   The fight scenes are awesome and plentiful though. The fight between Fei Long and Ryu blows me away every time. Still, you will be wishing for more of a storyline and less pointless fights by the end of this one. I can't recommend this, but I will say that at least it's better than the previous movie.

5 comments about The Restless.

1. The RESTLESS (aka. Jeong-Cheon) is a fantasy adventure film set in a world of souls that have passed away long before they are reincarnated. This latest WUXIA foray from South Korea combines the elements of love and romance, fantasy and terrific swordplay, martial arts action in an eternal battle between good and evil. Directed by Jo Dong-Oh, this fantasy epic gives its focus on elaborate costumes, expensive set designs with a tale of romance and loyalty. People who are familiar with Chinese Wuxia epics will no doubt embrace "The Restless", with the usual style of wire fu reminiscent of Chinese outings such as Tsui Hark`s "The Legend Of Zu" and the more recent Korean Wuxia such as "Shadowless Sword". (It would be unfair to compare this film to "Musa the warrior" which I will review later on)
   
   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 supposed 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 she fails then 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, whom he failed to protect from an untimely death. Actually, they are the same being, Son-hwa is a "Chuneen", resurrected 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.
   
   The astounding CGI effects and set designs, awesome action, superb martial arts choreography are the elements that carry this Wuxia swordplay fantasy tale. The film is definitely technically sound and it is so obvious that its budget went to the film's special effects. The Martial arts choreography rivals other Chinese installments, and definitely displays its competency in regards to adrenaline-pumping action sequences. The film is definitely engaging when it comes to action sequences; Highlights include a very cool forest battle and the grand-daddy of all climactic battles where Gwak-Yi engages 10,000 demonic spirits alone. (Azumi would eat her pretty little heart out). The action is engaging and plentiful; that will make fans of superb CGI designs stand up and cheer. PS3 and Xbox fans will no doubt be entertained.
   
   Aside from the CGI-enhanced action sequences, what stands out the most is the spectacular costumes and sets. Although, the colors and rendering may not put "The Promise" or "The Banquet" to shame, it is nonetheless very impressive. The acting is quite decent, Jung Woo-Sung shows his usual charismatic manly appeal that wooed female fans in "A Moment to Remember". Lovely Kim Tae-Hee performance is partly acceptable, I do have mixed feelings about her performance after this 2nd viewing; she seemed to have limited expressions in emotion. The villains seems to be a little over-expressive in their demeanor, but thankfully, Heo Jun-Ho bears much of the weight since he does have a unique villainous aura.
   
   Visually stunning and quite beautiful, the film is not without its faults. The problem with the screenplay is that when there are no fights, the proceedings are slow-paced that it almost stops to a crawl. Strong characters are definitely needed to form an attachment to its viewers. People may say that the characters are a bit underdeveloped and while I do partly agree, (there was no explanation at all as to how the villains gained their powers); I do believe that the reason why some people may feel this way is because a lot of it happens in the form of flashbacks and at times, it does prove blurry, which may result with some difficulty in making a connection to its audience. Folks unfamiliar with Buddhist lore may find themselves a little lost, as to what some places mean and as to why are reincarnations relevant to the lost souls.
   
   The Restless is indeed a masterpiece in Korean film-making in terms of technical aspects. This fantasy-adventure will definitely charm the audience with its gorgeous execution in set designs. It is not a piece of contemporary Wuxia but more of an overindulgent fantasy epic that has gained mass international appeal. The film is also geared for action/CGI fan boys. The film may have some difficulty connecting to some viewers and some may consider the film very superficial. There's good and evil, love and hate; but it all seems to have been overshadowed by its stunning visuals that it seemed to lack credibility. It may be a little difficult to wow an audience if all you have going is the action and grand sets.
   
   "The Restless" may not offer much in originality which would make it stand out, it makes the film a little forgettable. On the action-entertainment side of the coin, the film doesn't disappoint. It may be more of an execution of "style over substance"...But what a style it is to behold!
   
   Recommended! [3 ½ + Stars]
   Note: I own the uncut region-3 release from CJ Entertainment (Korea) with terrific video and DTS sound. The U.S. release is expected to carry an English dubbed track.



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 myself 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. But of course because of a film called The Promise most people will compare them at first glance. 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. It was bound to happen, one day, some day (today, in fact) one of these films was going to go over the cliff and outright fail and THE RESTLESS is that film. Not the first of its kind (for sure), but the first I've seen that's taken the formula of a simple story of love and reincarnation and dumbed it down to a point so base, that even the fight scenes are reduced to a level so laughable, that even the MARIO BROS. would turn their noses up at it with the sheer amount of lame jumping and hue and cry THE RESTLESS dishes out in spades here.
   
   Seriously, this is a major disappointment from a side of the world that excels in this type of storytelling (THE HOST is another, I'm sensing a trend here).
   
   Moments into the film I grew worried, unsure if the film was going to be a comedy or try to play this scenario serious and I wasn't sure which side I wanted to root for. But, seeing as they decided to follow the "serious" side of the story, I knew they had made a mistake. Like CASSHERN, the plot is secondary to the visuals, the emotion, but the plot still matters, still grows, but in THE RESTLESS once we get the set up and the connection between What's His Name and Who's Her Face, their back story and the "gimmick" the story stops cold and is hog tied by one of the worst cul-de-sac's in movie history: the forgone conclusion.
   
   There is not a moment, not a line of dialogue, not a fight scene (honestly, how scary is an army that, with one stab or mere cut, bursts into "flowers" and disappears? It's like the vampires in BLADE, they just aren't a threat when using silver bullets turns them into ash in seconds) or surprise "twist" that isn't telegraphed advanced or already seen in some form in another film (the DOCTOR OCTOPUS forest chase was novel, but, again, done before and, surprise, surprise, better in a U.S. film).
   
   There is no threat, there is no danger, there is no risk involved with any of it. Truly, when you reduce your DARK LORD (who looks like he's escaped from a TYPE O NEGATIVE concert) to sitting in a pool of water, trying to advance a full moon and "birth" a new world order, you've literally run out of ideas and it's time to go back to the drawing board.
   
   Lame, lackluster, and boring THE RESTLESS tries too hard to please too many people by crossing too many movie borders with too little an army.
   
   It's HEAVEN CAN WAIT meets DEFENDING YOUR LIFE meets VERSES and doesn't do any of those films justice. And that's a shame, because there are some good ideas here... MIDHEAVEN, 49 days until reincarnation, that life "stinks", and, even dead, you still have to take a number and wait in line; this could have been a truly groundbreaking film (and am I the only one that was waiting for THE GRIM REAPER to appear in the film at some point?, that he / she might play a part in this story, given that the conduit between life and death had been bucked? I feel that Death would want its due, granted that would add FINAL DESTINATION to the mix of an already crowded film, but, at least having our hero not only have to worry about dying at the hands of his enemy, but also having to avoid Death itself - that's drama!), instead, it's entertainment value is measured only in how low your expectations are.
   
   Also, am I the only one who is tired of paying good money up front, only to have to walk in with my head down, one eye closed and my expectations so low that I feel I got my money's worth because the film didn't have a break in it, or the sound worked? There is entertainment, there is entertaining and then there are films like THE RESTLESS, there was no glitch on my DVD... whew!, got lucky there.
   
   In the end, THE RESTLESS is like a kid with A.D.D. whose licked some acid... it's a trip, but he's going to be sick and despite the pretty colors, it's still gonna be a mess.
   
   Clean up in theater six...



4. The Good Things
   *Loads of slick, stylish special effects. Some of them are gorgeous.
   *Quite a few good fight scenes and a couple of battles. I loved the ending battle!
   *Interesting usages of mythology and theology.
   *Production design is splendid.
   *Storyline is not bad.
   *Characters are not bad. Good acting.
   *Music is good.
   
   The Bad Things
   *A little slow towards the middle. The story seems to have lost momentum there.
   
   The Questionable Things
   *Lots of melodrama, and it can also be seen as sappy. I didn't mind it so much though.
   *For a couple of areas, I was reminded of a few other films (the main character initially reminded me of Jubei from the "Ninja Scroll", Midheaven reminded me of the "Bleach" series, and the ending resembled "Lord of the Rings" a little bit).
   
   The storyline is simple, but leaves a lot of room for strong emotions and lots of style. The drama can be a little too overwhelming, but there are enough slick action scenes and special effects to entertain. Altogether, it's a visually immersive fantasy epic that's worthwhile seeing.
   
   The DVD has good quality video and audio. It has only a Korean language track with English subtitles. It includes one making-of documentary and a couple of other featurettes.



5. This movie is about a demon hunter who is trap in the spirit world where those who dies goes to stay until they are reincarnated. Gwak Yi is the hero who happened to be in a village during a demon invasion. With his martial arts and special sword, he easily kills off his these demons. The ungrateful villagers thank him by drugging him and trying to capture Gwak Yi for a reward. Somehow Gwak Yi is wanted by the government. Gawk Yi escapes but still falls prey to the drug that was given to him. He finds himself in the spirit world. He can't figure why he is there because he is not dead either. He's alive, yet stuck in the spirit world known as Mid Heaven.
   
   Upon his arrival, Mid Heaven is attack by demons led by his old Demon Slaying friends when they once lived on earth. One of the last remaining defender of Mid Heaven happens to be his former wife, So Hwa, reincarnated and doesn't remember her past life. Gwak Yi saves So Hwa's life and they continue to be on the run from his old allies.
   
   Gwak Yi was later captured and brought to his old master and he explains his reason why he is doing what he is doing and warns him not to interfere. For his former friends to achieve their goals, they needed the Holy Stone that So Hwa have in her possession. Gwak Yi decides he just can't stand there and watch So Hwa goes against his former allies because of his love for her. Once they realize that Gwak Yi won't understand their cause, they go after them trying to achieve their goals.
   
   The good:
   Action, color, artwork, costumes, love story....and did I mention the action? A lot of fight scenes that any martial arts fanatic can enjoy. It seems that the direction of Kung Fu movies are moving towards the beautiful artwork like Jet Li's Hero or House of Flying Daggers. Extremely colorful and amazing to look at. I could only imagine what they would look like in Blue Ray Disc. The story is focused between Gwak Yi and So Hwa. Relationship. The present and the past. How they once loved each other and how they rediscover their love.
   
   The Bad:
   The plot is a little weak. There were missing or un-explained things that could of thicken the story line a little more. The writers did not build enough of a story line between Gwak Yi and his friends. Even though they did flash backs of them and their past to explain why they were now in Mid Heaven.
   
   Despite being a love story, somehow it lacks emotion or attachment to all the characters. I didn't feel any lost or sadness as these characters faced hardships and sufferings. I guess not enough character build up that as a viewer, I didn't form any attachment to them. They didn't move me. For example, when I first watched Mel Gibson's "Brave Heart", I was extremely moved by William Wallace and rooted for him until his death. I felt bad and heart broken that the main hero have lost at the end. The death of his family, his wife and eventually his own life was extremely moving.
   
   Overall, this movie still catches my attention. The beautiful artwork, costumes, and action scenes were enough to gain my interest through out the movie. Not the greatest movie and plot but I find it good enough for me to rate it 4 out of 5 stars....well not quite 4...more like 3.85 out of 5 stars.

5 comments about Rumble on the Rock - The Superstar Collection (5 Event Set).

1. For those hardcore MMA fans this is a must have. The Lightweight match up of Takanori Gomi v. Bj Penn makes this set alone worth much much more than the purchase price, but you throw in 4 other events in full with the likes of Tank Abbott, Anderson Silva, Yushin Okami, Jake Shields, Gilbert Melendez, Carlos Condit, and so many more establish MMA veterans and young prospects and this is a steal. The production quality is great and the dvds themselves are put out by ProElite, which hopefully will put out many more mma dvds. I would recommend this to anyone.



2. I seriously can not imagine why you would pass on this. A outstanding package, 5 events for under $10 (currently). This wouls still be a bargain at $40, in my opinon. Unlike a lot of the current wave of lesser known (i.e. non-Pride or UFC) releases, this one really delivers with quality fights and a ton of "known" fighters. It doesnt feel cheap and isnt loaded with a ton of poor quality fights just to bulk up runtime (I'm looking at you King Of The Cage). As someone else mentioned, the Penn/Gomi fight is worth the price of admission alone, but there is so much more here. I'm shocked at how little this is selling for, and really encourage any MMA fan looking to branch out, or looking for something to tide you over until the next Pride/UFC release, to purchase this. You cant go wrong, and I PROMISE you wont feel burned like I have in the past with other "bulk" MMA releases (Cage Rage, KOTC, etc). This is pure quality and I am really happy to have in my collection. BUY THIS!!!



3. I just received these last week and while I was disappointed in the quality and some of the match ups, the price makes them worth while. ***NO SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW***
   
   The Good: The production quality, fights, and recognizable fighters get better with each event. Notable names from Pride and the UFC show up more and more frequently (Penn,Gomi,Gracie's,Tank,Cabbage,Kimo,Trigg,Silva etc.). Hawaiian rules allow for knees on the ground, ouch. Lot's of fights, each event about 2 hrs. each. Great value.
   
   The Bad: Still nowhere near Pride/UFC quality dvd's (better than King of the Cage dvd's). Early events are mostly unfamiliar Hawaiian fighters (granted the event is in Hawaii) that aren't all that great and make for some lackluster fights. The referee makes some questionable calls. He'll stop the fight alot to check cuts that aren't that bad and stand up fights when there's action on the ground. He looks like a poor mans John McCarthy.
   
   The Ugly: The commentary on ROTR 4 is absolutley awful, among the worst I've ever heard, but it get's better with each event. The atrocious editing and camera work in ROTR 6. In the main event Penn vs. Gracie, the camera man moves from the fight, not once but TWICE to see a fight in the audience when the main event fight is still going!!! And the fight before that one has a great TKO finish but we don't get to see it as we're given a nice shot of the referees butt in front of the action. Both of these screw ups thanks in part to the wise decision to have only one camera shooting the action. Can you say amateur hour? The pre fight interviews on ROTR 7 are hilariously bad too.
   
   The Verdict: I can't tell you how disappointed I was when I fist popped in ROTR 4. The audio/video quality was terrible, the majority of the fights were no names and boring and I thought I'd been suckered in to buying a KOTC clone. But the events, fights, and production quality really do get better with each event. I'll save you some time on ROTR 4, just watch the Paul Buentello fight and the Penn/Gomi main event. The Penn/Gomi fight is awesome and one of the better fights you'll find anywhere. The price saves this set and warrants a recommendation. If it cost much more, the rating would only go down.



4. I have been wanting to get these hard to get fights for a long time. The price was great! I am very happy with this video set.



5. I got this collection because I like to watch MMA. BJ Penn is one of my favorite fighters. Gomi vs Penn is a classic. A few bad things tho, the sound quality on some of the earlier ROTR is horrible. The camera angles are crappy at times. During the Rodrigo Gracie vs BJ fight, the camera looks into the crowd(during a fight) instead of THE fight ARRGGHHH!!! Other than that it was an ok collection. If you are a casual MMA fan, I wouldn't recommend it because there are a lot of fighters that you may not have heard of. For hardcore MMA fans only. Hawaii in the HOUSE!!!