3 comments about Black Belt Theatre: Shaolin Traitor/Amazing Masters.

1. This is another of the better double features which Ground Zero
   has released ...One feature is called "Amazing Masters", and the box incorrectly
   states that it is hosted by Carter Wong. This is a 50 minute documentary hosted by Ken Howard [the White Shadow!]-who does a bang up job all things considered. This doc. was not very interesting to me, but it did feature several demonstrations by Carter and a student. I think it was made in France and has a terrible new age soundtrack that would have been better suited for Doctor Who [no offence to the time-lord].
   The real GEM on this disc is the movie Shaolin Traitor, which also features the lovey Polly Shang Kwan and Dorris Lung Jun Er. This is a movie with a better than average plot, lots of fights, some wit, a funky martial master (and ex-shaolin priest) named Tien Chi (something like that)- he laughs and cries alternately and is an azz kicking machine to boot. For the price its a steal and a no-brainer for the genre enthusiast.
   HC



2. O.K., here is one, rare instance of a decent find amongst the more typical Ground Zero, Black Belt series duds.
   
   (1) Shaolin Traitor
   The best Carter Wong film I've seen to date. Nice period story about a Shaolin temple endangered by a murderer within and political intrigue without.
   
   Although offering some respectable elements of mystery and some excellent fight scenes, there is some less than stellar unevenness to the offering: for example, the hero, facing a bevy of monks in battle, with his back against the wall, mentally recalls the words of his master: "Use the escape technique," then proceeds to fly away like superman! The unravelling of the mystery takes some sudden turns, too. The fight scene in the restaurant, where Carter Wong uses chopsticks, is one of the best. There is a female protagonist (whose name eludes me), who is great to watch, too, contributing a nice--but, alas, short-lived--scuffle with the arrogant princess. All-in-all, O.K., but not great (which is the way I feel about most Carter Wong films).
   
   The wirework (very obvious and not well done) spoiled a potentially better movie, I think. Three Stars (***).
   
   2. Amazing Masters
   Offers many clips from classic kung fu films (even some scenes from Sonny Chiba's "Karate Warriors" with an audible soundtrack!).
   
   Narrated by Ken Howard. More of a discussion on the cinematic development of martial arts films than a look at the martial arts themselves. Rather lackluster kung fu fare overall. Two Stars (**).
   
   Average score = Three Stars, actually Two-and-a-half (**-1/2).



3. SHAOLIN TRAITOR (1977)-
   
   I read a bad review of this awhile back, so I held off on getting it for years. Maybe it's because I went into it with such low expectations, but I had a blast watching this. Carter Wong plays a super tough dude just like he always does and he is framed for killing a bunch of Shaolin students. There's a warrant out for his arrest, and all tough people in the area are sent to kill him. This leads major Carter Wong a$$ kicking. Carter gives one of his best performances, as does Chang Yi. Polly Kuan and Doris Lung also star. The film has it's flaws, but not many. Carter Wong's "escape" technique is funny. And the way he keeps getting caught with a dead Shaolin student in his hands is funny. The third time he gets caught he actually goes to Shaolin to steal something called a Jade Censor for his master (Chang Yi), but somebody is already stealing it. So he does a super punch to the guy's neck and a bunch of blood comes out and of course now is when the monks show up and catch him again. At this point I was laughing outloud. Just when you think it can't get any worse for Carter, it gets a lot worse. So not only is it a good fighting movie but it also has some good unintentional humor. If you are a Carter Wong fan you need to see this. The story isnt't great or anything, but good for a kung fu flick. My only real problem with the movie is that it didn't seem like any of the fights were really long, except for the first major fight where Carter wong takes on about 50 monks. I needed more fights like that!
   
   Favorite part of the movie- Polly Kuan makes her first appearance and goes up to Carter Wong after Carter had just been attacked 3 different times in 5 minutes and she asks if there's an inn nearby. Carter Wong just ignores her and goes on his way.
   
   3.5/5
   
   I don't know what the picture quality is like on this Groundzero version (it's probably horrible), but I got this movie in the Jet Li's Shaolin Fists Collection, and the picture quality is pretty good.

1 comments about King of the Cage - Showtime.

1. this was another great dvd in this great series kotc. kotc introduces many young mma grapplers to the general public. for me, the standout from this release was eric pele. he is trained by john lewis. pele is a 300lb monster with some great skills in the cage. fast hands and able to go a few rounds. he is going to be real dangerous if he keeps dropping weight. rest of dvd is loaded with great fights. as usual don frye was invloved in something. check it out, well worth the $

No comments about King of the Cage: Invasion.

No comments about Gladiator Challenge: Caged Beasts.

No comments about International Wushu Competition Routine-Sword.

No comments about The Anarchists.

2 comments about Navy Seal * High Risk Entry.

1. This film presents Chuck Habermehl instructing high risk entry tactics to a group of students. The instruction is not directed to the viewer, and he does not give hands-on instruction, anyway. Rather, this film is a presentation of a special operations instruction in CQB, Inc. The film constructs of interviews of Chuck Habermehl, and footage of entry drills, some of wich are live-fire.

   The picture is sometimes muddled, and the sound level varies considerably, forcing you to constantly adjust the volume on your TV set. In addition, there is sometimes loud backround noise (because of the mechanized ventilation in the shoot house), making the sound even more blurred. Otherwise, the production and the overall quality are good.

   Although this film is quite interesting to watch, it's hard to figure out to whom this film is intended for. An armed civilian, or even a regular street cop has little need for these tactics. They are for SWAT teams and the like, but those organizations don't have to rely on films like this for their training.

   Run time: 1:42




2. The DVD shows Open Door entries, Hi man-Low man, Check drills etc. The first 30 minutes Mr Habermehl talks while they are showing videos of people training. It is interesting to listen to this talk since he explains a lot here. After that he is teaching a team and they practice some drills in a live fire shooting house.
   The DVD is alright and I learned some things from it but bad sound quality, and like the other DVD Special Ops I would like to have a more in depth on "how-to do" explaination.
   I give it a 3 star.

No comments about The Matt Hughes Story.

5 comments about Swordsman II.

1. If you want UNCUT ORIGINAL version, ALWAYS look for ORIGINAL LICENSED Production. NOT US Release. Its a foreign film, it should not be US version to begin with~! HELLO!!!?? Why settle for LESS with US Version where they edit and cut so many excellent scenes especially with Jackie's Fighting Scenes. And US Release ruins the speed and sound as well. I have been collecting JET Li movies both HK and US Release Version for quite some time now. I found HK Version to be MUCH MORE in enjoyable, and HIGHER in Quality. American Market always like to "Americanize" and "Control". Regional Code Regulation thing is one of the example to CONTROL the Market. Why not let everyone enjoy the same HK Original Release move the same way REST OF THE WORLD enjoys it ?? No one makes Hollywood American movies to "French version" or "Chinese Version" ~! This what Americans are doing~! Well, enjoy the cheap "American version" then~! LOL



2. I hate the fact that I have to review this movie AND the dubbing. I saw this on spike a year or so ago and thought the dubbing was the worst. I guess that I have been seasoned in watching this stupid Jet Li collection because after watching 10 or so of the american dubs of jet, I watched this again and whoever that guy is who always dubs Jet, puts on one of the better performances of his career.
   
   Now that I got that out of the way I can talk about the movie. I watched this without seeing the first swordsman. But I'm pretty sure I'm gonna like Jet more than bucktooth from OUATIC. Even if the fole doesn't fit him very well, jet shows that he really is an actor in this movie. Good battle scenes. Also a good movie to watch with guys so that you can make comments about the always fabulous Bridgitte lin. She is so freaking hot I actually went on a major binge and bough ALL of her movies. So go ahead and check ou Fire Dragon, Bride With White Hairm and my fav. Deadful Melody. I haven't seen the 1st or 3rd movies, but after seeing this, I will seek them out nomatter what it takes.
   
   Truly one of the greatest movies ever and it really makes you think.
   
   EDITED
   
   
   I got the Meieh version and it is the uncut version(108 minutes). If you are going to get this movie, make sure you buy the Mei-Eh/Tai Seng version under the title of Swordsman II.



3. Hey Kiddo. Loyalty, and friendship. Swordsmanship and magic. I enjoyed the scenery. Interesting how a woman hides the fact she is a woman and her class mates do not know. Very much like the original Swordsman. La La la la la la, la la la la la. Listen to the singing of the Sun Sect. How two old men unite after many years and sing this song. Jet Li and Kiddo sing as well. How one takes possesion of a stringed instrument. Watch the movie. Makes you want to la la la.



4. I had fond, but vague memories of this movie from years back... then watched it again in this dubbed version and was apalled. Even beyond the dubbing, the movie itself is just so cheesily directed and cut that even the martial arts don't play well. It just doesn't hold up to the best of the genre, especially now that it's been taken to such a higher level with recent films like House of the Flying Daggers.



5. Fans of Hong Kong cinema will definitely want this famous martial arts epic in their personal library. This was Jet Li's highest grossing HK film and it made Brigitte Lin a star. The martial arts are entirely of the supernatural wuxia variety here so don't expect something realistic like Li's "Fist of Legend". The visuals are eye-popping and you won't believe your eyes as you watch ninjas ride supersized airborne shurikans as though they were magic carpets, sexy Blue Phoenix shoot snakes out of her shirt sleeves, and Master Wu's "Essence Absorbing Stance".
   
   In addition to the frenetic action, the plot and character development is interesting, although significantly hampered by the terrible subtitles. Rather than using the subs in the theatrical and laserdisc versions, new, incomprehensible subtitles have been added. A lot of the subtlety has been lost and I particularly was frustrated that villian "Asia the Invincible" was referred to simply as "Dawn" in the new subtitles. The whole point of the movie is that Asia has become seduced by his/her newfound power to the point that she starts referring to herself as "Invincible". "Dawn" just doesn't convey that sense of overconfidence.
   
   Each character wrestles with their own conflicts. Jet Li wants to retreat from the world of martial arts with his "brothers" and do nothing more than drink wine, yet he gets pulled into an epic conflict. Kiddo can't decide whether she wants to be treated like a lady or one of the guys. The tribal leader wants to tell Jet Li that she loves him but feels her first duty is to protect her troupe and find her father. Blue Phoenix wants to be a loyal second-in-command but can't help but mouth off one too many times. And Asia the Invincible makes an incredible personal sacrifice to bring power to the oppressed Sun Moon Sect, but is ultimately seduced by the incredible power without realizing it.
   
   This is one of my favorite HK films, but the awful subtitles kept me from granting it the full five stars it deserves. I have no idea why they got rid of the original theatrical subtitles, but that was clearly a mistake. Still, if you're a fan of over-the-top action and films where characters are trapped between their desires and their duties, this is a must-have movie.

No comments about HDNet Fights: Initiation Night 2 DVD set.