5 comments about Silent Rage.

1. When I saw this movie, I remenbered my childhood because It was one of my favorites movies of Chuck Norris. It`s amazing the persecution between the sheriff and the mad.



2. Chuck Norris plays in this very being tight and also probably creepy thriller a sheriff who has to do something to arrest psychopatischen and with a Serum which lends an immortality to the murderer. Very full of suspense and made good and also the witty inserts of his auxiliary sheriff do this film must for every Chuck Norris-Fan.
   The film is also concerning the alternate factors of property and Nastily very worth seeing!



3. SILENT RAGE 1982 , BRILLANT BRILLANT MOVIE ONE OF HIS BEST MOVIES FROM 1982, I REALLY THINK CHUCK NORRIS REALLY PLAYS HIS PART OF AN AMERICAN POLICE OFFICER BRILLANT.



4. I got this movie based off a review by Sid The Elf. Not only that, but I considered myself to be a huge Norris fan in the 80's. He was the only white guy you'd associate with kung fu (I don't consider David Carradine part of that, sorry). There was Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Chuck Norris. I even had a neighbor who looked like Norris, and we used to call him Chuck Norris.
   
   Anyway, I'm also a big sci-fi fan, so the combination of Norris and some creepy dude killing people with an axe was enough to sell me. The movie's about what you'd expect from the time period: predictable storyline with a predictable outcome. And they HAD to throw in some cheesy love-interest for Norris: some busty brunette who couldn't act to save her children's soul. The effects were cool for the time and was surprised to see the fat guy from Animal House try his role as deputy, Norris' sidekick.
   
   A huge downfall to this DVD were the special features: trailers for really bad movies made in the 90's (Bad Boys, The Professional [which really wasn't bad]), and a trailer for this movie. BUT, if you're able to read 7 different foreign languages you can practice your grammar on this movie with the subtitles that are offered.
   
   Overall, really not a bad movie. Worthy of a rent, but buy it only if you're a Norris fan.



5. I saw this film many years ago and I thought it was a cool idea for a movie. Unfortunately, the film is hampered by low budget, bad acting, inane dialogue.....the list goes on and on. I'm not a big Chuck Norris fan, but this film which obviously borrowed some ideas from the film 'Halloween' has some small moments. It's pretty silly, but the killer is menacing and there are a few jolts here and there. I wouldn't buy it, but if you see it on cable..............you might get a few laughs. I rate it 1 1/2 stars.

1 comments about Black Mask [Blu-ray].

1. This is a review for the blu-ray version of this Black Mask movie. I was really looking forward to this movie coming out on blu-ray and was very disappointed in it when I finally got the chance to watch it. I loved this movie when it came out on dvd with its "campy" storyline and martial arts action. This blu-ray version is barely an improvement over the dvd. I watched this on a PS3 system and hdtv with an Onkyo TX-SR606 receiver and a decent set of surround sound speakers so I was able to take advantage of the 7.1 DTS HD Master Audio soundtrack available on the disc. The video was very "grainy" looking and barely looked "cleaned up" at all. I put in my standard dvd version of this movie and could hardly see any difference at all between the two. The sound wasn't much of an improvement either. The background music sounded pretty flat throughout the movie and the only improvements were in the explosions and some of the higher action sequences. Whoever did the blu-ray transfer of this film really "dropped the ball" on this one. As far as the movie itself, if you have never seen it, you are in for a treat and a fun ride with this one. For those of you who have seen the movie and were looking for a high-quality upgrade, I would recommend renting it first to see how you like it before shelling out the bucks to purchase a copy.

5 comments about Jackie Chan's First Strike.

1. Now the movie itself is a little better than the rumble in the bronx or nice guy, but as a whole it kicks the sheeit out of those movies. The story isn't really worth going over, he goes on a mission. But the 2 things that stand out are the water fights and the ladder fight. Truly only jackie could come up with this stuff. And he is not even liste as the coordinator, but you knwo he had to have a hand in it. Overall this is only a 3 star movie at best, but with jackie literally jumping through this ladder and swinging it like he was trained his whole life with it. And there is another nice little movie within a movie at the end.
   
   And I have to say that the american version of thisw si very good, the dubbing is better than usual, the 5.1 sound kicks ass, and if someone has a bette version of this, than post it on here.



2. This is not one the best stories you will ever find in a Chan movie but it has some of the best and funniest moments i have ever seen in his movies the classic ladder scene is my second favorite fight scene ever made ,the first being a tie betwenn the axe gang and final fights in drunken mast II, also the underwater kung-fu is great there are also some funny 007ish moments like the whole snow mobile ski scene also the fsb agents so in all this is a good fun movie!



3. Near the beginning of the movie there is a downhill ski chase scene like straight out of a James Bond movie. Later Jackie even says "I feel just like James Bond, only no gorgeous girls," but the next scene we get to see the gorgeous girl. This is one of my favorite Jackie Chan movies, I guess partly because I also like James Bond. As usual, Jackie does some great stunts and amazing fighting scenes.



4. As many of you Jackie Chan fans may already know (and those who aren't fans are about to find out), Chan has his own uniqueness that makes him one of a kind. One of the elements about his action films that makes Jackie Chan, "Jackie Chan", is the humor. In "Jackie Chan's First Strike" we get to see some humor, but what there is more of is just pure fun. Where most of the fun lies, is in some of the coolest action scenes in any Chan film.
   
   First Strike is basically part 4 in the popular Police Story series, arguably the best series of movies with Chan. Police Story 1 & 2 had a decent amount of comedy, but also a lot of seriousness. Supercop was quite serious. First Strike is the most fun out of the bunch, but has its serious moments too. As mentioned earlier, its the action that is so much fun. Plenty of scenes from beginning to end that will surely thrill from a great ski/snowboarding scene in the beginning, chases & fights, the incredible & famous "ladder fight" scene, and the incredible fun and somewhat humerous aquarium underwater scene.
   
   The plot in First Strike is actually not all that dull, but might seem a little common for a Chan film. Jackie is hunting down some people who are dealing with nuclear weapons, and ends up working on the wrong side by mistake. The action picks up in the movie when he discovers he was working for the bad guys, he's a wanted man, and they begin to come after him. The English dubbing, though not great, is satisfying for a Chan film, actually helping in bringing out the fun factor.
   
   Arguably the best scene in the movie, and of the best Jackie Chan scenes ever, is the famous ladder scene (although the particular fight is not limited to just a ladder). It is truly amazing to see what can become a weapon and how he uses them with such incredible choreography that is intelligently used to make a simple brawl just an outright blast. The honorable mention scene is the finale, which is an underwater fight at an aquarium. Chan provides some cool underwater martial arts action at times, as well as plenty of comic relief when attempting to avade the shark in the aquarium. There is no big stunt scene like in some of his other movies, but the biggest are jumping from a cliff onto a helicopter and taking a red sprts car off a ramp and into a movie boat.
   
   For a Jackie Chan fan, this is a must for the collection. First Strike is just an all-out fun film that anyone can enjoy, and most likely will. Oh yeah, and there is a scene where he is forced to sing naked outside "I will follow you..." Just hilarious.



5. This is vintage Jackie Chan, but perhaps with a better story than most. The plot revolves around him getting amnesia and forgetting that he is a member of a special tactics squad. He realizes that someone wants him dead but has no idea why. Complications ensue.....
   
   Lots of location shots in Africa and Holland make it the sort of "travelogue" we've come to expect in this type of movie.
   
   This one is to buy and keep, share with friends, and watch again in a couple of years.

5 comments about Above the Law.

1. This was a hugely significant moment in film history. Above the Law was the first ever film of the now ledgendary Steven Segal. Yeah, this was his first film, but the man looked like he was in the zone from the first second of the film when we see him in his karate getup with two of the most ferocious sideburns to ever grace the big screen. To set the scene, the movie was made in 1988, and it was set in Chicago. And to top it all off, Segal's name in the film was Nico Toscani. So, basically, this film stared Segal, a few other people we know, and about 35 Bernie Kosar look-alikes with black curly A.C. Slater mullets and all.
   
   One of the people we knew was the infamous Sharon Stone. She was about 4 years away from her breakout role in Basic Instinct here, and clearly fell into the category of Not Ready For Prime-Time. She was far from hot. Actually, she looked "a little chubby." (direct quote from an honorary Sid the Elf member for part of the movie) They even had her play the wet blanket wife in this one. Another person we knew was Segal's buddy from Vietnam who later became the CIA guy. It was the guy who played Eddie Harris in Major League and the bum that tried to run Coach Norman Dale out of Hickory in Hoosiers. This guy's got it. When he was having his terribly acted argument with Segal, Sid was waiting for him to break character and say, "Are you saying Jesus Christ can't hit a curve ball?" But it never happened.
   
   That's one of the reasons we, Sid the Elf, could only give Above the Law 4 stars. Don't misunderstand, this is a terrific action B. But, it just was missing something. Sid's theory is that the lack of the Segal ponytail, double chin, and big gut made this one feel different. So, Segal was skinny and ponytailless but he did have what appeared to be the begining stages of the Myers hair we all saw in Urban Justice. Also, Segal didn't have the role of goomba rouge cop perfected yet. This was the only role he played in his early movies, so he had enough practice to get it down by the time he nailed it perfectly in Out for Justice. While Nico was not as tough as Gino Felino, he was still man enough to take on the main villan who was played by Henry Silva wearing a Chevy Chase mask. One other thing, Segal DID kick a multitude of butt in Above the Law, but there was a serious lack of explosions. You don't get 5 stars as an action flick with no explosions. Not gonna happen.
   
   Finally, like any good B Above the law was floating along and ended abruptly. It also had a few "wait, what's going on here?" moments and enough physically impossible things happening to make it certified B. Like when Segal was hanging onto the roof of the car going like 30 mph while choking the guy in the passenger seat. Sid loved that. It pushed the film into the upper echelon of action B and enabled us, Sid the Elf, to give Above the Law our Watchability Seal of Approval.



2. Like many bargain priced eighties Above The Law is a bare bones DVD with no features to speak of. However at 9.99 no one is going to buy this movie for the features even though a commentary would have been nice. As for the movie,Above The Law is a hands down action classic. This was the debut of one the early nineties biggest action stars Stevn Segal. The direction by Andrew Davis was tense and the fight sequences are cool. Steven Segal's first is still one of his best.



3. Suck in the gut, remove those jowls, straighten the hair, and bring back commitment to the script and story: apply these steps to Steven Seagal and you end up with "Above the Law", our hero's 1988 breakout hit and possibly his best movie ever. While the action star's name hardly inspires thoughts of greatness, "Above the Law" reminds us what made him king of the hill back in his heyday: featuring at least twice as much story than most action vehicles of the time, our hero delivers big when in his element and handled by a competent director (Andrew Davis, who would also direct Seagal's top-grossing "Under Siege"), for the film has no shortage of thrills, shootouts, martial arts, and hammy characters to chew on whilst enjoying the best that 1980s celluloid had to deliver.
   
   Nico Toscani (Seagal) is an ex-CIA vice cop working the drug rings of Chicago with his partner Jax (Pam Grier, "Jackie Brown") when he busts one of the biggest dealers in the region (Daniel Faraldo, "Trenchcoat"). But when the crook walks and a brick wall is thrown in front of Nico, he goes against jurisdiction to uncover a sinister plot involving an intercontinental drug cartel, an invasion of Nicaragua, the assassination of a US senator, and a sadistic CIA operative gone bad (Henry Silva, "Ghost Dog").
   
   For starters, this is probably the best dramatic performance that Seagal has ever given. That's not saying much, but he pulls off the tough-guy persona without missing a bit, manages to display some definite emotion in the presence of his friends, and does a good job at pulling off a Sicilian-American accent. Not to be outdone, the supporting cast is probably the best that Seagal ever worked with, period: Pam Grier shines as a tough woman in a man's world, bad-guy Henry Silva is effectively hammy in his evilness, and Daniel Faraldo, Ron Dean ("The Dark Knight"), and Sharon Stone ("Basic Instinct") do their respective roles with an attention to detail absent from many of Seagal's later films.
   
   The action scenes are no slouch, either: Seagal has never been in better shape than when he rides the roof of a moving car and performs what are probably his most technically-sound fight scenes done without a stunt double (the convenience store brawl is probably the best demonstration of practical aikido that's ever been filmed). There isn't a single disappointing gunfight in the film - all four of them are top-notch.
   
   What makes this movie stand out, however, is the fact that Seagal's character is able to exist without either ruining the film with his invincibility or appearing too restrained. Nico Toscani is tough, but he's grounded by his very-defined family and friends. He makes very clear what he feels is right and wrong, but doesn't ever appear to be delivering a social sermon (a'la "On Deadly Ground"). He dishes out the violence in gratuitous amounts, but even the most pacifistic viewer will be hard-pressed not to agree that they deserved it (SPOILER: when he slowly snaps Henry Silva's arm, the only thing louder than groans of the disgusted will be cheers).
   
   Also, aesthetic aspects that Seagal has since omitted from his films play a part in the story: family, friendship, religion, race, and parenthood are prevalent and handled in a manner that they don't become attractions - they're simply essential parts of building a world that's more intricate than one would expect from our hero, and this era of action films in general.
   
   As far as I'm concerned, this is Seagal's magnum opus - deeper than "Under Siege", more realistic than "Exit Wounds", better moderated than "Out for Justice", and more of a definitive `Seagal movie' than "Hard to Kill". Action fans of any sort won't go wrong here. As for Seagal fans, this is definitely the film to introduce Master Steven to your friends with.



4. For those who are unfamiliar with Steven Seagal's work, this is his first film debut. The movie received positive feedback after its initial screen test, resulting in a nation and world wide release. The film was a box office success and received positive critical reviews.
   
   This was the first time we saw a different form of fighting style. Much different from other action heroes from that era. And this was due to Aikido, martial arts that uses the opponent's strength to defeat him, mostly through inertia. Seagal holds a 7th Dan in Aikido, making him a full expert in the arts.
   
   The Story of the movie is a bit confusing for an action movie. As a matter of fact a review said " it contains 50 percent more plot than it needs, but that allows it room to grow in areas not ordinarily covered in action thrillers"(Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times=1988) and its true the movie is in a way unoriginal but it manages to be fresh by keeping the audience thinking and observing who is working for whom. The movie commences in Vietnam with the character of Nico Toscanni, he is recruited by the C.I.A to assist as an observant. Then we see the character as a cop investigating a drug ring. And it seems that everyone Nico busts comes out of jail quickly. Instead of being defended he is asked to back off. So it is obvious something is up...but what? The rest I leave to you to find out. Its a clever story that even though it's been used in various action movies of the 80's and 90's it still brings in a an extra punch. A must own by any Seagal enthusiastic
   
   MY PERSONAL RATING: 3 ½ OUT OF 5



5. One of Seagal's best. A piece of work former CIA operative turned cop gets vicious with thugs who are, oo, very nasty pieces of work. There are some great fights & good lines, great supporting work from Pam Grier and Sharon Stone.
   
   The martial arts work is top and there is plenty of high quality B movie cheese. Great stuff & superb entertainment.

5 comments about King Boxer (aka 'Five Fingers Of Death').

1. To all you martial arts fans out there, this movie is not the greatest you'll ever see but it is a good one. You won't see people flying across roof tops or up into trees, but you will see some very interesting styles. The story line is great and the fighting scenes are well done.



2. with King Boxer and all the action and fighting that goes on throughout this movie. You won't want to miss a single moment of it and make sure if you have anyone that's kinda squeamish around violence and blood. They might want to skip this especially with a couple senses one involving someone losing a body part. I'll leave it at that. But i love the "Iron Fist" techinique that the hero learns in the movie and the cool effect/music whenever he activates it. It's lethal and leaves his misguided foes in a heap.
   
   Great movie for its time and now as well. If your a fan of Bruce Lee movies or kungfu, karate then you need to check out King Boxer, it won't disappoint.



3. This movie, unlike other commentors, I cannot see why it cannot be one of the best examples of a Kung-Fu cult classic. It was the number one in the U.S. Box Officce for four consecutive weeks beating the Godfather and Sound of Music at the time. Not to mention it was the first Hong Kong movie to be imported to the U.S. to become so popular and loved among the ofreign public. The director obviously had innate sense of what the public wanted including WOMEN. No wonder Tarantino has adopted so many scenes and music from this movie to be part of "Kill Bill." It really is a movie you need to see at least once before you die. By the wat you should also check out the director's other movies and his filmography. His name is actually Chang-wha Chung. A Korean director who was adopted by Run-run Shaw of Shaw Brothers to work for them to create many movies which resulted in great sucess.



4. This movie really is a must have for fans of Kung Fu movies.
   
   However, when purchasing this DVD, look for the DVD titled "King Boxer." The King Boxer DVD release is a much better and clear picture then the "5 fingers of death" version, which I unfortunately purchased first. The 5 fingers of death version quality is incredibly low, appears to be a bootleg.
   
   I was much happier when I rebought the "King Boxer" version. Same movie, better quality picture.



5. Quintin Tarantino knows..
   The RAZ knows..
   and show should you!
   
   5 fingers of death
   5 deadly venoms
   Master of the flying guillotine
   Eight Diagram Pole Fighter
   36 chambers of Shaolin
   The Last Dragon!! (LEROY!!!)
   
   Represent!!

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 The Glimmer Man.

1. Seagal movies is something I keep around when I want to see people beat half to death. When I want to see some real martial arts I toss on Bruce or Jet. Seagal is alright at best. This movie has The Pony Tailed One mixing it up with The Russian Mafia. Teamed up with Keenan Wayans. The movie delivers with some funny dialogue and good fight scenes. The movie does have a good story and plot with some nice twist. So it's not just all brawn.
   
   This is a nice action flick with a bit of gunplay. The stunt men earn their money in this. I don't find this better than his earlier movies but it's still fun.



2. Wayans is funny in this movie. Steven Seagal is a little bit slower, but still I find it entertaining and I still love him.



3. I guess Seagal wanted to be a little like Eastwood here; giving a more forensic approach to his movies, a little twist here and there...and why not a little of Seagal's special recipe of bone crushing formula, it wont due any harm...right?..Wrong, this movie is the perfect example of Segal's downfall from stardom. Since Seagal isn't as thin or as fast as he used to be, he needs a co-star to have a little more screen time so Seagal can catch his breath and eat little more doughnuts. Seriously Seagal hit top bottom after this, with the exception of Fire Down Below and Exit Wounds, all of Segal's future movies following that sucked.
   
   
   In Glimmer Man Seagal plays Jack Cole, an Ex government intelligence operative known as "The Glimmer Man," because he could move so quickly and quietly that his victims would only see a glimmer before they died. in fact that is so BS, Segal moves slower than his previous movies here, his gut is beginning to grow and his acting is stale and wooden. anyhow back to the movie, Cole is assigned to work with An L.A. police detective named Jim Campbell (Keenen Ivory Wayans) they are both on the look for a serial killer known as the "Family Man" he is given that name because...well he kills families; and aside from killing them he tortures and crucifies them after their deaths. After a string of murders the killer gets personal, he kills Coles wife..and you know what that means...that's right...its payback time, but it seems that this killings are beginning to get weird, there is a copycat making the murders look like "the Family Man"....now the question is Who is the killer, the "family man or the copycat?
   
   Along with these psychos we have a local crime boss doing dealings with the Russians, somehow its all connected and don't expect a clever twist because there really isn't. I give them credit for adding some suspense here and there, but Segal doesn't belong in this movie, he feels out of place. The only good actors in this movie are Keenen Ivory Wayans and Brian Cox. So yeah, rent it or wait for it to be shown on cable, but don't buy it, not worth it.
   
   MY PERSONAL RATING: 2 ½ OUT OF 5



4. The Glimmer Man is Steven Segal's first forary into a buddy movie. Kennan Ivory Wayana gives some good one liners in the film and he even gets beat up a few times. The film has some nice action sequences and some chemsitry between Segal and Wayans. I give *** out of ****.



5. With "Under Siege 2" behind him, Seagal's descent was under way by the time "The Glimmer Man" came to be. Without exaggeration, this is probably our hero's most narcicistic film before his repetitious DTV outings, and one of his lazier productions overall: storyline? - reworked from "Se7en"; action? - same ol', same ol'; supporting cast? - decent, but who cares since Seagal's the star?
   Okay, maybe I'm being a bit harsh, since this movie is far removed from Seagal's worst offerings, but when it comes to his theatrical releases, this shouldn't be your choice to introduce yourself or a friend to the aikido master.
   
   Seagal plays Jack Cole, a new age detective transfered to the west coast to aid the investigation of a brutal serial killer called "the Family Man". Finding a reluctant partner in Lt. Jim Campbell (Keenan Ivory Wayans), the pair must work their way through the killer's web of religious and political motives...before discovering that there may be more than killer, and more than one cause to the slayings.
   
   If Steven Seagal knows anything, it's how to toot his own horn: aside from being an unbeatable fighting machine (" ...like Bruce Lee, even better") and a philosophy-spouting guru, he regularly outdoes his partner in the humor department. Apparently Wayans - who penned totally un-funny material like "In Living Color" and directed laughless films like "Scary Movie" - is comedically challenged in this movie, becoming Seagal's whipping boy by being tricked into eating powdered deer penis and routinely being shown up by "Mister Laughs" Seagal.
   Forgive me for being upset with my hero, but this is probably him at his self-serving best: his will to dominate Wayans and make a fool of him erases the entire premise of a buddy-cop picture.
   
   Then again, Seagal can't take the blame for the entire bad show: the acting of co-star Wayans and bad-guys Bob Gunton ("Patch Adams"), Brian Cox ("Troy"), and John M. Jackson ("J.A.G.") falls into the "ho-hum" and "blah" categories. The baddies are less threatening than they are fat, old, and slightly gaydar-alerting (sharing pools, drinks, and bathrobes? Hmm...). And the fight choreographer apparently only had Seagal's previous movies to use as reference, since there's absolutely nothing new to be found here (believe it, Wayans actually has the best fight of the film).
   
   In the film's defense, the showdown in the church is probably the most tense scene Seagal as ever acted in (not saying much). His wardrobe is good for a laugh. Though dull, the five fights are sound and feature the level of violence we've come to expect from Seagal - iron spike through the head, anyone? And overall, the film has the production values to keep it from looking sloppy.
   Simply, if you managed to put up with the likes of "On Deadly Ground" and "Fire Down Below", watching "Glimmer Man" shouldn't be too tough...but watch it with a hotdog in-hand, so you've got something to divert your attention to when Steven gets preachy.

5 comments about Finishing the Game.

1. I'd known about this movie for quite some time. Various Asian American websites had hyped this movie for more than a year. I knew the movie played at the Asian American Film Festival but I couldn't catch it at that time. When the film was released to theaters in mid-2007, I eagerly looked forward to it.
   
   When I finally saw the film, I left feeling slightly disappointed. While there were some funny bits in the movie (mostly during the auditions), I couldn't help but feel the movie was "lacking" something. I think I was expecting a major laugh riot but instead got a movie that subtly pokes at how Hollywood treats Asian American male actors.
   
   I don't regret seeing the movie as I support Asian American films and entertainment as best as I can. It's worth at least a rental to see if you like the film. However, as far as I am concerned, the film didn't quite live up to the hype.



2. I happen to catch the trailer and was blown away. I had to go out that night and get that movie. I was shocked that haven't heard of it before, a Game Of Death parody.. the story writes itself. However, the movie was just "OK" some funny spots here and there but never quite delivers. Maybe I am spoiled because I was expecting something along the lines of the classic spoof "fistful of yen" from the "Kentucky Fried Movie". All this movie made me do was appreciate the genius of that great classic comedy.



3. As much as I wanted to really like this movie, and as much as I admire the attempt to capture a seventies art-direction feel in the film, this mockumentary lacks punch. The casting director is really the main character here (shared with the couple having problems figuring out their actor/manager relationship) and she fails to deliver more than cliche. A few mildly good scenes (and I liked the Aussie-Bruce who bails on the production) do not a movie make. Character arcs do not satisfy and the movie just ends with a thud (with a cameo by Bottoms.) A better cinema-mocku is "And God Spoke" which has deft satire about the film making process.



4. It was enjoyable and fun, but most of the funny moments were in the trailer for the movie so there is not a lot more that was laugh out loud funny.



5. This movie is fantastic! I love the way Justin Lin, The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, filmed this as a 70's documentary. It was a totally unepxected surprise to see MC Hammer as Roy Thunder. That was so funny and worth the purchase price right there. Hammer should be in more films because he can really act. In fact, one of the funniest lines in Finishing the Game, is when MC Hammer says, "I'm always on the lookout for the next Pat Morita."
   After Bruce Lee died, several Asian actors tried to make Bruceploitation movies that had such stupid titles as Bruce Lee Fights Back From the Grave and Re-enter the Dragon. The Hong Kong film industry was in a panic to try to prolouge Bruce Lee's star power as long as they could by hiring look-a-likes and wannabes. Lin wonderfully satirized that with Fists of Fuhrer and he nailed it in the character Breeze Loo.
   This film is also a look at how Asian actors were treated for a long time by Hollywood in such roles as delivery boys and servants. The real Bruce Lee did a lot to try to change the way Asians are looked at in film. Ironically because of Lee's achievements, now Hollywood is trying to sell Asians as martial arts stars, which means that few Asians are represented as being real. They are mostly reduced to oriental exoticism to sell tickets. Hollywood has yet to make a movie with Asians actors that really show a good well written story that doesn't exploit.
   This movie is a lot of fun. The fact that it doesn't take itself so seriously makes it an enjoyable ride. Its worth a rent or to buy if you want to see an amusing look at how directors and producers attempt to create a film after the star's death.

5 comments about Sudden Death.

1. Again, this product was really new like you always say it and there was no defect whatsoever.Also, the picture quality was clear as well as the sound and I really want to thank you guys once again for the good job you do in reminding people for their
   orders with you.In conclusion,I look forward to doing more business
   with you in the future and thank you for being one of earth's biggest selection on the planet.



2. And then he goes and plays hockey!
   
   Overall I have to say that this flick was one of the stupidest movies ever but the production values are high and the acting is pretty good. Very unusual for a Jean Claude movie. I even remember some classic lines from the hockey announcer. I wouldn't rate this as one of Damme's better movies, but then again, it is really not far off. All in all, this was a fun movie, if you are not over the age of 13.



3. I've never been a big fan of Jean-Claude Van Damme, and as of last night, had never watched a film of his before. Although I did feel like watching Street Fighter a few years back, but I was really into Kylie Minogue at the time. And I was young. That's an excuse right?
   
   I was ended up pleasantly surprised by his acting - for some reason, I'd got it into my head that he's not that good an actor. OK, he was alright, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go rushing out to buy all his films.
   
   There's nothing new about this film, but it'll grab your attention the whole time it's on the screen. It's a clone of many other movies, and and it itself, has probably been cloned over the years. What's terrific is the build up to the finale. It's one of those movies, where just when you think surely it's finished now, it brings out another twist, or another explosion, and you're swept along.
   
   There's a few silly moments included in the film - Van Damme fighting a woman in a penguin suit for example, it's so funny to see and must have been embarrassing to film! :) But it ended up with the woman in the penguin suit someone that could be easily killed off and no one worries about her.
   
   Three quarters of the way through the movie Van Damme decides to take a quick break from all the hard work - and play some hockey! At first I totally did not realise it was Van Damme, for some reason, I thought it was one of the bad guys. It wasn't until the over done "I love you" moment, that I realised who it was.
   
   Unfortunately, Van Damme is far overshadowed by bigger, better action heroes, despite his best attempts at an impression of Bruce Willis throughout. Arnie & Sly obviously have the bigger muscles, and dare I say it, Mr Seagull has the overall size. Who would win in a punch up?
   
   What I was most looking forward to about this was seeing little Ross Malinger again, who I best knew from Sleepless In Seattle. He doesn't play a different character, or look any older (who else wanted him to stand up & shout out "I preferred my daddy in Sleepless In Seattle!")
   
   Overall, it's a pretty good action movie, doesn't test the braincells too much, and is pretty good fun.



4. I like hockey and I like action movies. This was one of my favorite movies growing up and I still enjoy it today. The movie has great action moments and Van Damme has his best movie.



5. I am not sure why I hear a lot of bad comments about this Van Damme film. Sudden Death is one of many "Die Hard" remakes, but this is the most exciting one I have seen, all taking place in the Pittsburgh hockey arena during game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. The action and suspense are teriffic, and Van Damme does a fine all-around performance (for Van Damme). The movie is quickly paced and something is always happening. Though acting and visual effects may be poor at times, this is not a film to be watching for a wonderful hollywood drama. This is pure Van Damme excitment for some no-brain kick-butt action. I give 4.5 stars, not because this is one of the best movies ever made, but it is one of the most exciting Van Damme movies that is must see fun.
   
   Van Damme is "Darren", a sort-of fire rescue man who brings his daughter and son to the hockey game. Before the game begins, preparations are already unfolding for a new terror plot. The Vice President is on his way to the game to view the action live, and the terrorists are ready to take action once he takes his position in the owner's vip room. Naturally, the man in charge (Joshua Foss, played by Powers Boothe) wants money, and if he doesn't get it, he kills one hostage in the room after each period of the game expires. If the money is not in his account, the entire arena is rigged to blow at the conclusion of the game.
   
   Enter Van Damme, who plays hero, but does an exciting job of it. He gets in plenty of fights throughout the interior of the arena and on the rooftop as well. My favorite is with one of the terrorist women, who is disguised in the Penguin's mascot outfit. Its kinda silly that he is fighting a mascot, but the kitchen they fight in gets torn up real good. There is also a pretty good fight in the weight room later on.
   
   One of the most exciting things about the film is that it is all taking place during a hockey game. The game itself is fun to watch, as we get dozens of clips throughout the movie. At one point, in an attempt to avoid some of the terrorists, Van Damme enters the game as the Penguin's goalee, though no one realizes it. He is forced to play a few minutes of the game, and it was pretty fun to see.
   
   Again, 4.5 for a great Van Damme film. Do check this one out, as it is a roller coaster that never stops. Though the ending is predicatble, its fun to see how we get there.

5 comments about Five Deadly Venoms.

1. Fully restored and anamorphic widescreen. Unlike the crappy bootleg copies others sell on Amazon, the picture looks great. The only negative I can see is that it doesn't have the original Chinese language track with English subtitles, but that doesn't really matter to me because I like the English Language track better. Old-School King-Fu movies, especially Shaw brothers are better enjoyed that way I feel, reminds me of my youth. Buy this edition for the best quality of this classic film.



2. INSTANT CLASSIC!! You must have this movie if you are a fan of Kung-fu movies!! The various characters and styles were outrageous, but well-represented. The Red-Sun version sound was adequate, but my version got stuck when #4 quits the police department. I think this is a hit or miss.



3. To anybody who never saw a "real" kung fu movie or thinks it's chop-socky nonsense, then watch this awesome movie. It will change your whole attitude around. Like most of the reviewers, I caught this movie as a kid on "Drive In Movie" Saturday afternoon in the early 80s. Actually, "Chinatown Kid" (another classic starring the Venoms & the late Fu Sheng) was my first official intro to the incredible Shaw Brothers/Chang Cheh realm. "Five Venoms", along with "The Kid With the Golden Arm" (same people behind that), "Master Killer" (directed by Liu Chia-liang, starring his half-brother, Gordon Liu) & "The Prodigal Son" (Samo Hung wing chun classic), is simply one of the best.
   
   First, the film itself~everyone seems to know the story, dying sifu (Tu Lung a.k.a. Dick Wei) of the Poison Clan sends his last student Yang Tieh (the late Chiang Sheng) to seek out his other five students. Ally himself with one virtuous venom and kill the ones who are villainous. The five venoms are #1 Centipede; Tang San-kwei (Lu Feng), #2 Snake; Hung Wen-tung (Wei Pai, who I never considered to be a real venom. He was only in four of their films and wasn't a real martial artist like the rest of them), #3 Scorpion; Ma Tang (Sun Chien), #4 Lizard; Ho Yung-hsin (Philip Kuo Chui) & #5 Toad; Li Ho (Golden Arm himself Lo Mang).
   
   Despite not having as many fights as some of the other Venom classics, the story is so engrossing it doesn't matter. However, the fights that do occur deliver the goods. Kudos to Robert Tai & Liang Ting for their choreography, especially Toad versus Centipede and that incredible end fight. Even Wei Pai looks good, although he's totally outclassed by Kuo & Chiang. Great performances and great music. I know it's stock music but Chen Yung-yu really picked out some of the best tracks.
   
   A little trivia info, the Snake venom was originally supposed to be played by a woman and #1 & #2 were husband and wife. Director Chang Cheh (reportedly a chauvinist) scrapped the idea because he didn't want a woman having a lead role in his movie. Next, the DVD transfer~the Red Sun version is the best one right now, they must have borrowed their version from Celestial. It's widescreen, crisp picture, decent audio and it's uncut (you see the Scorpion sort of lose his mind right before he dies). Unfortunately, it's dubbed but at least it's those Australian people doing the English voices. Good news, Celestial Pictures did a slamming job on their version; bad news, it's region 3. However, Image Entertainment has been re-releasing awesome prints of Shaw Brother classics on region 1. Check out my review for "Have Sword Will Travel."



4. I remember watching this movie with my entire family when I was young. The moves that these guy's had in this movie was something to behold. Everyone that I know no matter what race that they are just loves this movie. When you put on this movie people are sure to want to sit down to watch it.
   
   I watched this movie with my father as a kid. Then I watched this movie with my own daughter when she was a kid. Now that she has an eight month old son I'm sure she'll watch it with him.
   
   If you are looking for action, great story line, moves like you can never believe, A-rate actors, then do not look any further. STOP and buy this movie NOW!



5. The Five Deadly Venoms is something of a cult classic, though its hard to see why. There is very little martial arts action, and what there is is not all that spectacular. Most of the film is a plodding murder mystery that will have you reaching for the remote and the fast forward button - insipid dialog, bad acting, zero suspense, no location shooting, and cheesy special effects. Back in 1978 this may have been top-notch martial arts film-making, but in comparison to more recent efforts it holds up very poorly. For history buffs and nostalgia trippers only.
   
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