2 comments about Gi Samurai (Dub).

1. This movie is about a small group of Japanese GIs who enter a time warp and are transported back about 300-400 years during Japan's warring states period and do battle with the samurai.

   You would expect that the GIs would slaughter the samurai, who lack modern firearms and explosives, but because the GIs are so vastly outnumbered, they have a heck of a fight on their hands.

   This movie wastes little time with plot or characterization and most of the movie focuses on overlong, underproduced battle scenes that get somewhat tiresome after awhile.

   However, I felt that the long action scenes indicated a sincere effort on the part of the filmmakers to make a film that is at least entertaining, if not particularly thoughtful.

   I would recommend watching this one on a lazy Saturday morning over a bowl of Capn Crunch, but don't kill your Friday or Saturday night with this one, it's just not that good.




2. Basically a bunch of modern (1981) Japanese soldiers and their equipment (one tank, one half-track, one truck, one jeep, one boat, one helicopter--it's like a bad video game premise) accidentally go back in time for no darned reason and meet up with their Samurai fellow-warriors. It's a weak start and it's a bit incoherent (almost certainly due to bad translations for the English dubbing) but at any rate they end up siding with a Samurai leader with the intention of taking over Japan...or going back to their own time. It's unclear which or why or who or what.
   
   What makes this film memorable is a series of scenes where these modern soldiers (armed with modern weapons) fight increasingly larger feudal Japanese forces (not armed with modern weapons). This belligerence culminates in a spectacular and ferociously brutal battle with a genuinely immense Samurai/Ninja army. Sure, this sort of thing has been done before but not on this epic or visceral level. It's as if Kurosawa did his own version of "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" and tossed in quite a lot of "Saving Private Ryan" and "Zulu." There's more than a whiff of "Seven Samurai" here too. During these scenes the movie stops being laughable and starts getting thought-provoking. I'd love to see it cleaned up with subtitles. It'd probably make more sense.
   
   Sadly, this film looks like it may be heading to oblivion--I paid all of 99 cents for my copy--but it at least should be salvaged for these astonishing battle sequences. That's why I'm giving it four stars.
   
   UPDATE! Just released on DVD as part of a group of Sonny Chiba releases! Forty minutes of extra footage! Wowser!

5 comments about Shaolin & Wu Tang 2 - Wu Tang Invasion.

1. OK, not the best in the world, but worth the purchase. Tons of silly dialogue, corny intros to the main characters (wait'll you see the stunt 'horse riding' antics), but the fight scenes are strong; extended in length, and choreographed very well. The finale is gritty, but without a lot of excessive melodrama. All in all, pretty good, but only when you have the extra bucks.



2. This is a great kung-fu flick. Plenty of action, decent storyline, and fun fight scenes. If the old kung-fu movies are somthing you like, you'll be entertained by this one.
   
   What sets this movie apart from many other movies of this genre are the fantastic views of the Chinese countryside. Seriously, some of the settings for the action of this film are just amazing.
   
   No, it isn't as good as the first movie with Gordon Liu, but how many martial arts movies are? Buy this movie already.



3. I am talking there is a monk training who jumps on to his back AS HARD AS HE CAN ON THE DIRT GROUND AND SPRING BACK UP EVERY TIME HIGHER AND HIGHER. And I;m not talking abou using his hands, he does THE hardest hits and springs on his back I have ever. Unfortunately the movie is not a good one even for kung fu terms. And that guy I was just talking about, that's like his only part. But there is a monk named yu nan I think and this guy can really fight. He is small and has a single expression he shows on his face. I don't have any idea who this guy is but I would think he was in at least a couple other mainland films.
   
   
   OH YEAH I FORGOT TO TELL YOU IRON MONKEY IS IN THIS. This must be his first movie and his fighting skills aren't polished by any means. He has always been an underused actor as the years have progressed but man do they show him off in this one. Now his fights are unpolished, but like jet in shaolin temple, he is a serious athlete. Meaining that even a guy like allen iverson would have respect for him. And speaking of allen, EVERYONE in this movie had ot have broken a couple of bones. The final kick of the movie by yu nan and iron monkey is spectacular but still doesn't look worth the pain the actors went through. Then iron monkey takes a shot at least twice as hard in the next shot and that was all by himself. I seriously thought he must have died in real life. And the hordst stunts are the sheeit. Dangerous stuff always going on in this movie, no story, but the fights are plentiful and VERY good. VERY VERY GOOOOODOOD.
   
   The Xenon version is nicely widescreened, but suffers from a very worn out and faded picture. I like the cantonese track but the subs are very difficult to read and decipher when you can read them. But don't worry, it's iron monkey beating everyone's ass.



4. Plot was a little confusing at first. Great fight scenes at the end.



5. I watched this film about 5 times on vhs loved it so much that I wanted to own it on dvd for my collection this film is good in every aspect.
   The action is intense extermly well done a classic would highly recommend this one.

No comments about CHOY LAY FUT - D.

2 comments about Kung Fu Executioner.

1. this was a good movie although not the bes I've seen it was action pacted thriller



2. For those who haven't seen this movie, there is one easy way to descibe it, action packed. The story is very close to that of the first Godfather, just add in the kung fu. Fans of Billy Chong will not be disappointed in this film. Carl R Scott also does an excellent showing in this movie. The picture quality and sound were very good. If you watch this one and like it I would also recommend "A Hard Way To Die" with both Chong and Scott. Fans of Billy Chong might also want to pick up "Super Power" my all time favorite of his.

3 comments about Tai Chi Connections (YMAA Taijiquan).

1. Over the past twelve years, I have tried to learn Tai Chi by using several different video lessons, however, "Tai Chi Connections" by Sifu John Loupos is the only one I have found that fully explains how to execute the positions. Each movement is shown from different angles, and Sifu Loupos illustrates the small subtleties needed to do each movement correctly and how to make any necessary revisions. Although Sifu Loupos has been a well-respected Tai Chi Master for many years, he sets a light, enjoyable tone for the DVD, which makes learning very fun.



2. I haven't finished reading this book yet, but it is very readable and I am learning a lot from it.
   I purchased the book because I liked the DVD so much. I take Tai chi classes and though his
   techniques are a little different, what he says is applicable to all forms. I love listening to him
   and find him very inspiring, thus the purchase of the book. I wish I lived in Mass. to take his
   classes...watching and reading have helped me in my practice.



3. John Loupos has to be one of the best tai chi masters in the country. seriously.
   
   read my other reviews. i don't pull punches when it comes to criticism. but this video is truly one of the best instructional DVD's out there. his explanations and corrections are better than any in-person instructor i've ever met. his movements are flawless, and yet not too rigid. he's very thorough and clear as he breaks down the first 17 movements of the yang long form.
   
   i only wish that he would make a video of the ENTIRE long form. i have no doubt that it would be the best on the market.
   
   people really need to find out about this guy. i'm a qigong instructor in california, and i'm thinking of traveling to the east coast to study with him for a while. he's that good!

No comments about Traditional Japanese Okinawan Kobudo BO-JO-TECHU-YARI-KAMA.

1 comments about Fist Power.

1. Along with Chiu Man Cheuk's Body Weapon film, Fist Power could've been great. Chiu is a very talented fighter and practices the same Wu Shu as Jet Li, he's been known as the heir to Jet as well. He took over Jet's duties as Wong Fei Hung in OUATIC IV & V and did a pretty decent job, and he even fought against Jet in Fong Sai Yuk which was pretty awesome. However, he has a few so-so flicks of his own. Fist Power is about an ex military official (Anthony Wong) who holds an elementary school hostage because he wants to see his son(not biological, but raised him), who is being flown to America by the mother and her mobbish husband(biological father of boy). Cheuk is a professional security trainer who has a nephew that is at the same school. Wong and Cheuk know each other prior to this, and Cheuk decides to bring back Wong's son before he will supposedly blow up the school. The rest of the film is Cheuk fighting off bodyguards and other baddies sent by the mobbish husband to prevent the boy from seeing the father. This could've been a great film, there were plenty of fights, some decent humor, and a really pretty girl. The problem? The camera shooting and choreography. It's god awful, you can't even see whats going on. For example, Cheuk would start an awesome kick and just before it hits his opponent, the camera would black out (flash out) and then you'd would see the opponent fly back as if he was hit without showing the hit. There is a lot of no contact showing in this film and thats too bad because Cheuk shows off some of his best stuff I've ever seen or almost saw. Theres one fight in the dark where he just lights a lighter for a little view of the several guards in the area, and he takes them all out, but all you can see is a little kick or punch here and there. The camera work is just pitiful, all of Cheuk's best moves would just be cut off showing no contact as if the director wanted this to be a PG movie or something. I suggest a viewing before even thinking about buying this. Who knows, maybe you'll like the camera work. All I know is that it frustrated me and 2 stars is the best I would give it. For better Chiu Man Cheuk flicks, check out Fong Sai Yuk along side with Jet and OUATIC 4 & 5. Hope this was helpful, check out my other reviews too, mostly HK flicks.

No comments about Eastern Heroes: Fury of the Silver Fox.

No comments about Traditional Japanese Okinawan Kobudo TONGFA-TAN BO-NAGINATA.

No comments about Ultimate Ninja Collection - Silver Dragon Ninja.