5 comments about Hero [UMD for PSP].

1. First off, it is important to note that this version is the shorter, American version. While some of the changes were subtle, they do take away from what I consider to be a flawless film. For instance, the translation of Huang Di in this version is 'Our Land'. And while that seems nice, the true translation is 'All Under Heaven'. Just has so much more poetry to it. If you enjoyed this film in the US, seek out the original version.
   
   Hero is fantastic because it is not a pure martial arts movie. With Zhang Yimou at the helm, there was something else to be expected of this film- and it delivered.
   
   What Hero represents is martial arts filmmaking as an art form. While watching the movie the thought that kept popping into my head was 'visual poetry'. The amount of nuance and subtlety that Hero contains is hard to even begin to explain. But the more you watch, the more you see the little details that add so much to the film, mostly on a subconcious level.
   
   See the colors change. Notice when all the sound is pulled out in favor of silence, or of just the musical score. The power of a scream where there is no sound is overwhelming. The interplay between regular and slo-motion is used, not just for visual style, but to jar ones senses or to convey an emotion that words cannot evoke. See th focus change as the direcotr leads your eye around the screen. Notice the arrangement of people and objects in the frame. Nothing is an accident. Nothing is left to chance. It is obvious that Yimou has control over even the slightest detail, a gift reserved for a handful of only the most talented like Hitchcock or Scorsese or Wong Kar-Wai.
   
   The fight scenes in Hero are amazing because they have a life of their own. They weren't designed to "one-up" every other fight scene ever committed to film. The much touted Jet v. Donnie fight is extraordinary. Not because it is the most technically complicated or the most mind-blowing, but because it is designed for these two legends to be in perfect sync with one another. It is flawless. Even more so, it tells a story.
   
   In the fight we see the essence of these two characters. And the fight scenes just get better from there. The scene over the lake still gives me chills when I watch it. That may well be the most poetic choreography I've ever seen.
   
   What else excited me about this film is that Tan Dun returned from doing his excellent Crouching Tiger score to do this one. Except this time, he traded in master cellist Yo-Yo Ma for legend violinst Itzhak Perlman. This score is more accessible than the CTHD one was. And the music is like its own character in this film, sometimes being the only thing one hears. It complements the picture and the story brilliantly and lends much to the viewing experience.
   
   I was disheartened to see negative reviews on the internet where people felt it was a film that was a propaganda piece for China and its rule. I understand that the real Huang Di was not as beneficent as he was portrayed in this film, and that his rule was violent and short. But what I saw wasn't propaganda for a communist/socialist government. What I saw was the beauty of a culture that evolved over hundreds of years of bloodshed and hardship. And regardless of the official party line, I was moved by "All under heaven". At no point was I ready to throw a Che or Chairman Mao poster on my wall. I don't think this is the movie that people need to worry about "sending the wrong message" to the kids.
   
   This film was not meant to be any type of historical record (that's why we have history books and why movies aren't valid sources to cite in research papers). What this movie represents is filmmaking at its greatest height. The film as a true art form, combining on-screen and off-screen talent with visuals and audio that can stand alone, yet when combined, equal more than the sum of their parts. Asian film fans, martial arts fans, the average Joe, and film snobs alike should be able to appreciate this on many, many different levels.



2. Not going to ruin the ending for people, but even with the sad ending, this is one of the best movies with Jet Li. It reminds me a lot of Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince. From the philosophy of how to become a good king and betrayals thereof. Everything about this movie is pure aesthetic, and art for arts sake. The backdrop is so illuminating and dreamlike. How in one moment, the scenery is very green, then very red, that it gets really fun to guess what the next color will be. Overall, an awesome movie you don't want to miss.



3. Red version: Hero is the story of one man's quest (Nameless, played by Jet Li) to destroy the three assassins (lovers Broken Sword played by Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Flying Snow played by Maggie Cheung, and Sky played by Donnie Yen) who tried to kill the King of Qin (Chen Daoming). Nameless bests Sky in combat, and Broken Sword and Flying Snow betray each other, all the while fighting off the King's entire army, until Nameless finally kills Snow. At least, that's the story Nameless tells the King, who is privileged with advancing within ten paces of him.
   
   Blue version: The King disagrees. He knows the assassin lovers and doesn't believe the story. He instead believes that the three assassins sacrificed their own lives to allow Nameless the audience with the King, and thus a chance to commit regicide himself. He has developed a special move, the King theorizes, that can kill a man at ten paces.
   
   White version: Now the truth comes out. Nameless explains who he is, where he came from, and why he is in the King's palace. Nameless has a technique that can skewer a person while missing all their vital organs, making the blow look fatal. He used it on Sky and he uses it again on Flying Snow. Surprisingly, Broken Sword is against the entire notion of assassinating the King at all, a decision that harkens back to the duo's first assassination attempt. It failed only because Broken Sword chose not to kill the King.
   
   Throughout the movie parallels are made between calligraphy and martial arts, and specifically the symbol for the word "sword." There are deeper meanings within the brush strokes, a form of enlightenment that Broken Sword achieved and that the King discovers in his conversation with his would-be assassin. Nameless' decision and the effect it has on the other assassins provides the twist to the tale.
   
   Hero is a breathtaking movie, filled with balletic martial arts, lovely scenes in vivid colors, and natural settings reflecting China's ancient history and beauty. It's entertaining and moving, and the relationship between Broken Sword and Flying Snow anchors the piece. The three different tales, each depicted by a particular color scheme, provides different backdrops for heroics, drama, and warfare.
   
   On the other hand, Hero is a Chinese cinematic version of "Who Moved My Cheese" - it reinforces the status quo with a sinister charm. Killing kings is foolish, says Hero, because it only leads to more war. Nameless' decision is one of sacrifice, one for the many. Were this only a fable, the story wouldn't be politically charged. But the King of Qin went on to become the Emperor of China, who did a lot of great things. So, you know, killing him would be bad because China wouldn't be nearly as great without him.
   
   The question becomes whether or not that matters on a greater moral scale. Hero clearly makes the point that we should feel sympathy for the poor King in his enlightened state. Revenge never gets anyone anywhere. And yet by reducing the course of history to the assassination of one man, Hero makes many assumptions: about the importance of said man, about the progress of China, about our own human failings. It's a very Chinese movie, which makes it either more authentic or less palatable to American audiences. It all depends on your definition of the term "hero."



4. Hero genuinely impressed me, much to my surprise - I'm not a fan of the humourlessly one-note Jet Li, who has always struck me as a character from Mystery Men who didn't make the final cut (useless `super' power - the ability to wave a flagpole around very, very fast) and after all the fuss made over the tedious, overlong and undernourished Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was expecting the Western critical praise to translate into another tired and overfamiliar movie that appealed mainly to people who hadn't seen much Eastern cinema. Boy, was I wrong. A gorgeous looking epic with a real sense of scale and amazing visuals allied to a complex plot, I was kicking myself for not seeing this one on the big screen. Not everything is successful (the duel on the lake never quite works), but more than enough is to guarantee repeat viewings. Li's limitations are used well for once and while Ziyi Zhang's petulant acting still doesn't entirely convince me, it's surprising to find the weakest performance coming from the film's best actor, Tony Leung Chiu Wai. Never at his most convincing in fantasy swordplay movies (the introspective Ashes of Time excepted), he seems a little underpowered for such an iconic role. But these are minor quibbles with a major delight.
   
   Be aware that there is an extended director's cut available in China (the disc has English subtitles though there is a curious intermittent trademark watermark in the top of the screen), although Miramax seem in no hurry to release it here.



5. As I read the others reviews - very accurated - and do not dare to say more about this " another-masterpiece " from the master Zhang Yimou.
   I will just say that I saw it at the movie. That I had one copy, that some friend borrowed and I could not ' not-have ' - one copy to review and review.
   No. I am using this chance to say that thanks to the cybernetics I can buy from the most serious and correct seller of this planet: I bought the dvd with an estimated delivery time of october 1st - and received it today, sept 18th !!! Perfect! Brand new! Hot! Crisp! That's Amazon !

5 comments about Taffin.

1. Brosnan did an excellent job considering the story line and his youth.
   Why do these idiots making films think they have to depend on a stripper to hook the guys. Wasn't the movie itself good enough?

   We don't need to see what guys are like - we already know!
   Story line was good enough to promote a bit of interest - the quest of how he would take out the villians kept the interest -- but the exploiting of women just keeps up -- I ain't seen a nude man yet -- would have to bury him under a pile of sh---- if I did.

   Ah well, can't keep them all -- I blame hollywood for lousing up some great actors.




2. I really really enjoyed it. As a matter of fact if I could re-watch Taffin vs any of Pierce's Bond flicks, I'd take Taffin any day. I am always entertained more by English films (or in this case Irish), than I am by most American films, they just seem more unpredictable because I don't know what to expect. Taffin has Pierce looking really cool (and he still is semi young so more believable as a killer to me), plus the eye candy is not too shabby in this one with some nice topless views that you wont get in a Bond film. Is it full of plot holes? Yeah big time, but Pierce kicks some ass his way and does it in a funny way. Its an American 60's crime flick thats light on the moral dialog, its just the bad corporation and the little townsfolk hiring their gunslinger to protect them. Pierce does it in a very sly way and doesn't resort to the kill until he has to. I see a LOT of low votes on this film on IMDB, they must hate English speaking foreign films (or they're psycho Lazenby Bond lovers out to besmirch all of Pierce's films, lol). Me, I liked the films Pierce did around this time, like Livewire and the Deceivers. I think I've liked most flicks Pierce has been in that I saw (one of those Bond flicks with a bad-guy taking over the internet or something was lame but any Bond flick is good or bad based on the bad guy not so much the Bond), and Taffin had me smiling, it was cool entertainment. Will I be buying the DVD, maybe used, the Arab channel I watched it on had the nudity but bleeped out the profanity, go figure, lol. Looking for a cool, mindless, Irish (!), action flick? Check out Taffin, I'm glad I did!



3. It is a well known fact that I am not a great admirer of Pierce Brosnan as James Bond. Although he looked handsome enough to be James Bond he never looked tough enough. Much has been made of the fact that although the newest 007 Daniel Craig does not look handsome enough to play the secret agent (some going as far as to call him "ugly") he does look tough enough to play the part.
   In fact I would say that Brosnan looked tougher in the thriller FOURTH PROTOCOL in the part of the Soviet agent (see my review on that product page) and in this movie (made around the same time as the Forsyth thriller) he managed to convey a certain dangerous quality.
   In this movie, set in his native Ireland, Brosnan plays a debt collector (Mark Taffin) who when not working is happy to spend his time reading books on philosophy and theory. The movie starts by showing us Taffin collecting on some debts. These opening sequences establish his tough credentials as we see him beat up three men in a restaurant (and in the process demolish the establishments dining room) and go head to head with a barman and getting his way (with the help of a wine glass.) Yes, this guy is a toughie, but not one without a softer side displayed when he gives advice to a group of local youths on how to get even with a crooked car dealer who sold them a `lemon.'
   Although disapproving of his methods the villagers approach him about saving a local sports field threatened by an access road and then stopping the construction of a chemical plant that was to have been served by the access road. In doing so Taffin must confront a shady Mr. Big-style business figure, his henchmen and an assorted group of corrupt politicians in the pocket of the magnate.
   This is a very entertaining movie that reminded me of the Mike Figgis movie STORMY MONDAY in its depiction of provincial gang violence. But whereas that movie involved the attempt to foil an American developer (played by Tommy Lee Jones) from intimidating Sting's nightclub character in the English city of Newcastle, this movie is much more rural in its focus and is all the better for it. The characters are well drawn and the cast chosen takes full advantage turning in believable performances.
   Brosnan's character avoids falling into the trap of being an unsympathetic character. The danger is there since he uses less than honorable tactics involving everything from blackmail to downright violence, but we know that he is fighting on the side of what is right and just so we can forgive him. He is also well drawn as a character and in addition to witnessing his troubles with girlfriend Charlotte, we also see him at home with his mother and brother. Its in these dramatic scenes that Brosnan really shows us why he is such an acclaimed actor. I have a new respect for him after seeing him in this movie.
   On an interesting side note Brosnan is joined here by Alison Doody as Charlotte, who played the part of a Bond girl in the 007 movie A VIEW TO A KILL. Of course he would go on to play the lead in the series, but here the simply stunningly beautiful Doody shows acting promise that she was not permitted in her minor role as an assassin in the 007 picture. No doubt her performance here played a part in her getting the lead female role in the third Indiana Jones movie the following year.



4. This film is an engaging variation of the immortal theme of good battling with and finally winning over evil and great odds. It is engaging because Pierce Brosnan is a kind of modern Robin Hood, and is (as always) so good to look at, impossibly handsome but also an excellent actor, commanding attention. He has the kind of looks that makes this writer, rather uncharacteristically, wish that people could remain young forever. His co-stars in the film match him in performances that are convincing, with the exception of Alison Doody, who is beautiful too, but (in my opinion) somewhat cliched in her approach to her character, her acting abilities insufficient for a role which I feel is quite seminal in the story (in spite of the contemporary interest in sexual expression, there is more to acting than sex and/or taking one's clothes off). This is particularly noticeable in the final scenes, where she berates Taffin's former friends in the pub for not believing in him. Her delivery just didn't match the power of the words she was given to say. Nevertheless, the story ends in a way that is emotionally satisfying, thought slightly bittersweet, in that through misfortune, Taffin has to leave the small town where he grew up, to enter the larger stage of the world, which he is quite capable of taking on.



5. I hadn't heard of this 1988 film before, and I'm a Brosnan fan. This one did not disppoint me--very action packed! It was set in Pierce Brosnan's native Ireland. Here he plays Mark Taffin a rather hardcore debt collector, that gets the job done. He is a loner with a conscience and heart, though. Taffin gets himself involved with the town's people because of these abilities and they need a person who could go to bat for them against a big business that was going to destroy their beloved sportsfield to make way for a harmful chemical plant. Pierce was at his best in this action movie. A great, but obscure movie for Pierce and just plain good entertainment. If you like action packed films and Bond, you'll like this one.

5 comments about The Ultimate Sniper.

1. Very poor sound quality ruins the whole DVD. There is some good info but I could hardly stand to listen to it. This should cost only $5 or $10 at the most.



2. Very interesting content. In my opinion, one of the better documentary on the basic makings of a Sniper. The video quality is similar to VHS tape (that has been played more than enough). It would have received 4 stars if the video quality was DVD or HD equivalent. I hope the Major would release a better quality version as I would not mind spending on the same title that has a better video quality format. It would have received 5 stars if the on-the-field diagrams are computer generated in sequence as to illustrate the effectiveness in range/target gauging, etc.



3. please if you have not expirience at all with snipers this dvd wont help you the guy just talks about many things that are not real important if you dont know how to measure your target and how to graduate your scope
   you will loose your money because he do not teach that
   
   besides really bad sound and image



4. the dvd shows the basics of what snipers do. not an advanced course, more of an intoduction.



5. If you've read the book, which has some descent information and building blocks for this topic, pass on this video. I'll give the Major the benefit of the doubt here and guess it's his first acting attempt. Some of the camo is geared toward hunting since anyone watching the intro would shoot his hookie camo wrap thing. His attempt to show you the real techniques which he described in the book is lost in this video. Half way through I was fighting to pay attention and feeling rather sleepy. That being said I do recommend the Advance Ultimate Sniper dvd. Read my review on that title.

3 comments about The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies.

1. Presented by Samuel L. Jackson, THE ART OF ACTION is an enjoyable and entertaining look at the history of matial arts films from its origins in Peking Opera in China, which was performed by men in women's clothing. Strangely, the first kung fu features were made with the WOMEN doing all the fighting as film was then considered a lower medium in China, and it was "dishonorable" for men to stoop to that level!
   Of course, no film about martial arts could be made without Bruce Lee, "The James Bond Of Martial Arts". Here viewers are treated to footage from RETURN OF THE DRAGON where Lee beats the bejesus out of a young Chuck Norris, as well as hearing Lee's philosophies on kung fu, which remain intriguing and inspiring no matter how many times you hear them.
   THE ART OF ACTION also features appearances from Jackie Chan, recounting his experiences as part of a Peking Opera troupe at age 7, as well as ruminations by John Woo, Ang Lee and Steven Seagal. There's plenty here to educate and entertain viewers, though stranglely Hammer's martial arts/ horror film LEGEND OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES is overlooked here... but Cynthia Rothrock's cruddy movies get some attention! I just don't get it! That remains my only quibble. Also features clips from more recent films like RUSH HOUR 2 and CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON.
   If you like this, you may want to check out the similar documentary CINEMA OF VENGEANCE which is about the history of martial arts and Hong Kong action films, though personally I found THE ART OF ACTION to be more entertaining. Both movies are highly recommended.



2. This in-depth documentary gives a behind-the-scenes look at the history of the martial arts films. It shows what the early pioneers of martial arts had to do to pass on the skills when the then rulers wanted to forbid the practice. The journey is one of rebellious beginnings to high flying stunts in movies today. It also features the work of Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Jackie Chan,Sammo Hung and others. This is a great documentary to watch if you want to learn more about the world of martial arts in films.



3. This movie does not show like many great clips but is a pretty good documentary. It starts out talking about the the first shaw movies and lau kar-leung, and also the origins of kung fu(briefly), women in the 20's making these movies, and of course kwan tak-hing. The only thing that I really had a problem with is that they just passed over the jimmy wang yu, lo lieh, chen kwan tai, hwang jang lee, etc. I don;t think it even mentions the venoms!! They show some good clips from one armed swordsman, but even though they show their dramatic scene, they don't even mention jimmy or lie's name. So it goes way to quickly into the new school stuff like crouching tiger but does not capitilize on the golden age of kung fu.

4 comments about Ultimate Fighting Championship, Vol. 71: Liddell vs. Jackson.

1. *WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS*
   
   Overall, UFC 71 was a pretty good fight card. Two fights stand out in mind:
   
   First, of course, is the main event. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson makes it 2-0 against "The Iceman" Chuck Liddell, this time winning the UFC Light Heavyweight Crown in the process. A shocking end, thanks to a devastating Rampage right hook, to Liddell's reign as king of the UFC's light heavyweight division, and the beginning of the Rampage Era.
   
   As good as the Rampage-Liddell main event was, that wasn't even the biggest upset of the night. That honor belongs to UFC newcomer Houston Alexander. With a 6-1 MMA record going into the fight, many thought that he would be easy pickings for odds-on favorite Keith "The Dean of Mean" Jardine. Nobody told "The Assassin" that, who shockingly demolished Jardine in a mere 48 seconds with a series of brutal punches and uppercuts.
   
   As I said, overall it was a good card.



2. UFC 71 is a pretty good card overall, it has some pretty entertaining bouts. This DVD is a must buy for one reason and one reason only, the fight between the LHW Champ Chuck Liddell and the number one contender Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Jackson was already 1-0 against Chuck having beat him a few years back in the Pride 2003 Gran Prix. Would he go ahead and make it 2-0 or would the Champ keep his belt? I highly recommend purchasing this event. I will personaly buy this Dvd myself and that is saying something because I only buy the good ones.



3. This is one of the best UFC events I have seen in a very long time. Granted, there are some really short fights, and some people may find that to be disappointing, but even those fights have really good finishes. The only exception is the bout between Irvin and Silva, since on paper this was one of the best match-ups of the night due to the careless aggressiveness of the contestants, but an early injury concluded it before we could get what we were hoping for.
   
   All the bouts in the main card were excellent. The weakest one was probably Leben vs. Starren, but it was still a well-rounded and evenly-matched confrontation with plenty of exciting moments. Of course the anticipation surrounding the Liddell vs. Jackson fight made it one of the highlights of the night, and even though it is a short bout, the action is electrifying. Nevertheless, I have to say that the match-up that stole the night was Parisyan vs. Berkman, with two fighters that left everything they had inside the octagon, and who demonstrated an impressive set of skills. This fight had it all, guns-blazing stand-up action, judo, ju-jitsu, you name it.
   
   The quick decision in many of the fights forced the producers to release a product that is about thirty minutes shorter than the norm, and that is after adding stuff, like an overview of the record of each player and their previous fights, even for the undercard bouts. However, unless you are somebody that likes longer fights instead of knockouts / submissions, the overall quality of the product is outstanding.



4. Date: May 26, 2007
   Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
   
   This fight card presents a fairly decent night of fights leading up to a rematch long-in-the-making between Chuck Liddell and Quinton Jackson. It is a fight card populated mostly by good fighters who (in my opinion) have very little impact on their respective divisions.
   
   Carmello Marrero vs. Wilson Gouveia: This one is decent and mildly entertaining, although brief.
   
   Din Thomas vs. Jeremy Stephens: Stephens has his debut fight against a seasoned veteran in Din Thomas. Thomas again looks very good against the only level of competition he ever truly looks good against. I do not see him as a legit contender and he has been around forever. He is a very talented fighter, but he has proven not to be able to stack up against the best. This fight has absolutely no impact on the division. Oh well...
   
   Alan Belcher vs. Sean Salmon: Both fighters are coming off of losses and both have a lot to prove in the UFC. Here, only one fighter seems to fight as though he is in such a predicament.
   
   James Irvin vs. Thiago Silva: James Irvin is luckily injured in this fight and potentially saved from a vicious beating... Silva is the next beast coming out of the esteemed Chute Box Academy. We will be seeing more of him soon.
   
   Chris Leben vs. Kalib Starnes: If someone was to ask me to concoct a matchup between the two UFC fighters who most annoy me, this would be the result. This fight is a snoozer and again has no impact on the division. Don't get me wrong, the fight is pretty competitive, but it simply isn't going to have you standing up and cheering.
   
   Houston Alexander vs. Keith Jardine: I am sure that if you watch any UFC at all, it would not be a spoiler for me to mention that this is the most shocking moment of the night. This fight was supposed to be a showcase fight for The Dean of Mean. All appears to be going to plan as Jardine stuns Alexander with a shot that sends him quickly to the canvas. What happens after that is just beautiful to watch.... WOW!
   
   Ivan Salaverry vs. Terry Martin: Fans may remember Salaverry from back in the UFC 50s when he was fighting and defeating the likes of Tony Fryklund and Joe Riggs with excellent submissions. This fight pits the handy and slick Salaverry against a bull named Terry Martin. Strength vs. Experience... Who will win? Who cares? Just kidding... This one is not too bad.
   
   Karo Parisyan vs. Josh Burkman: This is NOT one of the fights that will have no impact on the division. In this case, we have a stalwart in the division, Karo Parisyan, against a rising talent in Burkman. Both fighters are great contenders and both are very exciting fighters. Simply based on my view of the fighters, I would place Karo a level above Burkman prior to seeing them go at it. This fight is definitely worth watching, but don't expect anything spectacular.
   
   Main Event - Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson:
   
   This is a special moment, as I watched this fight among a room of Chuck Liddell fans. I watch Rampage like a proud father, haha. After having followed Jackson from as far back as King of the Cage all the way through his days with Pride FC (through all ups and downs), I believed that he was simply a better fighter than Liddell in every aspect. I knew he had Liddell's number and that he would beat him 9 times out of 10.
   
   Both fighters come out looking calm and focused as Couture (on commentary) predicts that Jackson will wear Chuck down by the 3rd or 4th. I would have said the same, but instead we are treated to a calculated, hitman style stoppage. The winner gets Dan Henderson - what a treat.
   
   This DVD release brings a far better DVD format than previous UFC DVDs. As always, there is some solid bonus material. Jackson highlights this portion of the DVD, as well.

2 comments about Ultimate Fighting Championship, Vol. 70: Nations Collide.

1. Overall, the UFC 70 fight card was pretty good, but the heavyweight main event, Mirko Cro Cop vs. Gabriel "Napao" Gonzaga, particularly the finish, was awesome.
   
   Everyone knew that Cro Cop was the striker with devastating head kicks, and Gonzaga, a jiu jitsu black belt, was the ground-and-pound and submission fighter. However, nobody - and I mean NOBODY! - expected Gonzaga to take a page out of Cro Cop's book and BLAST the Croatian warrior with a head kick knockout in the final seconds of Round 1. Yet, that's exactly what happened: Gonzaga "Cro Cop'ed" Cro Cop! Seeing how Cro Cop's right knee and ankle bent hideously under the weight of his torso as he fell to the mat was also a sight to behold, as painful as it was to watch. I'm surprised he didn't snap every ligament and tendon in his right leg on the way down.
   
   Gonzaga will face Randy Couture for the Heavyweight belt at UFC 74: Respect, Saturday, August 25. But don't count out Cro Cop. He'll be back.



2. Let me start by saying that I am extremely happy with the producers for fixing the faux pas they committed in the previous event. The breaks between rounds, replays and interviews are back, making this once again a complete product. Now, in terms of the quality of the fights, except for a couple of disappointing bouts on the main card, this was an exceptional event.
   
   The under card fights are collectively the best I have seen among all the events so far. It looked more like something out of Ultimate Knockouts and Submissions than just your normal preliminary fights. These confrontations had it all, incredible slugfests, nice submissions, and maybe more importantly, athletes that came into the ring wanting to leave everything in their effort to succeed. Sadly, not all the bouts in the main card had these characteristics. Arlovsky vs. Werdum was the most disappointing fight of the night, which almost put me to sleep. I got the impressions that these guys were more worried about not getting hurt than about winning, which is surprising, especially coming from the ex-champion. Kongo vs. Silva was the other match-up that lacked excitement, but this was caused by the lack of skill of the contenders, Kongo having no ground game and Silva poor stand-up.
   
   Luckily, the rest of the fights were outstanding. In Heath vs. Machida you can watch one of the most versatile and unconventional competitors in the UFC against a guy that has a will of steel. Bisping vs. Sinosic is such an intense bout that you can feel the electricity jumping off the screen. Finally, the main event of the evening is one of the best I have ever seen. With the meanest kicker in the game against a master at submissions, this fight was likely to go to the one that covered his weaknesses better. If you are not left speechless by the conclusion, I would be surprised. Overall, this is a high quality event that I recommend wholeheartedly.

4 comments about Zatoichi - Collection 1.

1. Yes, that's sarcasm. The product description is less of a description and more like confusing haiku (at least that was my impression when looking at an actual DVD case in the store; haiku only really works in Japanese anyway).
   
   What you're looking at here is a 6-disk set containing the first 13 episodes from the television series, which came after the films. These 6 disks are also available in pairs as "Zatoichi, TV Series" Volumes 1 - 3.
   
   This collection is a great deal, especially considering that the 2-disk sets sell for $20-30 a pop--this is what they should have released in the first place!
   
   Original Japanese audio, excellent English subtitles.



2. This a joy to watch. I have pre-ordered the collection 2 with English subtitles. Well the series is like our old westerns yet you see things like action and humor in close quarters not like the long range of rifles and horse chases. And there is a deeper understanding of human nature of the actors rolls. I see why it was so popular in Japan. Its a fun watch and with most of the stuff on TV now, this is like a trip to the lake. Very refreshing and enjoyable.



3. The 4 stars are for the "The Blind Swordsman". I give zero stars to the company that put this out. Last Year I bought all six double DVD packages of the first year of the TV Series. When I saw this compilation I thought it was all 26 episodes of season 2 in two separate packages. I was happy at the reduced price from last year and "Very Unhappy" that it was just a repackaging of Season One. I will now wait and be sure that what I'm buying from this company is what it purports to be. They should have listed the episode titles on the box, then I would have known I'd seen them before. I'm really disappointed with Tokyo Shock & Media Blasters. I've been waiting year for season two and they do this. I think on purpose. NEVER AGAIN!



4. I watched the originals in Japan in the 70's. This is what I watched. I didn't have the luxury of english subtitles then, but they are on this set. I have shown these to friends who are very impressed with the old shows. I like them.

2 comments about Heroes Two.

1. Alexander Fu Sheng plays Fong Sai Yuk and Chen Kuan Tai plays Hung Si Kuan in this Shaw Brothers classic. This is one of Chang Cheh's Shaolin Temple movies that he made in Taiwan (funded by the Shaw Brothers). I would say that this is somewhat of a minor Shaw production. When I say minor, I mean for 1974. By this time Shaw Brothers were very well known for having beautiful sets and stunning outdoor cinematography. Those elements are here, but the story is pretty simple. I can't complain though about the story being simple, because a lot of Shaw movies are too complicated.
   
   The directing job by Chang Cheh is great and in the final battle he uses a cool technique filtering the picture red when someone dies. It's a very nice visual treat. The main villain Zhu Mu is slow and old, but it's hard to notice with all the other great kung fu going on. This was made in 1974, so the fighting isn't blazingly fast, but Chen Kuan Tai is a beast and there is some really good stuff going on in the long extended takes. It's a huge step up from basher movies that were being made at the same time. And I have to mention the theme song in this movie. It's so cool!
   
   Since this is a 1974 Shaw Brothers movie, expect to see a ton of young actors that were just breaking into the film industry. Wong Ching (bucktooth guy in Shanghai 13), Hsu Hsia (does a wicked crane form in Hell'z Windstaff and was The Stick King in Drunken Master), Lee Hoi San, Lau Kar Wing, Tino Wong (snake fist fighter in Hitman in the Hand of Buddha), and Fung Hak-on in a somewhat forgettable role. It also stars Bruce Tong, Feng Yi (the fat Japanese guy with the sword in Bruce Lee's Chinese Connection), and I swear I spotted Kent Cheng, the fat guy who starred with Jet Li in Once Upon a Time in China and Bodyguard From Bejing. At exactly the 60:33 minute mark he can be seen.
   
   Movie rating- 3.5/5
   
   When I heard that Media Blasters (Tokyo Shock) was releasing this, I didn't really care. I've seen it a few times, and I had no desire to watch it again. But then I heard that Mike Leeder did a brand new interview with Chen Kuan Tai, and then I heard that Media Blasters was going to put in the Hung Fist Style intro as a special feature. And then the clincher, a commentary from kung fu movie expert Linn Haynes, the most knowledgable kung fu fan I have ever met. He doesn't just know oldschool, Shaw Brothers or moderns. He knows it all. This is the best commentary I have ever heard (no exaggeration), and I can't stand knowing that we will never be able to hear another commentary from Linn. He passed away right after he did the commentary. I have to admit I have tears in my eyes right now and this is not something I am going to be able to get over anytime soon. Not only was Linn the most knowledgable kung fu fan on this planet, he was the kindest person I have ever met on the internet (which is saying quite a lot if you take a look at the list of my awesome Amazon friends). RIP Linn. I miss you so much it hurts. You will never be forgotten.
   
   Sound and picture quality are perfect and the interview with Chen Kuan Tai is great. I got everything I wanted with this DVD release, and more.



2. This old school classic just put me back into a kung fu frenzy. For a 1974 film, Heroes Two still delivers some of the best and well choreographed fight scenes, plus some really good finishes especially in the end. This begins with the burning of the shaolin temple. It opens with the main character Hung Si Kuan fighting his way out and suffering injuries that support the plot. Even though the film is very simple. There is quite a bit of suspense taking place with the deception going on with one of the main characters. So the film isn't just all muscle and no brain. The final battle takes place in a very beautiful setting chock full of action.
   
   I've been out of touch with the kung fu genre for a long time. And Heroes Two just renewed my interest in it. It really is a good film and I don't know anyone who doesn't like it.

1 comments about Scorpion.

1. great MMA action combined with great narrative makes for an action filled and satisfying film watching experience.

1 comments about Dragon Blade: The Beginning.

1. You don't have to be Pixar or Dreamworks to put out an entertaining computer animated movie. My kids loved it. The plot is easy for them to follow and I enjoyed the "G" rated martial arts effects (no blood or guts - this is a family rated movie). You can see they put a lot of time and effort into this production. And this film beat Kung Fu Panda by three years as being the first computer animated martial art motion picture. I don't think you'd be disappointed.