No comments about The Last Eve.

4 comments about Ultimate Fighting Championship, Vol. 75: Champion vs. Champion.

1. UFC 75 was easily one of the top UFC events of the year, with exciting fights from the undercard to the main card. Here's a brief breakdown of the fights:
   
   Anthony Torres vs. Jess Liaudin - Great way to kick off the night with some punishing standup exchanges, although it is relatively one-sided.
   
   Dennis Siver vs. Naoyuki Kotani - Solid fight with action on the feet and the ground. What looked to be a wrestling match ended in a brutal knockout.
   
   Thiago Silva vs. Tomasz Drwal - If you like brawls, this is one you've got to check out! Both Tomasz and Thiago are heavy sluggers that primarily throw only power shots. In fact, both throw so much leather they gas out at points, but the great exchanges and eventual knockout make this one a must see!
   
   Terry Etim vs. Gleison Tibau - Gleison is the wrestling/bjj fighter whereas Etim prefers to keep things standing. Both try their best to work their game in a decent fight, with one fighter's style being too much for the other.
   
   Houston Alexander vs. Alessio Sakara - This is Houston's 2nd fight in the Octogan against UFC vet Sakara. Another standup fight that is entertaining for the short time it lasts.
   
   Paul Taylor vs. Marcus Davis - Fantastic fight! Both guys come out swinging and each fighter coming close to a knockout or tko stoppage. A beautiful submission ends this one early and should not be missed.
   
   Cheick Kongo vs. Mirko Cro Cop - This match was hyped as a potential striker's dream, with Cro Cop dominating the heavyweight division with his deadly kicks and punching combinations, and Kongo showing great combinations and knees. Unfortunately, the fight isn't the standup war that most expected, but is competitive nonetheless. Probably the least inspired fight of the night.
   
   Michael Bisping vs. Matt Hamill - Both TUF 3 alums, this fight has been in the making since the show. What was expected to be a relatively easy fight for Bisping and his good striking and submissions turned into a real struggle with Matt Hamill's much improved strking game and his always dominant wrestling giving Bisping plenty of trouble. Extremely close fight with a very controversial decision.
   
   Dan Henderson vs. Quinton Jackson - Finally, the UFC and Pride 205 lb. belts would be united in a fantastic championship fight. Each fighter had their moments in a close, back and forth fight that showcased both of their strengths; Henderson's dominant wrestling and Quinton's crisp striking. Much of the bout was fighting for the takedown, resulting in a technical but entertaining affair. In a night of competitive fights, this one will be remembered as one of the best, as two of the very top light heavyweights battled for the titles.
   
   All in all, this is a must buy event for MMA fans, featuring plenty of exciting fights from beginning to end. Highlights for me were the Silva/Drwal brawl, Davis/Taylor's battle, and of course Rampage and Henderson giving their all in a memorable title fight. If you've already seen the live broadcast on Spike, I'd still recommend picking this one up for the great undercard fights.



2. So, who is this Dan Henderson dude exactly? Just another chump for "Rampage" to beat the tar out of? Not exactly. Just ask Pride fans about "Dangerous" Dan Henderson. Or better yet, just ask Wanderlei Silva about Dan Henderson. Ask Murilo "Ninja" Rua, what he thinks about Dan Henderson. Ask "Babalu" Sobral, ask Vitor Belfort, Murilo Bustamante, Renzo Gracie. All those names aren't exactly wimps, and Dan Henderson beat all of 'em at one point and time! Dan Henderson was a Pride Champion for a reason. So he's really no joke. And he's trained with Randy Couture. His last UFC was UFC 17 where he beat Carlos Newton and Allen Goes both by unanimous decisions. So maybe he does have it in him to take on Quinton "Rampage" Jackson for a UFC unified title shot. They happen to be pretty good friends, but business is business.
   
   You also have a fight that never happened at TUF #3. Michael Bisping, TUF #3 winner, never got the chance to fight Matt Hamill in the TUF #3 Finale. Hamill won a decision against Mike Nickels during TUF #3, but could not continue due to injury. They've been waiting to square off, Hamill's been calling out Bisping, ready to throw down, ready to square off and settle a score! Bisping is more than ready to take on the deaf kid from Utica, New York, and he can't wait to fight him on HIS home turf!! London, England, is Michael Bisping's territory. Is Matt Hamill going to mark it? There are some great fights on this one, 9 total. I'll list them below.
   
   Jess Liaudin vs. Anthony Torres: A slugger from France ready to see what a man like Torres can take and dish out. With less than a minute to go in round 1, the fight ends.
   
   Dennis Siver vs. Naoyuki Kotani: Both of these guys came out to bring it, and it gets interesting. This is a sweet ending in the 2nd round!
   
   Thiago Silva vs. Tomasz Drwal: Hey, these two light heavyweights ain't going to the ground! These guys are here to brawl! They both get gassed, but only one gets finished in the 2nd round! Good scrap, better conditioning would've made it better.
   
   Gleison Tibau vs. Terry Etim: Etim is a hometown favorite, while Tibau wants to add another win to his UFC record. Great grappling, pretty interesting fight the whole way. Goes to a unanimous decision.
   
   Houston Alexander vs. Alessio Sakara: So, did Alexander simply get lucky against Keith Jardine, or is he going to show an Italian boxer a thing or two about MMA?! 1:01 in the first round is all the time it takes to find out! Freaking crazy!
   
   Marcus Davis vs. Paul Taylor: This is another crazy fight! All I'm going to say is that it also ends in the first round. WOW!
   
   Mirko Cro Cop vs. Cheick Kongo: I'm going to put it this way; As far as decisions go, this was probably my favorite fight of the night. The term, "Beware of what you wish for," rings loud and true during the whole fight! I was happy.
   
   Michael Bisping vs. Matt Hamill: Matt Hamill waltzed out to the octagon while Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" played boldly in London, England!! HA!! Both of these guys came to show the other one up, and they didn't disappoint. The split decision that should've been clearly unanimous, was somewhat of a disappointment. My take? If either of these guys would've finished, you could've forgotten the judges altogether. But it was a split decision, and nobody has to like it! Sometimes you just don't know. Still a great fight, still a grudge match to watch time and time again.
   
   Quinton Jackson vs. Dan Henderson: Well, is Dan Henderson up to the challenge? This fight goes all five rounds, and it is pretty interesting. But only one man can be champion, and even though the fight was great, it was obvious who the winner was. Both of these men wanted the belt, and it showed!
   
   This was good. Ok, I thought it was great altogether! Some pretty good scraps, and you don't want to miss a single one of 'em!!



3. The first appearance in the UFC by Dan Henderson is to unify the UFC and Pride 205 belts. The fight itself is not all fireworks, but it is good and competitive. This care features one really rip off decision in Hamill vs Bisbing, and the further fall of Mirko. The Alexander/Sakara fight and Davis/Taylor fights steal the show. Good solid card from England.



4. Paul Taylor vs Marcus Davis was even more exciting than the three featured bouts;which all were excellent to watch!

1 comments about Understanding Qigong DVD6: Martial Arts Qigong Breathing (YMAA Chi Kung).

1. The DVD has the following chapters:
   
   THEORY REVIEW
   BREATHING & ENDURANCE
   MANIFESTING QI INTO POWER
   INCREASING YOUR QI
   NORMAL & REVERSE ABDOMINAL BREATHING
   MEDICAL FIRE / SCHOLAR FIRE
   
   PRACTICES
   
   DAN TIAN BREATHING
   YONGQUAN BREATHING
   LAOGONG BREATHING
   FOUR GATES BREATHING
   SPIRITUAL BREATHING
   5 GATES BREATHING
   MARTIAL GRAND CIRCULATION
   CANDLE TRAINING
   
   I love the review of Qigong theory which is presented at the beginning of each of the Understanding Qigong series DVDs. No argument that some of the material is covered repeatedly in each of the DVDs. This approach in the presentation of the series is very convenient. I would hate to have to keep pulling out earlier DVDs in the series just to refresh my memory about the theories, principles and practices of Qigong. It is very reinforcing to have the material reviewed again.
   
   Along with more familiar material is the inclusion of new material that relates to the chapter/subject at hand. This adds to the body of knowledge about Qigong that Master Yang so ably passes on to his viewers and students. Remember though, these DVDs are one of many parts of a student's bag of tricks.
   
   The serious student should:
   
   Watch DVDs and videos of the style in which they are interested
   Read printed material on the subject
   Take lessons with a qualified teacher (Master Yang if one is so lucky}
   Visualize the movements, postures and applications
   Teach the material if qualified
   Carry over the principles and techniques into one's daily life
   PRACTICE/ANALYZE EVERYTHING (As Master Yang states often, "have an inquiring mind".)
   
   A student must be selective, in choice of a teacher, which books to read, DVDs to watch and students to teach. Time is finite in this existence, one must choose the way to spend one's time wisely. How many times have I heard from students that their life is so busy, they have no time to practice their Taijiquan, Qigong or whatever style they are studying.
   
   Even ten minutes a day seems to many people to be impossible, a waste of time, or just not doable for some reason that they can't seem to explain convincingly. The material presented in this series is worth taking the time each day to practice, analyze and absorb.
   
   MARTIAL ARTS BREATHING
   
   The seven types of martial arts breathing exercises are presented in a logical order, that being the progression from easiest to most complex martial arts breathing techniques. They should be studied and learned in the order presented. Students might notice the updated information on the location of the "real" Dan Tian. In the past many Qigong practitioners believed that the lower Dan Tian was located near the front of the body below the belly button. Master Yang explains the difference between the fake Dan Tian and real Dan Tian and the benefits and usage of each during Qigong practice. Master Yang's understanding over the years has obviously become greater, demonstrated by his corrections to newly published material.
   
   Yongquan is located near the center of the bottom of the foot. Laogong is located near the center of the palm. Being aware of these points and learning to send Qi to them is an essential component of martial arts breathing. Besides the martial benefit of being able to project Qi through these points, one can also gain escape from the cold by warming one's hands and feet through these types of breathing practices. Many times while practicing the forms I will use these breathing practices to warm my extremities.
   
   During one of the first postures of the Yang Style long form, my teacher suggested raising your two arms until the hands are shoulder height in front, similar to hugging a tree, with the arms slightly less bowed. Your palms can be towards each other or towards the ground, or any angle in between. There are numerous versions of this opening movement. At this point, you work off your feet, kind of like starting a vibration or wiggle movement that starts from the Yongquan points on your feet, letting this wiggling motion move up your body and end at the Laogong points on your palms. When done properly, the Yongquan and Laogong points warm up, feel tingly and slightly electric. This reminds the body/mind at the very beginning of the form to realize this connection to the Dan Tian. It also facilitates sending the Qi through the various gates as one practices the form.
   
   However, I believe that one should first perform the breathing practices on their own. Once proficient, then add these same practices to your form. Where to use them in the form will be easier to understand if you have a solid foundation of practicing the breathing practices on their own prior to adding them to the form.
   
   CANDLE TRAINING
   
   I really enjoyed the candle training that is taught at the end of the DVD. This is a wonderful exercise. Many people might say, "Hey, what's the big deal. I could look at a candle for thirty minutes no problem, and be focused the whole time."
   
   Reminds me of when I used to teach Drivers Ed to High School kids back in the late 70's. During particularly long Drivers Ed movies, I would challenge the students to stand with me in the Qigong posture that is sometimes referred to as the "hugging a tree" posture. The challenge would be to stand for at least thirty minutes and hopefully an hour. One student said that he was a water polo player and had to swim back and forth in the pool while holding a lawn chair over his head.
   
   He claimed that due to this intensive training thirty minutes would be no problem, while I predicted that he wouldn't last eight. Well, at seven minutes he was yelling that he couldn't take it any more and put down his arms. (too much muscle use, too little relaxation) Similarly, the majority of persons who try the candle training will probably not last as long as they think they could. However, that's not the essential point. What is the point is that the effects of this training can provide a person with excellent focus and the ability to carry through on tasks while going about their daily lives.
   
   As Master Yang explains, he most likely could never have published so many books, tapes, DVDs etcetera in such a short time if he had not developed a sense of focus such as that obtained from candle training. Try the training every night. Start with a minute, then two the next night, then three, etc..... What I have noticed is that the exercises that appear to be the simplest, like this one, sometimes offer the greatest lessons and benefits.
   
   Explanations are then given for looking at a candle that is moving and maintaining the focus and attention. Once proficient, the student is advised to begin moving around a candle that is also moving, while maintaining focus and attention.
   
   Strikes are then suggested. Starting with strikes that end 5" from the candle, a student would practice until able to put out the candle four out of five times. Then move a few inches away, and on and on.
   
   Qi projection through a non-moving arm while maintaining a specific hand position is then explained. The goal being to cause the candle flame to flutter by projecting Qi through your hand. The position in which the hand is held is similar to the free hand posture of Taijiquan Sword practitioners.
   
   BOTTOM LINE
   
   My only criticism is that there should be more usage of animations to demonstrate the various techniques. In the past some of the DVDs published by YMAA have used animation to explain a point, which I found to be very effective in getting the message and lesson to the student. At times Master Yang will say give instructions in how to coordinate body movement and breathing. Unfortunately, without a corresponding animation it is sometimes not clear what he is trying to demonstrate.
   
   However, that criticism aside, if you are serious about learning Qigong, watching this series is one excellent choice for anyone wanting to make efficient use of their time in the study and practice of Qigong. You will save yourself many hours of practicing Qigong in an inefficient or harmful manner by studying the sequence of lessons found in this series.

5 comments about Twin Warriors.

1. Anybody who's anybody will watch this movie. After discovering it in my grandpa's collection of Chinese movies, I've watched this many times. Kungfu from the Shaolin temple is amazing, but best of all when you have Jet Li perform it.
   
   Jet Li and his friend grow up in the temple together, inseparable. But when they get kicked out, they go opposite ways and become enemies. Jet Li leads a rebellion agianst the harsh government of which his friend is cruelly abusing his status as lieutenant. Betrayals or sorts leads Jet Li to found, after meditation, Tai Chi, and a final battle is held with breath-taking fighting scenes.
   
   A light-hearted comedy at times or serious action at others, the Tai Chi Master is truly master of fighting in the movie industry.



2. This really isn't a review (though the martial arts choreography in the film is pretty fanciful, it's still pretty solid). What I'd like to know is whether or not the featured film in this new edition has been is remastered. I have an earlier Hong Kong edition - however the transfer was mediocre at best. I'd preorder this edition, but I need to know: has Yuen Woo Ping's "Tai Chi Master" been remastered... or is this yet another edition of same lackluster transfer marketed in Hong Kong?
   
   Please advise....



3. This movie exists in another form the movie was orginally named "Twin Warriors" i have that movie really great movie about if you are interested in learning about what Tai-Chi is about, along with the fights. i will be getting this movie and watch see if it stands up to the orignal



4. One of the best kung fu films I have ever seen. It is absolutely fantastic from start to finish. Great choreography and wire work even though you can see the actual wires used in some scenes. This new DVD release is far superior to the previous Twin Warriors release.



5. I agree with some of the other complainants here that the dub seems way off when compared to the subtitles. In some cases it completely changes the meaning / intent of the lines. Overall, it was alright. If ya' turn off the subtitles ya' won't know what you're missing.
   
   Aside from the dub, I really enjoyed this movie. I thought the fight scenes were great and well-executed. I'm a fan of Jet Li (and Jackie Chan movies), and thought this was a great Jet Li flick. The camera work was a bit sub-par, perhaps owing to when it was shot. Seemed a bit grainy or rough to me. But the story and the rest made up for it in my opinion. I'd certainly take this over Warriors of Heaven and Earth, Butterfly Sword or Zu Warriors any day of the week.
   
   If you like this movie, you'll probably like Jet Li's Fearless or Hero as well. Likewise Iron Monkey.
   
   If I had it to do over gain, I'd probably still buy this one, even with the odd dub and slightly so-so image quality (just not as crisp as things like Hero and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). Good times!

2 comments about Martial Arts: Master Killer Collection.

1. WARRIOR FROM SHAOLIN-this movie has a great cast incuding Lily Li but there is just not much fighting. The story is unbearable and finally we get some really good action in the final fight. 2/5
   
   FIST AND GUTS-Another bad movie from Lau Kar Wing who also directed 'Warrior From Shaolin'. He directed a few very good independent movies but these are not 2 of them. Lo Lieh is good but only fights at the end. There is only 3 major fights in the movie and the rest is just pure time filler. 2.5/5
   
   SHAOLIN DRUNKEN MONK- I found this movie the most enjoyable. It moves along at a good pace and has plenty of decent fights. It seems like it is directed by Godfrey Ho but is a little better done. Cheesy enough to please any bad movie fan and it has enough kung fu for any hardcore fan to make it through at least once. 2.5/5
   
   All of the movies are full screened but have watchable picture quality. Fist and Guts looks the best by far. They all have a commentary from Ric Myers and they are almost all the same commentary. If you buy this 3-pack you will get a very good idea of how he repeats everything over and over again. He gives a new idea here and there and it is somewhat enjoyable.



2. This is NOT the "Master Killer" I was looking for as I have been a fan of both "The Master Killer" and "The Return of the Master Killer". The "Master Killer" series I remember had Gordon Liu fighting Japanese ninja warriors in a quest to prove the superior style of martial arts. I would love to return and exchange this series for the correct ones.
   Michael Clarke

5 comments about Taiji Sword, Classical Yang Style (YMAA Tai Chi).

1. This beautiful program teaches the entire 'long form' of the Tai Chi sword sequence, and has an excellent "warm-up" section of Qigong breathing techniques and Sword Qigong movements.
   
   This Sword form is an excellent addition to your knowledge, whether you train Tai Chi Chuan, or another martial art, or are a beginner. The fundamental techniques are very comprehensive, and give a complete overview to the art of the Sword.
   
   The DVD has amazing navigation, picture quality, and sound, and you can quickly get anywhere in the 2-hour program with just a couple clicks.



2. I recently became interested in learning Tai Chi after perusing a variety of bookstores looking for sword techniques and styles I thought offered a balance between grace, usefulness, and agility. I settled on Tai Chi after looking at the forms and the styles that compose it. As you may or may not know... learning any sword technique from a book is very difficult as it is just as intensive with footwork as it is with the sword itself and sometimes moreso, and after a couple of weeks I was getting nowhere fast.
   I ordered this DVD with another one and found the other one would not play in the player... which was more than a little discouraging. I put this one in and was greatly relieved, at first just because it worked, but as I watched it there became some clarity in pace and footwork that was not at all apparent in the book I was using.
   The DVD goes through several phases: including a breathing and postures phase, the 54 forms, the 54 forms in chapter format, drills for two people, and a few other things. The heart of tai chi is the 54 forms, and they are clearly performed in one long string, subtitled to show which form is currently being performed. This is very daunting to study or try as a beginner, but I imagine will be extremely useful to someone who has learned most of the forms. The real meat of the DVD to me is the breakdown, which each form is shown once in very slow execution, allowing for study, then shown again at a faster pace on an attacker. I cannot stress the usefulness of this. I havent seen a book that showed application of technique... only the technique themselves... I was (and still am) hugely impressed with this extra step. It gives you not only the correct, clear way to perform a form, but demonstrates its use and footwork very clearly. If you are interested in learning a sword style, I highly recommend this DVD... there are also additional ads for other DVDs this company produces and I definitely will be buying some of those as the clarity of the video and the teaching style is very illumative and well done.



3. Normally, I recommend to students to learn the simplified forms first and then graduate to the long forms of a style. However, due to the quality of the DVD offered by Dr. Yang, Jwing Ming of the Long Form of the Classical Yang Style Sword Form, I feel the best choice would be to learn the long form offered on this disc. Although there are many good Taijiquan Sword instructional videos available for the Chen, Wu, Sun and Yang styles, I believe that Dr. Yang, Jwing Ming has done his usual top notch job of providing the student with a wealth of material on his Taijiquan Sword Classical Yang Style DVD.
   
   A good teacher will teach you a form. A better teacher will teach you an application. A higher level would be the teaching of the technique. And as Jou, Tsung Hwa relates in his book, The Tao of Taijiquan, the best thing a teacher can pass on is the "key" to the system. I always get the feeling when I study the tapes, books and DVDs from Dr. Yang that he is truly sharing many secrets of the various styles that he teaches. Fortunately, unless a student is at a level that has the understanding and skill necessary, the information cannot be used or absorbed. I say fortunately because this can prevent injuries through misuse. Yet Dr. Yang provides enough of the basics and the exercises that build a strong foundation, whereby a student can raise themselves to the higher levels where deeper information on the DVDs become more available, understandable and usable.
   
   This 54 posture Yang Sword Form is presented along with the Taiji Sword Form, the Taiji Sword Qigong Set, Taiji Qigong Breathing, Fundamental Sword Techniques and 10 Matching Drills for training with another student.
   As Dr. Yang frequently reminds the viewer on his tapes, you must practice and make these moves a natural part of your being. Without practice it is impossible to achieve mastery or even capableness of these techniques, applications and forms.
   
   The Taiji Sword is considered by many to be a very advanced level in Taijiquan Mastery. Learning the sword form greatly enhances and strengthens the Taiji set. Learning the sword form increases one's ability to project chi and is a necessary tool in reaching advanced levels of Taijiquan.
   
   Even if you've purchased Dr. Yang's VHS tape of this form, it is worth the money to obtain the DVD as it contains much information not included on the VHS tape. Additionally, information on DVDs is much easier to access than on a VHS tape.
   
   The DVD is professionally filmed with very easy to follow along teaching, showing the moves at slow speed and at normal speed. Additionally, using students to demonstrate the moves and then having Dr. Yang provide constructive criticism and praise offers more insight into the moves to the interested viewer.



4. The organization of the material presented is good. You get basic taiji theory, breathing exercises, the basic moves, the forms, and then the applications. The early material is presented well. The breathing exercises, in particular, are shown clearly, at the pace and for the length of time which you actually perform them.
   
   My difficulties lie with the essence of the material; the basic movements and their implementation in the forms. All are presented at a reasonably slow tempo. But, they are only shown once and without narration, which makes using this DVD an exercise in frustration. Learning where to place the blade, how to move the other hand, and how to place and move the feet means a great deal of work with the DVD remote in order to watch a given move multiple times, so that you can study each aspect of it.
   
   That frustration would have been greatly alleviated had each move been shown 3-4 times, and from different angles. A narration would also have helped, essentially taking the role of an instructor talking you through each movement.
   
   The martial applications are shown similarly. It is not a problem for that section, however, because it simply displays how the movements would have been employed in a martial situation, and the applications section is a very interesting and welcome inclusion to the DVD.
   
   All in all, it is possible to learn from this DVD. It would work better, though, as an adjunct to taking a class, as an at-home refresher of what you learn in the class. I don't know, however, whether that would work if you were to take a class from somebody other than the people who publish this DVD.



5. There are many things I like about this DVD - it will serve me for many years. Thanks to YMAA for top quality in all aspects.

5 comments about The Young Master.

1. I though this particular jackie Chan's flick was a little different from the rest, since his choreography/ comedy are usually the same. Simply, you see one Chan's flick, and you see them all. This one however was different, and interesting from the word "GO"!!
   I though he performed beautifully,,and not the same old same old. The villain was equally impressive, with his amazing foot works. He captured the audience's attention from the moment he escapped incarceration, and was set free by his buddies,,definately a fight scene to be remembered!!!
   
   If you're a true Chan's fan, rest assured,,,you will not be dissapointed. Truly one of chan's best earlier flicks,,,,would make a great addittion to the collection!!



2. Early Jackie Chan, some good kung-fu, not much plot, and what there is, is kind of confusing. oh you can follow it, but why bother? the dragon fight at the begining is quite good.



3. Jackie Chan had already established himself in Hong Kong as a box office champion with 1978's Drunken Master and 1979's Fearless Hyena, but he was not getting his fiscal due from Lo Wei Productions. So he opted out of his contract with Lo Wei and was hired by Golden Harvest. The Young Master was his first picture under that studio. The film was interrupted several times because of the contract dispute with Lo and a Triad that wanted a stake in Jackie's fortune. This was eventually settled with help by Jimmy Wang Yu whom Jackie would owe (along many other actors) several favors. Even with all this chaos, Jackie was still able to create a memorable and must-have film, though the movie is marked by continuity problems.
   
   Jackie stars as Ah Lung a mediocre student (funny he doesn't seem so in the film and that point is soon forgotten) who loses in a beautifully choreographed lion dance competition because his fellow adopted brother Jing Keung (Wei Pei), faked an injury and competed incognito for the Wei Yee school. Lung and Keung's sifu Master Tien soon finds out of this deception and this betrayal leads to Keung leaving the school. After an impassioned plea from Lung, Tien gives Lung his blessing to find his brother. Jackie takes his big white fan (important plot point.) Jing looks for work at the Wei Yee school, but is turned down when he is found to have helped the Wei Yee school win the Lion Dance competition. He is then recruited with two others, including Fung Hark-On (aka Fung Ke-An who was the martial arts consultant with Jackie) who has a large mole on his face - reminiscent of Jackie's mole in Police Woman, to free Master Kim (Hapkido expert Whang In Shik.) Jing uses his big white fan to help Kim escape. So Ah would later be mistaken for his brother and sought after by the local police inspector and his son (played by Hong Kong regulars Shih Kien and Yuen Biao.) This would lead up to an awesome fight scene between two of the Seven Little Fortunes, Yuen and Jackie. Yuen would expertly use a bench and you get to see Jackie use a pole again.
   
   Even with the continuity problems (even admitted by Jackie, including one scene where Jackie is fettered and the next he is not) and the overuse of sped-up footage and zoom shots (including one that is parodied in Kung Pow), this is a fun film to watch.. The high points of this movie are the Cantonese comedy and the sublime martial art scenes. In those fight scenes you get to see him use many props such as sword, pole, bench and even a skirt, a skill he learns from his encounter with the Police Chief's daughter played by Lily Li. The high point of the film is a showdown that involves an 18-minute plus scene between Jackie and Whang (Jackie in his autobiography "I Am Jackie Chan" considers this his ninth best fight scene.) I do not want to describe this sagacious scene too much, because it has to be seen. I will say that I have never seen Jackie get beat up so much in any other movie and most of it is shot with wide-angle lenses with few cuts. Even his solution to winning is unique.
   
   This movie is a must buy for Jackie Chan or Hong Kong film fans. The most important decision in buying this film on DVD is what label/version you purchase. There are many shorter versions out there, even several that are widescreen, but the scenes that are taken out are mostly from the action scenes! But, Fortune Star puts out a 106 minute version that is digitally remastered and has the Cantonese (along with dubbed version) audio. Though there is one caveat, many of the cheaper versions have a huge benefit that the Fortune Star DVD does not - Jackie Chan singing in English at the end of the film. Even without that benefit the Fortune Star release is by far the best version of an excellent Jackie Chan film.



4. Isn't it strange? I love old-school kung fu movies. I love Jackie Chan movies (at least before he started making films in America). Yet old-school Jackie Chan films can really be tough to take. Even some of his "classics". This movie is definitely a notch above "Drunken Master" in both fights and humor. It's just wildly inconsistent. Though it does have the Korean born Hapkido Grandmaster Ing-Sik Whang. He rocks. Everything else is a little off. Some of the humor is actually quite funny and there are some cool scenes. The lion dance, for example. It's not bad, and it is enjoyable to watch, but not on the level I was expecting for a kung fu movie. Though expectations will often turn a potentially good movie sour.
   
   The film is digitally remastered and in widescreen, so the presentation is nothing to complain about, but... having Wei Pai and Yuen Biao in your movie and hardly having them do anything IS. What a waste. Usually in Jackie's films of this period the final fight helps make up for the lack of substance that preceded it, but here it doesn't work. The choreography is very good, and ahead of its time, but the premise of the fight is too absurd for them to be able to pull it off. This does have an option for English dubbing. I was taking a chance thinking that it was subtitled only. 2.5, if that helps.



5. Young Master
   Cast: Jackie Chan, Hih Tien (aka Shek kin),Yuen Biao, Chiang Kam ,lily le ,Wang Inn-Sik
   Director: Jackie Chan (also stunt coordinator)
   Writer: Lau Tin Chee, Tung Lio, Edward Tang King-sang
   
   Compared to a list of about 75 other films, this one holds up pretty well, surprisingly. This movie continues in the tradition of the movies he made with Yuen Woo Ping (Snake in the Eagles Shadow, and the masterpiece Drunken Master). This is one of my favorite kung fu comedy ,and one of the best Jackie Chan movies ever. Being one of nine movies he actually directs in the decades he`s been making movies, it really make you wonder. Why only 9? When he is really good at it. This is one of the first films after Golden Harvest bought out his contract with Lo Wei (The Police Commissioner in Chinese Connection).
   
   The end fight is excellent. I know a lot about the martial arts and from a martial artist aspect this is one of the best. However this is a kung fu comedy as I stated, well, In that department it does not fail. It's actually quite hilarious. This is Jackie Chan at the top of his forum.

5 comments about Bruce Lee - The Master Collection Set.

1. This product was in great condition and arrived earlier that I had expected. Thank you.



2. Amazon has great customer service. The Bruce Lee Collection was new- still in its original packaging and still at a great price.



3. This is easily one of the best investments to my collection, I mean 4/5 of bruce lee's movies, and a documentary.
   
   Now fisrt of all, all of these movies are the original dub and very watchable picture.
   
   Fist of fury(Big Boss)----- very fun movie with bruce beating up a lot of people. The end fight is prettygood because it was so authentic. Pai ying is the man, he is also the action coordinator on this.
   
   Chinese Connection(Fist Of Fury)------ One of the best movies of all time. Great fight scenes(check it out when he takes on the whole gym), great score, great acting, hell, even Lo wei is an actor in this movie, and he is pretty freaking good.
   
   Return of the dragon(enter the dragon) directed by bruce lee, action directed by bruce lee, and starrign bruce lee. Come on bruce, you could have put your name as composer too. This movie kicks ass, better than big boss, but not as good as chinese connection. Everyone knows this is the one where bruce fights chuck norris at the end. And it is everythign it is made out to be, certainly not the best though.
   
   Game of death---this is your classic case of fastforwarding kungfu cinema. The fight scenes are pretty good, but a VERY FORGETTABLE story.
   
   Documentary-------very good doc. that talks a lot about what bruce was planning for game of death(sounds sweet), and what other characters he wa experimenting with for hsi future movies. Can you believe he had a blind swordsman idea in mind for himself. There is a lot of other important info also. 5/5 for the documentary, good for any bruce fan.
   
   So I have seen this at cd tradepost for 14.99, and 19.99 at Best buy, so I don't know where the hell that $38 price comes from.



4. i bought this set at a used dvd store for $15.00 and was very happy to find it. watching it i was struck by how much talent and energy this man had! had he lived he would have one of the most bankable stars in the world.to be sure these are low buget action movies, but mr. lee brought a style to them that no other actor could have brought, his every move was a graceful and well thought out move,even just walking down the street. these are all the films he made(except for enter the dragon which he made for warner bros.) and he shines in them all,(game of death the movie he was making when he died is very weak and only comes alive when they use the footage of him that was shot) and if you love lee or good kung-fu movies this is one to own



5. This is a fine collection of Bruce Lee classics!
   
   It's not the best thing since sliced bread...but it's close.

5 comments about Seven Steps of Kung Fu.

1. to start this off this does have some indescrepencies like the beginning the cast credits just disappear and your just looking at chinese scenery for fun and the underdubbing but it has some greta lines in this movie. and plus this film was directed by the kid who played ko fang in iron swallow co-satrring the beuatiful and tough kung fu queen judy lee aka chia ling and the fight choreography was done by tommy lee (a personal favorite of mine for fight choreogrphers).
   
   this story starts off as a ruthless general and crime boss (chen shan) of a dreaded clan by the name of the "5 hands gang". the 5 hands gang (lung fei, barry chan, tommy lee, wong chi sang and a female actor) meet at on the member's house. then a mischievious young man by the name of young tiger (ricky chi tien chee) discovers a valuable metal after one member drops it (tommy lee). so he practices with it hanging from a fighting pole and then his master li san pei (chia kai) discovers it and automatically recognizes it and was shocked that he caught up with them so fast. so later tommy lee discovers his metal is missing and they find out that it was the young boy who finds and li is his master. so the spearman (wong chi sang) pays a visit to young tiger's house and they duel it out and young tiger kills him. li san pei shows up and tells him he should hide elsewhere and he'll investigate only to be ambushed by the rest of the gang and he miraculously survives the attack and later escapes to young tiger's hideout. he recovers and they master the art of the "7 step style" (1 of the finest training sequences ive ever seen with a little high speed action). then the female member discovers their hideout and she later gets ambushed and they make her realize that she's a traitor so she tells them everything. so 1 by 1 they ambush the rest of the gang starting with barry chan, then tommy lee. then in 1 seen where the english dubs turn into mandarin or cantonese li san pei takes on lung fei's character but he is spared in this movie and turns good. and young tiger takes on 2 lamas that carries out lung fei's and the general's orders on a scroll which is valuable to stopping the general's devious plans. then li san pei uses the metals they collected to distract the general from reaching his destination and then the fun starts with the final fight scene between 2 greatly talented and kung fu masters in chia kai and shen chan then ricky chi tien chee hops into the action making it kinda corny but still fun to watch. a underrated and underappreciated classic that should be in your top 50 indeed.
   
   favorite scenes: chia kai vs. lung fei, ricky chi tien chee vs. wong chi sang, ricky chi tien chee and chia kai's training sequence and of course the final battle.



2. to start this off this does have some indescrepencies like the beginning the cast credits just disappear and your just looking at chinese scenery for fun and the underdubbing but it has some greta lines in this movie. and plus this film was directed by the kid who played ko fang in iron swallow co-satrring the beuatiful and tough kung fu queen judy lee aka chia ling and the fight choreography was done by tommy lee (a personal favorite of mine for fight choreogrphers).
   
   this story starts off as a ruthless general and crime boss (chen shan) of a dreaded clan by the name of the "5 hands gang". the 5 hands gang (lung fei, barry chan, tommy lee, wong chi sang and a female actor) meet at on the member's house. then a mischievious young man by the name of young tiger (ricky chi tien chee) discovers a valuable metal after one member drops it (tommy lee). so he practices with it hanging from a fighting pole and then his master li san pei (chia kai) discovers it and automatically recognizes it and was shocked that he caught up with them so fast. so later tommy lee discovers his metal is missing and they find out that it was the young boy who finds and li is his master. so the spearman (wong chi sang) pays a visit to young tiger's house and they duel it out and young tiger kills him. li san pei shows up and tells him he should hide elsewhere and he'll investigate only to be ambushed by the rest of the gang and he miraculously survives the attack and later escapes to young tiger's hideout. he recovers and they master the art of the "7 step style" (1 of the finest training sequences ive ever seen with a little high speed action). then the female member discovers their hideout and she later gets ambushed and they make her realize that she's a traitor so she tells them everything. so 1 by 1 they ambush the rest of the gang starting with barry chan, then tommy lee. then in 1 seen where the english dubs turn into mandarin or cantonese li san pei takes on lung fei's character but he is spared in this movie and turns good. and young tiger takes on 2 lamas that carries out lung fei's and the general's orders on a scroll which is valuable to stopping the general's devious plans. then li san pei uses the metals they collected to distract the general from reaching his destination and then the fun starts with the final fight scene between 2 greatly talented and kung fu masters in chia kai and shen chan then ricky chi tien chee hops into the action making it kinda corny but still fun to watch. a underrated and underappreciated classic that should be in your top 50 indeed.
   
   favorite scenes: chia kai vs. lung fei, ricky chi tien chee vs. wong chi sang, ricky chi tien chee and chia kai's training sequence and of course the final battle. and chia kai steals the show in this one and he is labeled the lee van cleef of martial arts films but most of everything he's been in he's been underused. i am a big fan of his because of this movie and his acting ability is ill too



3. I should give it a 3, but good fights all around and an AWESOME final scene give it a kung fu 5.
   
   Now the kids review deserves to be the only review on here. I bought this based on one guys comments of how he saw this in the theatre and everybody was screaming for the hook technique one more time and damned if he didnt't give it to us one more time!!!
   I really got a feeling of what it would have been like to see the hot the cool the viscuos on the big screen. But this movie hliterally has fight after fight. Nowlike i said, that kid below should have the only review on here, he did an awesome job. i know these guys names like the back of my hand but he was able to spot tommy lee in this and a bunhc of guys that I have never even heard of he knew exactly who they are. But most importantly he knows who chen shan is(aka shen chan, chang shan). This is only the 4th movie I have EVER seen him in. The others are five fighters from shaolin, shaloin vs. lama, and shaolin strikes back. Most people know him as the badass tibetan lama from shaolin vs. lama. Now he is absolutely unrecognizeable in this, until he fights, don't try to pull the wool over my eyes. he has a move in the final scene when he goes down to do the splits, and 2 people attack him, he is fighting with both WHILE HE IS COMING UP FROM THE SPLITS.
   
   Don't try to imagine but you will see. So the story is pretty dreary. A kid and his teacher have to take out this gang. And ALL the fights are good. Lung Fei is especially good. But the final fight is UNBELIEVABLE.
   
   AND KID WHO REVIEWED THIS BEFORE ME, IS TONG LONG IN THIS?? I DIDN'T SEE HIM, HE IS THE GUY WHO WAS BRUCE;S VROTHER IN GAME OF DEATH 2. CAN YOU PLEASE POINT HIM OUT TO ME.
   
   So the pictrue quality is kind of bad. No real distortion, just really faded. And it does cut into the chinese dub for dialogue for 20 seconds, but you could tell it was a stupid part. IT IS widescreened which was very nice. Some other comments said it would not play? I have 7 dvd players and I tried them all so I could comment here and the dvd played fine at all. I got this for 9.99 and have to say that you should not pay over like 7 for it. 1 for each step.
   
   AWESOME FIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!



4. Sorry, the movie was not seen because it did not have sound to it. It was returned for refund.



5. I make sure I watch a movie twice before giving a definite opinion on it.After watching this one I can tell you its not worth buying and maybe not worth renting.Me being a martial arts fan,I like seeing movies I havent seen to see if I find a classic.However with this movie that is just not the case.Whats sad is this movies has some good fighting scenes and I love the old school kung fu movies.Whats better is no one is untouchable and everyone from the stars to the locals get hit in this movie.
   
   But this movie suffers from a corny storyline like many other non classics.It also talks about the seven steps of kung fu and never explain what they actually are.On top of that the whole movie is just a bunch of 2 on 1 fighting.Either the master comes to the aid of the student,or the student comes to the aid of the master.Its okay on the very tough opponents,but all of the 5 hands gang?It gets boring watching 2 on 1 and knowing that eventually the 1 guy will lose.
   
   I like watching the good guys fight 1 on 2 as those are the best scenes.Or the good guys fighting a guy with extraordinary skill at the end of the movie.So as a kung fu fan I can tell you that this is not worth your money.If you can then look for it in a game exchange for a bargain price,then you can return when you see you've wasted your money.Due to the good fighting scenes it earned at least a 3,it also wasnt the worst movie.Just not a classic that you keep and watch over and over again.

5 comments about Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.

1. Simply awful. An atrocious film.
   
   Jacques Brel is a relatively recent discovery of mine. After listening to the new off-Broadway CD, I sought out the old CD and DVD. Well, the movie version is a morass of amateurish, ham-handed attempts at symbolism and avante garde film making. The "acting" is like something out of a sub-par community theater production.
   
   I can't imagine ever watching this painful film again.



2. I have seriously been searching for this DVD for years (many, many). I remembered seeing the orig. showing on t.v., I believe. I think PBS or something. It's been haunting me for years and when I finally actually came up with it on Amazon... well... it was a moment to behold. It really is a treasure for me and anyone influenced by the passionate music of Jacques Brel MUST have this for their collection.



3. I bought the CD because Gay Marshall was in the revival of the show in New York. And I loved the CD. I bought the DVD with Elly Stone and company because I was curious to see the show in action. I don't think the original was as good as the revival this past year. Maybe it was the way it was filmed, you know too movie-ish, rather than filming a live production of the show. And it didn't seem the cast on the DVD was having any fun. Its okay, but I'd like to see the recent NY company filmed on stage. I think they were having a good time making the CD! Also, I would like to see a company in Las Vegas produce this show. Teri



4. Jacques Brel was a genius singer-songwriter-troubador. The Englished off-Broadway adaptation of his work that opened in 1968 was brilliant; it's combination of poetry, music and movement -- all hung on a kind of loose thematic narrative -- had a very broad appeal: It ran for over 7 years. I saw a local semi-professional revival a few years ago that was terrific.
   
   That said, a funny thing happened to this production on the way to the movies in 1974. Even with two of the original stars (and adapters), it couldn't avoid the temptation to become some mediocre hybrid of 70s counterculture sensibility and Broadway musical comedy.
   
   Counterculture doesn't mean bad. In places the film achieves what it TRIES hard to achieve throughout: a poetic video rendition of the songs. The setting of "Marieke" with a lone singer and a little girl in a cemetery is particularly moving. The director wisely had the three soloists stand stll (against a backdrop of stars) for the grandiose finale of "If We Only Have Love"
   
   Adding a clip of Brel himself performing "Ne Me Quitte Pas" was also a master stroke -- but one that exposes the mediocrity of the film production. When I ordered this DVD, I also bought "Infiniment," a great two-CD compilation of Brel singing Brel released in 2003. It's so much more powerful--even if, like me, you have to rely on the supplied translations from the French.
   
   Four stars anyway, because the original stage production was so good that it shined through.



5. This video is an insult to the work of Jacques Brel. The production is a dated and poorly produced representation of his poetry. I would much rather have seen the actual stage performance filmed than the collage of stage and second rate images presented in this DVD. I realize that the production reflects the thinking of the late 1960's and early 1970's of Hair and Godspell and this DVD is simply a reproduction of that period productioin, but as much as I like Brel's work, I doubt I will watch it again.