3 comments about Criss Cross Cardio & Capoeira With Sherri Jacquelyn.

1. The good things:
   - Sherri gets your heart pumping within the first couple minutes of the workout, and it doesn't stop until sometime after the cooldown
   - It's a difficult workout, which is nice ... so many other kickboxing workouts are dumbed down, they are not worth the time
   - It's a long workout split into 7 min. warmup, 40 minutes heart pumping cardio, and 20 minutes butt blasting Balance and Core work
   - I have not been exposed to at least half of the balance/core work before, another positive
   - She reminds me a bit of a much, much less seasoned Cathe Friedrich
   
   The bad things:
   - You don't stretch enough, nor long enough: easy to take care of on your own
   - There are many mistakes, and Sherri does not keep her sides straight: if you've been working out for a while, it is no big deal
   - She starts out being real big on counting, but she does get over most of it by the first 1/3 of the video (if you find Billy Blanks annoying, Sherri might be too)
   - The hair was distracting ... Sherri's was all over the place and so was her co-exercisers: this is the biggest problem I have, it has never bothered me in any other video
   
   It does not have the greatest production values, but it will be staying in my keeper shelf because it is a great cardio kickboxing workout; she does not give you much time to catch your breath.
   
   This is NOT a beginner's workout. You need to come into this video knowing how to kick and punch properly. You can hurt yourself if you think you will just pick it up from the instructor.
   
   Glove weights put the finishing touch on the upper body workout. I recommend going through the workout a couple of times before you attempt them though, a couple of the punching drills are screwed up and if you are trying to follow along visually (or verbally) you could be doing some wild swings in an attempt to catch up.



2. This workout is just as good as a cardio kickboxing or kickboxing class you would take at the Y or another gym. If you have a little bit of experience with kickboxing, you will have an easier time catching on. Purchase some easier kickboxing DVD's if you haven't done kickboxing before, but other than that I think this is a great workout. It also incorporates brazilian dance/ martial arts moves. Many workout DVD's just don't get you to sweat even a drop, but this one will keep your heart rate up. I recommend this to intermediate and advanced exercisers. This is not a waste of money and the production quality is not bad at all (don't know what the review below was talking about here...everything looks fine and is set in a nice studio) I rented this movie and now I'm going to purchase it.



3. I love this workout! Sherri is a straight to the point instructer. She gets you in and going...no fluff...no fuss. This is definitely an advanced level workout, with some high impact moves (jump kicks, multiple hop kicks & aerial jumping jacks). However, Sherri does gives you low impact options, so you can easily modify. Either way, you will sweat! I have recently been introduced to Capoeira and now I'm hooked. I bought the dvd because I read that Sherri uses Capoeira in her core conditioning at the end of the routine. I was disappointed that there wasn't more Capoeira moves, but that won't stop me from adding this workout to my favorites list.

1 comments about Chinatown Kid.

1. A classic Shaw Bros. 70's martial arts extravaganza,starring Alexander Fu Sheng,this film is basically a gang war film,Sheng bouncing from one side to the other,similiar to Eastwood's Fistful Of Dollars,filled with some gunplay,plenty of good fight scenes,with good direction on the fight choreography,Chinatown Kid is a credit to the genre,with exceptional acting and a good plot,this is a Red Sun remastered dvd,16x9 widescreen,uncut.

2 comments about Donnie Yen Collection.

1. Donnie Yen has an impressive body of work.
   Some of his films are good,some not.
   This collection is not his very best but they all are decent films.
   High Voltage is probably the best of the bunch and Satan Returns has the least action.It's more of a horror/thriller but it shows Donnie Yen can act in a non martial arts films.
   Circus Kids is old school action with Yuen Biao in the lead.
   Donnie has a fight scene with Bey Logan from Dragon Dynasty so any of you who even wanted to see him get his butt beat get the chance to do so.
   Cinema of Vengeance is a documentary which is the best made on the genre.
   It's all action with some great interviews including Donnie.Some great clips of him from his Tiger Cage films too.
   Quality on all prints is very good.
   All are english except for Satan Returns which is subtitles.



2. Wow first off High voltage not in English (like listed) or have any subtitle, whats with that? Second crappy dvd transfer on all. Man I was expecting alittle more from this. What a sad sad movie pack!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   
   
   Moviemakerrr

2 comments about Muay Thai Special Training Drills - d.

1. you'll likely not be THAT happy with this DVD. Seeing Master Janjira perform his his kicks on the bag IS pleasing, I grant you (his punches are ok); but the "Special Drills" are naught but: Working your abs while your training partner drops a double-end bag toward your face [to teach you lateral head movement against incoming punches], performing your kicks onto a bag while standing on a (weight)bench to improve your balance, using a heavy jumprope vs a standard jumprope to strengthen your arms, and "3 on 1 sparring" (which is not even 3 vs 1 [a drill I strongly recommend, albeit I suggest you start with 2 vs 1]- it is simply sparring 1 opponent for a set time and then having opponent #2 relieve opponent #1, and then be relieved by opponent #3. That is, you spar 3 guys one after another with no break. What an amazing drill! (I'm being sarcastic.) There may have been other "drills" on the DVD - equally as memorable. (I don't remember them. No, wait, there was also a "plom" [neck clinching] "drill" - practice neck clinching against your 3 opponents, one after another, until you are fatigued.)It was nice to see an "old school" gym in the DVD (made me feel like I was in my yesteryears) and his pointers and performance are sound, but if you are intermediate and above, you'd probably do well to save your money for another purchase, (please feel free to e-m me any good suggested alternatives - MarcoEC@Hotmail.com)or at least not pay full price for this DVD. Peace, MC



2. This DVD shows special training drills that helped my balance,and endurance your kicking will improve and so will your speed Saekson Janjira maeks muay Thai very easy to learn and the details help out alot.

No comments about The Chinese Connection.

5 comments about Complete Taekwondo Kicking.

1. This DVD is no substitute for a master, but still, the kicks are clearly shown, from different angles and slow and normal motion. Interested viewers can also easily analyze the more subtle parts of kicking, like positions of knees, feet, how much knees are bent etc. The different types of kicks are also conveniently indexed in the disc: you can move directly to the kick you want to view or practise. Definitely recommended for coloured belts. Instructors might also want to have a look at this DVD.



2. I bought this when I was just getting started in taekwondo so I could review at home and almost a year later, I still use it to review each kick as I learn it in class. The kicks taught here go well beyond black belt so it's something you'll be able to use for quite a few years as you progress through the belts. I like the many views of each kick and the slow motion allows me to pick up the little things that I don't catch in class. Very useful DVD and well worth the price!



3. I thought this DVD was excellent. I study a martial art that does not do much kicking. I received this DVD as a gift and it taught me a number of very good kicks to incorporate into my practice and sparring. The instruction was clear and the quality of the production is outstanding. I highly recommend this product.
   
   Matt



4. If you need excellent training material to reference on TKD kicking, this is it. The quality is excellent and the repetitive views of each technique is invaluable to the learner. I would recommend this DVD without reservation. Only for serious students.



5. Everyone has to start somewhere, and this dvd does just that. It starts the practitioner right at the beginning. The level of complexity rises the further you go into the dvd. Stances are discussed; varying camera angles are given. Will this aid the person who's been studying for years? Not really. Will it aid a child who may need extra time to get a kick right? Definitely. Will it enhance an adult who is trying to "remember" how to do certain techniques? Yes. It's never to late to get back to basics.

5 comments about Bruce Lee - The Master Collection (Fists of Fury / The Chinese Connection / Return of the Dragon / Game of Death / The Legend).

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.

3 comments about Kung Fu Theater: Shaolin Dolemite and Black Samurai.

1. This has to be the best film combo I've seen in ages.
   The almighty Dolemite Rudy Ray Moore and Jim `Black Belt Jones' Kelly in a double feature!
   
   Shaolin Dolemite is a great film that's played for laughs.
   Rudy Ray re-wrote the dialogue so the story centers around him searching for his student Tupac(Eugene Tomas).
   Along the way he encounters Ninjas,Monks,the Black Drunken Master,Sam the Spliff and the Lost tribe of Shabazz.
   
   The film was directed by Robert Tai,one of the men resposible for the 5 Venoms films.
   
   Black Samurai is a low budget film but very fun to watch.
   Jim Kelly definitely had charisma and should have stayed away from films like this.
   
   All I can say is that if anybody wants to get a feel of what it was like on 42nd st. or the Loop `back in the day',then sit down with some popcorn and enjoy!



2. First off I'm a fan of the "over-overdubbed fu" thing. Kung Pow, Iron Fist Pillage, Prisoner of 5 Boulders, and now Shaolin Dolemite.
   
   The humor is hit and miss.. If someone mispronouncing Tupac's name would make you chuckle, even just a bit, this is for you. If the idea of a black drunken master makes you giggle, this is for you. If you can't believe there's really a fu movie with an effeminate sword-fighting-coon-skin-cap-wearing Davey Crocket, you're going to die laughing.
   
   If you want a serious movie, run away screaming now.
   
   The quality of the video isn't great, but it's from an old fu movie so what can ya do.. I gave this a 5 instead of a 3 or 4 because of the very very sweet extended fight scenes, which have the original chinese dialouge without subs.. Awesome stuff.
   
   Black Samurai cracked me up.. I won't go into detail but there's an afro and a samurai involved.. how can you lose?
   
   Bad movie heaven!



3. SHAOLIN DOLEMITE-This movie is only for a select few. If you are a fan of the Dolemite movies then be prepared to be dissapointed. On the other hand, if you liked Ninja the Final Duel distributed by Crash Cinema, you may like this movie even more. Tai actually directed 12+ hours worth of NInja Final Duel footage! Why? Probably because this is the only project he he actually had a budget for. And instead of making it a top notch production, he used all the money on film. There are 3 or 4 different versions of this, and I heard that Soulblade may put out a box set one day. One of the great things about this movie is that we actually get to see Robert Tai in action as an actor! Tai wasn't a good director(he made a couple of classics), but he was a great choreographer and can pull all of the sweet moves off himself when acting. You can tell Robert Tai's style by the way he super speeds up the film, uses insane wirework(usually bad), and uses every trick shot you could ever think of, most you wouldn't think of though. Just like Donnie Yen used undercranking as an art form in the movies he directed, Robert Tai doesn't even care if his editing looks trashy. He considers it art. While I don't see it like that, it is still a heck of a lot of fun. If you don't know who Tai is then look for the bald monk doing all the sweet animal forms 20 minutes in. He is Lo Rei's teacher in the movie.
   
   If you are a fan of all the old school stars in this movie like Robert Tai, William Yen, Alexander Lo Rei, and Eugene Thomas, this may appeal to you. Fans of the genre may also recognize John Ladaski and Toby Russel playing the 2 Shabazz guys. Toby Russel is now head of Rarescope UK and John Ladaski you will recognize as the bald guy who keeps running into the room during the bone dislocating scene in 'Tom Yum Goong'. I had no idea Toby Russel was such a good kicker, he really gets to show off. And did anyone notice that the Davey Crockett character just kinds of stands around during the group fights? He must have been strictly a television actor.
   
   It is quite obvious why Rudy Ray Moore chose this movie to call his own. Robert Tai was a very odd Taiwanese filmmaker who not only used white guys to fill up spots in the cast, but puts an African-American into a very large role. Some may not understand why Eugene Thomas was cast, but he and Lo Rei always had great chemistry on screen together. The fight between them at the end is the highlight of the movie.
   
   Also, expect more ninja tricks and more fighting than was in the Final Duel. Expect around the same amount of nudity. But, expect ALL new scenes. It is completely different from the Crash Cinema version and it also includes another lady ninja nude fighting scene. Don't grab her there!! I loved this flick, it is just not for everybody. Be sure to check it out if a nude lady ninja sounds interesting to you. This is very hard not to like if you are a bad movie fan.
   
   The movie itself is kind of hard to watch at times. Don't expect it to make sense, just expect pure cheese that is of very good quality. I think I heard the f-word about 100 times in the first 10 minutes and I didn't even crack a smile. Every joke is just completely unbearable. The only thing that Rudy Ray Moore does is show footage of himself saying-"that is a bad mother ******". Fine with me though because this movie has so much cool stuff going on it is easy to block out Moore when he is on screen. Luckily, he only says a line every 10 minutes or so.
   
   The new dub job is amazingly bad. Surprisingly, it ended up being very fun. The dialogue is not only completely racist and unintelligent, but it doesn't even make any sense. Seriously, NOTHING makes sense. Here is an example-"You sorry apple-headed Zulu's, let's get some fried chicken". ???
   
   I have to point out that real kung fu fans will not like this movie, but it is possible that some will. If you didn't like Ninja the Final Duel, it is very doubtful that you will be able to find any enjoyment in this. I give this a very bias rating of 3.5/5 and an even more bias rating of 5/5 for the bonus scenes.
   
   This version from BCI is 110 minutes long. Take out the Rudy Ray Moore parts and you have about 90 minutes of Ninja the Final Duel footage. The BCI version also has an extended scene and deleted scenes. Most are fights but 1 scene is called 'Ninja Ho and Tupac get jiggy', and you can guess what goes down(no pun intended). It all adds up to about 42 or 43 minutes of extra footage(with about 26 minutes of pure action, though half of it is that stupid bell ringing duel and just shows people falling to the ground with their ears bleeding). With BCI's version of Dolemite and the Crash Cinema version of Final Duel, this comes to a total of 3 hours and 40 minutes of the 12 hour TV series that you can easily get on DVD.
   
   
   BLACK SAMURAI-Jim Kelly stars in the super cheesefest that is very hard to watch at times. The problem here is that BCI has the cut version so if you really want to see this movie, this is not the version to get. Black Samurai is a super cheapo flick with action that is so bad it is funny. 1.5/5 for the movie. 0.5/5 for the version in this 2-pack.

5 comments about Kill! - Criterion Collection.

1. This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.
   
   Kill! known as "Kiru" in Japan is the story of two samurai who is enter a poor town and become entangled in a feud between two rival clans. The film is based on Sanjuro but is not a good adaptation in my opinion.
   
   The Criterion DVD only has a theatrical trailer as a special feature which I think is not a good thing for a Criterion release. The DVD is available by itself or in a box set with the film "Samurai Rebellion", "Sword of the Beast", and "Samurai Spy". The box set is the better version to get.



2. The film "Kill," is not one of your usual samurai flicks, therefore, it might not be for everyone. However, I thought it was pretty good, and I certainly liked the parody that the film delivers in this samurai flick. This film was directed by Kihachi Okamoto, who also brought the world the epic samurai film, "Sword of Doom," [which also stars Tatsuya Nakadai]. The film is very dark, and humorous at the same time. I remember first seeing this film with my best friend years ago, and it was a pleasure to finally purchase it and watch it again. I liked it when I first saw it, and many years later, I still enjoyed the film. Only, I liked it more now, as the films dark humor and parody which I did not understand at the time no longer allude me. This humor is infused into the characters. This is what makes the film so different.
   
   Quite frankly, I really laughed hard at the parts where the samurai were running around during the battle scenes, only the film was put into fast forward motion, and what you have is an early 1920s type vignette of a film in which the samurai are intentionally moving at a fast pace. Now that's funny. Especially when you have a film starring (Tatsuya Nakadai) in the starring role. [Who can forget his character in "Sword of Doom?"] The film centers on three warriors. The first one, Genta, (Tatsuya Nakadai) is a wandering yakuza. The second one is Hanji, (Takahashi Etsushi) a farmer who wants to better his lot in life, and poses as a samurai. While the third character is named Tetsutaro, and he is a true samurai.
   
   Tetsutaro is basically being set up by his Lord as the patsy. His lord convinces him that it is necessary to kill a rival lord. He wants Tetsutaro to gather up a group of assassins to kill this rival official. However, things do not go well for him, as he is betrayed by this very same lord after the deed has been accomplished. Genta, good natured as he is feels responsible for the other two friends, Tetsutaro and Hanji, and attempts to play two sides in order to help the other two. [reminiscent of Yojimbo starring Toshiro Mifune]. The film is a very good watch, I would recommend it to anyone who likes samurai films. The film is infused with dark humor, and the film is a very enjoyable watch. I own it, and like the film very much. Highly recommended.



3. This excellent samurai film skewers the self-important preoccupation with duty and honor that this genre of film can lend itself to. Genta (Tatsuya Nakadai) has given up the life of a samurai to pursue the life of a wandering yakuza after duty compelled him to kill a friend. Hanji (Takahashi Etsushi) is a farmer and would-be samurai whose native honesty and good humor makes it hard for him the follow the path of bushido. Tetsutaro (Kubo Akira) is a more conventional samurai hero, whose sense of duty allows him to become the pawn of an unscrupulous man. Nakadai, Takahashi, and several other cast members give wonderful comic performances. Although this film pokes fun at the conventions of the samurai film, it still delivers some great action along with the humor.



4. This film has a hilarious love triangle set up. Like in the realm of the senses two or part of rashamon. The Japanese know how to rock some good humiliation. But ultimately the film is forgettable. Not a stand out samurai film by far.



5. Take a piece of Akira Kurosawa, blend in a big portion of Sergio Leone, then add a little of Mel Brooks on Xanax and you'll have an idea of one of the oddest and most amusing examples of chanbara satire. The "sword-fighting movies" from Japan nearly collapsed under the weight of cliches, just as American "gun-fighting" westerns nearly bit the dust in the U.S. Kihachi Okamoto piles on the cliches in this tale taken from the same source material as Sanjuro. While elements of the plot are described, it's not the plot that's too important, but what Okamoto does with it. You might have a hard time afterwards watching some of those popular Italian westerns with a straight face (or even some of Kurosawa's eastern westerns).
   
   Two ragged men, one a former samurai, Genta (Tatsuya Nakadai), who is disillusioned and has become a wandering yakuza, and the other, Hanji (Etsushi Takahashi), a farmer who wants to become a samurai, meet by chance in a dusty, decaying village. The two suddenly find themselves in the midst of corruption, betrayal and assassination. They wind up fighting rival gangs and, sometimes, each other. Along the way we encounter the loving cliches of samurai flicks as well as the loving cliches from Italian westerns...all that running back and forth, noble love, beatings, the really evil villain...as well as pratfalls, a monk who seems to be channeling William Hickey, a flying finger that lands on the ground right in front of the camera and probably the scrawniest chicken ever to have a major role in the movies.
   
   The year is 1833 when Japan's rigid class system was decaying. Tatsuya Nakadai as Genta is marvelous as the quizzical and disillusioned ex-samurai who long ago had enough of the posturing and false honor of his class. He has no intention of being a hero, yet he finds himself against his better judgment being drawn into a clan battle between corruption on one side and naivety on the other. He also is a realist. "Kill or be killed," he says at one point, "either would leave an unpleasant aftertaste." Almost as good is Etsushi Takahashi as Hanji. He may only be a farmer, but Hanji is tired of that back-breaking work. He sold his land and bought a samurai's outfit with the two swords. If he can become a samurai, he knows honor will be close behind. Hanji is energetic and impressed with titles. When the two meet, they make an odd-couple team, even if at a various times Hanji is determined to stick a sword through Genta's chest.
   
   Two-thirds of the way through the movie, however, Okamoto lets the cliches regain their rightful power. The laughs are few and far between as battles are fought between muskets and swords (the swords lose), a good man dies and a fight to the death takes place between Genta and an evil usurper. We're left with the carnage of dead samurai, caused by betrayal and suspicion..and with Genta's comment to Hanji, "Now do you understand what samurai are like?"
   
   Wait, there's more. This is a satire, after all. Our last view is of the two men, one a realist and the other now also a realist, leaving the village. They're followed by the admiring young women of the town's one pleasure house, all determined to journey with them. That leaves the scrawny chicken, strutting around and pecking in the dust, unimpressed with all that has just occurred.
   
   This Criterion DVD is part of the Rebel Samurai four-movie set. It can be bought separately. There are no extras to speak of except for an overblown written essay on the movie that comes in the case.

5 comments about Kung Fu.

1. I have loved this series for years. I just love the little thought provoking things that Caine, the main character says. I've watched it since I was a little kid, and when I was in my twenties, it came on at 4 am on a channel once a week so I'd stay awake just to see it. I really hope they put the whole series on DVD. I'd buy it in a minute.

   I love the quiet demeanor of Caine. I enjoy his humility and his respectfulness. The Caine character proves that you don't have to be "bad" to be cool. The pilot movie is definitely worth watching.




2. Excellent series still stands up for modern viewing. Still a refreshing take on the "Western" as a concept with some wonderful anti-racism statements. Only one clunker episode in the set: "The Tide," which seems more like a Bonanza script than anything else. High-calibre scripts and direction.



3. this is the one that you see in commercials and in other movies and in clips on the show of the same name.a very influential movie!theres a small kid who goes into kung fu training with an old blind man.then he gets big and goes to america after killing his masters killer.he gets a job in the railroad and runs into problem after problem the whole movie long!kids like it.its better than the karate kid movies and a lot of the newer jackie chan movies although jackie has better too.it beats out anything by chuck norris or van damme or segal.bruce lee does better.you can actualy learn a lot of the basic things about kung fu by listening to the old man talk.the star is david carridine.he does quite well in his role.i liked death race 2000,and the kill bill set better but liked this one better than cannonball.



4. Pear and half brother Keith Carradine both
   played young Caine in here. Followed by
   Kung Fu: The Movie (1986 **.5 out of four
   stars), w/ Mako and Brandon Lee. Interesting
   in that his story about half American/ half
   Chinese Shaolin Monk, who escapes Royal China
   after killing Royal Newphew, who's guard's
   killed his Kung Fu teacher, another ex-Hawai'i
   Five-0 vet, Keye Luke, was first offered to
   Lee's late father, Bruce! But ABC wanted more
   American looking martial arts guy. Carradine,
   who is one quarter Chinese got call but knew
   nothing about martial arts until taking lessons
   during filming on this from Sefu Kam Yuen, who
   helped Carradine with Tai Chi videos later!
   Dave also did eulogy when young Brandon was
   killed on set of Actioner-Phantasy 'The Raven',
   in '93...



5. This movie and the DVD series of Seasons one, two and three, from the original T.V. show are a Must See. The lessons learned from them are integrating themselves into my life and creating permanent, positive changes. I heartily recommend everyone watch them, even if you saw the series 30 years ago. The lessons in life, if taken, will positively change your life forever. By the way, David Carradine is fantastic. No one could ever match his performance in such a role.