5 comments about Fist of Legend.

1. This movie contains two of my favorite fights of all time: Jet Li vs. Chin Siu Ho, and Chin Siu Ho and company vs. a buttload of Japanese fighters. Just astonishing. The film is a remake of Bruce Lee's "Chinese Connection" about Chen Zhen, the fictitious student of the real Huo Yuan Jia, who Jet Li would later portray in "Fearless". This movie differs from Lee's in that some of the Japanese characters are sympathetic to the Chinese, plus the addition of a complicated romance and the school's internal conflict.
   
   The Japanese have set up shop in mainland China. Jet is studying in Japan when he learns of his master's death back in Shanghai from a match with the master of a rival Japanese school. He comes home and immediately sets about getting his school's reputation back and letting the Japanese know who the best really is. The trouble is that Master Huo's son (Chin Siu Ho) is now in charge but everyone wants to follow and learn from Chen Zhen. Complicating things further is a plot to implicate Chen in the death of the instructor who killed his master, and a Japanese woman who is in love with Chen and testifies on his behalf.
   
   This may be Yuen Woo Ping's best choreography, though it is not completely flawless. Too often props and furniture is broken rather ridiculously, and some scenes are a little too heavily edited. It's a minor complaint though and you won't care until you're on about the 22nd or 23rd viewing. If you don't already own it, BUY THIS. 4.5



2. This is the best kung fu movie ever. Don't watch it! If you do, you will be disappointed with every other movie. And not just other kung fu movies, ALL MOVIES.



3. One of the best martial arts movies ever.The stuff tony jaa is doing now that people are making such a big fuss about was done here...
   There's even some muay thai clinching!.I saw elements of wing chun,chin na,jujustsu,muay thai boxing,aikido and of course kung fu in this.
   actually an educational film as well as a brutal,hard hitting martial arts movie.The dubbing and acting are above par for this sort of thing.The best thing jet li has ever done by far.



4. Read the other reviews but this movie rocks beyond imagination.
   
   Questions we have for Jet Li might be
   
   1. How come your other movies don't have such wonderful martial artistry, presumably the terrible "The Forbidden Kingdom" where it looks like you and Jackie are flailing arms rather than doing art.
   
   2. I'm sleepie but this'll do.
   
   The movie rocks!



5. This movie is amazing in every way, but you should probably wait for the dragon dynasty release. They do an excellent job with their Martial Arts movie releases.

5 comments about Kickboxer.

1. 
   So, everyone knows that if you have seen one Jean Claude Van Damme film you have seen them all. So if you must pick, get this one. From pathetic dancing to crazy training, it's good for more then just one laugh. Oh yeah and of course you have some very good montages featured throughout the film. I also recommend Bloodsport as an equal. Enjoy!



2. This has always been a favorite movie of mine. I was disappointed that I had picked a movie that was the wrong region. I put it in one DVD and it came up wrong region. Then I put it in another DVD player and beauty away it went. The picture quality was exellent. Like I said before one of my favourite Van Damme movies and there where no hic ups with the recording.
   Thanks Amazon you came through for me again when I couldn't find it in the shops here in Australia.Kickboxer



3. Excellent martial arts movies a bit corney but my girlfriend loved van damme body. guess i got my work cut out for me.



4. On the heels of Bloodsport and the weird sci-fi flick Cyborg came Kickboxer. Here, Jean Claude Van Damne plays Kurt Sloane, the manager and younger brother of kickboxing champion Eric Sloane (played by real-life fighter Dennis Alexio).
   
   While fighting a Thai fighter named Tong Po, Eric gets injured and Kurt vows revenge on him. To this end, he meets a former fighter named Xian Chow and falls in love with his niece Miley.
   
   While much of the film is corny/cheesy but there are some funny parts too. The most funny (to me) is when Xian gets Kurt (Van Damne) drunk in a bar, has him dance (which is one of the funniest things that I have ever seen) and then fight some guys in that bar! Its priceless!
   
   Also, some of the training made me cringe, especially when he made him kick the tree with his injured shin! My friends thought when he did get the tree down and fell to the ground, that was the funniest thing! Even I chuckled a bit because basically he was trying to show Xian he wasn't weak! That's what "machismo" will get you!
   
   Overall, not a bad film!



5. Jean Claude Van Damme pumps out yet another indistiguishable movie in which he inevitably beats a guy who would clearly destroy him in real life.
   
   Kurt Sloane (JCVD) is in Thailand for the big fight between his brother - think a pumped up Luigi from Super Mario Brothers - and the baddest, meanest, most deadly kickboxer on the planet, Tong Po. I'm sure there is a verbal play-of-words there with the name Tong Po, but I can't figure it out right now. Naturally, as all JCVD movies go, someone close to him has to suffer before he grows a pair; in this case, his brother gets a beatdown of monumental proportions and is permanently crippled.
   
   Up next for Kurt is training with the master. He must prepare his body to fight Tong Po, and you guessed it, one of the training methods is an intricate pulley system that allows someone to do the splits. Aside from that, a defenseless tree suffers as a result of the training, and Kurt risks becoming a gelding when his master-trainer drops a massive ball from high above onto Kurt's stomach to show how hard and strong his abs had become.
   
   Meanwhile, an convoluted plot takes place where Tong Po's people terrorize a woman Kurt has taken a fancy to, kidnapped the master, and made the leadup to Kurt's battle with Tong Po hell. Luckily for Kurt, every punch in the fight clearly missed his face, and there was no risk of danger or pain whatsoever. It's also especially helpful that Tong Po blatantly shows Kurt the method by which the beatdown will ensue in the upcoming round. It really is the most pathetic defensive fight in history, each blow telegraphed like it's in the Farmer's Almanac. The whole thing is a joke. Tong Po growls, Kurt kicks and/or punches, Tong Po recoils and spits blood, JCVD flexes unnecessarily. One scene is particularly hilarious, as Kurt kicks Tong Po in the face about 43 times - left, right, left, right, ad nauseum.
   
   It's typical JCVD, and if you are like me, going into the movie expecting nearly nothing, then you'll be entertained.

5 comments about Come Drink with Me.

1. Cheng Pei Pei stars as The Golden Swallow, and is known for her great fighting skills. A gang is trying to rescue their leader from going to jail, and they end up kidnapping a man (Golden Swallow's brother) so that they can make him their hostage and trade him for their leader. Some really wicked villains in this, and I was amazed at how well Pei Pei handles herself. She uses double daggers, and it's a refreshing change from the standard straight sword that you see in most movies. Yueh Hua has a good role as the "Drunk Cat". He appears to be the town drunkard, but he's really an expert martial artist. He helps Pei Pei out with anything that she can't handle. Hua is very likable, and plays his role well.
   
   Come Drink with Me is a movie that still holds up today. Back in 1966 it was probably the best wuxia ever made.
   
   4/5
   
   
   
   Picture and sound are awesome, and there are plenty of special features. I will go over each one individually.
   
   First up is a brand new commentary from Cheng Pei Pei and Bey Logan. Dragon Dynasty once again proves to be the elite company releasing martial arts movies. No one can touch the special features they provide, and this commentary is a Cheng Pei Pei fan's dream come true. This isn't your average commentary from some actor who barely remembers making the movie. Pei Pei knows this movie and the actors very well. Her English isn't perfect, but I could still understand most of what she said.
   
   17 minute interview with Yueh Hua- I was surpised to hear Hua speaking English. He is not the most energetic person as he is pretty old now, but there is a lot of good information provided.
   
   14 minutes with Tsui Hark- Hark gives his thoughts on the movie and talks about King Hu. Great interview with tons of interesting information.
   
   16 minutes with Cheng Pei Pei- It's amazing how well Pei Pei remembers everything. Outstanding interview.
   
   17 minutes with Bey Logan talking about the movie and King Hu- the commentary is mainly for Cheng Pei Pei, so it's nice to see Bey be able to share his thoughts alone. Very nice interview.
   
   Also included are the original trailers for Come Drink With Me and Heroes of the East.



2. Dragon Dynasty continutes to deliver great Shaw Brothers films one after the other. The 27th film to be released by Dragon Dynasty and their 6 Shaw Brothers release, you can't go wrong with this one. Widely considered to be one of the best Hong Kong films ever made, one can see why. It carries a great story along with awesome fight scenes and fantastic acting by Cheng Pei-Pei(commentary included with her and Bey Logan) and Yueh Hua.
   
   Special Features include:
   Feature Commentary with Bey Lognan/Cheng Pei Pei
   King and I-Director Tsui Hark reflections on film
   Come Speak With Me-Interview with Cheng Pei Pei
   A Classic Remembered-Retrospective with Bey Logan
   Return of Drunken Master-Interview with Yueh Hua
   Trailer Gallery



3. I do not know what moives you people like or have seen I bought this moive on the recommended people here and all I can say is do not belive everything you read. I have been a collecting Kung-fu moives since 1973
   and this is one of the worst the action is like in slow motion for a child and I have seen more action sleeping on a plane all I can say is stay away from this one PLEASE!



4. If you are familiar with Shaw Brothers, then you know that this is not your first choice of their films. First, to it's credit (or more specifically to the credit of Dragon Dynasty) the film is restored really well and has a great picture.
   
   What I don't like is that nearly every fight scene, of which there are many, are implied martial arts. It is edited in such a way that you really don't see a whole lot of action. What you do see is simple, and disapointing. The story is decent for a kung-fu film, but compared to other Shaw Brothers classics, especially their earlier releases, this leaves much to be desired.
   
   If you are looking for some great martial arts, this is probably not a good choice.



5. This is a good strong Chinese martial arts revenge movie. I was surprised to see a VERY young actress that plays one of lead roles in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon! See if you can spot her.

5 comments about Quickfix - Total Cardio Kick.

1. 4 Quick workouts that are easy to follow. The abs section is kind of a waste.. I would recommend a different dvd for a good abs workout. The lower body sections will leave your legs hurting in places you don't normally work in a regular aerobics routine.



2. As a beginner at kickboxing, I found the DVD very challenging, but very fun. The instructor explains everything very clearly and I really liked that one of the two background dancers did a modified version for beginners. This gave me a chance to get used to kickboxing and not challenge myself as much physically the first couple of times through. The three routines combined provide a great workout! I am completely exhausted by the time I am done.



3. This is a good cardio workout. It goes fast with the 10 minute workouts broke into 4 parts with a countdown clock. I love the combination of 10-min body targeted upper, lower, core & the bonus both upper & lower. I do all four 10-minute workouts that includes the bonus workout to give me a really good workout that gets your heartrate up. I do the bonus 10-min upper & lower body workout 3rd and do the core workout last. Janis does a good job at prompting and explains each new step before taking you go into the actual routine. I have done Tae Bo and another Kickboxing cardio it might be helpful to have a previous kickboxing cardio that explains the actual movements of kickboxing. Other than that I recommend Cardio Kick. Janis is pleasant & a good instructor.



4. If you have never done kickboxing then this may go too fast. There is not a lot of demonstration time, and not enough warning on some of the "up next" moves. Great intensity. Gets your heart rate up - less than a minute warm up, less than a minute cool down. The core section is not that great (for you core). There are 3 10 minute workouts - legs, arms, and core.



5. My wife and I work with this video and we alternate with other two "old" Gillad videos and some weights. One day this video, the next weights and so on... We are not gym buffs. we just like this video so much that I actually broke the DVD one day, and the next we found it in the grocery store (that was a lot of luck for me) and we bought it again. Needless to say, we use it often. Great energy! Novices will be able to do either a 10-min segment or 2, or all 4. Good stuff!

5 comments about Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story.

1. awesome movie! my husband watches it atleast once every other month! it is a great story on bruce lee and his life. its not just a fighting movie, but actually has what his life was all about. i liked it as well which says alot since my husband makes me watch all these kinds of movies!



2. IF YOU LOVED BRUCE LEE OR IF YOU LIKE MARTIAL ARTS THIS MOVIE IS FOR YOU.IT IS AWESOME.IT HAS ROMANCE AND ACTION.I PERSONALLY WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HIM AND THIS IS HIS STORY. AWESOME...........



3. while it's hard to say how accurate this depiction of Bruce Lee
   is,there's no denying it is entertaining.one thing that is probably
   depicted fairly accurately is the struggle Lee faced from street punks
   to those in the entertainment industry,.but the movie also has it's
   lite side.there is some humour to lighten things up.the action
   sequences are done pretty well,but maybe a bit over the top.Jason Scoot
   Lee handles the role of Lee very well,even though he may not fit Lee
   physically.he is much larger than Lee was.Lauren Holley is good as
   Lee's love interest Michael Learned is particularly good as the mother
   of Linda Emery who does not approve of the union of the two,because of
   the differences in culture.no doubt there are things this movie leaves
   out,and many things which are changed to make it more appealing to
   audiences,if you look at it as entertainment,you shouldn't be
   disappointed.for me,Dragon:The Bruce Lee Story is a 4/5



4. Awesome movie. In DVD extras you can veiw personnal pictures of Bruce Lee and his family. Great movie for fans and students of the martial arts.



5. I remember watching this movie when it first came out and I have loved it ever since! Seeing as how I was only about 7 at the time, that's saying a lot. I have been into karate and martial arts for quite some time (I have four brothers!) and that has evolved into being more and more of a Bruce Lee fan as well. I have been searching town for a copy of this movie on DVD since my family only owned the video of it, and finally resorted to this online purchase! The day I got it, I watched the movie and all the extras and the commentary. VERY exciting and interesting to watch! Bruce Lee is an icon and always will be included as one of my heroes. He did so much to inspire people, those who like martial arts or not. This movie is a good reference if you want to know more about Bruce Lee as a person, his personality, his family life, what he is basically all about. Linda Lee (Caldwell) helped with making this movie and Shannon Lee, their daughter plays a small part in it, which is fun to see. I would recommend watching this movie to anyone and can watch it over and over and over again!

5 comments about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

1. A story that I remember quite fondly was going to the theatre with my father to see this movie. It brings back the memories of a little girl who wanted to be a Ninja and also wanted to be a whole list of other things too.
   
   People who treasure the old Ninja Turtles should get this because it may as well be the only lock we have to our memories. :)



2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is one of the few films in which I personally did not find any significant weakness even after many viewings. From the direction, to the acting, to the storyline, to the score, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has the word classic written all over it, and it really is not much of a surprise that it is now considered by many to be one of the top five movies of all time. Perhaps when it comes to cinematic techniques Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has not been as revolutionary as Citizen Kane, but its influence on motion pictures is comparable. Rarely a movie has defined or re-defined a genre as much as this one did for "comic book movies", but its influence goes well beyond that.
   
   Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' influence has been so big through the years that elements of it can be found in virtually every "comic book movie" nowadays; almost every comedy featuring a turtle in the last few years has spoofed something in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The mutated once pet rat a-la Master Splinter has become one of the most established figures in the public's imagination.
   
   But to say that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is simply "influential" is to diminish its true qualities, and so is to describe it simply as "a movie about mutated ninja turtles who eat a lot of pizza". The Foot Clan is certainly the main focus the story revolves around, but although the movie never tries to forcedly insert separate subjects it contains an amount of psychological and social subtexts that cannot be overlooked. Considerations on how the social environments changes us, on how moral values appear different from different point of views, on how violence can destroy a human soul, and on how power can corrupt an individual are deeply blended into a story that stays practically always true to complete realism, and the result is a picture of astonishing efficacy and believability.
   
   As good as the direction and the story are, it would be unfair not to consider the major role that the actors' performances had in the cinematic triumph that was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Praised by many as the best cast to ever appear in an American movie, all the cast in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles succeeds in portraying complex, three-dimensional characters without ever making a slip. The exceptional portrayals of Donatello and Michelangelo respectively by Leif Tilden and Michelan Sisti, the performances by Elias Koteas, Toshirô Obata and Judith Hoag as Casey Jones, Master Tatsu and April O'Neil, the ruthless Shredder played by James Saito -- as well as more than a few other roles -- are all perfect for the movie, and they all succeed in making us believe these are real people, not just actors. We are not watching a central character and a bunch of incomplete figures that revolve around him: although Raphael is the character that gets the most screen time, everybody is the center of this world in his own way. The movie makes it possible for the viewers to identify with different characters and to observe how their personality and story fits in, and it does it much more effectively than many bloated multiple-storyline movies that came out in the last few years.
   
   The movie opens to a montage of crime scenes in New York City as April O'Neil (Judith Hoag) gives her news report concerning the recent surge of crime that continues to plague the city.The Shredder is a powerful man, and it was not without the use of crime that he achieved this position during the course of his life. The montage of crime scenes gives a perfect setting of where and how the Shredder's power extends; from skateboards, to stereo systems, to an innocent old woman's purse, The Shredder has links to people ready to steal such things in the name of the Foot Clan. Some are trustworthy, some are not, but thanks to his intelligence and intuit the Shredder can almost always distinguish the two.
   
   However, this is 1990, times are changing, and to one of the young people working for the Foot Clan, the Shredder's ideas are becoming obsolete. The Shredder believes that the new trend in old style ninja fighting and sports equipment being used as weaponry, is too dangerous for the average Foot soldier and will eventually end up destroying his clan; while he has long trained his soldiers in the art of ninja fighting, the chief of police was ready to close one eye. Jose Canseco baseball bats are another thing.
   
   To this day, the Shredder was able to keep things together while maintaining his criminal power, but things will brutally change when a powerful team of old style ninja fighters, each named after one of the great renaissance artists, enters the picture. The refusal of the Shredder to yield to the power of the Ninja Turtles, and his having kidnapped their father and sensei, Master Splinter, will ignite a war that will cost many lives, and that will see Raphael, Splinter's angriest, most emotionally distraught son who has a tendency to run off alone and directly into trouble, find a "friend" in a ruthless vigilante fighter named Casey Jones.
   
   I purposely decided not to spoil much about the plot because I believe that the film is perfectly enjoyed without knowing anything in advance, and -- believe it or not -- there are still quite a lot of people who have never seen this movie. There are multiple scenes that manage to create an incredible tension, various twists, and although like any other masterpiece Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles can be watched knowing the whole story beforehand and still be a phenomenal experience, I believe it is always a pleasure to see it for the first time and enjoy its multiple climaxes. Besides, to outline such complicated characters and such an emotionally intense story in a short review like this one would be inadmissible.
   
   There has been much speculation on how the events in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic books created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, the books the film is based on, could be an exposé of true facts. Many believe that the character of Casey Jones, for instance, was based on Jason Voorhees. I won't go into that: frankly, I have no idea whether these voices are reliable, although the Jason Voorhees reference seems obviously quite believable.
   
   The cinematography of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is dark and tasteful, and colors are used perfectly to give a true feel of the 90's. There is a fair amount of violence, though rarely gratuitous.
   
   Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles certainly doesn't need my recommendation. The film is universally considered one of the best of all time, and the scene in which Raphael first meets Casey Jones alone is the stuff of legends.
   
   "You will listen now. my Master Yoshi's first rule was "Possess the right thinking." Only then can one receive the gifts of strength, knowledge, and peace. I have tried to channel your anger, Raphael, but more remains. Anger clouds the mind. Turned inward it is an unconquerable enemy. You are unique among your brothers, for you choose to face this enemy alone. But as you face it, do not forget them, and do not forget me. I am here, my son." -- Master Splinter, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)



3. well i say this was a great movie but sometimes the turles say damn but thats ok



4. TMNT really delivers on all fronts, good story, great acting, great directing and amazing action from guys in animatronic rubber suits.
   
   This movie is a perfect blend of the dark atmosphere of the original comics and the zany fun of the cartoon series, all the while maintaining a feeling of reality which takes it to the next level.
   
   The voice characterizations are right on and the acting from April and Casey Jones gives the validity to the story that it was really in need of.
   
   The first confrontation between Casey Jones and Raph in the park is one of the more memorable moments, while the Foot ninja attack on April's apartment is an amazing fight scene even by today's standards.
   
   I almost wouldn't consider this a kids movie, even though that's how it's marketed. It's more along the lines of Spider-Man, than say, Power Rangers. It got some "Damn It's" and the violence it pretty intense at times.
   
   Really a great movie and worth your money.



5. This movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, should go down in history as one of the truly grandest achievements in this epoch of human civilization. This is about as close to perfection as can be reached when telling a story about turtles.
   
   Wanna know how to make a movie? THIS is how you make a movie. Specifically a movie of the comic book/superhero genre. Let me explain exactly why this works, and exactly why the following movies in this genre fails.
   
   --Failures:
   
   Transformers // Spider-Man 3 // Superman Returns//Elektra // The Punisher // The Crow // Star Wars Episodes 1-3
   
   All horrible movies. There's more to this list but I'm gonna limit it to these since I've written reviews on most of them, and my opinions are already explained.
   
   Wanna know what all those other movies have in common? They share one or both of the following traits: they either 1) cater too much to kids, or 2) lack characters with realistic emotions.
   
   Trying to make a comic book/superhero movie that's catered to kids is synonymous with making it for MORONS. You go out of your way to cater it to simple minds, and you have a simple, moronic movie lacking all the fundamentals on what constitutes a STORY with characters. It means that all bets are off, and you're no longer carefully crafting art. Any semblance of our reality is out the door, and all you're left with on screen are empty entities moving around, making sounds, and doing actions arbitrarily (e.g. every movie I named above, and unfortunately the two sequels to this movie).
   
   NINJA TURTLES part 1 is a movie that can be enjoyed by kids, but they didn't completely dumb it down and insult their intelligence, that's why even watching it now I can enjoy it. If someone described a movie to you as being dark, and featuring complex characters, a movie with talking turtles may not be the first guess. The turtles may as well not even been turtles, this could've been a movie about four human brothers, and it would've worked the same way because of the great characterization. That's how you know a movie is good, when it doesn't rely on its "gimmick" to get by.
   
   3 points that jump out at me:
   
   --Splinter. I'm in complete absolute amazement at how UNCHEESY he was. The most amazing thing about his character were his LINES. I mean, this dude says some of the most profound things I've ever heard in my life, let alone in a movie, LET ALONE from a disheveled, talking rat puppet. Everything he said had such weight and substance. He was not stereotyped as some elderly martial arts master with trite, cliché "wise man" phrases. This was truly an endearing character.
   
   --Raphael. Look at the list of movies that I wrote up top. Combine all the atoms that make up each individual character from those movies, and they still wouldn't hold a candle to the weight and complexity that just a single molecule that Raphael carries. End of story.
   
   --The rooftop fight. Remember the part where Shredder has Leo on the ground, and tells Donny, Raph, and Mikey to throw away their weapons? If you've read any of my other rants, you'd know that a big thing for me is for characters to react realistically in situations. This scene here epitomizes what I mean. After Shredder tells them to throw their weapons away, they specifically had Raph ponder it for a quick second, then begrudgingly throw his weapon away with a grunt, followed by Mikey (who also grunts, a subtle touch) and Donny. This perfectly shows the dynamics of their relationship to each other at work here, because in this type of situation you would hesitate and wait to see what your leader does. It's just like if you and two co-workers are doing something, and then a CEO type person who you've never seen before walks in and makes a comment/questions you three, most times you would let the default leader among you (whether that assignment is subjective due to personality type, or more tangible, such as job position) do the talking for you. And that's what happened here. Mikey and Donny had no clue whether to surrender their weapons or not, their leader and brother is on the ground, about to get killed, so they had to wait to see what their other older brother would do, and then follow suit. This was a great example of great writing, and I love the subtle touch of having Mikey copy Raph's grunt, just like a younger brother would do.
   
   Action movies of today can learn from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. If you have good characters, the story almost doesn't matter, as it pretty much writes itself. All the viewer cares about at this point is to see if the characters all make it out ok. There's no need to concoct some over the top plot line as a means of being interesting or original, if we don't care about your characters, we couldn't care less on where the story takes these 1-dimensional caricatures.

5 comments about Remo Williams - The Adventure Begins.

1. This is the only movie from the destroyer book series. A gumg ho go america film thats fun for all



2. The Destroyer was NOT given a fair shake in this outing. Though it was a good try, it falls short. You can tell there were many involved who did not have a clue about Remo, Chuin, or the Glorious House of Sinanju. I wish they could have done better by them. Though Fred Ward is PERFECT cast as Remo!



3. Good plot line, good acting, lots of energy, here's a movie that's custom made for sequels. What happened? No Hollywood hype machine. Would have made Fred's career. Love Joel Grey, but not as an Asian character, this was before Hollywood realized that Asian's can play Asian characters. Not as awful as Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's though. That was the worst I've ever seen. I remember when I saw Breakfast at Tiffany's I didn't know he was supposed to be Asian, I just thought he was "special".And Mickey is a good actor, but that performance was just embarrassing for him and the audience. Too bad about this movie though, it would have been a fine jumping off point for Fred's career.



4. Enough has been written here about this typical action film, but an ignored beauty is Joel Grey's deft performance of an old Korean master. Though in heavy makeup (Grey is not as ancient as the character Master Chuun) Grey was commended for the most sensitive and accurate performance of an Asian character by a white actor. Sounds racist, but the critics at the time really meant it. Yellowface was still in vogue. Very true to the culture, from his accent to the attitude that women are fairly worthless, from his love of soaps to his love of assassination, Grey nails this character. I doubt that the great Keye Luke himself could have done it better. Since America had only cheap Chinese "kung-fu" films, and samurai films were limited to Kurosawa's output, "Remo Williams" is not so bad. Jackie Chan had a small cult following then, and his films were a delight, but I was there when "Remo" was newly released, and I was jaded by all there was to see from Asia. Yet "Remo" moved me. It showed me a good time, and didn't kill me at the box office or when I originally bought it on VHS. Few youngsters today realize the impact it had on the martial arts genre American-style. It gave the genre a hope it had never nejoyed. Bottom line: see this film and decide for yourself, and be merciful to the 1980's for once!



5. As a kid, I LOVED this movie. After I read the series, I didn't like it as much. Fred Ward and Joel Grey certainly had the right look (although Chuin's attire wasn't proper, but his acting was perfect as Chuin). The origin was totally stupid, and McCleary wasn't portrayed right, either. This movie deserves a remake!

5 comments about Lionheart.

1. While Lionheart is basically an 80's action flick, it's full of genuine charm. Jean-Claude Van Damme tries out his dramatic acting chops here and does very well. This is one of the rare action movies where guys can get their kicks from a great display of martial arts and the wife/girlfriend will enjoy the touching backstory involving a man trying to help his dead brother's family find a new life.



2. Let me say right off that Jean Claude Van Damne isn't a great actor nor a credible looking fighter. That being said, this is easily his best effort on both fronts.
   
   Here he plays Lyon, a solider in the Foreign Legion who learns that his brother in America was killed in a drug deal gone bad. He left behind an estranged wife and a little girl who is in desperate need. Wanting to help, he escapes the Legion and secretly gives her money through winnings he gets from various illegal underground fights.
   
   Let me say that this story has a lot of heart (no pun intended) for an R rated film. While there is language in it, the family element in the movie is unmistakable. It would ALMOST be apporpriate for family viewing if not for the language as the violence is kept to a minium until the final fight. There is some suggestive sexuality in it but that, also, is kept very brief.
   
   Overall, this is worth a view for older teens to adults. Unless you see it on TV or find an edited version of it, I would not recommended it for young viewers.
   
   That all being said, its one of Van Damne's finest movies.



3. I am a big Van Damme fan. I was excited to finally get this widescreen edition. Not only is widescreen not available as described, my old vhs tape has better video quality than this.
   
   For 7 bucks I'll keep it for now and replace it when it (hopefully) comes out on Blu Ray.



4. It's unreal how talented Jean Claude Van Damme (JCVD) is at making this type of movie. While incredibly corny, somehow the entertainment value isn't lessened. If it were anyone other than JCVD, I think that the movie would be much worse. It's almost as if his poor acting ability and general monotony makes this type of movie better. JCVD is like epicac; under normal circumstances, it's not a great idea to chug a bottle, but when mixed with the consumption of something sure to turn your stomach otherwise, it's the perfect fit to make everything feel better.
   
   Leone (JCVD) escapes from the French foreign legion in Africa after finding out his broher is ill and being denied leave. What he finds is that his brother is dead and has left a sister-in-law and niece in LA. In little time at all, he realizes that he is worthless in America without cash to help out his relatives. Somehow he makes is way to the underground fight game, where he takes on a guy who appears to be homeless as his trainer. On top of that, it just so happens that this bum is associated with some very high-profile fight fans who stage various elaborate fights for their wealthy friends.
   
   It's classic JCVD, with every punch and kick telegraphed from a mile away, and with an extra scream-pause-flex after each successful blow. In the final battle, Leone must battle a huge man named Atilla, a man clearly thawed after thousands of years of being entrapped in a block of ice while modeling as the one-step-to-the-left guy on the Evolutionary chart. Oh, and I can't say for sure, but I'm fairly sure JCVD does the splits in this one.
   
   Turn your brain off and enjoy some quintessential JCVD!



5. Great movie!
   
   If your a Van Damme fan, you've already seen it!
   
   It was the "Fight Club" of the late 90's!
   
   Recommended to all men!

5 comments about Rush Hour 2 (Special Edition).

1. this is by far one of my favorite movies of all time, the best, better than rush hour, buy it ¡¡¡¡



2. i found this movie to be better than the first one.there's still lots
   of action,but it's even funnier than the first.there's some really good
   fight scenes,and Jackie Chan's moves are even more outrageous this time
   around.the banter between Chan and Tucker is much funnier and more
   natural.once again,although there is some violence it's not excessive
   or gratuitous.i think there is also less coarse language than the
   first,and like the first,there is no nudity,but there is a bit of
   suggestiveness.overall,i though this movie was a great ride from start
   to finish.it's even faster paced than the original,and Tucker and Chan
   have even better general and comedic chemistry.for me,Rush Hour 2 is a 4/5



3. OK to let the kids sit in & watch with everyone
   Funniest of the 3 Rush Hours



4. I really love Rush Hour movies. Ever since I saw the first one, I was intrigued and decided to get the second one. Very nice movie, has some classic chases and fights! lots of action and fun! and there's no better way to enjoy than watching it in the great quality the DVD brings.



5. Brett Ratner really should have left Rush Hour a stand-alone show. Rush Hour 2 is pretty overblown and it's even annoying enough at times to make one visibly wince. The writers had Tucker go from funny & clever in the first one to downright annoying and obnoxious in this sequel. Some of the sequences were entertaining however, mainly the fight choreography, and the 2 high-powered women (Sanchez and Zhang) help make the movie more interesting, but overall the film falls flat on plot and buddy cop chemistry. 2 stars for introducing some new elements in the Rush Hour saga but failing to deliver in enjoyment value.

5 comments about Urban Justice.

1. Under Siege this isn't. But for a low budget direct to video movie it isn't bad either. Seagal could stand to lay off the Ho-Ho's for awhile and get a gym membership, but if you can admit this isn't the same Seagal you saw twenty years ago, it's a good movie.



2. I like Steven Seagal's movies and he was great actor. This movie was making another his performance. His acting was very excellent and his voice was good too. The story was good. My favorite star.



3. After the truly awful direct-to-dvd films that Seagal has produced in recent years, he has finally given fans a decent film. I'll stop short of calling it a comeback, but hope that it's the start of some better quality productions. There are no surprises in this plot. As usual Seagal is some sort of mysterious guy with some sort of secret background that gives him fighting and weapons skills as well as experience in high-tech surveillance. While nowhere near Oscar standard, the acting was better than in previous Seagal films. Also improved was the general film and production quality. Recent Seagal films have suffered from terrible sound and picture quality. Another improvement is Seagal's speaking. In his last several films Seagal often mumbled his lines. Finally I appreciated the lack of spiritual and metaphysical mumbo jumbo that Seagal has tried to incorporate into recent films. Urban Justice has some decent action/fighting scenes. While the fighting scenes still are not as good as the Above the Law/Out for Justice days, they are also improved over recent years. I really hated the super slow motion then sped up fight sequence of recent years. The scenes in Urban Justice are more realistic and appear to be filmed at normal speed. I've rated Urban Justice 3 stars. It's far from his best film but equally far from his worst.



4. Some say Don E. FauntLeRoy's 2007 action film "Urban Justice" is a comeback for Steven Seagal. The fact is, it is, and it is not. It depends on what you expect from this violent but solid action film. If you are looking for some action-packed, big budget film like "Under Siege," you will be disappointed. Still, after watching a string of terrible films (especially "Attack Force" and "Flight of Fury"), "Urban Justice" is surprisingly entertaining.
   
   Steven Seagal is "Simon Ballister" whose son (a good police officer) has been recently killed. We don't know much about Simon, but we know he is unstoppable one-man army. Nobody should mess with Simon who insists he wants only the shooter, not the one who ordered the killing while breaking bones and snapping necks of every guy who stands in his way.
   
   I know how simple and ridiculous this story could be, but ridiculous as it is, simple story worked in his earlier films like "Marked for Death." Perhaps Seagal has realized that too. He stopped talking about conservation of natural environment or preaching the philosophy of Zen. Instead our laconic, wooden-faced hero is given a chance or two to be humorous. Don't miss one scene, where Seagal's Simon reveals the secret about how he mastered martial arts.
   
   "Urban Justice" is a low-budget B-action film slightly better than average direct-to-video films. There is one decent car chase and several shoot-outs, but some scenes are too dark, and martial arts action scenes are all made with choppy editing faster than Seagal's punches. The camera, often inexplicably lopsided, also fails to show what is really going on. This is not a great film, but much better than his recent direct-to-video flicks.



5. 'Urban Justice' is Steven Seagal's long awaited return to the old style of his action movies. While not perfect, it is light years better than 'Attack Force' which was the last straw. I believe Mr. Seagal got the damaging message from a multiplicity of his disgruntled fans, and has turned things around for the better!
   
   Keep up the fine work Mr. Seagal!