5 comments about The Bodyguard From Beijing.

1. After Christy Chung wittness a mob killing she needs protection 24/7. Jet Li a secret agent is sent to protect her at all cause. Her house has nothing but hidden cams to watch for bad guys. At first Christy didn't want Jet Li's help and start giving him a hard time until she was being chased in a mall by the mob tring to kill her. Lucky for Li he kill all of them and saved her. Now she is starting to appericate him and tring to get to know him even be his lover. But it's good for Jet Li to blow her off cause she should of gave him a chance at first. She thought she was too good for him so served that Bi*ch right.



2. I'm a big fan of Hong Kong action movies, but Bodyguard from Beijing was merely okay. Jet Li stars as a doughty tough bodyguard from the mainland hired to protect a spoiled rich girl from Hong Kong. Sparks fly when he tries to restrict her movements and jet-setting lifestyle. The two eventually fall in love, despite the fact that his new girlfriend is already the mistress of a wealthy man.
   
   I liked the film, but didn't find it anything to shout about. The girl's nephew Billy was way irritating. Jet Li was handsome and there were some great martial arts feats but this DVD was nothing to write home about. 3 stars. Average.



3. 
   This movie was made in Hong Kong, starring Jet Li, directed by Corey Yuen. Although it is not Jet Li's best, it is nevertheless worth watching.
   
   The bodyguard (Jet Li) is assigned to protect the rich Christy Cheung, the only remaining witness to a murder case (the other two witnesses were killed weeks before the trial). At first, they don't get along, largely due to the stiff bodyguard violating her privacy, installing security cameras not only throughout the house but also her bedroom. However, a romantic relationship develops after she violates security procedures and goes shopping, only to be saved from being narrowly killed by several assassins, due to the first rate fighting skills of the bodyguard.
   
   The movie starts slowly but it builds up to excellent martial arts towards the end. The major disappointment is that the producers forgot that this was supposed to be a martial arts movie and introduced guns unnecessarily, which spoils the action. The action is not as much as I would have wished. However, the fight, towards the end is first rate, particularly when Jet Li fights Ken Lo (Jackie Chan).
   
   However, for those who like guns and also like martial arts, then this movie will excite you.



4. The Defender is perhaps one of Jet Li's more different and original of all his HK made films. The movie relies on a pretty good story filled with multiple aspects of conflict and suspense, rather than a lot of action. The lesser amount of action never phased me because I thought the movie does well without it. Thats not to say there isn't any, just not as much as most of Jet Li's movies. Fortunately, if you can't help but desire a good fight, the finale of the movie presents one of Jet Li's better fights scenes I have ever scene, a fight of originailty etched with emotion.
   
   There are a few set backs from getting a 5 star rating. The English dubbing, as always, gives the movie a cheesy feel sometimes and makes the acting seem a little week. Aside from the dubbing, there are some moments in the movie that are a bit cheesy. Jet Li's character and the woman he is ordered to protect endure continuous scenes of tension that are great to watch, since he takes his work seriously and she has a rich boyfriend who has hired the bodyguard. Though entertaining and suspenseful moments arise from these two, they also present the cheesy moments, especially the ending of the film.
   
   The Defender is a great addition to anyone who loves Jet Li movies. I'd have to say this is one of his better ones overall. Great story filled with suspense, and a wonderful final fight scene that is amongst the best. If you are looking for movie filled with action throughout, it may not please, but this is a good all-around film, giving more than most martial art films would.



5. the eng dubbed version i find kindna cheesy, so i'm glad i purchased the original version. although the video quality is poor (Average) and the eng sub (harddubbed) is hard to read, quality of the eng sub is excellent; that's what I always look for - good to excell eng subs. i wish/hope that in the near future the producers can optimize this movie with better vid quality and same quality eng subs (not eng dubbed, that is). also, yes, i highly recommend this movie to any jet li fan/collector.

5 comments about Mad Monkey Kung Fu.

1. This movie is entertaining from the start to finish,,are art of old school kung fu very apparent and all over this flick!! Importantly,,the picture sound quality very, very good. If you're a lover of the monkey kung fu,,this is definately a must have. The fight scenes are truly amazing. A must have for the collection for sure!!



2. I did not like this because it is a bootleg. The film is great, but Red Sun is a bootleg "company" who are stealing the remastered versions from IVL DVDs made in Hong Kong. If you want the films, get the Thai releases that are all region or the HK IVL DVDs and don't buy the boots. Anyone that buys these discs are supporting the very reason why the US hasn't seen quality releases of these films for all these years ie bootleggars selling in legit stores. I honestly can't believe Amazon would allow this to be sold on here due to the chance of lawsuit by the Wienstein Company.



3. While I'm not a HUGE fan of this movie I am a fan of Hsiao Ho and his performance is worth the price of admission. Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad movie. If it were just based on the last 20 minutes and the cast it might well be the best kung fu movie ever made. You have the director, Lau Kar Leung as the protagonist, the lovely Kara Hui as his sister, and Lo Lieh as (surprise!) the bad guy.
   
   Chan (Lau) is a performer with the opera and master of the monkey fist. When Duan (Lieh) sees Chan's sister, he gets Chan liquored up and after he passes out, he puts him in bed with his (Duan's) wife and gets her to corroborate an accusation of assault. In an effort to save Chan, his sister agrees to become Duan's concubine. Chan gets his hands smashed and is then released.
   
   Years go by when Chan meets Little Monkey (Hsiao Ho) and the two become friends, though Chan is still quite melancholy. Little Monkey eventually learns Chan's monkey fist to defend himself against local thugs, who work for Duan. When Little Monkey tangles with Duan it is Chan's sister who helps him escape. Upon learning this, Chan decides it's time to get her back and take his revenge.
   
   This movie has great fight and training scenes but has some rather slow stretches. It often plays as a comedy yet the story is depressing, and some of the scenes are mean-spirited. Many of the fights (though well performed) involve more jumping around than striking. Until the last fight, that is. The finale is also some of Lo Lieh's most convincing work. You get to see Hsiao Ho's unbelievable acrobatic display. The guy does back hand springs so fast he looks like an oscillating fan.
   
   This DVD has the typical flawless, gorgeous picture of remastered Shaw Bros. films. Though this is far from the best of their productions, it is still a good flick and has enough fantastic moments to make a pleasant addition to any martial arts collection. It's hard for me to believe that Gordon Liu isn't in this. Was he too good for it? Maybe Lo Lieh was sick of fighting him at the end all the time.
   
   1979



4. This is one of the best from Shaw brothers. I saw this movie years ago. And the remastered version is nothing short of Amazing! The training is excellent, acting fantastic and a Must see DVD. This is simply the best. If your an old school fan, Shaw Fan or any fan of real Kung Fu movies then get this one now! The Teacher of the Shaw clan shows his true teaching abilities and the action is nonstop. This is a 7 star movie, but I'm only able to give 5. You will love this DVD as long as you get the remastered version.



5. This was one of the very first of the highly regarded kung fu movies that I was lucky enough to catch back in the 70's, and even though at that early date my experience with m/a films was limited, I knew that I was watching genius. So it didn't surprise me a year or so later when I learned that the movie I had been blown away by had starred and been choreographed by none other than master of kung fu Liu Chia-Liang himself, a name that anyone seriously interested in the genre knows and respects.
   You can read plot synopsis elsewhere, all I need say is that there are only a few movies that present monkey style in as entertaining and exciting a fashion as this one, and most of those will also have Liu's name attached to them!
   This is simply not to be missed if you consider yourself a fan of the genre, and especially is you enjoy pre-wire kung fu!

5 comments about Lady Ninja.

1. I tried to explain the premise to this movie (revengeful nuns train to be ninjas at Hogwarts School of Karate), and all of my friends thought I was practicing pitching ridiculous movies to soften up execs for the real movie ideas. I was struck by the absurdity, the juxtaposition of near contstant female bare chests with male blood squirts. If you were auditioning for this film, they would ask you to show your boobies (if you were a girl) or show your most graphic death face (for dudes). What I don't get is why add so much naked girls? They were so abundant that the women who didn't undress looked out of place! The political intrigue and ninja fighting would have been enough to carry this film, without the bouncy bits.
   
   And the magical powers they all got! Hoo boy, what a mess! I will note that the less attractive girls had to do the stupidest ninja naked magic, like they were willing to do anything for a bigger role, unlike the really pretty girls who might show a little chest, but that's all.
   
   Worse, the movie was made in 2000!! Do you know how hard it was to make such a crappy ninja movie in 2000?! It was nearly impossible, but this one combines ludicrous plot lines (the shogunate will fall if the evil twin of a master Buddhist priest dies, who are in symbiosis with each other), useless nudity (the evil lord captures youg brides to turn them into sex slaves...in his dungeon...what, no clean rooms in the house?!), inexplicable magical ninja powers (peep the girl who absorbs power bolts into her funny parts and then barfs them back at the enemy)and some of the worst over-acting ever filmed in ANY language (the evil lord literally screams his way throught the movie: he must have been paid based on the decibel level)! Hats off to the director and his favorite whiskey, 'cause nobody wrote this thing sober!
   
   The only reason to watch this movie is to be able to lie to your friends about how great it is, and get them to buy it: no reason for us to be the only knuckleheads who watched this drivel. I can only hope that there will be a sequel!!



2. Just when we thought Gogo Yubari from "Kill Bill" was the hottest Japanese star ever! But you ain't seen nothin' yet. When you watch "Lady Ninja," you will see why. You will see why the girls in this movie are hotter! Believe me. There are other Japanese stars out there that are just as hot as Gogo. The "Lady Ninja" DVD is a perfect example!



3. The plot IS strange,but the action and cute chics make up for it.I think this movie is a middle tier in terms of building a martial art movie collections.You should eventually watch it,rent or perhaps a cheap copy for sale.Not a bad movie,not a good movie but it is entertaining.Definitely Japanese! Dont let the bad reviews ruin this one...it is a fun to wacth(costumes:A+) fantasy filled movie that has some actualities concerning ninjitsu philosophy.The problem with most people reviewing ninja movies is most ninja movies are going to suck!Movie makers seldom bring dignity and respect to the ninja-spy character/plot as they do for the samurai-warrior.You wont feel bad for wacthing it and you shouldnt hate yourself for buying it,but dont pay over 10 dollars for it!



4. "Lady Ninja," is one of those films where you're almost too embarrassed to admit that you watched, let alone purchased. However, to spare the rest of you such a horrible mess of a film; I am ready to fess up to this one. I bought this film at a great bargain price a few years ago. Yet, before I bought it, I remembered looking at the back of the DVD cover and thinking that this was not going to be a good film. But, I bought it anyway. I should have heeded my own inner advice. If there are any of you out there who like ninja/samurai films--stay away from this one. However, there are some lessons to be learned from this film. First, if you should see this film in your video store, pass if by quickly---lest you unintentionally rent it. Second, if you notice this film in the bargain 'For Sale' bin---pass the bin quickly lest you think you're getting a great bargain. And finally, should you be given this film in the mail by the studios to give a review on it---promptly take it out of its case, and using a steel wire brush, scrape vigorously with all your might. This way any temptation to play the film be will gone forever.
   
   Yes, it's that bad a film. This mess of a film stars Yukio Moriyama, and director Hitoshi Ozawa. The film itself is based on the novel by Futaro Yamada [wonder how he felt?] The films narrative takes place in feudal Japan, where there is an evil lord by the name of Akinaru Katou (Ryuushi Mizukami). As the leader of the Aizu prefecture, where the setting of the film takes place, he has an insatiable appetite for pretty young girls. Anyway, to make a long story of a terrible film short; a massacre occurred which left seven daughters of the Hori clan as survivors, and as a result, these daughters were left behind in Edo. The daughters want to avenge the deaths of those in their clan, by destroying Akinaru Katou and his minions. These 7 daughters have a power so incredibly silly it defies description. The film introduces the viewer to the [incredibly bad] sword master Jubei Yagyu (Hitoshi Ozawa) His scenes are not only incredibly lame, but his acting was atrocious. This film ranks right up there with some of the worst ninja/samurai films I have ever seen. [And I have seen plenty]
   
   Moreover, the story gets sillier, as the daughters of the Hori clan discover that they have INCREDIBLE powers. However, these powers are laughable at most. Plus, I am not sure whether amazon would allow descriptions of some of their powers, as they would probably be deleted with the usual [ellipses], therefore I will not go into them. Let's just say that this power emanates from the female anatomy. Suffice it to say that the acting is horrible beyond description. Further, the special effects are just plain bad. How BAD you ask? Well, for starters, we see chopped off heads and arms of the bad guys which looked incredibly fake. And when these limbs are chopped off it looks so silly, you either want to laugh, or stop the film [The latter would be preferable] You might know the type I am writing about, where a limb is severed and you see blood shooting out like a fire hose for about 45 seconds to a minute. The late Director Ed Wood may have made some bad movies in his time, but with the budget and costumes they had in this film, there was no excuse for it in this particular flick. This is just a bad film all the way around. Therefore, I do not recommend this film. Having viewed it twice now, I know I will NEVER have to see it again.



5. I must admit, I got this dvd knowing what to expect. It is wonderfully bad. I saw a preview as part of another dvd I own. As soon as I saw it, I thought 'this is going to be horrible, but I have to have it.' The preview showed the cartoony movements and effects, and over the top, for no apparent reason, costumes. With all this, and the colors used, I kept thinking 'live action anime.' The movie revealed even more nonsense. And it was just what I expected.
   
   The previews with the DVD have the producer proclaiming 'this is the B movie of all B movies.' I think he hit his target. This movie isn't cleverly written enough to make it to cult status, so just take it as the indulgence it is. Think 'what if Evil Dead was done as women ninjas, with a similar budget, but not as good a script' and you have Kunoichi.
   
   Get if you want something different, and like cheese (bad, smelly cheese). Don't even fathom paying top dollar though. Go to a marketplace vendor and pay for it used.

4 comments about Lock On: Joint Locking Essentials Volume 1: Wrist Locks with Alain Burrese.

1. With so many martial arts videos and resources out there, the bar has been set pretty high for new material. Alain Burrese sets the standard even higher. This first "Lock On" DVD is a good example of providing a lot of material in a quality manner at a fair price. The DVD runs 87 minutes of solid content.
   
   The "Lock On" project is a very ambitious one. It seems to be designed to focus on Hapkido joint locks without having to get too deep into the striking aspect, the footwork aspect, falls, breathing, finishes and so on. Granted, there has to be some of this to make the locks work out of "isolation" but the 1st video sets a good model.
   
   The DVD is arranged clearly into several chapters, making it very easy to reference and skip around. It starts with a nice exploration of the wrist and some great insight on why wrist locks work the way they do. From there are sections on various locks, including the outer wrist lock, inner wrist lock, overhand outer wrist lock, reverse handshake, standing center lock, s-lock, and the faucet lock.
   
   In each section the lock is explored in a general static sense, with attention paid to the mechanics, then it's shown more dynamically in a variety of situations (like lapel grab, same side wrist grab, etc) with several variations depending on footwork and attacker's intent. Key elements such as footwork, posture, and even finishes are explored to a degree necessary for the technique but not to distraction.
   
   Most of the variations are the old tried and true ones but there were some original ones I really liked as well. There are a few variations I didn't personally care for, such as the jumping locks and the deep crouches, but the mechanics were interesting to see even then. Also, I had never learned the "faucet lock" before but seeing the application of it in the clinch makes me curious about it and I'll try it out on someone soon.
   
   Overall, the production values are very good, with clear photography, good angles and very good verbal descriptions. Attention is paid to more than just the lock, getting into how to shift weight, use the whole body and proper mechanics without getting too abstract and while trying to keep the focus on the locks. The video doesn't pretend to be an "end-all be-all" representation of Hapkido and it sticks closely to its clearly stated goals of exploring wrist locks. There seems to be elements from different Hapkido traditions represented in the variations and this makes it very educational for students of the art.
   
   On a similar note, I like how the material is presented with a stark lack of propaganda that sometimes can be seen in Hapkido videos. He doesn't go overboard in extolling the virtues of the art or in specific lineages and/or purity. The material is presented as its own justification for learning it. I look forward to the second volume and would be interested to see other elements of Hapkido explored in similar ways (e.g. breakfalls, strikes, footwork, etc).
   
   At first glance, people might assume this is "just" a reference for new Hapkido practitioners. This isn't true. The way this DVD is presented makes it a great resource for all levels. For a new HKD student (or even for a student who learns joint locks as part of a Taekwondo Hoshinsool program) this is a nice supplement to classroom instruction on how a lock works and how to do it. For a "new" instructor this provides an excellent resource on how to teach locks and focus on how to "get everything right". For a senior or master instructor, aside from the solid instructional reference, there are enough little variations and ideas to make it worthwhile as well. Best of all, by not being "kwan-specific" it can serve as a great tool for all Hapkido kwans and Hapkido-based arts as well as for those school who use Hapkido or Hapkido elements in their self defense programs (like many TKD schools do).
   
   Overall, I highly recommend this volume for students and instructors alike. The price is fairly average for martial arts videos but it packs a lot more material in than most others do. There is a lot of general reference that is usable by all levels and enough "extra" that will interest seasoned instructors as well.



2. One thing I've personally enjoyed about all of Burrese's body of work is his no-nonsense way of presentation. From Hard Won Wisdom to Hapkido Hoshinsul, From Street Fighting Essentials to the new Lock On Series, Burrese simply knows self defense.
   
   I was excited to receive the evaluation copy of Master Burrese's new Lock On series of Hapkido Instructional DVDs. As usual, there was no let down.
   
   Throughout, Burrese keeps safety in mind. He reminds the viewer that respect for one's training partner is key. Many instructors forget this point, which could cause problems during practice.
   
   Another bonus of Burrese's work is that he packs as much information as possible into one DVD. Unlike other production companies which use fillers like promos for their other products, Burrese and Aiki Productions cram as much knowledge into each DVD as possible. As always, you get the biggest bang for your buck.
   
   The Lock On Series isn't simply for the novice practitioner. Even the seasoned Hapkidoin will find great material here as well as a good reference source. The novice will find clear, precision instruction on basics, controlling and finishing techniques. The expert will find an invaluable reference on fundamental and advanced techniques and tweaks.
   
   When watching Burrese in action, you'll notice his flow and control. Flowing, making a technique fluid and not choppy or hopping around trying to make it work, is essential in Hapkido. Burrese embodies that concept. He emphasizes proper footwork, an oft forgotten key, and whole body technique. He takes time to explain mechanics, a must for Hapkido.
   
   This isnt a simple run-down of locking techniques. This IS a Master Instructor taking the time to show you step-by-step guidance towards mastery.
   
   Kudos to Aiki Productions on clear video and audio quality. Audio quality is often lacking with many manufacturers. Aiki does an excellent job here with that as well as the graphical interface of the DVD.
   
   Melinda Kidder, Owner
   Chajonshim Martial Arts Supply



3. One of the first things that jumped out at me from the onset when I started watching Alain's "Lock On" series of DVD's was the simple yet effective approach that he took in the production and presentation of this series of DVD's. My initial impression was one of being in an actual seminar environment while Alain was teaching instead of merely watching an instructional DVD. You won't find any pointless or ineffective "bells and whistles" with this series; instead what you will find is good quality instruction covering a wide array of joint locking techniques. This particular DVD focuses on wrist locking techniques.
   
   Alain's ability to instruct you on these simple, yet effective wrist locking techniques is the hallmark of a good instructor and it certainly shows in this series. Alain's approach is straightforward and easy to follow as he takes you through each wrist lock numerous times in order to teach you how to execute each technique correctly. Alain takes great care in his teachings to explain to you how some of these techniques although they may appear to be ineffective, can actually be quite effective if applied under the right set of circumstances.
   
   I'm going to take a brief moment here to jump ahead to the end of this DVD where Alain explains the three (3) key elements that need to be present in order for these techniques to be effective. Although each one of these key elements is vitally important in their own right, none of them is exclusive in importance to the others when it comes to applying these wrist locks effectively in a combat or self-defense situation. What you have to remember is that these three (3) key elements have to be combined in order to form a symbiotic entity that is only effective when utilized together in an efficient manner.
   
   These three (3) key elements are as follows:
   
   1. Surprise: If your opponent doesn't know what to expect, he is going to have a more difficult time defending against it. However, if your opponent knows what is coming, he is going to be more readily able to counter it, or avoid it all together.
   
   2. Speed: Executing the techniques shown on this DVD has to be done as fast as possible while still retaining the third key element, which is proper technique. If the technique is executed too slowly, then your opponent will have the opportunity to figure out what you are doing and, as in the case of surprise, be able to counter it or avoid the technique all together.
   
   3. Proper Technique: This should literally be a "no-brainer," but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case. I don't know how many times I have personally seen or heard of someone trying to apply a particular technique in a given self-defense type situation when they weren't even executing the technique correctly to begin with. Alain goes to extreme lengths in this series to implore you to practice, practice, and practice, until the techniques he demonstrates become second nature to you where you can execute them correctly without thought or hesitation.
   
   Alain follows the same instructional format for each one of the various wrist locks shown in this DVD. He starts out by explaining some of the finer points of executing each technique followed by various follow up techniques that can be used on your opponent, if it is needed, after the wrist lock has been applied. He then shows several variations of each wrist lock that all are based on the primary wrist lock that was first shown.
   
   Alain takes a very realistic approach to the use of wrist locks and attempts to cover several influencing factors that may or may not come into play while attempting to apply them in a real life situation. I myself watched this DVD on three separate occasions and found something that I had previously missed each time. I have no doubt that were I to watch this DVD again after writing this review that I would find something else that I had previously missed.
   
   One of the many great things that I really enjoy about Alain's teaching style is his, what I like to refer to as, "nuggets of wisdom" that he injects throughout his instruction process. I too use this in my own personal style of teaching and have found that it is very effective teaching technique.
   
   I have a rather large collection of instructional videos that I have accumulate over the years and I can say without reservation that Alain's "Lock On" series is one of the best I have seen so far on the subject of joint techniques. If I were to have only one comment to make on this series, it would be this, "Hurry up and make the rest of them!"



4. OK, all of us have done it! We've purchased DVDs that seem to offer clear insight and instruction regarding specific techniques used in our forms of martial arts. Yet, how many of us have been disappointed to find that the not-so-clear presentations have been poorly illustrated and sequenced?
   
   Alain Burrese brings to this DVD an entirely different style of presentation that allows the viewer to see (almost feel) the techniques being illustrated. Burrese presents his selection of joint locks within the framework of grounded martial arts practices, so the techniques are never simply isolated movements. Yet, his presentation also allows one to see the details of hand placement, footwork, body positioning, etc. that provide the real power for the execution of these techniques.
   
   Burrese has a strong sense of presence in front of the camera, and this dramatically improves the quality of his instruction. Not only are the wrist locks clearly explained and illustrated, but they are also reinforced by Burrese's teaching style, which always includes a summary of what he presents. The camera moves in for close details of each technique after showing the viewer an overall view. Consequently, Burrese never forgets to emphasize that the techniques are rooted firmed in martial arts practices. Yet, Burrese goes further by showing the extreme power of each technique, something that many instructors in dojos are not willing to demonstrate.
   
   These techniques are, indeed, powerful tools and should be practiced carefully with a partner. They are intended for close, confrontational situations, which are usually the real-life situations where defense is needed. Nothing fancy here. Just straightforward techniques that work. I've used some of them before to stop more escalated fight situations, so I know they work. Alain Burrese presents them with the clarity that most instructors cannot.
   
   As I understand it, the "Lock On" series will be comprised of five DVDs, maybe six. If the rest of the series is anything like this one, they will constitute a classic collection for martial artists practicing any form. Furthermore, one should know that Burrese shows these defense practices because they work for anyone, who can maintain the fundamental concepts of martial arts while executing these techniques. I first encountered Alain Buresse's presentations in a DVD entitled "Streetfighting Essentials." I found this to be an invaluable resource, because Burrese was able to bridge the distance between dojo instruction of martial arts and real-life street situations that require quick, spontaneous execution of defense strategies that allow one to survive. With this in mind, I purchased volume I of the "Lock On" series and was pleased to find that Burrese still emphasizes that martial arts practice needs to keep the fighting intent foremost, even after we develop a more philosophical approach to the forms we study.
   
   "Lock On: Joint Locking Essentials Volume 1" is an invaluable instructional DVD for any martial artist. I expect to see many more DVDs by this Hapkido practitioner, simply because he knows what he is doing and knows how to present this knowledge to others clearly through his combination of words and images. This is a professionally produced DVD that I will use for many years. Thank you, Alain, for sharing your skills.

2 comments about Fighting Fists Of Bruce Lee.

1. This is a great DVD. It contains Fists of Fury (Great Movie!), The Real Bruce Lee and Fist of Fear/Touch of Death all on one DVD! I couls summarize the movies but you can research them individually, it's more fun that way. I really liked the DVD and you will too! This has a place in my Private Collection because the films are classics and are enjoyable to watch again and again.



2. The dvd is not 3 movie with Bruce Lee only 1 and the rest diferent things.

4 comments about Hell's Windstaff.

1. Spoiler Alert Below:

   Hell's Windstaff is a great movie. It's probably one of the best kung fu movies of the late 70's. It's not great because it has a good storyline. It's selling point is the fighting. And there are lots of them. The choreography is top notch, with guys like Mang Hoi, Hwang Jang Lee and Jason Piao. Mang Hoi's buddy in the film is Tiger Wong, who is played by Yuen Man Meng. I had never heard of this guy before, but was pleasantly surprised at how acrobatic he was, in addition to the quick speed with which he performed the moves. Sadly, he would be forced to retire from the HK action film seen after suffering a heart attack. In this film he looks like someone who could have gone to do bigger and better things. But enough about that. Now to the SPOILER, which is why the DVD doesn't deserve the full five stars.

   While this film is presented in it's original aspect ratio (2.35:1), original language (Cantonese with chinese and english subtitles burned in), the ending, sadly, is truncated. I have the full screen, english dubbed version from World Video, and it features the full ending, where you see the bad guy get shoved into a tree stump and his legs yanked apart like a wishbone. For whatever reason, this has been removed from this print that's on the Xenon disc. I don't know if Xenon removed it or if the source was already missing it. Either way, it's a huge bummer. I'd still recommend getting this version if you are a hardcore HK film collector, inspite of the missing ending.




2. This movie was great. I love movies where everyone can fight. I'll go from worst to best. The guy with the iron hand was alright, guy with stick who was hired off street to teach the 2 young kids was really good. Guy with whitish greyish hair I'm pretty sure was Wong Fei-Hung in this, and he could fight. The 2 kids were great at acrobatics. Pretty tough guy with an eye patch. The kids long grey haired master is really good.Black haired guy whos been in a million movies has an awesome crane form to look forward with him, and of course you have Hwang Jang Lee. I'm not even gonna tell you the sweet stuff that he does in this movie because it has to be seen to be believed. I would put this EASILY as a top 5 Hwang Lee film. I know I prbably left a fighter out but there is almost too may fights in this movie, wait what the hell am saying, there is never too many fights when they are as beautifully choreographed in this one. Just go and buy this movie.
   I forget the action directors, but they are all top notch.



3. After checking out this flick, I felt the 5 star rating by a previous reviewer is grossly overrated, and profoundely exaggerated. I have many flicks with the great Kwan Jang Lee,,,and believe me, this is nothing close to his talent!! Yes,,there is no question this is an o.k flick. The choreography and cinematography is well put together. However, almost all copies of the Dvd transfer is remarkably poor. It's unfortunate watching this flick with such poor picture and sound quality,, but definately a flick to have as part of the collection!!



4. I really had to debate on the rating. The box says "digitally remastered", and the picture quality is good, but not great. I didn't expect the kind of job that Celestial does to Shaw Brothers' flicks, but I was at least hoping for a picture close to "7 Grand Masters". I can only assume the old print really sucked. I know nothing about the film making process nor restoration, so perhaps this is a tip-top job.
   
   I was also disappointed that this DVD is subtitled only. In newer movies, I tend to prefer subtitles to dubs, but old-school kung fu is definitely dub-worthy. What's worse is that the subtitles are burned in to the screen and blend in with the picture about a third of the time. I could live with it if they were legible
   
   On to the movie. This is a pretty good film. A little confusing at times (see previous paragraph) but still very enjoyable with some great fights. You see better stuff now, but for the late 70's, I don't know many movies with better choreography than this. Hwang Jang Lee ("Drunken Master") is the bad guy in this and is really something. If our talented heroes are lucky enough to not die by his staff (snicker), they still have his Sky Eagle Claws to contend with. Yuen Man Meng ("Daggers 8") and Hoi Mang play our protagonists and bust loose with some incredible acrobatics, which is another reason I like the older films. Not enough back flips in the modern ones.
   
   3 of 5. Again because of poor use of subtitles AND lack of English dubbing. Otherwise this is probably 4 stars.
   
   1979. aka: The Dragon and Tiger Kids

1 comments about Breathing Fire (Bolo Young).

1. This is the greatest movie ever. What's ironic is there is a character who is Vietnamese and his name is Charlie. There's plenty more to comment on but I would be here all night. It was very entertaining.

No comments about Unleashed [UMD for PSP].

5 comments about The Avenging Fist.

1. Ugh. My friend bought this on dvd the other day at a used video store. Why did he buy it? I have no idea. I knew it was gonna be bad news. So anyways, after playing some video games we decided to pop it in and give it a shot. I will regret that moment forever.
   This is probably one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I used to talk about how much crap there is in American cinema, but after watching a few Hong Kong movies, there'e quite a bit of crap there too. This movie was plain AWFUL. Glossed over special effects which were ridiculous and pointless, stupid fight scenes, idiotic camera tricks, and a plot that was made up by a 4-year old. Don't buy this. Don't watch it. Stop reading this review and find something better to do.



2. Being a fan of Hong Kong cinema, I must admit I bought this dvd with a certain amount of trepidation. This is because it broke new territory - and I must admit the special effects are really impressive. However, the most serious flaw is that the movie never seemed to combine the special effects with the kung-fu action, which I was screaming for all the way through. What a wasted opportunity! There is too much boy meets girl type nonsense going on for my liking. Maybe if they had a Jet li or a Donnie Yen on board they could have done something with this, but I doubt it. Perhaps in a few years time they might get the combination just about right. Until then its The Story of Ricky for me!



3. If you like Hong Kong movies, if you like cute guys, if you lilke fighting, and if you like feature movies. Then this is one you don't want to miss out. Not too much actions like some others, a little love story, exciting movies.



4. First time I watched this was on a bootleg poorly made, and I thought the film was awful. Second time was years later on the regular DVD sold here, and I really enjoyed it this time. The reasons for both reactions were the same: very B-movie with sensless fights with no real martial arts at all-only computer graphics and lots of blue screen scenes. However, if you think about it- not much difference in the non-motive fights same sort of reasons as in the old kung fu movies, and those fights were no more realistic since they were so afraid of hurting each other. Lack of good story-line, same thing. So what to enjoy? The general campiness and weirdness of it all, and the strong element of fun. No single element of this movie is very good, but all combined it is great entertainment and has lots of original ideas-not just repeats of older movies like most do. Sammo Hung has a great minor role in this. So does Yuen Biao, but he is not given any good lines or action, so not too good a role for him. The kids are the main focus, and they do exactly what they are supposed to. Not a bad science fiction theme also. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes good camp and science fiction.



5. 
   When I heard that "Avenging Fist" was going to be out on DVD, I had this grin on my face because of the "Tekken" hype surrounding the movie.
   
   I finished watching "Avenging Fist" starring Ekin Cheng, Gigi Leung, Lee Hom Wang, Kristy Yeung, Sammo Hung, Stephen Fung and more.
   
   Anyway, this movie has a lot of people you may have seen from many HK movies and a few big names which adds to the allure of the film. Also, the special effects are pretty cool and the futuristic look ala "Blade Runner" was very nice.
   
   This movie is definitely not "Tekken", it's more like "Tekken", "Street Fighter 2" and "Dragon Ball Z" mixed together.
   
   The only thing that "Tekken" has to do with this film is that it's a fighting movie (ala videogame like fighting movie) and the main character (Leehom Wang, the guy who played Aaron Kwok's partner on China Strike Force) has hair like Kazuya which is pretty cool. The only thing that "Street Fighter 2" has to do with it is the fighting characters and Combat-21 (think M. Bison, or if you are in East Asia think Vega). The only thing that "DBZ" has to do with this is the ending segment which is reminiscent of how DBZ ended with Goku's battle with Boo.
   
   Anyway, the plot is humans can only use 10% of their brain. What would happen if humans can tap into the other 90% which is called the "Forbidden Zone". Anyway in the past: Thunder was a guy who perfect the martial art of the "Avenging Fist". As a police officer, he and two others - Dark and Combat 21 were chosen to test the power glove which would allow police officers to tap into the 90% but something goes wrong. Now it's twenty years later and Thunder's twins: Nova (Wang) and Belle (She was the female partner in "For Bad Boys Only") are twins that have special talents. Nova for fighting and learning his dead father's "Avenging Fist" and Belle with her power for producing heat. Nova never knew what happened to his father, his mother is not saying anything. Nova's goal is to have a "Power Glove" for himself, not knowing what it's for...just knowing that police officer's use it to kick butt. The day of his birthday, his mom has a surprise but Nova and Belle are in for a surprise when their father Thunder reappears.
   
   If anything, people who love video games especially fighting video games or anime will love this movie. As for the DVD, it only comes with a trailer. No special features which sucks. But this is the first time I seen a DVD featuring DTS 6.1 and Digital Dolby EX on a HK DVD. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't feature great surround sound like GEN-X Cops but it's ok.
   
   English subs are good but with the typical typos in HK film.
   
   All in all a great film for those who enjoy video game fighting movies and anime. If you don't enjoy these type of movies, then you may want to pass.

1 comments about The Lost Kung Fu Secrets.

1. I originally saw this movie years ago and I knew then that I had to include this film into my collection of martial art movies. David has made numerous films for the Shaw Brothers this is not a SB product but most of them were brilliant he's a leader in kung fu movie history in empty hand and weapons combat. This film is one of his many gems and probably has more fight scenes than any of his other movies, the movie centers around him trying to protect a royal family from traitors and in the process basically taking on a hole army. I give it 5 stars for plot, action and overall concept plus theres never a dull moment here.