5 comments about Zatoichi 21 - The Festival of Fire.

1. Here are the goods and bads:
   
   GOODS:
   * PERFECT cinematoghraphy (just like Lord of the Rings)
   * Good final fight.
   * The bad guy is very similar to a evil samurai in japanese animation!
   * Zatoichi is surrounded by fire.
   * FAST movements by Shintaro Katsu (Zatoichi).
   * Zatoichi fights 30 men at the end.
   
   BADS:
   * The final fight was good but not AWESOME as "Zatoichi meets the one armed swordman".
   
   P.S: Many people are telling me that "Zatoichi the Outlaw" is the best but the film was made in the late 60's, I really don't trust in the 60's production because I saw "Zatoichi Zamatarian" in 1968 and the movie didn't have the best camera movements as the 70's cameras. But I will give it a try some of this days to watch "The Outlaw".
   
   Adios!!!!



2. I've seen several films in the Zatoichi, and I have to rate this as the best. I could see several ties to film noir in this movie, from the outlaw connections and shady bosses (never named) to the femme fatales and grey-shaded hero.
   
   I was particularly drawn to the unnnamed Husband that shadows Zatoichi throughout the movie - here was a man honor-bound to avenge the "treachery" of his wife, and even when Zatoichi tells him that nothing occurred between them, the Husband's honor must be upheld. Driven increasingly eratic by his knowledge, the man pursues his enemy, even helping the blind swordsman when it appears that Zatoichi's life is in danger. After all, none but him may have the honor of slaying our hero. Their final fight is one of the most emotional that I have ever seen.
   
   Zatoichi's closing words are chilling, not because he's moving on, but because he's (unsuccessfully) convincing himself that everything is fine. The blind swordsman is emotionally drained from the resolution of the conflict, and it will be some time before he can open up that much of himself again.



3. Personally, this is my favorite Ichi movie. Any fan of the series will enjoy this, because it has what you've come to expect from Ichi. As for people new to the series, if you don't like this one you probably shouldn't bother with the others.
   
   As always, the sword choreography was above par. Katsu's blade passes through untold scores of ne'er-do-wells, and the number of adversaries in the climactic fight is cause for alarm, even if they are facing down Ichi. For those of you placing a high importance on sword choreography, I would like to mention that this movie contains a a style I've only ever seen once before, in the underrated 'Sword of Doom'. The 'soundless' form used by Ichi's counterpart is more than impressive, and action followers will want to see this movie just for that alone.
   
   The acting in this particular film is also worth note. Katsu is always incredible as Ichi, it goes without saying, but the real goods here today is the intense performance of Tatsuya Nakadai, playing a nameless ronin. Were it not for Shintaro's genius, I would almost say Nakadai stole the show from Ichi himself. The unrelenting conviction of the nameless ronin is done brilliantly. If you've seen Sword of Doom, it is essentially the same character as Ryunosuke.
   
   The acting from the rest of the cast is decent. There is one female of note, but I was left unimpressed by the primary enemy, and no characters other than Ichi and the ronin left an impression on me. Fortunately, either one of those two more than make up for it, and in fact interactions between the two are some of my favorite scenes in film.
   
   There is a scene midway into the film which seems to have been the basis for the musical choreography we saw in the Beat Takeshi 2003 movie. Kinda fun.
   
   So my final verdict is a hearty smile and a cheery thumbs up to anybody who does not follow the series, an enthusiastic outburst for those who do, and a 'definite must' for anybody who really liked Sword of Doom, since this might as well be kind of an unofficial sequel. The acting by the few was unbelievable, the choreography as good as always (perhaps a bit faster than earlier installments), and the two story arcs came together in an exceptionally satisfying way.
   
   I consider this a first tier movie.



4. wonderful human being as hero, brilliant swordplay, captures the human condition. Tatsuya Nakadai adds weight with an excellent performance and gripping showdown
   
   my favorite series, always hits a home run



5. This 21st episode of the long running Zatoichi series is highly recommended. This is a truly great film! The cinematography and acting is great! Zatoichi [Shintaro Katsu] and many of the character actors in this film did an excellent acting job in their respective roles. In particular, [Masayuki Mori] of "Rashomon" fame. And the twisted and sick-minded Ronin [Tatsuya Nakadai].
   
   In this terrific film, Ichi rescues a woman who has just been sold at an auction. However, she is murdered by an unknown assailant. The murderer is a Ronin [Tatsuya Nakadai], who also happens to be the murdered woman's husband. The Ronin is a hate-filled and jealous man who claims he will kill anyone who touches or ever touched his wife. Zatoichi, who is a masseur, is suspected by this Ronin as having touched her and he vows to kill Ichi: whom the Ronin suspects as having slept with his wife.
   
   Moreover, not only is the Ronin out to get Zatoichi, but Ichi also makes an enemy of the local mob boss played to the hilt by [Masayuki Mori] This mob boss, who like Ichi, is also blind, is incredibly devious, wicked and downright mean. Therefore, you have Ichi caught in the middle of two dangerous men. A dementedly sick Ronin, and a dispicably twisted and evil mob boss. Also, there is a very funny nude yakuza fight scene in a bathhouse: One of many excellent and terrific scenes.
   
   Zatoichi goes through one hell of a time with both of these demented characters. The confrontation with the evil mob boss is incredibly great, and the final confrontation with the demented Ronin is outstanding! Moreover, you have a hilarious scene with [Peter] of "Ran" fame trying to seduce and kill Zatoichi. The entire film is a roller-coaster thrill of suspense, drama, hilarity, and just exciting cinema. The cinematography in the film is terrific, as is the musical score in the film. The entire film is a delightful and thoroughly entertaining Zatoichi film. Highly, highly recommended. [Stars: 5+]

5 comments about Lock On: Joint Locking Essentials Volume 2: Arm Bars & Elbow Locks with Alain Burrese.

1. 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



2. 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 arm bars and elbow locking techniques.
   
   Alain's ability to instruct you on these simple, yet effective arm bars and elbow 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 arm bar and elbow 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 arm bars and elbow 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 arm bars and elbow 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 arm bar or elbow lock has been applied. He then shows several variations of each arm bar or elbow lock that all are based on the primary techniques that were first shown.
   
   Alain takes a very realistic approach to the use of arm bars and elbow 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!"



3. This DVD is very nicely done. It is excellently produced, has decent music, good sound, a nice contrast between the white gis and the blue background, and outstanding camera angles so that viewers can easily tell what is going on. Burrese's instructions are clear, straightforward, and precise, making it easy to understand all the important points. The pacing is good too; just the right amount of explanation before each demonstration so that you will know what is going on but not be bored. These demonstrations take place at a variety of speeds from slow to fast so that viewers can get a good flavor of what it might be like to actually perform each technique.
   
   The material is logically organized from simple to complex. It begins by describing the elbow and how to best attack it and then moves on to cover basic arm bars, variations to these basics, arm bars from escort positions (common to law enforcement and security applications), step under arm bars, arm breaks, crossed arms, armpit clamp, and ground fighting. Most importantly, all the important principles that make these techniques succeed are clearly explained so that you can apply them to any lock in any martial art, not only those demonstrated here. These include such things as getting off line, blocking, trapping, spinning, striking, using your whole body weight, taking an opponent's energy, and other factors that can help stop an opponent's follow-on technique(s) while simultaneously facilitating your ability to execute the techniques successfully. Viewers will understand the angle, direction, distance, and proper finish of each application well enough to be able to troubleshoot the techniques when you practice them with a partner.
   
   While most practitioners think of arm bars as defensive techniques, I really like how these applications are demonstrated both defensively and offensively. They are shown from a variety of starting positions including from grabs and punches. The add-ons such as kicks, punches, using "found" objects like parked cars or walls, and finishing techniques add a nice progression to apply appropriate levels of force for controlling an opponent, causing pain, or damaging an adversary.
   
   Burrese moves well, explains clearly, demonstrates effectively, and ensures that viewers truly understand the materials. While no DVD is a substitute for hands-on instruction, this one is so good that it's the next best thing to being there. This is solid, practical instruction. I am confident that the rest of the series is equally outstanding as well. Highly recommended!
   
   Lawrence Kane
   Author of Martial Arts Instruction and Surviving Armed Assaults; co-author of The Way of Kata and The Way to Black Belt



4. This is the 2nd of Alain Burrese's "Lock On" series and certainly delivers what it promises. Like volume one, this DVD gives a clear and professional style of presentation in sequential form. The techniques are illustrated well, presented slowly and then quickly, at a distance and in closer detail. Burrese offers the viewer a unique sense of involvement, largely due to his presentation skills, as well as his fine knowledge of techniques. His DVDs are more like workshops than remote illustrations found in most martial arts DVDs. Volume II, as well as volume I, are fine additions to any martial artist's library. I look forward to the remainder of his series, and I understand that volume III is soon to be released. Great buy!



5. This video is by far the best Martial Arts DVD i have ever seen. It is very clean and well thought out. If you are lookin for a DVD that will help you take someone down or just to learn new move. This is the one to get.
   
   I love this DVD

5 comments about In the Line of Duty 4.

1. ITLOD4 is quite possibly one of the best choreographed films ever. A true testament to the Yuen Clan's skill.
   
   Of course the movie itself is super average, but you really stop caring when the fights are wall to wall. This is definitely one for real die-hard martial arts movie fans.



2. This movie really gets started off with a bang. It introduces woo-ping's little brother(yuen chat-yor?). He can't really fight btu proves to VERY athletic. Like when he kicks, he can kick VERY high. He just doesn't have that great powerful movie style. He is also the young fok yuen gap(bad translation)in my favorite movie ever, legend of a fighter, and he was perfect for that role until beardy replaced him later in the movie. So the story really makes no sense. Yuen Chat yor has to get away from these guys cause a cop who was just getting shot up, just sort of falls in to yuen's lap. He dodges some bullets, gets away, and then is wanted for murder, but of course he didn't do it.
   
   I am nto going to continue to talk about the story cause it is starting to make me feel sick again. But this movie is really only good for one thing, fastforwarding for the fight scenes. Certainly not even freaking close to some of the best I have ever seen. But they finally have a fight that last longer than 2 minutes at the end. Though the fight makes absolutely no sense at all and the acting is certianly some of the worst I have ever seen, they do bring a minute or maybe even two minutes of excitement. The black dude can go, he has definitely worked with donnie before, you can tell by how comfortable they are with eachother. overall I saw 3 good fights and no other redeeming qualities from this movie.
   
   This dvd release by 20th century fox is in 5.1 sound for both chinese and american languages. The american language is super cheesy but it is not going to exactly help the movie in a any way. No special features that i can remember, it's a fox release.



3. If you're half-way bright then you can follow the story, but it's really tiring. The story is trash anyway so it's useless to even spend any time caring who is who and why they want to kill eachother, so just watch the fights. Now the fights are decent, but the best part is the very end with Donnie Yen and the swoll cat he is fighting on the roof... one of the coolest fight scenes I have ever seen. This is a good add to your collection if you are a Donnie Yen fan, or have exhausted pretty much all the other good martial arts movies you can find. You probably won't watch it much after the first time tho - except the end of course.



4. First of all, for all ITLOD series fans, this one is not an intriguing cop movie like, it's an Action film of the highest order. The film is perhaps a definitive Donnie Yen show (beside Iron Monkey/ Tiger Cage 2, perhaps) and it helps that his film associates (his mother's students) John Salvitti ja Michael Woods (a former Navy SEAL, btw) also do a lot of their best here. Definitely this ranks as the best actioner of ITLOD series and a contender for number one modern day fight film ever. By it's fighting content that is.
   
   Being a great Yuen clan fan, this has always been one of my favorite films from them. Full of dangerous stunts and randomly abrupting moments of fiery action, this movie delivers. Plot either sucks, or serves as a vehicle for excusing more fight scenes to happen. Who cares anyway?
   
   I often have compared this to other YWP classic of the period Tiger Cage 2 which was done a year or so later. While it has less action and a humorous tone, ITLOD 4 is dead serious and totally full of fights. Literally, what you get is tons of fights (modern kickboxing with some trademark YWP/Donnie touches thrown in) that jump to the face every five minutes. Some of the fights unfortunately look a bit similar or sometimes even non-interesting, but most often the drive is again maxed with some interesting piece of choreography and great energy from actors involved. Much of this is to thanked by Donnie's own fighting team and Cynthia Khan's secondary yet active participation in action scenes. Though she is not an action star per se, no-one beside Yuen clan can make her look this good.
   
   Stuntman aficionado Cho Wing does tons of double/stunt work in this (the ponytail/eyeglasses bloke in the end), especially to female lead Cynthia Khan. Besides Donnie, I considered him the star of the film, being a great fan of top stuntwork.
   
   In the end of the day, I rate overall this, far cheaper and narratively more repetitive and boring flick, BY it's action, better than Jackie Chan's nominal Police Story (or any Police Story movie). Jackie's film is more memorable and has some killer cinematography, but I prefer intricate kickboxing, cool minor stuntwork and endless row of good/brilliant fight sequences that show some of the best modern day martial arts stuff my both Donnie Yen and master Yuen Woo Ping. A definite classic of cop-kungfu -genre. One not to be missed, especially if one loves raw modern fighting action.



5. This is one of the bad movies starring Donnie Yen.
   
   The fighing scenes are slow and below par compared with other good films of his. I found all the kung fu movies made before 1994 had this problem. The acting is bad. The plot is exactly the same as others.
   
   Donnie's famous for his kung fu skills. You should see Iron Monkey, Hero, Butterfly sword, Once upon a time in China 2 and Blade 2 to appreciate how good he is.

No comments about Water Style Boxing - Liu He Ba Fa.

4 comments about Ultimate Dragon Collection.

1. KUNG FU SUPERMAN, also known as LITTLE SUPERMAN- this is one of the best old school kung fu movies of all time. Tons of fight scenes with lots of recognizable actors. Bruce Leung, James Nam, Chan Lung, Chan Lau, Lee Ka Ting, John Cheung, Hon Kwok Choi, and Meng Hoi who looks about 13 years old. All of the fights are good, and the final fight is one you will never forget. If you want to save yourself a few dollars, I recommend just getting the 2-pack this comes in- Kung Fu Superman/Muscle of the Dragon. Rating- 5/5
   Picture quality is fine, and it is uncut. Best picture quality in the 10-pack. This movie is a MUST see for any kung fu fan.
   
   BRUCE LEE THE STAR OF STARS, better known as EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER- Chen Zhen has died and his brother played by Bruce Li starts investigating his murder. This movie is complete nonsense but it tries to be serious. The fight scenes are nonstop but none of them are good. Lung Fei, Kam Kong and Chang Yi all have lengthy fights, and I was expecting a lot more from a cast like that. There just isn't much put into the fights. It is sad. This movie is a big disappointment. 2/5
   Picture quality is washed out but partly widescreened. It is watchable.
   
   DRAGON LIVES AGAIN- Bruce Leung stars as Bruce Lee. The story is about Bruce Lee going to Hell and fighting his way out. He teams up with the One Armed Swordsman and Popeye the Sailor and they fight Zatoichi, James Bond, Dracula, The Godfather, Emmanuelle, and other people. Yes, I am serious, that is what the movie is about. It is not a good movie, but still a lot of fun. Fans of cheesy kung fu movies may like it. 1.5/5
   Picture quality is bad but watchable. Full screen.
   
   FIST OF FURY 3, aka JEET KUNE THE CLAWS AND THE SUPREME KUNG FU- Bruce Li once again plays Chen Zhen's brother. Fist of Fury 2 was good, but part 3 isn't. Don't waste your time with this. Just fast forward to the last 30 minutes. Some of the action is good, but not enough of it is good. 1.5/5
   Picture quality is not too bad but the full screen presentation cuts out a lot of the action. Barely watchable.
   
   REVENGE OF FIST OF FURY- if you are a fan of really bad movies then this is right up your alley. I found it to be truly one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I had never heard of Bruce Pack before and now I know why. 0.5/5
   Picture quality is bad and it is full screen, but it is still watchable.
   
   MISSION FOR THE DRAGON, aka RAGE OF THE DRAGON- Dragon Lee and Carter Wong fight it out to the death in this crappy kung fu movie. The kung fu is decent at times, but there is nothing special about it. The movie itself is completely mindless and doesn't make any sense. The only reason to watch this is for the sound effects they use in the final fight. I have never heard anything like it before. It kind of sounds like a Nintendo game. 0.5/5
   Picture quality is watchable.
   
   MUSCLE OF THE DRAGON- this movie uses footage from Clones of Bruce Lee. I couldn't get into it I had to turn it off after watching 20 minutes. Completely unwatchable. 0/5
   Picture quality is decent at best.
   
   CHING WU AND SHAOLIN, better known as BRUCE AND SHAOLIN KUNG FU- one of the worst kung fu movies of all time. Don't waste your time with this. I tried my hardest to make it all the way through this and I had to shut the movie off with 20 minutes left. I don't think I have ever seen worse fight choreography. No joke. Bolo Yeung and everyone else involved with this movie should be ashamed of themselves. 0/5
   Picture quality is very bad, but still watchable.
   
   CHING WU AND SHAOLIN PART 2- after watching part 1, I figured that there was no way part 2 could be any worse. Well, I was wrong. The only reason I watched it for more than 30 minutes was because superkicker Eagle Han Ying has a part in the movie. He has one fight. It is a bad fight, but he gets to show off his amazing kicks. Then he gets shot and dies. So to sum it up briefly, part 2 is somehow worse than part 1. My eyes were bleeding by the end of this movie. 0/5
   Picture quality is very bad, but still watchable (same quality is part 1).
   
   ENTER THE GAME OF DEATH- I can usually watch even the worst picture quality, but this is completely unwatchable. The picture shakes like crazy and you can't see anything. Too bad, because I was looking forward to this movie.
   
   So once again, the only reason to get this 10-pack is to see Kung Fu Superman, which can also be found in this 2-pack- Kung Fu Superman/Muscle of the Dragon And I apologize for not going over all of the movies in more detail. It was painful to try and watch all of them.



2. The official title of this DVD set is "Grindhouse Experience Presents: Ultimate Dragon Collection - 10 Film Set". It is a 3 DVD set. The first disc is single sided with 2 films and the other two discs are both double sided with 2 films per side (see my submitted images for details). The films are as follows (all are full screen unless noted):
   
   Disc 1: Kung Fu Superman (ws)& Muscle of the Dragon. (note: Kung Fu Superman/Muscle of the Dragon is sold separately, but for $5-$10 more, depending on where you buy it, you're getting 8 additional films with this set)
   Disc 2/Side A: Dragon Lives Again & Bruce Lee: Star of Stars (ws)
   Disc 2/Side B: Enter the Game Of Death (ws) & Mission of the Dragon
   Disc 3/Side A: Ching Wu and Shaolin Kung Fu parts 1 & 2
   Disc 3/Side B: Fist of Fury 3 & Return of Fist of Fury
   
   I haven't watched the films straight through as of yet so instead of plot I'll stick to quality & format issues in this review. Don't get this set expecting nice quality film prints because they probably never looked any better to begin with. Basically everything here has that slightly blurred but mostly watchable look of low budget films found on public domain collections. Some are definitely better than others. I found Kung Fu Superman & Enter the Game of Death to have slightly better film quality with the Ching Wu films having the worst. The other films fall somewhere in the middle. If you're used to this type of varying quality then you'll more than likely find everything at least watchable. Sound is another issue. Although KF Superman & Enter feature some of the better film quality they also both have a low pitched hum in their soundtrack, but it's not enough to really distract you. Sound in the other films ranges from good to ok. Everything is english dubbed (some really badly) with the exception of Bruce Lee: Star of Stars which I believe is in mandarin, but features english subtitles. Also for some reason Muscle of the Dragon has spanish subtitles on the film print. All but 3 films are displayed in full screen format and in some cases this cuts off action and actors.
   
   All in all, what you're getting with this set are 10 films of varying quality (for the price of one) from the 70s sub-genre of "Bruceploitation", named so for featuring several actors such as Bruce Li and Dragon Lee doing their best "Bruce Lee". In other words these and many other cheaply made kung fu flicks exploited the fame of the late Bruce Lee by using actors that resembled and acted like him. Some films go as far as to rip off titles of Bruce Lee films such as this set's Enter the Game of Death (combining Enter the Dragon & Game of Death) and Return of Fist of Fury (Fists of Fury aka The Big Boss). You'll appreciate this set if you like all things 70s kung fu and aren't put off by low budget, bad dubbing, and mediocre film quality. Some might say those all go hand in hand with this type of collection. Just go into it knowing you aren't getting the cream of the kung fu crop here. This is obviously released in hopes of appealing to the fans of "grindhouse" drive in movies (especially riding on the popularity of the Rodriguez/Tarantino double feature) but kung fu junkies like myself should find something to like here. There are definitely better starting points for the genre that I highly recommend such as:
   
   Enter the Dragon (Two-Disc Special Edition)
   Bruce Lee Ultimate Collection (The Big Boss / Fist of Fury / Way of the Dragon / Game of Death / Game of Death II)
   The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
   Master of the Flying Guillotine
   
   Definitely look into what the Dragon Dynasty series (that 36th Chamber of Shaolin is a part of) has to offer. If you're seeking out more low budget kung fu craziness and want a lot for your buck try this:
   
   Martial Arts 50 Movie Pack Collection



3. I've just given in to the temptation to pic up this "10 film dvd set" under the assumption that it was a remastered, repackaged re-release of films featured in the Return of the Dragon Pack and Fist of Fury Legacy collection, both released in 2003-04 by Video Asia. Don't let the additions of Kung Fu Superman and Muscle of the Dragon fool you...if you already own the Return of the Dragon Pack and Fist of Fury Legacy, you'll want to save your money because once you open the box, you'll find those 2 series and a double feature containing Kung-Fu Superman and Muscle of the Dragon and slap yourself miserably for assuming that VideoAsia would give us an upgrade(ie, Star of Stars with ALL of the widescreen feature and subtitles, Enter the Game of Death WITHOUT the shakiness of the picture,etc). Good films...except for The Dragon Lives Again...but nothing new. For reviews of the other films, lookup the Return of the Dragon Pack and Fist of Fury Legacy individually.



4. If you have read the other reviews, you know that the picture quality is bad and the fights scenes are pretty much terrible. I would just like to add the fact that you probably aren't buying these for a quality film. First of all, any DVD package that says "Grindhouse Experience Presents" is pretty much a giant warning sign saying that the picture quality will suck, that acting will probably be terrible, and that the movie overall will be bad. Another warning sign would be that fact that you get ten films for eighteen bucks. Overall, these films are terrible, but if you like "Grindhouse" films, this is great; if you are looking for good quality, find something else.

No comments about Elitexc: Return of the King - Noons vs Edwards.

1 comments about Bi Chun Mu: Dance with Sword-Complete Series.

1. Bi Chun Mu: Dance with Sword is a Chinese made version after the Korean movie, Binchunmoo. It is a TV drama series that total 7 DVD discs (33 episodes) and a total of 1,485 minutes. Korean and Chinese dramas are what we consider daytime soaps such as "General Hospital" or "As the World Turn".
   
   Over the years, these movies have gained a lot of followings among many types of people in America. What makes these shows interesting is it's not your tradition Soap shows of never ending love triangles that spans over decades. These shows actually have a beginning and an ending.
   
   This movie is about a Korean orphan of nobility who was raised by someone he knows as uncle. The main hero is named Jin Ha, whose family holds a sword and a book that teaches the most powerful martial arts. It is believed that whoever obtained these two shall rule the world. Asian drama isn't drama unless it's revolve around love and love triangles and in Bi Chun Mu, they don't disappoint.
   
   This movie is about Liu Jan (hero), Snowy (his love), Jun Guang (his best friend). Liu Jan's main interest is Snowy, a General's daughter. Jun Guang, a wealthy and affluent member of society who became friends with Liu Jan and admires Liu Jan's heroism. Such a tragic love story from the start. They were never meant to be together but somehow fate allows them to meet each other only to be torn by it later. The three's relationship is doom long before their births but unknowing to them.
   
   As time passes, Jun Guang develops feelings for Snowy and later can no longer fight those urges and begins his plot against Liu Jan that will change all their lives forever and allowing the dark past to come to light. Liu Jan survived his friend's betrayal and unable to return to his love, Snowy made Liu Jan turned bitter, cold, and heartless. Years go by and he returns to unleash his anger, hatred, and vengeance upon all those who have done him wrong. Liu Jan is no longer that innocent, naive boy but a vicious killer hired by another powerful noble family trying to take control of China. With his hatred and their power, they slash through China and anyone who stood in their way where quickly put down.
   
   This movie is a little bit of "Romeo and Juliet" with "The Count of Monte Cristo". Remember, this drama series is made for TV and not for Movie Theater. Special effects are very basic and average. If you are expecting Jet Li's "Hero", "Crouching Tiger", or "House of Flying Dagger", you'll be disappointed. There is no beautiful camera shot or colorful scenes. The show is shot in camera view....like Day Time Soap. At times, the fight scenes are blurry. With 33 episodes, it drags sometimes but overall, it keeps pace. Compare to other Asian TV Drama, it's pretty good. Much faster pace than "The Seven Swordsman" and equal with "The Emperor of the Sea" but less dramatic. Not so much of the going back and forth story line that drags forever. The only way to watch shows like this is an hour or two every day or every other day. Despite the long episodes, once you get into the movie, time seems to fly by quickly and before you know it, it's time to put another DVD in.
   
   What makes Bi Chun Mu interesting that even a guy like me don't mind watching is that there are enough action and a decent story line to follow. Did I forget to mention that the women in these shows are simply breath taking? I think that's my REAL reason I watch it. For you ladies, the guys aren't too shabby themselves. It's just not the same old, over the hill, people sleeping around with everyone they can get their hands on like American Day time Soaps. If you have seen Binchunmoo, the Korean movie, you will definitely enjoy this drama series. In my opinion is that this show sticks with many of the "MAIN POINTS" in the original movie. Many scenes that I watched and can quickly reference back to the movie. Of course, not everything is the same, but enough similarities that you can trace back to the original movie. It keeps the essence/spirit of the movie within it. But at the same time, it expands and explains more in detail of how things happen. Some scenes and story were changed but not far enough to if you were a fan of the movie, you'd be disappointed.

No comments about Warrior Yoga - Yoga for the Martial Athlete.

5 comments about Have Sword, Will Travel.

1. First off, I've been a huge martial arts movie fan in general, and a Shaw Brothers fan in particular since I was a kid when I used to watch Drive-In Movie on Saturday afternoon. All I can say is God bless Image Entertainment. Getting your hands on decent versions of Shaw Brothers' classics in the past were very frustrating. Celestial Pictures (thanks to Vee King Shaw) made the right move totally restoring these classics. Unfortunately, they were only Region 3 and could only be bought through a HK website. I know Red Sun was doing a great job at restoring and releasing SB flicks (just ask the Morgoth dude), but I could never find them. Now we have Image, yes!
   The movie itself is the second film the godfather of HK cinema, Chang Cheh, made with his "first team", which mainly consisted of Ti Lung & David Chiang. It's the usual Chang classic involving brotherhood, intrigue, honor, bloodshed (lots of it), chivalry and redemption. I'm not going to go into the plot because it's already given in the editorial review & product description. Let me just say that it's a period piece, and the choreography is old-school. The choreography isn't bad, but it lacks the finesse of Bruce Lee (who came later), and it lacks the quickness and precision of the Venoms, Jackie Chan, Samo Hung or Jet Li. So what, it's a great film.
   Now as for the DVD, crystal clear picture - really shows the glossy SB cinematography, perfect widescreen, original Mandarin language track and remastered subtitles. If you like Chang Cheh, Shaw Brothers and old-school fu (like me) get this. This is definitely the way these films should be seen. That goes for "The Wandering Swordsman", "The Water Margin" & "Legendary Weapons of China". I'm sure the Morgoth dude concurs.



2. I was so glad to hear that select Shaw Brothers kung-fu films were being released on DVD in the United States...until I got my copy of "Have Sword, Will Travel" and the disc started jittering near the end of the movie (specifically, during the scene in which Ku Feng prepares his gang of bandits to attack Ching Miao's caravan as it passes by the old temple). The sound remained intact, but the picture was jerky and unsteady, and--worst of all--it affected the first two or three minutes of the final fight scene. I sent the DVD back and got another copy, only to find that the same error existed in the same exact spot on the new disc.
   This has occurred on three different DVD players. Has anyone else gotten a defective copy of "Have Sword, Will Travel"?



3. David Chiang stars as a wandering swordsman who is looking for a job. Ti Lung sees him with a gang called the Flying Tigers and assumes that he must be a bandit too. Ti Lung and his girlfriend have to help escort a large shipment of money and he fears that David Chiang is going to rob them. Ti Lung's girlfriend realizes this is not the case, and looks to become friends with Chiang. You can tell she falls for him, and the love part of the story is very well done. She wants Chiang to help escort the money, and Chiang agrees. This of course causes problems between Ti Lung and Chiang. Ku Feng is the leader of the Flying Tigers and is looking to rob the trio and Chen Sing and Wang Chung star as his 2 top fighters.
   
   The fights are all brief, until the heist takes place. There is blood galore and the action is fantastic, and for 1969, you won't find anything better. The action is great, but there is a lot more thought put into the characters and story than most Chang Cheh movies. This is a very well rounded movie, and one of Chang Cheh's best.
   
   4.5/5
   
   Picture and sound quality are perfect. Subtitles are very well written.



4. I struggled with the decision to even write this review... the fact that it almost feels sacriligious to rate such a highly respected Shaw Brothers film with 3 stars, not to mention all of the well-written positive reviews for it already make it even harder to explain my viewpoint. For me this was just a good swordplay film, none of the characters are very likeable or memorable (although I thought the henchman known as "The Pestilence" was cool) including our leading man who is the type of character who refuses a piece of silver because of his pride but instead is willing to sell the horse he loves (not that way!) for next to nothing (all while wearing a bow on his forehead)? David Chiang became a huge star for Shaw Bros. pictures after this but I've never really been completely sold on him as a lead, which probably helps explain why I thought the film was just decent. The fighting is far from impressive here and normally deteriorates into semi-organized chaos with Chiang leading the way flailing around with even less style than the extras (if you thought Jimmy Wang Yu couldn't fight...). Chang Cheh still manages to make it a worthwhile time and breaks out the trampoline jumps (that characters often use to enter an exit scenes) and buckets of red paint (err, blood I mean) for the big finale. I think 3 stars fits this movie perfectly as it's not bad but never really leaves much of an impression either (especially compared to his best like The One-Armed Swordsman, Chinese Super Ninjas, and 5 Deadly Venoms). "Have Sword, Will Travel"... great title, okay movie.



5. I found this movie to be somewhat slow moving at first but then the film progresses into some appealing fight scenes. Overall, I really disliked it because of one character in particular, that person would be Yun Piau-piau played by Li Ching. I found her to be very shallow; she goes from speaking of marriage to Siang (Ti Lung), in one scene and then a few later she is mesmerized by David Chiang's character Yi Lo who she eventually falls in love with rather quickly not because he is kind to her or that she has known him as long as Siang. Instead, she falls in love with Yi Lo because his kung fu or swordsmanship is slightly better than Siang's.
   
   From what I perceived from the movie was that the Yi Lo character was supposed to be this loner and from his dialogue, he was not forthright in divulging his past willingly. Yun Piau-piau did not have any in-depth understanding of him so how could she fall for him over someone she trained with for years and was her famed aunt's apprentice? The only true justice that I found in this motion picture was the death of Yi Lo, not because I disliked the character but for the very reason that Yun Piau-piau received what she deserved.
   
   That is why I prefer other Shaw Brothers films such as "One-Armed Swordsman" and "Return of the One-Armed Swordsman". For in the first film the main character (Fang Gang) had to make a choice between two women. One his master's spoiled daughter, Pei-er (who was the cause of him losing his arm) who would bring Fang Gang wealth and influence or the simple caring country girl (Hsio Man) that nursed him back to health and provided him with the means to develop his one hand sword style. He rightfully chose the latter of the two and overall the both films ended happily, which we hardly ever see currently. Ultimately, these two pictures promoted the honorable course of action, which "Have Sword, Will Travel", failed to accomplish.

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