5 comments about Iron Eagle III - Aces.

1. This film is spectacularly bad.

   A great effort should be made to gather each copy of the film and burn it in an incinerator.




2. Where to begin, when I saw this movie for the first time I just feel in love with Chappy. I have yet to see a movie that even comes close to the quality that this movie embodies. If Chappy were a real person I would marry him and have a life of action and romance in his jet, going really fast all over the world and blowing stuff up. I am not sure if Chappy should be hanging out with little boy though, that could be bad. You know what they say "16 will get you 20". You just have to watch this film, you too will be swept away by the passion that Chappy exudes. If I had a chance to save my daddy from the bad guys I would want Chappy by my side, if not sitting on his lap in the cockpit of his jet.



3. This has meaning to me as I was in Marana, AZ during the filming of this movie and got to meet Lou Gosset Jr. who is the finest of actors and a real gentleman. Seeing first hand, the vintage WWII fighter planes in action was awsome, especially the Zero. We had a part in shooting holes in a piece of an airplane fuselage on the set. The movie itself was the best of the Iron Eagle Series in my opinion.



4. IRON EAGLE 3 WAS VERY GOOD WITH ALOT OF ACTION IN IT BUT I THINK IRON EAGLE 1 IS BETTER



5. The Iron Eagle series of films was a silly premise, contrived to get the elements of ground combat, air action, and a tacked on mystery plot all in one movie vehicle. Unless you were really into seeing aircraft go thru the motions, it never quite worked. The 3rd in the series, reviewed here, is a thin plot and sop to politics in Latin America. If you like "hardbody women"(as do I), and Rachel McLish in particular, then you may find this pretty hot(there are no nude scenes or even anything approaching that though). She was in great shape and was one of the true "prima donnas" of woman's bodybuilding. So, like her: buy it; else: don't bother..

1 comments about The Storm Riders.

1. There seems to be a lot of confusion with the purchasing of this movie.
   It seems that I have found three different DVDs on the same subject or movie.
   
   If you type in "wind and cloud" in the Amazon.com search box you will get three top results, in not any order:
   1.Wind and Cloud:The Storm Riders(2006,2004)
   2.The Storm Riders(2001,1998)
   3.The Storm Riders(2005)
   
   I haven't checked out the 2001 version or the 2006 Wind and Cloud version. But if you look at the reviews, "Wind and Cloud:The Storm Riders" (2006,2004) is not the original film, but is a film that is cut from a series.
   
   "The Storm Riders"(2005) is the version I bought. It is Region 0, and I have no clue what that means. It may mean All Regions, but on the product screen, it says that the region is unknown. It still plays fine on my DVD, though.
   
   I can't speak for "The Storm Riders"(2001,1998), but on the product description page there are more DVD features than the 2005 version.
   
   Funny, it should be the other way around-the newer version having more features, but I guess that's not the case.
   
   So, as for the movie, the picture quality is not that great, but the action and visual effects are. This movie is good to watch at least once, so you may fair off better renting it first from Netflix(or another company) before buying.
   
   But, basically, the story is about a man, who while conquering his enemies, takes in two disciples to train and help him in his efforts. Things get twisted, and everybody, basically, starts Kung Fu fighting. But, this is different because some of the characters can bend or manipulate the elements.
   
   ' Great film.

5 comments about Wind and Cloud: The Storm Riders.

1. This movie is somewhat confusing. There is no real plot. The kung fu are unreal compared to other kung fu movies. The only entertaining part is just watching the 2 cute main charaters other than that don't waste your money.



2. Well shipping was fine but when I got my product the jewl case was busted pritty bad like someone sat on it. Im in the process to see if it wasnt damaged. The bubble rap wasn't tampered with at all not a single bubble popped which lead me to believe that it was shipped that way. From the 30 min that i have seen of the movie it looks ok and it is the storm riders i was looking for not the knock off. However since this is the more recent version I was expecting it to be an "in english" option. Guess i was goin crazy when i saw it at a friends house and thought i saw it in english...



3. There is poetic elegance in most Chinese films and I am happy to state this film is no exception. It is one of the main reasons I love Chinese cinema. This film has a playfulness and creativity with an exaggeration of certain qualities and characteristics that seems to be the hallmark of Chinese films. It is whimsical, funny, and entertaining. The costumes are very colorful and artistically designed. The hair styles of the actors and actresses are true to each character, some are modern and punkish, others are classically beautiful and elegant. The natural scenery is breath-takingly beautiful: jagged mountains, various green oriental foliage, a peaceful lake, gorges with multi-layered soil that looks like a modern art painting, and lovely valleys. Lok City is done in ancient Chinese splendor. The architecture and carvings of various buildings are stunning. There is one scene in which cherry blossom are frozen on the trees which creates an eerily glistening creatively beautiful effect. Feng Shui is clearly evident within the interior sets where minimal furniture, wall hangings and carved structures speak loudly of the artistry and creativity of the designers.
   
   In this film, Wind and Cloud are martial artists who represent the righteous forces of justice and goodness. When they combine their energy and forces against an evil immortal named Dai-Sik-Tien (DTS) and his followers, fireworks erupt. DTS has captured Mung, the beautiful wife of Wind and put her into a state of suspended animation. She looks dead as she lies in her coffin made of ice while floating on a canopied raft in the middle of a lake. Wind tries to revive his wife without success. DTS offers him a capsule, with two options: he swallows it and dies so that his wife may live or she takes it and dies, so that he may live. Of course, Wind is generous and loving so he swallows the capsule. It turns out to be a trick: she remains in a state of suspension, neither alive nor dead. Wind turns into al demonic fighter for three days. He is pitted against the very forces he had defended and to which he had belonged. Eventually, the spell breaks and he returns to his previous personality and revives Mung. But the battle lines have been drawn, the population is suffering as the dark forces descend deeper into their lives. With stunning choreography, Wind, Cloud, Wave and several other righteous fighters do battle against the evil fighters. The sword play is outstanding. This brief scenario describes one of the many subplots within this magnificently done film.
   
   In another scene, Wind helps a lady who had stolen something in the marketplace, he heals her injured arm. Little does he know that she is in disguise and part of the evil empire. He escorts her to her destination but along the way, she falls in love with him, tempting him in every possible manner. He resists and does not fall for her trap. While DTS is disappointed, he is very cunning and develops a devious plot to destroy the righteous fighters. In fact, he has won over at least one of the righteous ones to his side. He devises a scheme to destroy the dragon which lives in a gorge in the realm. He engages seven righteous martial arts warriors to join him in a coalition to kill the beast. The fight scenes are stunningly beautiful and highly creative. In one, the seven fighters on signal use their sword to ride ... like a surf board in the sky. In another magnificently conceived scene: the seven fighters stand on each other's shoulders, DTS joins them at the top. They make what looks like an energized totem pole which becomes a huge sword from their combined energy. Needless to say ... the dragon is slain. However, the biggest fight is yet to come as DTS attempts to gain the dragon's spirit all for himself. At the time, the dragon's spirit had split into small fireballs ... each of the seven warriors and DTS managed to retain one for himself. DTS wants it ALL ... Uncle Tsui Fook, an immortal from the righteous realm, joins the warriors in this fight. From this point forward, there are several treats and surprises in store for the viewer. Be assured that I have only touched the tip of the iceberg in describing scenes from this most highly recommended film. It is playful, entertaining, creative and a joy to watch. Erika Borsos [pepper flower]



4. The actor list which includes Takeshi was what prompted me to buy this, but he wasn't in the movie at all! The other thing is that although containing some special effects, it pails in comparison to the earlier movie version made in Hong Kong starring Ekin Cheng and Arron Kwok because the storyline ran a little wide. It is supposed to be the sequel to the story, but seemed more like a poorly made drama serial - any avid drama serial watcher usually is able to tell the diff between the hong kong made ones from the inferior ones made else where simply because the hong kong made ones have better execution, direction and script because of their experience.



5. I bought this because I thought Takeshi Kaneshiro is the lead actor. When I got the DVD, then I realized he is not in it at all. Besides, the actor credit is all wrong for this movie. Misadvertisement. DON'T buy this movie if you are looking for ones by Takeshi Kaneshiro

5 comments about Battle Royale 2 Revenge Uncut SE.

1. it is a very interesting foreign film, it stays action packed for most of the movie. but be warned this movie has a few cheesy moments. anime fans should like this live action movie.



2. This wasn't as good as the first. The first is way better. This one went too far off the story line into a whole other type of movie. I did not enjoy this as much as i enjoyed the first, but this is still a good movie.



3. "Battle Royale 2" is exactly what would happen if Michael Moore got all liquored up, had a weekend cheeseburger & rotgut bender in some cheapo New Mexico hotel room, and then remade "Saving Private Ryan" the next morning.
   
   Why not just take all of the first film's fans and shoot them in the face? That would have at least been merciful.
   
   Instead, Kenta Fukasaku, who took the helm of Number 2 when his old man Kinji croaked, rips off everything insane, edgy, dangerous, and gloriously bloodthirsty about the infamous Battle Royale---pretty much "Lord of the Flies" with an NRA membership and exploding necklace IEDs---and turns it into a steaming cauldron of rhinoceros doodle.
   
   Without a doubt the younger Fukasaku was already in an untenable position: #1, he had to finish what his old man had started. And #2, he had to make a sequel to Battle Royale, a wicked, deviant, deeply troubled cult classic, full of sound and fury (oh yes, especially fury) signifying total carnage.
   
   So going in, did I expect Kenta Fukasaku to top his old man? No. But did he have a make this atrocity?
   
   BR2 badly wants to be Battle Royale, like a little changeling dwarf child badly wants to be a real boy. So it has all the ingredients, all the trimmings, all the neato stuff Kenta thought he should include, of the first flick: the graduating class riding together on the bus; the nerve gas interlude; the chaotic broil of soldiers, armor, helicopters, klieg lights, herding Shenizaru Middle School #4 into the Death Room for guns, gear, and a little object lesson in what happens to disobedient children (hint: spare the beeping collar, spoil the child).
   
   This time our class has been drugged and dragooned by their Sensei (Riki Takeuchi, who chomps pills like Rush Limbaugh in a fright wig and later really switches it up for a groovy last-minute mass die-in, donning his rugby gear and death-collar to get into the game, you know, really show you what it means to be the ball, BE THE BALL BABY!)---hauled to a military camp on a desolate beach overlooking, um, Monster Island, and forced to don battle-dress to take out that dastardly bunch of truants, the Terrorists, now doing a little Brand Management(tm) as the Wild Seven. Jeez, and you thought high school Detention was rough.
   
   The rest of the flick goes by the numbers and on the Bounce, as follows:
   
   1) Kids storm the beach! Machine-guns chew up the Kids like they're beef jerky in an all-night truck stop!
   
   2) Gratuitous Syrupy Flashback! OK: the first flick did this too, chiefly as a way to develop character on the fly. But a) you actually cared about the characters in the first BR, and b) the first BR didn't chow down on donkey rungus.
   
   3) Kids/Special Forces/Army/Tac-Nuke Storm the Beach! (see #1, above)
   
   4) Lead Terrorist Guy Emotes! Makes rousing speech!
   
   5) Gratuitous Syrupy Flashback!
   
   6) Kids Storm the Beach!
   
   That's the film, and it goes on for what feels like, uh, eternity. Comparing BR2 to its infamous predecessor is like comparing Bizarro to Superman. The guy's got the color scheme right, you know, same hairdo, red cape, flies around, faster than a speeding bullet and so on, sure, but there's something---wrong. Something off. Like a Hot Fudge Sunday, only with liquid squid sclooge for a topping instead of hot fudge.
   
   It is monstrously terrible. It is ploddingly derivative. It is howlingly incompetent. It can be funny, though---in a "we're laughing at you, not with you" way. Example: the Military kidnapped the kids, bullied and beaten them, shoved guns and billy clubs in their faces, slammed them into the blood-smeared concrete floor, shot one of their number at point-blank range, popped the tops off two others like ripe grapefruit courtesy of their necklace-bombs, and then force-marched the rest out to Monster Island on a suicide mission---and even so, one radio-man slaps his cheeks McCauley Culkin style later in the movie and shouts in shock and surprise "Commander! This is impossible---your class has joined up with the terrorists!" Betrayal! No way!
   
   Credit to Kenta for portraying us (America, baby, yeah!) as the monsters we are. We worked hard for it! That's right: just as a hot crap Sundae would be nothing without a cockroach doodle on top, BR2 manages to underscore and highlight its own inferiority by being pointlessly, gratuitously anti-American. The survivors end up hiding out with the Taliban (and, evidently, a papier-mache tank) in Afghanistan. The chicks are in burkhas. One of the schoolboys is even named "Osamu". GET IT? OSAMU, GET IT?
   
   Taken another way, "BR2" is the ultimate Daddy Movie, a Far Eastern take on the Big O (for Oedipus, not Oprah): a non-stop cage fight with a barrel of Daddy Issues! The Ingenue & Beat Takeshi---Daddy Issues! The Grown-Ups v. the Kids---Daddy Issues! The Cool Emoting Hero with a Revolutionary Father---Daddy Issues! And best of all, the Ultimate Daddy-Kiddy Relationship, Japan v. the USA---Daddy Issues!
   
   Whatever. BR2 is hardly an act of filial piety: if Kenta wanted to strike a blow at Daddy from Hell's Dark Heart, why not just snort the old man's ashes over a cheeseburger, the Keith Richards way? That would have been kinder (& certainly more interesting to watch).
   
   If I've made this swill seem enjoyable, I've failed: this is shoddily done tedium that is a snooze to sit through. Kenta Fukasaku has made a war flick that really is The Bomb---just not the kind he was hoping for.
   
   JSG



4. I enjoyed the parts of the film I have seen yet, I have bought 2 copies and both seem to be missing footage and the end of the movie. The two copies I bought were from 2 seperate sellers and neither had ever seen the film so they could not answer my question. Has anyone else had this problem?



5. I enjoyed the movie. I'm not going to give anything away, so if you're looking for that, skip ahead. What I will say is that there's enough drama and action for both sides of the party and that nothing seems misplaced or off.

5 comments about Kill Bill - Volume 1 [UMD for PSP].

1. This is one of my favorites movies of Tarantino, and see it in the PSP is great



2. Director Quentin Tarantino really blows up minds with this movie. One of the best films made in this time. Tarantino takes us back in time to an almost samurai movie, mixed with today's reality and problems. Uma Thurman's caracter the bride is a "super hero" for women of nowadays. Really great movie, original plot and lot's and lot's of blood and overall ACTION....



3. This film was so bad that after 5 minutes, even the guys in our group were groaning. We all voted to immediately turn it off and watch something else.
   
   A violent version of "Dumb and Dumber and Dumbest (the director)".



4. Kill Bill - Volume 1 (UMD Mini For PSP) was a great movie for the PSP.



5. "Kill Bill" was either a disaster-in-the-making or a one of a kind hit -- a sprawling revenge flick that had to be cut in two and released separately. But director Quentin Tarantino serves up entertainingly mindless gore and twisted thrills in "Kill Bill Volume 1," a salute to homages.
   
   Tragedy strikes the Bride (Uma Thurman) on her wedding day: The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (DiVAS) attacks and slaughters the guests, the groom, and wounds the very pregnant Bride herself. Her former boss/lover Bill (David Carradine) finishes the bloodbath by shooting the Bride in the head. But despite his efforts, she isn't dead.
   
   A few years later, the Bride wakes to find that she has been in a coma for a few years, and has been being used as a sex toy for rent. After recovering enough to move, the Bride gets a sword sharp enough to "cut God," and goes on a revenge spree against the people who wrecked her life and killed her baby, including Cottonmouth (Vivica A. Fox) and the deadly O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu).
   
   Don't expect cinematic art in "Kill Bill Volume 1." If anything, this is cinematic pop art, a loving tribute to cheesy martial-arts flicks and westerns. Tarantino even inserts a stretch of anime detailing O-Ren's background. It's pure Tarantino, untainted by typical directing methods and immensely entertaining if you switch off your critical faculties, refrain from asking "How the heck could that happen?"
   
   "Kill Bill" isn't for the weak of stomach; over 450 gallons of fake blood are used in both movies. But the blood usage is more "Monty Python" than "Braveheart"; it's so over-the-top that it's silly and sick rather than disturbing. So is the violence -- hacking dozens of people down without getting so much as a scrape is impossible, but it's sure fun to watch.
   
   Tarantino throws out more one-liners than just about any other filmmaker around. The absurd "Trix is for kids" line aside, there are a number of great lines like "Those of you lucky enough to have your lives take them with you. However, leave the limbs you've lost. They belong to me now." The script teems with impossibilities, but they seem plausible enough in this alternate reality that Tarantino has cooked up. Call it Tarantinoland.
   
   Uma Thurman, with her yellow tracksuit and katana, rules the screen as the Bride. Despite the Bride cutting down people by the dozen, it's impossible not to appreciate her. And the best supporting performances come from Liu as the ruthless O-Ren, Carradine in a brief but intense appearance, and the wonderful, underrated Chiaki Kuriyama as evil schoolgirl Go-Go Yubari.
   
   It's silly, it's creepy, it's gaudy, and somehow it's vastly entertaining. Tarantino's special triumph in "Kill Bill Volume 1" is to somehow rope his vast store of movie homages into a gory, action-packed storyline, and one that is, at the very least, hard to forget.

4 comments about The Shogun Collection.

1. the movies get 5-stars but the company 1-star.
   no matter how they try to justify their poor quality releases, the buying public are finally catching on that anything released by Brentwood, BCI Eclipse, Deimos (etc.) is going to be a poor effort. they lie about the version(s) on the DVD(s) -- substitute "TV" version(s) instead of the "Theatrical" version(s), call something "Widescreen" when it's a hack-job cutting off foreign subtitles on an English dub print, or just horrible DVD transfers and/or encoding errors. (yet always blames it on "the source material" which is just a weak cop-out)
   so, what are they doing over there at BCI to better their image? well, how about taking movies already released, movies with excellent quality, encoded perfectly, and re-packaging them as THEIRS!? well, that's what you are getting with this box set. these movies were already released by ADNESS. a company who i am guessing is now out-of-business, whose owner decided to become part of the (new?) management at BCI.
   this 'budget' re-pack includes the following titles:
   
   - Shogun's Samurai (Yagyû ichizoku no inbô/The Yagyu Conspiracy) (1978)
   - Shogun's Shadow (Shôgun Iemitsu no ranshin - Gekitotsu/Geki Totsu: The Insanity of Emperor Iemitsu Gekitosu) (1989)
   - Swords of Vengeance (Ako-jo danzetsu/The Fall of Ako Castle) (1978)
   - Shogun's Ninja (Ninja bugeicho momochi Sandayu) (1982)
   
   for those of you who didn't buy the Adness versions, this is a good buy for you. just know you are supporting a company who doesn't care about these movies, or you the customer.



2. After reading the negative review by "The Truth Hurts", I was initially reluctant to make this purchase. Having said that, I went ahead and took a chance, and I'm glad I did. This is an excellent collection of films at a very low price. There are a few things you should be aware of before making the purchase, though.
   
   The films are not all of the same genre. Of the four films, two of them (Shogun's Ninja and Shogun's Shadow) fall under the matial arts category, and are reminiscent of "Lone Wolf and Cub" and "Shadow Hunters". The other two, "Shogun's Samurai" and "Sword of Vengence" are historical dramas more in the vein of "The Seven Samurai" and "Chusingura". In fact, "Sword of Vengence" is a variation of the same story as "Chusingura", another retelling of the 47 ronin. The latter two fims are more plot driven and feature far less action. This is just fine by me, as I enjoy both types of samurai film.
   
   Another thing you should know is that Sonny Chiba is not actually the star of any of these films. He plays a supporting role in all of them. So die hard Sonny Chiba fans may be disappointed.
   
   All and all, this is an excellent purchase for fans of Japanese cinema, especially considering the price. Most Japanese films cost a premium (check out the price being asked for any Kurosawa or Lone Wolf and Cub film), so to get four excellent films for the price of one is a steal.
   
   I don't know anything about the distribution company that sells this, and frankly I don't care. I can tell you that the sound and picture quality of all of these films is excellent. There are absolutely no issues there at all. There is an issue with the misleading marketing of these as "Sonny Chiba films" which I've already discussed, and for that this collection should be deducted one, maybe even two stars, but I'm going to go ahead and award it five to offset the unjustified one-star review.
   
   Highly recommended!



3. The Shogun Collection is a bit schizophrenic.
   
   Two of the movies are great historical epic Samurai films from one of Japan's all-time great directors, Kinji Fukasaku. These movies are Shogun's Samurai, and Swords of Vengeance. Expertly directed, very well written, and brought to life by some fantastic actors, both of these movies belong in every Samurai movie fan's collection.
   
   The other two movies are cheesy (by design) 80's action flicks where Samurais and Ninjas can perform superhuman acts (leap tall buildings in a single bound type stuff). They're passable as entertainment as long as you turn your brain off (although Shogun's Shadow does have it's moments - there is the basis of a good script, it just gets overpowered by too much cheese).
   
   The only thing that all four of the movies have in common are supporting roles for Sonny Chiba - who is particularly good in Shogun's Samurai!
   
   The transfers for ALL FOUR of these movies are brilliant! Beautiful anamorphic widescreen, original Japanese language soundtrack with English subtitles - these are some great DVD's! BCI Eclipse has been licensing many different movies and TV series recently, and paying attention to quality. Their licensing deal here with Adness continues that trend. They've come a long way from the "Public Domain" specialists that they used to be (although they still do that as well).
   
   In the end, this set is worth buying for the two Kinji Fukasaku films alone - you can watch the others or, as some have done, sell them on ebay.



4. I'm a new Chiba fan and I only want to buy box sets since it's cheaper and easier that way. I'm happy with this set even though Chiba's not the star. As others have said the picture and sound are very good. Heck the box itself is better than I thought it would be. This is a solid buy for your collection and it couldn't hurt to add Chiba's Samurai collection too.

1 comments about Killing Machine / Shogun's Ninja (Double Feature) [Blu-ray].

1. The image quality is good on both movies. You can't expect them to look like new releases but they look very good for what they are. Soundtracks are the same as on dvd.
   
   The Amazon listing is incorrect, this is not a 2-disc set, both movies are on one disc. Same thing with the "Sister street fighter" release.
   
   As for the movies, it's the first time I watch this kind of Japanese movie. It's funny that they seemed to make them with exactly the same approach they made animation movies with: the plots are melodramatic, the acting and the music are over-the-top, etc. But all of that adds up to a lot of fun. And surprisingly, these two movies are very different from each other.
   
   "Killing maching" is a straight hard-boiled action drama. Something like a Charles Bronson movie but with a lot of sentimental scenes. The gory bits and hard-hitting attitude surprised me. At 90 minutes, it doesn't overstay its welcome.
   
   "Shogun's ninja" is a crazy action fantasy. It's full of weird touches and it's kind of hilarious. Unbelievable music, cartoony sound-effects, impossible fights... It runs closer to 2 hours but it ends up being much more entertaining to watch than the other one, if only because you're curious about what's the next crazy thing they'll throw in the movie.

5 comments about Martial Arts 50 Movie Pack Collection.

1. Many of the films are not viewable. But if you want to be transported back to the 1970's it's a quick trip. Now, with the power of the DVD remote you can turn it off when the bad dubbing gets bad and the sudden nudity pops up right after a fight scene.



2. For the price of this box set I figured you couldn't really go wrong.
   And I don't think I have. I bought it mainly for "The Impossible Kid" featuring Weng Weng, as I have the prequel to it, "For your height only".
   I've only watch a few more of the films so far but am happy with it.
   Basically if you like your early Kung Fu with crazy dubbing your in for a treat.



3. Even though many of these movies were filmed in the 80's, the film quality is terrible (like from the early 60's in the US). You have to really be a martial arts fanatic to make it through very many of these movies. However, if you are a martial arts fanatic then read on. Many of the stories are of quaint old China before industrialization and have interesting and old fashioned cultural mores and situations that martial artists find themselves in. One of them would have been X rated if it was produced in this country for US audiences because of the naked women. Can't remember the name of that one, you will have to watch them all to find it!!!! In any case, I thought the set was worth the price.



4. I bought this for a family member who loves martial arts.i dont know if i got right disks or not.but he says alot of them are not even martial arts movies and alot of porn like stuff on them.he didnt even open the other 20 one i got cause he was so unhappy with the other 50 one.they shouldnt call it a martial arts collectio if there isnt much of that on there and all the porn.i wouldnt buy it use money for something else.



5. since buying this product i've been immersed in nostalgia and thinking ...Why isn't there a Kung-Fu Channel some movies were better than others in addition to the quality and some were'nt strictly in the genre but i would recommend it to people who appreciate what Kung-FU movies of a bygone era represented!

5 comments about Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 4 (Girl in Gold Boots / Hamlet [1961] / Overdrawn at the Memory Bank / Space Mutiny).

1. This is a classic show! I used to watch these as a kid on the SciFi channel and they are just as funny now that I am an adult! The characters are great, and you will think that they made the movies up because they are just that bad... The best part about this, is that when my sister-in-law was a kid and these were on TV, she saw her favorite movie as the subject of one of them. I wont reveal which movie, but it is pretty funny when you recognise one of these!



2. A manditory part of any misty's collection. Just think: "Overdrawn At the Memory Bank", "Space Mutiny" two very funny movies. others were pretty funny as well. One of the best sets yet!



3. I HAVE RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS VOLUME, AND I LOVE IT. EVERY SINGLE EPISODE IN THIS VOLUME IS SIDESPLITTINGLY HILARIOUS. GIRL IN GOLD BOOTS AND OVERDRAWN AT THE MEMORY BANK (WITH THE LATE GREAT RAUL JULIA!) ARE MEMORABLY VERY FUNNY. BUT THE CREAM OF THE CROP IS SPACE MUTINY. JUST TO GET THIS FILM IS WORTH GETTING THE WHOLE VOLUME! IT IS SO APPALLINGLY BAD THAT THE CREATORS AT MST3K REALLY LET THEM HAVE IT. I DEFINETLY RECOMMEND VOLUME 4 AND I ALSO HIGHLY RECOMMEND VOLUMES 9 AND 10. TRUST ME, THIS VOLUME IS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO LAUGH.



4. good fun stuff and watching some awful films that you wonder how they were ever made but the guys cover them well and add much needed commentary to them.



5. Okay I'll admit it. I've only watched Overdrawn at the Memory Bank and Space Mutiny on this set. But the two alone are MORE than enough reason to have it. I've just never felt the need to watch anything else. Space Mutiny is by far one of the best MST3Ks ever made. The movie is beyond horrible which makes for excellent humor. The names that Mike and the bots call the so-called "hero" makes it worthwhile all by itself. I have never once regretted having this set. Someday I'll watch the rest but for now Space Mutiny and Overdrawn are good enough for me. I could sit and watch them all day. Now if only they would release Girls Town on an MST3K set my life would be complete.

5 comments about Kill Bill - Volume One.

1. From the moment when the b/w Bride swam into view, drawing desperate gasps of breath, black blood splattering her face and neck, I knew that Kill Bill would be a rollercoaster ride from start to finish. This homage to kung-fu and spaghetti-western movies is more than just a two-hour smash-fest, however. It's a prime example of artistic cinematography and story build-up, taking what seems like a linear and predictable revenge-plot and constantly surprising the viewer. In fact, I don't think there are many movies out there that centre on revenge and violence and still manage to hold such an artistic quality.
   
   Kill Bill started out as a premise shared by Quentin Tarantino and Uma Thurman on the set of Pulp Fiction. An ex-assassin (Thurman), on her wedding day, is brutally beaten by her ex-coworkers and shot to death by her ex-boss... or so it seems. She survives by the smallest of margins, falling into a four-year coma. When she wakes up - and discovers that she's no longer pregnant - she intends to make them all very sorry. Thurman deserves all the credit she gets for her performance; she is heartwringingly convincing as the heartbroken but unwavering warrior. Her dialogue often takes the backseat to her sheer emotional acting. Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox and Daryl Hannah are also inspiring in their characteristic, while diverse, roles.
   
   When watching the movie, I'm constantly torn over whether I should feel bad or fascinated. The theme is a ruthless, brutal one, yet presented in such an aesthetic manner that I can't help but appreciate its beauty. Indeed, the flick is quite a cunning piece of art. I'll leave others to interpret the various connections to old marial arts/spaghetti western movies found in Kill Bill, but I think it very much succeeds as a modern-day version of such a film, enhancing the beauty and brutality of both. Volume One of the Kill Bill saga mostly pays homage to the old kung fu movies. The big fight scene goes from colour to black-and-white in a really satisfying manner, adding to the film's ambience as both old-school and modern. And the climax of the movie, of course - the confrontation with O-Ren Ishii - has to be one of the most beautiful fight sequences I've seen. The soundtrack compliments the entire movie perfectly; whether its the bouncy rock-funk of the 5-6-7-8s, the beautiful piece of hymnic Japanese music as the Bride looks at swords, or the classic "Urami-bushi", not a song in the movie feels out of place. This is not to say that Tarantino doesn't keep his humour up - indeed the fight scenes (the last excluded) are not always so serious. Blood gushes to an insane amount (anatomy is to no importance here) and chuckling slapstick moments frequently pop up.
   
   The choreography of almost every scene is spot-on, as well; and I don't just mean the downright dance the Bride makes as she cuts her way through the Crazy 88. A particularly clever piece of camerawork is an almost two-minute long uncut shot at the House of Blue Leaves, transitioning from the Bride to the proprietor to Sofie Fatale to the Bride again. This sequence is so seamless and spotless, it's downright hard to believe it.
   
   The character introduction is flawless, too. The prime example, of course, is the Japanese animation (not really anime, though) chapter dedicated to O-Ren's past. Her backstory adds to the sympathy of her character, and as such to the power of the confrontation between her and the Bride. O-Ren's isn't the only example, though. The hospital scene where the one-eyed Elle Driver 'visits' the comatose Bride is one of my favourite scenes in the whole movie, if not my absolute favourite. It is a very important, profound scene as it introduces what will be a key character in vol. 2, and the significance of her character. From the tune "Twisted Nerve" to the very cinematography of the scene, it couldn't be more obvious that Elle is one of the most significant characters in the story. As soon as the scene was over, I wanted to see her again, and knew she had a large role in what was to come.
   
   My only real beef with the movie is that I have a hard time connecting to the Bride's motives. Is she getting back at her ex-coworkers (and all who stand in her way to them) for the wrong they did her? Is she avenging her daughter? Or the people who died at the chapel? All of these, perhaps? I feel it could have been presented better. On the other hand, perhaps Tarantino wishes the Bride to develop as a character as well, maybe even show just how ugly revenge can make you. Who knows?
   
   Kill Bill is, on all accounts, a terrific film. It succeeds and exceeds at everything it attempts to be. Tarantino has a real talent in showing us beauty in even the most ugly things. And in my opinion, Elle Driver emerging from the ladies restroom in her nurse's outfit with her white, red cross eyepatch is one of those iconic female moments in cinema, like Ursula Andress rising from the sea in Dr No. A brutal film it may be, but you'd be hard put to find one with a more artistic edge.



2. Much to violent. This is a sick glorification of both untrammeled and pointless killing and maiming. The picture ought to be banned. Even I myself felt gloomy and irritable the next day.



3. Kill Bill Vol. 1 sets the bar for the genre of violent, action films. Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, David Carradine and others did a spectacular job in their roles. And a special appearance by 1960's J-Pop band the 5678's was really part of the films best moments. Quentin Tarantino should have won an Oscar for best director for Kill Bill Vol 1. I love it and I am look forward to buying Vol. 2.



4. This movie is a must see and a must have for all you Tarantino fan. This movie to overly violent and bloody. Normally I don't like movies like that. However, it ranks among one of my favorite movies.



5. -The greatest pure action flick ever made-
   
   This is the cinematic weapon of mass destruction, the dream girl orgie of film ecstasy, the Tiger Woods of action-driven movie mania. Kill Bill is in a class all its own, an experience like you've never witnessed before. Tarantino pays homage to many of his favorite films, directors, and genres while incorporating his own distinct style. I'll use my W.U.S.S.training (Whiteboys Understanding Samurai Sensibilities) to write my first novel.
   
   The story is simple--a lady samurai seeks to avenge the murders of her husband and unborn child. her name is Beatrix Kiddo, aka Black Mamba. She's also referred to as The Bride, which was a character from Q & U. The plot was also inspired by the movie Lady Snowblood, an outstanding female samurai flick.
   
   Other obvious influences:
   
   SAMURAI FICTION--The silhouetted warriors duel with a bright colore background. QT extends this scene drastically, and the results are amazing. This contrast of colors and swift, elegant swordplay make for an awesome visual implosion that will blow your senses away.
   
   HARAKIRI--An undeniable gem of Asian cinema, QT draws heavily from the astounding bloody climax. The Bride fights valiantly against nearly insurmountable odds. She also scales walls and railings with impressive acrobatic agility. The choreography is utterly brilliant as the blood sprays in excess. You will not see a more exciting, dramatic melee in samurai cinema ever. Bold statement, but oh so true.
   
   SHADOW WARRIORS--A T.V.show from the 80's starring the great samurai Hattori Hanzo. In this movie, Hanzo(played by the legendary Sonny Chiba) breaks a blood oath and crafts another deadly blade of steel.
   
   JAPANESE ANIME--This animated sequence totally rules!!! There is some top notch artwork with unique, clever angles. Plus a plethora of blood, murder, and mayhem. Awesome.
   
   GIALLO/DEPALMA--There is a sweet split screen sequence, ala Brian DePalma, that completely kicks butt. There are some closeup shots of the murderer approaching the comatose Bride. With the powerful sound effects blaring the tension is elevated and a dark, desperate atmosphere takes over. A nice touch.
   
   YAKUZA--There are some Japanese mobsters sitting at a table having a meeting. I'll admit, mixing samurai and yakuza seems odd. With the gangstas packin' heat, a samurai chick might not last too long. But hey, this is an action flick, so you can't think too deep into it.
   
   SPAGHETTI WESTERN--There's a brief scene shot in Texas. It involves tumbleweeds, a sheriff, and a bloody shootout. No Clint Eastwood though.
   
   Now, this movie does have some questionable components. Like all the members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. Quite a ragtag group. None of them are overly convincing as deadly samurais, but still the story somehow works. QT also overdoes it with the American pop culture references (silly rabbit, Trix are for kids). They sometimes seem out of place. But still this doesn't hamper the entertainment value. All in all, it's a wonderfully shot, incredibly action packed motion picture. The 5,6,7,8's provide some perfect songs, and Wu Tang Clan does some spectacular sound effects. There's also humor, wit, great character development and dialogue, shots of womens feet--all of QT's trademark stuff. And the action sets the bar sky high.
   
   Tarantino shows he's more than just some film geek. He's an expert at his craft.
   
   Now, I encourage any of you, always in a respectful manner, to question my logic. I assure you, no topic will ever be taboo. Unless of course you bring up this movie as a negative. The price you pay for such an action is--I collect your freakin head!!!!!!!! Now if any of you have anything to say, now's the freakin' time.