Change Your Image
desperadous
Reviews
Belly of the Beast (2003)
Watch first before buying it
Belly of the Beast is the only Chin Siu Tung (Monkey Kung Fu,Chinese Ghost Story,Duel to the Death) Western movie so far starring Steven Seagal,Byron Mann (Street Fighter,Corrupter),Monica Lo(Naked Weapon),Tom Lu(Revolver).
Steven Seagal plays Jake Hopper an ex CIA member whose daughter has been kidnapped in Thailand.He comes out of retirement to rescue her.Sort of like the B movie version of Taken with Liam Neeson.He recruits Sunti (Mann) to help him with his daughter.Sunti owes him his life for saving him 10 years ago.Sunti has then become a monk and leaves to go with Jake.There is a terrorist group known as the Abu Karaf,but Jake realizes that the kidnappers come from somewhere else in Thailand.General Jantapan (Tom Lu) is in charge of the military in Thailand and is working with the American government.Jake gets help at a night club in Thailand from waitress Lulu (Monica Lo).He has saved her from some locals so she returns the favor for Jake's search for his daughter.
Not even the great Chin Siu Tung can make this a masterpiece.There are many flaws in this and lots of wire fu.In this movie Seagal is already overweight and he has a double.The double is half of his size and does flips and flying kicks.Seagal plays the cocky CIA officer like in every movie in his career so far.He does'nt even get a bruise or a hit.Half of the fighting scenes were edited with too many quick cuts so you can only see Seagal's ability half of the time.Trust me He's no Sammo Hung now that he gained so much weight.His fighting technique is his Aikido and looks like he was doing Tai Chi as well.The other fighters like Byron Mann and Tom Lu were edited greatly and they look good fighting on camera.Not enough action in hand to hand combat just more with shooting scenes.That's not why you go to see a Seagal movie.He is known for his quick hits and takedowns.There are a lot of exotic enemies that you don't see in your typical American action movie.Thai fighters with swords,a trannie,Thai monks and a witch doctor.Unless you are a hardcore Seagal fan and Chi Siu Tung fan then this one is for you.Worth a view first before you buy.Naked Weapon,Exit Wounds has better fighting IMO.
Demolition Man (1993)
classic
Demolition Man is a action Sci-fi movie in the early 90s Starring Sylvester Stallone,Wesley Snipes,Sandra Bullock,Benjamin Bratt,Denis Leary Nigel Hawthorne,Rob Schneider,Bob Gunton.
John Spartan aka Demolition Man(Stallone) is on the hunt to track down Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) and save hostages.Phoenix is captured but the hostages all die.Spartan is to blame for not being able to rescue them.Spartan and Phoenix are arrested and frozen to have their sentences.40 years have passed and Phoenix has been taken out into the real world to cause havoc and to assassinate a threat which is a rebel Edgar Friendly (Leary).In the short time that Phoenix has been out he has already caused murder and chaos.Police of the future are now very intimidated and awaken John Spartan to once again arrest and kill Simon Phoenix.
This is Sly's first scifi action movie followed by Judge Dredd years later.Wesley is having fun being Phoenix and is not your typical coldblooded killer.He has humor in him.Lots of funny scenes of how the future in California is portrayed and it has become the city of San Angeles.Swearing,red meat,bonding,is a nono and lots of technology that is similar to the one in real life today.Good action futuristic flick with guns,weapons from old and futuristic.Pretty good special effects for the early 90s.Before the Matrix,Red Planet,Star Wars,Judge Dredd,6th Day,Terminator 3,Terminator Salvation,Minority Report.Sly is wearing the same beret hat he wears in the Expendables.
Jin yi wei (2010)
Watch Secret Service of Imperial Court instead
From all the reviews that I read above me seems like no one knows that 14 Blades is a Shaw Brothers remake of the 1984 movie Secret Service of Imperial Court directed by Tony Liu Jun Guk.
Now that I got that out of the way the modern version 14 blades is directed by mostly hit or miss Daniel Lee.His credits include Black Mask,What Price Survival,Three Kingdoms Resurrection of the Dragon,Star Runner Aka Kumite,Dragon Squad aka Dragon Heat and the upcoming Wuxia White Vengeance.As you can see from those credits most people that have seen his movies only Black Mask and What Price Survival were their favorites.
The cast includes both new actors old school Kung Fu actors from the Shaw Brothers era like Chen Kwan Tai,Wu Ma,Lam Chi Tai,Fung Hak On.From Golden Harves of course Sammo Hung which has only a supporting part and does not lay a finger on nobody,Duel to the Death's Damian Lau (if you blinked you missed him because i don't even remember him being in it).Wu Chun who looks like a pretty boy Asian Jack Sparrow,Vicky Zhao Whei,and Donnie Yen filling up for Leung Kar Yan aka Beardy.
The Cinematography is nice too look at as well as the special effects.Donnie Yen barely saves this movie and the supporting cast seems to be weak and not backing him up at all.There is both some wire fu and some good fighting scenes in this movie but unless you're a Donnie Yen fan this one is an OK movie better than Three Kingdoms but not better than its rivals like Ip Man movies and True Legend by Yuen Woo Ping.Watch the Original it is 10 times better and did not need wire fu or GGI to make it a good movie.
Hong fen dong jiang hu (1981)
Action choreographer Yuen Tak gets another leading role
Ambitious Kung Fu Girl is another Wuxia film directed by Tony Liu Jun Guk.His work includes Bastard Swordsman series,Master,Crazy Horse Intelligent Monkey,Lady Assassin,Lovers Blades.The film's main stars are Michelle Mai Suet,Yuen Tak,Chen Kuan Tai,Austin Wai Tin Chi,Chu Tiet Wo.
Michelle Mai plays a spoiled rich girl who is set up to be married and falls for a Swordman played by Chen Kuan Tai.She is then set up by other thieves and killers to trick her and take her wealth from her father.Yuen Tak plays the character "Monkey",that falls for Michelle.
There is too much story and talking but the only saving grace is the action,which is choreographed by Tony Liu Jun Guk and Dang Tak Cheung.From swordplay to flying,running on walls like Bastard Swordsman, Secret Service.From watching the action you know you're in for another great Tony Liu movie.Austin Wai Tin from Gang Master and Incredible Kung Fu Master,Chu Tiet Wo from Eight Diagram Pole Fighter,play the villains.At the end is another good Wuxia from Tony Liu.
Du ming zou tian ya (1978)
Forgotten classic
Sixty Second Assassin is a forgotten shapes film.The films stars Man Lee Pang,Leung Kar Yan,Lung Fei, Wong Chi Sang,Kong Ching Ha,Su Chen Ping,Dean Shek.This is one of Leung Kar Yans very good villain performances. he is the employer of Minute Fong(Wan Lee Pang),who is an Assassin that kills his enemies in under 60 seconds.Minute Fong wants to give the killing up to retire and live in a farm.But Leung Kar Yan has got a couple assignments before he can walk away.This Assassin story has been in many movies but what makes this one special is the fights.Good choreography from kicking and punching.
Wan Lee Pang is a Taiwanese martial artist,and has only appeared in very few movies.He is also a villain in Kung Fu On Sale.The fight between him and Leung Kar Yan is indeed worth watching.