Search
Search results
Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Batman Begins (2005) in Movies
Jun 8, 2019
Batman Begins....again.
Christopher Nolan revives DCs dark vigilante in batman begins as Christian bale takes on the role of bruce Wayne/batman who is haunted by tragedy which occured as a child, until he decides to leave gotham behind. Wayne heads far east, there he meets Henri ducard (Liam Neeson) a martial arts master and ra's al Ghul- leader of the League of Shadows. After years away and extensive combat training,Wayne returns to Gotham intent on cleaning up the city without resorting to murder. With the help of Alfred the wayne family Butler (Michael Caine) and Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), a tech expert at wayne enterprises, Bruce wayne will armour up and take to the city Rooftops as the one man war against crime known as Batman!
David McK (3233 KP) rated Shanghai Knights (2003) in Movies
May 27, 2023
2003 sequel to 2001's Shangai Noon.
I know I've seen that earlier movie, but don't remember all that much about it, other than it was Wild West set and starred the same two lead actors in Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson.
This time around, the two end up in Victorian London in search of a McGuffin after Chon Wang's (Chan's) father - who is the keeper of the Imperial Seal - is murdered, with Wang then reuniting with his estranged sister.
As expected, they then encounter a whole host of historical characters, and get involved in all sorts of escapades, with it never really being in any doubt how it will end ...
So, yeah, family friendly fare that relies heavily on Owen's laid-back approach contrasting with Chan's high-energy slapstick martial arts.
I know I've seen that earlier movie, but don't remember all that much about it, other than it was Wild West set and starred the same two lead actors in Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson.
This time around, the two end up in Victorian London in search of a McGuffin after Chon Wang's (Chan's) father - who is the keeper of the Imperial Seal - is murdered, with Wang then reuniting with his estranged sister.
As expected, they then encounter a whole host of historical characters, and get involved in all sorts of escapades, with it never really being in any doubt how it will end ...
So, yeah, family friendly fare that relies heavily on Owen's laid-back approach contrasting with Chan's high-energy slapstick martial arts.
Blazing Minds (92 KP) rated Mr. Vampire (1985) in Movies
Nov 1, 2021 (Updated Nov 3, 2021)
Let’s start by saying that this 2K restored version of Mr Vampire comes with several audio tracks to choose from an English dub in 2.0, an America Dub in 5.1 and the Cantonese audio in mono, so I opted to watch the film in it’s 5.1 dub for the purposes of this review.
The team behind the 2K Restoration of Mr Vampire has done a good job, there is some slight grain to the film, but this really doesn’t distract from what is a fun movie with its mix of comedy, some martial arts and horror, the colours are nice and vibrant making the film look fresh and most probably how it looked when it first had its release, the dubbing is one of the better-dubbed movies I’ve seen recently and the 5.1 mix does sound good (I’ll update this review with the other language options soon).
The team behind the 2K Restoration of Mr Vampire has done a good job, there is some slight grain to the film, but this really doesn’t distract from what is a fun movie with its mix of comedy, some martial arts and horror, the colours are nice and vibrant making the film look fresh and most probably how it looked when it first had its release, the dubbing is one of the better-dubbed movies I’ve seen recently and the 5.1 mix does sound good (I’ll update this review with the other language options soon).
Gareth von Kallenbach (971 KP) rated John Wick. Chapter 4 (2023) in Movies
Mar 18, 2023
John Wick is back and you know what to expect! The action is bigger, the fight scenes are more elaborate, and the killing is…normalized. It is an awesome and fun two-hour and forty-nine-minute joyride that is constantly moving and does not feel nearly that long.
It is crazy to think that in the world of John Wick, after how many bodies he has left in his wake over the last three movies, that anyone would bother even going after him. And yet, this is a popcorn action film in the trustiest since because if you aren’t suspending disbelief and enjoying the ride, you aren’t doing it right.
While it's normally John Wick against the world, this time he seeks help from old friends who help him reign death and destruction upon anyone in his way as he attempts to kill his way to freedom from the “high table.” It is this comradery that sets this film apart from its predecessors. For the first time since the first film, we actually get character development and emotional investment for Wick and his friends.
Most notably joining Keanu Reeves this time is Donnie Yen of Ip Man fame. Channeling traditional martial arts films, Yen plays a blind master assassin in his own right, who like Wick, was retired, but was brought back to save his family and hunt down his friend John Wick. Fans of his martial arts films will recognize Yen’s movement that is both graceful and precise as a dance. Additionally, Hiroyuki Sanada (Bullet Train, The Twilight Samurai), brings his strong and stoic presence as a loyal friend to help John Wick, despite the potential danger it will bring to him and his family. While Shamier Anderson (Race, Bruiser) introduces a new character to the series, tracking John Wick to score a payday. These three delightfully add story depth to series mainstays Ian McShane and Laurence Fishburne as we dive deeper into the lore of “everything under the table.”
Opposite them, Bill Skarsgard, plays a ranking Marquis, given the power to hunt down Wick and make an example of all those who fail to “serve under the high table.” He is exactly the type of pompous and ruthless villain that we all love to hate. It is through the exhibition of his power and arrogance that we learn more about the lore and rules of this world of assassins, which is intriguing and entertaining as John Wick must navigate not only people trying to kill him but also the “old rules” on his path to freedom.
These fresh faces and story elements help the John Wick series to feel more enjoyable than ever, while, fans of martial arts films, samurai films, and a certain 1979 cult classic, will recognize the various homage paid in John Wick Chapter 4. Making this the best addition to the series since the first film.
4.5 out of 5 stars
It is crazy to think that in the world of John Wick, after how many bodies he has left in his wake over the last three movies, that anyone would bother even going after him. And yet, this is a popcorn action film in the trustiest since because if you aren’t suspending disbelief and enjoying the ride, you aren’t doing it right.
While it's normally John Wick against the world, this time he seeks help from old friends who help him reign death and destruction upon anyone in his way as he attempts to kill his way to freedom from the “high table.” It is this comradery that sets this film apart from its predecessors. For the first time since the first film, we actually get character development and emotional investment for Wick and his friends.
Most notably joining Keanu Reeves this time is Donnie Yen of Ip Man fame. Channeling traditional martial arts films, Yen plays a blind master assassin in his own right, who like Wick, was retired, but was brought back to save his family and hunt down his friend John Wick. Fans of his martial arts films will recognize Yen’s movement that is both graceful and precise as a dance. Additionally, Hiroyuki Sanada (Bullet Train, The Twilight Samurai), brings his strong and stoic presence as a loyal friend to help John Wick, despite the potential danger it will bring to him and his family. While Shamier Anderson (Race, Bruiser) introduces a new character to the series, tracking John Wick to score a payday. These three delightfully add story depth to series mainstays Ian McShane and Laurence Fishburne as we dive deeper into the lore of “everything under the table.”
Opposite them, Bill Skarsgard, plays a ranking Marquis, given the power to hunt down Wick and make an example of all those who fail to “serve under the high table.” He is exactly the type of pompous and ruthless villain that we all love to hate. It is through the exhibition of his power and arrogance that we learn more about the lore and rules of this world of assassins, which is intriguing and entertaining as John Wick must navigate not only people trying to kill him but also the “old rules” on his path to freedom.
These fresh faces and story elements help the John Wick series to feel more enjoyable than ever, while, fans of martial arts films, samurai films, and a certain 1979 cult classic, will recognize the various homage paid in John Wick Chapter 4. Making this the best addition to the series since the first film.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Awix (3310 KP) rated Unleashed (2005) in Movies
Apr 4, 2019
Bonkers martial arts thriller off the Luc Besson action conveyor belt. Danny (Li) has been raised as a human attack dog by senior gangster Bart (Hoskins); one day he stumbles into freedom and is befriended by a blind piano tuner (Freeman) and his daughter. But will his past catch up with him? (All this supposedly takes place in a Glasgow almost exclusively populated by Asians, Americans, and Cockneys.)
The plot is barking mad (not inappropriately for a film with the alternative title of Danny the Dog) and impossible to take seriously, but that's hardly new for a Besson film, nor necessarily a disincentive to see it. This one is lifted by genuinely good performances from Hoskins and Freeman, and extended sequences of Li beating the living daylights out of everyone in sight (at one point there's a kung fu fight in a toilet cubicle, which is surely a first). Not to be taken remotely seriously, but still highly entertaining.
The plot is barking mad (not inappropriately for a film with the alternative title of Danny the Dog) and impossible to take seriously, but that's hardly new for a Besson film, nor necessarily a disincentive to see it. This one is lifted by genuinely good performances from Hoskins and Freeman, and extended sequences of Li beating the living daylights out of everyone in sight (at one point there's a kung fu fight in a toilet cubicle, which is surely a first). Not to be taken remotely seriously, but still highly entertaining.
Lukas Griffith (3 KP) rated Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016) in Movies
Jan 22, 2018
I was a huge fan of the original and Jean-claude Van Damme, the original is an classic martial arts film. The reboot will never be as good as the original but I can say its not bad. Its awesome to see that Van Damme was able to return as the mentor and pass the torch on, his performance was the best out of the whole cast. Bautista playing the villain Tong Po was fierced and brilliant. The fight scenes were crafted exceptional and some were intense and exciting. The story in my opinion was a tad bit jumpy and drug out compared to the original but I did like how they twisted it and tried to make it more original. This movie might not be the best ever reboot, low budget but it was entertaining and Van Damme was brilliant. Hopefully the sequel will be even better.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Haywire (2012) in Movies
Feb 20, 2018 (Updated Feb 20, 2018)
'You should not think of her as a woman. That would be a mistake.'
Rousing action thriller looks on paper like another Besson movie, is actually typically classy Steven Soderbergh genre pastiche. Basically a vehicle for delicate flower of women's MMA Gina Carano to batter the living daylights out of an array of A-list leading men, which she does with aplomb and charisma.
The script is sympathetically structured so Carano doesn't have to do more than the minimal amount of actual acting, but the plot is competently twisty-turny and Soderbergh puts an impressive cast around his star. Some first-class fight sequences and chases, as you would expect. At the time I had my fingers crossed for a new subgenre of pro-celebrity martial arts movies with Carano proceeding to kick in Jude Law, Orlando Bloom, Ryan Reynolds, etc, in subsequent outings, but it never happened. Shame; notable careers have been built on considerably less potential than Carano showed in this film.
The script is sympathetically structured so Carano doesn't have to do more than the minimal amount of actual acting, but the plot is competently twisty-turny and Soderbergh puts an impressive cast around his star. Some first-class fight sequences and chases, as you would expect. At the time I had my fingers crossed for a new subgenre of pro-celebrity martial arts movies with Carano proceeding to kick in Jude Law, Orlando Bloom, Ryan Reynolds, etc, in subsequent outings, but it never happened. Shame; notable careers have been built on considerably less potential than Carano showed in this film.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976) in Movies
Mar 28, 2020
Almost wholly nuts Taiwanese kung fu movie. A blind assassin wielding the dreaded flying guillotine (basically a sort of buzz saw on the end of a length of chain) sets out for revenge against legendary heroic martial arts teacher the One-Armed Boxer. Whose kung fu will prove stronger?
Very little about this film isn't completely ridiculous (the main character visibly has his 'missing' arm stuffed down the front of his shirt, while it almost entirely eschews a second act in favour of about eight random kung fu fights in a row) but it still manages to be almost completely awesome, full of energy and imagination (the fight between our unidextrous hero and a Yoga expert with telescopic arms is a particular highlight). The plot is fairly routine honour-and-revenge-based stuff, but the action sequences are inventively choreographed and lots of fun. Hugely entertaining and very funny, sometimes even on purpose.
Very little about this film isn't completely ridiculous (the main character visibly has his 'missing' arm stuffed down the front of his shirt, while it almost entirely eschews a second act in favour of about eight random kung fu fights in a row) but it still manages to be almost completely awesome, full of energy and imagination (the fight between our unidextrous hero and a Yoga expert with telescopic arms is a particular highlight). The plot is fairly routine honour-and-revenge-based stuff, but the action sequences are inventively choreographed and lots of fun. Hugely entertaining and very funny, sometimes even on purpose.
Travis Knight recommended The Grandmaster (2013) in Movies (curated)
Erika (17788 KP) rated 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994) in Movies
Sep 18, 2019 (Updated Sep 18, 2019)
3 Ninjas Kick Back is the second in the '3 Ninjas' series; the first and this one were some of my favorite movies growing up. I'm into martial arts films, and these were perfect for me. I read the novelization of this film until it fell apart, and I still have it today. They did change the actor for Rocky, and this kid wasn't as crush-worthy as the first one. The three brothers aren't allowed to go on a trip to Japan with their grandfather because they have to play in a baseball tournament. They end up following, of course, to find a cave of gold. My favorite scenes are always the booby-trapping scenes, where they hi-jinx these wannabe, early 1990s losers. It's still super amusing. They do end up making it back for the baseball game, making everything work out in the end.
Of course, now it's completely dated, but I still watch it.
Of course, now it's completely dated, but I still watch it.