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The 1990 film Bullet in the Head engages at every turn. At once a political epic, a story about childhood friends and loyalty, as well as a tale of corruption and war, John Woo's action-packed face-off contrasts '60s idealism--the Beatles and Elvis--against the shifting tide in the East. It's plain that Woo has pulled his trio of heroes straight from Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America as well as Michael Cimino's The Deer Hunter, but there are bits of Nicholas Ray's Rebel Without a Cause tossed in for good measure. The old Chinese way of life is fading in the face of the emergent Vietnam War and Chairman Mao's Red Army, and Hong Kong struggles under archaic British rule. Three friends--Ben (Tony Leung), Frank (Jacky Cheung), and Paul (Waise Lee)--rub up against gang warfare, capitalism, and opportunism in a life that is strongly tinged by Western culture. Ben falls in love and wants to marry Jane (Fennie Yuen). Frank has borrowed money from a warlord to pay for his pal's bridal bash but a rival group, led by Ringo and his thugs, are hell-bent on keeping loose-cannon Frank from keeping his promise. The boys kill Ringo in a face-off and the cops come looking for them, separating Ben and Jane. The trio escapes to exploited luck-of-the-draw Saigon to make their fortunes. Luck, however, isn't with them. In a violent, balletic dance to honor, greed, and a teenage pledge that is challenged with adulthood, Bullet in the Head is sentimental despite its exquisitely choreographed blood bath; it's steeped in the kind of code-of-ethics morality that has been the glue of buddy films since the beginning of cinematic time. Bullet in the Head is a tale of love and betrayal played out against a backdrop of wartime chaos, and while Woo had made other vital and vibrant movies--The Killer, Hard Boiled, and A Better Tomorrow--none were as impassioned as Bullet in the Head. That it retains its innocence at all is a tribute to this Hong Kong action auteur, who brands his movies with visual flair as well as a palette splattered with blood. --Paula Nechak ... Read more

Reviews (33)

It's Intense and excessive, but its John Woos best!
This rivals the killer as the best John Woo film. People say this one isn't his best but I disagree.
It's also one of the most violent Hk films I've ever seen, the shootouts are intense and well done, like the nightclub scene, it was very well done with the best part is when Paul guns down about 20 guys with a machine gun in a stairwell.
The acting is pretty good, the best performance goes to Tony Leung of course but Paul (Waise Lee) and Luke (Simon Yam) have some strong stellar scenes, and the so-so award goes to Jacky Chueng who in the POW camp scene makes you want to almost laugh at his suffering. However this version is cut about 18 minutes from what I've heard, and most of the subtitles are wrong and the audio is choppy. The extra 18 mins would probably explain some of the confusing scenes and scenarios (where did they learn how to shoot machine guns and shotguns with one hand?). Too bad this isn't A better tomorrow 3 because Chow Yun Fat would have been EXCELLANT in Luke's Character.
The story goes like this Three lifelong friends find themselves in trouble in 1967 British ruled Hong Kong when. On his wedding night Ben (Tony Leung) and Frank (Jacky Cheung) kill a gang leader in a fight. So they (Including Paul for some reason) get the idea to go to war torn Vietnam to sell illegal goods, but their luck turns sour when there stuff is blown up in a bombing. After that they meet Luke (Simon Yam) who puts their friendship in a downward spiral from there on in. Paul gets greedy when he takes a casket of gold leaves and turns him into a cynical, "stay-away-from-my-gold or Ill kill you" person while the friendships fall to pieces.
The action scenes while heartfelt (In a disturbing way) and gut wrenching are pretty senseless and over-the-top. The POW camp scene is absolutely disturbing almost to the point where I turned it off. To tell you the truth I'd rather see what's in this POW scene then what's in the uncut full POW scene (Yes its THAT disturbing). This film is NOT a heroic bloodshed film there is no heroes in this only people whose lives we must watch fall to pieces. You'll have to be pretty used to disturbing violence to see this so be very prepared. Very very well done and One of my Highest Recommendations ever!
P.S DO NOT let anyone under 12 see this

John Woo's finest to date?
Produced in the wake of the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, John Woo's BULLET IN THE HEAD is both a response to the appalling violence that was taking place in mainland China at the time, and a pointed examination of the director's traditional themes of loyalty and brotherhood and the consequences of betrayal. For all its explosions and gunplay, the film is actually a very human drama, played out against the vast backdrop of the Vietnam conflict, and invested with such a palpable sense of love and compassion for its leading characters and their circumstances that it defies all attempts at categorisation. The cast is pure gold: Tony Leung (superb as the film's tragic 'hero'), Jacky Cheung (giving a revelatory, career-making performance) and Waise Lee play lifelong friends who flee from a murder rap during the civil unrest of 1960s Hong Kong, only to have their loyalties tested to breaking point by their experiences in wartime Saigon. Overall, the film is less an action-thriller than an operatic valentine to Woo's teenage years in HK and to the personal values which have shaped and defined all his films since A BETTER TOMORROW. Only HARD-BOILED comes close to it in terms of greatness, though many people - myself included - would argue that BULLET is not only Woo's finest achievement to date, but also one of the best films ever made, anywhere. In terms of content, the widescreen HK DVD version is virtually identical to Made in Hong Kong's uncut UK video release, though the familiar Golden Princess logo at the beginning of the film has been replaced by Media Asia's insignia. As expected, the increased resolution of the DVD format has yielded a visibly superior image, but the disc's muted color scheme is a disappointment, and the optional English subtitles - though reasonably coherent - are no match for MIHK'S definitive translation. BULLET's effectiveness depends on your complete comprehension of the dialogue, and Media Asia's clumsy subtitles often stumble over the dramatic highlights, thereby diluting their quite considerable impact. Sadly, Media Asia has also remixed BULLET's original mono soundtrack in 5.1 Dolby Digital surround, apparently for no other reason than the fact that DVD technology allows it. Aside from the newly-directional gunshot effects and the magnificent music score (which, amongst other things, transforms Jacky Cheung's poignant farewell sequence into an occasion of shattering heartbreak), the remix adds nothing that wasn't already conveyed in the original version. Bottom line: A fine film, and the DVD is certainly worth a look, but first-time viewers are advised to check out MIHK's UK video version before taking the plunge. Believe me, you WON'T be disappointed...

Best Film ive ever seen. MUST SEE. Trust Me
IF YOU LIKE GOODFELLAS, CON AIR, SCARFACE, FACE OFF, GODFATHER, DESPERADO, KILL BILL etc. You have to see this, im telling you.
I thought the best film ive seen were one of the above. But no. its defenitly Bullet in the Head.
IT HAS A BRILLIANT STORYLINE. The ACTING WAS MAGNIFICENT. Tony Leung (Hard Boiled/Prison on Fire)is Excelent alongside (Waise Lee (A better tomorrow) and Simon Yam (Full Contact) But The Outstanding Serious Performance which will get to you is Jackie Cheung (as tears go by/Jet Lis Meltdown). Its John Woos personal Favourite. Everybody i Lent it to absoulutely LOVE it. its a Hong Kong Classic which doesnt come on TV. If its available to in your local shops or ebay.co.uk I advice you to Buy It. you wont be dissapointed. If you are then You have BAD TASTE in Movies. No offence.PEACE

Exhausted
In "The Killer", perhaps the best pulp/asian thriller of all time, the violence felt full, voluptuous; its excess created a kind of operatic grandeur. In "Bullet in the Head" the violence is so over -the-top, so gratuitous, you want to run for cover (I might have blown up my tv if I had to watch another gangster do a cartwheel as a big explosion lifted him of his feet). This movie proves to me how repetitive a director Woo is, and I got a similar feeling from Face/Off - its like watching a figure skater do figure 8's all night - you want to shout "ok, I get it!"

Loud, irritating and chaotic. Jacky Cheung's shameless overacting and bulgy, beady eyes were as irksome as the excessive violence - give this one a miss - its a wet blanket of sentimentality and schlock.

One of the best
This is not only one of the best HK action films ever but quite possibly one of the best films ever. Period. ... Read more

Description

Ronny Yu (The Bride of Chucky, The Phantom Lover, Warriors Of Virtue) directs this highly operatic fable based on a well-known martial arts novel with LESLIE CHEUNG (Temptress Moon, Farewell, My Concubine) and BRIGITTE LIN (Dragon Inn, Deadful Melody) as doomed lovers caught in the crossfire of warring clans.With beautiful cinematography by PETER PAU (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and over-the-top action sequences, THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR is one of the best swordplay fantasy film ever made. ... Read more

Reviews (58)

DVD Version is a MUST for Fans of This Film!
"The Bride With White Hair" is the film that turned me on to Hong Kong cinema. If you are one of those Hong Kong aficionados who has enjoyed this movie on VHS, I highly recommend the DVD version because of its subtitles. Now---while I admittedly enjoy the awkwardly translated English subtitles in Hong Kong films, this is one film that I love enough that I've always wanted to see the grammar, spelling and sentence structure cleaned up! That is the wonderful surprise I found when I saw this flick on DVD! In addition, if you want to turn friends on to this film, and they're the crowd who just doesn't enjoy a flick with subtitles, then this DVD has an English dubbed version that is fairly good (especially compared to badly English dubbed jobs of great Hong Kong films like "A Better Tomorrow"). For those unfamiliar with this film, "Bride With White Hair" is one of those rare fantasy features that actually makes my eyes a bit misty. What initially strikes me about the movie is the way the story is set up; we see Leslie Cheung (who starred in "Farewell My Concubine"), having sat hunched in desolate state of guard over a healing plant for many years, wondering if "a woman" knows that he regards her as holding great importance, even greater than that of the emperor. A great and tragic story is then told as a recollection, beginning from his childhood when he firsts encounters the mystical girl who saves him from a pack of wolves by charming them with her song. They are drawn together again as adults (Bridgette Lin is both gorgeous and fantastic as The Bride!). The complexities come as both characters are torn by devotion to their clans, barters they have made with others, and by their vow of love to each other. This is beautiful and well told story, visually astounding, and the surreal nature of the film works. I highly recommend you treat yourself to this DVD!

Phenomenal Movie!
This movie completely took my breath away! I am rarely impressed by anything, but this film really moved me. Both the tragic plot and the fighting scenes had me completely engaged in the story and the characters from beginning to end. Both Leslie Cheung and Bridgitte Lin gave amazing performances. The climactic scene of ultimate betrayal at the end -- the slap, the sword, the look, the hair -- managed to do what Steel Magnolias, Terms of Endearment and even Titanic couldn't accomplish: make me CRY! (I was sobbing like an infant at that point...) This is a movie for everyone because it has so many elements to it: good cinemetography, a touch of folklore, romance, tragedy, action, swordfighting , etc. It's become one of my favorite movies of all time. The sequel is just as amazing, and ties up the story very well. There was no better way to end such a beautiful yet tragic love story.

Funky
What a weird film. Who thought of this? A girl raised in the mountains by wolves, possessing magical hair?

What a bloody freak show.

there goes the bride....
iv'e heard a bit about this movie, but to be honest after watching bride, i was slightly disapointed, the story is dull and so is the pacing of the film. and i thought battle royale 2 was slow.
but the fight scenes were top notch. the lead actor leslie chung
gave a great performance. unfortunetly he passed away almost a year ago. (a sucide jump from a hotel balcony in hong kong)
i have yet to see the sequel but i doubt it'll surpass this one as most sequels fail to succeed their predescessors.
anyway yun has gone on to bigger if not better things like freddy vs jason, although sluggish on plotbut more entertaining than bride. IMHO

Mindy's Review
as a big Brigitte Lin Chin Hsia i would say this is one of the good movies she stars in out of her 100's movie she stars in...... well this movie is so romantic.... the forbidding love eh...... hahaha and ever since their childhood (wolf girl) well yeah this movie is great.....the kungfu in this movie is so and so a litte but, not that much compare to Dragon Inn......

++if your looking for a more like crouching tiger h.d movie then naww this is not the type for you..... you should check out Dragon Inn then.....

++if you don't like this part (1) then you souldn't get part 2 cause, part 2 just Su&^K ai ya but, worth siting through till the end......

++this movie is GREAT two TUMBS UP! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A lot of good action but confusing as heck
This is a pretty fun movie, with lots and lots of crazy action, and some pretty well acted scenes, but it is unbelievably confusing, so you never totally get behind the characters. Michelle Yeoh looks great and does a decent job but she just seems too wholesome to pull off the role of the somewhat evil kung fu master. She is not as intense as Brigitte Lin who is really the master of that sort of character. Tony Leung, Donnie Yen, and Joey Wang are all really great in this movie. This is highly recommended for HK fans but not so much for casual kung fu fans who are better off with something like Swordman II. Be warned that there are mandarin only editions of this movie on the market, so make sure you are getting a cantonese version if that is what you want.

donnie yen and michelle yeoh are the only good things...
This film cannot be categorized as a martial arts film. Unlike the recent released Iron Monkey, Butterfly Sword's action scenes are so chaotic and confusing that you cannot really tell whether a person is fighting a deadly opponent or is simply twisting in the air for fun. With body parts flying everywhere, you wonder if you are watching a horror film. It is not a fantasy film either. There obviously is no ghost or gods, and supposedly people in this film don't really possess supernatural powers. Therefore, the action scenes can only be said to be insulting to either genre.

Despite a strong cast and beautiful scenery, the movie ultimately disappoints. One saving grace for this film is Donnie Yen. Though his great talents were wasted in his fight scenes due to over-use of wires, poor camera work and disastrous editing, he managed to compensate by putting more heart and warmth into his character, the ever serious but sincere Yip, who is the only likable character in the film. Too bad we have not seen Donnie Yen as often as we see Jet Li or Jackie Chan. A much better actor than Jet Li and extremely gifted in martial arts, he exuberates a certain charisma that simply draws people to him, either in a major role or a supporting role. Michelle Yeoh on the other hand is marvelous. She conveys emotions just as effectively as she does swirls and kicks. The scene where she glides through the air between two bamboo trees is one of few good action scenes in the movie, but it perhaps is one of the most graceful and elegant scenes I have seen in any martial art films.

Two stars for Michelle and Donnie.

Donnie Yen's best swordsplay
Donnie Yen is the only reason to get this film really. Michelle Yeoh's peformance is that of a bitter jealous "adopted" sister. The movie focuses a lot on romance and drama leaving little room for true action, although it is present.

Donnie plays a drunken loaner, who's hopelessly in love with Michelle Yeoh. Aside from that, there's Tony Leung and his goofy wife. The rest of the cast is pretty cooky. This is a typical early 90s film for those of you familiar with the genre.

Good fighting scenes. Love story with twists.
The fighing scenes are fast, furious and violent. For example, in one scene, a fighter pushed his sword and his whole body completely through the chest of his oppenent.
The love story has some twists. What looked like the love between a sister and her younger brother turned out to be more than that.

Excellent! Among the best of Yeoh!
Excellent in action, acting, direction, screenplay... I can't remember how many times I have watched it. ... Read more

Reviews (126)

An Extraordinary Experience
I found this movie to be BRILLIANT! Jodie Foster is outstanding in the role of Anna Leonowens - she is a beautiful mix of bravery, intelligence and Victorian elegance. Chow Yun-Fat is also outstanding in the role of King Mongkut - he emits a regal quality as well that of compassion and intelligence. The cinematography is out of this world and the directing exquisite. The dialogue is perfect, and it strikes just the right chord of polished writing. The musical score is breathtaking. The lush scenery and thick emotion is set to elegant, strong, and graceful music. It is forceful when it need be and then fades quietly into the background... at times supporting a scene with gentle rolling waves of ear pleasure. Oh and the costumes! They are completely amazing, and startling in their detail. From the majestic elephants to the smallest noble they are all cloaked in carefully chosen fabrics.

This movie in all its entirety affected me very deeply. The intense emotions of the characters are so expertly performed and directed that they feel incredibly real. These emotions, which course through "Anna and the King," create a moving, exciting, and anticipatory experience. I am very grateful to all of those involved in the making of "Anna and the King" for producing such a beautiful and extraordinary film. Anyone who is contemplating viewing this movie... do it. I only hope that you, too will have the pleasure of being able to fully indulge in this feast for the senses.

A true outstanding epic movie.....
This is a true outstanding epic movie. I'm really surprised why it wasn't hailed as greatly as it should have been. I personally hail it as one of the greatest movies of all time, a true classic in every sense. I've seen it totally ignorant of all the versions that preceded it and I've loved it with the very first few lines "She came unaware of all the suspicion that preceded her" " the first English woman I have seen". This story of two unconventional people in conventional times with all its historical facts and lush gorgeous background is capable of sweeping one's off his feet making him feel all that cultural and emotional struggle that Anna and the King seem to go through. Jodie Foster was lovely and extraordinary although I used to think that she is too modern-looking for such movies...I guess I was gravely mistaken. I think the movie's real surprise is Chow Yun-Fat who was truly amazing. He seems to be so much at home with all this kingly charm. He has such grace and overwhelming presence that would make him probably one of the most remembered kings on the screen. I can't help wondering if the original king was as charming as he was....and wouldn't be nice if all kings were like that? We would surly love them. And what of the palace? Do I dare and say more? I was totally amazed to know that they've built a replica of the original one...wow! I envy Jodie and Chow for being in such lofty surroundings. I think I would write a book if I were to describe everything I loved in this movie...but I must take my hat off to Andy Tennant for making such a masterpiece and for all the designers. Of course, I must not forget the movie's music and photography and the beautiful script that seems to linger in the mind forever for I would always remember that "when a woman has so much to say and doesn't say it. Her silence can be deafening.".

Simply a delightful story
After losing her husband in the jungle of India, Anna Leonowens embarks in a journey that will take her to Siam, where she will tutor the oldest son of King Mongkut. Her son, Louis, and two Hindu servants accompany her in this new endeavor. As soon as Anna sets foot in Bangkok, the difference between cultures surges as a predominant element that will remain present throughout the story. Even though the start is rocky, with Anna being called "Sir" for misogynist reasons and not being given the house she was promised but accommodation in the palace instead, the king discovers quickly the value of this woman that acts very different from what he is used to. That is why he decides that instead of tutoring his oldest son, she will be in charge of teaching all of his children...all 58 of them!

The movie evolves around three clear themes. First, the clash of cultures, which is enlightening and entertaining and as the movie evolves so does the acceptance and admiration each of the characters show for the positive points of the other's culture. Second, the relationship between Anna and the king, which starts as annoyance, moves to respect and continues developing from there. Third, the political atmosphere, which is characterized by attacks to Siamese people by Burmese armies, suspected to be supported by no other than the British Empire (the events unfold in 1862).

Although the movie is rather long, the events unfold at a pace that keeps the viewer interested at all times. The music fits the mood of the action perfectly well, and in the proper scenes it is so uplifting that it steals the attention of the viewer. Jodie Foster delivers a well-rounded role, but in my opinion the performance of Chow Yun-Fat is at a higher level. Finally, the scenery and the palaces where the movie develops are absolutely amazing.

Overall this is a highly enjoyable movie that will leave you thinking for a while about how every culture has its positive aspects and how, with a little patience, everyone can learn to appreciate this.

Had to watch for a school project...
I thought that this film was very beautiful in content...this film had some real substance to it, and the actors did an excellent job in the portrayal of the characters involved...lovely story.....

Absolutely classic
This is one of my favorite movies ever, it can be compared only to Gone With The Wind. It may be not historically accurate but nor was GWTW and it is still a classic. I love every part of it -- the portrayal of the two different cultures as equals, the love story, the beautiful scenery. I've seen it 4 times in the cinema even though I usually watch a movie twice, when it's in cinema and when it comes out in video.
I don't understand why this film wasn't a great success but I don't mind, at least we won't get three awful sequels and two TV shows based on it.

I also recommend the soundtrack, it is beautiful and suits the story well. ... Read more

Reviews (93)

They say it is better than SatAM.
I first heard about it in GameFan's April '96 issue. Although this anime is cool, I didn't like GameFan's bad comment on the SatAM cartoon.

Robotnik has Sonic and Tails head for Robotropolis to stop the Robot Generator from exploding. The duo, along with Knuckles, save the day, but it was a set-up just to capture Sonic's data for the all-new HyperMetalSonic. And Robuttnik is planning to destroy the Earth of the Sky!

HyperMetalSonic is not "never-before-seen" as the cover dictates. Metal Sonic was directly from the 1993 Sonic CD game. He also appeared in Knuckles Chaotix, Sonic R, and a few issues of the Archie comic books (#25, to be exact, and two upcoming issues). Sonic would definitely have needed 50 Magic Rings and seven Chaos Emeralds, but this film makes no mention to the Rings or Emeralds.

The videogame Sara loses to Robumnik is reminiscent of "Sonic the Fighters", an arcade-style fighting game that never came out on Saturn. Viewers will notice Buttnik's robots fanning the President and washing the windows.

Overall, this is a great movie, and it had Knuckles, whose only other animated appearance was in an episode of the new "Sonic Underground".

A Fun Time for All
Okay, let me start this review by ssaying I'm not an anime fan. Having that said this is a fun, fast and cool movie with great backgrounds and character designs(despite the President) and some decent action sequences. While the movie should be a little longer it still works well. It was great to finally see Knuckles animated even if his, Sonic's and Tails's voices are off. Well Knuckles doesn't bother me but Sonic's did a little and Tails became annoying right after, "Sonic!" his first line in the movie. And then there's the fact that in the movie they call Knux a mole. He's an echidna but thats to be expected of our translators and dubbers. Anyway I own this movie and like to watch it over and over. Plus there's a good scene of innudeo with Robotnik and Sara. AHEM.....anyway it's a good movie.

A Great sonic movie
Sonic. This movie is a definate classic. Sonic and Tails are visited by one of the presidents henchmen and are told to go to the presidents house right away. There they find robotnik who asks sonic to go to robotropolis. Whether or to believe robotnik is another question. This movie is a great one for all sonic fans. It may get alittle confusing with characters that new sonic fans have not seen before. Its got comedy, Action, and even alittle romance. I definatly recommend this movie to all anime fans.

I'll be honest...
...this is a cute movie for children and Sonic-obsessed fans. Parents wouldn't be the type to watch it over and over, but it's a safe film for their children 7 and up. There is violence, so beware. No swearing, no rude hand gestures, just violence that is somewhat mild and disturbing, but safe. Babysitters- this is a good film to get the kids quieted down so you can finish studying for that huge test- it worked for me (to a point). Cute film, but not for everyone.

This movie is awesome!!!!
I have always been a huge fan of Sonic. And when I heard about this movie I couldn't wait to get it. Once I finally had it I was so excited and watched it that night.
When the movie was over one side of me was saying "That was super cool" and the other side was saying "It wasn't really what I expected." First off, the Movie itself is really good, if you watch it a second time you will probably like it better because then you pick up that it is supposed to be a funny and action-packed movie. The voices are pretty cool, But I kinda wish they had Ryan Drummond doing the voice of Sonic(voice actor for sonic games)
All in all, if your a huge fan of Sonic, this one is a keeper ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Bruce Lee's best
This is perhaps the best martial arts (from a basic, pure karate perspective) movie, from the man who had started the whole martial arts revolution on screen and made it a household name. There are probably many martial artists who are, and were better than Bruce Lee, but no one compares to him when it comes to understanding the arts and how to project it on screen. His sense of choreographing fight scenes is still unmatched in the world of cinematic martial arts. This is the one simple reason what makes 'Return of the Dragon' the best of Lee's movies. The climatic battle scene with Chuck Norris remains the best-choreographed karate demonstration on screen, so far. He was perhaps the only true movie martial artist who could take of his shirt and have the male audience want a body like him. Like, 'Enter the Dragon', this movie didn't have a host of big-name martial arts stars like Jim Kelly, Yang Ze, and others. It had a relatively unknown Chuck Norris (to the rest of the world) after his reign as a seven-time US Karate champion, but the movie did make Norris a household name. Return of the Dragon remains Lee at his best, without all the glamor and high budget extravaganza of Enter the Dragon. If you like Bruce Lee, and martial arts, the buck stops here.

One of the all-time great bad guy vs good buy battle scenes.
[Note: The UK DVD version from Hong Kong Legends has (1)The best DVD quality. (2)The best DVD extras. (3)The proper TITLES for Bruce Lee films (The US titles are very muddled around).]

Much of the cast from Fist of Fury (The Chinese Connection US title) are back in this Italian mobster / martial arts flick. The story is quite simply a case of the Italian mob trying to get the daughter of a recently deceased restaurant owner to sell the property over with little success and so they turn to violently disrupting the restaurant's clients and employees. Bruce Lee arrives from Hong Kong to solve the problem which allows for various set pieces involving lots of fist and foot action.

Way of the Dragon (or Return of the Dragon US title) isn't a patch on Fist of Fury (The Chinese Connection US title) in terms of story or Bruce Lee kicking bad guys around the place but it does bolster some fine moments all the same including a very good final showdown with Chuck Norris in which both martial artists flex their wares before going at one on one.

Although Bruce Lee has improved on his technique since the latter films this may disappoint those who where expecting more action than what was in Fist of Fury. The nunchaku scene is certainly less graphic or intense than the one in the Fist of Fury but at least he has two of them this time! There is also a very good scene involving a test bag kick which sends the bag holder flying and an okay kick-about on some wastelands but the end fight between Lee and Norris is really what this movie is about and this is probably the only reason why you should want to watch this. So get this movie to see one of the great Bruce Lee one on one battles, but choose Fist of Fury if you want to see Bruce Lee scrapping virtually non-stop.

Fast hands just as fast feet
This is the first bruce lee movie i ever owned or saw and I was pleasently surprised with it, as a matter of fact it sent me spining into the world of martial arts and kung fu movies. But all the Bruce Lee collection is equally good except Game of Death because he isnt in the whole movie because he died while filming. Bruce is so fast with his feet its no wonder he is amazing on screen i love this movie and the collection and you should check them out. The dubing isnt too bad but not great.

The chuck noris and bruce lee fight is a pretty good end fight sceen too.

The Classic Return of the Dragon with Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee wrote, directed and stars in this masterpiece.. The original title was Way of the Dragon, but after the tremendous success of Enter The Dragon (1973), the title was renamed "Return of the Dragon." Lee is a country boy going to Italy help a family friend whose Chinese restaurant is being bullied by local gangsters.

The movie is nothing short of brilliant and it has several themes to it, and yes I'll explain everyone of them.

Bruce Lee in all his films managed to maintain a family element in his films. He is either fighting alongside family members against crooked politicians or Chinese gangs. In short, he comes to his family's defense when they need him.

Also unlike most Hollywood directors who use people for a film and throw them away, Lee always wanted to include his friends in his films (Chuck Norris, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Nora Miao and others).

The costar of this film, Nora Miao was in The Chinese Connection and Fists of Fury. She is a pretty decent actress in those films.

So Bruce comes in to help his family from these thugs threating their humble establishment and he beats the hell out of them. LOL

I remember the first time as a kid I saw Bruce Lee's movie in the U.S. not only were they good ,but soon after many Asian stars (Jet Li, Chow Yung Fat, Jackie Chan) saw there was a market for martial arts action and gave their best efforts to live up to the same high quality Bruce Lee had in his movies.

On top of that, the whole Martial Arts movement have inspired many people to take self defense karate courses and martial arts training. A kick can do much more damage than a fist sometimes.

Anyhow, soon the head crime boss (Robert Wall who is the godfather of Freddie Prince Jr.) enlist the help of a famous US martial artist named Colt (Chuck Norris) to eliminate Bruce.

The action scenes are incredible. To see Bruce go into his routine and execute his moves to perfection is inspiring.

Especially the fight with Chuck Norris, before fights him he goes into a mind boggling array of stretch exercises that were soon copied by bogus Bruce Lee imitators including Chuck Norris.

Without giving too much away, the film is jam-packed with flying fists, kicks and humor.

In one scene for example, an Italian thug tries to use Bruce Lee's nunchucks against him and ends up hurting himself!!!

The movie is a great buy for any action fan, and if you're a Bruce Lee fan, you should have this in you're collection.

More info about the movie:

On Amazon.com, the movie has gotten great feedback from it's viewers, including Leonard Maltin.

Chuck Norris was a student of Bruce Lee's martial arts school along with James Coburn, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and others.

Raymond Chow produced this film but it was Lee who wrote ,directed and starred in it.

Raymond Chow has executively produced other great martial arts films like "Police Story" by Jackie Chan and the Bruce Lee movies "Fists of Fury" , "Chinese Connection" and "Enter the Dragon."

Lueng Chuan!! --DRAGON FIST---
This in my opinion is the best "movie" that Bruce Lee starred in. Not only did he star in it, but wrote it, and directed it also. This is Bruce's work, and in my opinion his best work. The fighting was great, Bruce's charisma was great, the characters were great, the story, the comedy, the final showdown with Chuck Norris...Everything..!! It is just a great film and showcases how talented Bruce was, not only in martial arts, but as a writer, director, and actor. A definate MUST SEE for all Bruce Lee fans!! ... Read more

Reviews (179)

The best of the "Chucky movies"
"Bride of Chucky" is in my opinion, the best of all the Chucky movies. Although it is not pure horror and suspense, Bride of Chucky still beats out the previous 3 Child's Play movies. The atmosphere is creepy and gothic, and there are a couple of gory death scenes. But the main appeal of this movie is its humor. I loved how Chucky and Tiffany played off each other.

I also thought that the music was perfect for this movie. Instead of using a creepy musical score, they used songs from Rob Zombie and other metal groups.

The features on the dvd were very good. The audio commentary with Jennifer Tilly (Tiffany), Brad Dourif (Chucky), and Don Mancini (the movie's writer) were both informative and funny.

I won't give the ending away, but let's just say that it was unexpected. It was gross and sick...but it was also a perfect ending that will lead to the next Chucky movie.

Jennifer Tilly bumps otherwise average movie up a big notch!
Although I am a horror fan I have never been a fan of the slasher genre and had never planned to see this movie, but I just happened to watch it by accident one night and was very pleasantly suprised.

What places this movie a cut above the usual moronic slasher flick is an OUTSTANDING performance by Jennifer Tilly as Chucky's "bride" Tiffany. I had never seen her in a starring role before, and the whole time she was on the screen I kept asking "Who IS this chick? She's great!!" and couldn't wait to look up her name in the closing credits. -- Definitely not the usual quality of acting you'd expect in this type of B-movie.

After she meets her demise and is transformed into a doll, the film becomes more predictable and gradually descends more to the level of your standard Chucky flick. The late great John Ritter's talents seem wasted here in a pretty cardboard role, and unfortunately the two teen leads are never more than the typical generic "kids in distress".

But director Ronny Yu does seem to have some notion of his film's place within the horror genre, and there's a wonderful and inspired nod to classic horror and "The Bride of Frankenstein" during Tiffany's transformation sequence. Nice little touches like this, and the fact that this movie does not take itself too seriously and often seems more like a parody of the slasher/Chucky genre, made it even more enjoyable for me.

I hear that Jennifer Tilly will also be involved in the sequel currently filming, "Child's Play 5: Seed of Chucky", which should make it interesting. But I actually wish they'd go back and do a PRE-quel to this movie, focusing on living woman Tiffany's life before bringing back Chucky. -- She is one deliciously twisted, mean and sexy momma!

This movie has not made me a Chucky fan, but it definitely has made a new fan of Jennifer Tilly out of me.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a fun, mindless and light movie just to waste a couple of hours on, this one isn't bad.

Stunningly BAD
This movie absolutely puts the rest of the CP series to absolute shame. It's just a slapstick movie with forced laughs and dry humor, and almost no horror. Gone is organization -- they threw in a plot involving an amulent, and Andy could be in hell for all we know. This movie really drops the CP series' quality and honestly, may be the worst movie I've ever seen. The plot is weak. The only plus is good acting, at least by Jesse (Stable) and Jade (Heigl). The movie isn't worth a buy; barely worth a rental.
I do give it credit for not having as many "bloopers" as the first three - editing's been done to the max. But there are a few that I won't mention. Still, the first three had plot holes. This movie technically, unforutnately, has no hole in the plot. It just introduces a new element, which is weak. I think they either could have left the CP then-trilogy alone, or just made something better. But I could see the CP idea getting lame anyway.
Leave it alone...

More funny
I like the Child's Play series and though I personally think the first one is the best, this one is good in its own way. Bride of Chucky has much more humour, a lot killings in more unique ways and an extra doll. If you like the Child's Play series, you will definitely enjoy this one but if you never liked the series, I doubt you will find anything enjoyable about this one.

Hardly a good movie but still a lot of fun to watch
Before Chucky turned killer doll, he had a girlfriend named Tiffany. In this movie Tiffany recovers the body of Chucky from a polive evidence locker. Chucky was pretty much torn to pieces in 3 so she sews him back together and uses the vodoo chant to bring his spirit back to the body. He returns just as evil as ever and horror/comedy takes up the rest of the movie.

This is not a good film. It is a horror movie that is so over the top on ridiculousness that it borders on comedy. I never thought I would see Chucky the killer doll, who I feared so much as a child, in a love scene. Seeing Tiffany the killer doll making cookies for Chucky while they're holding a couple hostage is quite amusing. The domestic dispute that develops between the dolls shortly after this is just hilarious.

This movie isn't for everyone. You'll enjoy this if you were a fan of Jason X, Freddy vs. Jason or the Evil Dead movies. If you have a dark sense of humor you'll probably love this movie. ... Read more

Description

In this final installment, Apu is forced to abandon his education. His future looks bleak until he marries an abandoned bride, beginning a new life as a husband and a father. Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Satyajit Ray. Named 1960’s Best Foreign Film by the National Board of Review. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Satyajit Ray concludes the his beautiful Apu Trilogy
Having lost his sister and his parents in the first two installments of "The Apu Trilogy," I made the mistake of thinking there was no one left for Apurba Roy (Soumitra Chatterjee) to lose, but Satyajit Ray proves in Apur Sansar ("The World of Apu") that such expectations are foolishness. At that start of this 1960 film Apu has left school before graduation, dreams about being a writer, and is three months behind in his rent, which forces him to sell some of his beloved books. Then Pulu (Swapan Mukherjee), an old college friend, convinces Apu to attend a village wedding. When the groom turns out to have gone insane because of the fasting and meditation in preparation for the wedding, Apu's friend suggests he become the groom so that the wedding can continue and the family's honor maintained. At first Apu dismisses the idea out of hand, but then relents because he does not want the young woman to be cursed forever, and gets married to the beautiful Aparna (14-year-old Sharmila Tagore).

The middle of the film shows the happy time when Apu and Aparna get to know each other and fall in love. Two people who were complete strangers become incredibly close as we see a simple romance that rings true in a way few in cinema ever have before or since. However, after all of the suffering and hard times we have endured to this point in the trilogy it is hard to believe that Apu has finally found happiness, and indeed tragedy follows. We are suddenly confronted with the sense that we have come full circle and that once again our hopes in this story have come down to the fate of one small boy.

Even after three films Ray's genius is in using the camera to show character. What is memorable in these films are always the moments, and not the dialogue. It is the look that characters give each other than communicates much more than the words. For those who would complain that they do like to watch foreign film because it involved reading subtitles, these films should not be a problem. Ultimately it is the cinematography of Subrata Mitra and music of Ravi Shankar that are the chief mediums of communication (the only other time I have been struck this much by a similar combination was in "Road to Perdition," where the late cinematographer Conrad L. Hall won his final Oscar and Thomas Newman was nominated).

Although "The World of Apu" can stand on its own, you would be foolish not to go back and start with "Pather Panchali" ("Song of the Road") and "Aparajito" ("The Unvanquished"). Satyajit Ray is one of the greatest directors of the world, whose impact on the film industry in India was monumental, and deservedly so. When you are working out the short list of "foreign" directors with whom you need to become familiar Ray is right there with Akira Kurosawa and Ingmar Bergman.

A true portrait of LIFE
Satyajit Ray is just perfect in this 1959 classic and the last of Apu Trilogy.

Leaving his disturbing past,Apu is now working in Calcutta.He is now alone in the world- no strings attached.He dreams to be a writer,he plays flute in his time off and he thinks he is different from any other young man-Apu lives in his dreams.He never ever wants to "settle down"-he hates that kind of a life.One day his friend Pulu comes in to his den and invited him to his sister's marriage.By some beautiful twist of fate,the groom turns out to be eccentric and Apu lands up marrying the bride(Aparna).They start a new life back in Calcutta.

Ray paints the young and funful lovelife of Apu and Aparna with some eternally beautiful scenes.Camera tells more than spoken words in this part of the movie.Apu assures Aparna on the way back from a movie show that he would dedicate the book he is working upon to Apana.

Now comes the inevitable-Aparna dies in her native place giving birth to their son Kajal.Apu couldnot believe this news--how could this happen to him again and again?He leaves Calcutta forgetting Kajal(to Apu,Kajal's existence would mean Aparna is nowhere now) although the manuscript was with him.

Apu did not want to "settle down"--now his life has been unsettled by fate-the whole world is now meaningless to him.
Now,far away from Calcutta,he roams about here and there, aimlessly,searching for peace of mind.One day in a forest,he seems to have got some meaning of his life and throws all the pages of the manuscript on air that he was still carrying and decides to lead a different life by taking up a job in coal mine.Pulu enters here once again here and Apu has to swallow a lot about his lack of responsibility towards his son.

On the other front,in Aparna's native place,the 6-year-old boy Kajal's world is strikingly different from any other boy's world of his age-while he believes his father is very strong ,very big and stays in Calcutta although he has never seen him-and he does not belive these guys who are telling that his father would never come back.But,one day his father really comes back--just to show up his "responsibilty" and not to take his son back as he's an alien to him. But,seeing Kajal's life has become a hell without a "father's presence" -Apu,perhaps for the first time in his life makes a conscious and mature decision of taking his son back with him.

The ending scene of the movie is a celebration of life--as Apu is seen laughing again and Kajal,on top of his father's shoulder,too is laughing and Kajal's eyes show the lovely dreams which reminds us of child Apu himself.The life goes on instead of ups and downs.

Apu Faces the Realities of Existence and Finds Love
In Pather Panchali and Aparajito we watch Apu grow into manhood all while he seems to be very unaware of the exotic Indian women swirling about him in all their beauty. This contributes to the subtle humor when he finds himself in a situation where he must save a family's honor.

Apu's ancestral family home has been destroyed; he has lost his sister, father and mother and is now living alone next to a noisy railway. As he faces the realities of existence, he spends his time reading, playing a wooden flute and occasionally looking for work. His job prospects are disheartening at best. His optimism is reminiscent of his father's attitude to life and he is also becoming a writer. His beauty and artistic carefree spirit is always in danger of being funneled into a life of quiet desperation.

After reuniting with his childhood friend Pulu (Swapan Mukherjee), Apu attends a wedding in which he ends up having to make decisions that changes the entire course of his life. Aparna (Sharmila Tagore) and Apu fall in love and yet can we hope that Apu has found true happiness? All hopes are soon dashed as the unthinkable occurs.

As Apu dreams of publishing his own novel, his life plays out a story of impending doom. The scene where he lifts a child from a location close to a railroad is a foreshadowing of an event that soon takes place in his own life. Finally life throws him a challenge he is not willing to face. It takes times for Apu to process the tragedy in his life and finally he is overwhelmed by grief.

Although this movie is filled with tragedy, there are moments of humor. Apu's casual defiance when he turns on the lights amused me because I'm always turning on lights and my husband is always turning them off. You will find yourself laughing at various moments throughout the Apu Trilogy.

The World of Apu is best watched after viewing Pather Panchali and Aparajito. After watching all three movies I tried to sleep for a few hours and awoke with words racing through my mind. The Apu Trilogy immerses your mind in a world of contemplation and I could not help thinking that Apu was on some journey towards enlightenment. Through his suffering he learned more than he could have ever learned through a life of leisure. Throughout Apu's life he continues to show an almost undaunted optimism and in the end he exchanges the fantasy for the reality.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

Essential
The DVD release contains no extra features; the print quality is good; the movie is remarkable. Too bad Criterion didn't get the Apu Trilogy, but it is essential for film collectors nonetheless.

a criminal treatment of a classic film
i'm questioning whether they did anything at all but take the existing vhs edition and simply transfer it to dvd. compared to the vhs edition, one can still find the same scratches and grainy picture quality, the same sub-par sound, and the same embarrassingly inaccurate subtitle translations.

regardless of anything and everything, however, one should walk the desert and cross the seven seas to see this movie. 'the world of apu' is a complex study of the artist, the role of economic conditions on the artist's life, and a commentary on india's traditional marriage system. and yet, with all these topical distinctions, the movie rarely fails to do anything but touch the heart - in light or in break - in the most primitive and simple way possible.

to put things into perspective, this movie encapsulates the most beloved director, actor, actress, and musician of the bengali speaking world in 1959. and in 2003, it is one of the most beloved movies of anyone and in anywhere in the world.

'the world of apu' is not only my personal favorite of the apu trilogy, but along with the stars, the moon, and the air that i breathe - it is one of my favorite things in the world.

criterion, are you out there? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Despite a typically haphazard plot, Highlander: Endgame is a marked improvement over previous sequels. This is the "torch-passing" chapter, in which the Immortal Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) passes his life force to his heroic brother, Duncan (Adrian Paul, star of the 1993-96 Highlander TV series). These appealing stars make a fine onscreen duo, and Paul is a terrific choice to keep the franchise alive--strikingly handsome but possessing enough gravitas to make the prospect of future sequels unexpectedly promising. The movie is incoherent to the uninitiated, but established fans will be reasonably impressed by Endgame's cagey mix of romance, swordplay, and history-spanning action. While the movie's chaotic construction is regrettable, the frequent battles (including dazzling work by Honk Kong action star Donnie Yen) are adequately impressive, and Douglas Milsome--cinematographer of Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket--ensures that every scene is strikingly photographed. All in all, Highlander: Endgame is surprisingly worthwhile. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (218)

As good as the 1st if not better
I had missed the chance to see the movie in the theatres so I spent half a year waiting for it to come out on DVD. As soon as it did, I went out and bought it. I had been watching the series for a while a few years ago up until cancellation, and now it plays re-runs on Sci-Fi Channel, and I try not to miss those. The series was always awesome and brought back the better feel of how and why the immortals were on Earth, not the alien BS that the second one brought about and the vague and pointless reasons a third movie was made...but End Game just basically brought Highlander back into "The Game" so to speak as far as a genre goes. You shouldn't have to watch the 2nd or 3rd movies to have to understand End Game, but the first movie is helpful...and some knowledge from the series as well. A must-have film for any sci-fi action fan and definitly for any Highlander fan. There can be only one...and this is it.

Highlander fans hate it, too; wonder what that says.
The Highlander series has always been catered to the fans, but even to them, this is as confusing as movies get. I'm hardly a follower of the series, but I have seen the movies (been a while since parts 2 and 3, memories of which don't serve me well at all) but I get the feeling watch those two wouldn't have made this any more comprehensible. As a matter of fact, doesn't each movie negate the one that came before it?

So what we have here is a tale of two immortals, Connor and Duncan MacLeod (Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul), who apparently are out to stop an even more powerful and evil immortal (Bruce Payne) who holds a grudge against Connor. That's the basic premise, but getting into details would only be confusing, to me and whoever's reading this.

There are a LOT of subplots at work here, individual scenes that don't really seem to mesh with the main story, and if they do, they're never concluded satisfactorily. Example? How about when Connor is kept locked in a room with an iron mask covering his eyes; how exactly did he end up there and how did he even escape? What about those people who keep track of the immortal kills; who are they, how do they do it, and considering there are tons of rules these immortals have to follow in combat, how come these people never enforce the rules? For that matter, considering the evil Kell (the film's villain) isn't even following these rules, why shouldn't Connor and Duncan team up to take him down?

Those are only a few of the movie's numerous head-scratchers, suffice to say if this is the first and only Highlander movie you've seen, don't worry, I'm as every bit as confused as you are. The series never follows a singular mythology, which simply means if you watch the first film, each of the individual sequels plays as a follow-up to that film, and certainly not the one that came before it (i.e. part 2 sort of follows part 1, part 3 negates part 2 and follows part 1, part 4 negates part 3 and follows up to part 1).

But even that rule isn't completely sound. Even Highlander: The Quickening chose to negate much of what occurred in the first film, done in such blatant manners that you can't help but slap your forehead when you witness what a true mess this series became. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about; Connor and Ramirez are really from another planet called Zeist and they've known each other from then (which makes their "first" meeting in Scotland in the original film a headscratcher). I haven't even gotten to the fact that all these immortals are fighting to return to Zeist, even though they were banished there for being rebels (doesn't this mean they should all, I dunno, work together?) According to the Renegade version, immortals are from the past, which is still almost as mucked up.

But I digress, the point here is to review Endgame, and for what it is, it might please Highlander fans, if they prefer Paul to Lambert, as the former is the true star of the picture, and is highlighted in most of the action sequences. The action itself is relatively decent, the climactic swordfight could have been better filmed, but it's not like I was expecting a lot from the action in this movie in the first place.

When it comes to the series, I'm a casual open-minded viewer and what keeps me coming to each sequel is the hope that finally, someone will capitalize with the grand ideas at work. Instead, this quartet is mostly viewed as an embarrassment to sci-fi/fantasy/action filmmaking, an insult to lucid storytelling, and a spit in the face to those who enjoyed the first movie. I didn't absolutely hate Endgame, it's had enough watchable moments to keep my attention, but it's definitely a bad movie, and doesn't have the awe-inspiring kitsch value of The Quickening.

I have one more thing to complain about and that's the amount of effort put into marketing this picture. Obviously, Dimension films wanted to milk the series for all it was worth, but they actually gave us trailers that featured cool scenes that were never even meant to be in the film. Alternately, when we have a great sci-fi action film like Equilibrium left to die at the box office, I'm only further upset at what Dimension believes is or isn't worth marketing.
[one half out of five stars].

A perfect end to the Highlander saga
Now, I've read all the negative reviews and such, and I must say that if you are just looking for a good movie where you don't have to think much just enjoy or are looking forward to a good end to the Highlander Series, then this is a terrific movie. I am a fan of the first and third movies and the series, and as all Highlander fans know there are 3 seperate Highlander universes; Movie universe, Series universe, and Highlander 2 universe. The latter is total crap, but in the movie universe Connor MacLeod is the One, end of story. This latest installment takes place in the Series universe, of which Duncan is main man. Not only do the fight scenes kick a## but the story is interesting and the acting by Lambert and Paul is superb. They work so well together and really bring the relationship between the two MacLeods to life. Especially when the two Highlanders must come to there last resort against Jacob Kell. The movie universe ended years ago with Connor MacLeod winning the Prize. However, the series universe has continued and now is at its end, and it is a great ending for the series continuity. True, non-fans will be lost, but why would they wanna see it anyway? Forget all the stuff about it not being coherent or plot-less, bottom line is that its an entertaining movie and as perfect an ending to the series as I could think of. A great flick.

Worst Movie EVER
This movie is terrible. They completely ruin the character of Connor MacLeod. The villain is a total wimp who Connor or Duncan could've squashed like a bug. Nobody would be scared of that pencil neck!!! The story is choppy, the timeline is totally inconsistent, and the main characters act completely out of character. The makers of this film almost go out of they're way to be completely inconsistent with everything about this franchise. To be honest, the only thing they got right was the first movie. Part two was a joke, Final Dimension is above average, the TV series is very good but not plausible because CONNOR MACLEOD WON THE PRIZE AT THE END OF THE FIRST FILM!!!! Now there are thousands of immortals running around!
Really, this film is just like a long episode of the tv series only its not that good. This movie had so much potential but Davis and Panzer blew it. Once again the Highlander fans have not been taken serious. Once again the studios completely butchered what could've been a very good film.

Character Assassination
Reviewer: Lisa from Las Vegas, NV United States
I never watched the original movie or Highlander 2 or 3, but HELLO?!!! What were Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul thinking in consenting to work on this movie? I'll take other reviewers' word on the butchering of Connor MacLeod's character, but I can attest to the butchering of Duncan's. Duncan MacLeod killing his wife? The boy raised to be clan chieftain, raised to protect those in his care, killed his wife? Duncan MacLeod married? Even though "Darkness" (season 2) specifically stated he never married and never would? Duncan asked Tessa (his lover of 13 years) to marry him in that same episode. Darn, if she hadn't died we could have added bigamist to his resume. How about "In the end there will be only one", yet Duncan and his immortal wife walk off at the end of the movie. So, is he going to kill her or allow her to kill him? I seem to remember other problems, but I have been trying to block this horrible movie from my memory and refuse to watch it ever again. I gave it one star because there wasn't any lesser option. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The tremendous charisma of Chow Yun-fat anchors this entertaining comic-book romp. Bulletproof Monk centers around a monk with no name (Chow) dedicated to protecting a sacred scroll that can give world-manipulating power to anyone who reads it. A hidden Nazi has been pursuing the scroll for 60 years and has finally caught up with the monk in present-day New York City; meanwhile, the monk suspects he may have found a disciple in a petty thief (Seann William Scott, Dude, Where's My Car?, American Pie) who's learned kung fu from watching double-feature chopsocky flicks. Don't let the presence of Chow Yun-fat lead you to expect much substance--this doesn't have the emotional scope of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or the visual panache of Hard-Boiled. But Bulletproof Monk is a cheerful, tightly edited, unpretentious action flick with flashes of humor, good for a mindless evening's entertainment. Also featuring Jaime (a.k.a. James) King (Blow). --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (64)

"It's not about anger; It's about peace."
Ever wonder why hot dogs come in packages of ten, while hot dog buns come in packages of eight? Well, obviously that's a question that has plaqued us all for eons, but BULLETPROOF MONK may have found the answer.

60 years ago in Tibet, The Monk with no name (Chow Yun-fat), a mighty martial arts warrior, has been entrusted with the Scroll of the Ultimate, which has some kind of incantation written on it. If anyone were to read it aloud in it's entireity, they would gain ulimited power. Obviously, not everyone would use this power for good, like the evil Strucker (Karel Roden), who wants it to rule the world. He's been chasing the Monk every since he obtained the right to protect the scroll.

Now, in present day New York City, Strucker is still chasing the Monk, who must soon find a replacement protector for the scroll, since one person can only guard it for 60 years at once (One of the perks to guard the scroll is that for that 60 year period, you don't age one day.)

And the Monk may just have found the right man for the job. Kar (Seann William Scott) is a poor pickpocket with impressive martial arts skills, which he has gotten from imitating kung fu movies at the theatre (aptly named the Golden Palace) where he is the projectionist. Kar, it seems, keeps on fulfilling prophecies that the next protector of the scroll must. All the Monk has to do now is teach Kar how to use his skills for good, and that if you truly believe that the laws of gravity don't exist, then they don't.

BULLETPROOF MONK is one of those movies based on a comic book that nobody has ever heard of (along with TIMECOP, MEN IN BLACK, THE MASK.) But loaded with more (...)to satisfy any martial arts buff, it is simply not a movie you should allow yourself to not see. You can count on it.

Mystical Elements Lift Film
I've enjoyed "Bulletproof Monk." The mystical elements lift the film a cut above the action picture genre, of which this is not a great example. However, the scroll, which contains a secret message that could be used for good or bad and gives special powers including youth to its protector, is an interesting premise. Obviously, day-to-day embrace of spiritual values of truth, beauty & goodness would not be enough to entice Hollywood production; so this little Hollywood placebo is great where being spiritual transforms one into being able to spin around and jump up to a second story window. Paul Hunter keeps the pace jumping, despite the film's inconsistencies. Chow Yun-Fat is a great actor who has yet to be fully appreciated. I've watched "Corrupter" 5 times just to see the edgy depth he brings to a part. Here as the nameless monk he offers considerable depth, humor and sparkle to what is fairly flat material. Seann William Scott from "American Pie" is amazingly likeable for a pickpocket; and carries his weight as the romantic lead. James "Jamie" King from "Blow," "Pearl Harbor," "Slackers," and numerous magazine covers does a great job as Bad Girl Jade who lives a split life between wealth and the street, although one is never quite sure why. Karel Rodel as Strucker the Nazi is fairly flat and predictably evil. Victoria Smurfit as his granddaughter Nina is irritatingly evil with a one-note role. Mako makes a nice cameo as Mr. Kojima. It's been a long time since he was nominated for an Oscar in "Sand Pebbles" with Steve MacQueen back in 1966; and it's good to see him again. The special features on the DVD include a discussion with the comic book writers who are delighted that this is a film and a documentary about training Seann & Jamie as action heroes. This is one of those films I enjoy because good wins in the end. The action keeps the film moving quickly and breezes to a quick climax. While not classic, it's one to enjoy.

the best martial arts movie ever!
a monk must travel to america and pass on the title to a new guy.it really depends on your kid as to wether or not theyll be able to hsndle this one.its action packed full of physics defying stunts similar to the matrix.theres this one semi-hottie that follows around tne dork who runs with the monk.that dork plays another dork in the rundown.this movie wont get the credit it deserves.the bad guy is a nazi.i think it is childish how every time a director cant think of a bad guy he just makes him a racist.this whole racism is ok as long as its directed at white people thing has got to go.

LOVE IT!
I love this movie so much! I rented it first to see if I would enjoy it before I paid 20 bucks for it on dvd..and I wish I had just went out and got it insted of renting it! I did not enjoy the matrix one bit! and the only think that keep me from this movie was its matrix look..however I really loved Crouching tiger hidden dragon..and Iron monkey..so I just had a good fealing about this movie, its story is not soo deep or should I say as "stuped" as the matrix.. but knowing some people they will think this movie looks stuped and never give it a chance..Rent this movie and I bet you will be on amazon buying this dvd the next day. so for fans of Iron monkey,Crouching tiger hidden dragon,Matrix or just good old action movie fans this movie is worth the money..but one thing I dont like on the dvd is that this movie is in widescreen ONLY..I hate that so I got the VHS verson also because its full screen.so Rent the VHS and buy the dvd and enjoy!

Got it for free, and felt I had spent too much.
I got this movie for free in a buy two get one free type of deal (couldn't find a third I really wanted, so took a shot with this).
First off, the dialogue is so bad it is almost painful to listen too. Granted, I expected as much and, for the most part, got the movie because I heard it had good action scenes. Wrong. The action scenes were mediocre at best, and they seemed few and far between as well. (I don't know why they picture Monk with guns on the cover anyway. He uses them once and spends the majority of his time running away rather than fighting.)

To sum up, I'm quite frankly embarassed to have this movie in my possession. Maybe I'll donate to the local library so other people curious about this trash may only have to waste their time and not their money as well. ... Read more

Description

Based on the popular comic book series by Ma Wing Shung (whosework "Wind and Cloud" was also the inspiration for the box-office megahit "The StormRiders"), "A Man Called Hero" stars pop idol Ekin Cheng as Hero, a martial arts masterwhose family possesses the mighty Red Sword. When his family is slaughtered, Heroflees with the sought-after sword to the United States, where he attempts to rebuild hislife and take revenge. Filled with breathtaking, fights, dazzling visual effects, and thenow-famous epic battle on the top of the Statue of Liberty. "A Man Called Hero" is acinematic triumph in special effects film making. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

An Average Hero
Let me start out by saying that "The Storm Riders" is, in my humble opinion, one of the best movies to come out of Hong Kong over the last few years. That said there is no way "A Man Called Hero" could compare to "The Storm Riders". This movie lacks the style and drama of "The Storm Riders". If one takes away Ekin Cheng's strong performance and the special effects, there really is not much left to this movie. Overall I enjoyed the movie, however as an action movie I expected more action. There are just to many long periods between the action peices. The special effects were great (I wish the movie included more), however the martial arts action is not up to the usual Hong Kong standard that I am used to. As far as the storyline goes I will not nitpick it. There are quite a few holes in the story and some unresolved issues. Several of the actors including Shu Qi, Yuen Biao and Ken Lo and good in thier respective roles, however they are not given enough to do. The dubbing was halfway decent, however I really prefer to watch these movies in the original Chinese with subtitles. The dubs are generally goofy and something is lost in the translation. Overall this was a decent movie, however it does not compare to the great movies from the heyday of the late 80' to early 90's of Hong Kong cinema. I would definately recommend this movie, however it is not the best movie from this genre.

Heroic effort...
Following the success of Storm Riders, Andrew Lau and his crew return in the visually stunning but choppy A MAN CALLED HERO. It was made in half the time Storm Riders took - and it becomes painfully obvious when you try to understand what's going on.

Don't get me wrong, I loved the movie, but hell... It tried to do way too many things at once. There's a great deal of characters, subplots, and confusing flashbacks (the editing could've used work). The first half of the movie is also quite slow. But dammit, forget the story and watch the actors and special effects.

Ekin Ching does a good job of protraying Hero and Bad guy Francis Ng is excellent as usual (he's such a badass). The surprising role was in Shu Qi - who is usually protrayed as a ditzy, young, immature, and spunky girl (Storm Riders and Gorgeous). Here, she plays a serious and quiet (!) Japanese Ninja who becomes emotionally involved with Hero (although the movie never develops this point... in fact, the movie never really develops anything at all). Overall the movie has an impressive cast - although it's kinda funny to watch the Japanese roles given to Chinese actors. Yuen Biao is also present with a very small part.

Special effects are excellent, although I'm not sure how to compare it with Storm Riders. The climatic fight has a little bit of corniness and is sped up to the point of being unrealistic. When Francis Ng calls Ekin Ching and his voice zooms through the entire city of New York, I tripped out. Never in my life have I seen such a concept on film. Other great moments belong to the sword fight in the rain and the run in with Hero and the Japanese Ninjas (although the outfits were silly).

In the end I was wondering what the hell I just watch and tried to make sense of the story... After a while I realized that it didn't matter - it was fun to watch and I was very satisfied with the effort put into this production. I'll be waiting for the sequel - for now, this Special Cut DVD was worth the money.

Just "Good" samurai flick
I think it's all been said before. The fight scenes are hot but the story is slow. I maybe wrong, but you kind of tell that New York China Town isn't NYC and it might be a movie set, kind of like all outside scenes on Seinfeld. But, nonetheless, if you need to crave your sweettooth for another samurai movie, watch it.
Rent-Yes
Buy-Maybe

CG + Love
Entirely dependent on computer graphics (CG) as the lead Ekin Cheng lacks Martial Arts skill. It really is nothing more than a love story, with some Street Fighter II characters thrown in.

The movie leaves you guessing as to how Ekin got his powers. However, you may have been inclined to focus solely on Hsiu Chi.

A Film Called Exceptional
While I've been a longtime fan of the Woo-influenced Hong Kong action pics and I've been any even longertime (is there such a word?) fan samurai films, I've had a dubious love/hate affair with the more traditional 'martial arts' films where would-be superheroes dance on air whilst wiggling and waggling their magical swords to dice and slice the villains. I've loved CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, and I've meddled with THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR. I don't know. Something about traditional martial arts films have seemed to extremist entertainment to me ... but then along comes A MAN CALLED HERO and I find myself in a curious predicament: I'm hooked.

I won't go into a massive rehash of the plot b/c the film does suffer a bit from some of the hallmarks of Hong Kong cinema: there's far too much story to be told in two hours, but, somehow, it all manages to fit together. There are a few plot points (Sword Hua's search for his sister, Hero's love-hate relationship with the Elements, Shadow's real intentions, etc.) that don't get enough screen time -- surprisingly -- but sacrifices were made, and what's left for the story is more than enough to chew.

This film is dazzling to watch, and I think it so for a variety of reasons. It takes the traditional martial arts formula of the mystical hero, and it turns the film upside down to avoid going overboard in every way possible. Also, it strives to be much more of a contemporary 'period piece' -- set in what one could guess is America, circa 1920/1930 (I honestly don't remember that a date was mentioned) ... a creative choice that does give the principal characters far more of a 'superhero' feel and less of battling martial artists. That and EVERYTHING THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE WRITTEN ABOUT THE FILM'S CLIMAX ON THE STATUE OF LIBERTY MUST BE BELIEVED! While there are a few parts of the Statue's final battle that are hard to swallow, it's easy to look the other way and just be dazzled in the way many other blockbuster films have tried to do.

A MAN CALLED HERO (not to be confused with Jet Li's HERO) is a remarkable find, and it's a remarkable piece of work from a man called Andrew Lau.

This is a definite owner. While parts of it are more guilty pleasure than anything else, A MAN CALLED HERO is wonderfully entertaining and even manages to tug on a few heartstrings along the way. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

One of the best Martial Art Movies ever
This MA Flick does it all Gordon Liu and the Lotus Chief put on a great display of fights. Also their is a lot of humor in it. I would recommend this to all Kung fu fans all over.
Halla Back
BDB #14

Oh My Yes!
Gordon Liu is awesome in this great old school kung-fu flick. This movie is a real treat for pure kung-fu fans as it is one of the only movies I have seen depicting the tiger/crane style. Also, has a very interesting depiction of a soft style combined with the tiger/crane style.

Overall the movie is extremely entertaining and has some great fight scenes and some very interesting and unique training scenes. Pick this one up. It's an important assett to your kung-fu collection.

Great Martial Thespian Performance!
I trembled inside as handsome Gordon Liu powerfully re-created the persona of the White Lotus leader Bai Mei with his vehemently butch execution of every deadly dim mak strike. I felt all tingly inside as Gordon faithfully performed the training and fighting forms of Chueng Lai Chun's Bak Mei Pai kung fu system which actually was created by White Lotus leader Bai Mei, and passed down from generation to generation to the current day. I give this cinematographic production five luscious stars! All kung fu fans will enjoy this one!

Weightless White Lotus!!
If you really want to enjoy this film, you should try to see the prequel "Executioners from Shaolin". In this film we see Lo Lieh again reprising the role of Bai Mei the white lotus chief. He defies the laws of gravity by applying weightlessness to his style, which makes it practically impossible for anyone to beat him. He spins with the speed of light which totally bamboozles his opponents. After a series of severe walloping, Gordon Liu manages to defeat him using acupuncture to find his weak spot. The fights which are mostly between Liu and the white lotus are quite good. There is a lot of humor as well... Liu trying to break the white lotus with a ballet dance style tactic. This is good for old school martial arts fans.

OLD SCHOOL MARTIAL ARTS FLICK
Fist Of The White Lotus shows why these Kung Fu films of
the late 70s and early 80s are top n