Description

Recruited by an intelligence agency, outstanding martial arts student Bruce Lee participates in a brutal karate tournament hosted by the evil Han.Along with champions Roper and Williams, he uncovers Han's white slavery and drug trafficking ring located on a secret island fortress.In the exciting climax, hundreds of freed prisoners fight in an epic battle with Lee and Han locked in a deadly duel. ... Read more

Reviews (127)

Bruce Lee at His Incomparable Best
Considered by some critics to be the definitive martial-arts film, Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon" (1973) is comic-book escapism on a grand scale. Robert Clouse received credit as director, but there's no doubt that Lee handled the terrific action sequences. The fights are almost nonstop as Lee performs impossible feats with lightning-fast, effortless precision. Though unoriginal in terms of scripting, "Enter the Dragon" represents Lee's finest 90 minutes on screen while featuring some of the best martial-arts choreography captured on film. It remains a spectacular swan song to his brief career. (For the Warner Home Video "special edition," two scenes were restored that provide insight into Lee's character and his motivation for tracking down the villainous Han. Despite good intentions, the additional scenes are ruined by horrendous dubbing. Hopefully, Warner will reissue "Enter the Dragon" in its original version.)

Enter The Dragon All Time Classic!
Enter the Dragon (ETD) was the last completed film of legendary martial arts expert Bruce Lee. It was Lee's dream to achieve international success and it is of extreme irony that he did not live to see all his dreams fulfilled. At least he left behind his legacy which includes ETD. Lee (character has the same name) is sent on a mission by a British organization of "information gathers" to infiltrate Han's (Shih Kien)island at an international tournament that is held every three years. Lee shares screen time with Williams (Jim Kelly middleweight karate champion) and Roper (John Saxon). The film was the first U.S.-Hong Kong co-production and was intended to introduce Lee to an international market.

While the film borrows heavily from Dr. No of the James Bond series it is Lee that separates this film from the mundane. Lee's screen presence is undeniable only surpassed by his phenomenal ability as a martial artist. His battle with the guards in the under ground dungeon is "extraordinary" as Han so aptly observes. Lee's mega watt glare is also a site to behold particularly when he stares down an unsuspecting henchman who dare's to question why Lee is not in the provided uniform. ETD is directed by Bob Clouse who actually does a good job freeing up the surroundings so that Lee has plenty of room to strut his stuff. All of the fight sequences were staged and expertly executed under the direction of Lee. A testament to this is that 30 years after it's initial release ETD can still hold it's own next to the more special effects driven features like "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" or "Kiss of the Dragon."

In the climatic scene of ETD Lee exacts revenge on Han in spectacular fashion. I recommend this DVD without reservation it is simply a true classic in every sense of the word!

ULTIMATE KUNG FU CLASSIC
ENTER THE DRAGON Two-Disc Special Edition (Warner) is not only the best Bruce Lee movie but the best Kung Fu film (sorry, Quentin). It's been 30 years since Lee's untimely death andfor me, he's still the ultimate martial arts action guy in the movies.

This double disc has several compelling documentaries that examine Lee's life and skills. A special treat is previously unseen footage of Lee in action.

Disc Two includes John Little's feature length biography Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey with a meticulous reconstruction of Lee's intended cut of The Game of Death.

The Best of Bruce Lee
Enter the Dragon, as any fan will tell you, is the definitive Bruce Lee film. It rightly deserves 5 stars both on its own merits and its influence on subsequent films. The audio and video quality have never been better. This deluxe 2-DVD set serves not just as a tribute to the film, but also to Bruce Lee's entire career. It includes documentaries on his life, as well as a reconstruction of several key scenes in Game of Death - the intended follow-up to Enter the Dragon. This is the DVD that Bruce Lee fans deserve, and newer fans will have no idea how spoiled they will be by the wealth of goodies Warners included in this set.

Exit the Dragon
So here it is... more than 30 years since the original theatrical release of Enter the Dragon, Warner Brothers releases the definitive 2 DVD Special Edition. It's a fine offering, long overdue, and considering the reasonable price, really offers a lot of nice extras, though most of them have been available elsewhere and have therefore been seen before (at least by rabid fans like me).

To start with, there is of course the movie Enter the Dragon (ETD) - Bruce Lee's magnum opus that was not released until after his unfortunate death in 1973, but sealed his immortality. The plot is simple enough - Bruce is a modern day Shaolin monk who is somehow enlisted by the British/Hong Kong government to infiltrate the island of Dr. Han (Shieh Kien), a crusty old renegade Shaolin gone bad who holds a yearly martial arts tournament to recruit talent for an international opium and prostitution racket. Roper (John Saxon), or "Loper" as Bruce says his name, is the established Hollywood caucasian star brought in because of reservations about Bruce's ability to carry the film, while Williams (Jim Kelly) is the token blaxploitation character who, this being the 70's, is kind of a Shaft/Superfly ass-kicker and, in the spirit of horror movies, is the first to die at the hand of Han - actually, at his artificial, interchangeable, iron, and oftentimes bladed hand. Even Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, as young Hong Kong stuntment before they became stars in their own right, make infamous appearances as guys on the receiving end of Bruce's wrath. But the real point, or value, of this movie is that Bruce Lee shines throughout with his incredible fight sequences - he once again casts Bob Wall as whipping boy, hitting him with lightning fast punches, an insane skip side kick, and a great groin shot that still makes me wince despite hundreds of viewings; he has some fantastic weapons sequences with staff, double escrima sticks, and nunchaku; and he more than lives up to his reputation as the "man with three legs" as he demolishes armies of scrawny Asian guys whose gung fu is pitiful in comparison (check out the guy laughing in the background as Bruce connects three successive roundhouse kicks to one sap's head in the final mob fight). This was totally innovative and amazing in 1973 as the first ever martial arts movie made in Hollywood and despite all the subsequent copycats and modern day wire-fu flicks, no one has ever matched Bruce's intensity, charisma, and moves. There are some classic dramatic sequences as well with Bruce speaking English in his own voice (unlike all of his Hong Kong movies whose English versions are horribly dubbed), such as Bruce teaching a student and rapping him on the head as he expounds some homespun Zen philosophy or Bruce poignantly asking "why doesn't someone just pull a .45 and settle it?" Incidentally, this is the uncut version of the movie with some extra scenes not included in the theatrical release - basically Bruce talking quasi-philosophy (well, actually, it's someone else dubbing in Bruce's voice) with his Shaolin elder that he later recalls in the final fight sequence.

Of course, few people who buy this DVD don't know all this already, so what's new? Well, there is a commentary track by producers Paul Heller and Fred Weintraub - there's some interesting tidbits, but overall it's disappointingly uninspired. Then there's "Blood and Steel: The Making of Enter the Dragon" - a newly produced documentary short that includes some rare and new footage - a clip from Bruce's Hong Kong TV appearance in which he breaks 4 dangling boards; an interview with John Saxon, Lalo Schifrin, and the kid who gets smacked on the head by Bruce in the movie (now apparently a well-known Hong Kong director); and several minutes of on-location footage shot with Ahna Capri's handheld Super 8 camera that has never been seen before (it's short of amazing, but it's new and therefore gold to diehard fans). On disc 1 there's also a soporific Linda Lee (Cadwell) interview, another "making of" featurette with on-location footage shot by the AD, John Little's short "In His Own Words" featuring most of the Pierre Burton interview, and some old black and white movies (with sound) of Bruce kicking his buddies and hitting his heavy bag in his Los Angeles backyard - though these have all been previously available in one place or another (including the 25th Anniversary ETD DVD).

Disc 2 includes all of the TV and theatrical trailers for the movie (somewhat repetitive) and two previously released Warner Brothers documentaries - Warrior's Journey, which captures and knits together the lost Game of Death footage (GOD) in its available entirety, and Curse of the Dragon, a George Takei (Sulu of Star Trek fame) narrated documentary released around the time of Brandon Lee's death. These are both decent films, with Warrior's Journey a real gem with the GOD footage - the definitive way to watch Bruce in widescreen duel nunchakus with Dan Inosanto and try to deconstruct Kareem Abdul Jabbar's fighting style while sporting the iconic yellow and black tracksuit revived by Uma Thurman in Kill Bill Vol 1. Curse of the Dragon is interview heavy (Kareem, Taky Kimura, Paul Heller, James Coburn, etc.) but also includes clips from Bruce's childhood movies, his Green Hornet screen test, his appearance at Ed Parker's Long Beach Karate touurnament, and some backyard work-out footage with Coburn. But once again, these films have already been released before on their own, so while decent, they're less than revelatory.

And so, what we have here is by far the best available version of ETD that now exists and probably ever will, complete with a lot of nice extras, most of which have been available elsewhere. It's nice to have it all in one package (there's no apparent need to sell Warrior's Journey as a standalone product anymore) at a reasonable price. On the other hand, Lee worshippers will no doubt wish that there was more - why not include the complete Green Hornet screen test, or a Jim Kelly or Jackie Chan interview or commentary track, the complete James Coburn training session footage, all of the Ahna Capri film, more ETD outtakes, or maybe even "Kentucky Fried Movie," a parody of ETD released many years ago... but what can you do - Bruce died 31 years ago and this is the legacy he left behind. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The lush, super-chic ambience of Tran Anh Hung's third feature, The Vertical Ray of the Sun, presents a beckoning, irresistible vision of Vietnam. The film opens with a sexy brother and sister waking up to the sound of Lou Reed's laconic voice on the stereo. They stretch, practice tai chi, meander toward a late breakfast, and playfully flirt with each other. This morning ritual--slightly disturbing but mostly alluring--recurs as a quietly resistant motif to the disappointment that awaits each character introduced. Shot on location in an impossibly hued Hanoi (lime green and chartreuse abound), the film trails after three beautiful sisters during the month that separates the anniversaries of the deaths of their mother and father. Attempting to protect the ideal memory of their parents' recently assailed love, the sisters recount kindnesses and joke with each other just as the serene charm of the café they run is to be overturned by an unexpected pregnancy and marital infidelities. Tran's lustrous style of collage is unique, pulling the viewer's attention away from imminent conflict and revelation to completely tactile and isolated moments. As with the titular subject of Velvet Underground's "Pale Blue Eyes," the sensual tension lingers on. --Fionn Meade ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Never has trauma seemed so exquisite.
The plot of 'The Vertical Ray of the Sun' is similar to Edward Yang's last masterpiece 'Yi-Yi (A one and a two)' - the set-piece of a family reunion, with all its connotations of union, connection and continuity, followed by an inexorable unravelling, as marriages are shown to be fragile, women sexually unsatisfied, men spiritually empty, roads not taken rearing into view, self-identity shattered.

The treatment, however, couldn't be more different. Yang's austere long-shot long-takes are replaced by a meticulous sensuality - you can feel the summer, the langorous sun, the heavy rains; the ritualistic preparation of, to this viewer, exotic food, of dressing up, or simply washing; the lush vegetation and muddy Vietnamese streets; the play of light, especially reflecting water on solid surfaces, suggesting their instability, the fluidity of certainties; but also the spiritual hidden in the everyday.

The emphasis on see-through materials, like raincoats or mosquito nets, give a foetal resonance to a family drama encompassing death and birth, adultery and virginity, the secrets of the past and the uncertainties of the future, all the time celebrating a transcendent present tense.

Although a brilliantly acted, humanistic drama, concerned with real people, and genuine joys, comforts and crises, the film's mise-en-scene is so formally exquisite, the actors often seem to be simply a beautiful part of the decor (especially Tran Nu Yen Khe as Lien and Chu Hung as Quoc), evocative shapes and movements made abstract by the dreamy rhythms of the camera.

Secrets, upsets and family ties set in modern Vietnam
This 2000 Vietnamese film portrays a Vietnam that is unique to Westerners. It is a Vietnam without war or poverty.

Set in modern Hanoi, in the midst of a hot lazy summer, we meet three adult sisters and are immediately drawn to each of their particular romantic melodramas. The film moves at a slow, languid pace. And the story unfolds quietly, in layers.

It's a simple story. There's love, adultery, family ties. There are secrets and upsets and pregnancies. And sometimes it is quite boring, as the concerns of the individuals do not carry high dramatic potential. And yet, it's nice to relax, let myself be steeped in the Vietnamese culture, and feel the very real but subtle emotions of the complex, interwoven relationships.

The parents of these three sisters have recently died and the youngest sister lives with her twin brother in a very lovely apartment where the young woman displays incestuous feelings for her brother. The second sister is married to a man who researches plants and spends long weeks away from her. The third sister is married to a writer who also travels. There are infidelities and secrets and sometimes it all gets confusing. But the mood is one of romance coupled with the lushness of the countryside.

I found the film a little too slow for my taste. I was waiting for something outwardly exciting to happen. But the story stayed squarely inside the psyches of the characters and because it was so well done, I cannot help but recommend it.

Vertical ray of sheer beauty
After the cold and sharp as knife, but explosive cyclo, the philosopher director returns with vertical ray of the sun.This time like the scent of green papaya, he uses a more laid back story with intense emotions. Film is mainly set in Hanoi the capital city, and tells the story of 3 sisters and their loved ones. Strange family relationships, marriages with hidden problems and secret lovers are issue of the film. This time director uses lots of dialogue to build up the stories unlike his last 2 movies. Thus we can zoom in to the characters deep thoughts without much effort. All these are made with minimal, simple, non pretentious but always brilliant ideas,making easy to understand the lives of the characters.He also uses the philosophic elements more economically this time unlike cyclo.
An interesting point is sex is always there , hiding but never shown directly to the viewer by the director . Vietnam is still one of those countries where issues like sex is taboo and traditional way of life is well preserved. Director chooses to show the things as they are in the country and tries to give the feeling that is shared by his characters.But interestingly, portrayal of flirtious acts of the sister and her brother in morning scenes are indeed set to confuse the viewer as showing how mixed emotions can be.
Most of the actors and actresses are from the last 2 Hung films so we are familiar with their capabilities.When it comes to cinephotography, Tran Anh Hung's films are very hard to beat. In door and out door scenes, lovely colours and well established shots are again the name of the game. Music choices are excellent and fits like a glove especially in morning scenes.
This movie may not be as beautiful as the scent or as explosive as cyclo. But Hung does his best to tell his not too strange story by not falling in to the trap of being boring.
In sum another excellent addition to the director's career.
An excellent watch and an excellent film to own.

"More than meets the eye"
Of course this film is beautiful--and its almost worth buying for just the cinematography--but there are levels of subtlety to this movie. The beautiful camera work compliments these levels of complexity to really make it one of those films that you couldn't understand with the screenplay alone.
The film begins on the Mother's death day and ends on the Father's, who is barely acknoledged like the Mother. This is a reflection, even though Vietnamese, of the Chinese ideas that the Female is supreme to the Male, especially in the family.

lots of languishing
Gauguin might like it.
The modern Vietnamese motion picture equivalent of that painting where Greek patricians are lounging on the divan, eating grapes. OK, the photography is good. But the vivid colors and painstakingly arranged scenes (right off the bat I worried it was just another food movie) don't seem to enhance the story; rather they serve as a substitute- because the story and characters are so uninteresting! Is it that I'm too hooked on sex and exploding helicopters to enjoy such a thoughtful movie? No, there just isn't enough to think about here. And I wonder if this urban Eden is the real Hanoi. The characters don't have to work much (are they all trustfunders?) They're not quite believable in that they seem to be able to squeeze the emotion (be it joie de vivre or pathos) out of every single trivial moment. I find myself feeling inadequate at my inability to get such intense pleasure out of cutting a piece of fruit. I'll continue to browse the positive reviews to learn about what I'm missing, but I have one question for the 5 star folks, "What did you get out of the third viewing of little sister and brother going through their Lou Reed morning exercises?" ... Read more

Amazon.com

Providing a unique opportunity for the appreciation of Yasujiro Ozu's signature style, Criterion's definitive double-feature of A Story of Floating Weeds (1934) and Floating Weeds (1959) demonstrates the evolution of a master. Drawing inspiration from the now-obscure 1928 American carnival-troupe drama The Barker, Ozu first made A Story of Floating Weeds as a silent film (despite the advent of sound by that time), and Criterion's DVD features a sublime, newly recorded original score that sounds and feels like it's been part of the film all along. The film itself concerns a traveling Kabuki troupe faced with dramatic revelations as they perform in a rural village: Their master has had a son from a former lover whom he is visiting for the first time in a dozen years. Unaware of his parentage, the now-grown son thinks the visitor is his rarely seen uncle, and the master's mistress, upon discovering her lover's secret family, plots to undermine their relationship by urging a young actress to seduce the son, knowing that this would enrage the master's discreet familial pride. By story's end, all of these central relationships will undergo deep and resonant change.

Ozu was justifiably proud of this meticulous character study, in which his celebrated low-angle style began to assert itself. A quarter-century later, he remade the film as Floating Weeds, retaining the same story and characters, switching the setting to a seaside town, and demonstrating a more casual acceptance of human foibles that makes the 1959 version (Ozu's first film in color) relatively calm and compassionate when contrasted with the more turbulent tone of the '34 silent. Having grown as an artist, Ozu was at his stylistic peak here, having refined his style to the point where all camera movement had given way to flawless refinement of static compositions. These and other comparisons abound in the study of original and remake; to that end, commentaries by preeminent Japanese film expert and dialogue translator Donald Richie (on the '34 film) and film critic Roger Ebert (on Floating Weeds) provide astutely thorough appreciations of the parallel structures, stylistic evolution, and cultural specifics of films that, until the early 1970's, were considered "too Japanese" for an international audience. Never dry or pretentious, their scholarly analyses lend solid, sensitive context to the enjoyment of two of Ozu's most critically and commercially successful films. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (3)

TIMELESS MASTERPIECE
Sublime heroism in small gestures and difficult moral decisions infuses Yasujiro Ozu's 1959 masterpiece, FLOATING WEEDS (Criterion).

An aging Kabuki actor returns to a small town with his troupe and reunites with his old lover and illegitimate son, an act that enrages the actor's current mistress. In some ways, the story is the flip side of the Prodigal Son parable. Here, a bad dad returns to save his son from the temptations of the corrupt world.

This great humanistic film transcends the time and place of its story. I especially enjoyed Roger Ebert's highly informed commentary. Highest recommendation.

Note: The loaded double disc also includes the original 1934 silent version of Ozu's film with an extraordinary new score by noted silent film composer Donald Sosin.

I loved loved loved this movie!
If you only buy one Japanese film to add to your DVD collection, let it be an Ozu film and "Floating Weeds" is a wonderful place to start. There's really nothing I can say that isn't absolutely praiseworthy about Ozu and this film. It truly is a masterpiece in every sense of the word.

The Criterion Collection DVD is also a masterpiece, giving us both the original silent "Story of Floating Weeds" and the 1959 remake "Floating Weeds", (both directed by Ozu). The mastering is done well, the sound is great, and the voice-over commentary by famed Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times is a delightful surprise. Ebert humbly acknowledges that there are better Japanese film & culture experts out there, but "does his best" to give a very thorough description of Ozu's very unique style. Needless to say, it's one of the better and more informative commentaries I've heard and Mister Ebert is modest.

The story is genuine, sweet, simple, and believable. The characters are solid and have great depth. Ozu keeps the action and emotions to a realistic level without resorting to over-acting in any of his films. They almost don't feel like films in this way, but feel like intrusions into other peoples lives, but politely so.

Many people have speculated as to Ozu's curious method of placing his camera just below the eye-level of his actors onscreen, and I have my own theory. Perhaps Mr Ozu also has the innocence of children in mind, and is trying to see the world unbiasedly and naively like a child might - from the aproximate eye-level of a child viewing the events happening in the same room as he or she? It's an idea anyway. Perhaps also Ozu wants the camera to look up to his characters as if it is respectfully just below them submissively, as if it is bowing to them all in respect? It's difficult to say for certain, but the look is unique in all of film and once it hooks you, you're hooked for life! You have been warned.

After this wonderful classic, I recommend Ozu's "Tokyo Story" from 1953 (also recently released by the Criterion Collection). Ozu is a great film master and no one could compose a shot like he in all film history. If you haven't, you must see an Ozu film at least once in your lifetime!

Unbelievable! Now on DVD!
Having seen almost all Ozu films extant,including some of his earliest short silents, I recommend this as one of his supreme accomplishments. Yes, it is off his regular beaten path. His first color film and a somewhat overworked plot, but that is not what you go to an Ozu film for. For some reason this is the only one of his films that I never fail to cry at the start of. I get swept away into another simple and sublime day-to-day world. After seeing it in public once, two women seated behind me said "What was that all about?" Just life, just life. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The plot line may sound familiar: Two mismatched cops are assigned as reluctant partners to solve a crime. Culturally they are complete opposites, and they quickly realize they can't stand each other. One (Jackie Chan) believes in doing things by the book. He is a man with integrity and nerves of steel. The other (Chris Tucker) is an amiable rebel who can't stand authority figures. He's a man who has to do everything on his own, much to the displeasure of his superior officer, who in turn thinks this cop is a loose cannon but tolerates him because he gets the job done. Directed by Brett Ratner, Rush Hour doesn't break any new ground in terms of story, stunts, or direction. It rehashes just about every "buddy" movie ever made--in fact, it makes films such as Tango and Cash seem utterly original and clever by comparison. So, why did this uninspired movie make over $120 million at the box office? Was the whole world suffering from temporary insanity? Hardly. The explanation for the success of Rush Hour is quite simple: chemistry. The casting of veteran action maestro Jackie Chan with the charming and often hilarious Chris Tucker was a serendipitous stroke of genius. Fans of Jackie Chan may be slightly disappointed by the lack of action set pieces that emphasize his kung-fu craft. On the other hand, those who know the history of this seasoned Hong Kong actor will be able to appreciate that Rush Hour was the mainstream breakthrough that Chan had deserved for years. Coupled with the charismatic scene-stealer Tucker, Chan gets to flex his comic muscles to great effect. From their first scenes together to the trademark Chan outtakes during the end credits, their ability to play off of one another is a joy to behold, and this mischievous interaction is what saves the film from slipping into the depths of pitiful mediocrity. --Jeremy Storey ... Read more

Reviews (265)

An excellent DVD.
The Movie:

Chris Tucker is the funniest man in the world, in my opinion. It's too bad that the movies he acts in are always running to try and hopelessly catch up with him. One of the funniest things in cinema and some of the most enjoyable comic moments in the past few years have come from watching Tucker's performances. You can almost see his mind working in overtime trying to think up what to say next; and you never know what he'll say next. He takes the best of what Eddie Murphy used to be and just speeds it up a few hundred....thousand notches. It's just his looks of mock anger that always make me laugh. Never has anger been so funny.

He's joined by action star Jackie Chan in this film, which, although it's very funny at times, never really moves above the level of average, forgetable entertainment. Chan has done better "stunt-orientated" films like "Supercop" and "Rumble In The Bronx". In those films, he really shined with his mix of good humor and quick action. Here he's made to be more in the shape of the plot's need for humor and dialogue over stunts...not to say that there aren't any stunts; there are. It's just that they are a little few and far between.

The story revolves around a Chinese Console member who's daughter is kidnapped. Chan is brought in by the console member. The only problem is that the FBI wants to solve this case itself, and Chan's detective is not welcome. Some of the funniest scenes in the movie are watching Tucker's detective come to the realization that all he's called on to do is babysit Chan's detective. So, we start into the age old buddy cop flick.

Thankfully, this one isn't too bad. A nice script, some very good moments also from Chris Tucker when he's allowed to just improv his performance. Thank god Tucker and Chan liven up the proceedings; Chan has his usual array of incredible stunts, running up and down the sides of everything, kicking, doing it all; Tucker's mouth and Chan's quick feet make a nice balance of opposites. It's unfortunate that the direction is average, the plot is something you've seen all before, but it's through the performances of Tucker and Chan who make "Rush Hour" worth watching. It's nothing new, but when it works, "Rush Hour" is a whole lot of fun.

The DVD: Picture Quality: New Line has done a phenomenal job with the transfer of "Rush Hour". The colors of Los Angeles are incredibly vivid and just pop on this disc. Look at the reds in the Chinatown scenes or the colors of the neon at night. The color saturation is wonderful and there is no bleeding in the colors; the light from a neon sign looks perfectly sharp and clear. Speaking of sharpness, the images themselves are perfectly clear and sharp throughout the disc. There are a few instances where there is a small shimmering problem, but compared to a lot of the other discs I've seen lately, the shimmering in this disc isn't worth mentioning. Again, images are razor sharp throughout, there aren't any other problems at all with this disc. There are a lot more pros to talk about, though. Skin tones are 100% perfect. There is definitely no pixelization in the disc whatsoever, even in the low-light scenes or in the backgrounds. Black level in the picture is fantastic and contrast is wonderful. Shadow level is excellent and overall, this is a nice continuation of the New Line tradition of replicating the theatrical experience at home. There's occasionally a problem with otherwise great discs such as shimmering or what not and it takes you out of the experience. There's nothing on this disc that's problematic enough to take the viewer out of the experience of the movie and that's a sign of the very best DVDs. The 2.35:1 image is excellent. Excellent job, New Line.

Audio Quality: Impressive sound quality on this disc, emphasizing the sounds that added to the tone of fun on this disc and that's Lalo Schifrin's fun, urban and light score melding old R&B hits and current rap along with other wonderful bits and pieces of fun music to make an enjoyable score. The score fills the room and sounds full and clear. Dialogue also has that "same room" impression, recorded with clarity. There's a lot of impressive sound on this disc like the gunfire(director Ratner talks on the commentary about how he wanted to make the gunfire loud and emphasize it to make it "exciting"), which sounds great. The explosions also fill the room with great impact and force.

Extras:Now here's where this disc really shines: Commentary: There's an outstanding commentary with director Brett Ratner(who sounds at times sort of like Quentin Tarantino), who talks in depth wonderfully about the details of the production and working with Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. It goes into the detail of working with the screenplay and building the stunt scenes. This is a commentary that really is exactly what I want to hear in a commentary: it tells the story of exactly what it took to get the story to screen, not just what's happening on the screen. This is a fascinating commentary and I recommend it as one of the best commentaries out there. There is also an isolated score(and it's a fantastic score) with commentary by the great composer Lalo Schifrin.

Documentary: Again, it's what I want to see in a documentary. The box calls it a "featurette", but "A Piece Of The Action: Behind The Scenes Of Rush Hour" is something I would consider a full documentary. There's a lot of fun going on in the interviews with the cast and crew, and it doesn't seem like a usual studio promotional documentary. A lot of the camera work is hand-held and it just seems like it was all done in fun and the fun that the cast and crew has carries over to the viewer. The documentary runs about 40 minutes and the last chapter is more in the way of the hilarious outtakes that ended the film.

Deleted Scenes: A short reel of deleted scenes that at the most, are about 1 minute. Nothing earth-shaking, but interesting to see. The reel is a few minutes in length.

Short film: Director Brett Ratner's very strange short film from when he was a student at NYU, "What Ever Happened To Mason Reese?". The film starts off with an intro from the director and commentary from the director is also available. The film itself....well, it's just strange, but it's nice to have on the disc.

Trailer: Of course, the trailer.(letterboxed at 2.35:1)

Cast/Crew: Very nice biographies of the cast/crew.

Music Videos: 2 music videos.

DVD-ROM: The screenplay, an interactive game and web links(available only to Windows DVD-ROM computer users)

MENUS: Sharp animated menus that start with a very funny piece of dialogue from Chris Tucker.

Grades: The Movie:A- Picture Quality:A- Sound Quality:A- Extras:A Menus:A Overall:A
This review was originally posted at the website "A Guide To Current Film/DVD".

Lots of laughs in oddball 'buddy' movie
Jackie Chan, the great Chinese action star, plays a Hong Kong detective at the time of China's taking control of the city. A friend of his is dispatched to Los Angeles in a consulate position, and Chan is summoned soon thereafter when his buddy's daughter is kidnapped by gangsters. The FBI, not wanting any interference in the case, arranges to pair him with one of the wildest cops in LA history. As played by Chris Tucker, he is also the loudest. This ploy to get Chan away from the investigation doesn't work, of course. As always, the FBI agents are made to look like they are sharing a brain. You've already guess that the two policemen get along at first like cats and dogs, but by the end of the picture, they are best buddies. Along the way, they solve the case.

As a comedy team, Chan and Tucker work well together. The quiet, low-keyed Chan plays straight man to the brash, outrageous Tucker. There are the usual ongoing jokes about cultural differences, but at least in this case, pairing a Chinese character with an Afro-American does create a lot of opportunity for humor. Opposing tastes in food is a good topic, as is the language barrier. There is also a running joke about our obsession with hand guns. Jackie Chan is hard not to like, while Chris Tucker has much in common with W. C. Fields, Jerry Lewis and Jim Carrey. People either love him or hate him.

As is the rule in action comedy, the plot makes no sense. What carries the movie is the teaming of two actors whose personalities work well together. The special effects don't hurt either. There's an explosion every three minutes.

Lalo Schifin delivers a fine musical score. The set design is appropriately garish. A special thanks goes to Rush Hour's editors, who made sure it was short and to the point.

While Rush Hour is often entertaining, it does not measure up to a couple of similarly themed comedies - 48 Hours and Beverly Hills Cop - that were big hits when I was younger. Or is my memory playing tricks on me?

Jackie Chan needs to retire
This is not bad considering that most of Jackie Chan's movies are pretty much the same. That aside, story wasn't bad and there was some decent action scenes. Chris Tucker, however, does nothing but gets on your nerves with his irritating voice, bad acting and an IQ of a chimpanzee. In the outtakes, they show a scene that requires Chris Tucker to say two words in Chinese and he would blow it every single time. Talk about a dimwit

Rush Hour has great combos!
The idea of combining Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in one movie was a great idea! Jackie Chan does the main action while Chris Tuckers does the main comedy. Together they did a good job! The plot was good and the movie was so funny. I give it 5 stars for awesome action and nonstop laughs!

Great Entertainment - Funny & Exciting.
Rush Hour revitalized the buddy action flicks of the 80's and has become a modern classic. It is a movie in the tradition of 48 Hrs and Lethal Weapon, and like those two movies, it has perfect casting. Chris Tucker is hysterical in his best performance since Friday, Jackie Chan is in top form, complete with incredible stunts, cool martial arts and hilarious broken English.

The story is well-written and full of funny situations for both Tucker and Chan. Look for the scenes where Chan is in a predominantly black pool hall and Tucker buys some Chinese food from a cart. The chemistry between the two leads is probably what makes this movie so great. Great individually, but even better together. All this makes Rush Hour a guaranteed good time. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Lots and lots of profanity means you're all-American?
This movie does a wonderful job of depicting the superficiality and simple-mindedness of so-called Indian ex-pats, whatever that means. It's very much like Shyamalan's first movie, "Prayer With Anger", but with about 1/1,000,000th of the budget. You know, it's the story of an Indian guy who's become all smart and progressive after living in the U.S. for 10 months. He comes back with his great accent and modern way of looking at things and rails at evryone in India for being so...Indian.

The excessive and juvenile use of profanity is, as they say, "spot-on", whatever that means. Kokunoor and his cast just have a ball spewing all the profanity non-stop. I guess that's his concept of being westernized - using the (...) and (...) words every 2 minutes. That means you're all westernized and superior. The horrible acting and crude camera work give the "flim" a feel of authentic...lack of creativity. As was mentioned by a previous reviewer, this is not at all like any Bollywood movie. It is even less entertaining than that, if you can believe it. But I guess you have to give the boy credit. He got the thing made and it's selling on Amazon. Certainly something I haven't come close to doing. So I guess there's something there. Just be careful how you spend your money. (...)

Home to Home - An interesting journey
Hyderabad Blues is refreshing and sincere in its portrayal of the internal conflicts and the material adjustments that one has to go through when returning to India from the USA. What is honest is the predicament that a lot of first generation Indian professional settled in the USA are faced with. Where we work and live is home and where we are from and who we are is also home. I believe that this predicament is unique to Indians because their assimilation with the mainstream in the USA is just beginning.

Nagesh Kukonoor in the lead role as Varun is very comfortable in his debut as actor/producer/writer and director. He addresses the complex multi cultural issues and the emotional conflicts of an unmarried American returned professional male through the eyes of Varun who is bride hunting.

The film is rich in it's under current of sensitivity while retaining the honesty of the story line. There is levity in the film using commonplace daily routines which is brilliant and captures the essence without having to fall back on torturous monologues or tirades.
While the ending may seem clichéd to the average viewer the underline message is important. Through his own experiences he conveys the possibility of a happy medium.

Good movies need not essentially be tragedies or about tortured souls. What is unique about this movie is its intelligence and skill in capturing the story of millions of Indian professionals settled in the USA, sticking to the fundamental honesty of the representative experiences and still creating a celluloid treat.

Highly recommended for all those who interact with such Indian professionals in the USA.

A clash of values
Hyderabad Blues is the story of Varun (Nagesh Kukunoor, who also wrote, produced and directed) who returns home to India for a visit and has to deal with his matchmaking parents. It takes a humurous look at the customs and behavior, from an American perspective. He meets childhood friends who have of course changed over the years to embrace what he can't contemplate. Eventually he falls in love with Ashwini (Rajshri Nair) setting up some melodrama. The last act is a little disappointing as it moves towards a cliche ending. The movie works for the most part despite the low budget and amateur (yet natural) acting. The comedy is spot on and is very authentic, mixing dialogue in English, Telugu and Hindi. This is not typical Bollywood fare with the obligatory songs and fights. I also recommend 'American Desi' for something along the same lines.. ... Read more

Description

In the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, a young cyclo (pedicab driver) transports anonymous passengers through the teeming streets, trying to eke out a meager living for his two sisters and elderly grandfather. When his bicycle is stolen by a local gang, he descends into the gruesome underbelly of this corrupt and violent city. Seduced by easy money, the Cyclo is swept deeper into the crime ring lead by the quietly charismatic Poet (Tony Leung of CHUNGKING EXPRESS and BULLET IN THE HEAD).

Unbeknown to the Cyclo, his older sister (the exquisite star of THE SCENT OF GREEN PAPAYA) has also been mesmerized by the brooding Poet and turns to prostitution to please him. Director Tran Anh Hung, whose brilliant debut THE SCENT OF GREEN PAPAYA established him as a master visualist, fuses the neorealist style of THE BICYCLE THIEF with the kinetic energy of TAXI DRIVER in this gritty tale of innocence lost in the urban jungle of Vietnam. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Take a ride on this dangerous Cyclo
Cyclo is a Vietnamese movie that features Tony Leung Chiu-wai one of my favourite Chinese actors. He appeared in Wong Kar-Wai's In the mood for love and Happy Together as well as Jackie Chan's popular film Gorgeous. In this movie Leung plans an angst-ridden gangster, and he seems to have that silent angst-ridden look down pat. Playing opposite him is Tran Nu Yen Khe, a beautiful actress who also starred in Tran Anh Hung's Scent of the Green Papaya.

Whereas Papaya was sensual and moody, Cyclo is gritty and more in your face. The main story is that of a Cyclo (a bicycle rickshaw taxi) that gets stolen and the cyclo driver must work for the gangsters to pay off the debt he has from when he borrowed money to get the cyclo. When you get past the violent scenes (there is one torture scene that rivals the cop torture scene in Taratino's Reservoir Dogs) it is a captivating story.

It is excellent on Video or on DVD - the zone-free DVD is available from Poker Industries which is an associated store of Amazon.com.

Cyclo ... The Viet Nam by the Vietnamese
Cyclo is not an usual movie : it's a movie about Viet Nam, Vietnamese people, about suffering, wondering, being lost and being saved, about desperation and hope, about love and frustration .. but all is perfectly mastered and controlled by Tran Anh Hung.

The film is about the ordinary life in Viet Nam, about hard times, struggle, the temptation of money and corruption ... violence and tenderness.

It is probably as of today the most accomplishd vision of modern Viet Nam, the most "insight journey" into the soul of Vietnamese, and as such, it's not an easy movie : for each scene, you need to wonder "what is the message", "what doe sthat mean" : behind the story, there are messages and analysis about the human being and their path.

Cyclo shall be a delightful movie for those who love Viet Nam and who want to feel and to understand its destiny, at a time where it stand at a crossroad.

On top of that, the movie keeps beautiful scene ful of peotry and beauty.

If You Liked "City of God," You'll Love Cyclo!
This movie should come with a warning cause it's simply dynamite! However, it's not for beginners. If you want to see some romanticized view of exotic beauty in foreign lands, grab some wine and your honey, and see Tran Ahn Hung's other movies, like "The Scent of Green Papaya". That movie, although dealing with serious issues, is like 'Reality Lite'. You can ignore aspects of the human experience that plague the mind of your inner insomniac. But "Cyclo" is no joke! This here is some powerful stuff. Not for beginners, this! And, what could be better than Cyclo on DVD?! I can see my favorite parts anytime and instantly transport myself to my own private VietNam. Cool.

If you are familiar with popular cinema from Asia, you know the system's are not like American movies. Often certain popular actors are routinely coupled. I find this habit refreshing, especially here. In some ways, the more films you see the more shades there are to an actors ability in the big picture. On a small scale, the film makers bank on the public seeing more films since certain famous pairings generate the feeling that the actors are like your old friends. If you don't feel manipulated by this tactic, it can be the cinematic equivalent of a fun time at an amusement park, when you're with your way-out-of-town friends, always taking different rides.

Furthermore, as far as East Asian Cinema goes, in my experience, as with all world cinema, you don't know what's it's all about until it's over. This film, like much of world cinema, is not trying to spoonfeed you. This movie gets 'heavy'. But if you stay with it, the whole of the film and the story within are very gratifying.

As far as my criteria for a good flick goes, this one meets my standard for world cinema, and far surpasses American commercial films. The editing is seemless. The actors are fluid and charismatic as always (Remember, old friends are we). The cinematography is stunning. The script has a definite feeling of realism. These characters say what they really would say (and maintain appropriate silences too), not that I know what a struggling Vietnamese escort or cabbie would say. But, dig this, a good story like this feels real, draws you in, shows you things you never saw woven into a story that holds you 'til the credits, and stays with you after, spinning in your mind in true 'twist-a plot' fashion, ya? If you let yourself into the world of these characters, alternate possibilities will come to mind when it's through.

Aside: Those of you who love Hong Kong film will enjoy seeing Tony Leung here - very believable and adorable! Secondly, and most important, DON'T EAT PORK BEFORE YOU SEE THIS MOVIE!!!! Nuff said.

I won't ruin the story by divulging any specific special parts or attributes of the film. My (somewhat pompous) point is, I saw the movie... The movie was good.

Visually and Poetically Powerful...
A young man has already lived a long life as he has lost his parents and must work as a bicycle taxi driver in Ho-Chi-Min-City where he lives with his sister and grandfather. He struggles as his bicycle is stolen by the company from which he is renting it, and now he must turn to crime in order to pay for it. The world of crime is inviting as it offers fast money, but it is a ruthless world. As he is away from home his sister turns to prostitution in order to advance in society and she is managed by the same character who is controlling his life in the criminal world. Cyclo is visually powerful with a deep socioeconomic and cinematic complexity as it depicts the tragedy of wanting.

Well done but dark and depressing
This 1995 Vietnamese import is scary. Filmed on the streets of Hanoi, it is the story of a 18-year old who drives a cyclo for a living, picking up passengers all day and pedaling them around the city. Life is very harsh and he and his family live in poverty. Then, his world spins out of control when his cyclo is stolen and he is coerced into a life of crime. Evil is all around him and he experiences nothing but unrelenting cruelty. To top it off, the leader of the gang is renting out his sister to men with rather peculiar fetishes.

The whole tone of the film is dark and depressing and I'm sorry I didn't turn it off but I kept waiting for something good to happen, some turn of events that would take this sad tale and change the mood. That didn't happen though. And even though a false somewhat happy ended was put on the conclusion, the film never had a single bright point that could lift the dark atmosphere.

I feel the film was well done, but it was very confusing and the forced me to deal with some rather upsetting themes. I certainly can't recommend it for the average viewer and think that even the most hardened film buff would find it just too depressing. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Befitting a filmmaker of Akira Kurosawa's masterly stature, this sumptuous limited-edition DVD set pays tribute to Kurosawa's cinematic legacy and Japanese heritage. Like Japanese architecture, the packaging is simple yet elegant, with Ran--Kurosawa's epic reworking of King Lear in feudal Japan--at the center of attention. Kurosawa's 1985 masterpiece was remastered for this set, a clear improvement over the notoriously disappointing Fox Lorber DVD. The transfer is now vividly colorful and crisply detailed, presented in anamorphic widescreen with optional yellow subtitles that are easier to read (though the earlier release probably wasn't as bad as the "old" image used in the restoration demo). The 5.1-channel sound option allows deeper immersion into Kurosawa's painstakingly crafted soundtrack, and film historian Stephen Price's superlative, feature-length commentary track provides engaging and scholarly perspective on Kurosawa's development of theme through composition, camera placement, editing, and highly stylized direction of actors. Another comparatively sparse commentary track by Japanese cultural expert Peter Grilli is worthwhile for its insider's view of Kurosawa's personality and methods. Ran--a tragic, awe-inspiring study of human folly--remains timelessly magnificent, marking the first step in Kurosawa's gradual move from the confines of conventional narrative.

The gatefold packaging includes four glossy, postcard-quality reproductions ofKurosawa's personal storyboard paintings for Ran and Madadayo, as well as a beautiful miniature fold-out shoji screen paying tribute to Ran. (A commemorative Ran miniposter is also included.) While the DVDs of Kurosawa and Madadayo don't differ from their previous releases, their inclusion is fitting: Kurosawa (coproduced by Grilli) serves as a comprehensive study of the director's life and films, and Madadayo--Kurosawa's last and perhaps most personal film--is an evocative expression of the moral themes and unconventional storytelling that emerged in the final years of Kurosawa's legendary career. In honoring the sensei's lifetime of peerless creativity, this boxed set is guaranteed to please. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Wonderful set of Kurosawa movies
I purchased this box set as a way to dip my toes more deeply into the ocean that is Kurosawa's work. I own and love the Criterion "Seven Samurai" DVD, and so awaited this set with anticipation. It didn't disappoint! I think I'd seen "Ran," but it had been long enough that seeing it again it was like a new movie. The "Ran" DVD is stunning in all its restored splendor, and the story is emotionally gripping. Full of symbolism and compelling performances, I recommend this set for just this movie alone, but in addition, "Madadayo" and "Kurosawa" are both included. Neither is in anamorphic, but they are worthy additions to the set in any case. I'd never seen "Madadayo" and I'm happy to report it's a wonderful movie. It's a character study with a depth and personal warmth that radiates from the movie in waves. The performances are so natural and unassuming, you forget it's a fictional movie, and not a video journal of a real person. "Kurosawa" is an in-depth documentary on the man and his works. It's great stuff!
Last, the only downside to the package is the packaging itself. The DVD's are not held on their spindles well at all. One of mine had fallen off ("Ran") but thankfully had not taken any damage. I wish they'd taken more care with that. The included booklet, screen, and postcards are a nice touch, but I'd have been happy with just the DVD's, frankly, and in a much simpler case. Still, overall I recommend this to film fans and especially Kurosawa fans.

Not just hype, this is a terrific set!
Many people have been complaining prior to the release of this set that it looks like a clever way to take money from Kurosawa fans. This isn't the case folks. Yes, it's expensive, I don't deny that. In my view, however, it's worth it. Ran is one of Kurosawa's greatest achievements. Of his entire body of work, I think only Seven Samurai, Ikiru, Rashomon, and Throne of Blood are superior. Ran is terrific cinema, and this 16:9 transfer with yellow subtitles is far better than the previous DVD release which did the picture no justice, and had very atrocious looking subs. The 5.1 channel sound is excellent, my uncle's cinema room was vibrating with every slam of the great gates in the film. The commentaries are great, with Prince's being the better of the two. In short, the Ran DVD is splendid, and vastly superior to the Fox Lorber edition. Madadayo, also included in the set, is not one of Kurosawa's best, but it's still worth owning as it's his last film, and by no means is it as bad as Rhapsody in August or, heaven forbid, Sanshiro Sugata II. It's a quiet little film about an old man who isn't quite ready to leave the world. A bit too sentimental perhaps, but some scenes are rather touching. Definately worth having. The Kurosawa documentary is underrated and overrated at the same time. It has excellent interviews I think, but the narration gets incredibly annoying. However, that may be because I've read Kurosawa's autobiography, and therefore excerpts being read from it seem useless to me. In other words, those who haven't read his book may find the narration incredibly informative. I've only seen one better documentary on Kurosawa overall anyway, so I recommend it. The box is great looking, with the number of your edition on the front along with a logo that says: KUROSAWA. The shoji screen with art from Ran is excellent looking and would make a terrific display. Ditto the mini-Ran 15th Anniversary poster (which I personally prefer to leave untouched, rolled with a seal). There is also an informative little booklet about the filmmaker, well, informative for newcomers to Kurosawa, and an authentication certificate, along with four postcard size Kurosawa storyboards for the two films in this set. Overall, I think this set is a great buy for die hard Kurosawa fans and even casual fans. It's a great way to celebrate his later works.

A great look...
...into a fabulous piece of cinema. This collection really assembles the best of all the tools for understanding Japanese cinema in general, and Akira Kurasawa in particular, good, comprehensible subs, expert commentary, and other extras. RAN is my second favorite Kurasawa film, and the presentation here really enriched my viewing of the film. I read Prince's book, THE WARRIOR'S CAMERA, but his commentary really opened up new windows into the film and its brilliant director.

Granted, greater care could have been taken to protect the discs. Mine did arrive a little worse for the wear.

Great movies, lousy presentation.
My review here is more about the presentation of the set, and not the movies themselves. The movies are great and the documentary is also good. One of the main problems is that the packaging is terrible. The discs fit loosely in the packaging and as a result moved around a great deal in shipping. In the first set I received the documentary disc was covered in scratches and glue and was completely unplayable (the glue was from the poorly made cardboard case). The Ran disc was also scratched badly. Amazon was good about getting another set out but even in that one the documentary disc was scratched, although it plays for the most part. The "extra" items are cheaply made and not worth the money either. Also, I must agree with another reviewer that complained about the RAN transfer. This is not much of an improvement over the Fox Lorber transfer, and there is a lot of noise at the edges of the "letterboxing". If you already own a copy of Ran or Madadayo don't bother with this set. If you must own a newer transfer of Ran this one is coming out as a single DVD in 2003. This set is just not worth the money, unless you just have to have that cheesy cardboard "miniature shoji screen" or the "mini" Ran poster.

I wanted this set - but not if the DVDs are floating around
What a shame that like the recent E.T. debacle, bad packaging is ruining customer enjoyment of what should have been a great title. Many of us would not have minded paying the extra to get an early copy of the new remastering of "Ran." (That disc is set to be released on its own next year). But hearing the sad stories of how discs were broken out of their spindles and damaged in shipping from so many folks, changed my mind. It is the same problem I've seen on many CD's, DVDs and DVD Audio discs. ... Read more

Description

An early classic by the legendary Yuen Wo Ping, director of "IronMonkey" and action director for the Hollywood hit "The Matrix," "The Buddhist Fist" isthe story of two orphans who are raised separately by Shaolin monks and trained in thelethal art of the Buddhist Fist. Fate reunites them after a series of attacks at themonastery, and a surprise revelation leads to a duel to the death between the two brothers.Packed with furious fight scenes expertly choreographed by Yuen Wo Ping, "TheBuddhist Fist" is good old-fashioned kung fu fighting at its very best! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A must see Kung Fu movie
Buddhist Fist is truly a great work from the director, Yuen Woo Ping, who choreographed the stylish fight scenes from "The Matrix." He has also directed the amazing "Once Upon a Time in China" series as well as one of Jackie Chans's best, "the Druken Master." If you enjoy Jackie Chan movies, you will LOVE this movie. The film is packed with amazing, acrobatic fight scenes quite similar to the styles you see in Jackie Chan movies. This is definitly a Kung Fu classic. Okay, I gave 4 stars simply because it has way too many fight scenes. Perhaps, the story could be a little more developed. But if you are just looking for a pure action, it's a six star flick!

great Kung Fu fighting style. Buy it and enjoy it now.
Whenever you see "Yuen Woo Ping" (the director of this film) on ANY kung Fu movie, you should buy it without thinking too much. He is one of the best Kung Fu movie directors. I enjou all of his Fung Fu movies. Yuen's family's Kung Fu fighting style is quite unique and worth watching. This film will not disappoint you. Buy it now and enjoy the great Kung Fu fighting techniques. Another his best film worth watching is the "Secret Master" (story about Chinese legend Ho Yen Ka).

one of the best ever
This movie has some of the best martial arts action ever filmed. Some reviewers don't think much of the plot but I think it's excellent. Can be watched over and over and over. The hero of the movie is one of the old school greats but usually he plays the evil bad guy. He does a great job as the good hearted hero in this one. His form is great and he is supposed to be the diligent fighter of the two main characters. However, the co-star monk fighter, WOW!, you have to see his style!! Perfect form, yet totally relaxed... He makes your spine tingle he is so good. This movie is never dull at any moment, always exciting and interesting. Great acting, great characters, very inspiring. An added bonus is the super old school Master that guards the temple... I have seen him in a few other movies... he is just plain spectacular. His footwork is among the finest I have ever seen. Even if you just want to be inspired or learn some new moves this movie is worth the price but, you get so much more than that. This is one of the best of all time and even though newer movies are produced better with better effects, etc., this movie is just plain fun plus is chocked full of the best fight scenes ever put on film.

great old school chopsocky
Granted, the plot ain't much, and the production quality isn't on a par with Crouching Tiger. Nonetheless, the fight scenes are well done and numerous. As a bonus, you martial arts students out there can witness the only known example of Holy Ghost Fist ever to hit the silver screen. You gotta see it to believe it.

excellent
this movie is really weird
there were severeal times during the first viewing that i was sure someone had given me drugs and not told me ... Read more

Description

The story begins with the everyday life of Youko Nakajima. Upon being confronted by a mysterious blond stranger, Youko is told of her destiny and pulled away into another world. Along with two of her classmates, Sugimoto and Asano, she is abandoned on foreign shores. This begins Youko's perilous journey to the Kingdom of Kei on an epic road of espionage, terror, and betrayal. The mystic world of The Twelve Kingdoms assails her with one savage challenge after another. Will Youko embrace her destiny? ... Read more

Amazon.com

A Better Tomorrow is the John Woo gangster classic that started it all, a romantic, violent, swirlingly stylish melodrama about dueling brothers--with a mesmerizing lead performance by Hong Kong's favorite actor, Chow Yun-Fat. In repose, Chow's sleepy magnetism recalls the glory days of Robert Mitchum, Steve McQueen, and Takakura Ken; when he's stepping high, Chow has a unique, ebullient star presence, a man who embraces life so unselfconsciously that he becomes vulnerable to all kinds of suffering and heartache (he endures masochistic megadoses of violence here). The sequence in which Chow's Mark avenges his betrayed best friend---by blasting his way into, and then out of, a Chinese restaurant, twin .45s blazing---is a swashbuckling standout. Woo's film technique may have been more polished in later efforts, but Tomorrow has a direct emotional power that is still unique. Kung fu star of the 1970s, Ti Lung is also terrific here as the 40ish established mobster, relied upon by all, who allows conflicting loyalties toward Mark and toward his younger brother, now a cop, to undermine the stability of his position.

"I won't give you nothing, man; I give you shit," sneers charismatic superstar Chow Yun Fat, speaking English (with a De Niro accent) in his role as a New York restaurateur who won't knuckle under to the (Italian) mob in A Better Tomorrow II. Chow plays the twin brother of the character he played in the original, and the blatancy of that device is a fair indication of the sequel's shortcomings--and of its screwy charm: this is a film that knows no shame. The bond between the natural siblings played by Ti Lung (as a reformed mobster) and Leslie Cheung (as a hot shot cop) still resonate tellingly. As a good-guy ex-thug driven batty by the slaying of his only daughter, real-life Cinema City studio chief Dean Shek gets to play a garishly extended "mad scene," foaming at the mouth, chewing on soup bones. A later episode in which a dying man crawls to a phone booth to call his wife (and newborn daughter) in the hospital must also be some kind of lurid first in the soap sweepstakes. The final 15 minutes could be the bloodiest single shoot-out sequence ever committed to celluloid. The story line hasn't been shaped to any particular purpose here, but the images have a golden Godfather-like glow, and this faintly anachronistic, all-stops-out wish-fulfillment approach to moviemaking still has a lot of power. --David Chute ... Read more

Amazon.com

Action-god Jackie Chan does his best James Bond impression with this ecstatic sequel to the classic Supercop. The bare-bones plot has Chan in pursuit of international terrorists, but the narrative quickly gives way to an unceasing barrage of insane stunt work (including a nitro-fueled ski chase and a grandiose fight scene set inside a functioning shark tank). As with most of the aging star's recent films, there is more of an emphasis placed on big, impersonal (albeit impressive) stunts rather than the close-up combat that made him famous; but the end result is still a must-see rush for longtime fans, and a great introduction for newcomers eager to see what all the well-deserved fuss is about. The scene where Jackie takes on multiple goons while armed only with a ladder is one of his most jaw-dropping set pieces ever--and that's saying quite a lot. Be sure to stick around for the closing credits of gags gone awry, which graphically prove that Chan is truly the hardest working man in show business. --Andrew Wright ... Read more

Reviews (50)

Sticks, Tables and Ladders. OH MY!
This is Part Four to one of Chans greatest films ever, Police Story. Police Story 2, which is VERY GOOD, and one of Jackie Chans most famous movies in America SUPERCOP, which is Police Story 3, all come before First Strike. First Strike has the humor and fighting you expect from Chan films. In this Chan resumes the role of Kevin Chan, Hong Kongs best cop, and is helping the KGB and CIA on a case which leads him to a great snowboard and snowmobile chase in Russia. And then he heads to Australia. Plot twists galore lead Chan into trouble with everyone. One of my favorite fight scenes ever is the LADDER MATCH, this fight has to be seen! IT IS THAT GOOD! I have seen almost every JC film and the ladder match is one of my favorite. I watch this fight all the time and love it more each time. This is a great JC film. Not the best of the Police Story series, as the first Police Story is just incredible. But First Strike is still fun to watch over and over. Buy it now!

Killer Action, International Intrigue¿
"Jackie Chan's First Strike" is yet another tour-de-force of hilarious near non-stop action comedy featuring Chan's trademarked ultra-choreographed but jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring just plain AWESOME action sequences (including the trademarked end-of-film outtakes).

THE MOVIE:

"First Strike" follows Jackie's adventures which take him from the snow covered mountains of the Ukraine to the sunny shores of Australia as he becomes entangled in a web of deceit and danger involving a ruthless mobster smuggling nuclear arms, ruthless hitmen and a killer shark!!!

Notable Scenes:

1. The Hotel Fight Scene

2. The Warehouse Fight Scene

3. Hilarious - Jackie stripped down and forced into a funny suit

THE DVD FEATURES:

The DVD is a little sparse on special features, but it does come with a pretty detailed bio (more so than the Rumble in the Bronx DVD) and filmography of Jackie Chan, as well as the movie's director Stanley Tong. Also included is the film's theatrical trailer.

THE VERDICT:

Action movie/martial arts film fans will love this movie. The action, as well as the story, are solid. New fans of Chan will also love this film as its great action sequences. The DVD features, while a bit sparse compared to more recent DVD releases, are alright. Overall, whether you rent, borrow or purchase this DVD/movie is worth a watch at least.

Highly Recommended.

This movie is the best!
Jackie Chan's First Strike is one of the best Jackie Chan films I've ever seen! It combines great action with a better plot. The Ladder fight and the Underwater fight are just two of the amazing scenes. The action truely shows what Jackie can do. It is one of my favorite movies and if you want a great Jackie Chan movie; First Strike is for you.

GREAT
Jackie Chan is the best martial arts fighting person around today. This movie has awesome fight scenes in it which I can watch over and over again. All of his movies are awesome but there is that Jet Li comign up on him so I have a voting type thing. JACKIE CHAN VS. JET LI....... WHO WOULD WIN? IF YOU THINK JACKIE CHAN WOULD WIN PRESS YES THIS REVIEW WAS HELPFUL OR IF YOU THINK JET LI WOULD WIN PRESS NO THIS REVIEW WAS NOT HELPFUL.

Great movie with some nice fight scenes.
This is an older Jackie Chan movie. I'm going to make this pretty concise. Jackie Chan does a great job in some really great and long fight sequences. In this movie, Jackie plays himself. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

It is obvious why the Chinese government banned this film
The Chinese government is forever banning films that when viewed do not appear to be overly subversive, but when you watch "The Blue Kite" ("Lan feng zheng") you know exactly why Beijing banned both it and filmmaker Tian Zhuangzhuang. For us in the West the film is almost more of a documentary, providing a unique look at contemporary life in China (unlike most Chinese films which set their story before the coming of the Communists for the most part). The upheavel of the Cultural Revolution is happening out on the the streets and we witness its impact on the friends and family of Tietou. We see the main character as an infant (Tian Yi), child (Wenyao Zhang) and teenager (Xiaoman Chen). As the politics change under Chairman Mao, so do the very fabric of the society. The standout performance in this film is Liping Lu as Chen Shujuan, Tietou's mother, and Zhuangzhuang's direction is to be honored more for making the film rather than great artistry. The ending is one of those shattering conclusions we have come to expect from such films and the scathing indictment of China under Mao is quite forceful. This 1993 runs rather long (138 minutes) and is in Mandarian with English subtitles. Final note: the problems some have with understanding the specific historical context of "The Blue Kite" is rather surprising to me. This film tells the story of an oppressed nation and the specifics of the Cultural Revolution, which was basically just intellectual window dressing for a massive purge, seem to me no more necessary than watching similar films from Eastern European nations. I guess I do not want to believe that cultural differences really get in the way of our recognizing oppression.

A glimpse of life under Mao
For me, this movie did not go far enough to show the great suffering under Mao's leadership, but that might be understandable if there was any hope that the Chinese government would not ban it. Also, this film might not make much sense without some prior knowledge of The Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. Otherwise, the acting is good and the story is poignant enough at times.

more than two long hours of bleakness
While respecting the moviemaker and the people who participated in making this movie for their courage, I find this movie unbearable:
- the characters are paper-thin: the protagonists' reason for existence in the movie is to suffer. The communists' reason for existence in the movie is to parrot the party line and to act arrogantly. There is really no fleshed out characters in the movie.
- the plot lacks subtlety: the movie begins with a wedding delayed by the death of Stalin, and ends with brutal violency by the Red Guard. There is a glimpse of happiness at the beginning of the movie, and it disappears completely under the bleakness of the plot, which is no more than a string of tragedies linked together. In contrast, To Live, My Favorite Concubine, Burnt by the Sun still manage to show the hope and the humanity shining through the desperation. That's why, for me, the endings of To Live and Burnt by the Sun are much more devastating than this movie's.

I DISAGREE
I strongly disagree with James J. J. Janis' review on The Blue Kyte. An effective film doesn't mean that it is a two hour movie that covers everything about the subject, but a two hour movie that opens your minds up to the subject. It'd leave you thinking and wondering. It'd make you want to find out more, asking why and how. Personally, I was very moved by the movie. I too came to the movie with some background knowledge of the topic, but I did not watch the movie thinking that I learned nothing from it. Even though it somewhat echoed a book that I recently read, Son of the Revolution, I still feel like I left the film understanding more and wanting to find out even more. However, I have to acknowledge the I do believe that people who can understand Mandarin would appreaciate the movie a bit more than those that don't. Because the subtitles sometimes skips or mistranslates some important phrases. Yes, he might be right that there are scenes that can be cut out to make the film at a reasonable length, but for what? To match Holleywood filmmaking standards? How can you cut any realistic scenes from a movie that is to tell the story. What and who is to determine that only certain details of the peasants' life tell the Chinese communist story and others are just simply unrelavent? Overall, I give this movie a 5 star rating. Because I cannot find another movie that shows more truth about the China under Mao's influence in the late 50's and 60's more than this one particular film.

an epic
This film is a powerful epic masterpiece. It leaves the viewer drained and exhausted at the end. the story line about the lunacy of the Chinese communist regime and its polices in the 50's and 60's can equally apply across time and cultures and borders. After viewing the film one wonders if there is a right time to go to the toilet but such episode played so subtly only reflects the director's wonderful touch . There is none of the tear jerking and sentimentality one usually finds in the Chinese sad films but the story line just slowly and methodically develops and draws the audience into the bottomless abyss of human insanity and the cruelty of rigid regimes while on the surface children played in the streets and vendors hawked their products and everything seemed normal. But the characters slowly got affected and human beings were being twisted and bent and knocked down and inconviences turned into unhappiness into sufferings and into death or interminable pain. The director used symbols of macular degeneration for the blindness of the people, nursery rythmes to emphasize the horror perpetuated by navie people , kites for hope which kept being lodged in trees and the adults 'uncles' kept promising a new one. In the end all lives were ruined and the boy lay on the ground bloodied and bruised looking skyward at his blue kite shattered and lodged in the tree blowing in the wind. The director left the viewer to decide if a new kite will indeed be flown again and lodged again and broken again or will it soar into the sky by the two kids earlier in the film free and strong and above all human pettiness and conflict.
That secne will be in my consciousness forever. ... Read more