Action Movie Reviews with Moi!

Hong Kong action film buff.

01-25-24

Even MORE reviews? Wutz?
Die Hard 4.0 (Uncut, uncensored version)
Enter the Dragon (MA15+ version)
The Matrix

Takoma11

Registered User

01-29-24

I watched Royal Warriors and really enjoyed it, so thank you for the recommendation.

ActionRocks

Hong Kong action film buff.

02-02-24

Originally Posted by Takoma11

I watched Royal Warriors and really enjoyed it, so thank you for the recommendation.

Ah, no problem

Supercop 2 is pretty good too. Only 2 minutes of Jackie, the rest is Michelle

ActionRocks

Hong Kong action film buff.

03-13-24

Produced by & starring Jackie Chan

Directed by Scott Waugh
Written by Arash Amel
Produced by

Esmond Ren
Hans Canosa
Joe Tam

Starring

John Cena
Pilou Asbaek
Ma Chunrui

Cinematography Tony Cheung
Edited by Scott Waugh
Music by Nathan Furst
Production
companies

Changchun Film Studio

XYZ Films
FilmsHuaxia Film Distribution
Epitome
Talent International Media
Flame Pictures Company

Distributed by Netflix
Release date: July 28, 2023

Synopsis

Two ex-special forces soldiers must escort a group of civilians along Baghdad's "Highway of Death" to the safety of the Green Zone.

Review

Let's talk about the story. The story reminds me of the 1973 classic "Enter the Dragon". But this film is nothing like that.

Let's talk about the two main stars. Jackie Chan & John Cena, what a random duo. This would surely turn out to be a horrible movie, right? Well, no. Chan and Cena have some good chemistry and great lines in the bloopers and the movie.

Let's talk about the action. The action is enjoyable, but really nothing special. It becomes less special when you release Jackie was 64 at the time this was filmed, so all his performances are mostly stunt doubles. This is an average run of the mill one of his movies where the idea of having him in a role is cool but the movie doesn't turn out to be that cool.

The dialogue is pretty funny, I can say that. But I can ALSO say that this movie relies on the dialogue and none of the action, really. There's no cool tricks or kicking, just guns and running and random punching.

I can say the film could have been a lot better but still pretty enjoyable.

Rating: 5.5/10

ActionRocks

Hong Kong action film buff.

03-13-24

Starring, written and choreographed by BRUCE LEE

a ROBERT CLAUSE film
Written by Michael Allin
Produced by

Fred Weintraub
Paul Heller
Raymond Chow

Starring

Bruce Lee
John Saxon
Ahna Capri
Bob Wall
Shih Kien
Jim Kelly

Cinematography Gilbert Hubbs
Edited by

Kurt Hirschler
George Watters
Peter Cheung

Music by Lalo Schifrin
Production
companies

Sequoia Pictures
Concord Production Inc.
Warner Bros.

Distributed by

Golden Harvest (Hong Kong)
Warner Bros. (International)

Release dates

26 July 1973 (Hong Kong)

19 August 1973 (United States)

August 1973 (Australia)

Synopsis

Lee plays a martial-arts expert determined to help capture the narcotics dealer whose gang was responsible for the death of his sister. Lee enters a kung fu competition in an attempt to fight his way to the dealer's headquarters with the help of some friends.
Review

Bruce Lee's final film, "Enter The Dragon" was the first movie to be produced by a major Hollywood company, Warner Brothers. So other companies tried to cash in the fame such as National General Pictures, re-relasing The Big Boss as Fists Of Fury like Bryanstron Productions, which in 1974, released Way of Dragon as The Return of the Dragon. This film sure does crap on Return of the Dragon (just a joke. I love both films) or whatever you call it.

Yesterday (January 25, 2023) I went to the home video shop to get some movies. They only had Enter the Dragon on Blu-Ray, resulting in my first Blu-ray. And gosh, do I love this film. If I had the chance I'd rewatch it! (I'll do it another day.)

The film has some appearances from Sammo Hung (he gets to fight Bruce Lee) and Jackie Chan (he gets to get a butt-whupping by Lee) This film is so amazing I'm doubting it being made by humans. You can feel every single hit through the screen!

Jim Kelly's character dies not long into the movie, but his lines feel natural, and he brings a light hearted feel to the movie, but this isn't a comedy. Just some really good action and dialogue from the actors.

Not to mention the funky Lalo Schrifin soundtrack, which got 5 hundred thousand copies sold. Enter the Dragon has a soundtrack that uses a lot of bass and piano, and it has resemblance to Kevin Bassinson's score for Police Story, but this is actually way better. Shih Khen has a wonderful performance as a villian

The choreography by Bruce is the best in all of his movies, and that counts Game of Death II (I've never watched Game of Death.). This film is an absolute masterpiece and you NEED to watch it. I know that whenever an actor's films is really popular like Rumble in the Bronx [Jackie Chan] and Lethal Weapon III [Joe Pesci] It turns out to be crappy. But, trust me. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. Enter the Dragon is one of the best movies in the world. I don't care rather it's with piracy, VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray, 4K, Netflix, WATCH THE ******* FILM!!

Rating: 10/10 (best. bruce lee film. EVER!!!)

ActionRocks

Hong Kong action film buff.

03-13-24

Police Story is the 1985 Hong Kong movie that people love so much that it has 2 re-edits and 4 dubs. Today we're going to be looking at one of those re-edits, the 1986 international export dub!
Original version is the Japanese Bluray on the 2010 Fortune Star DVD. I figure since the credits say 2010 on the SBS on Demand version it's the right release.

Trailers

Export Trailer

1986

Media Asia

International

Theatrical trailer

1985

Media Asia

Hong Kong

The Hong Kong trailer - spoils all the big stunts but doesn't actually tell you anything about the movie. Also is way too long, a trailer should be 1 minutes & 30 seconds at max if it's in cinema. Of course, the background music "Hero Story" by Jackie Chan is completely amazing, but it's in Cantonese, and the trailer has no subtitles (this is a DVD version on the video so that's why it does) That might suck if you watched the movie and weren't from China. 7/10

The USA trailer - Gives away the plot in a good, short, sweet way that is easy to understand and that doesn't spoil much at all with amazing kick-butt music by Kevin Bassington. The trailer also shows clips that will make the average viewer hella excited to watch the film. 10/10

VIDEO QUALITY

BLU-RAY

VHS

So.. how is it that a VHS released 22 years before a Blu-Ray has better color quality?

SCRIPT

On the SBS on Demand version, the script adds a bunch of un-needed, unnatural words. The re-release also adds some unnecessary profane words like "b1tch" which actually makes Kevin sound like a jerk and it turn, makes the scenes with May more funnier. The re-dub actually has funnier dialogue, as well. I guess it's better when you understand the language.
In turn - the re-dub script's better.

CUT / SWAPPED SCENES

The US dub has a lot of cut scenes, so I will list every cut scene here.

All the scenes with the agitated Frank (the cop who shoots a mirror). A few seconds of Kevin after one of the scenes.

The photo-shoot scene is cut out, thus resulting in 47 seconds of the film gone.
In the Hong Kong version during the fake murder attempt, you get more shots of tired Selina.
Mars bumping his head on the lights.
Kevin biting his way into the mask.
46 seconds in the courtroom are removed.
Koo watching Kevin on the news in his office.
The entire phone scene. However, a few seconds before this scene (Kevin getting told what to do, asking a question, getting an answer and talking to a cop who works for Chu on the phone and telling him he only has 3 days.) are still there.
The angry speech Kevin makes in Li's office.

The Japanese version is 1 hour & 48 minutes.

The original Hong Kong version is 1 hour & 36 minutes.
The export version is 1 hour and 27 minutes.
13 minutes have been cut out from the theatrical version.

ADDED SCENES

In the US theatrical version, a shot of Selina clicking "record" on the tape recorder is added. 1 second long, which does fix a minor minor MINOR plothole.

MUSIC

The original score is composed by Lai Siu-tin, and the re-dub score is composed by Kevin Bassington.

Lai-Siu Tin's score - Inspired by the main theme song, and has a lot of re-used tracks. Still a banger and is definetly worth listening too. Especially the tracks with Ondes Martinot.

Bassington's score - A slap-bass synthesizer score that is incredibly 80s and satisfying to listen too. Sometimes a bit of the instruments get a little bit annoying and go on for a while though.

Lai Siu Tin's score: 11/10

Bassington's score: 7/10

COVERS

VHS

BLU-RAY

The VHS cover is more exciting and summarizes up the film on the back well.

OVERALL: THE RE-DUB VHS FROM 1988 WINS!!

ActionRocks

Hong Kong action film buff.

2 weeks ago

Release date: Oct 27, 1984
Rated PG (15+)
AAAAARRRGGGH.
After watching the Cobra Kai series and the Jacky Chan remake, I eventually figured it was time to watch the original. Was I dazzled? No. Was I dissapointed? No.
With a cliched plot that has been copied from probably over a million films, this film is tiring in terms of plot and term of action.
With slow but for some reason, still painful hits, the action department of this film was a bit of a fail, just as with the emotion department. LaRusso is the victim of bullying while simultaneously a literal JERK. You really fail to feel bad for him, unlike with Jaden Smith, a wonderful actor and terrible rapper. Ralph Macchio didn't take on a dog poop music career, which is why I still have a hint of sympathy for him.

He yells at his mother and his kung fu teacher, Mr. Miyagi, who looks ancient but unconvincingly still can kick butt. Huh?
My god. My opinions of this films go up and down like a Ferris Wheel. I love it! Nah, it's bad. NOW I LOVE IT! And I hate it. JUST PICK ONE, ME!
Yeah, I love it.
Rating: 7/10

ActionRocks

Hong Kong action film buff.

2 weeks ago

Two ex-special forces soldiers must escort a group of civilians along Baghdad's "Highway of Death" to the safety of the Green Zone.
Review

Let's talk about the story. The story reminds me of the 1973 classic "Enter the Dragon". But this film is nothing like that.

Let's talk about the two main stars. Jackie Chan & John Cena, what a random duo. This would surely turn out to be a horrible movie, right? Well, no. Chan and Cena have some good chemistry and great lines in the bloopers and the movie.

Let's talk about the action. The action is enjoyable, but really nothing special. It becomes less special when you release Jackie was 64 at the time this was filmed, so all his performances are mostly stunt doubles. This is an average run of the mill one of his movies where the idea of having him in a role is cool but the movie doesn't turn out to be that cool.

The dialogue is pretty funny, I can say that. But I can ALSO say that this movie relies on the dialogue and none of the action, really. There's no cool tricks or kicking, just guns and running and random punching.

I can say the film could have been a lot better but still pretty enjoyable.

Rating: 5.5/10

ActionRocks

Hong Kong action film buff.

2 weeks ago

Release date: July 31, 1986
Rated PG (15+)
Oh waa blah blah blah the Karate Kid 2 is such a bad sequel blah blah- SHUT THE HELL UP. THIS MOVIE IS A MASTERPIECE. IT IS CRIMINNALLY UNDERATED. I WILL DEFEND IT UNTIL I DIE. HELL, I MAY EVEN DEFEND IT AFTER I DIE.
So, I will admit, this film and it's predecessor are two completely different ideas. They take place miles away. The first one is about a boy competing in a Kung Fu tournament to prove to his bully he's strong. And this one is about that boy traveling to Japan with his master.
So of course, this film has such a different feel to it and a very unique story that's hard to follow. And I'm honestly digging it.

I enjoyed every fight in this film heavily. Every action sequence, every plot twist. I watched it and I loved it. Hell, I might even watch the movie again. Get it on DVD AND Blu-Ray.
Rating: 10/10

ActionRocks