Movie Review: The Big Boss (1971) directed by Wei Lo Cheng Chao-An (Bruce Lee) is from an impoverished farming village in China. His kung fu skills are top-notch so he could probably make good money as a professional fighter, but his mother has made him swear on her jade pendant not to fight any more. Instead,… Continue reading Movie Review: The Big Boss
Tag: martial arts
Movie Review: Project A 2
Movie Review: Project A 2 (1987) directed by Jackie Chan Sergeant “Dragon” Ma (Jackie Chan) may have smashed the pirate fleet menacing Hong Kong a few weeks ago, but a policeman’s lot is not a happy one. It seems that Superintendant Chun (David Lam)is suspected of being heavily corrupt. Organized crime in his district operates freely,… Continue reading Movie Review: Project A 2
Movie Review: Summer Wars
Movie Review: Summer Wars (2009) directed by Mamoru Hosoda High schooler Kenji Koiso is a math whiz who almost qualified for Team Japan in the Math Olympics. But almost won’t get you a good summer job, so he’s a low level maintenance admin for the OZ online service. OZ is the most popular online virtual world,… Continue reading Movie Review: Summer Wars
Book Review: Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters
Book Review: Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters edited by Tim Marquitz & N.X. Sharps Like many a Godzilla fan, I have a fondness for movies where gigantic monsters rampage across the landscape. The fandom has more or less adopted the Japanese term for such monsters, kaiju. While the big critters have been a staples of… Continue reading Book Review: Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters
Movie Review: The Armour of God
Movie Review: The Armour of God (1986) directed by Jackie Chan Jackie (Jackie Chan) used to belong to a pop singing group called The Losers. But his best friend Alan (Alan Tam) and sweetheart Lorelei (Rosamund Kwan) fell in love and the group broke up. Jackie switched careers entirely and became a soldier of fortune codenamed… Continue reading Movie Review: The Armour of God
Anime Review: Baki (2018)
Anime Review: Baki (2018) Baki Hanma is not your average high school student. He may look normal if a teensy bulky and with a dull expression on his face with his school uniform on, but once he doffs his outer clothing, it’s clear that he’s possessed of superior musculature and covered in scars. For in… Continue reading Anime Review: Baki (2018)
Movie Review: Chocolate (2008)
Movie Review: Chocolate (2008) directed by Prachya Pinkaew Zin (Ammara Siripong) was a ruthless loan shark and former lover of Thai mob boss Number Eight (Pongpat Wachirabunjong) until she fell in love with Yakuza member Masashi (Hiroshi Abe). Number Eight violently objected to the relationship, which he felt was an invasion of his territory, and Masashi… Continue reading Movie Review: Chocolate (2008)
Book Review: The Bamboo Bloodbath
Book Review: The Bamboo Bloodbath by Piers Anthony and Roberto Fuentes I’ve mentioned before that one of my guilty pleasures is the “men’s adventure” paperback series of the 1970s. Violence, sex, drugs and the particular cultural trends of the Seventies mixed with a macho writing style and pulpish sensibility. In the case of the Jason… Continue reading Book Review: The Bamboo Bloodbath
Movie Review: Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior
Movie Review: Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003) directed by Prachya Pinkaew Don (Wannakit Sirioput) had one job. Go to a remote village in Thailand, buy an ancient amulet at way below market price, and return it to mob boss Komtuan (Suchao Pongwilai) for sale on the black market. He failed because the village chief is saving… Continue reading Movie Review: Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior
Movie Review: Five Deadly Venoms
Five Deadly Venoms (1978) dir. Cheh Chang Many years ago, the Poison Clan used its powerful martial arts techniques for evil. By this means, they amassed great wealth, but also many enemies. The remaining members had to move into the remote wilderness to keep their lore alive. Now the last teacher of the Poison Clan (Dick… Continue reading Movie Review: Five Deadly Venoms