Martial Arts > O Martial Arts

Advantages: Plenty Of Brutal Action, Good Photography and Great Music
Disadvantages: Cut Version Has Nonsensical Plot & Is Too Short!

'Return Of The Street Fighter' - Japan- 1974 Fun sequel to Sonny Chiba's groundbreaking 'Streetfighter' film. Takuma Tsurgi returns (as you would expect) to punch kick and stamp his way through his enemies in this 70s brutalist karate film. Chiba for the uninitiated was an Olympic standard karate master who starred in loads of films in Japan over the seventies and eighties. Chiba is awesome as usual, in the 'Streetfighter' films he plays Takuma ...
...Although not a patch on the original, it's full on and gory (although toned down slightly from the first film), it features tonnes of action, funky music, stylish cinematography and some great 70s kitsch. It has a lighter tone than the original with a plot about the mafia blackmailing karate schools to justify the relentless and brutal fight scenes. However most people won't be watching this for it's great plot, instead they'll be watching to witness ... Read review

Advantages: Kylie Minogue, fun, action packed, fast
Disadvantages: Dated now, Jean-Claude Van Damme's acting ability

...Minogue(not bad) fight against the tyranny of Dictator M. Bison (Raul Julia) and his cohorts. The film includes characters from the video games up to and including Super Street Fighter II. I believe Street Fighter is one of the most underated and unfairly roasted films from the '90's. If anything, this is a lively, vibrant, highly entertaining and ever so well made fun filled film. The effects are not bad but more importantly its packed with excitement ...
...the era. Colonel Guile (Jean Claude Van Damme) heads a team of United Nations commandoes on a rescue mission to retreive kidnapped relief workers from the clutches of power mad General M.Bison (Raul Julia) whose a total war lord. He's assisted by his crooked arms supplier Sagat whilst Guile's helped by Cammy (the suprisingly good Kylie Minogue). It may all look slightly over the top and perhaps it doesn't have the most coherent plot in the world, ... Read review

Advantages: Fast paced action
Disadvantages: subtitled or dubbed

Ong bak, starring martial art, and gymastics genius Tony Jaa, is a must see for all martial art lovers. Although subtitled, (i dislike watching it dubbed) its a very good film, and the story is easy to follow. Tony jaa's character is a villager who has spent his life training in the arts of Muay thai, A thai martial art/ sport. His village believe that the condition of their statue Ong Bak bears resemblence to the wellbeing of the village. Basically ...
...become annoyed at the village somehow, steals the head of the statue, and Tony jaa is sent to reclaim it swiftly kicking anyone who gets in the way in the face. (which he does quite a lot. The main aspect of the film is the fact that there are no stunt actors, and no strings or CGI everything you see Tony or others do. Its quite amazing to see what a human is capable of doing. Tony's stunts are vary complex, he can do multiple jumps off a wall for ... Read review

Advantages: Great Fight scenes, some comedy moments
Disadvantages: Weak Plot, Dissapointing

Based on a popular manga, I was expecting a lot more from this movie. However for those expecting something similar to the manga, will be disappointed as this movie does not really follow it as such. Ryo (Jackie Chan) is paid to locate the daughter of his employer. He finds her on a ship, which is hijacked by terrorists, and Jackie must save the girl and the day. Its not exactly a unique storyline or a strong plot. But provides plenty of oppertunity ...
...someone who loves lots of fight scenes, slapstick comedy and some brainless fun for an hour or two, then I would recommend this film. But do not expect a strong story line or any intellectual enhancement from ths movie. Its full of cliches and cheesy moments, but also some funny and enjoyable moments. There are some great fight scenes and comedy moments, but its one of those movies easily forgotten. Its a film that a Jackie Chan fan would perhaps ... Read review

Advantages: father son relationship, action, plot
Disadvantages: dated, some won't like the graphic violence

Shogun Assassin- A Review By Addy Steeped in History Shogun Assassin is a chambara film which means sword fight, and that's what this film offers up in abundance. The film was originally released in 1980 but due to the sheer graphic nature of the film it was banned for many years in this country, {1983-2001} and now has achieved a cult status and huge fan base. This jidaigeki {Period film} is set in Japan during the Edo period and is a film ...
...Beauty and the Beast Shogun Assassin really does combine elements of both beauty and beast. Allow me to elaborate. The beast ☺You may remember that at the beginning of the review I mentioned that this film was formerly banned. This is due to the graphic nature of the battle scenes. Not only is there regular geysers of blood shooting out from gaping wounds but there are images such as swords being buried into heads and heads being split ... Read review