11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not even in the same league as Kung Fu Hustle. . ., April 5, 2006
This review is from: 18 Fingers of Death (DVD)
I'm glad this movie is in the " comedy " section otherwise I'd not known it was a comedy. I laughed one time. To say this is in anyway as clever or funny as Kung Fu Hustle is like comparing Rosie O'Donnel to Cindy Crawford. I think you get my point.
I think you could take one of those 18 fingers of death and poke your own eye out. That would be slightly more enjoyable then having to watch this movie.
I got to see this movie for free yet I somehow feel I should in some way get my money back. It's the oddest feeling. Kinda goes with the bitter taste left in my mouth after having watched this movie.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Please save yourself!, May 17, 2006
This review is from: 18 Fingers of Death (DVD)
Okay, quick story to enhance the review. A friend and I once rented "Invincible" with Billy Zane, we were pretty horrified by how terrible it was. We had a running joke that nothing could be worse. Well, looks like we found it! This is, by far, no questions, the worst movie I have ever seen in my life. I don't know how anyone even paid to create this. I assume it ended the way it did because someone paid them to stop.
Seriously, do not rent this, don't buy it, don't do anything that would encourage whoever made this to make anything like it ever again! This movie will remain in my memory forever as a scar burned that will never be removed.
It seemed to be a completely random collaboration of interviews that mocked actors by slightly altering their names and making jokes that were indecipherable. The parts that made me smile were the ending and the fact that the "stop" button halted my suffering.
If it were possible I would give this a 0 or negative number of stars. I would be able to safely bet insane amounts of money that there is no movie worse. The two main reasons. The actors could actually do kung-fu and were good at it, but they never really did because whoever made this had no idea what they were doing. The other reason, the movie actually exists, and no one could ever explain why.
Please erase this movie from your memory and scorn anyone who ever mentions it in a positive manner. It is the only proper way to deal with it.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
FLUFFY BUNNY FEET OF DEATH, July 15, 2008
This review is from: 18 Fingers of Death (DVD)
The five star rating on this was an error, but amazon won't let you correct such errors after they are made. It was supposed to be 3 stars.
18 FINGERS OF DEATH is the story of kung fu movie fan-boy Ronald Mack (played by Maurice Pata) and his completely irrational determination to make a documentary of the objection of his obssession,the most over-worked, least appreciated kung fu movie "star" of all time Buford Lee. Who? Buford Lee, "The only action star who does his own stunts AND his own hair!" Pity poor Buford. He has made 803 films in his career as a kung fu movie star and yet no one has the slightest idea who he is, or has the tiniest bit of respect for him, facts with which Buford is cheerfully unconcerned. He just wants to keep making his movies. And this is where his problems arise.
In the course of the documentary we meet some colorful characters. We encounter two of Ronald's friends, who may constitute a goodly portion of Buford's Los Angeles fan base, as they ravage a video store in search of lost gems such as his 49th film, THE LEGEND OF YOUNG DRAGON which was released in the US as I'LL KILL YOU UNTIL YOU ARE DEAD. Then there's the beauteous Sushi Cue,a kwailo who nearly gets Buford killed by pushing him off a roof while setting up an advertising stunt for her employer Honorable Fortune Cookies. And of course we also meet Buford's long suffering parents; his proud mother who brags endlessly, and his beleaguered father Pat Morita, (in one of his last film roles)who isn't allowed to say a word in protest.
Every documentary of this kind must also have interviews with all the famous folks Buford has worked with over the years, and their name is legion starting with David Carravousier who played Kwai Shame Kane in the 1970's tv hit BONG FU. Buford was "killed" on that show when Kane accidentally hit him with a staff while Buford's character was sweeping up the temple. An interesting aside is that Ronald had only recently learned that Carravousier was NOT Chinese! What a stunner. He also worked with Steve Seefood, Chuck Snorris, and Billy Buff. The first had little intelligible to offer in his interview since he was eating at the time, the second kept trying to sell Ronald exercise equipment, and the third, well, its just didn't work out. Pun intended.
Its at about this point in the film that Buford's life takes a turn for the worse--the financial backers have pulled out of his latest film leaving him high and dry with absolutely no prospects for the first time in his career. No matter who he tries to impress with the fact that his last film, 17 FINGERS OF DEATH, made $615.31 net profit no one wants to produce his film. Ronald is the one who comes up the big idea that may just save the day. While reading a copy of "Variety" he notices that the Sundance Film Festival has a category for films shot on dvd! Its the perfect answer to everyone's problems; Buford can make his new film, 18 FINGERS OF DEATH, with Ronald serving as director etc, while Ronald can simultaneously complete his documentary on Buford! For Ronald, who has always wanted to work in films, what could be better? The deadline for Sundance is in one week, and Buford has never taken THAT long to finish a movie before so there shouldn't be any problems at all!
Will they be able to complete the film in time? Will Buford finally get the respect he deserves? Will you actually care enough to rent this movie and find out?
Of course not! Pity poor Buford and pity poor James Lew, for this film is actually a comedic autobiography. A look at what 35 years of doing everything from modeling kung fu outfits and demonstrating equipment in martial arts magazines to catch-me-if-you-can cameos on tv's KUNG FU to being killed and/or having his butt kicked by stars including the likes of Kurt Russell, Mel Gibson, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Seagal, Norris, Van Damme, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Charlie Sheen, Brandon Lee, and even Sarah Michelle Gellar for God's sake. And then finally getting his own feature film only to find he isn't even pictured on the front cover! , Rodney Dangerfield was deified.
This is not a parody of the life of Jackie Chan as some have suggested, this is a satire of Lew's own life as he approaches his mid-forties and realizes that it ain't gonna get any better than this, he is never gonna be a big movie star--and that's okay. Like Buford he remains indefatigable and cheerfully optimistic in the face of reality.
So did I like it or not? And should you see it or not? Sure I liked it for what it was-- a silly little introspective movie with some kung fu thrown in. Should you see it? Not unless my reason really turned you on. My rating of 5 stars is another error. Its at best a 2 and 1/2 which I will round up to 3 stars for sentimental reasons.
Lew did have at least one additional starring role; SOUL OF THE AVENGER which co-starred, among others, Mark Pellegrino, Nancy Kwan, Kato Kaelin, Karen Sheppard and Richard Norton. The fact that I'm not reviewing IT should say it all.
Title explanation: Lew appeared in HOT SHOTS PART DEUX as the muscular Thai boxer who spits up his own walnuts after a fight with Sheen. In the first HOT SHOTS we learned that Sheen's character's Native American name translate's to "Fluffy Bunny Feet". On the cover of 18 FINGERS you will notice the not-James Lew-central person is wearing the same fluffy bunny slippers Sheen wore in HOT SHOTS. VOILA! Title explained.
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