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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Another disappointment..., September 19, 2001
I knew this movie existed for many years but I never heard any reviews about it or was able to find it on video until now and decided to check it out for myself.As a big fan of many of director Chang Cheh's works,I didn't expect to be disappointed with this film but I was dead wrong.From the video cover box,it mentions Chen Kwan Tai,Ti Lung,Lu Feng,and Chen Sing are the feature actors in it.All of their roles were very minor and short when you watch this film.Their action scenes were great as expected but as for hoping to see them throughout the rest of this film,it isn't happening.The main star is actor Li Chao Yin,and he played dual roles as a father and son.Li is a pretty damn good fighter and has much potential,although it is wasted completely in this stinker.It all began over a bitter vendetta between 2 Shaolin clans over many years and it ends up being dragged into modern times with their descendants,(It's a long story and not worth the time of regaling.)All I know is that this entire movie's premise changes completely when it shifts to Thailand and deals with some Muay-Thai kickboxing championship and this guy named Leopard with painted tattoos on his chest and back that seem to conveniently get smeared when he fights,it is truly ridiculous.From that point on,this film is talky,confusing,and awkward after the top-billing stars make their exits.I can't say anymore how much this film disappointed me,with the few exceptions of the way-too-brief-but-cool performances by Ti Lung,Chen Kwan Tai,Lu Feng and Chen Sing,Li Chao Yin's fighting skills,and a very cute beggar girl,this film is just a big mess.This really could've been a better film but I guess it just wasn't to be.Stick with Chang Cheh's better works like CHINESE SUPER NINJAS,10 TIGERS OF KWANG TUNG,SHANGHAI 13,and KID W/THE GOLDEN ARM and avoid this movie...
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Chang Cheh's Worst Film, September 27, 2001
This review is from: Death Ring (DVD)
The movie has some of the great Shaw bro actors but with 5 min roles. Chen Kaun Tai has about 12 seconds of fighting, while Lu Feng has maybe a min and gets his (...) kicked to easily. Not enough Kung Fu but if your into kick boxing then you might enjoy it. The DVD quality is what is you can expect from from a dubbed VCR tape to DVD. This is quite normal for a movie of this type and any true kung fu movie collector wouldn't worry about this. I rate movies based upon the content, the actors, and costumes and humour. The quality of the DVD has little to do with how I rate these types of movies.
This type of movie is nothing like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or Iron Monkey. If your looking for movies like that don't bother watching this.
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2.0 out of 5 stars
Some decent fight scenes but a story that is just urging you not to finish the movie, February 3, 2007
This review is from: Death Ring (DVD)
I am guessing this movie was made at the same time as 'Shanghai 13' or a week or two after. It has pretty much the same cast. Cameos by Chen Kuan Tai, Ti Lung, Chen Sing, and Lu Feng. The lead in the movie is Lee Chung Yat who was the kicker in 'Shanghai 13' that fights Chi Kuan-Chun and gets "a few bruises" from his claw. He is an amazing performer and this movie was worth a watch, at least for me just to see him in a starring role.
Now the story. Wow. While it doesn't make a lot of sense, it really is just completely stupid. I wish I could tell you what is going on. There is a beginning and an end to this movie as far as I can tell but the hour in between is just stupidity. The story is truely as badly done as possible. I liked the inclusion of Thai kickboxing and this is a movie you may enjoy watching once for the fight scenes but it is very doubtful you would ever watch it again. It would just be way too painful to sit through. 'Shanghai 13' was great because the story made sense but they didn't focus on it. The fighting was the only thing that mattered in that movie and there was plenty of it. In 'Death Ring' they ONLY focus on the mindless story and the movie just starts falling apart as it begins. I don't mind plot driven movies but yu need an actual plot. Even if it isn't it can still be exciting but this movie is just a tragedy of filmmaking.
As far as the fights go almost all of them are good. The fights in the ring are probably the worst. Nothing spectacular but Lu Feng shows up at the end to finish the plot they started. The same plot they didn't do anything with for over an hour. Overall, ths movie was probably about 50-60 minutes too long and it is not recommended even for fans of the genre. 1.5/5
Picture is full screened and decent quality. It gets a bit blurry a couple of times but it is still acceptable. Commentary from Ric Myers is Ok but I have heard him too many times and he just repeats stuff from all his other commentaries. He actually says that if you are watching the movie for the first time with the commentary on then just leave it on. I actually agree with him on that. There is really no point in watching the movie but Myer's commentary mildly helps. If you have never heard his commentaries before then you will probably find it enjoyable. After hearing at least 20 of his commentaries I have to say it is actually one of his very best. The only problem is he still makes stupid mistakes riddled throughout his entire ramble. This is not new of course. He always makes uncounted mistakes in every comentary. When speaking about the Venoms for instance, he incorrectly says that 'Kid With the Golden Arm' is a movie where people just fly around at will like all of these novel to screen movies that take place in the martial world. He also says that '2 Champions of Shaolin' had 2 Venoms in it. It would be nice if he had actually seen these movies because people obviously know that 4 Venoms were in '2 Champions of Shaolin'.
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