3.0 out of 5 stars
VERY average movie with a great original music score and good comedy that would haev been grerat with some better execution, July 1, 2006
This review is from: Ninjas and Dragons (DVD)
But we all know what a kugn fu movie comes down to, the action. That's right, this movie just didn't have it. Good, watchable story that will give you a few laughs, but with NO known actors, this is certainly not a lost gem.
The movie starts out with a commander killing the general to get a seal that will be used as a stamp to send out supplies to the troops for the war? Yeah, a little too broad but luckily, this doesn't try to be some sort of an epic movie. The commander is the only kung fu actor that I recognized from this whole movie. You may remember him as the baddie from the classic "South Shaolin Master". Sadly, he doesn't look great at all and I would put about 7 performances ahead of him.
The character actors are the thing that really kept me into this film, we have a strong man who must be a stunt man also cause he does an unbelievable stunt in the final fight that needs to be seen to be believed. There is a witch lady who is the one running evrything and the person who is beign sent these supplies for the troops. There is a little kid in this movie who is sort of funny but endend up freaking me out a bit. The kid/midget is the witches like sidekick or son, I don't really know. The witch is a man playing the role of a weird looking woman. The witch's Top henchman is also in drag and he does soem very good wushu.
Now I can't get over the fact of how much this is of a rip off of "ninja in the dragon's den". maybe it's just because corey yuen's classic is one of my top 10 favorites ever it put me off a little bit. But luckily we get a much different story, but then at teh end, they revert back to comedy, this film just didn't know what it wanted to be. I mean they had teh tools, ninja in a really cool hallowwen mask, plenty of sweet ninja tricks, great actors, only one or two great stunts, but then at the end, the person behind the mask isn't a good surprise at all and really ruined it for me. So don't get me wrong, DO NOT expect a godfrey ho type of movie, just one that could have been a classic. And whoever is really actually behind that mask can kick HIGH!
Also I know I didn't really talk about the action so here ya go. Good, but not spectacular all the way through. The Japanaese guy and the guy in the mask can kick HIGH, but that is about it. Other than a couple of really cool secret weapons, I have seen hundreds of better action films.
Now brentwood has called this compay RARESCOPE for a reason. I have never heard of any of these movies except one. That is pretty cool to me. Now this movie is the worst of the 3 I have seen so far form RARESCOPE, but still good. So here are some of the actors and tell me if you people recognize any of these. Junya Takagi(1 movie on Imdb, 2005-Takeshis'), Dong Li(lol), Sun kenfa, xia ching, rong ropei.. Yeah, you are not gonna recognize anybody, even MA choreographer and director can't be found. I even looked up all 3 assistant directors, and found notta!
So the movie is certainly rare, just not great. The picture quality is fabulous and I would put it slightly above the picture for the "lost swordship". Perfectly letterboxed and sound quality that is also evry good, I actually have to recommend this, cause i knwo a lot of people out there will probably really like this movie if they are just getting into this stuff.
The extras include an interview with a stunt man from the movie-Yukio Someno. He talks about how he studied under master Kenei Mabuni, also was an instructor himself. Started as a stunt actor for the shaws like EVERYONE did back then and did a lot of doubling for horse riding. He also has some fubulous cheesily fake storuies about various things. For example, did you know he was responsible for bruce lee going to golden harvest and not the shaw brothers? LOL!!!!!!!! Apparently he is also the reason that one of my favorite actors EVER, Y. Kurata became sucessful. Apparently the shwas didn't want kurata, he was going back to japan, yukio said stay in hong kong, and he ends up taking credit for him beign a star, hilarious stuff!!! The only thing I found useful as far as info wise was how the film was not released in japan, though was a co production between japan and hong kong. Very interesting. Also said they wanted sanada to do the film, yeah, ya think, too bad.
Trailers are the saem as the other 3 movies out by this company. WHEN IS 3 FAMOUS CONSTABLES and CHANG CHEH'S NINJAS IN ANCIENT CHINA BEIGN RELEASED!!!!!!!!???????????!!!!!!!!!
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1.0 out of 5 stars
This is not a ninja flick, September 20, 2009
This review is from: Ninjas and Dragons (DVD)
If you are looking for a quality Ninja film, good action and some historical value, then don't buy this. Hong Kong B- Movie trash is what this is, not to mention the sub titles are almost impossible to read at times, terrible film transfer! To put it more simple, if you are looking for a quality Ninja film then don't buy it, if your are looking for a cheesy Kung Fu film, then this might be right up your alley.
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