Seriously weird as only the best, completely-barking-mad kung fu flicks can be, The Thundering Mantis is the story of Ah Chi, a martial artist who hooks up with a kid sidekick. However, an old grudge resurfaces, with the result that the boy's uncle is murdered and the boy himself kidnapped. So far so Arnie-in-Commando, but it's at this point we're reminded that indigenous martial arts movies are something else again, as Ah Chi's rescue attempt goes disastrously wrong and the boy is tortured to death before his eyes. Apparently driven to insanity by this experience, Ah Chi goes berserk, breaking free and systematically trashing everything and everyone in sight. End of movie. Devotees will absolutely want this in their collections, but those who have yet to progress beyond the Jackie Chan/Jet Li school of Americanised martial arts films will need to leave their preconceptions at the door. There's a nice touch to the dubbed English soundtrack, where the voiceover artists seem to have taken it upon themselves to imitate various British character actors: listen out for Wilfred Brambell, Kenneth Connor and so on. On the DVD: The Thundering Mantis has no extras on the widescreen DVD other than a one-screen guide to other titles in the Kung Fu Connection series. --Roger Thomas
International action legend Jet Li stars in this action-packed martial arts epic. Three years after the infamous Dragon Inn was left in ruins, a new gang takes over, using it as their base to uncover a hidden treasure. But secrets lie within its walls, as a pregnant palace courtesan and a swordswoman take refuge from a determined royal who is determined to hunt them down. As an explosive mix of warriors, fugitives and assassins converge in the desert for a deadly showdown, only one man can protect the women - the mysterious Zhao (Jet Li) With eye-dropping special effected and stunning battle sequences, this martial arts masterpiece delivers knock-out action that has to be seen to be believed.
Using a faulty thriller for his soapbox as an outspoken critic of China, a devout follower of the Dalai Lama, and an influential supporter of Tibetan freedom, Richard Gere resorts to the equivalent of propagandistic drama to deliver a heavy-handed message. In other words, Red Corner relies on a dubious strategy to promote political awareness, but director Jon Avnet appeals to the viewer's outrage with such effective urgency that you're likely to forget you're being shamelessly manipulated. Gere plays a downtrodden TV executive who sells syndicated shows on the global market, and during a business trip to China he finds himself framed for the murder of the sexy daughter of a high Chinese official. Once trapped in a legal system in which his innocence will be all but impossible to prove, Gere must rely on a Chinese-appointed lawyer (played by Bai Ling) who first advises him to plead guilty but gradually grows convinced of foul play. Barely attempting to hide its agenda, Red Corner effectively sets the stage for abundant anti-Chinese sentiment, and to be sure, the movie gains powerful momentum with its tale of justice gone awry. It's a serious-minded, high-intensity courtroom drama with noble intentions, but one wonder if it has to be so conspicuously lacking in subtlety. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
Since bursting onto the martial arts film scene in 1973 Jackie Chan has become one of the world's most popular stars. His movies - which he acts in performs his own stunts for and often directs - have earned millions at the box office. In Fearless Hyena he plays a young man whose grandfather and teacher Master Chen escapes from the tyrannical Ching Dynasty and come to live in his village. Although Jackie wants to learn martial arts more than anything his grandfather won't permit this out of fear that the villainous Ching rulers will come after him. After seeing his grandfather murdered Jackie promises to get revenge. So he enlists the aid of Master Chen who teaches the young student kung fu. Soon the pupil has learned enough to make him invincible --even against the infamous death blows. Now Jackie sets out to avenge his grandfather's death.
Once hailed as the rarest film to find on video Easter Heroes has now put this Kung-fu classic onto DVD. Happy go lucky but morally upstanding son of a wealthy business man Kwok Chung is always getting into fights much to his father's disapproval and when he comes to the aid of a prostitute he is nearly killed. A mysterious Snake fist fighter Yue Yi saves his skin but this doesn't stop Kwok getting into trouble again with the local casino boss. The stranger gives Kwok lessons in the snake fist and he soon masters the art but he also learns that his father is actually the owner of the brothel and the casino which he had earlier raided. Disgusted by the revelation Kwok sets up a meeting only to discover that he has been used by his master to lure his father out into the open. The two old timers were in fact both disciples of the snake fist sect but Kwok's father turned to evil and raped and killed Yue Yi's wife. Now after years of waiting Yue Yi will have his revenge but what of Kwok Chung? Watch the three against three ending to find out in the rarest and deadliest Kung Fu ever!
International action legend Jet Li stars in this action-packed martial arts epic. Three years after the infamous Dragon Inn was left in ruins, a new gang takes over, using it as their base to uncover a hidden treasure. But secrets lie within its walls, as a pregnant palace courtesan and a swordswoman take refuge from a determined royal who is determined to hunt them down. As an explosive mix of warriors, fugitives and assassins converge in the desert for a deadly showdown, only one man can protect the women - the mysterious Zhao (Jet Li) With eye-dropping special effected and stunning battle sequences, this martial arts masterpiece delivers knock-out action that has to be seen to be believed.
During the 1970's Cultural Revolution two bourgeois young men from the city are sent to a remote culturally barren mountain village for re-education in Maoist principles. Discovering a hidden cache of books by western writers including Balzac the pair transmit their love of art and literature to the knowledge-hungry local seamstress (Xun Zhou) with whom they promptly both fall in love... Nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film 'Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstr
Two parts family melodrama one part Chinese nationalist history. An unseen narrarator weaves the tale of his grandmother a poor rural Chinese girl sold into marriage to a leprous winemaker. After her husband's death the grandmother transforms the winery into a idyllic community of productive laborers only to have her progress thwarted by the invading Japanese.
The first installment in an exciting new horror franchise. A young writer believes she has discovered the holy grail of terror, the knives used by Jack the Ripper for his notorious murders.
An orphaned girl driven by poverty at such a young age makes a promise with an enchantress. In return for beauty and the admiration of every man she will never be with the man she loves. This spell cannot be broken unless the impossible happens: snow falling in spring and the dead coming back to life. Now a grown and beautiful princess she regrets her promise for all of the men she's loved has always been met with tragedy. In love again with a man behind a red armor and a golden mask who rescues her from death she is tormented by their inevitable parting. Meanwhile Kunlun the slave of a great general is searching for the lost memories of a family he once had. Soon the fate of these two intertwine when the princess believes the general to be her hero thus pulling him into this web of fate. What end will befallen our three characters? Are their fates already sealed by a higher power or can they still choose a life they want?
'Of Cooks And Kung Fu' is a zany martial arts flick in the tradition of Jackie Chan's classic action comedies. The film opens as the family and crew of the empress' head chef are suddenly and mysteriously murdered leaving only an infant nephew as the massacre's sole survivor. As the child grows up he is schooled by his uncle in the fine arts of cooking and kung fu all the while preparing for the day when he will wreak vengeance upon the killer of his family - which seems imminent w
An orphaned girl driven by poverty at such a young age makes a promise with an enchantress. In return for beauty and the admiration of every man she will never be with the man she loves. This spell cannot be broken unless the impossible happens: snow falling in spring and the dead coming back to life. Now a grown and beautiful princess she regrets her promise for all of the men she's loved has always been met with tragedy. In love again with a man behind a red armor and a golden mask who rescues her from death she is tormented by their inevitable parting. Meanwhile Kunlun the slave of a great general is searching for the lost memories of a family he once had. Soon the fate of these two intertwine when the princess believes the general to be her hero thus pulling him into this web of fate. What end will befallen our three characters? Are their fates already sealed by a higher power or can they still choose a life they want?
In the last Big Boss Cheng Chao-On was arrested after killing Hsiao Mi ""The Big Boss"". In this sequel his brother Cheng Chao-Chun visits his brother in Thailand. He then finds a job as an ice factory worker at the same ice factory that his brother worked at. While the previous film never explained why Chao An promised never to fight again it was actually due to the fact that their father was killed in a fight. However the villain in this film is the man who was responsible for th
Fast and furious marial arts action. The undisputed king of kicks Casanova Wong stars in this kung fu flick watch in amazement as he takes on the acrobatic genius of Peter Chen in one of the best screen end fights of all time.
Jim Kelly is back as Black Belt Jones ex-CIA and lethal. 'The North Star' is a priceless diamond. Its theft from an American courier leads Lucas - Black Belt Jones - into a seedy world of strippers and hookers. Fists fly as he smashes his way through the heart of a den of thieves.
Kung Fu superstars Lee Yi Min and Mark ""Ghost Face Killer"" Long team up to fight a merciless gang of bandits in a classic battle of good versus evil.
Kung Fu stars Bruce Liang and Jason Pai Piao lead a group of highly skilled fighters known as the Ten Tigers - real life heroes who roamed China during the last century.
Martial arts epic directed by Hark Tsui. Three years after the the Dragon Inn was burned to the ground, leaving the innkeeper missing, a new bunch of marauders have moved in. But they have ulterior motives. It seems that buried beneath the Inn is a lost city that can only be uncovered in a storm which happens every 60 years. But as they wait for the storm to hit, a woman and her protector come seeking protection from assassins who are out to take her unborn child.
Old skool martial arts from Hong Kong. Finally released from Hong Kong film vaults. Get ready for the amazing supernatural Kung Fu action....
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