With less drama and more slapstick than its predecessor, Disney's Mulan 2 continues the animated saga of the young Chinese heroine, Fa Mulan (voiced by Ming-Na Wen, sung by Lea Salonga). The story picks up one month after Mulan has saved her country through bravery and determination. Revered by all, she now returns to her village and becomes engaged to General Li Shang. Wedding plans must wait, however, when the Emperor assigns the couple to a secret mission to escort his three princess daughters across China where their arranged marriages to waiting princes will secure an alliance with a rival kingdom and save China from invasion. Meanwhile, Mulan's wise-cracking guardian dragon, Mushu (voiced by Mark Moseley), realizes that if Mulan's marriage takes place, he is out of a job and so he undertakes his "18-phase master plan" of relationship sabotage to breakup the happy couple. Most of the film's jokes come from Moseley's Mushu (as quick-witted as Eddie Murphy's earlier performance), while a trio of prankish soldiers provide additional comic relief. While the film's overall effort is not as sensational as the original, it offers solid family entertainment, healthy female role models, and a handful of catchy songs. --Lynn Gibson
Mulan: Embraced for her loveable spirited nature Mulan is a young girl who doesn't quite fit into her tradition bound society. When the invading Hun army comes charging over China's Great Wall Mulan's ageing father is ordered into battle! To spare him from harm Mulan disguises herself as a soldier and secretly takes his place in the Imperial army training with a comical ragtag troop led by the courageous Captain Shang. Never far away are Mulan's hilarious guardian dragon Mushu and lucky cricket Cri-Kee. But Mulan will need more than Mushu's razor-sharp wit to defeat the ruthless Hun leader Shan-Yu. Only by staying true to herself will she bring victory to her country and honour to her family. Mulan 2: The spirited Mulan gets the thrill of her life when General Shang asks for her hand in marriage but the surprises are just beginning. Throwing a wrench into their plans is the mischievous Mushu who tries to keep the happy couple apart as long as possible in order to retain his job as her guardian dragon. Adding to their adventure is the fact that Mulan and Shang must escort three princesses across China to their own arranged marriages. When she discovers that these three women aren't looking forward to their upcoming weddings Mulan makes a bold decision that will change the course of history!
Director Zhang Yimou brings the sumptuous visual style of his previous films (Raise the Red Lantern, Shanghai Triad) to the high-kicking kung fu genre. A nameless warrior (Jet Li, Romeo Must Die, Once Upon a Time in China) arrives at an emperor's palace with three weapons, each belonging to a famous assassin who had sworn to kill the emperor. As the nameless man spins out his story--and the emperor presents his own interpretation of what might really have happened--each episode is drenched in red, blue, white or another dominant color. Hero combines sweeping cinematography and superb performances from the cream of the Hong Kong cinema (Maggie Cheung, Irma Vep, Comrades: Almost a Love Story; Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, In the Mood for Love, Hard Boiled; and Zhang Ziyi, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). The result is stunning, a dazzling action movie with an emotional richness that deepens with every step. --Bret Fetzer
This John Irvin film is a small, hard-edged little gem, full of crisp action and tough-minded codes of honour. Harvey Keitel stars as a retired professional criminal whose younger brother (Timothy Hutton) lures him to Los Angeles for a can't-miss heist in Palm Springs. But Hutton hasn't picked his other partners very well, particularly wheelman Stephen Dorff: when it's time to divvy up the spoils, Dorff kills Hutton and a fourth partner and tries to rub out Keitel. Keitel escapes, however, and trails Dorff back to L.A., where he also figures out which Chinese mob he's tied in with. It's strictly revenge time from there on out, with Keitel as the one-man wrecking crew cutting a bloody swathe through the L.A. underworld. Keitel is grittily good, a man of few words and many bullets, while Dorff is an enjoyably sleazy psychopath. A violently propulsive little film noir. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com
Jackie Chan stars as Ting Chung the man entrusted because of his martial arts skills to act as bodyguard by the beautiful Nan Nan to escort her seriously-ill brother to the home of the only doctor who can save his life.
One of a collection of films recently discovered in the Hong Kong film archives and now available for the first time in the UK. One of the most popular stars in the martial arts world Dragon Lee performs in this epic account of an attempt to overthrow the Ching government. The fighting is fast furious and brutal as you would expect from this master of Kung Fu. Dragon Lee was considered by many to have taken over the crown worn by the true master Bruce Lee and in 'The Angry Dragon'
Old skool martial arts from Hong Kong. Finally released from Hong Kong film vaults. Get ready for the amazing supernatural Kung Fu action....
The leader of a group of bandits known as the Nine Devils has been captured by the authorities and is to be moved from the city to the prison through Sunset Valley. The bandits plan to ambush the convoy to release their leader known as The Golden Tiger. The Nine Devils attack a village slaughtering all the adults leaving the children to flee into the hills hotly pursued by the evil bandits who are ambushed and killed by two Shaolin Monks. One of the monks say he has fought The Golde
A larger-than-life hero spectacular cinematography and an epic story originating from a famous Mongolian epic tale Gada Meilin is the story of a reluctant leader who guides his people to victory against a tyrannical government who wants to steal their land. Highlighting the beautiful scenery of the Mongolian prairie native music performed by Mongolian superstar Tang Ga-al the fascinating local customs and uninhibited character of the Mongolian people Gada Meilin portrays the unforgettable symphonic poem of heroes.
City Of God (2002): Youth gangs took over the slums of Rio de Janeiro during the 1960s and didn't relinquish their stronghold until the mid-1980s. Only a sucker wouldn't have turned to crime and this is exactly how naive teen Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues) views himself. His attempts in illegal activity fail as he finds potential victims too friendly. Equally unsuccessful in love he regularly fails to lose his virginity. Blood spills throughout the streets of the Cidade de Deus as gang leader Li'l Ze (Douglas Silva) is challenged by local druglords and a gang of pre-teens known as the Runts. Nominated for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2004 Oscars. (Dir. Fernando Meirelles Cert. 18) Hero (2004): One man will challenge an empire... In pre-Imperial China feared warrior Nameless (Jet Li) is granted an audience with the ruler of the most powerful of the seven warring kingdoms (Chen Daoming). Posing as a minor official Nameless sets about his mission of revenge by relating the tale of how he defeated the three most fearsome of the ruler's adversaries. However nothing is as it seems and Nameless is placed in great personal peril as the king suggests a very different version of events which brought him to the palace... Filled with breathtaking wirework-enhanced martial arts sequences from action choreographer Ching Siu-Tung ('New Dragon Gate Inn' 'A Chinese Ghost Story') truly sumptuous cinematography from the legendary Christopher Doyle ('In The Mood For Love') and an expressive traditional score from Tan Dun ('Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon') Zhang Yimou's elegant epic features an intriguing 'Rashomon' style flashback structure that will keep the audience guessing until the very end. The most expensive movie ever made in China and a blockbuster upon its' theatrical release in the U.S. 'Hero' showcases the outstanding talents ofa multi-award winning cast including the pairing of Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung as star crossed lovers the coquettish Zhang Ziyi ('Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon') as a feisty apprentice venerated Chen Daoming lending gravitas as the Emperor-in-waiting and real-life martial arts masters Donnie Yen and Jet Li who co-designed perhaps the greatest duel ever committed to celluloid. Nominated for both an Oscar and a BAFTA 'Hero' is an exceptional example of Asian cinema and ""really is one of the best looking films ever made."" - The Guardian
Please wait. Loading...
This site uses cookies.
More details in our privacy policy