"Actor: Yang Chen"

• The Stormriders | DVD | (22/10/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The Stormriders transplants Macbeth into a medieval China in director Andy Lau's reinvention of classical tragedy as CGI-laden blockbuster. Officially the source material is a best-selling Manga, and the flying heroes with magical powers and the wild camera angles do indeed have a real graphic-novel flair. As the warlord Sonny Chiba is a commanding presence, while Ekin Cheng as Wind and Aaron Kwok as Cloud are perfect contrasting comic-book warriors. Kristy Yeung is a suitably lovely heroine, while Shi Qi provides irritating comic relief. There is style to burn, with beautiful imagery bearing the influence of Ridley Scott and, in the "blur-motion" duel in a bamboo forest, Wong Kar-Wai; indeed, Lau has served as Kar-Wai's cinematographer. Spectacular yet laden with symbolism The Stormriders is a film to bridge the appeal of Ashes of Time (1994) and The Bride with White Hair (1993) with the Superman (1978) and Mummy (1999) movies. The fights and a romantic flying sequence pay homage to the former, the computer effects update the groundbreaking Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain (1983) with the technology of the latter. Sometimes overly ambitious or just plain bizarre The Stormriders is an emotionally charged darkly romantic adventure which outclasses any comic-book adaptation Hollywood has made in years.On the DVD: The first disc presents the 127-minute director's cut in its original 2.35:1 ratio with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. While the sound is clean, dynamic and makes great use of all the channels the picture is presented non-anamorphically, so that while well-focused, with strong colours and little sign of artefacting, it is not as solid or detailed as it could be. The main special features are two documentaries, a general "making-of" running 22 minutes, and a 20-minute "featurette" on the special effects. Both are promotional pieces made at the time of the film's release. The second disc features the US trailer and an object lesson in how to ruin a film, i.e. the "international" version ofThe Stormriders. Cut by 38 minutes, horribly panned and scanned and dubbed, this is a travesty that destroys all the beauty and atmosphere and renders the story incomprehensible. Why anyone would watch it when they have the complete film on the first disc is a mystery. The sound is again Dolby Digital 5.1 and the 4:3 image is fair. --Gary S Dalkin

• Avenging Fist | DVD | (19/08/2002) from £7.02   |  Saving you £12.97 (64.90%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The adventures of Nova a young fighter who is guardian of his family legacy an all-powerful martial arts style known only as 'The Avenging Fist'. When 'Combat 21' the leader of an underground movement known as 'The Red Dragons' discovers the existence of the style he will stop at nothing to learn its secrets and combine its strength with the all-conquering 'Power Glove' a technological fighting tool designed to unlock the unknown power of the human mind and body. When th

• Golden Ninja Warrior | DVD | (06/11/2000) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £2.99

  Ninja speed of action meets Ninja speed of thought in Golden Ninja Warrior. The Golden Ninjas decide to return their valuable golden statue to China for an important ceremony. But longtime enemies the Red Ninjas intend to steal the statue and send their best Ninja heroine to draw out the Golden Ninjas leader Max. This is a breath-taking story of underworld revenge murder and Ninja challenges.

• Shaolin - Wheel Of Life | DVD | (01/01/1900) from £6.36   |  Saving you £9.63 (151.42%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Captured at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, Shaolin--Wheel of Life is the complete stage event featuring the undoubtedly unique touring group of oriental monks who present a show that mixes a martial arts display with theatre and music. Rather than simply providing a glorified circus, however, the show itself is based on the monks' own history, focusing on the less-than-obvious story of how a religious order evolved into a group of combatants who look as though they could eat Jackie Chan for breakfast. The monks' abilities are truly astounding, ranging from impossibly graceful acrobatics to don't-try-this-at home feats of strength and endurance involving the breaking of wooden poles and concrete slabs and balancing upon disturbingly sharp objects (the narrator, appropriately, is John Hurt). While it's hard to contain the true atmosphere of such an event on video (although anyone who's seen the show will certainly want a copy), the story-line holds the attention and the charming antics of the boy novices will make your mum go "Aaah!". --Roger Thomas

• A Woman, A Gun and A Noodle Shop | DVD | (18/04/2011) from £6.73   |  Saving you £6.26 (93.02%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Wang is a miserable noodle shop owner in a desert town in China. Feeling neglected, Wang's wife secretly goes out with Li, one of his employees. Li reluctantly keeps a gun his lover bought for killing her husband and together they plot his demise.

• A Man Called Hero | DVD | (21/05/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  An example of Hong Kong action cinema at its most mainstream, A Man Called Hero owes perhaps more to the films of Steven Segal than it does those of John Woo. The tale of a mythical hero who borders on the status of superhero, the film is stripped of any potential credibility by some of the most appalling dubbing ever seen at the cinema. While the original Chinese cast may inject the movie with passion, their American voice-over replacements obviously never made it past the sincere section of acting class. Each line is delivered with such false earnestness that the film sounds like a cross between Days of Our Lives and an episode of Pokémon. No cinematic cliché is left untouched, suggesting that this is not just a case of something lost in the translation but just a bad film... in anybody's language. The world-wide success of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has proved that there is a huge market for original Eastern cinema, even more reason to avoid the pointless rehashing of the worst of Hollywood that A Man Called Hero undoubtedly is. --Phil Udell

• Unleashed/Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon/Kung Fu Hustle | DVD | (02/10/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Unleashed: Serve no master. Written and produced by Luc Besson and directed by Louis Leterrier Unleashed features a fantastic performance from martial arts superstar Jet Li. On and beneath the mean streets of Glasgow fiery gangster Bart (Hoskins) is merciless with debtors would-be rivals and anyone else he takes a passing dislike to. Bart maintains his stranglehold through his unwitting enforcer Danny (Jet Li) who he has 'raised' since boyhood. Danny has been kept as a near-prisoner: trained to attack and if necessary kill. Danny knows little of life except the brutal existence that Bart has so cruelly fashioned for him. However when Danny has a chance encounter with the sightless piano tuner Sam (Morgan Freeman) he senses true kindness and compassion for the first time and experiences the transforming power of music. When a sudden gangland coup separates Danny from Bart and the gang Danny escapes the underworld. Taking refuge with Sam and his stepdaughter Victoria (Kerry Condon) Danny finds a family of sorts and a future... However the mob will not give up their prize asset so easily and Danny must soon call upon his skills once more to protect his family and bury his past. (Dir. Louis Leterrier 2005) Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Amazing martial arts fighting sequences (choreographed by Yuen wo Ping - The Matrix) stunning special effects action adventure and romance have made Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon the most talked about movie of the year. Martial arts masters Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) and Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) battle against evil forces to recover their stolen sword the legendary Green Destiny. (Dir. Ang Lee 2000) Kung Fu Hustle: From walking disaster to Kung Fu master: it's a new comedy unlike anything you have seen before! In the 1940's Chinese province of Guangdong petty thief Sing (Stephen Chow) aspires to become a member of the notorious Axe gang the fiercest cruel and most widespread crime syndicate in the city. However Sing is just a street rascal (trying to ignore the fact that his heart is actually in the right place) and so he ventures into the run-down Pig Sty Alley to prove his worth. However in attempting to extort money from the hairdresser Sing unwittingly exposes the plump landlady her hen-pecked husband the camp tailor and rugged coolie as martial arts masters in hiding. Coming to the attention of the Axe gang who want to clear out the apartments Sing's actions have set off a relentless chain of events that brings the clans together in an explosive battle! Stephen Chow continues his unique comedy style that first came to the attention of the West in Shaolin Soccer mixing slapstick in the finest tradition of Buster Keaton; to marvellous martial arts choreographed by none other than Yuen Woo-ping (The Matrix Kill Bill); to dance sequences with tuxedoed gangsters; to moments of genuine pathos concerning Sing's mysterious history involving a beautiful mute lollipop vendor... (Dir. Stephen Chow 2004)

• The Sword Identity | DVD | (08/09/2014) from £7.94   |  Saving you £8.05 (50.30%)   |  RRP £15.99

  A sword that was meant to be abandoned. A warrior that seeks to honour its legacy. During the Ming Dynasty there lived four families each of them faithful keepers of martial arts. Those who wish to establish a new form or technique must fight their way through the families' gates. But one man's rejected request becomes a matter of death or honour and he is determined to prove that his sword is invincible!

• Eagle Shadow Fist | DVD | (23/06/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Chan plays a famous actor of the Chinese Theatre who becomes a legendary resistance fighter against the Japanese. This was Jackie Chan's first martial arts film.

• The Smart Cavalier | DVD | (25/07/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  After wandering and fighting their way accross China a group of superb Martial Artists come up against the tyrannical Manchu Warlord - 'The Emotional Fox'. Only with the help of the legendary 'Shaking Eagle' can the fighters stand up to the might of the Fox... Superb action choreography from start to finish one of Joseph Kuo's finest offerings.

• Golden Ninja Warrior | DVD | (01/01/1900) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £2.99

  Ninja speed of action meets Ninja speed of thought in Golden Ninja Warrior. The Golden Ninjas decide to return their valuable golden statue to China for an important ceremony. But longtime enemies the Red Ninjas intend to steal the statue and send their best Ninja heroine to draw out the Golden Ninjas leader Max. This is a breath-taking story of underworld revenge murder and Ninja challenges.

• Warm Spring (&quotNuan Chun"") | DVD | (20/10/2008) from £12.13   |  Saving you £0.86 (6.60%)   |  RRP £12.99

  A poor orphaned girl has escaped from her abusive foster parents and finds herself starved and barely conscious in a village of strangers. Only an infirm old man is willing to provide for her care. He is barely able to supply his own needs and so must endure the constant bitterness and betrayal from his son (Baozhu) and daughter-in-law (Jasmine) both now grown and trying unsuccessfully to start a family of their own. Xiao Hua tries desperately to fill this void for them but her innocence is rejected and hurt repeatedly by Jasmine's selfishness. The old man's only wish is to provide Xiao Hua a home and a bright future; he will do anything he could to deliver his promises. Finally the old man's kindness melts down all the boundaries and give Boauzhu and Jasmine a profound family.

• Young Hero | DVD | (25/06/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Hwang jang lee plays a Japanese bushido master who has come to China to destroy all kung fu fighters enter Fok Yuen Gap (Yuan Mao - Jackie Chan's real life kung fu brother) the founder of The Ching Wu Martial arts association after his Father (Kwan Young Moon) gets beaten by Hwang and his posse he trains his secret water technique to defeat Hwangs Merciless Kicks of doom and bring peace to the martial world once more. A real treat for martial arts movie fan never before released in the world on DVD see the mighty kicks of Hwang Jang Lee (Drunken Master) vs. the acrobatic prowess of Yuan Mao (Magnificent Butcher)