What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

[gasteropod]

(the undeveloped incest theme)

I'm pretty sure when he said he 'sleeps' with his mum he meant exactly that, as we see him sleeping next to her, there's no incest.

[HungFist]

It's been some years since I saw it, but I also don't recall any incest theme

[gasteropod]

Were the guy's learning disabilities due to the insecticide by the way? I wasn't sure if that's what was implied or if it was just me.

[Killer Meteor]

TRIUMPH BY TWO KUNG FU ARTS (1977)

Or, as the credits would have it, "TRIMUP BY TWO KUNG FU ARTS"

Odd attempt at a kung fu family drama weepie, which doesn't lend itself well to a clunky dub. It's trying very hard to be sincere but mostly comes across as slow and sluggish. The fighting isn't especially effective, and in the dub some joker decided to give villian Kam Kong a weird cat-like cry which just makes the fights all the more irritating. Chan Wei Man is an effective prescence as a tortured lead, but overall this one is a bit of a bore. The endlessly repeated ballard on the soundtrack is nice first time around, but by its 40th appearence, you'll be groaning.

4/10

[Markgway]

I'm pretty sure when he said he 'sleeps' with his mum he meant exactly that, as we see him sleeping next to her, there's no incest.

The film teases at more. For example the prurient way 'mother' stares at her son's penis when he's urinating against a wall or how when he slips into bed with her he instinctively places his hand on her breast. The filmmakers forget to develop the theme (although there's a nasty joke later when the glue sniffer claims the son 'fucks' his mother.) I love how the dodgy friend then kicks the punks tooth out.

Were the guy's learning disabilities due to the insecticide by the way? I wasn't sure if that's what was implied or if it was just me.

Hard to say. She may have tried to kill him because of his mental retardation, but that's never made clear. Just one of many holes. Another obvious one being: How does a mother who tries to murder her son with poison (and commit suicide with same) not only evade prosecution and jail, but get to keep and raise her son? Not only that but at no stage is there any mention of social services, despite the boy's inability to function properly. Any so-called 'confession' would've been thrown out immediately upon examination.

[gasteropod]

How does a mother who tries to murder her son with poison (and commit suicide with same) not only evade prosecution and jail, but get to keep and raise her son?

They just threw up and 'shat water', no one knew what she'd done.

[Markgway]

They just threw up and 'shat water', no one knew what she'd done.

I do recall that line...

Not so sure that's how drinking weedkiller works in reality...

But if no one else knew how did the son? This is a guy who can hardly tie his own shoelaces but he remembers his mother tried to poison him when he was five? How would he know that? "Son, I just tried to poison you... but I won't do it again, OK?" She's hardly gonna tell him, especially as a child.

I'm not saying I disliked the film, just that I had some issues.

[Killer Meteor]

BIG BOSS II (1981)

This is probably one of Dragon Lee's most tolerable movies, probably because it's not dubbed by Vaughan Savidge!

In general, the few co-productions Lee worked on are ok, as they tend to feature slightly (I stress slightly) better production values, better casts, MUCH better sound FX, and well, the plots are at least about something important. This film is about the reisistance against the Japanese, GOLDEN DRAGON, SILVER SNAKE is about a flippin farm!!!

Interestingly, on the English dub anyway, two clips from LAST FIST OF FURY and CLONES OF BRUCE LEE are spliced in, including the music (Gonna Fly Now!!!) and sound FX from those two productions. This would carry over into the Asso Asia acquired Dragon Lee movies.

Besides Ko Fei, Bolo, Cheung Nik and To Bai Bo, the vast majority of the cast seems to be Korean. Very little attempt is made at making this actually look like China - a lot of the actresses wear those terrible Korean dresses that suggest an abnormally large pregnancy.

6/10

[Markgway]

You know, there are so many films with that title I had to look it up to see which one it was, lol. I've not actually seen it, but its original export title is 'Dragon Bruce Lee, Part II'. Released in Korea in 1981, but could've been filmed at any time within the previous 3-4 years (never came out in Hong Kong). Most likely a Taiwanese co-production (with some scenes filmed there too).

[Killer Meteor]

I put the English version at at least 1980, as it has music from the Disney film The Black Hole.

Bit daft to call it Big Boss II, its more of a Fist Of Fury rip-off.

[HungFist]

Saitama no rapper (8000 Miles) (Japan, 2009) – 3.5/5
Fukuya – a fictional small town with no record store: a bad place for wanna-be rappers. Yu Irie’s surprise hit is a welcome addition to the Japanese sub-genre of slacker movies. The modestly budgeted film looks rough, but comes with enough energy and thrilling acting moments to place itself somewhere between the works of Nobuhiro Yamashita and Yuya Ishii. Irie’s loser rappers are played by a mostly amateur but highly motivated cast. The 8 minute ending shot especially is a standout. Former AV-star Mihiro, playing a semi-fictional version of herself, is cast in an amusing supporting role.

Saitama no rapper 2: Chick Rappers (Japan, 2010) 1.5/5
A breathless sequel trades guy-humor for girl rappers. The change is a problematic one: loser comedy tends to work better - be it for the reviewer’s sex-biased views if you will – with dumbass male heroes that are easy to laught at than young females as its pathetic heroes. Regardless, the biggest problem is the lack of such energy and clever moments that made the original film a breath of fresh air. What the sequels succeed in is merely an occasional rap battle, and the always-good Sakura Ando in a supporting role.

[Killer Meteor]

36th Chamber: The Final Confrontation (1981)

A re-titled Shaolin Drunk Monk, this is one of Gordon Liu's ventures into Korean films. It's a corny, melodramatic flick, with Liu being a bit of a bastard, and a One Armed Boxer type character is extremely hammy. Thanks to the choreography of Lau Kar Leung, this is much better then usual for Korean faire of the time, with only the usually irritation Vaughan Savidge dubbing dragging it down into boredom. Surprisingly dark for its time.

6/10 (might have been higher with better dubbing)

[Markgway]

Saw 'The Drunken Monk' years ago and didn't like it. Unlike many kung fu movies shot in Korea with known Chinese stars I think this one isn't a co-production despite possibly bogus Chinese credits.

[Killer Meteor]

Is it Korean or Chinese/HK, sorry?

[Markgway]

Is it Korean or Chinese/HK, sorry?

I think Korean, but that's without proper checking. Those Chinese credits may be bogus. Just like some of the Korean credits on co-productions (fake AND genuine) are bogus.

[Killer Meteor]

Heck, maybe even the Lau Kar Leung credit is fake?

The height of the cheek with this practice can be seen when Canadian company Cinar released a Japanese cartoon series based on The Wizard Of Oz to English markets. Cinar promptly gave the animation credits solely to the team who did the English title sequence, with no mention at all of any Japanese participation.

[Markgway]

Heck, maybe even the Lau Kar Leung credit is fake?

Quite likely.

[Yi-Long]

Heck, maybe even the Lau Kar Leung credit is fake?

The height of the cheek with this practice can be seen when Canadian company Cinar released a Japanese cartoon series based on The Wizard Of Oz to English markets. Cinar promptly gave the animation credits solely to the team who did the English title sequence, with no mention at all of any Japanese participation.

That was one of the very best cartoons ever, btw. Absolutely loved it. Probably the best incarnation of The Wizard of Oz ever.

[Killer Meteor]

I love the opening English song lol. Its funny that I saw that before the Judy Garland version...

[Yi-Long]

I still haven't seen the original movie...

[Killer Meteor]

I've seen the ORIGINAL movie, from 1910...

[Killer Meteor]

EAGLE SHADOW FIST (1973)

Before Jackie Chan was kung fu's clown prince, he was a footman in all manner of tat, not least this bizarre little number that gives every appearence of having been made for propaganda purposes by an old-timer who thought there was still a war on...

It's a rather bizzare film, as it feels like a hold-over from the 1950s - the shrieking title theme sounds like something out of an old news-reel on the Bataan Death March.

Jackie Chan looks almost unrecognisble - just as well, his acting is rather grotesque here. Wong Ching makes for a poor lead - and is it me, or does his rudeness to the hooker cause all the death and destruction?

Fight choreography - well, looks like something from the 1950s. That end fight seems longer then purgatory.

The best part? NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN playing following an eye gouging.

5/10 for old newsreel atmosphere if nothing else

[luckystars]

Good review thanks Ivan

[Killer Meteor]

thank you!

[Killer Meteor]

Shaolin Invincible Sticks (1978)

Standard kung fu, with Wang Tao and Chang Yi as the hero and villian, and Kam Kong in quite a good supporting role. Unfortunatly much of the first half is dominated by a disturbing man child character with a really grating voice, who makes Dean Shek seem like, I dunno, someone serious and restrained...Good action but too many frame cuts (and the BBFC cuts to the tape probably don't help either). 5/10


Mantis Fists And Tiger Claws Of Shaolin (1977)

Now THIS is something else. A bizzare rape revenge tale with kung fu action, Dean Shek in a straight role as the villian, a poor girl getting raped at least three times and then SPOILER it turns out she's a were-mantis because a normal mantis climbed up her mother's vagina and inpregnated her!!!!! Seriously, I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE has nothing on this! The kung fu is a tad repetetive but the horror movie elements really make a difference - 7/10