A Chinese movie that's equal to a Hollywood in grandeur for us was this movie, Hero. It was our first time to watch one as grand and very epic-ky with Jet Li in the lead.
Usually we write in a plot or a synopsis on the movies we watch and review but this time we won't. We want you to watch this one, period. This movie is uncharacteristic of a Chinese movie, maybe just the Kung-Fu stunts, but other than that we were blown away with the story telling.
Although it was just a narration between the Emperor and our Hero, the lines and discussion was essential to the story that we were glued to our seats watching this. Aside from their conversation, the fight scenes were nicely done and choreographed. With a huge budget allotted for this film, money was not spared in production design and costumes.
They also splurged on who's who in Chinese cinema particularly of the martial arts genre. Aside from Jet Li, we have Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Donnie Yen and Zhang Ziyi. Talk about a stellar casting this alone will make you want to watch this movie.
With a film like this, we really had an awakening on the Chinese movie industry.
We can place this movie alongside the other films we love like, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (the first movie) and the House of Flying Daggers. So if you like an action movie with a neck deep story line, get hold a copy of this movie.
While I was still feeling the after effects of Goblin (aka Guardian: The Lonely and Great God) and our reluctance to watch the new The King: The Eternal Monarch (with Lee Min Ho) we happened to come across this movie by Kim Go-Eun. She stars in both Korean dramas and how lucky we are in finding this film.
She is both Hong-ee and Seol-hee here but the movie starts with her as Hong-ee, the daughter of Poong-cheon, one of the three great swordsmen who fights for the oppressed and the poor during the Goryeo era. The other swordsmen were Seol-rang and Deok-gi. The led an uprising that ended badly for them as Deok-gi betrayed both Poong-cheon and Seol-rang when he switched sides. Poong-cheon eventually died here, and Seol-rang escaped with Poong-cheon's daughter Hong-ee. Deok-gi then changes his name to Yoo-baek.
To remain incognito, Seol-rang changed her name as well to Wallso and tries to teach Hong-ee the way of the sword. She learned very well however she wasn't that much interested in sword fighting as she did not yet know how his father died. Seol-rang's and Hong-ee's presence was not know to now Yoo-baek until Hong-ee participated in a sword match and Yoo-baek recognized her fighting style. He was curious of her master so he pursued her, but she escaped.
Seol-rang aka Wallso, knows that their secret was might as well be known, she proceeds to tell Hong-ee that night how his father, Poong-cheon died. She also told her that it was her and Deok-gi (now Yoo-baek) are her enemies now.
Seol-rang then banishes Hong-ee and now begins her path of vengeance.
Along the way, there were twists and turns and eventually Deok-Gi's prophecy of Hong-ee coming back from the past and Poong-cheon's death will be avenged.
We were surprised as to how this story was well written for a Korean movie. Story telling was great and the production was almost comparable already to a Hollywood production. There were minimal character development in the beginning, but hey, this is a Korean movie, so all these were explained in a lot of flash backs.
There were a number of these flash backs that we lost count, and sometimes we got lost honestly. With the characters changing identities it took us a while to adjust and we understood the story when we were able to catch up.
The revenge story plot and twists are however not original as we have seen these scenarios happen in another movie (which we can't remember). Even so, it was our first time to see it in a korean film, so maybe we can count it as original as well? Original or not, we did not see it coming, the twists. So kudos to the production for keeping us in our toes.
The story is rich with colorful characters which maybe they can expound, but they didn't, or they didn't have to. The story revolves only with 3 major characters, yet we find it entertaining and we love the fight scenes. When they fly through the air, we almost forget this is a korean movie, the jumps and flying were reminiscent of the Kung Fu movies we are used to. Some were over the top, but thankfully it wasn't that much of total disregard of the laws of physics.
Kim Go-Eun's performance here we were surprised. We can still picture her from the Goblin as someone who's helpless and meek. Here she was fighting and great with her martial arts skills. It took a while for us to be accustomed to her flying and jumping and slashing all over the screen. She did great here although we still have doubts if she really did some of the stunts hereself. Acting wise, she was great here. Did you know that she won a number of awards in Korea? She always win an award since 2012 till 2017 (except for 2014 - our research can only cover until 2017 so we don't know any awards won 2018 to present).
Another actor we liked here was Lee Byun-Hun who played the general Yoo-baek. This guy is also a multi-awarded actor and he has a separate webpage solely for this purpose. We saw already in movies like Iris: the Movie, Red 2 (with Bruce Willis), GI Joe franchise as Storm Shadow, and the Magnificent Seven (with Denzel Washington). He has a commanding presence here that one can't discount. Performance wise he is heavy and we can really feel his character here. Such a treat to see him on screen.
As to the story telling, the pacing was nicely executed. Great use of scenes slowing down, then speeding up, taking us for a joy ride and we were entertained. We thought the fighting was the gravy here, but we were wrong. The drama was the heavy hitters here or gravy, and the fighting were the side dishes.
Streaming on YouTube is the Filipino dubbed full movie and if you want to watch it. click on the thumbnail below.
Our heroine or bad ass is Eun-Jin (played by Eun-Kyung Shin) grew up in the Korean Mafia and is a top tier person in the organization so to speak. She's an untouchable and hard core gangster yet she has a weakness up her sleeve. She had a sick sister whom she found recently after being separated during their days in the orphanage.
Her dying wish is to see Eun-Jin get married. A tough act since Eun-Jin grew up emotionless and a gangster. She tried dating but nothing fruitful came out of it until she meets a guy who protected her, his name was Kang Soo-Il.
An average joe who also had no luck with marriage. Being an honest and decent man, Eun-Jin dated him and eventually got married to him in the shortest amount of time so that her sister can bear witness. Her sister's next wish? That she got pregnant and be a mom. Another tall order but she loved her sister so she went on and made a baby. She got pregnant and told her sister just before she died.
Before she could tell Soo-il that she's pregnant, she had a miscarriage during a fight with a rival gang and was carried to the hospital. There Soo-Il was informed by the hospital staff that she had a miscarriage and in a fit of rage, he stormed up to the gang's place and doused the gang with gasoline. He was about to set fire to the place when he was restrained. It was dumb luck that a gang member accidentally sets fire the gasoline.
The place burned down, taking with it some of the gang members. Soo-Il then became a legend as well in the Korean Mafia and now he fights along with his wife Eun-Jin.
The movie started off with both feet running. We saw how awesome our female lead as she defeats an army of bad guys. All's well in the action department when suddenly it shifted to a little bit of drama and into comedy. A fish out water scenario here as we see a mafia hardliner, who acts like a tomboy, then suddenly finds herself needing a husband. This stretched far longer as she was thrown into marriage as well.
She was still bossy even in marriage much to the confusion of her husband, who wasn't aware that she married a gangster. We are taken in a roller coaster ride in emotions midway as we were stuck in the dilemma, would we like more action? more drama with her dying sister? more comedy scenes with her and her husband?
This ride was a bit jumpy and although the actors were great, for a very confusing story telling style. Eun-Kyung Shin was believable as that gangster Cha Eun-Jin and we felt her love for sister which we liked. She delivered the right performance during her action and drama scenes, but somehow we wanted more in the comedy parts. We think that the comedy part was taken by one of her gangster minions but almost, almost they were funny but not quite. The comedy big hitter should have been carried by his husband, Park Sang-Myun however we think his lines were weak so as to create that desired effect. His performance, body language and face were already there, but the lines were not that strong enough to elicit that needed comedy feel, if they really wanted to.
For an asian action film, this can hold up on its own, and a little bit of drama helps. Actors did their best and they really pushed the movie a bit higher even if the script was decently written.
Currently being shown (standard definition) on YouTube. Simply click on the thumbnail below.
We really can't get enough of Donnie Yen and he's here again reprising his role as Master Ip Man. This is the last of the franchise (I hope not) and we can't miss this one for the world.
After the death of his wife, he was diagnosed to have cancer due to his excessive smoking. Meanwhile his rebellious son got into another fight and got expelled from school. This made Ip Man decide to send his son to the United States. So he went to San Francisco look for a school for his son. In the process of he needs the help of the Chinese Benevolent Association or CBA. He needs a letter of recommendation from its head Master Wan. CBA has been at odds with a student of Ip Man, Bruce Lee, so unless he helps the CBA in controlling Lee, he won't get that letter from CBA.
Ip Man tried talking to a principal to get his son enrolled when he met with Master Wan's daughter Yonah. He saved her from being bullied in school and he even accompanied him to her house. He met with Master Wan and was accused of using his daughter Yohan so he can get that letter. Master Wan challenges Ip Man to a duel only to be interrupted by an earthquake. Master Wan promises to continue their duel after the mid-autumn festival. Ip Man told him not to continue as he merely accompanied Yonah home just to be safe.
On another part of the story, the girl who bullied Yonah, reported to her parents, her father is an officer of the Immigration Service. In retaliation, this officer then proceeded to arrest Master Wan with trumped up charges of the CBA harboring illegal immigrants.
While he was being arrested, a Karate instructor with the United States Marines went down to disrupt the mid autumn festival by challenging the Kung Fu Masters present. After defeating almost everyone, Ip Man interceded and won over the over zealous instructor.
Afterwards Ip Man and Yonah learned that Master Wan was in the office of the Immigration Service. They wanted to see him but was not able to. They were warned by a student of Bruce Lee who worked in the Immigration Service to inform the CBA that like Master Wan, they will all be arrested. Before the officers could flee, they were beaten by a US Marine Sargeant Geddes (played by Scott Adkins) to proved that Karate is very much superior than Chinese Kung Fu.
Geddes tirades against Chinese Kung Fu didn't end there, thinking that Master Wan defeated the Karate instructer earlier, he proceeded to look for him. He took Master Wan from the custody of the Immigration Service and brought him to their barracks for a duel in front of the recruits. Geddes won over Master Wan almost killing him. During this time, Ip Man helped bring the CBA officers to Bruce Lee's studio there they were informed that Master Wan was taken to a hospital.
Ip Man angered, he asked to be brought to Geddes whom he defeated. Master Wan then prepared that recommendation letter to Ip Man, He had decided then that he won't be bringing his son to the United States but instead he will teach his son Wing Chun.
Ip died in 1972 of head and throat cancer and Bruce Lee came to pay his respects to his teacher. In the end, the US Marines finally accepted Chinese Kung Fu as one their instructions for combat training.
After watching the other Ip Man films (which we loved) this finale is truly different. This was the only martial arts film that we cried not once but twice. Unlike the other films that showed Chinese Kung Fu being ridiculed and eventually fought back to earn its credibility (this film has the same premise) this one showed the discrimination of Chinese in the United States. What made us emotional in this film is the inclusion of Ip Man and his son's rocky relationship.
There were a lot of things to chew here but it was tastefully and wonderfully done. It still had that martial arts appeal to it yet it showed family emotions. It took Ip to realize his son's passion after seeing Yonah's experience with his father Master Wan. He later realized this in the end and this made our eyes bring down tears to our cheeks.
Donnie Yen truly is the Ip Man and he owned the role. We saw Yen in the iconic role for so many times yet we don't get tired watching him. So it was just befitting that he played the role till the death of Ip Man.
Because the movie tackled a lot of things most of the characters were left with short or inadequate character development. There were some scenes that bewildered us but we had to let it go as we don't expect much from a martial arts movie. So we were surprised to find a father/son and father/daughter emotional entanglements herein.
If you have watched all or some of the Ip Man films, this one is a great ending to it all.
Donnie Yen truly is a mesmerizing martial artist whenever we see him on screen. In Kung Fu Jungle, he comes back as Hahou Mo, a martial arts expert of course and a police instructor. In this film we see him in prison for involuntary manslaughter. This was three years ago and now a serial killer in Fung Yu-Xiu or Fung Yu-Sau (played by Wang Baoqiang) has surfaced and is killing off all the top martial arts experts around. Yu-Xiu want to prove he is number one among them.
Mo then contacts Police Luk Yuen-Sum (played by Charlie Yeung) offering her his help in catching Yu-Xiu. Acting as a consultant or resource person, Mo was released under Yuen-Sum's custody. He then guides Yuen-Sum on to Yu-Xiu's next target. It seems that they are always a step late as all the martial arts experts get killed before they arrive on the scene. Leaving but one martial arts expert is left, Mo.
They battle it off in the end and as true to Yu-Xiu's belief, martial arts are for meant for killing, he really wanted to kill off Mo. Our hero eventually won but he restrained himself in killing Yu-Xiu, he had a change of heart. Yu-Xiu took this opportunity to kill Mo but was pre empted by Yuen-Sum who aided Mo in the nick of time. With the case closed, Mo went back to prison to serve his remaining sentence however with Yuen-Sum's help, he was able to get out much earlier. Mo then returned to his hometown and again taught martial arts.
Overall, if you like martial arts films, then this movie has them all. From weapons, grappling, our antagonist practiced them all hoping to kill all those experts in these fields. He really wanted to number one for a weak reason in memory of his dead wife. Whom he killed by the way so that 1) she will not endure the hardships of having cancer or 2) he couldn't bear witness to the agony his wife is going through. How would he honor the death of his wife by being number 1 in martial arts? This maybe a cultural thing because we really don't get it. All we have happy here is that this his reason for fighting and we get to see a number of fight scenes that are truly breath taking and awe inspiring, and we get to see another best fight scene by Donnie Yen.
Wang Bagoqiang as Yu-Xiu is truly a great martial artist as well. His on screen presence was great and we can feel his passion for his craft. All his fight scenes were incredible and although I am no expert, is believable at my level. Thanks to the great fight choreographers and we were made witness to another great martial arts film.
Currently showing on Netflix but other versions are being shown on Youtube as well. If you can't find Kung Fu Jungle, try its initial title - Kung Fu Killer.
Featuring a star studded cast headed by Jet Li as the Emperor, Donnie Yen as Commander Tung, and Jason Scott Lee as Bori Chan, lead star Yifei Liu movie is headed for a blockbuster trip.
Disney spared no expense just to get this cast and we already expect something grand with the live action movie of that animated classic Mulan.
We at PMC have always doubted Disney in their movie adaptations as they change the story line somehow to make it cinematic. They did it already with the animated feature and they did it again here in the live action adaptation.
No more Li Shang. That enigmatic suave General Li Shang, the love interest of Mulan in the animated one is gone. He was replaced with an upcoming character named Chen Honghui. We think Disney is intentionally changing the characters to make this a new film altogether, something viewers may want to watch the New Mulan.
With the changes, we were doubtful. Upon seeing this first official trailer, we dare say it has been a promising one. Its very exciting, and lead star Yifei looked lovely as always on screen. We love how they made her look like a man, we were skeptical about this since she's so lovely. Kudos to the team for doing this to make her character true to the story and make it believable.
Slated for a 2020 release, we can't wait to watch the film till then.
Trolling Youtube sometimes can yield some old film gems, especially if we find Samo Hung in it. It's been years since I've watched one with him in it so it was joy when I saw this, with Vanness Wu of Meteor Garden fame at that.
At first I did not notice Vanness was here, all I knew was that he was a bit familiar. Anyway, he comes here as an arrogant student chef who then becomes a great chef under Samo Hung. You'll be surprised how he became one since Samo barely teaches him things in the kitchen.
Samo Hung here comes in as a celebrated chef who was disgraced when diners experienced stomach aches on the food he made. This led to a fall out between him and his brother who at first I had no idea if this was relevant to the story. Trust me it wasn't that much, as the only thing that ties this relationship to the story is of how he tangled up with with his nephew who is a king in the restaurant business.
Remember Samo was disgraced? He went into exile to Timbuktu to all we care as we didn't know where he went. All we know is that we went back in town at the same time Vanness did. Of all the restaurants in the area, they all converge on one. They had to boot out the existing chef when they did arrive. Unlucky for that chef.
Now that they rule that kitchen, it didn't show them cooking for guests and diners. I was wondering how they could have kept that restaurant afloat. It wasn't shown also that they became famous and got in the radar with Samo's nephew in the film. All we know is that this nephew had bad blood for his Uncle Samo being the son of the brother Samo had a fight with early in the film. The nephew employed a gangster type of approach to business, sending goons to rough up Samo to do what? I don't know, kill maybe or maybe maim him to submission and eventually leave?
The whole story here is a mess, they even put in a cooking competition where Vanness joins and eventually wins. I was surprised here as I said earlier, not much was taught by Samo to him yet he showed great kitchen prowess for him to win. His opponent, the chef from Samo's nephew's restaurant just showed up at this instance, with the expelled chef (remember the booted out chef?) as that chef's assistant. Talk about revenge here gone bad in the end.
If you like watching martial arts fights, then this movie has it. If you like to see Samo Hung again, then this is it. If you like seeing Vanness cook, who wouldn't? Then this movie is it. Story wise? This doesn't have it. A lot of loose ends and I can't believe how I even loved this movie with faults like these. I admit I like Samo Hung, maybe this is the sole reason I watched the film in its entirety.
Best of all, its free to watch. its on Youtube. I attached the link herein if you want to watch it the way I did. Again one name, Samo Hung. I never knew cooking has got a lot to do with kung fu.
Tiger hunters don't touch the tiger cubs. They say they incite anger in the mother tiger making her so vicious. This is what happened here in Furie.
A Vietnamese film recently shown in Netflix. A doting and loving mother to her child, raising her on her own. The movie shows a great deal of character building especially on the mother with some focus on her daughter. Living in a province out of Saigon might lead you to a boring everyday life, but this mother has a colorful character on her own.
Who would have thought a pretty face hides a deadly martial arts skills that can rival Ong Bak? This skill is something interesting and make you wonder how could she have mastered this? Hold that thought and we will get back to it.
Now the boring or rather interesting life she comes in, then is shaken by the kidnapping of her daughter. At first you will see it as a revenge act upon her for something she did in that provincial setting, but surprisingly, it was far much larger.
Her daughter's kidnapping was a victim of an international child abduction scheme that takes her all the way to Saigon. Was it something of a coincidence or was precipitated by that revenge act thing, this we don't know as it was vague while we were watching.
A loving mother turns vicious as she goes after her daughter in Saigon. A life very much different from the province they were in earlier. Now the back stories come in. In Saigon she was a former gang leader thus the martial arts skills she got and her tenacity. She also had or have a family in Saigon. She was a prodigal daughter. Now the plot thickens with a lot of back stories plus the fact it moved forward as she goes after the kidnapping gangs minions all the way to the Big Boss.
It was like watching my kids play video games, where you fight a lot of bad guys with the Big Boss as your final battle. Picture that and replace that character with the lead Veronica Ngo. She was great in this film and I love watching her fight. With every punches she receives, she gives back twice.
This was a great film to watch and how slim the story is, it was endearing and entertaining at the same time. What we noticed was, with a lot of people trying to kill her, we noticed she only killed one person. Knives and guns were present but everyone survives except one. Funny fact but I got to write that one in here.
Currently showing in Netflix, and is trending as of the moment. Catch this one, as seldom do we find an Asian film worth watching.
A cook rescues the crew of USS Missouri and defeats the bad guys while at sea.
There goes the story to this great action filled movie with Steven Seagal in the lead. This was his fifth movie but this one made him a household figure. You don't expect him to win acting awards, but with his martial arts skills, it doesn't bore us if he keeps doing it on screen for the fifth time.
Don't expect the film to be a wealth of a story either. A cook beating hard core military type bad guys? If you are Steven Seagal, who was a military man himself before coming aboard the ship as a cook. Who would do such a thing? Only Steven Seagal can.
Backed up with great actors like Tommy Lee Jones as the head honcho of the bad guys, he truly is an amazing actor. He was great here but his antics are too far fetch to illicit a sense of realism on his character here as the evil and psychotic Strannix. Another bad guy favorite is Gary Busey who with little effort exudes badness. Both carried the film very well with Steven Seagal's Aikido making up the best parts of the film.
That aside from the martial arts shown, bad guys acting, a truly noteworthy and unforgettable scene here is Miss July's coming out of the cake routine. You may want to freeze the scene, for historical sake.
Every martial arts aficionado knows Bruce Lee, and that person is interested as well who taught him how to fight. That teacher is named Ipman.
A chinese martial arts student based in Foshan in China who studied that art of Wing Chun. Wing Chun is a style or a type of martial art that is more of upper body movement and strength. A typical kung fu art in ancient China. Now this movie reeks of that, two actually, the so called 'authentic' and the prodigal son type of style.
Ipman grew up learning the 'authentic' style but during the film's progression, he acquired the other style while he was taking up higher education in Hongkong. Combining both styles made Ipman formidable.
Usually martial arts movies bore me in the middle, I only like the beginning and the final battle with a boss of sorts. In this film however, they mixed in a four way love story. Summarized like this, 3 kids growing up with one of them got a strong crush in one of them, and the other (not the crush) to the girl. Then enter another girl from another world, so we have a twist. A rich girl falls in love with a poor boy, then a long time friend betrays his best friend, then the japanese created a stir on things. So you see here, I was not bored.
The martial arts techniques I'm not into details. What I am after the fight scenes is the choreography of it. Of how they do it beautifully that it makes up like a dance routine. The action scenes were done nicely and the story blended in well. Or is it the other way around?
Overall, the movie is a nice one to pass the time away. If you are an Ipman fan, its truly a watchable film. In fact I can say I line it up with the first Ipman film starring Donnie Yen. Much better than Ipman 2 and 3 I guess. The second and third films of Donnie Yen has their stories almost similar that it gets muddled in my memory. But this one is different, this is where A Legend is Born.
I dunno if Netflix carries this film, but for sure I saw this in Youtube. Another great YT Find. Don't forget to turn on the subtitles option :)
