Black Belt Theatre: Choy Lay Fut/Tiger's Claw Review

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(More customer reviews)Now first the picture quality. Choy Lee Fat is somewhat widescreened with bad picture. I have seen worse and have to say that personally, I had no problem with it. It is somewhat widescreened and dubbed in English so I don't have to squint to read the subtitles. Tiger's Claw is full screened and picture isn't as bad as CLF. Though I have to say the dubbign is much worse on Tiger's Claw.
CHOY LEE FUT KUNG FU- I will review be reviewing the Rarescope version here since it is much better than the Groundzero version. It is a bit longer on top of other things that make it much better.
Cliff Lok stars as a young man who is taken on secretly by a teacher of Choi Lee Fut. Some practicioners have told me that Cliff Lok was not suited for this role and while he is not quite as fluid as some of the greats his form is still terrific and his acrobatics are very good. The movie starts out showing Philip Ko as the evil warlord who takes down a group of rebels and 2 teachers of kung fu survive, one being a monk. Cliff Lok goes to learn from the monk after he has learned all he can from the first teacher. The movie is just above average all the way through with some good comedy. You will recognize the cross eyed officer form Jackie Chan's 'Young Master'. "Your sword!". He is funny just looking at him. I was rolling on the floor he had his shirt off and asked Cliff to wipe his sweat off for him.
The best part of the movie is when one of the greatest female fighters ever shows up. Yang Pan Pan just starts tearing up everybody. While the movie is pretty good all the way through, it is not great. Luckily the final fight gets is outstanding. It starts off with the girl vs.Phillip Ko and then CLiff Lok. Total of about 10 minutes and some great action going on. The end of the fight is billiant. They shows the various techniques that Lok is doing subtitled on screen and it is slow mo for about three minutes. Truly awesome stuff. 4.5/5
Rarescope has given us this movie fully letterboxed and though the picture is faded and there is noticeable damage on the film print it still looks about twice as good as the Groudzero version. The subtitles can be read pretty easily most of the time. The original Mandarin track is the way to go and has GREAT sound quality. The Engish dubbing is fine though the sound quality doesn't compare a lick to the Mandarin.
Special feature included is a Cliff Lok interview and also he is being intervied form the late great director of the movie- Chan Siu-pang. Lok looks amazing even at being at least 50 and gives a very good interview. Rarescope does a good thing in my opinion and has us waiting for part 2 of the interview when they release Lok's 'Best of Shaolin Kung Fu'. I would be lieing if I said I was not ecstatic about that future release.
There is also a small photo gallery form the movie with some black and white pics. There is also the same Rarescope trailers we saw on their first release. I am waiting anyday now to preorder '3 Famous Constables'(which I heard will come out under another name), 'Ninjas in Ancient China', 'and 'Sword of Justice'. Rarescope(BCI) has proven to be one of the best martial arts DVD companies and I eagerly await more and more.
TIGER'S CLAW-this is your run of the mill kung fu flick. Cliff Lok starts out the movie beating down everyone and then he goes home to rest with his wife. He then hears about this guy who always used to win his fights, he breaks the Tiger-actor Shih Kien(guy with the claw in Enter the Dragon) out of jail and tells him he did so so that they could fight. While I know you are yawning right now, shih kien puts on a very good acting performance that I wasn't really expecting. The kung fu is pretty sloppy but does get pretty good in the final fight. I was told by a kung fu friend of mine that shih kien is using 7 mantis style. I have studied shaolin kung fu and maybe that is why I thought 'Choy Lee Fat'(the movie) was so good, but while the mantis style is used well in this, it is just too sloppily choreographed. But my mantis friend thinks it is great, and I have neevr really tried mantis, so defintely pick it up for his opinion! The end in Tiger's Claw is a little too standard but I enjoyed the fact they actually put real emotions in to it and made it an almost enjoyable story. I give it a 2.5.
So I got this double pack for $4.99 at the used store. I cannot recommend this though becasue rarescope has released this now, but get it for Tiger's Claw if you want, a very good double feature.

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Chinese Stuntman (Dubbed In English) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Chinese stuntman is the same movie as Counter Attack. I accidentally ordered both movies. However, the amazing stick fighting scene with Ho Chung Tao versus Dan Inosanto is worth the money.
This movie is a true classic. A must have for Dan Inosanto (Bruce Lee's friend in real life) and Ho Chung Tao (Bruce Li) fans.
I rate this movie 5 stars-
great action!!
Fast fact: Dan Inosanto was born Daniel Arca Inosanto on July 24, 1936. He is a Filipino Martial Arts instructor who is a foremost authority on Jeet Kun Do (Bruce Lee's art).
Dan Inosanto has appeared in other movies including: The Warrior Within, Fight Science, Modern Warrior, and The Path of the Dragon.
Of course, Ho Chung Tao has appeared in about 30 movies including Iron Dragon Strikes Back and The Chinese Connection II.-

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Five Deadly Venoms (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)Shaw Brothers Movie Studios director, Chang Cheh's 1978 tour-de-force Kung Fu extravaganza. This film set the stage for nearly 20+ more movies starring the 'Venoms' to follow in an attempt to quench the world-wide thirst of fans of this, the first 'Venoms' movie. Long out of print and only found in the possession of private Kung-Fu film collectors, the current commercially available VHS of 'The 5 Deadly Venoms' by EPI, is struck from a good quality master print, and is uncut and formatted in LBX (letterbox), which is a real treat to Kung Fu movie fans. The story centers around the last student of the dying master of 'The Poison Clan', who is sent out to find the last 5 secret members of the clan, all of whom have trained in a special 'Poison' technique. Some of the clan members have gone bad, and the student must locate and destroy them with the help of good members, if he can find them! The script, acting, choreography, costumes, and sets are fantastic. This film combines bare-chested Kung-Fu supermen back-flipping through the air while weilding exotic Chinese weapons and performing unbelievable feats of physical strength, skill, and speed, with a twisting plot of deceit, revenge, and corruption; all against a fantastic & deadly 14th century backround. The 5 Deadly Venoms stars Kuo Chui (Lizard), Sun Chien (Scorpion), Lo Meng (Toad), Wei Pai (Snake), Lu Feng (Centipede), and Chiang Sheng as 'Yan Tieh', the last disciple of the Poison Clan master. A 'Must Have' for any Kung Fu movie fan as The 5 Deadly Venoms is truely an all time classic.

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The dying master of the powerful Poison Clan dispatches his last pupil on a crucial mission. Worried that the skills he has taught are being used to evil ends, he orders the Yan Tieh to trace a retired colleague and warn him that the fortune he amassed from the clan activities is under threat from five of his former pupils. Each an expert in his own lethal combat style, the five comprise a truly invincible force. Yan must discover the whereabouts and true identities of these deadly masked warriors and decide which, if any, can be trusted.

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The Karate Kid (1984) Review

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(More customer reviews)Karate Kid is not what you may think it is. The premise of a young fatherless boy trying to survive a completely new environment is how this movie gets its humanity. For anyone who has ever had to move to a new town, be raised by only one parent, or face overwhelming odds, and almost everyone has done at least one of these, this movie can be related to on many levels. Ralph Macchio plays Daniel, a teenager from New Jersey who is forced to move across the country with his mother and start a new life in a foreign place, California. Setting aside the differences between East & West coast alone, there is plenty for him to realize. When faced with bullies that he doesn't understand, he finds a friend in an unlikely place; Mr. Miagi, a Japanese handyman, played by Pat Morita, who's hides many talents. To say Karate Kid is a story about over coming your fear is to say that life is just a thing we do everyday. This movie mixes a friendship, a romance, a coming of age story, gaining self confidence and learning to appreciate that which you may not understand right away. After getting sufficiently beat up by the bullies more than once, Daniel enlists the help of Miagi and soon finds himself training for a tournament. This may seem outrageous, but Miagi knows it is a much safer place and a more controlled environment for Daniel to defend himself and gain respect. Miagi's training techniques are unique to say the least, and just as Daniel begins to question what is going on, he realizes that Migai really does know what he is doing. The story is good and solid and allows sympathy for both sides of the characters. They fill a void for each other, an obvious father/son, mentor/student relationship. The chemistry between them is very solid. Elizabeth Shue is good in her first major role, playing the sweet rich girl who sees Daniel for the person he is and not for his social status. Although sounding clichéd on the surface, this movie is well done and not superficial. The characters are very real, the emotions are deep and the fear of growing up with bullies hits home for many of us. The ending will have you cheering as Daniel moves his way through the tournament to the final climatic ending. Highly recommended and highly entertaining.

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Kung Fu: The Complete Series Collection (1972) Review

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(More customer reviews)There are lots of reviews which already talk (extensively) about why Kung Fu was such a great show, and worth owning on DVD. Instead I just wanted to make sure people know what they are getting with this set...
I hesitated to buy this set at first because it had all 3 seasons packaged together, but didn't mention anything about special features, etc. I wanted to make sure I had the commentaries & featurettes that the individual seasons boasted. Eventually, I bought this version because the price difference won me over (just before the holidays it was $35 + super saver shipping!) and I was pleased to find out that the set contained all 3 seasons as they appear individually, as well as a nice little slip cover to store them all together. The individual seasons & this package are the same, except that this one costs far less.

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He is a man of peace in a violent land. He is Kwai Chang Caine, schooled in the spirit-mind-body ways of the Shaolin priesthood by the blind, avuncular Master Po and the stern yet loving Master Kan. Caine speaks softly but hits hard. He lives humbly yet knows great contentment. He is the Old West's most unusual hero. But hero is not a word Caine would use. He would simply say, "I am a man."

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Kung Fu Theater: Ninja Thunderbolt/Invincible Hero Review

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(More customer reviews)The Invincible Hero aka Mean Streets of Kung Fu is GREAT! Don't get me wrong they are both pretty good, but the movie I previously knew as Mean Streets of Kung Fu is off the hook!

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2 Feature-Length Films On 2 Discs!Ninja ThunderboltA father and daughter crime team have their eyes on a priceless jade statue and ultimately team up with the one and only Ninja (Shoji Kurata - Fist of Legend Bloodfight) who is capable of mastering any job with his super skills. But they must elude the cop (Don Wang Tao - Secret Rivals 1 & 2) who is out to get the Ninja Gang. Amazing stunt work and unique action set this apart from the standard genre fare. The clash between Don and Kurata is top rate! Watch for the Ninjas in the mini car!Invincible HeroThe streets are mean...he\'s meaner. When challenged by a local gangster a top martial arts student (Barry Dhan) proves his skill and determination and defeats the thug. Undeterred by his loss the gangster attempts to rape a young female student which ultimately releases the fury in Chan. Now it\'s open warfare and there are no prisoners! Barry Chan turns in another remarkable performance! Watch for him in Chinese Dragon and Dragon\'s Vengeance!Format: DVD MOVIE Genre:TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC:787364631193

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Black Belt Theatre: Flaming Swords Review

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(More customer reviews)Not sure what the problem is but if you want it all you need to do is visit Spinning Disc Direct dot com and you will see this title there as well as many others. Thanks!

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David Chiang, Raymond Lui, Pai Piao and Kao Yuan are the stars of this martial arts gem. Our hero is galvanized into seeking vengeance for his father's murder. To do this, of course, he must become an absolute master of kung fu and its ancillary skills. A hired assassin, untold treachery and scheming afoot as rival clans become involved. Consummate swordplay madness as the plot thickens the hero saves the beauty!
Special FeaturesTrailers Bonus Fights

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