bad_habitt Reviews

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

In 20 years time Rambo 2 will be in the IMDb top 100.

[10/10 · 20 February 2006]

The superb editing, the wonderful and precise special effects, the wonderful cinematography and scenes fused with what many consider the greatest film score soundtrack of all time. Wow, just wow. This film deconstructed is nothing but sheer class all the way. It has no weak or loose joints and the transitions are perfect. The pacing is flawless. The directing is very visual and creative. Now to mention the charisma and magnetism Stallone created with the character and the way he branded him was just amazing. Audiences in theaters actually standing up and cheering as one for the character as he spoke the "Murdock... I'm coming to get you" line. When was the last time that happened in the cinema? The film remains a wonderful example of what the human spirit can achieve if people work as a team. This is not only a testament of a mesmerizing movie, but a symbol of how wonderful art can be when artists all contribute their heart to a project. This film is nothing short of a perfect picture and I quote the back of the original 1985 video release

"One of the greatest films you could ever hope to take home with you"

If anyone sees any faults with the film, I'd certainly like to hear from you. But in 20 years time, the 80's will be praised for their superb art and this film will become one of the greatest cult classics ever. Not just because it was successful and impacted the whole world whilst Stallone's career was burning hot, but because it justifies how skillful movies can actually become if the people pulling the strings are nothing short of genius. Once deconstructed it reveals why it is perfect in every way a movie can be.

No Dead Heroes (1986)

Fantastic B film that propelled Max Thayer's Career

[10/10 · 20 December 2005]

I purchased a copy of this on eBay for $24 as I learned Max Thayer starred in this gem. After seeing him in No retreat No surrender 2, I knew I had to own this film.

After 3 months of waiting for my copy, it finally arrived this morning. I of course took the day off work, lit up a jay and popped it in my VCR.

From the opening credits I knew It was watching something special. Straight from 1987 and everything that came along with it. Max's acting in this doesn't rise to the sophistication and sharpness of that in NRNS2 however. You get the idea that maybe he enjoyed himself a lot more in that film than this one. Although he is still great in it and passes off some very surreal acting.

The villain Nick Nicholson has to be seen to be believed. There are no words in the English language to describe his performance. His character transfers from a sadistic general, then forward 10 years (that's right, this film has a time warp), to where he's a maniac communist trying to implement justice into the world by assassinating the pope and US president. Simply brilliant.

Kudos to J.C Miller for having the balls to write the screenplay for this and eventually direct it. I'd love to see a DVD release of this with his commentary. I imagine it would be very manic and one of the best commentaries ever. Simply because anyone who'd write a film like this, is a unique artist - worthy of cinema acclaim.

10\10 - A must see.

Deadly Ransom (1998)

Loren Avedon shines again

[10/10 · 24 November 2005]

This film was awesome. I had no idea what to expect after ordering a copy of it on ebay but it really surprised me. It featured a very solid story and writing as well as some very nice shooting on location. Loren Avedon provides some great humorous moments and pulls off the twist in the film wonderfully which what really makes it work. If it wasn't for Avedon's positively surreal acting and chemistry with the great Brion James (Tango and Cash), I don't think this film would have really reached its full potential. Brion also plays a wonderful villain that's continuously wired on coke throughout the entire film even though he's the mastermind of the whole 'bad guy' operation.

Great stuff.

Rocky (1976)

"Ain't gonna be no rematch! "Don't want one!"

[10/10 · 20 November 2005]

This is seriously one of the most amazing, astonishing and 'insert another 1000 superlatives here' films in the history of cinema.

I always bypassed Rocky 1 as a Stallone fan due to enjoying his more action packed films. However today I smoked a joint and watched the special edition DVD with director's commentary and my God, it took me away, it really did.

This film is more than just a movie; it's like a beautifully crafted ball of positive energy and inspiration for every single person. I mean it is so magnificent on so many dimensions and aspects it's overwhelming.

Hollywood reached its highest peak with this film and I think its one of the highest peaks the medium of film has ever reached. A genuine and authentic work of artistic and visceral bliss. I personally feel blessed to have seen this film because it really encapsulates the beauty of life immaculately. Stallone deserves every single bit of success he has ever received. He is a cinema icon and a matchless role model. Fantastic beyond words.

Don't miss this film for anything.

The King of the Kickboxers (1990)

Movie magic - Loren Avedon glitters through this one

[10/10 · 14 November 2005]

One of the most amazing films you will ever get a chance to see. The story line is portrayed in such a way that it will captivate you and never let you take you take your eyes of it. That is until the very last closing credit rolls and you'll think to yourself "Wow… I think I like the art of film twice as much now after seeing this amazing movie".

Loren Avedon should have his own Hollywood Walk Of Fame star after this film. He is simply matchless as the lead. It's almost like he was born to play the perfect action hero and he did in this film.

King of the Kickboxers is also filled with countless marvelous dialogue that you will be quoting 10 years after you watch it. It is also delivered in a manner that is extraordinary and unprecedented in any film ever made. It's like the actors devised a new way of acting. It is truly astonishing in the very sense of the word.

Finally the fighting is like none other; incredibly creative, imaginative, artistic and original. The emotion portrayed and depicted in them is equally inspiring and captivating. Also the cinematography, editing, film score and directing are first rate and fuse wonderfully from start to finish. I honestly feel really happy that I was able to see this film. I don't think I'll ever forget it.

10\10 – Don't miss it for anything.

The Silent Force (2001)

Great low budget film making.

[10/10 · 12 November 2005]

This film had a shoe string budget yet it still conveyed its action story very well. Imagine if you were making a movie and had no budget but still gave it your best shot. This is exactly what this film does. Some clever writing executed brilliantly by Loren Avedon and his sidekick buddy was also pleasing.

This film also had a really cool idea of subtly including a re-match in it's 3rd act between Loren Avedon and Matthias Hues. The pair originally featured in one of the greatest showdowns in cult film history in Corey Yuen's Hong Kong classic "No Retreat No Surrender 2".

The re-match however was not very well executed. It lasted for a very short time and wasn't anywhere near as explosive and dynamic as the one of the original fight. This may have been due to Matthias Hues playing an uncredited cameo in the film. However the idea was still there.

All up I'd recommend this film to B film audiences, Loren Avedon fans and people who are thinking of making their own movie.

Furious (1984)

Very unpredictable indeed

[10/10 · 31 October 2005]

I've wanted to see this film ever since finding out that it features Loren Avedon's first starring role in a movie and reading the only review of it currently on IMDb which affirms the film as nothing short of ecstatic. I received and watched a copy of 'Furious' with a few friends on the weekend, which I luckily found on eBay. It was very unique and unpredictable as the only other current review of the film states.

However the only scene we managed to spot Loren in, was during a part where a red alarm goes to signal that Simon Rhee is spotted outside of an all black high security building. Loren Avedon is one of students\fighters in the building that run off together as soon as they hear the alarm in order to detain Rhee.

This scene is also juxtaposed with a band randomly playing (What the?). The only thing that sucked was that we couldn't spot him at all after that scene. Also, he is listed in the IMDb credits as a fighter for the film, however not in the credits of the actual film itself.

Rather odd, however, I'm still very happy for purchasing and owning the film.

No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers (1990)

The first was for honour, The second for his country, This time... it's family!

[10/10 · 20 August 2005]

Wow. Just wow. This film and its video cover easily have the greatest tagline of any film, in the greatest series of movies ever. Putting this film into words does not do it justice. Loren Avedon is one of the most amazing action heroes of all time. The fact that his career during its success period only featured 3 amazing and mesmerizing movies, it's like he was Bruce Lee, in the way that he was so amazing for such a short period of time and he gave the art away. See it, but see it as a film enthusiast, starting from hiring it at the video store after studying and looking over the video cover, then come home and put it in the vcr on a summer evening. You will have an experience that only the most fortunate people on earth experience.

Born to Defense (1988)

same soundtrack as no retreat no surrender 2

[1 July 2005]

whats with that? it was made after this movie so would that mean that it stole its soundtrack from this movie? and if so, i'm amazed as the nrns2 soundtrack is my favorite ever.

apart from that i thought the movie was pretty cool. nothing too amazing. jet li is a pretty short martial artist and therefore very quick but i don't think he has the screen presence of a loren avedon or mathias hues.

check it out but pay careful attention to the great soundtrack.

My vote - 6\10

GREAT SOUNDTRACK!

Manhattan Chase (2000)

Hahahahahaha superb!

[10/10 · 22 March 2005]

This movie was incredibly funny and great.

Quintessentially in the tradition of films like "Deadly Prey", it encapsulated every thing great about a bent story line.

Loren Avedon at the beginning is arrested for trying to assassinate someone with a sniper rifle. Where from you may ask? - The lawn of a public park wearing a black bandanna mask in broad daylight. Hahahahaha. So terrific. He even stuffs up some of his lines but the directors don't even bother to re-shoot the scenes.

You have to see this just for the effort of trying to continue on the tradition of excellent movies that are just so far out - you don't know if they're miss-intended satire or just a work of genius.

Get this for sure if you want to see a unique and funny film, and at times, very odd like the ending. Hahahaha goodness, you're just going to think "Did that really need to happen?" Enjoy.

The Kindred (1987)

Superbly intelligent horror film

[10/10 · 20 September 2004]

This one was a real surprise. I expected it to be a tedious and clichéd film but it was so so much more.

The acting was simply magnificent and for an 80's movie, the special effects were some of the best i have seen. The story line was also very solid and i found myself wanting to the movie not to end as i was so into it.

One of the very best horror films you are likely to see.

10\10.

A A A A

No Retreat, No Surrender 2 (1987)

Low Budget Mayhem

[10/10 · 29 March 2002]

This is one of the most amazing films you will ever see. It has some of the most marvelous directing and cinematography of action scenes ever recorded on film. Loren Avedon is simply matchless as a young humble American hero in his first movie. The story line is equally captivating and engrosses the viewer. The characters are straight out of a comic book with fantastic screen presence, dialogue and charisma that makes it impossible to take one's eyes of them.

However where the film really succeeds, is in the technical aspect. The editing and pacing of the film is like none other. It is magnificently fused with a perfect film score that was works superbly and fuses so well with the film that it almost gives you goosebumps that something can be made so precisely and accurately to fit the emotions on the screen. Karate Tiger II proves that just because a movie is low budget, it doesn't mean that the people working on it aren't incredibly gifted and talented at their craft.

As a regular avid film viewer, I feel very fortunate that I was able to view and experience this film. It is a sheer delight and should not be missed by anyone. One of the very best films out of the tens of thousands I've seen.