Masta_Ruthless Reviews

Ip Man (2008)

Wing Chun Masterpiece

[10/10 · 13 March 2009]

By now most of you have read reviews for this movie, well this is another one to add to the pot. Everyone pretty much knows the story of Grandmaster Yip Man, so I'll hit on the movie itself. Donnie Yen stars as Ip (Yip) Man. He is a very humble man who knows he is good at his art, but tries to stay away from the limelight. Every challenge presented to him ends with painful upset on their behalf. Later in the film the Japanese invades Foushan and uses Ip Mans' house as the headquarters. After a very painful hardship Ip Man battles the General in a final battle that is just outstanding. I think the story in this film was more put together than Fok Yun Gaps' was in Fearless (Jet Li).

I have to truly say I have not seen Wing Chun executed in a movie this good since Prodigal Son. Sammos' choreography knows no bounds. The only thing that could have made this movie unearthly is if Ip Man would have had a light duel with Wong Fei Hung. Although he was only mentioned in the film, the scene would have been great. If you liked the Wing Chun execution in this film then try some others like Prodigal Son, Wing Chun, Warriors Two, and Descendant of Wing Chun.

This is a must see for anyone that is into good action and story.

Drunken Dragon (1985)

Drunken Excitement!!

[9/10 · 16 June 2008]

One thing that I am confused on is wondering if this is a lost Shaw Bros movie. Reason stated is that the movie has a lot of veteran Shaw Bros actors in it. Anyway this movie has a slight comedy side with a lot of good action sequences. Doggy is a mild manner grand son to Chiang Shiang whom is also playing a woman this go round. Phillip Kao Fei is after the Seven Star Armour and gets very ruthless in his attempt to get it.

The one thing about this movie is that it has a lot of similarity to Shaolin and Taoism Drunkard. The action is done by Woo Pings' star pupil, (which I need to find more of his work) and is done very nicely. Leung Kar Yan is also in the movie, but he doesn't fight.....sorry.

This movie is a must have for serious kung fu movie buffs like myself. The newer print has the subtitles laced in black so you don't have to strain and see, plus it is in widescreen format. Another good deal is that you can watch it in English dub or Cantonese, but make sure you get the version from Rarescope.

She xing zui bu (1980)

Wilson's World

[8/10 · 16 June 2008]

Snake Deadly Act is indeed a Wilson Tong favorite. The story was rather odd, but will throw you for a loop. A little run down, two rival Snake Style masters have a fight at the beginning after the fight it jumps to some years later. Wilson Tong now has a son whom martial skills are lack until he finds the rival snake master, or say the master finds him.

In a nut shell the movies is a good one and Wilson Tong should definitely be credited for this one. He has done a lot of others and one in particular is Dagger 8, a must find. But check him out in others like Treasure Hunters, Cat vs Rat, The Victim, and Deadly Mantis. Plus I have to disagree with the above reviewer. Dubbing is what made old school kung fu movies classic.

Lightning Fists of Shaolin (1984)

One of Shaws' last greatest!!!!

[9/10 · 16 June 2008]

What do you get when you get a Kung Fu master (Ti Lung) hooked on Opium?? Serious trouble that's what.

This movie was good from beginning to the end. Some opium, traders want to move opium through China, but their serious threat is Ti Lung himself. Chen Kwan Tai tests Ti Lungs' skill to prove his worth. Now they see he is a problem so they set him up to try opium, and it works. Ti Lung then tried to fight but sees that his strength is now diminished due to the heavy opium usage, plus his young protégé dies trying to defend him.

This wakes Ti Lung up and he quits cold turkey, big mistake.........................for the bad guys that is. His act of vengeance is very powerful. I can't go on to long, because I'm about to try and watch it again.

My wife and I collect kung fu movies, unfortunately this movie is part of her collection, and I hate her for it. Get this movie, it is another Shaw Classic.

Mercury Man (2006)

A Good Superhero movie, that's not made in America!!

[8/10 · 15 December 2007]

Who said that you have to be Superman, Batman, or even Spiderman to have a good superhero flick? Mercury Man is a movie made in Thailand that overshot my expectations. The story did start out a little slow, but picks up quickly. A small piece of info about the movie is that there are 2 amulets . One is the Sun amulet, the other is the Moon amulet. Our hero feels he is doing the right thing when he helps a police official. He doesn't know that the official is corrupt and is stabled in the heart with the sun amulet.

He acquires these extreme super powers. He kinda looks like Venom with different designs on is body. His suit was made by his tranny brother. Anyway, there is this kid that has the moon amulet in his body and he abuses his powers.

One of the reviewers said that the choreography was bad. He must have closed his eyes through the movie, especially the fight that took place in the nightclub. The bad guys build this device that took the heros' powers away from him. They must have forgot that this guy could fight.

You would have to see it to believe it. But don't listen to these guys with all of the negativity about the film. I mean can you really believe it took these two guys 2 hours to realize that they didn't like this movie, something must have caught their eye. Anyway check the movie out for yourself, you'll love it or you'll hate it. 8.7/10

Bastard Swordsman (1983)

Swordplay+Action=Damn Good Movie!!!!!

[10/10 · 22 November 2007]

Just when you thought the Shaw Bros. could only do damn good martial arts films, the go and top that with wuxia movies. Here is a quick run of the film. Tsui Siu Keung is constantly picked on and bullied by the other pupils because he is an orphan. His master (Qing Song)is a very unconcern person about Tsui feelings because the last 20 years he has lost every duel with the Invincible Clans' master.

Qing Songs' master is non other than Wilson Tong, whom has learned the Silkworm technique, but can't master it because he is not a virgin. Lo Meng (Toad of the 5 Deadly Venoms) has very good sword fighting skills. You really don't see him much, but his parts were very good. Tsui is actually learning kung fu in secret by an unknown master whom turns out to be Qing Song. The plot gets even thicker when we find out that Qing Song is actually Tsui father.

I could go on and spoil the rest for you, but then you wouldn't see the movie. The Bastard Swordsman is a very good contender in the Shaw Bros. vs Golden Harvest bout. This movie scores big on it's action and swordplay. Also check out New Tales of The Flying Fox, another damn good wuxia from the Shaw Bros. And if you want an even bigger helping, please check out The Return of the Bastard Swordsman. Shaw Bros goodness for the soul.

Circus Kids (1994)

I've seen this before right????????

[8/10 · 14 October 2007]

This movie left me with a serious case of Deja Vu. Somewhere somehow I know I have seen this movie before.................that's right Drunken Master 2. I have never seen to different movies so much alike before in my life. Let's go with the differences first. Yuen Biao is in a circus troupe and it has Donnie (My Favorite Martial Artist In The World) Yen in it.

I could give you some details about the movie, but again if you've seen Drunken Master 2 (aka Legend of the Drunken Master), then this movie speaks for itself. Does that mean this movie is bad because of the similarities? By far that is a no. Circus Kids is a very good movie in it's own right. It's not the best Yen, or Biao movie, and it is certainly not the worst.

Kong shou ru bai ren (1980)

Ah yes, Another buried Treasure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[9/10 · 14 October 2007]

In the spawning era of kung fu movies good ones and bad ones have graced the scene with either yays or boos. Then you have those movies that because of the name or the not so recognized actors that people won't give them a try. I was one of those people before.

Anyway from the bottom of the barrel comes Daggers 8, a not so known kung fu movie with high octane action. As the story goes, our hero wants to learn kung fu (played by Meng Yuan Man). His grandfather is against this, especially since Mengs' brother is brought to the house dead from an azzwhooping. Meng refuses to stop training and leaves home to learn more kung fu.

He runs in to 3 different masters who takes him in as a student, but the bad part is that they all wind-up being killed by a master of Daggers (played by Wilson Tong). As each master is killed Meng finds another one. He finally comes home only to find out that his grandfather is the one that hired the killer to stop him from being taught. The same killer kills gramps which leads to an all out fight fest.

This movie is hidden and should be dug up and placed in every kung fu fans' collection. There is no way this movie cannot compete with some of the other good ones out there. If you do not see this you are cheating yourself BIG TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zone Fighter (1973)

Godzillas' lost treasures...........

[8/10 · 30 September 2007]

The Zone family are a group of heros that have come to earth, because their planet is destroyed by the Garoga Army. That pretty much sums up the story. Godzilla, Gigan, and King Ghidora all make an appearance in this series.

The series was cut off with only 26 episodes to it's name due to Japans' energy crisis at the time. But the ones they made are pretty good. Zone Fighter definitely fights better than Ultraman, whom takes occasional dives on the monsters.

Anyway if you like sci-fi and giant monsters (Kaiju) like I do, then do yourself a favor and check this out. There are other shows like this such as Mirror Man, Godman, Jamborg Ace and 9, Fire Man, Green Man, Kamen Rider, and the Ultraman series.

This is, I repeat, This is not for the people with small minds and hate for the series anyway. If you are a fan then enjoy. If you are just wanting to trash this with nothing better to do, then to H E double Hockey Sticks with you.

My Young Auntie (1981)

Ahhhh yes, another hit from the Shaw Bros.

[9/10 · 30 September 2007]

My Young Auntie is unique in a lot of ways. First this is Hui Ya-Hung's (Kara Hui) first action film. Second She was actually doing the fight scenes after having a surgery done to her a few days before filming. Third this movie is off the chain.

The movie starts out with Wang Lung Wei trying to take the inheritance from his brother. His brother then has Kara to marry him so Wang can't take the treasure. The story is pretty good leading everything to it's rightful place.

In comes the action, what can I say that hasn't already been said for movies like this, or Disciples of the 36th Chambers, The Victim, or even the Magnificent Butcher. The fight scenes are what sales movie, and this one won't have any problem doing so. Liu Chia Liang and Wang Lung Wei engaged in a fight that you have to see to believe. Why have these two men not fought each other more is beyond me.

I don't want to spoil anything really, but you have to see My Young Auntie to get the full blast of excitement. My only gripe is that Yuen Tak was not used as broad as he was used in 3 Evil Masters, or even Invincible Pole Fighter (8 Diagram Pole Fighter) to excellent must see movies. 9.2/10

Disciples of the 36th Chamber (1985)

Liu Chia Liang and the Shaw Bros. A++++++ again!!!!!!!

[9/10 · 23 September 2007]

Well here we go again, another Shaw Bros production with high impact and excitement written all over it. The story as most of you already know is about Fong Sai Yuk played by Hsiao Hou, only his portrayal is very different from Jet Li's incarnation. First he is very hot-headed and a trouble maker, and here he has 2 brothers.

Anyway Fong Sai Yuk gets into trouble and is sent to the Shaolin temple by his mother played by Li Li Li. Gordon Liu also returns as monk San Te. From here the movie goes from good to AWESOME. The choreography in this movie is nothing short of goodness. The end fights are always the best part, (not saying the fights in the middle were bad) plus there is always one person to watch out for to see what they can do.

That person would be the Governor, his Eagles' Claw style was second to none. In the end this is a very highly recommended film especially if you are a kung fu movie fanatic like myself. Hsiao Hou is a damn good martial artist, look for him in movies like Mad Monkey Kung Fu, Legendary Weapons of China, Dirty Ho, Fist of the White Lotus (small fight scene), and My Young Auntie all very good classics. oh and this movie gets a 9.5/10, because the Governor didn't die.

Guan dong wu ta xia (1977)

Not the best, but not the worst either.

[6/10 · 16 July 2007]

Leung Kar Yan, Lo Lieh, Kao Fei, and Meng Fei star in a movie about a rebel who seeks the aid of a group of fighters to stop the Manchus. Kao Fei plays a Lama Chief and is one of the fighters that aid Meng Fei in his adventure.

The story is really not that entertaining, in fact it isn't any different from some of the movies that we have seen. Leung Kar Yan is as usual the best fighter working for the Manchus. This movie sad to say had more downs than ups, the story being the most relevant to the letdown.

While the end fight had it's length, I could only leave this movie knowing that I have seen so much better.

Iron Lion (2003)

From Boyz 2 Men they still Kick Azz!!!!!

[9/10 · 16 July 2007]

I'll make this brief for now. Xie Miao (who plays Jet Li's son in New Legend of Shaolin and My Father's a Hero) teams up with Sik Siu Loong (the cute little monk from Dragon From Shaolin) to stop some illegal gamblers from cheating in the lion dance competition.

The movie maybe based off of a TVB in Hong Kong because of the soap opera style cinematography, but make no mistake, these two boys can shine without their more famous counter parts. This movie will be lost in a big pile of other well known films but, it has it's fair share of greatness. My review isn't to broad because I am trying to find out if this is indeed a TV show.

But make no mistake about it Iron Lion is a very good movie.

Wind and Cloud 2 (2004– )

Damn good TV series/movie

[9/10 · 16 July 2007]

Zhao Wen and Peter Ho star as Wind and Cloud in this sequel spawned TV series Stormriders. I have to admit, I thought this was going to be one of those lame half azzed watered down follies. Thank God I was wrong.

The movie starts off a little bit after the first Stormriders, but draws away from it as well as with the TV series. The special effects while very plentiful are not as good as the original Stormriders, not saying they are not good though.

Different fighters compete for the seven weapons of martial arts. And some powerful fighters show up in deed. One particular fighter had the ability to slow or stop his aging process making him a very threating foe, as well as this one enemy that hide behind a mask.

If you enjoyed the first you will enjoy the second, and one great thing about the series is that Sonny Chiba reprises his role as Conquer as well as some others. Check it out, is pretty good.

The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter (1984)

Beautiful As Usual

[9/10 · 16 July 2007]

Another classic Shaw Bros. gem has found it's way into my heart. Invincible Pole Fighter host everything that is right about a Shaw classic. The beginning really speaks for it's self. The Yang family has 7 sons and 2 daughters. In a fight, they are betrayed by an ally that they have trusted for so long. Five of the 7 brothers are killed along with the father.

Gordon Liu escapes and joins the Shaolin Temple as they are very hesitant in excepting him. I won't drag this to long, but the end fight had a very unique flavor. Instead of killing most of their enemies the Shaolin Monks performed an act called defanging the wolf, meaning they knocked out their teeth. The last guy really got it bad, but honestly the only bad thing about this film is that Fu Sheng did not fight with brother 6 and sister 8. I found out that Fu Sheng had died in a car accident, while filming this movie, that's why he was not in the end fight.

But, as I said before, forget these other reviewers that think Bruce Lee is the only one that can make good movies, hell wire fu is what made some of these movies legendary, The Matrix is living proof. In the end don't believe the hype about this movie being good. Believe the hype about it being off the chain!!!!! 9/10

Two Champions of Death (1980)

Childhood goodness Revisited!!!!

[9/10 · 14 July 2007]

Two Champions of Shaolin, what can I say that hasn't been said already from the previous comments.

Once the Venoms get together to star in or even make a movie, good things turn out. I love the fact of them calling Lo Meng the Chinese Hercules, it added flare to his characters' persona. Again death and mayhem ends the movie as usual, but not before some all out goodness. The last time I saw this movie I was about 7 years old. And the best thing about this movie is everything.

If you are a Venom fan, and a kung fu movie buff like myself, then this is a movie that is a must see and definite must have. You will not be disappointed.

Dragon Tiger Gate (2006)

Great as Usual

[9/10 · 13 March 2007]

Okay let me get this small but necessary detail out of the way. Most of the gripes I read about this movie more than let's me know that if you are not a kung fu/sci fi fan, then don't watch the movie.

Some of the complaints I read were some of the dumbest ever. Number one, some guy claimed that it had no comic book flair so to speak. But does he read Asian comics, 9 times out of 10 he doesn't. Second one guy complained about the time it took Tiger Wong and Turbo Shek to heal. Did he see what happened to both men in the school? Come on, how many people could heal quickly from techniques used by a man with names like the Black Pagoda.

Dragon Tiger Gate more than proved that the Asian action market is nowhere near dead like so many rookies claim to be. This movie regardless of the age difference between Donnie and Nicolas was one of the best in Hong Kong.

I review movies all the time, while this one wasn't steady it was to set the record straight on those whom don't know anything about story or action, but have so much to complain about.

So please people don't find little gripes in movies like this when you are the same ones that loved Matrix Reloaded and Revolution.

Shao Lin jiang shi (2004)

The Credits??????

[7/10 · 10 March 2007]

Okay here is a movie where you wonder, what was the producer and director thinking. Gordon Liu is a superb actor, and Terry Fan is nothing short of great himself. I was going with the flow of this movie for the fact of the conditions the actors had to work in. The action was okay and the special effects where pretty decent. Even though this movie wasn't Grade A, I felt that it was okay..............................................

...........................That is until I saw the ending credits!!!!! What in the blue hell were the people thinking about. The 3min credit scene had action better than the whole movie, I mean awesome special effects and fighting. To find out that they were only test shots was a serious kick to the balls of every kung fu movie fan out there. I give this movie a 7. The credits gets a 9.1. If you get this movie and watch it, please by all means anticipate the ending credits.

Shi ying xiong chong ying xiong (1980)

Comedy with a Serious Kick

[9/10 · 3 March 2007]

This is a rare movie to find in some cases. Here the comedy is alittle on the stupid side, but the action more than makes up for it. A small history, to conmen are framed for stealing a shipment of gold from non other that Shaw Bros. bad boy himself, Wang Lung Wei.

After countless events and mishaps the real thief is Mr Wang. The two conmen, Leung Kar Yan, and Phillip Kao finally confronts him in an all out fight to the very finish. What made this movie unique is the fact that Yan and Kao are actually famous Detectives recognized by their infamous secret kung fu styles.

This is a very good film, and if you want to see them together in another good flick, then definitely check out Legend of A Fighter. I give this movie a 9/10 because the end fight is one to look for.

Shuai ya lao hu (1980)

Definite Must Find

[9/10 · 30 June 2006]

Well what can i say about this movie that hasn't already been said. Just when you think Sammo has topped himself, he comes with something more. In comes Two Toothless Tigers featuring Wong Lung Wei and some of Woo Pings' brothers.

The action started alittle slow but suddenly kicks in to overdrive. Wong Lung Wei as a very brutal fighter in this film, and man was he magnificent. Chung Fa displayed Eagle's Claw to the fullest bringing one of the most impressive fight scenes in the movie.

This movie is so rare it'll probably take a year for you to find it. If you do hold on to it, because this movie is a priceless gem.

Blade: The Series: Pilot (2006) Season 1, Episode 1

No Thank You

[4/10 · 28 June 2006]

OK what the hell was this supposed to be. Wesley Snipes should have reprised his role as Blade so this could have at least been entertaining. Sticky did no justice in selling the Blade name what soever. Whistler was talked about...............talked about but not showcased.

If everything else wasn't already wrong, Blade got his azz kicked more than he threw punches. The hero in this series were the no so impressive toys he was using. And now the worst of all, there is a female Blade or whatever you want to call her. Give me a DAMN break.

My honest opinion.............I'm a Blade fan, but this show is a complete and utter disgrace to the Blade franchise as a whole. Wesley is probably wishing he had did this show. Now he will have a hell of a time selling Blade 4.

Roughly, this show needs to be taken off the air right now, but the way things are going it is not going to last anyway. So please do not dirty your eyes with this show. Hell you'll probably have more fun watching animal porn.

Shi ying xiong chong ying xiong (1980)

Leung Kar Yan Classic

[9/10 · 19 June 2006]

Wow another rare movie by Leung Kar Yan, and an Xcellent one as well. Two on the Road (aka Fearless Dragon) is a story about two bumbling drifters who try to steal money that is meant for rebels to use. The problem comes in when the money is not there to be stolen, it's all a set up.

Leung Kar Yan and Phillip Ko Fei work extremely well together as they also have in the past with Legend of a Fighter. The action in this movie is again very well put together. My only complaint is that the comedy was alittle to much, but believe me that will be looked over.

The bad guy is non-other than Shaw Bros. main villain Wong Lung Wei, and the twist and real identity of the characters in the end adds serious flavor to an already tasteful classic. The choreography was just divine showcasing the infamous styles of the Horse and Dragon at the end fight scene.

These two should have been in a lot of other films together, but this and LOF is a prime example of how two great martial artist can display greatness to a film. Definitely a well put together classic. It's hard to find, so go out and get it if you can.

Why are you still reading this, GO FIND THE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Master (1980)

Nice Edition for the Shaw Bros.

[8/10 · 4 June 2006]

The Shaw Bros. have more than proved that they where the king of kung fu film production. In comes 3 Evil Masters, it follows the same storyline as most old school kung fu flicks. Orphan kid taken in and the master treats him like garbage.

Chen Kuan Tai steps on the scene injured from a plot to kill him. The kicker is that he is also the same man that broke the cruel masters' ribs and agrees to teach the orphan kid kung fu. Chen Kuan Tai is then hurt again from a fight, he escapes only to run into the Evil 3 that has been trying to kill him.

Finally they succeed causing the orphan student to extract revenge to the fullest. An early Shaw Bros. title, and a good one indeed. Check this movie out, you can't go wrong.

Five Superfighters (1979)

Good Solid Kung Fu Flick

[9/10 · 4 June 2006]

Okay, you don't see a kung fu movie everyday where a man comes to town to correct your broken kung fu. In comes 5 Superfighters, a high-octane kung fu flick from the Shaw bros. with excellent choreography.

A little taste of the movie, again a master comes to town to fix kung fu he feels is not correct. He goes to random schools and kicks the hell out of the supposed masters. Next he comes across 3 individuals of the monkey clan and defeats them and their master. They agree to split up and learn kung fu for 6 months where they would then try and get revenge for the beat down they took earlier.

The action is topnotch nothing short of Shaw Bros. goodness. There are a lot of Shaw bros. films to checkout and this is one of them. If you come across this, enjoy and hold on to it, this movie is a real gem. 9/10

Ti guan (1979)

As good as The Loot.

[9/10 · 15 April 2006]

This movie is or isn't a sequel to The Loot (aka Bloody Tattoo), regardless of that the action in this one is just as good if not better. Just in small detail, one is out for revenge the other is out for money. Both men are skilled in martial arts, but are no match for the head man himself, at least not by themselves.

The action is great all of the way through, but the end fight is one to look forward to, if you have seen The Loot, then get ready for another great fight scene in this one as well, there is a light comedy side to the film, but doesn't get in the way of the action.

Again if you like good choreography, then by all means check out the Deadly Challenger, and if you can try and pick up The Loot, two great martial arts films......................with the same stars in them both. 9/10