Flashpoint (2007)

 

Detective Ma's partner had finally infiltrated a notorious gang and Ma enters the fray to go up against the leader before he takes over the streets.

 

Flash Point is a modern day action thriller so it isn't heavy on the martial arts, but it's there. Detective Ma (Donnie Yen) is a hot tempered badass detective who has no time to waste on bureaucracy. After his partner has his cover blown,  the gang makes an attempt to take him out. This of course enrages detective Ma and now he has even more of a reason to destroy. His only consolation was that they managed to get the head gangster, but once they kill his chief and try to blow up his team,  he decides that all bets are off.

 One of my personal mottoes in life: "If it stars Donnie Yen, I'm in."

There's only one film of his that let me down, 2010s Return of the Fist. That kinda sucked. Anyway, what I don't get I'd why it took me so long to watch Flash Point. Granted I'm not happy with the drama, but the fight scenes are so well worth it. Watching Donnie Yen play an arrogant dude was a treat and along with the fight scenes at the end and beginning of the film, that helped make things more enjoyable.

Violence? Yes

Explosions? Yes

Nudity? No

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Man of Tai Chi (2013)

In this Kung-Fu tale set in Beijing, a young man armed with incomparable martial arts skills gets embroiled in the world of underground fight clubs.

The Cast:

• Tiger Chen
• Keanu
• Dedicated cop, jing si
• Master Wang
• Secret Surprise Villain Cameo

 

The Situation:

Tiger Chen is a man who just wants to fight. His principles don't allow him to do so, but the beast is awakened when he meets Donaka Park, who leads an undergoes fight club and cultivates Tiger's bloodlust. Whereas Tiger belives he's fighting for money, he discovers that Donaka is only after the destruction and complete corruption of an innocent soul. Hot on Donaka's heels though, is dedicated detective, Jing Si, who is hellbent on shutting down his operation.

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Man of Tai Chi is a battle between balance and chaos fought within Tiger Chen, a star student and sole successor to a 600yr old style of kung-fu. His sensei, Master Wang, represents the good and his employer, Donaka Park, represents the dark, pulling at Tiger to release his inner demons.

 

Donaka Park is played by Keanu and honestly, he has one of those faces to where your can't see him as a villain, but to his credit, he's pretty ruthless in this film.Tiger Chen is no slouch either and together, they do show Tai Chi in another light. Yes it is known for meditation and exercise, but I learned that in the right hands, Tai Chi can fuck people up. The meh part about this movie? The dialogue. It was so wooden. It may have been done on purpose in order to force us to focus on the fighting, but it was a bit distracting. The fighting scenes however, absolutely deliver. Keanu also directed the movie so there's that.

One of the other things I liked was that Donaka wasn't just another rich asshole who ran a fight club, he was a badass dude who could get shit done with his fists. The other thing I liked was the final fight scene. I don't want to spoil it and tell you who the opponent was, but it was unexpected and i was thrilled. Another was that Donaka Park was not a rich pussy. He could actually back up his business. With his fists.

Sidenote: 

I'm actually both surprised and relieved that the RZA wasn't in this movie is some way, but I'm sure he will find his way into the sequel.

Violence? Yes
Explosions? Of Chi
Nudity? Nope

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Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976)

***An iCheck Movies Listed Film***

Well, I could never find a good movie with all the guillotines I wanted so I dipped into the archives. Master of the flying guillotine has to have all of the guillotine I can handle....right?

Here's the quick and dirty:

Essentially, a blind grandmaster travels the country, seeking to avenge the deaths of his two disciples. All he knows is that a one armed man is responsible. So he does what any good master filed with rage would do, guillotine just about every one armed man who crosses his path and those that get in his way.

The one armed boxer is a master of his craft, but he has no desire for fame, fortune or to draw the attention of the Chinese government. He has opened a school and is persuaded to attend the tournament as a way to learn more about kung-fu outside of his own.

After the Grandmaster crashes the tournament, the one armed boxer closes his school and tells of how he defeated the two disciples. He suspects their master is coming for him and he gets ready.

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It's still a good film, but I'll never get my guillotine. *wistful sigh*

Stray Quotage:

"Was he the one armed boxer?
       No! He was just some bum!
I don't care. I intend to kill every one armed man that I come across here. "

"We all want to learn kung-fu. But we don't want to hide all our lives"

"The one armed swordsman is just a one armed chicken."

Sigh. One Armed Boxer vs Flying Guillotine. That's the original/international title and one that's more apt to the film. Despite its title it's only focus is the tournament and the one armed boxer. Shit there's just about an hour long wait until we get to their first confrontation.

I get it. The Master of the Flying Guillotine is clearly the bad guy, as realistically, you really can't go around taking people's heads, but the equation should be simple: arrive, take heads, leave. Unfortunately, the entire first half is tragically void of guillotines, minus one scene in which s chicken gets it. I'm starting to realize that I'll never get the proper amount of flying guillotine in my life. The irony is that I'll probably be killed by guillotine when it's time. 

Violence? Yes
Explosions? Yes
Nudity? No

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The Guillotines (2012)

Once used be the emperor to quash all opposition, a squad of assassins known as the guillotines falls out of favor when a new ruler takes the throne.

The Guillotines were a secret group of assassins who were created during the Qing Dynasty to secretly destroy rebellion and further the Emperor's notion of a unified land. The new emperor however, believes that The Guillotines are outdated and firearms are both the future and the key towards protecting the dynasty and furthering his legacy. To that end, he's labeled the group as guilty of treason and ordered them to be executed by firing squad.

A small group of Guillotines were on a mission to save one of their own as she was captured by the enemy. As they reach the rebel village, they discover that the new emperor has declared them traitors and ordered their execution. Finding a cause greater than their own in the struggles of the rebels, they switch sides and help defend their land from the empire's inevitable attack.

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 Chinese Jesus

That Guillotines is an action filled drama that's not really about anything. Okay, it's obviously about stuff, but it's long. The fights are of course, slick and very well done, but that's about it really. And despite its super obvious title, I didn't make the connection to the weapon until I saw the abundance of flying guillotines in the opening scene. Needless to say, I was pleasantly delighted. Until the rest of the film unfolded. Smh. There was definitely not enough flying guillotine and my quest continues. Sooner or later, there'll be a movie with ALL the flying guillotines I can handle, but if I can't find that in a movie called "The Guillotines," I don't think I'll ever find it.

Violence? Yes
Explosions? Yes
Nudity? No

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Tai Chi Zero (2012)

Yang travels to Chen Village to learn a powerful form of Tai Chi. Though villagers are forbidden from teaching outsiders, Yang becomes their best hope for survival when a man arrives with a plan to build a railroad through the village.

A man is born with what is known as "The Three Blossoms of the Crown," a technique that allows its user near invincibility and complete mastery of his martial art. His current boss is a warlord who uses his technique to finish battles and each time he uses it, it takes a toll on his health. After the last fight, he was told that he's dying as he wastes his chi and he should seek out Master Chen and beg him to teach his style of kung fu.

He soon learns that The Chen style of Kung-Fu is not taught to outsiders and he's rebuffed despite his many efforts. However he is determined and once the town is threatened by its prodigal son, he intervenes, hoping to win their favor. Shit quickly his the fan and you'll have to watch Tai Chi Hero to finish the story.

Tai Chi Zero is actually fun and entertaining. It looks amazing and the storyline is both solid and consistent. The action scenes come often and there's very little filler. Just about everyone in the film has a background in martial arts or were someone that was pivotal to martial arts cinema and they get title cards explaining who they are when they first show on screen. That was an idea that's actually dope in concept and execution. Anyway, I'm actually looking forward to  and I hope it doesn't Kill Bill Vol.2 itself. That'd be bad. Mmmkay...

Violence? Yes
Explosions? Yes
Nudity? No

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Croczilla (2012)

When a rampaging two-ton crocodile with an insatiable appetite is set loose in the city, it's up to the army to hunt down the ravenous breast.

 

Two men, the police officer in charge of the area and the original owner hunted and caught the croc. At the expense of the owners life. No armies were involved and it wasn't rampaging. In fact, Croczilla was a very simple movie. The animal was about to be killed, broke free, headed home scared and everything in its path was deemed a threat.

Surprisingly, this monster wasn't created by science and I'm actually thankful for that. They say that the crocodile farmer treated them like children and that's how things played out. A father trying to control his son and being forced to put him down when control isn't an option. It was effectively humanized and viewed from that angle, Croczilla is better than most other killer animal movies. But the title and plot are misleading. The film also lacks the silly action that the genre is known for. It plays it straight and while that does work, a few tweaks here and there and it's instantly better, but I read that plot and I think that someone wanted this to be a different movie that what it was. 

 Maybe I watched the wrong movie, but does this look like a two-ton threat to Japan?

Stray Quotage:  

"I've got money, I'm not alone."  (aka the rich people mantra)

Violence? Yes
Explosions? No
Nudity? Little Chinese dick (I'm so uncomfortable)

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Dragon (2011)

A seemingly humble paper maker is hounded by a persistent detective after events reveal that he may might possibly be a killer with a blood-soaked past.

Two men come into a village to rob their prosperous paper mill. Liu Jin-xi (Donnie Yen) fights them off and kills them. One of the men was a dangerous and wanted killer and a detective sets out to discover how an unarmed paper maker could kill the trained killer. He digs deeper into the case trying to figure out just who he is.

That starts with a little cat and mouse action as the detective starts to test him, knowing that he isn't just a lame shop keep who got in a lucky strike. When he discovers what he believes is his true identity, a wanted outlaw, he sets about plans to bring him in. But word gets out and the 72 Demons, his old gang, makes plans to bring him back home. By force if necessary.

This old man, he played one. He'll punch your face off just for fun...

Dragon is essentially A History of Violence, but with more martial arts and asians and it takes place in 1917 China. Although there's a fight within the opening scenes, it does move a bit slow but once his true identity is out,  the action and story picks up as well. And things get that much better. Not so much for the character, but for the viewer. By the end you'll see he has to fight his father to get out of the gang and at one point, even he gets Yip Man'd (rapid fire punches to the face/body)

Violence? Yes
Explosions? No
Nudity? No

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The Sorcerer and the White Snake (2011)

After herbalist Xu Xian weds a woman who saved him from drowning, he discovers that she's an incarnation of the 1,000-year-old Madam White Snake.

Jet Li is a monk, well, sorcerer I guess, who's been battling the the White Snake, a bewitching demon. After a quick opening scenes battle, he manages to defeat her and trap her in a spiritual rock. Years later, an herbalist nearly drowns and is saved by a mysterious woman. It turns out she's the reincarnation of the white snake and the sorcerer attempts to either recapture her or kill her, much to the herbalists chagrin. After she's taken out (spoiler alert!) He tries to break her out and when danger befalls him, she essentially does the same.

 I would do anything for love, but I won't do that...

At its core, The Sorcerer and the White Snake is about love. Specifically a  forbidden interspecies love between man and demon. It supposes that humans and demons are capable of going to extended lengths for love. Outside of that drama, it also has awesome visual effects and Solid kung fu action. But it loses points for a random talking rat demon(s).

 

Violence? No
Explosions? No
Nudity? No

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Iron Monkey 2 (1996)

Donnie Yen returns to fight off a deadly assassin named Snow Fox and aids a band of insurrectionists battling a malevolent gang of weapon smugglers.

Iron Monkey 2 is not an official sequel, which explains a lot. It's an Iron Monkey movie in name and Kung Fu only. In the time between the two films, The Iron monkey went from mythical robin hood like super hero to leader of the Chinese resistance.

The plot itself was/is simple but I found it hard to follow and that was probably because I was bored.
There was a lot of gunfire in this film. I hate martial arts movies with guns. It kinda ruins the setting and more importantly, takes me out of it. The best part about Iron Monkey though, was the flying guillotine. That weapon is so sick and definitely needed to be featured more.

The flying guillotine is the best part of any martial arts film. 

[Disclaimer: This is a scene from another film.]

The action in Iron Monkey 2 was fast and intense. When they did fight I mean. But Donnie Yen did not look interested, at least that's how I saw it. Second best part, They Molotov'd a dude in the climax. Kung Fu fight-- > Molotov-- > end credits.

That sequence almost made the film worth while.

Violence? Yes
Explosions? Yes
Nudity? No

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Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (2010)

Seven years after the apparent death of Chen Zhen, who was shot after discovering who was responsible for his teacher's death in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. A mysterious stranger arrives from overseas and befriends a local mafia boss. Disguising himself as a caped fighter by night, Chen intends to take out everyone involved as well as get his hands on an assassination list prepared by the Japanese. 

Set between the British occupation of Hong Kong and the Japanese invasion of China, war hero Chen Zhen, forms a Secret movement to fight the Japanese invasion of China. To that end, he infiltrates the high society and the Triads, hoping to influence them when the time comes. One rainy night, outside of a theater, he spots a black outfit with matching mask. He puts it on and kicks some Japanese ass. After the battle, he becomes the symbol of Japanese resistance and public enemy number 1. Eventually, he realizes that the only way to save China, is to defeat the ruthless Colonel of the Japanese army, who challenges him to a fight at the same dojo where Chen killed years ago.

Chen Zhen is the fucking man.

Return of the First was slick and had brief flashes of awesome but overall, it played more like a drama than an action flick. After the action of the first scene, the movie slows down to build up the characters. The slow pace is killer, the action scenes attempt to make up for it but there are a lot of lulls. If I could rate it based on that opening scene alone, it would score high. Unfortunately, the movie continued and it was all downhill from there. As it went on (and on), I could see why I skipped it.

Out of Ten? 6

Violence? Yes
Explosions? Yes
Nudity? No

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Detective Dee and The Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010)

When unexplained spontaneous combustions kill a pair of dignitaries in 7th-century China, the nation's first female emperor, Wu Zetian calls upon the trusted Detective Dee to solve the mystery in this stylish action epic.

As the Empress has commanded, a sixty story high Buddah statue is to be erected for her coronation ceremony. Near the end of construction, people are literally bursting into flames. As the workers claim divine intervention, Empress Wu, gives an order to release the only one who can solve the case, Detective Dee, a man she imprisoned 8 years for opposing her reign.

I don't know what to make of this film. It was definitely different. I love a good mystery film, but it felt like it was dragging as the mystery was uncovered. I can't even say that I felt that attached to the characters. I started to watch it solely for the resolution.

The fight scenes were well done though.

Out of Ten? 6

Violence? Yes
Explosions? Yes
Nudity? No

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Bodyguards and Assassins

In 1905, the revolutionary Sun Wen intends to visit Hong Kong to discuss his plans for revolution with fellow Tongmenghui members. Ultimate goal is to overthrow the corrupt Qing dynasty. However, a group of assassins is sent to kill Sun.

Set during the days of british rule in hong kong and 3 years Before the events of the hong kong rebellion, the resistance fighters eagerly await the arrival of Sun Wen who plans to unite the districts and lead them against the empire and as the days get closer to Wen's arrival, the tension is high as both the ruling British and the powerful Qing Dynasty try everything in their power to stop him from making his rounds.

I expected an action flick. I got a historical drama. It's long (of course) but decent. There are action scenes, and it's educational in a sense.

Out of Ten? 5

Violence? Yes
Explosions? Yes
Nudity? No

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