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herschelj_krustofsky
Reviews
Zombie vs. Ninja (1989)
the stuff of legend
While I agree with a lot of comments on this movie (YES it's bad, YES it's spliced together and somewhat baffling), it IS most certainly watchable. It is not 'gouge-your-eyes-out bad'. If you're a fan of old Kung fu movies, and have a sense of humour, you will probably love it. Whatever vintage Kung fu movie is featured in "Zombie Rival" it's actually pretty good, I'd like to track it down. Those scenes are enjoyable. But the newer (presumably 1980's) ninja scenes are also enjoyable - comedy gold. The outfits. The headbands. The mustaches. The dialogue.. in between sword clashes they say things like "I told you... the dragon's fire burns HOT!" Here in the UK you can get this on DVD for Five Pounds or less, under the title "Zombie Rivals". I own it on oldschool big-box rental VHS, under the title "Zombie Rival: The Super Ninja Master". The video cover has a painting of a barbarian on the front. Seriously. A barbarian.
Update: The vintage Kung Fu movie is called "Gravedigger". Yay!
Long wei fu zi (2005)
The Tai Chi Kid
I didn't know what to expect from this film, but I found it to be a passable entry into Sammo's recent catalog. It's quite family friendly, it could be compared to The Karate Kid both in plot and content. Sammo plays a Kung Fu master who years ago left a wife and son in Hong Kong and retreated to a country village, spending his time mastering Tai Chi with the villagers. The son is infatuated with a rich popular girl; his friendship with her leads him to be challenged by her obnoxious Karate Champion boyfriend. So he travels to the village to find his father, and ends up learning Tai Chi. I sought out this movie as I read that Leung Kar Yan (the mighty "Beardy") was in it, he plays a Karate Master who has challenged Sammo. He also happens to be the young obnoxious Karate Champion's Sensei, funny that, eh! He doesn't have much screen time, and his fight with Sammo is all too short but it was great to see him in action again. Also look out for the always great Richard Ng providing laughs.
The Micallef Program (1998)
superb sketch show.
The world's not short of half-hour sketch shows, but this is one of the best I've seen in a long time (On the UK's Paramount Comedy Channel). Satirical, surreal, and wonderfully played by a small regular cast (Wayne Hope, Francis Greenslade, Roz Hammond... and Miron, he's made of plasticine, but no less funny for it). Imagine an Australian "A Bit Of Fry And Laurie" if you know it, with elements of Monty Python & Kids In The Hall. Shaun Micallef in his role as chat show host/presenter/interviewer would be among the highlights; a cringe-inducingly smug, bitter, inept and offensive man - he is the Australian Alan Partridge. Despite being an Australian show, there's very rarely a joke of reference that I don't 'get' here in the UK. I ordered the DVDs online, the shows really stand up to repeated viewing.
Zan xian sheng yu zhao qian Hua (1978)
If you're a fan of the genre, get this movie at all costs!
I can think of few other movies, Kung Fu or not, that stand up to repeated viewing in the way Warriors Two does. If you're a Kung Fu fan and haven't seen this, I can only say it's what you've been waiting for. I must warn you, a lot of other Kung Fu movies will seem mediocre afterwards. Apart from Sammo's genius, there is the mighty Leung Kar Yan ("Beardy") as the grey haired doctor - he cannot fail to amaze! I can think of a few movies that come close (Prodigal Son, The Victim..) but this is the cream.