DVDpedia : Library : Genre : M

Theatrical: 2003

Studio: Unearthed

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 83

Summary: Based on the original manga, 1-ICHI is a prequel to Takashi Miike's ICHI THE KILLER and a film on its own. Nao Omori reprise the role of Ichi, who we follow during his high school years. Mr. Dai (played by TEACH... best known as Mario from CITY OF LOST SOULS) is the best fighter in school... whenever he fights Ichi is there and has a huge smile on his face. Mr. Dai thinks that Ichi is laughing at him but in fact he enjoys watching the violence that goes through the fights. Everyone is bullying, taunting and making fun of Ichi... even little kids from his karate class. Yet Ichi refuses to let go of his anger and fight others. Just when Mr. Dai is about to get Ichi, a new transfer student (Kôji Chihara) starts to make his own laws... by beating up everyone and breaking their bones! In a fight with the new student, Mr. Dai ends up on the ground, beaten and broked up from almost everywhere. It seems like this new guy wants to fight Ichi because supposedly he is the only one that could give him some challenge (remiscent of Kakihara from ICHI THE KILLER).

Theatrical: 1962

Studio: Daiei Studios

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 104

Summary:

Theatrical: 2002

Studio: Tokyo Shock

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 80

Summary: Fleeing from enemies, two wounded samurai arrive at a mysterious old temple in a remote location in the mountains. Unable to walk any further, they collapse from exhaustion. One awakens to find himself miraculously healed. His mysterious host tells him the legend of a Japanese goblin that is said to reside in the mountains dining on the flesh of men. He goes on to reveal himself as the demon "Aragami." And Challenges the Samurai to a duel. Wishing to end his own seemingly invincible existence, an existence without sleep or dreams, with a battle against a worthy opponent. The only way for the Samurai to leave the temple is to destroy Aragami.

Theatrical: 1993

Studio:

Genre: Martial Arts

Summary: After years of failure, Zenigata has announce to Lupin that the ICPO has permanently pulled off him off of the Lupin case. His new orders are to take down an international organization called Shot Shell which smuggles weapons and war vehicles. Lupin decides to help Zenigata out on his new case. But Interpol hired an ex-mercenary named Keith Hayden to rub out Lupin and his comrades. From Russia to Hawaii, expect yourself to see a level up on the Lupin TV movies.

Theatrical: 2006

Studio: Urban Vision

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 128

Summary: The U.S. release of Azumi is almost an exact duplicate(including special features) of the Korean and Thai theatrical release(minus DTS audio). It runs for 128 minutes, I have both the Korean and the Japanese director's cut that runs for 143 minutes. Why? Because I love this film, both versions are worth owning. I will write the difference between the two after the brief description.

In 19th century war-torn feudal Japan, a master samurai takes on the task of raising ten orphans and training them to be assassins. Their ruthless purpose: to do the bloody work of the state by silencing rebellious warlords. After a decade of inconceivably harsh training and discipline, Azumi and her comrades are ordered to assassinate the powerful warlords Nagamasa Asano and Kiyomasa Kato. But burdened with a cruel assignment that means killing friends and enemies alike, Azumi begins to question herself, her master's--and her country's--objectives. Still, Azumi remains determined to see her mission through to the bloody end.

The print of the Japanese/Korean version is a bit superior to the U.S. release. The color palette leans towards earth colors. The missing scenes in the U.S. version are:

1) First encounter with Kanbei. The extended fight scene was cut down. It is missing the significant scene wherein Kanbei observes Azumi in action, he sees her superior skill in combat. Explains in a way how he became obsessed with Azumi.
2) Some scenes overlap to the next scene. Dialogue gets carried over to the next.
3)The scene(memory) with Nachi that sthrengthens her resolve to complete the mission.
4) The Japanese version is a bit bloodier than the U.S version.

Technical Specs:
Video/audio: The Japanese/Korean versions are superior to the U.S. release. Video is slightly sharper and the U.S. release lacks the DTS-ES audio, however, with the original 5.1 Japanese track, it is loud. Avoid the English dubbed track.
Recommended: This is one of Ryuhei Kitamura's best films. If you have multi-region capability, Get the original Japanese region-2 version if you don't mind spending $ 55.00 for it, Korean region-3 version is an almost exact copy for $ 29.99. In my opinion, the Japanese extended cut is the best version.

This film is phenomenal, I don't care which version you get, you need to see this film if you enjoyed ARAGAMI, VERSUS and Shinobi Heart under blade.
This film is a ROCKIN' GREAT TIME!!

Theatrical: 2005

Studio:

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 108

Summary:

Theatrical: 2004

Studio: Magnolia

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 85

Summary: In the near future, the worst ghettos of Paris, France are literally walled off and among the worst is District B13. Controlled by the ruthless crime lord, Taha, a young righteous punk named Leïto is determined to bring him down. When the boss retaliates by kidnapping his sister, Lola, a rescue attempt by Leïto is destroyed by betrayal that gets him arrested and Lola kept in the clutches in Taha. Six months later, a crackerjack undercover cop named Damien is given a urgent mission: a neutron bomb has been stolen by Taha in District B13 which has an automatic timer function engaged and set to detonate in less than 24 hours. Now with time running out, Damien and Leïto must work together to find and stop the bomb, but there is far more to this crisis than any of the field players realize.

Theatrical: 1986

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 99

Summary: Once you settle into the realization that this 1986 John Carpenter ("Halloween") film is not going to be one of the director's more masterful works, "Big Trouble in Little China" just becomes a full-tilt comic blast. Kurt Russell is hilarious as a drawling, would-be John Wayne hero who steps into the middle of a supernatural war in the heart of Chinatown. While kung fu warriors and otherworldly spirits battle over the fate of two women (Kim Cattrall and Suzee Pai), Russell's swaggering idiot manages to knock himself out or underestimate the forces he's dealing with. The whole thing is dopey, but it's supposed to be dopey and Russell's game performance brings an ironic edge. Carpenter directs some nifty spook effects (the sudden arrival of three martial arts demigods from out of nowhere is worth applause), and he also wrote the music. "--Tom Keogh"

Theatrical: 1971

Studio: Warner Home Video

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 114

Summary: Billy Jack is a half-Indian/half-white ex-Green Beret who is being drawn more and more toward his Indian side. He hates violence, but can't get away from it in the white man's world. Pitting the good guys, the students of the peace-loving free-arts school in the desert vs. the conservative bad guys in the near-by town, the movie plays definitive late-60s themes/messages: anti-establishment, make love not war, the senseless slaughter of God's creatures, the rape of society (figuratively and literally), two-sided justice, racial segregation and prejudices, and basic socialist ideals.

Theatrical: 2007

Studio: Cross Media

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 95

Summary:

Theatrical: 1976

Studio: Miracle Pictures

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 98

Summary: World Champion Martial Artist JIM KELLY is... Black Samurai. A millionaire's girlfriend is captured by a drug-dealing, voodoo-worshipping ring that sells women into slavery. He tries to get her back with heroic results. Martial Arts and "blaxploitation" at it's best.

Theatrical: 2002

Studio:

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 87

Summary:

Theatrical: 2005

Studio: Ikehoman Productions

Genre: Martial Arts

Summary:

Theatrical: 2004

Studio: Weinstein Company

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 96

Summary: Daew is a cop who has nailed the evil gunrunner General Yang, but his partner is killed in the case and Daew becomes depressed. However, his sister asks him to join her and some of her athlete friends to a small village to give food and toys to the villagers. What starts out as a trip to help people turns into a nightmare when Yang's men arrive at the village and take over, demanding the release of Yang or a nuclear missile will hit Bangkok. When villagers are killed left and right, Daew and the athletes must start a revolution against the tyranny before it's too late.

Theatrical: 2003

Studio: MGM

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 104

Summary: For 60 years a mysterious monk with no name has zigzagged the globe to protect an ancient scroll - a scroll that holds the key to unlimited power. Now the Monk must look for a new scrollkeeper. Kar is an unlikely candidate, a streetwise young man whose only interest is himself. But when he inadvertently saves the Bulletproof Monk from capture, the two become partners in a scheme to save the world from the scroll's most avid pursuer. Packed with spectacular special effects and martial arts action, the Monk, Kar, and a sexy Russian mob princess called Bad Girl must struggle to find, face, and fight the ultimate enemy.

Theatrical: 2008

Studio: Baa-Ram-Ewe

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 110

Summary: Zen, a girl who is suffered from autistic syndrome, but a genius in fighting. Zen lives with her mother,
the only person that she truly loves. Zen's life turns difficult when her mother is sick from cancer,
so she needs to get the money from the people who owe her mother. But, those people have a connection
to a villain called No.8, and they're ready to kill Zen. Now, her mother's life is a high bet, Zen is
forced to fight for herself and her mother.

Theatrical: 2006

Studio: Cool Dimension Film Partners

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 75

Summary: Three beautiful female assassins under the control of a mysterious employer find that they're not the only ones after their latest target.

Theatrical: 2006

Studio: Lions Gate

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 87

Summary: Action anti-hero Jason Statham is competing with himself to make the most relentless, non-stop action flick imaginable. In "Crank", Statham stars as a hit man named Chev Chelios who's been poisoned by some Chinese toxin; the only way to stave it off is to keep his adrenalin flowing, which requires him to drive at top speeds through crowded traffic, start fights in bars, and run pell-mell down hospital corridors while wearing one of those humiliating smocks that tie in the back. In other words, "Crank" is high-end pop-trash, filled with many preposterous/ingenious stunts and over-the-top performances (Dwight Yoakam, "Sling Blade", is downright droll as a doctor offering Chev assistance), marred by an unpleasant attitude towards women (Amy Smart, "Outside Providence", will not look back on this as one of her signature roles). This is a movie for the audience who enjoyed "Transporter" and "Transporter 2" but wanted Statham's perpetual scowl to become a kind of theatrical mask, a perpetual signifier of intensity that begs--nay, demands--that everything around it rise to a mutual level of absurdity. Fans of Luc Besson ("Leon/The Professional", "District 13") will find "Crank" to be simpatico. "--Bret Fetzer"

Theatrical: 1995

Studio: Adv Films

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 102

Summary: A lethal assassin for a secret Chinese organisation, who sheds tears of regret each time he kills, is seen swiftly and mercilessly executing three Yakuza gangsters by a beautiful artist. She is captivated by the grace of his kill and later falls in love with him. An intense power struggle for the leadership of the Yakuza Clans ensues as they seek vengeance for the death of their leader. They soon realise the fatal mistake of underestimating the deadly skills of the Crying Freeman.

Theatrical: 2005

Studio: Universal Studios

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 102

Summary: Luc Besson wrote and directed the stylish thrillers "La Femme Nikita" and "The Professional"; though he didn't direct "Unleashed", the script has his trademark fusion of outrageous sentimentality and over-the-top violence. Hong Kong action superstar Jet Li ("Romeo Must Die", "Hero") stars as Danny, a man raised to be a brutal attack dog by a nasty gangster named Bart (Bob Hoskins, "Mona Lisa")--when Bart removes Danny's collar, Danny pulverizes everyone in the room. But a chance encounter with a blind piano tuner (Morgan Freeman, "Million Dollar Baby") reveals to Danny the possibility of a less brutal life, and when a retaliation attack gives him the chance to escape, he does--but Bart won't let him go that easily. The fighting in "Unleashed" is effectively jolting; Li and fight choreographer Yuen Wo Ping ("The Matrix") have purposefully stripped away the smoothness of most movie combat (especially with a genuine martial artist like Li) with raw, unnerving results, especially when juxtaposed with the sweet and earnest scenes of Li regaining his humanity with Freeman and his step-daughter (Kerry Condon). This freewheeling cocktail of bloody noses and ice-cream cones isn't for everyone, but fans of both Besson and Li will leave satisfied. "--Bret Fetzer"

Theatrical: 1997

Studio:

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 90

Summary: 5-Time World Kickboxing Champion Curtis Bush plays Alex Hunter, an up-and-coming kickboxer whose fiancé and father are brutally murdered by the city's cold-blooded and sadistic crime boss, and he himself tortured and left for dead. Discovered and nursed back to health by a wheelchair-bound Vietnam Vet who becomes his mentor, Alex is transformed into an avenging streetfighter - a one man vigilante and skull-cracking killing machine known as...The Dark Angel. Using controlled fury and a hunger for revenge to seek bloody retribution against low-life criminal scum, Alex's ultimate target is the untouchable crime boss. But a beautiful tabloid journalist who seeks to uncover the true identity of The Dark Angel is hot on the trail, yet that won't stop Alex from exacting his "eye for an eye". First, he must enter the Arena of Death and destroy one-by-one the most savage and deadly fighters imported from around the world by the crime boss. It WILL be the most thrilling, bone-cracking showdown ever!

Theatrical: 2000

Studio: Kino Video

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 97

Summary: This movie, IMO, is the best in the Dead Or Alive series. When I saw this movie I was amazed. I was initially expecting a typical Yakuza shoot em up film, yet this movie delivers a poignant story about lost childhood innocence, friendship, and life and death. It goes beyond expectations.

The movie starts off with an assassination that is supposed to ignite a war between the triads. But, before we know it, this movie takes a 180 degree turn as the two main characters of the film (Sho Aikawa and Riki Takeuchi) return to their boyhood, island home in search of their lost innocence. They were both raised on an orphanage before they became professional killers, so the idea of returning to the island is a return to their childhood when they were innocent. Once they arrive on the island, they meet up with their other boyhood friend, Kohei, who has become a modest fisherman as opposed to a hit man. For a while, Sho and Riki return to their childhood. They play like children, act like children, and live under an illusion of innocence and well-being while all hell breaks lose back in Tokyo because of their prior actions. The best example of this is the juxtaposition of the children's play scene and the ultra violent Yakuza shoot out scene. During this nostalgic visit it is fully realized that these two characters were meant to meet up again, that it was fate for them to join forces and work together as a team. They join forces and return to Tokyo. Once they are there, they start killing off gang members and donating the money to charities for children in third world countries. Therefore, they become angels of life and death by dictating who lives and who dies. They are saving children, yet killing off people in order to do it.

This is basically what Dead Or Alive 2 is all about. Its storyline is not a continuation of Dead Or Alive 1 in the traditional sense, which in many ways makes this film an entity of its own. With this movie, Takashi Miik proves that he is more than a traditional film maker. He keeps things interesting by not outdoing himself, but rather by doing things different; looking at things from different angles and throwing characters into alternate situations. There is no good guy vs. bad guy showdown here, it's just a good-old fashioned nostalgic story of life and death.

Theatrical: 2005

Studio: Tokyo Shock

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 90

Summary: In an unknown place and unknown time, a lone Samurai known only as Grave (Tak Sakaguchi) thirsts for the ultimate battle. Grave has stolen a mysterious coffin from the holy Tougan Temple — a coffin said to contain a great power. Trapped inside the sealed coffin is the Goddess of Destruction, confined and held at bay from laying waste to this world. Grave fearlessly travels the land dragging the coffin behind him, aware that what lies within is what he seeks — if only he can open it. Unknown to Grave, a young temple monk has embarked on a quest to return this relic to its proper home before anyone can unleash an unstoppable cataclysm. So begins the race to claim the coffin...but who will get there first?

Theatrical: 1974

Studio:

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 86

Summary: Deep in the mountains of feudal Japan, a group of children endure cruel and unorthodox training in order to become the Shogunate's most secret and deadly weapons - the Demon Spies! Their true identities are hidden - even from each other. Behind their demon masks, they are educated in the deadly arts of infiltration, espionage, assassination - and seduction! If they survive to become strong enough to kill their teachers, they will become - the Demon Spies! Sent on a suicide mission to uncover a deadly conspiracy, five inexperienced Demon Spies must infiltrate a powerful fief, discover the location of its secret arsenal, and destroy it. But Lord Shogen, the Demon Hunter, plans to brutally interrogate, ingeniously torture, and cruelly execute - the Demon Spies!

Theatrical: 2007

Studio: Cinequest Films

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 94

Summary: "Diamond Dogs" is the story of a group of American fortune hunters, who come to China looking for a long-lost-treasure. During the Soviet crack-down on religion in the 1930's, a priceless Buddhist artifact, a Tangka was taken across the border to China and hidden in the mountains. The diamonds alone, decorating this huge gold-inlaid textile, are thought to be worth $50 million. The fortune hunters need a guide and protection on the trip, so they hire an American ex-pat, Ronson. He's ex-Army and living an existence in Inner-Mongolia of drinks, women and bare-knuckle fights. The group takes off into the Mongolian mountains on a trek that will change their lives forever. For not only is this Tangka wanted by ruthless Russian mercenaries, but it's also protected by something much more sinister. Something that even Ronson can't imagine...

Theatrical: 2004

Studio: GFT Action Films Inc.

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 97

Summary: No wonder with this bad film. One good cop goes against all his squad and testifies they are crooks, now they are trying to kill him.



Story flaws galore in this one. First of all, they try to convince you it is an American city, but make no attempts to hide the fact that it is shot in Toronto. All the close ups of the Ontario licence plates give it away.



The filming style is bizarre. All kinds of unneeded shots of the industrial area of the city when they are suppose to be in the city. There is one scene when they are going to an apartment building but end up in a junkyard in a shoot out.



Dolph Lungren is looking old and skinny in this one and his acting has not improved. He is still better than the girl playing his partner, I'm guessing she went back to her job as a waitress by now. There are a couple of unintentional laughs, like when the cops change cars the director decided to give their cars to the bad guys that are after them. Couldn't they rent a couple other cars to make it look a bit more realistic?



As far as the script, holes in this thing a mile wind. There are too many to mention, but it'll leave you scratching your head. I'd pass on this one unless your cable is out.

Theatrical: 2006

Studio: Weinstein Company

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 87

Summary: A number of fighters are invited to DOA, an invitational martial arts contest. They travel to the tournament island by plane, until they have to jump out mid-flight with parachutes, and then have until sundown to reach the main island to be entered into the tournament. Fighters are then pooled against one another in a knock-out style tournament, with the loser of a battle sent home, and the winner progressing to the subsequent round. The plot revolves around four female fighters who begin as rivals, but subsequently find themselves teaming up against another force.

Theatrical: 1997

Studio: Sony Pictures

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 109

Summary: Look ma, no script! As expected from a movie by Hong Kong action director Hark Tsui, there are many explosive, fast-paced sequences in this Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicle. Some are thrilling, others inconsequential. There is also another mumbling, overdone performance by Mickey Rourke, who looks as if he performed his own plastic surgery. Except for an unintentionally humorous ending, the only surprise is Dennis Rodman as Van Damme's partner in exploitation. Rodman has plenty of charisma, but needs someone to weed out those inferior scripts. He plays an eccentric arms dealer coerced by an avenging Van Damme into tracking down the evil and sadistically weird character played by a well-muscled Rourke. It says little for the production that the best sequence of the movie occurs a quarter of the way into the action. It concerns an escape by Van Damme from an island think tank for forcibly retired covert agents. After that, everyone should have gone home. "--Rochelle O'Gorman"

Theatrical: 2001

Studio: Tai Seng

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 100

Summary:

Theatrical: 2005

Studio: Enter One

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 111

Summary: Two Korean women fighting - Cat fight.

Theatrical: 2006

Studio: Magnolia

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 99

Summary: Dynamite Warrior... the title says it all. Well, obviously not really, but it comes pretty darn close. From director Chalerm Wongpim and the creators of The Protector, Born to Fight, and the popular Ong-Bak, comes a reinvention of the western, Thai style. Khon fai bin, or Dynamite Warrior on this side of the world is a surrealistic combination of old west cowboys and hardcore barefooted martial artistry set in the 1850s.

The plot is simple: Lord Wang is a corrupt harelipped businessman trying to sell the newfangled invention of the tractor to farmers and make the water buffalo obsolete. Jone Bang Fai is a masked warrior who employs a mixture of rockets and knee-kicks to steal water buffalo from wealthy cattle rustlers and gives them back to the poor farmers they were taken from, Robinhood-style. Thrown into the mix is a near-invincible rancher who has the ability to turn his bumbling sidekicks into superhero-worthy fighters, an evil dark wizard, a brawny but brainless ex-con, and a love story... okay, so maybe it's not that simple. But it sure is fun.

Dynamite Warrior is a nonstop action film in the truest sense of the phrase, with characters that are painted in such broad strokes they're almost caricatured, and fight scenes that go on for upwards of ten minutes at a time. Toss in the Black Wizard seeking revenge for a curse placed upon him and it's downright mythic. Although the plot itself might leave something to be desired, there's no question that this is a pulse-pounding martial arts movie. The fact that no writer is even listed on IMDB shows just how important the plot really is to the filmmakers. What matters here is the stupefying fight scenes and the incredible stuntwork. The cinematography is nothing to scoff at either. With breathtaking scenery and remarkable sets, Dynamite Warrior is easier on the eye than it is on the bad guys.

Dan Chupong, a stuntman on Ong-Bak, stars as Jone Bang Fai, and spends most of the movie flying through the air, though he does manage to make the time for the mandatory side love story with the Black Wizard's beautiful daughter. Every character reads as if from the pages of a comic book: the huge escaped convict who uses two gigantic chunks of wood as his weapons, the wretched Black Wizard with his boil-covered visage, and, of course, the masked hero with a mysterious past and a heart of gold.

Dynamite Warrior is the kind of action film that can only be made in the East. Every frame is seemingly filled with the desire to take stuntwork to the next level. Even the cattle ranchers who appear for a split-second on screen have the kind of skills Chuck Norris dreams about. Those looking for a good western or a good martial arts film can stop looking. Those looking for both combined into one film... well, they probably already own it.

Theatrical: 2001

Studio: Warner Home Video

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 101

Summary: A tough but burned-out New York City policeman assigned to a remote Long Island precinct uncovers corruption among his fellow officers there.

Theatrical: 1979

Studio: American Cinema Productions

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 90

Summary: A team of undercover narcotics agents is conducting an investigation when things mysteriously begin to go haywire. One by one, the squad is eliminated by an assassin. To help discover the identity of the karate killer, the police enlist the aid of karate champion Matt Logan.

Theatrical:

Studio:

Genre: Martial Arts

Summary: uring the Edo era, violent revenge was not only an acceptable practice, but an official one in which vendettas were authorized by the government. Freesia revives this concept of legal vendetta and brings it to a cold, contemporary Japan. Under the Vengeance Act, criminals receive official notice of their execution and face off in a designated area at a designated time with registered gun-wielding hitmen. Cool, silent, and impervious to pain, Kanou Hiroshi (Tamayama Tetsuji) just joined the Katsumi Vengeance Agency, and immediately establishes himself as an ace hitman with his sharp shooting and emotionless personality. Almost as cold is Higuchi (Tsugumi), who organizes the agency's paperwork. She has some personal vendettas of her own to settle, amongst them against Higuchi's acquaintance Toshio (Nishijima Hidetoshi). These three lonely people are haunted by a common memory, a military experiment years ago that forever changed their lives...

Based on the Matsumoto Jiro manga, Freesia is the latest film from director Kumakiri Kazuyoshi, who came to mainstream attention last year with Seishun Kinzoku Bat. Cool and riveting, the film represents a new stylistic venture for Kumakiri, who is known for his controversial topics and atypical stories. This beautifully shot film balances its sensational premise and slick visuals with calm direction and restrained acting, situating the gunplay and bloodshed against a compelling narrative. Leads Tamayama Tetsuji (Tegami, NANA), Nishijima Hidetoshi (Casshern, Sukida), and Tsugumi (Noriko no Shokutaku) bring inner life to their cold characters, letting unspoken wounds and repressed emotions linger hauntingly beneath the surface.

Theatrical: 2006

Studio:

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 127

Summary: In a poor district of Edo lives a young samurai named Soza. He has been sent by his clan to avenge the death of his father. He isn't an accomplished swordsman however, and he prefers sharing the life of the residents, teaching the kids how to write etc. When he finally finds the man he is looking for, he will have to decide whether he follows the way of the samurai or chooses peace and reconciliation.

Theatrical: 2006

Studio: Sony Pictures

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 110

Summary: I really enjoyed Jean-Claude's earlier films. But, they keep seeming to get worse and worse. The dude kicked like 3 times in the film. The best part of Jean-Claude's films are the fight scenes and these sucked. You know you are getting cheese whenever you watch any of his movies but instead of cheedar this was some moldy government crap! I'm really hoping he'll get with Steven Segal talk about how much they both suck, watch their old movies and then go back to thier roots!

Theatrical: 1993

Studio: Universal Studios

Genre: Martial Arts

Duration: 97

Summary: Jean-Claude Van Damme, "the Muscles from Brussels," has sought to revitalize his flagging career by working with the most adrenalized directors from Hong Kong action films. His first such effort was this, the umpteenth remake of "The Most Dangerous Game", which teamed him with Hong Kong's most fluid action poet, John Woo. Woo does what he can but, as much magic as he injects into the action, he can't turn Van Damme into an actor. Still, this is above-average fare for the wooden Belgian, in which he plays a guy trying to bust a ring of hunters who pay for the right to track and kill human quarry. And Woo has the ever-reliable Lance Henriksen as the chief bad guy, always a plus. "--Marshall Fine"