Description

Two cultures collide in SHANGHAI NOON, a wildly hilarious, stunt-filled action-adventure comedy starring the death-defying action hero Jackie Chan (RUSH HOUR 2), Owen Wilson (ARMAGEDDON, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS), and Lucy Liu (PAYBACK, CHARLIE'S ANGELS). Chan plays Chinese Imperial Guard Chon Wang (say it out loud) who hightails it to the wild and woolly West to rescue the beautiful kidnapped Princess Pei Pei (Liu). When he meets up with the laid-back outlaw cowboy dude Roy O'Bannon (Wilson), they form the best mismatch ever made in the rough and tumble Old West -- the two face jail, brawls, bordellos, and the vilest villains this side of the Great Wall! Spectacular stunts, outrageous irreverence, and epic vistas reign as East meets West in a battle for honor, royalty, and a fortune in gold! It's a real kick! ... Read more

Reviews (137)

Funny and Thrilling!
Shanghai Noon is not one of the most spectacular action movies of Jackie Chen, but sure is one of the funniest. Definitely worth seeing!

Despite of the fewer fighting scenes, Jackie Chen makes sure that you find every fight exciting, funny and real. (Of course! It's what Chen famous for!) He also added more diverse and cross-cultural jokes in, which he started doing since Rush Hour, make the movie funnier and more colorful.

Jackie Chen has a great cast team. I can't think of anyone else could be better than Owen Wilson as the western partner of Jackie Chen. Even the minor roles were well chosen, such as other Imperial guards and the Indians. None of them makes any of the fighting seems fake. The princess, on the other hand, could have been played better by someone else. Lucy Liu is a good actress, but not a perfect candidate for this movie. She was not funny enough and she speaks as if she is reading a script. But this didn't effect the rating of the movie. Over all, It's still a 5-star movie!

If you like Shanghai Noon, I would also recommend Once Upon China and America (with Jet Li), which is an earlier version of Shanghai Noon. It's more serious (but still have some jocks) and has a different fighting style - you would know what I mean if you are a Jet Li fan!

best comic duo eva!
I'll be honest I thought this movie would not be funny or interesting, after seeing it I was proved wrong. Ok the beginning was a bit boring, but as soon as Jackie meets Owen it starts to get good. There r some hilarious scenes (check out the bathtub scene!)and action packed scenes. This movie has the right amount of action and comedy. I now think that Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson are the best duo since Laurel and Hardy, they r brill! You would think that Chan would be the star here but no, Owen Wilson steals the show, proving to be hilarious and he is obviously talented. Im relieved to hear there will be Shanghai noon 2 which will be great. I agree with a previous review, some of those stars are awarde to Owen. Overall, shanghai noon is one of the best films in the last year, and the outakes are sooooo funny. Enjoy watching it! p.s if you have seen the movie read on: well done Owen for not dying in an action flick!

cowboy baby!
a cowboy/outlaw type and jackie chan team up to save the chinese princess.jackie chan gives his best ever performance here.problem is ,hes followed around by this gay cowboy who talks too much.if thata not bad enough,he talks like a modern day gay guy and not a cowboy at all.ive never seen a cowboy more in touch with his feminine side.owen wilson?or something like that.he is very obnoxious.there are many good fight scenes.i dont know why this one wasnt a bigger hit.they made asequel based in england but it totaly sucked.

Goofy fun
This is good, silly entertainment. It's for the days when you don't want to think much about what's going on, and don't want to watch movies where people undress.

That's about all, though. Owen Wilson's wide-eyed naivete was over-used, and Chan's athleticism and physical comedy were under-used. The plot was adequate to keep the characters moving and to alternate between bad guys every now and then. Still, it's not the kind of movie that will keep you up late with its deep philosophy - or even with its bad puns.

Perhaps the funniest scene is the bathtub drink-off (no nudity, lots of bubbles). On the second thought, maybe it was the bloopers during the final credits.

If you're determined to watch something but can't find anything good on, maybe this is what you wanted. Set your expectations properly, and enjoy.

A Surprisingly Funny and Highly Entertaining Film!
I am usually drawn to drama, classic cinema or film noir as opposed to modern comedies, mainly because most seem to rely on profanity, toilet humor or obnoxious characterizations. A good friend recommended "Rush Hour" and I immediately knew I was going to become a Jackie Chan fan... I then got "Rush Hour 2" and then this film....... how refreshing to watch a film high on action, loaded with comedy and having so much genuine humor. ALL the lead actors in the film were wonderful in their parts. No weak areas here. This is NOT "Gone With the Wind", but as zany and wonderful comedy, it's a modern classic in my book.

The photography and the transfer is superb by the way.. and cinemeatographer should be commended for the beautiful work. Also excellent was the music score that was consistantly appropriate...... although the popular songs leaned towards the "rap" audience and I thought a few modern country artists might have worked better here... not to worry, the pop music did not get in the way of the overall quality of the film.

This is a terrific and charming film. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Chemistry and Charisma
Richard Norton and Cynthia Rothrock co-starred in movies before
"Rage and Honor", such as Samo Hung's "Millionaire's Express",
but "Rage" established the charismatic pair as the Bogie and Bacall of martial arts movies. The chemistry of the two leads is
undeniable in this swiftly entertaining actioner about an Australian (Norton) set up falsely for a murder charge in L.A.
Norton's pursuit for exoneration pairs him with Rothrock in a battle against their criminal couterparts, played by Catherine Bach and Brian Thompson. Eccentric characters from the L.A. underground assist the leads in their mission, and the movie shrewdly punctuates the action-charged pace with light moments.
An actor of integrity, Norton delivers a performance with integrity as the unfairly accused Aussie. Thanks to the appeal
of both stars, "Rage and Honor" remains a rarely equaled martial
arts movie, even ten years after its initial release.

why does she do this to herself?
Cynthia Rothrock is a terriffic sport Tae-kwon do champion. she does know how to fight. but she refuses to show any of her skill in her movies where every move thrown is slow and impractical. The plot of this movie is unforgivingly slow. Rothrock still tries to depend on her good looks for sales dispite that her ravishing model body has aged her into a 40 year old average woman who thows attacks the same way as would an amature. I think her name would mean a lot more if she stuck to sport competitions and stoped hurting herself making awful movies. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The true art of shootfighting.
I am sure that 9 out of 10 reviews you will find about this movie will define it as CRAPPY, TERRIBLY BAD or even worse, but to me it is quite a great product.
While the editing sucks, that I admit, the action will make you breathlees; the fights are perfectly coreographed, and the blood factor will leave blood-thirsty people more than happy.
Here's the story:
Shingo, a great Shootfighter, has reached the finals of the tournament after beating his opponent quite easely. The other semifinal match will confront Mr. Lee and Shingo's buddy.
Despite threwing a few punches, Shingo's friend finds himself in front of a very powerful fighter, who, after punching him as if he was a PC that has just broken down, rips the poor guy's throat. Mr. Lee is then banned from Shootfighting, and decides to star his own Shootfighting bussiness in Mexico.
Ruben and Nick, Shingo's karate students,and two great fighters, are tracked by Mr. Lee who, decided to take revenge from Shingo, convinces them of participating in Shootfighting, and of course the excitement for no-ruled fighting, and the need of money (typical!) will make them sign up in a tournament where defeat means DEATH.

Extreme!!!
Enter the most merciless combat arena ever imagined, as international martial arts wizard BOLO YEUNG stars with WILLIAM ZABKA, MARTIN KOVE, EDWARD ALBERT JR., and MARYAM D'ABO in this bone-crushing, full contact action spectacular! Karate Champions Ruben and Nick are lured by the menacing Mr. Lee across the border to compete as "shootfighters," a forbidden sport so brutal it's banned from the civilized world. But when Ruben and Nick are forced to face each other in the ring, they realize they're only pawns in Lee's deadly masterplan: a final, fight to the death grudge match between Lee and the legendary founding father and unconquered king of shootfighting - Shingo. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Try to rent if possible
For real Jet Li fans this movie is ok, but was not really his style, of course Jet has to do some awesome fighting and was well worth watching. The movie overall was a little too long and really was one that you'll be happy that you saw him fight. Like I said rent if possible.

Some bad acting, but still up to par
Ignore the bad acting and analyze the action. Even in America Jet is unstoppable in this final film in the OUTIC series. I recommend this to all to Jet fans.

Once Upon a Time for an Average Sequel
Well, on the outside, it would appear that Jet Li had made a triumphant return to the series that made his career. In reality, this sequel falls short of the glory of the past titles. You should know that Jet Li was replaced for Once Upon a Time in China 4 and 5. (This being the sixth) Those movies were also very much below the quality of the first two. I suppose this movie does a better job than the Vincent Zhao vehicles that are OUATIC 4 and 5, but not by much. I must say these movies are very similar. I can tell you this, the storyline deals with the whole fish out of water ordeal. The big twist in this movie is that Jet Li bangs his head on a rock and thinks he is a native american indian. Then with some coaxing from his friend, Clubfoot, (read: fighting) he goes back to normal. In my opinion the romance between Jet Li and Roseamund Kwan has never been a strong point in the series. Much like Shanghai Noon, this movie goes out with a whimper, not a bang when Jet Li fights some evil looking goth cowboyesque character on top of a platform. I have to say, the fina fight scene is sub par for any Kung Fu Film and especially Jet Li. So in the end, go enjoy Once Upon a Time in China one and two. Go enjoy the gangster masterpiece Once Upon a Time in America, but be weary of the sub-par Kung Fu/Westerner that is Once Upon a Time in China and America. I recommend "Rikki-Oh" cause as far as Kung Fu movies, it's the poorest produced flick i have ever seen, but it's also the funniest. Check it out now.

Good ol' fashion super silly kung fu
who cares about what the indians look like, or the main bad guys overuse of an eyebrow pencil?
This had everything you look for in a kung fu movie: action, humor and NO PLOT!!
All the people watching this who are taking it seriously, are watching the wrong movie.

This is the first movie i saw out of the "once upon..." series. I tried watching the first 3 after this one, and they paled in comparison.

So if you want to watch a first rate, cheesey kung fu movie, this is for you. If you want a documentary on Native American wardrobe, go watch the Discovery Channel.

...

An interesting, but flawed attempt
Although they managed to drag Jet Li back to the series for this installment, I personally wish they'd left the saga on the more respectable note that was the fourth sequel. Though the production values are high, with the American locations and actors being considerably better than in most HK films, the movie's plot is the weakest of the lot.
While Sammo Hung's direction makes the best visual use of the settings, it's suprisingly the action sequences that are the biggest let-down. The number of them is fairly frequent and the choreography is reasonable, but they are just too short to hold the attention. The failure to have a strong villian for Wong Fei-Hung to battle is also a major minus point.
There is also no attempt made to develop the characters and their relationships, as it seems the filmmakers think that dumping WFH and the gang in the middle of a Western is enough to justify making the film. It isn't.
It's a shame such a great series of movies signs off with such a weak parting shot. One for OUATIC completists only. ... Read more

Reviews (64)

"It's not about anger; It's about peace."
Ever wonder why hot dogs come in packages of ten, while hot dog buns come in packages of eight? Well, obviously that's a question that has plaqued us all for eons, but BULLETPROOF MONK may have found the answer.

60 years ago in Tibet, The Monk with no name (Chow Yun-fat), a mighty martial arts warrior, has been entrusted with the Scroll of the Ultimate, which has some kind of incantation written on it. If anyone were to read it aloud in it's entireity, they would gain ulimited power. Obviously, not everyone would use this power for good, like the evil Strucker (Karel Roden), who wants it to rule the world. He's been chasing the Monk every since he obtained the right to protect the scroll.

Now, in present day New York City, Strucker is still chasing the Monk, who must soon find a replacement protector for the scroll, since one person can only guard it for 60 years at once (One of the perks to guard the scroll is that for that 60 year period, you don't age one day.)

And the Monk may just have found the right man for the job. Kar (Seann William Scott) is a poor pickpocket with impressive martial arts skills, which he has gotten from imitating kung fu movies at the theatre (aptly named the Golden Palace) where he is the projectionist. Kar, it seems, keeps on fulfilling prophecies that the next protector of the scroll must. All the Monk has to do now is teach Kar how to use his skills for good, and that if you truly believe that the laws of gravity don't exist, then they don't.

BULLETPROOF MONK is one of those movies based on a comic book that nobody has ever heard of (along with TIMECOP, MEN IN BLACK, THE MASK.) But loaded with more (...)to satisfy any martial arts buff, it is simply not a movie you should allow yourself to not see. You can count on it.

Mystical Elements Lift Film
I've enjoyed "Bulletproof Monk." The mystical elements lift the film a cut above the action picture genre, of which this is not a great example. However, the scroll, which contains a secret message that could be used for good or bad and gives special powers including youth to its protector, is an interesting premise. Obviously, day-to-day embrace of spiritual values of truth, beauty & goodness would not be enough to entice Hollywood production; so this little Hollywood placebo is great where being spiritual transforms one into being able to spin around and jump up to a second story window. Paul Hunter keeps the pace jumping, despite the film's inconsistencies. Chow Yun-Fat is a great actor who has yet to be fully appreciated. I've watched "Corrupter" 5 times just to see the edgy depth he brings to a part. Here as the nameless monk he offers considerable depth, humor and sparkle to what is fairly flat material. Seann William Scott from "American Pie" is amazingly likeable for a pickpocket; and carries his weight as the romantic lead. James "Jamie" King from "Blow," "Pearl Harbor," "Slackers," and numerous magazine covers does a great job as Bad Girl Jade who lives a split life between wealth and the street, although one is never quite sure why. Karel Rodel as Strucker the Nazi is fairly flat and predictably evil. Victoria Smurfit as his granddaughter Nina is irritatingly evil with a one-note role. Mako makes a nice cameo as Mr. Kojima. It's been a long time since he was nominated for an Oscar in "Sand Pebbles" with Steve MacQueen back in 1966; and it's good to see him again. The special features on the DVD include a discussion with the comic book writers who are delighted that this is a film and a documentary about training Seann & Jamie as action heroes. This is one of those films I enjoy because good wins in the end. The action keeps the film moving quickly and breezes to a quick climax. While not classic, it's one to enjoy.

the best martial arts movie ever!
a monk must travel to america and pass on the title to a new guy.it really depends on your kid as to wether or not theyll be able to hsndle this one.its action packed full of physics defying stunts similar to the matrix.theres this one semi-hottie that follows around tne dork who runs with the monk.that dork plays another dork in the rundown.this movie wont get the credit it deserves.the bad guy is a nazi.i think it is childish how every time a director cant think of a bad guy he just makes him a racist.this whole racism is ok as long as its directed at white people thing has got to go.

LOVE IT!
I love this movie so much! I rented it first to see if I would enjoy it before I paid 20 bucks for it on dvd..and I wish I had just went out and got it insted of renting it! I did not enjoy the matrix one bit! and the only think that keep me from this movie was its matrix look..however I really loved Crouching tiger hidden dragon..and Iron monkey..so I just had a good fealing about this movie, its story is not soo deep or should I say as "stuped" as the matrix.. but knowing some people they will think this movie looks stuped and never give it a chance..Rent this movie and I bet you will be on amazon buying this dvd the next day. so for fans of Iron monkey,Crouching tiger hidden dragon,Matrix or just good old action movie fans this movie is worth the money..but one thing I dont like on the dvd is that this movie is in widescreen ONLY..I hate that so I got the VHS verson also because its full screen.so Rent the VHS and buy the dvd and enjoy!

Got it for free, and felt I had spent too much.
I got this movie for free in a buy two get one free type of deal (couldn't find a third I really wanted, so took a shot with this).
First off, the dialogue is so bad it is almost painful to listen too. Granted, I expected as much and, for the most part, got the movie because I heard it had good action scenes. Wrong. The action scenes were mediocre at best, and they seemed few and far between as well. (I don't know why they picture Monk with guns on the cover anyway. He uses them once and spends the majority of his time running away rather than fighting.)

To sum up, I'm quite frankly embarassed to have this movie in my possession. Maybe I'll donate to the local library so other people curious about this trash may only have to waste their time and not their money as well. ... Read more

Description

Los Angeles gets hit by "black rainstorms" when culture-clashing policemen Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee team up to take down Yakuza mobsters. An action fireball from the director of Commando. Year: 1991 Director: Mark L. Lester Starring:Dolph Lundgren, Brandon Lee, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991)
I'll admit it, this movie is one of my guilty pleasures.

While I'm not the biggest fan of seeing Dolph Lundgren running like a girl through an old used car graveyard wearing only skin-tight Spandex shorts, I do have a soft spot in my heart for the ironic humor and martial antics of the late Brandon Lee, along with the gorgeous/naive character played by the stunning Tia Carrere.

This movie does not excel in any one particular category: the action is decent, the story is simple but well laid out, the acting is good, and there is enough nudity to keep things interesting (although I'm sad to say that Tia uses a body double for her scenes of nekid frolicking).

But the complete package turns an otherwise average "Showdown" into the slick, neon-lit, buddy cop action movie that makes this one of my favorite movies of the early 90's!

Great action movie
With Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee as the heroes and Tia Carrere as the love interest, nothing can go wrong. The plot is standard, the bad guy killed the hero's parents. The hero grew up became a cop and found the bad guy. But the movie is quite entertaining and you can watch it over and over again. The DVD is in full screen only and the picture is a bit grainy but quite clear and bright. The Dolby Surround sound is OK, nothing fancy typical of Warner's ... budget DVD series. Since a special edition (this year is the 10th anniversary) is very unlikely, this is the only one you can get. Get this DVD if you are an action movie fans. You won't be sorry.

One last note: it is sad to see Brandon Lee career ended so early when he was up and rising after "Rapid Fire" and on the way to his fame in The Crow. There are only a few Brandon Lee's movies out there and this DVD certainly worth adding to your DVD collection even for the sentimental reason.

Non stop action and lot of fun
This film is so naive, full of mistakes and too short. I love it!!! Dolph never looked better, and of course Brandon's moves are great as always. The plot is simple: two caps in Little Tokyo figting against japanese mafia and one of them is looking for his personal revenge (Dolph, of course). The greatst thing about this film is that Dolph is the one who is born warrior and live by samurai codes, and Brandon doesn't have a clue about his culture! Martial arts are on the level and there is a lot of funny moments (such as the scene where Brandon told Dolph that he has the biggest d..k he had ever seen on a man!!!). Also, there are many mistakes (tatoos are wipping off, doll in the car instead of man...), but it's doesnt't matter. This film is very cool and you must seen it!

GOOD MOVIE TO LOOK AT IF YOU EVER GET BORED
TWO COPS [DOLPH LUNDGREN AND BRANDON LEE, THE DECEASED SON OF BRUCE LEE] GO AFTER THE YAKUZA IN THIS VIOLENT LIITLE MARTIAL ARTS ACTIONER. AS ALWAYS, THE ACTING IS MEDIOCRE. BUT, THE ACTION MAKES UP FOR IT. HAS LOTS OF EXPLOSIONS AND LOTS OF NUDE SCENES TO KEEP THINGS LIVELY. THIS SHOULD PLEASE MOST MARTIAL ARTS FANS.

yeah..whatever..doesnt add up
Lee and Lundgren partner up and take down the badguys..Lundgren gets the girl played by Tia CArerre and then kills the badyguy at the end with the help of Brandon Lee.....bad script..bad acting..though Lee gets some few good fight scenes he cant save this one from being a dud....a dud like Lundgren..Lundgren cant act is all im saying..and if you people think so..your all weird in the head...Lee's worst movie..RENT THE CROW DAMNIT!!! or at least The Legacy Of Rage ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Gere's suffering for his art
In 'Red Corner' Richard Gere plays a lawyer doing business in China. He sleeps with a local lady of questionable morality and next morning wakes to find her dead. Gere is framed for her murder and in China, according to this movie, you're guilty until proven innocent.

Weighing in at just over two hours the film never sags and Director Jon Avnet manages to hold the interest, especially when the lovely Bai Ling is appointed to defend Gere. There is little to make 'Red Corner' more than an average thriller but you could do worse on a cold winter's night than curl up with the DVD and let your brain ignore the plot inconsistencies or the depiction of the Chinese authorities as heartless, murderous villains. Gere grins and bears it all manfully and his suits look good even under extreme pressure but it is Bai Ling who shines in the pedestrian plot. She's alone worth the price of admission.

The DVD features a Director's feature length commentary and a theatrical trailer. The sound is good and the photography excellent. 'Red Corner' - like its unimaginative title - is good enough but it could have been a whole lot better if the screenplay had been a little more edgy and intelligent. Still, if you're not too particular you may enjoy this fairly interesting action packed thriller.

A Good Film, But Not Captivating
Jack Moore (Richard Gere) is in China trying to close the deal on a lucrative TV contract when he meets a beautiful girl at a nightclub. Sparks fly and Jack finds himself spending a wonderful night with her. But when Jack wakes up in the morning it is to the sound of police yelling at him. Jack's beautiful lady is dead and Jack is covered in blood with incriminating evidence all around him that says he is the killer.

Jack is almost positive that he could not have done this, but he can't really remember exactly what happened as he had quite a bit to drink. He turns to the American Embassy for assistance, only to discover that they can do nothing for him. Jack's appointed attorney, Shen Yuelin (Ling Bai), seems completely uninterested in the facts of the case, not even bothering to meet with him before Jack appears in court the first time. Then she insists that Jack plead guilty and hope for leniency. Jack is furious that no one is on his side, not understanding that, in China, you are guilty until proven innocent and that if you plead innocent and are found guilty, you are taken out and shot.

As the court case continues, Jack is fully aware that the whole proceeding is a parody of justice. No one in the courtroom cares what really happened, no one seems interested in finding the real murderer or in hearing his side of the story. Most of the time Jack can't even understand what is going on as his translating system keeps going off. He does discover that the woman he slept with, the woman who was murdered, was the daughter of a General in the Chinese military and that the general is very interested in seeing his daughter's killer brought to justice. If only Jack could convince all of them that they have the wrong man...

Red Corner was a good film, but for being a thriller, I found the thrill a little bit lacking. I found myself restless while I watched the film and started puttering around the house, working on little things and listening to the dialogue instead of watching it. I also thought that the message was a little too heavy-handed at times. Most of the Chinese in the film were shown as stupid or corrupt and that is simply not the case. I wish that Director Jon Arnet could have shown more of the cultural differences to try and explain that you are working with a whole different mentality rather than a group of people who are just mean and cruel. Those points aside, the film did make me very grateful to live in America, where we have many freedoms that we take for granted. The story was a little boring at first, but once all of the pieces started coming together at the end, it caught my interest again and I thought that it had a good ending. With some beautiful scoring by Thomas Newman, decent acting by Richard Gere alongside a luminous Ling Bai, this is a movie for people who enjoy a lot of politics mixed in with a little bit of action.

Politics aside, it's a good film.
After reading some of the negative reviews of this film on amazon.com I felt I had to put my two cents in defending it. First of all I don't think people should get so emotional and excited about it's portrayal of the communist China's regime and judicial system. Yes, maybe the film is prapogandist, maybe Chinese legal system today is not anything like the movie portrays it to be and maybe it was like that at one time in any case, everyone knows corruption and injustice exists more or less everywhere whether it's China, United States, Western Europe and more than likely innocent people have been executed in countries that keep the death penalty whether it's China or the US or wherever. But it's not like Hollywood never made a film that's critical of the American judicial or political system involving corrupt government officials. Clear and Present Danger for example. That's why controversial movies like this help get the message out even if just by motivating people to talk about such isues.

As for the film itself, the acting is medeocre. The musical score is pretty good. The Chinese actress that plays's Gere's atorney performs better than Gere especialy during the final court scene. It's a thought provoking movie and not just eye candy like a lot of the films of today.

POWERFUL AND REMARKABLE !
This movie depicts a man's incredible legal battle under a murder charge against himself.He is calumniated and all the legal procedure is biased.But he's got a puissant attorney though it'd take a long hard struggle for her to acquit her client...

Gere Enlightens..Ling Bai delights
In this 1997 Political Thriller, Richard Gere and Director Jon Avnet(Up Close and Personal/Fried Green Tomatoes)have made a film that brings to light the lack of freedoms given to defendants in the Chineese judicial system.A sytem where a defendant is guilty until proven innocent,where pleading guilty(even if innocent) may prove for a more lenient punishment then defending yourself.

In this gripping eye-opener Gere plays American lawyer Jack Moore trying to close a huge deal with the Chineese Film Ministry. While being wined and dined, he meets and spends the night with a beautiful woman. They drink, have fun, and make love. Moore is shocked to be awakened in the morning by the Police taking him into custody for the girl's violent murder.
He's got her blood all over him, fingerprints all around,and is in her bed. The case is pretty much sealed from that moment on.
To make matters worse, the woman is the daughter of a very important General.Was he framed for this horrific crime? If so, why?

Moore is pretty much left on his own. The American Embassy is no great help to him.(The point is made in the film that if this were a foreigner in our country, in the same situation, we would not want their government interfering either).Then he is assigned an advocate who he has never met, nor discussed the case with. Shen Yeulin(Ling Bai) as well as being young and beautiful, is an intellegent lawyer who knows the ropes of the Chineese legal system. She insists Moore plead guilty to possibly avoid execution. Moore insists that he is innocent, and as he points out the discrepencies of the case to her, she puts her reputation and career on the line and they work together to prove his innocence.

There are many gripping as well as poignant moments,in and out of the courtroom, in the film. Moore escapes at one point running across the rooftops heading for that beautiful American Flag at the Embassy. Shen Yeulin does some secretive investigating on her own, and gets roughed up for her efforts.And of course the beautiful friendship that develops between Moore and Shen Yeulin is heartwarming.

The story is enlightening and thought provoking as well as entertaining. It is beautifully filmed, with a beautiful score by Thomas Newman. Richard Gere makes good use of our own Freedom of Expression, to expose this form of government. He was awarded the Freedom of Expression Award from the Nat'l Board of Review for his efforts.
Ling Bai is stunning in her portrayal of the dissenting Chineese lawyer and reiceved the Best Breakthrough Award from the same board. The film also recieved an award for "Democracy" from the Political Film Society.

The transfer to DVD(MGM) is beautiful. This theatrically released widescreen edition takes in all the action and scenery.The picture is crisp and clear in all scenes, and the colors are vivid. The Sound is in 5.1 surround and the dialouge also clear. Extras include Audio commentary by Avnet which can be played during the film if you choose. There are some production notes, an original theatrical trailer and may be viewed in French.It also comes with a very informative booklet of a behind the scenes look.

If you already know you like this film, you should be happy with this DVD. If you havn't seen it, it's well worth the view.
Check it out.....Laurie ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The true art of shootfighting.
I am sure that 9 out of 10 reviews you will find about this movie will define it as CRAPPY, TERRIBLY BAD or even worse, but to me it is quite a great product.
While the editing sucks, that I admit, the action will make you breathlees; the fights are perfectly coreographed, and the blood factor will leave blood-thirsty people more than happy.
Here's the story:
Shingo, a great Shootfighter, has reached the finals of the tournament after beating his opponent quite easely. The other semifinal match will confront Mr. Lee and Shingo's buddy.
Despite threwing a few punches, Shingo's friend finds himself in front of a very powerful fighter, who, after punching him as if he was a PC that has just broken down, rips the poor guy's throat. Mr. Lee is then banned from Shootfighting, and decides to star his own Shootfighting bussiness in Mexico.
Ruben and Nick, Shingo's karate students,and two great fighters, are tracked by Mr. Lee who, decided to take revenge from Shingo, convinces them of participating in Shootfighting, and of course the excitement for no-ruled fighting, and the need of money (typical!) will make them sign up in a tournament where defeat means DEATH.

Extreme!!!
Enter the most merciless combat arena ever imagined, as international martial arts wizard BOLO YEUNG stars with WILLIAM ZABKA, MARTIN KOVE, EDWARD ALBERT JR., and MARYAM D'ABO in this bone-crushing, full contact action spectacular! Karate Champions Ruben and Nick are lured by the menacing Mr. Lee across the border to compete as "shootfighters," a forbidden sport so brutal it's banned from the civilized world. But when Ruben and Nick are forced to face each other in the ring, they realize they're only pawns in Lee's deadly masterplan: a final, fight to the death grudge match between Lee and the legendary founding father and unconquered king of shootfighting - Shingo. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

2 cents
I saw this movie twice, and the first time around it seemed like a good pick. Once I saw it a second time I was needless to say bored. What I'm saying is that it's not a movie for the martial artist. It has horrible acting, and could not be more 80's. I suggest that you skip this movie, and go onto seeing either fist of legend "jet li" or, kickoxer 2 "sasha ?" I hope that I was of some help. Thanks... ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991)
I'll admit it, this movie is one of my guilty pleasures.

While I'm not the biggest fan of seeing Dolph Lundgren running like a girl through an old used car graveyard wearing only skin-tight Spandex shorts, I do have a soft spot in my heart for the ironic humor and martial antics of the late Brandon Lee, along with the gorgeous/naive character played by the stunning Tia Carrere.

This movie does not excel in any one particular category: the action is decent, the story is simple but well laid out, the acting is good, and there is enough nudity to keep things interesting (although I'm sad to say that Tia uses a body double for her scenes of nekid frolicking).

But the complete package turns an otherwise average "Showdown" into the slick, neon-lit, buddy cop action movie that makes this one of my favorite movies of the early 90's!

Great action movie
With Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee as the heroes and Tia Carrere as the love interest, nothing can go wrong. The plot is standard, the bad guy killed the hero's parents. The hero grew up became a cop and found the bad guy. But the movie is quite entertaining and you can watch it over and over again. The DVD is in full screen only and the picture is a bit grainy but quite clear and bright. The Dolby Surround sound is OK, nothing fancy typical of Warner's ... budget DVD series. Since a special edition (this year is the 10th anniversary) is very unlikely, this is the only one you can get. Get this DVD if you are an action movie fans. You won't be sorry.

One last note: it is sad to see Brandon Lee career ended so early when he was up and rising after "Rapid Fire" and on the way to his fame in The Crow. There are only a few Brandon Lee's movies out there and this DVD certainly worth adding to your DVD collection even for the sentimental reason.

Non stop action and lot of fun
This film is so naive, full of mistakes and too short. I love it!!! Dolph never looked better, and of course Brandon's moves are great as always. The plot is simple: two caps in Little Tokyo figting against japanese mafia and one of them is looking for his personal revenge (Dolph, of course). The greatst thing about this film is that Dolph is the one who is born warrior and live by samurai codes, and Brandon doesn't have a clue about his culture! Martial arts are on the level and there is a lot of funny moments (such as the scene where Brandon told Dolph that he has the biggest d..k he had ever seen on a man!!!). Also, there are many mistakes (tatoos are wipping off, doll in the car instead of man...), but it's doesnt't matter. This film is very cool and you must seen it!

GOOD MOVIE TO LOOK AT IF YOU EVER GET BORED
TWO COPS [DOLPH LUNDGREN AND BRANDON LEE, THE DECEASED SON OF BRUCE LEE] GO AFTER THE YAKUZA IN THIS VIOLENT LIITLE MARTIAL ARTS ACTIONER. AS ALWAYS, THE ACTING IS MEDIOCRE. BUT, THE ACTION MAKES UP FOR IT. HAS LOTS OF EXPLOSIONS AND LOTS OF NUDE SCENES TO KEEP THINGS LIVELY. THIS SHOULD PLEASE MOST MARTIAL ARTS FANS.

yeah..whatever..doesnt add up
Lee and Lundgren partner up and take down the badguys..Lundgren gets the girl played by Tia CArerre and then kills the badyguy at the end with the help of Brandon Lee.....bad script..bad acting..though Lee gets some few good fight scenes he cant save this one from being a dud....a dud like Lundgren..Lundgren cant act is all im saying..and if you people think so..your all weird in the head...Lee's worst movie..RENT THE CROW DAMNIT!!! or at least The Legacy Of Rage ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Gere's suffering for his art
In 'Red Corner' Richard Gere plays a lawyer doing business in China. He sleeps with a local lady of questionable morality and next morning wakes to find her dead. Gere is framed for her murder and in China, according to this movie, you're guilty until proven innocent.

Weighing in at just over two hours the film never sags and Director Jon Avnet manages to hold the interest, especially when the lovely Bai Ling is appointed to defend Gere. There is little to make 'Red Corner' more than an average thriller but you could do worse on a cold winter's night than curl up with the DVD and let your brain ignore the plot inconsistencies or the depiction of the Chinese authorities as heartless, murderous villains. Gere grins and bears it all manfully and his suits look good even under extreme pressure but it is Bai Ling who shines in the pedestrian plot. She's alone worth the price of admission.

The DVD features a Director's feature length commentary and a theatrical trailer. The sound is good and the photography excellent. 'Red Corner' - like its unimaginative title - is good enough but it could have been a whole lot better if the screenplay had been a little more edgy and intelligent. Still, if you're not too particular you may enjoy this fairly interesting action packed thriller.

A Good Film, But Not Captivating
Jack Moore (Richard Gere) is in China trying to close the deal on a lucrative TV contract when he meets a beautiful girl at a nightclub. Sparks fly and Jack finds himself spending a wonderful night with her. But when Jack wakes up in the morning it is to the sound of police yelling at him. Jack's beautiful lady is dead and Jack is covered in blood with incriminating evidence all around him that says he is the killer.

Jack is almost positive that he could not have done this, but he can't really remember exactly what happened as he had quite a bit to drink. He turns to the American Embassy for assistance, only to discover that they can do nothing for him. Jack's appointed attorney, Shen Yuelin (Ling Bai), seems completely uninterested in the facts of the case, not even bothering to meet with him before Jack appears in court the first time. Then she insists that Jack plead guilty and hope for leniency. Jack is furious that no one is on his side, not understanding that, in China, you are guilty until proven innocent and that if you plead innocent and are found guilty, you are taken out and shot.

As the court case continues, Jack is fully aware that the whole proceeding is a parody of justice. No one in the courtroom cares what really happened, no one seems interested in finding the real murderer or in hearing his side of the story. Most of the time Jack can't even understand what is going on as his translating system keeps going off. He does discover that the woman he slept with, the woman who was murdered, was the daughter of a General in the Chinese military and that the general is very interested in seeing his daughter's killer brought to justice. If only Jack could convince all of them that they have the wrong man...

Red Corner was a good film, but for being a thriller, I found the thrill a little bit lacking. I found myself restless while I watched the film and started puttering around the house, working on little things and listening to the dialogue instead of watching it. I also thought that the message was a little too heavy-handed at times. Most of the Chinese in the film were shown as stupid or corrupt and that is simply not the case. I wish that Director Jon Arnet could have shown more of the cultural differences to try and explain that you are working with a whole different mentality rather than a group of people who are just mean and cruel. Those points aside, the film did make me very grateful to live in America, where we have many freedoms that we take for granted. The story was a little boring at first, but once all of the pieces started coming together at the end, it caught my interest again and I thought that it had a good ending. With some beautiful scoring by Thomas Newman, decent acting by Richard Gere alongside a luminous Ling Bai, this is a movie for people who enjoy a lot of politics mixed in with a little bit of action.

Politics aside, it's a good film.
After reading some of the negative reviews of this film on amazon.com I felt I had to put my two cents in defending it. First of all I don't think people should get so emotional and excited about it's portrayal of the communist China's regime and judicial system. Yes, maybe the film is prapogandist, maybe Chinese legal system today is not anything like the movie portrays it to be and maybe it was like that at one time in any case, everyone knows corruption and injustice exists more or less everywhere whether it's China, United States, Western Europe and more than likely innocent people have been executed in countries that keep the death penalty whether it's China or the US or wherever. But it's not like Hollywood never made a film that's critical of the American judicial or political system involving corrupt government officials. Clear and Present Danger for example. That's why controversial movies like this help get the message out even if just by motivating people to talk about such isues.

As for the film itself, the acting is medeocre. The musical score is pretty good. The Chinese actress that plays's Gere's atorney performs better than Gere especialy during the final court scene. It's a thought provoking movie and not just eye candy like a lot of the films of today.

POWERFUL AND REMARKABLE !
This movie depicts a man's incredible legal battle under a murder charge against himself.He is calumniated and all the legal procedure is biased.But he's got a puissant attorney though it'd take a long hard struggle for her to acquit her client...

Gere Enlightens..Ling Bai delights
In this 1997 Political Thriller, Richard Gere and Director Jon Avnet(Up Close and Personal/Fried Green Tomatoes)have made a film that brings to light the lack of freedoms given to defendants in the Chineese judicial system.A sytem where a defendant is guilty until proven innocent,where pleading guilty(even if innocent) may prove for a more lenient punishment then defending yourself.

In this gripping eye-opener Gere plays American lawyer Jack Moore trying to close a huge deal with the Chineese Film Ministry. While being wined and dined, he meets and spends the night with a beautiful woman. They drink, have fun, and make love. Moore is shocked to be awakened in the morning by the Police taking him into custody for the girl's violent murder.
He's got her blood all over him, fingerprints all around,and is in her bed. The case is pretty much sealed from that moment on.
To make matters worse, the woman is the daughter of a very important General.Was he framed for this horrific crime? If so, why?

Moore is pretty much left on his own. The American Embassy is no great help to him.(The point is made in the film that if this were a foreigner in our country, in the same situation, we would not want their government interfering either).Then he is assigned an advocate who he has never met, nor discussed the case with. Shen Yeulin(Ling Bai) as well as being young and beautiful, is an intellegent lawyer who knows the ropes of the Chineese legal system. She insists Moore plead guilty to possibly avoid execution. Moore insists that he is innocent, and as he points out the discrepencies of the case to her, she puts her reputation and career on the line and they work together to prove his innocence.

There are many gripping as well as poignant moments,in and out of the courtroom, in the film. Moore escapes at one point running across the rooftops heading for that beautiful American Flag at the Embassy. Shen Yeulin does some secretive investigating on her own, and gets roughed up for her efforts.And of course the beautiful friendship that develops between Moore and Shen Yeulin is heartwarming.

The story is enlightening and thought provoking as well as entertaining. It is beautifully filmed, with a beautiful score by Thomas Newman. Richard Gere makes good use of our own Freedom of Expression, to expose this form of government. He was awarded the Freedom of Expression Award from the Nat'l Board of Review for his efforts.
Ling Bai is stunning in her portrayal of the dissenting Chineese lawyer and reiceved the Best Breakthrough Award from the same board. The film also recieved an award for "Democracy" from the Political Film Society.

The transfer to DVD(MGM) is beautiful. This theatrically released widescreen edition takes in all the action and scenery.The picture is crisp and clear in all scenes, and the colors are vivid. The Sound is in 5.1 surround and the dialouge also clear. Extras include Audio commentary by Avnet which can be played during the film if you choose. There are some production notes, an original theatrical trailer and may be viewed in French.It also comes with a very informative booklet of a behind the scenes look.

If you already know you like this film, you should be happy with this DVD. If you havn't seen it, it's well worth the view.
Check it out.....Laurie ... Read more

Reviews (1)

2 cents
I saw this movie twice, and the first time around it seemed like a good pick. Once I saw it a second time I was needless to say bored. What I'm saying is that it's not a movie for the martial artist. It has horrible acting, and could not be more 80's. I suggest that you skip this movie, and go onto seeing either fist of legend "jet li" or, kickoxer 2 "sasha ?" I hope that I was of some help. Thanks... ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991)
I'll admit it, this movie is one of my guilty pleasures.

While I'm not the biggest fan of seeing Dolph Lundgren running like a girl through an old used car graveyard wearing only skin-tight Spandex shorts, I do have a soft spot in my heart for the ironic humor and martial antics of the late Brandon Lee, along with the gorgeous/naive character played by the stunning Tia Carrere.

This movie does not excel in any one particular category: the action is decent, the story is simple but well laid out, the acting is good, and there is enough nudity to keep things interesting (although I'm sad to say that Tia uses a body double for her scenes of nekid frolicking).

But the complete package turns an otherwise average "Showdown" into the slick, neon-lit, buddy cop action movie that makes this one of my favorite movies of the early 90's!

Great action movie
With Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee as the heroes and Tia Carrere as the love interest, nothing can go wrong. The plot is standard, the bad guy killed the hero's parents. The hero grew up became a cop and found the bad guy. But the movie is quite entertaining and you can watch it over and over again. The DVD is in full screen only and the picture is a bit grainy but quite clear and bright. The Dolby Surround sound is OK, nothing fancy typical of Warner's ... budget DVD series. Since a special edition (this year is the 10th anniversary) is very unlikely, this is the only one you can get. Get this DVD if you are an action movie fans. You won't be sorry.

One last note: it is sad to see Brandon Lee career ended so early when he was up and rising after "Rapid Fire" and on the way to his fame in The Crow. There are only a few Brandon Lee's movies out there and this DVD certainly worth adding to your DVD collection even for the sentimental reason.

Non stop action and lot of fun
This film is so naive, full of mistakes and too short. I love it!!! Dolph never looked better, and of course Brandon's moves are great as always. The plot is simple: two caps in Little Tokyo figting against japanese mafia and one of them is looking for his personal revenge (Dolph, of course). The greatst thing about this film is that Dolph is the one who is born warrior and live by samurai codes, and Brandon doesn't have a clue about his culture! Martial arts are on the level and there is a lot of funny moments (such as the scene where Brandon told Dolph that he has the biggest d..k he had ever seen on a man!!!). Also, there are many mistakes (tatoos are wipping off, doll in the car instead of man...), but it's doesnt't matter. This film is very cool and you must seen it!

GOOD MOVIE TO LOOK AT IF YOU EVER GET BORED
TWO COPS [DOLPH LUNDGREN AND BRANDON LEE, THE DECEASED SON OF BRUCE LEE] GO AFTER THE YAKUZA IN THIS VIOLENT LIITLE MARTIAL ARTS ACTIONER. AS ALWAYS, THE ACTING IS MEDIOCRE. BUT, THE ACTION MAKES UP FOR IT. HAS LOTS OF EXPLOSIONS AND LOTS OF NUDE SCENES TO KEEP THINGS LIVELY. THIS SHOULD PLEASE MOST MARTIAL ARTS FANS.

yeah..whatever..doesnt add up
Lee and Lundgren partner up and take down the badguys..Lundgren gets the girl played by Tia CArerre and then kills the badyguy at the end with the help of Brandon Lee.....bad script..bad acting..though Lee gets some few good fight scenes he cant save this one from being a dud....a dud like Lundgren..Lundgren cant act is all im saying..and if you people think so..your all weird in the head...Lee's worst movie..RENT THE CROW DAMNIT!!! or at least The Legacy Of Rage ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991)
I'll admit it, this movie is one of my guilty pleasures.

While I'm not the biggest fan of seeing Dolph Lundgren running like a girl through an old used car graveyard wearing only skin-tight Spandex shorts, I do have a soft spot in my heart for the ironic humor and martial antics of the late Brandon Lee, along with the gorgeous/naive character played by the stunning Tia Carrere.

This movie does not excel in any one particular category: the action is decent, the story is simple but well laid out, the acting is good, and there is enough nudity to keep things interesting (although I'm sad to say that Tia uses a body double for her scenes of nekid frolicking).

But the complete package turns an otherwise average "Showdown" into the slick, neon-lit, buddy cop action movie that makes this one of my favorite movies of the early 90's!

Great action movie
With Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee as the heroes and Tia Carrere as the love interest, nothing can go wrong. The plot is standard, the bad guy killed the hero's parents. The hero grew up became a cop and found the bad guy. But the movie is quite entertaining and you can watch it over and over again. The DVD is in full screen only and the picture is a bit grainy but quite clear and bright. The Dolby Surround sound is OK, nothing fancy typical of Warner's ... budget DVD series. Since a special edition (this year is the 10th anniversary) is very unlikely, this is the only one you can get. Get this DVD if you are an action movie fans. You won't be sorry.

One last note: it is sad to see Brandon Lee career ended so early when he was up and rising after "Rapid Fire" and on the way to his fame in The Crow. There are only a few Brandon Lee's movies out there and this DVD certainly worth adding to your DVD collection even for the sentimental reason.

Non stop action and lot of fun
This film is so naive, full of mistakes and too short. I love it!!! Dolph never looked better, and of course Brandon's moves are great as always. The plot is simple: two caps in Little Tokyo figting against japanese mafia and one of them is looking for his personal revenge (Dolph, of course). The greatst thing about this film is that Dolph is the one who is born warrior and live by samurai codes, and Brandon doesn't have a clue about his culture! Martial arts are on the level and there is a lot of funny moments (such as the scene where Brandon told Dolph that he has the biggest d..k he had ever seen on a man!!!). Also, there are many mistakes (tatoos are wipping off, doll in the car instead of man...), but it's doesnt't matter. This film is very cool and you must seen it!

GOOD MOVIE TO LOOK AT IF YOU EVER GET BORED
TWO COPS [DOLPH LUNDGREN AND BRANDON LEE, THE DECEASED SON OF BRUCE LEE] GO AFTER THE YAKUZA IN THIS VIOLENT LIITLE MARTIAL ARTS ACTIONER. AS ALWAYS, THE ACTING IS MEDIOCRE. BUT, THE ACTION MAKES UP FOR IT. HAS LOTS OF EXPLOSIONS AND LOTS OF NUDE SCENES TO KEEP THINGS LIVELY. THIS SHOULD PLEASE MOST MARTIAL ARTS FANS.

yeah..whatever..doesnt add up
Lee and Lundgren partner up and take down the badguys..Lundgren gets the girl played by Tia CArerre and then kills the badyguy at the end with the help of Brandon Lee.....bad script..bad acting..though Lee gets some few good fight scenes he cant save this one from being a dud....a dud like Lundgren..Lundgren cant act is all im saying..and if you people think so..your all weird in the head...Lee's worst movie..RENT THE CROW DAMNIT!!! or at least The Legacy Of Rage ... Read more

Amazon.com

Using a faulty thriller for his soapbox as an outspoken critic of China, a devout follower of the Dalai Lama, and an influential supporter of Tibetan freedom, Richard Gere resorts to the equivalent of propagandistic drama to deliver a heavy-handed message. In other words, Red Corner relies on a dubious strategy to promote political awareness, but director Jon Avnet appeals to the viewer's outrage with such effective urgency that you're likely to forget you're being shamelessly manipulated. Gere plays a downtrodden TV executive who sells syndicated shows on the global market, and during a business trip to China he finds himself framed for the murder of the sexy daughter of a high Chinese official. Once trapped in a legal system in which his innocence will be all but impossible to prove, Gere must rely on a Chinese-appointed lawyer (played by Bai Ling) who first advises him to plead guilty but gradually grows convinced of foul play.Barely attempting to hide its agenda, Red Corner effectively sets the stage for abundant anti-Chinese sentiment, and to be sure, the movie gains powerful momentum with its tale of justice gone awry. It's a serious-minded, high-intensity courtroom drama with noble intentions ... but did it have to be so conspicuously lacking in subtlety? --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Gere's suffering for his art
In 'Red Corner' Richard Gere plays a lawyer doing business in China. He sleeps with a local lady of questionable morality and next morning wakes to find her dead. Gere is framed for her murder and in China, according to this movie, you're guilty until proven innocent.

Weighing in at just over two hours the film never sags and Director Jon Avnet manages to hold the interest, especially when the lovely Bai Ling is appointed to defend Gere. There is little to make 'Red Corner' more than an average thriller but you could do worse on a cold winter's night than curl up with the DVD and let your brain ignore the plot inconsistencies or the depiction of the Chinese authorities as heartless, murderous villains. Gere grins and bears it all manfully and his suits look good even under extreme pressure but it is Bai Ling who shines in the pedestrian plot. She's alone worth the price of admission.

The DVD features a Director's feature length commentary and a theatrical trailer. The sound is good and the photography excellent. 'Red Corner' - like its unimaginative title - is good enough but it could have been a whole lot better if the screenplay had been a little more edgy and intelligent. Still, if you're not too particular you may enjoy this fairly interesting action packed thriller.

A Good Film, But Not Captivating
Jack Moore (Richard Gere) is in China trying to close the deal on a lucrative TV contract when he meets a beautiful girl at a nightclub. Sparks fly and Jack finds himself spending a wonderful night with her. But when Jack wakes up in the morning it is to the sound of police yelling at him. Jack's beautiful lady is dead and Jack is covered in blood with incriminating evidence all around him that says he is the killer.

Jack is almost positive that he could not have done this, but he can't really remember exactly what happened as he had quite a bit to drink. He turns to the American Embassy for assistance, only to discover that they can do nothing for him. Jack's appointed attorney, Shen Yuelin (Ling Bai), seems completely uninterested in the facts of the case, not even bothering to meet with him before Jack appears in court the first time. Then she insists that Jack plead guilty and hope for leniency. Jack is furious that no one is on his side, not understanding that, in China, you are guilty until proven innocent and that if you plead innocent and are found guilty, you are taken out and shot.

As the court case continues, Jack is fully aware that the whole proceeding is a parody of justice. No one in the courtroom cares what really happened, no one seems interested in finding the real murderer or in hearing his side of the story. Most of the time Jack can't even understand what is going on as his translating system keeps going off. He does discover that the woman he slept with, the woman who was murdered, was the daughter of a General in the Chinese military and that the general is very interested in seeing his daughter's killer brought to justice. If only Jack could convince all of them that they have the wrong man...

Red Corner was a good film, but for being a thriller, I found the thrill a little bit lacking. I found myself restless while I watched the film and started puttering around the house, working on little things and listening to the dialogue instead of watching it. I also thought that the message was a little too heavy-handed at times. Most of the Chinese in the film were shown as stupid or corrupt and that is simply not the case. I wish that Director Jon Arnet could have shown more of the cultural differences to try and explain that you are working with a whole different mentality rather than a group of people who are just mean and cruel. Those points aside, the film did make me very grateful to live in America, where we have many freedoms that we take for granted. The story was a little boring at first, but once all of the pieces started coming together at the end, it caught my interest again and I thought that it had a good ending. With some beautiful scoring by Thomas Newman, decent acting by Richard Gere alongside a luminous Ling Bai, this is a movie for people who enjoy a lot of politics mixed in with a little bit of action.

Politics aside, it's a good film.
After reading some of the negative reviews of this film on amazon.com I felt I had to put my two cents in defending it. First of all I don't think people should get so emotional and excited about it's portrayal of the communist China's regime and judicial system. Yes, maybe the film is prapogandist, maybe Chinese legal system today is not anything like the movie portrays it to be and maybe it was like that at one time in any case, everyone knows corruption and injustice exists more or less everywhere whether it's China, United States, Western Europe and more than likely innocent people have been executed in countries that keep the death penalty whether it's China or the US or wherever. But it's not like Hollywood never made a film that's critical of the American judicial or political system involving corrupt government officials. Clear and Present Danger for example. That's why controversial movies like this help get the message out even if just by motivating people to talk about such isues.

As for the film itself, the acting is medeocre. The musical score is pretty good. The Chinese actress that plays's Gere's atorney performs better than Gere especialy during the final court scene. It's a thought provoking movie and not just eye candy like a lot of the films of today.

POWERFUL AND REMARKABLE !
This movie depicts a man's incredible legal battle under a murder charge against himself.He is calumniated and all the legal procedure is biased.But he's got a puissant attorney though it'd take a long hard struggle for her to acquit her client...

Gere Enlightens..Ling Bai delights
In this 1997 Political Thriller, Richard Gere and Director Jon Avnet(Up Close and Personal/Fried Green Tomatoes)have made a film that brings to light the lack of freedoms given to defendants in the Chineese judicial system.A sytem where a defendant is guilty until proven innocent,where pleading guilty(even if innocent) may prove for a more lenient punishment then defending yourself.

In this gripping eye-opener Gere plays American lawyer Jack Moore trying to close a huge deal with the Chineese Film Ministry. While being wined and dined, he meets and spends the night with a beautiful woman. They drink, have fun, and make love. Moore is shocked to be awakened in the morning by the Police taking him into custody for the girl's violent murder.
He's got her blood all over him, fingerprints all around,and is in her bed. The case is pretty much sealed from that moment on.
To make matters worse, the woman is the daughter of a very important General.Was he framed for this horrific crime? If so, why?

Moore is pretty much left on his own. The American Embassy is no great help to him.(The point is made in the film that if this were a foreigner in our country, in the same situation, we would not want their government interfering either).Then he is assigned an advocate who he has never met, nor discussed the case with. Shen Yeulin(Ling Bai) as well as being young and beautiful, is an intellegent lawyer who knows the ropes of the Chineese legal system. She insists Moore plead guilty to possibly avoid execution. Moore insists that he is innocent, and as he points out the discrepencies of the case to her, she puts her reputation and career on the line and they work together to prove his innocence.

There are many gripping as well as poignant moments,in and out of the courtroom, in the film. Moore escapes at one point running across the rooftops heading for that beautiful American Flag at the Embassy. Shen Yeulin does some secretive investigating on her own, and gets roughed up for her efforts.And of course the beautiful friendship that develops between Moore and Shen Yeulin is heartwarming.

The story is enlightening and thought provoking as well as entertaining. It is beautifully filmed, with a beautiful score by Thomas Newman. Richard Gere makes good use of our own Freedom of Expression, to expose this form of government. He was awarded the Freedom of Expression Award from the Nat'l Board of Review for his efforts.
Ling Bai is stunning in her portrayal of the dissenting Chineese lawyer and reiceved the Best Breakthrough Award from the same board. The film also recieved an award for "Democracy" from the Political Film Society.

The transfer to DVD(MGM) is beautiful. This theatrically released widescreen edition takes in all the action and scenery.The picture is crisp and clear in all scenes, and the colors are vivid. The Sound is in 5.1 surround and the dialouge also clear. Extras include Audio commentary by Avnet which can be played during the film if you choose. There are some production notes, an original theatrical trailer and may be viewed in French.It also comes with a very informative booklet of a behind the scenes look.

If you already know you like this film, you should be happy with this DVD. If you havn't seen it, it's well worth the view.
Check it out.....Laurie ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Moderately interesting
Hmmm, what to say about Gary Daniels epic film American Streetfighter? Well for one thing it was filmed on the cheap, Low budget? Nope. Shoestring budget? Nope. Filmed in some guys basement? Yup. Seriously most of the "sets" look like some guys basement with a few boxes piled about and some xmas lights strung up, and for a little variety they film some stuff in a parking lot or some guys house in the middle of the desert.

Anyway, the film pretty much goes as follows, Gary as a young man is a bit of a punk, and after a firebombing gone bad he heads for the hills, or in this case Hong Kong. 10 years later he finds his brother is in some kind of trouble and heads back to the states. Seems his brother has involved himself in pitfighting for little extra cash (think bumfights but lower rent) Gary doesn't want him to do this so he takes his place, and quickly gets beaten like a rented mule by the "champion" Viper. Awakening in a hospital of sorts he sees things are not up to snuff as it seems that the bodies of dead fighters are being used to transport drugs overseas. That pretty much sums it up, tho' there are things about a long lost son, and love, old vendetas and a pretty cute chick named Reiko who meets a sad end :)

So if you have 7$ burning a hole in your pocket you might pick this up if only for some moderately good martial arts and alot of unintentional laughs.

This Video is only $19.95
Action Star Gary Daniels kicks up a storm in this non stop martial arts film from Screen Pix Home Video. This film is NOT available in Canada from Screen Pix Home Video. If you have questions please call the films producer and distributor at 1-800-906-4749. ~Screen Pix Home Video ... Read more