Reviews (6)

Great !
This is a classic Stephen Chow movie and one of the funniest. No doubt he is the king of comedy. He is great in the role of the hapless but cool guy (just watch the castration scene...). He is really skillful and has a vast range of expressions (well, I think you can compare him to Jim Carrey... in some ways but not in total). Though the movie has lots of sexual spoof, I think is not insulting; I read that Cantonese comicality is difficult to understand to foreign... well, I don't find it so different from the Italian one!

Some unavoidable presences in the movie: Ng Man Tat (Hoi Tai Fu) that is (I think) in 90% of SC's movies (and this is good, they are GREAT together) - Chingmy Yau (Princess Kim Ning) - Sandra Ng Kwan Yue (Sister Bond) - Man Cheung (Empress Dowanger/Lone-er).

And remember: always watch a SC's movie in the ORIGINAL language or you'll miss the best...

A parody that is a lot better than most Hong Kong films
Visually stunning parody of Hong Kong swordplay epics. Stephen Chow is a smart aleck, fast-thinking lowlife named Wilson Bond (really) who gets caught up in an incredibly tangled court intrigue. Bond starts out working for Chan (Damian Lau), Master of the Heaven & Earth Society and then he ends up on the side of Chan's target, Prince Ning (Siu-Lun Wan). Basically, in the great tradition of "Yojimbo" and "A Fistful of Dollars," Bond swears loyalty to whoever is threatening him at the moment and ends up playing everyone against everyone else while trying to figure out how to save his neck. This parody is more fun than a lot of the "serious" movies it is taking on. The DVD is letterboxed, which is great, but the English subtitles to the Mandarian language washes out from time to time. Then again, the dialogue in this 1991 film directed by Wong Jing is not exactly the strong set of "Royal Tramp." The fun continues in "Royal Tramp II" so be sure you watch both parts or you will be missing half the fun.

Stephen Chow's Best - don't forget the sequel, or the book!
This was one of the first DVDs I bought for my collection after getting a DVD player. The plot is engaging and extermely well-written, and the brilliant physical comic performances of Stephen Chow and Ng Man Tat work wonderfully even for someone like myself who needs the subtitles to follow the story.

Be aware, though, that "Royal Tramp" and "Royal Tramp 2" are a single story split into two parts, rather than just a movie and its sequel. Be sure to get both.

Also, this movie is based in the only story by Louis Cha that is currently available in translation. The title of the book is usually translated as "The Duke of Deer Mountain", but the English translation (in 3 volumes) is called "The Deer and the Cauldron", Volumes 1 (ASIN 0195903234) and 2 (ASIN 0195903250) have just recently been reprinted, and Volume 3 (ASIN 0195903277) is due out in September 2001.

Great fun!
An extremely funny rendition of the Duke of Mount Deer story. Stephen Chow is just hilarious! I got this DVD because it's classic.

Royal fun
This movie was loose based upon the 80'HK tv series starring Andy Lau and Tony Leung. This is probably Chow Sing Chi best movie. I've seen some of his film's including the sequel. But this one is better. Royal Tramp is about Wai Siew Po, a nobody who tell stories in a whorehouse where his sister works. He becomes a member of the royal staff and is appointed to Hoi Kong Kong, while he still remains a rebel against the Chings. The story is redecules, but that's what we aspect from a Chow Sing Chi movie. The action is marvelous, with lots of wire works. The kung fu is absolutely fantastic. My favorite is the Fa Kwat Yu Mien Teung. Which means as much as "bone-melting-palm". ... Read more

Reviews (32)

All-star cast at thier best
This movie is my favorite kung-fu/swords movie that I own (an i do have many) Brigitte Lin is incredible in this film. She is the best HK actress of all time. This film showcases her beauty, acting, and swordsplay. She holds this movie high but not alone Tony Leung is wonderful as well as a cool, calm, and collected swordsman. Brigitte lin an Tony leung have a somewhat similar romance to Michelle Yeoh an Chow yun-fat in crouching tiger. The romance in this film though has more heart to it. Maggie Cheung is also very good in this film, as the Dragon Inn owner. Maggie, Brigitte, and Tony all play characters with a lot of depth. Donnie Yen is an OK bad guy but his talents as an actor or as a martial artist are not completely used. This film should be in every movie lovers collection it is simply a masterpiece on film.

The Infamous "Dragon Inn"
Brigitte Lin is in her usual spectacular role as a kung fu master along with Tony Leung Ka-Fai ("Island Of Fire"). Lin is truly a great actress with "Police Story", "The Bride With White Hair", "The Bride With White Hair 2", and "Swordsman 2" to name a few impressive titles. She really is quite a martial artist on screen. She's very graceful and has a strong presence as a leading role. The amazing Donnie Yen ("Iron Monkey") is also in this film, though he's only at the beginning and end of the movie, he made his scenes effective. The last fight scene with Yen agains Lin, Leung, and Maggie Cheung ("Supercop") in the desert is quite outstanding. So venture into the desert and rest your head in the dragon inn, but beware...you might not last the night.

Excellent, Brigitte Lin the star
When I first read the reviews online, I couldn't wait for the last fighting scene. But the last fighting scene was no where near as good as Brigitte Lin's fighting scene at or near the beginning.

She was fantastic, and made the movie a must see. This movie has a great story, solid ending, and lovable charcters. (Like the little guy who was the cook). Where do you learn to cook human meat? Especially in the middle of the desert.

I can't give it 5 stars, because its not as good as Musa in my opinion. Its as good as Once Upon a Time in China, maybe a little better.

But again, a must see movie, Brigitte Lin takes the show from the All Star cast. This is a movie I recommend buying (I did), as it makes a great movie in anyones collection.

Exellent Swords Play
This is one of the best Kung Fu movies I have ever seen. The fight scenes were amazing and memorable. If your a Donnie Yen fan you will have to wait till the end. But when Donnie Breaks out. He breaks Out. But there is plenty of Brigitte Lin and Maggie Chung. I am so in love with Brigitte Lin. I wish she would come out of retirement. It is truly a joy to see her work.

Great remake
This film borrows heavily from the 1971 classic A Touch of Zen. It starts off the children of an murdered official being led into the desert, only to be saved by Bridgitte Lin, and Tony Leung. After saving the children, they make their way to the Dragon Inn, a desolate place on the western Chinese border. While waiting to cross the border, they are pursued by a Eunuch general who traps them in the Inn.

Overall, this film is filled with excellent sword play, drama, and the inclusion of Maggie Cheung. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Raid
Set in Manchuria in the early 1930's, a small army is controlled by an emperor in exile, forced to this far corner of China by invading Imperial Japan. Dr. Cho is a skilled medicine man who discovers a plot to manufacture poison gas, and is forced to help a group of rebels try and destroy the factory where it is produced.

The movie is a comedy, with frequent action sequences involving furious gun battles and explosions. It is fun and exciting, even if it does almost resemble the Three Stooges at times.

Japan vs. China in WWII Comic Adventure
THE RAID (1991) is a fast-paced Hong Kong blend of comedy, martial arts, WWII-era action and high-flying stunts that is never boring but never exhilarating either. The plot involves a band of Chinese nationalists and an ever-expanding crew of petty crooks, aspiring martial artists and a legendary doctor, all at war with a Japanese officer and a female Japanese spy masquerading as a Chinese glamour girl. The latter are aligned with puppet ruler Pu Yi (the famed Last Emperor, who was actually re-installed by the Japanese to run the Manchu-kuo government during the war).

Given the touchy subject matter, emotions are surprisingly low throughout as the filmmakers stress slapstick over tension, even in the midst of bloody shootouts. Despite the large, capable cast, no one character is allowed to dominate the action, so the audience never gets a handle on whose story this is. No martial arts stars are on hand either, so the fight scenes are never very exciting, depending more on outlandish stunts and quick cuts than any real confrontations. The cast includes Dean Shek, Chu Kong, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Joyce Godenzi, Jacky Cheung and, in a key supporting role as gang boss Big Nose, HK action director Yuen Kwei (Corey Yuen).

Given the participation of producer-director Tsui Hark and co-director Ching Siu-Tung, the final result is quite a disappointment. This is the team, after all, that gave us CHINESE GHOST STORY I to III, SWORDSMAN II, and THE EAST IS RED: SWORDSMAN III, all examples of Hong Kong fantasy action at its best. The imaginative staging and exuberant action that distinguished those films are noticeably absent from THE RAID. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Kung Fu Comedy
This is no hard core Jet Li kicking [BUTT] movie. It's a very amusing comedy of Jet Li's charactor searching for a scroll called the "scriptures with no words" The setting takes on an Indiana Jones era. It's lots of fun, laughter and there's even some romance. Whatever you do don't miss the scene where Jet is disguised as a woman, batting eyelids and all. This is a very funny movie and if judged on the basis of being a comedy is a must-buy for any Jet Li fan.

Jet Li as a HK Indiana Jones
'Dr. Wai & the Scripture with no Words'(1995) stars Jet Li and Rosamund Kwan as husband and wife in a troubled marriage. Jet Li is an author, and has no time for his wife (Kwan). His pending divorce leads to an erratic new book, an everchanging story as told by the writer. We jump back and forth from reality to this fictional tale of incredible adventure. Kind of like a HK Raiders of the Lost Ark, without Harrison Ford. Anyway, the story changes as Li, Kwan, and his two assistants alter/edit the story depending on their point of view. Action wise, it's ok with a little tai chi (cool) and some high flying stuff. A HK action/romance with wacky special effects, a monster, a giant rat, and lots of plot twists + a happy ending for a change. OK, but hard to watch.

It's about writing not fighting.
I had to respond to the reviewers who complained about the lack of fight scenes. The character played by Jet Li is not a martial artist. He is an author. With writer's block, due to an impending divorce from beautiful Rosamund Kwan. He is contractually obligated to deliver an adventure story but his heart is not in it, and he cannot get started. His assistants get involved and the story-within-a-story begins to take shape. But it also takes on an odd role-playing quality. The characters shift according to who is making up the plot. Jet Li writes himself and his ex (as a traitorous witch) in as the main characters. But then the ex gets ahold of it and twists her character around to reveal herself to be a double agent and loyal ally! The movie is sly about the act the creation, and speaks volumes about the committee thinking that is pervasive in moviemaking. The multiple person generated plotline is a wild litany of train crashes, airplane stunts and other outrageous silliness that just gets progressively more and more far-fetched. Just because Jet Li is involved and the film is not a chop socky wall-to-wall actioner does not speak of a lack of creative intent. This is one of the smartest and most intriguing films of Li's career. A definite must watch.

DR. WAI AND IN THE FILM THAT HAS ALMOST NO MARTIAL ARTS
Jet Li in an (imaginary) Indiana Jones role that he fills semi-well. Considering the obviouly large budget of this film the paucity of fights was disappointing. This film reminded me of High Risk in which, starring Jet Li as it does, you expect more than a couple of good martial arts scenes, but, like High Risk, this film leaves you hanging. We've all seen this happen before in films like this: they spend so much time on frills they forget the basics. It's not unwatchable, but don't go in with high expectations.

Comedy- Adevnture
This is a comedy action film and not your 'Fist of Legend' type of martial arts. Nevertheless I found it entertaining to see Jet Li doing things you would never expect like disguising himself as a woman at one point. It was hilarious to see the man batting his eyelids girly-style. Howerver be warned that the english version has been severely cut and edited to the point where the story differs slightly from the original version. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

NOT EVEN CLOSE
The plot of this film is about a group of "Chinese special forces" acting as a anti-crime unit in Hong Kong. The leader of this group goes up against Michelle Yeoh who is apparently working for the villian but turns out to be a sheep in wolfs clothing. This was supposedly an action film but somehow the action was pretty much left out. While constant action isn't needed to make a good film, the dramatic/comedic element in this film doesn't do much to sustain the viewer either. While it did have some obviously talented performers in it, the viewer spends most of their time waiting for something to happen, and when it does, it's more smoke than fire. A fight scene in this film might have 2 or 3 kicks thrown and then it's over. The abundant talents of Michelle Yeoh and Xin Xin Xiong are utterly squaundered in this film; both are very formidable on the screen but neither get a chance to really demonstrate their skills (although Michelle looked more attractive than usual in the designer clothers she was wearing). Still, just remember that not much happens in this film in regards to fights involving the great skill and imagination that Hong Kong Cinema is generally known for. If you want to see Michelle Yeoh in a good film, "Royal Warriors", "The T'ai Chi Master," "Yes Madam," or "Wing Chun," just to name a few. Xin Xin Xiong was excellent in "The Blade," and "Once Upon a Time in China IV."

Action movie about a motorcycle-riding gang
This is a high-octane movie about a motorcycle-riding gang working for the chinse government, have been assigned recover a computer disk from corrupt agents in Hong Kong. A group former organs, gang-up to become the 'Wonder Seven' superheros. These elite, well-trained government secret agents seem to have everything under control, until an unexpected conspiracy. The seven then find themselves trapped and are forced to strike back. This film has fantastic choreographed stunts and fight scences. A great plot, but hard to comprehend, but in a good way; I found it quite stimulating for the brain.

Silly, entertaining, but not a good intro to Yeoh
A group of Chinese special agents are sent to take down a Hong Kong drug lord. The agents are as much a family as they are a special police unit (they were all chosen due to being orphaned at an early age). Along the way, one of them falls for Michelle Yeoh's character, the girlfriend/reluctant partner of the bad guy... Why am I bothering to tell you the plot? The plot is simply an excuse for some corny romance, some occasional melodramatics, some adequate fu and not nearly enough Michelle Yeoh. It's silly and entertaining, with an occasionally hilarious subtitling job and a couple moments of style (watch where Michelle keeps her pistol... it's not where you think, either...). If you want to introduce someone to Michelle Yeoh's work, show them Wing Chun. If you want to have a six-pack and a bad kung fu movie ("bad" meant in a good way), grab this. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Babes, Bullets, and Martial Arts
Okay. I have to admit that it had "everything." At the risk of sounding both racist and sexist - I will stay with the obvious - the movie was full of babes, bullets and lots of martial arts. Models Maggie Q and Anya Wu form the 'babes" component. There is no shortage of weapons and gunplay, which forms the 'bullets' component. Lastly, directed by Ching Siu-Tung, we are treated to tons of fairly good martial arts sequences. However, the remainder of the movie is a little suspect. The plot is predictable and is in no way near anything resembling a Femme Nikita. I am almost tempted to rank this film among the many "exploitation" films out there. Lets face it... of all the movies made out there; perhaps 95% are designed to do one thing only - to entertain. The remaining 5% attempt at least to make social commentary - of which a select few really succeed while trying to entertain. Of the 5% there are also those who try but fail to enlighten or entertain and sadly some fail at both. It would be safe to say that this movie fits into the former 95% - so it would do us no good to attempt any form of analysis but to simply enjoy it. All the possible discussion of feminine empowerment and disempowerment I will defer for another place and time.

Naked Weapon is a story about female assassins, kidnapped at a young age and trained by 'Madame M' - played by Almen Wong - another integral piece to the 'babe' component. Upon the failure and death of a one of a kind assassin, Madame M takes stock and goes on a kidnapping spree to recruit fresh blood among the myriad of athletic, nubile and potentially erotic and exotic young girls. She takes them to a secluded island headquarters and forces them to undergo rigorous training that lasts all of about six years. The bevy of young girls - as that is what they are when they were first kidnapped - are taken to school to learn about guns, computers, feminine ways, and self-defense. Charlene (Maggie Q), Katt (Anya Wu) and Jill (Jewel Lee) form the core of fighters who will eventually engage in one another in a Battle Royal for a marquis spot in Madame M's stable of assassins and a piece of the action.

There was, however, one dark side to this one-dimensional almost harmless exploitation film - a splash of misogyny that really messed things up. I saw no real reason for the rape scene, which really degrades his starlets and the movie. I am not an idiot and will admit that this movie was nothing short of a guilty pleasure, but what heavily reduced the guilty enjoyment factor was the graphic sexual violence and the totally useless rape scene - which I have to admit, was nothing short of off-putting. I know, I was not supposed to 'go there' but the film does not punish Madame M for her heinous acts and the three young women get short ended in a lifestyle that was not of their choosing.

The movie would not be interesting is there were no plot twist and turns. Charlene begins to develop existential angst and starts to miss her mother - played by non other than Cheng Pei-Pei - and risks a Hong Kong hit by bumping into her. Madame M, to say the least, is annoyed by Charlene's new distractions. Moreover, the character Ryuichi appears in deus ex machina fashion to terrorize the three young women. Not to disappoint, there are flashes of skin and a love scene and a disturbing rape scene - so this is not for the squeamish. The short of it is, cinematography is good and the women are all 'dolled up.' In an effort to fully 'exploit' the pretty people almost everyone moves in slow motion with the obligatory wind - in the right direction - adds to the cheesy ambiance. It is a 'guy flick' and it should not be seen as anything more than that. The camera is great to Maggie Q - it can't miss. Admittedly there is action and it does not pretend to be anything but exploitation.

Miguel Llora

Naked Weapons -- Two Thumbs Up!!
This movie is awesome! What more do anyone wants action, suspense, martial arts, and hot gals combating each other! Maggie Q did a wonderful job in her role. Check it out and you won't regret it!

Really Bad movie
This is one of the worst movie I have seen lately. The only good thing about this movie is some of the fighting sequences. The lead actress (Maggie Q) is beautiful, but she and the rest of the cast can't certainly not help the bad movie script from the director. The story doesn't make any sense. Everything is so illogic. My friends and I had a good laugh at this movie but seriously, it's really a bad movie overall.

If you are looking for a great Hong Kong/China/Asian movie, I will recommend these instead: "The Twin Effect (Vampire Effect)", "So Close", "Shaolin Soccer", "Hero" and "Infernal Affairs".

Better than some suggest, but not great.
Okay, what do you expect from this movie? Does anyone really think it's going to be the next Hollywood blockbuster? No, not really. I rented this on a whim and what I got was an action-packed, bloody, and surprisingly touching film about two girls brought up on an island and trained to be master assassins. True, the scenes on the island are incredibly ridiculous. Except for the fight sequences it was a good half hour of lame filmmaking. There are some scenes there that just didn't make any sense. There are 16 young women left and they are locked in a room and told to kill the nearest girl and drag her body outside as a final test. Okay, but why waste the last six years training them and providing food and shelter if half are going to be slaughtered? So, 8 remain and then they are told to kill one another until 1 is left? What a total waste of the last six years! The beginning of the film is promising, and most of the film after the dreadful island sequence is either good or passable. This is an over-the-top action flick to be enjoyed with a big bag of popcorn and a willingness to laugh at all the absurdity. Don't forget the butter.

NOT A LOT OF NAKED, BUT LOTS OF FIGHTING AND VIOLENCE
NAKED WEAPON is the story of a group of young girls who are kidnapped by an evil madame (Alma Wong) and imprisoned on a secluded island to be tortuously trained into unfeeling assasins who lure their victims in with their bodies. Those who try to escape will die. Those who stay will one day fight eachother to the death. Only one will be allowed to become the supreme assasin.

This is a pretty interesting variation on LORD OF THE FLIES type survival as innocent girls who form friendships with eachother must determine which is more important, friendship or life. Those who rent the movie based on the sexy cover which features two attractive women embracing eachother while wearing nothing but camoflauge skin paint might be disappointed to find out that this isn't a movie filled with gratuitous nudity and lesbianism. There is some brief nudity (by the beautiful Maggie Q) as well as some tantallizing strip tease type bedroom dancing, but the these are all quite tastefully done, and the two women on the cover are strong sister-like friends not lovers.

Highlights of the film include the wonderfully choreographed royal rumble to the death with the girls drawing numbers to see who will fight first beginning with two on two and the number of entrants increasing as each fight ends to take on the survivor! This is where the director (famed action director Tony Siu-Tung Ching of DUEL TO THE DEATH, FIST OF LEGEND, THE SWORD) really shines. The fights are high flying and lightning paced with each movement of action and emotion visible to the viewer's eye. The best action scenes invovle not only beautiful movements, but actors that actually ACT in those scenes as well showing signs of human wear and tear such as fear, pain, and growing exhaustion. You really see the girls go through these changes as the fights go on making you really root for your particular favorite to make it (although there's really only a few logical favorites to root for based on character screen time). Other highlights include the chemistry between Daniel Wu's character and Maggie Q's (former real-life boyriend and girlfreind), and the climactic final battle between the top female assasin and a Japanese yakuza leader which should impress fans of MATRIX style gravity defying action. Also those who hate dubbed films will be pleased to know that this film is in English with only a couple actors dubbed.

Lowlights include Daniel Wu's acting which is very limited. While his scenes with Maggie Q are a real delight in their naturalness and truthfulness, he does NOT seem believable either as an obsessed cop or as a fighter (his fight scenes are good and his actions are fine, but the weak character he has given us make his fight scenes come completely out of the blue making them feel a little empty). Other lowlights include the lack of screen time given to the other female characters. Alma Wong doesn't have any fight scenes, Jewel Lee has no lines, and Cheng Pei Pei is horribly dubbed and also doesn't fight. The movie moves a little too fast for any of these characters to fully develop relationships with eachother and with the audience.

I recommend the film to those looking for a fast-paced movie who like beautiful women in fancy fights that come fast and aplenty. (There's a LOT of violence and some sexual content and this movie is definitely NOT recommended for children.)

Fans of female assassin type movies may also want to check out NAKED KILLER (this films prototype and superior), HER NAME IS CAT (in which Alma Wong gets to play the lead assasin), BLACK CAT (starring the lovely Jade Leung), and LA FEMME NIKITA (a grandaddy, or rather grandmommy, of its type). ... Read more

Amazon.com

There's some spectacular airborne fantasy action in the style of director Ching Sui-tung's A Chinese Ghost Story, and effective shape-changing special effects, in this otherwise ludicrous supernatural romp about the evil that dwells in the deepest, darkest heart of Southeast Asia. Chow Yun-fat is an advertising man vacationing in Nepal who is drawn into a conflict between a princess (a native shaman with prodigious magical gifts) and a vicious local warlord. Chow has supernormal abilities thrust upon him by an amulet known as "The Testicles of Power." There is some mildly steamy sex, but the fight's the thing, especially when the forces of primitive evil follow the ad man back home to Hong Kong. Showing off a cornucopia of supernatural ickiness against a backdrop of high-tech architecture and throbbing neon produces some engaging eye candy, especially in a final showdown that rages in (and in between) two high-rise office buildings. The antagonists keep slamming each other into exposed electrical wires, to the accompaniment of many sparks. --David Chute ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Babelicious B movie!
Yes this movie is incredibly cheesy, and campy, and so obviously B grade with more than your average plot and character pot holes. But, the presence of the always magnificent Chow Yun Fat is enough to make this enjoyable eyecandy!

Better than people say
This has some flaws and is camp in places but worth the watch! Buy it! See these early directors and stars do movie magic on a shoe string budget.

Chow Yun-Fat meets a beguiling witch
WITCH FROM NEPAL (1986) starts out as a charming, humorous tale of Joe, a Hong Kong artist who suddenly finds himself saddled with the title character, Sheila, an attractive Nepalese princess with supernatural powers who dubs him her master (think "Bewitched" crossed with "I Dream of Jeannie"). A little over an hour into it, the film takes on horror elements as Joe, his Hong Kong girlfriend Ida, and four of her little ballet students are all trapped in a car in a cemetery overrun by rotting corpses newly brought to life. The final section has Joe, armed with a mystical dagger, battling a wild Nepalese warrior in a deserted downtown Hong Kong business district in a war of sorcery that has them flying, blasting and hurling each other through elevator shafts, office windows, and massive electrical generators.

The overall inconsistency is less troubling than the fact that none of the ideas introduced is ever fully explored. Joe's development of telekinetic powers, for instance, is only glimpsed in one scene. Although the special effects are beautifully done, there's a lack of imagination in the way they're used. The final battle spends way too much time in an elevator that speeds up and down several times. The best use of skyscrapers and rooftops in a fantastic action climax in a Hong Kong film is still to be found in the Tsui Hark-produced sci-fi thriller WICKED CITY (1992).

Chow Yun-Fat (Joe) is a thoroughly appealing actor and is very good in his scenes with the two actresses (Emily Chu and Yammie Nam Kit-Ying). But the attempt to turn him into a supernatural action hero at the end falls flat. Chow is at his action-packed best in Hong Kong films when he gets to wear a trenchcoat and wield a .45 automatic in each hand (A BETTER TOMORROW, THE KILLER, HARD-BOILED, etc.). Considering that this film's director, Ching Siu Tung, was also responsible for the wildly imaginative CHINESE GHOST STORY trilogy and the last two films in the SWORDSMAN trilogy (SWORDSMAN II and THE EAST IS RED), all produced by Tsui Hark, WITCH FROM NEPAL ranks as a major disappointment. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

A good review for a change
I have read reviews about Seagal and his movies and I don't see anything good mentioned. His movies never claimed to be "high art" or have a lot a lot of special effects. You get plain, solid action. I really like Belly of the Beast. Steven was very good. The Foreigner will make you laugh until you can't breath. He kills one guy and he keeps coming back. In the belly of the beast he is unrelenting in getting his daughter back. Review of his movies talk about Seagal's bad acting and that is not the case in this movie. The girl who is his daughter might be guilty of bad acting but not Seagal. Judging but his reviews everyone thinks he sucks. If he does why do you keep going back and watching the movies? I say if you can't write a decent, fair review of Seagal and his movies then just dont' bother to rent or buy them. As for me I really like them and I hope he contines to make more even if they are "straight to dvd".

Not A Good Showcase for Seagal
This movie started off well with Steven Seagal (as a CIA agent) and his partner trying to make a deal with a mafia gang to lay off of a certain territory. As they conclude the deal WHAMM we're given our first action scene, one that's done with minimal trickery and lots of speed, technique, broken glass and furniture. This is what one hopes for from a Steven Seagal picture, real use of authentic aikido techniques (or at least techniques enhanced for the cinema but still based on real fighting methods). Next guns are fired and Seagal's partner kills an innocent woman bystander in front of her child. Another bystander sees this and retaliates by shooting the partner. Further chaos ensues as Seagal steps in and shoots that man. This scene contains real pathos and confusion and is a great example of how violence can beget violence and how innocent people can get caught in the middle with those firing no longer knowing who they're shooting at. It is unforunate that after such a strong opening segment the film quickly spirals downhill, once again showing Steven Seagal the lazy actor mumbling his way along another uninspired script when not grimacing and frowning during slow motion shootouts that overstay their welcome or posing with tai chi hands before
fights not geared to his particular talents. The story itself, which later involves Seagal's attempts to rescue his daughter and her friend from terrorist kidnappers, is uninvolving because we are never properly introduced to the characters as real people we can care for. They are merely there to create reasons for action (an evil priest is thrown in the mix as a major bad guy, but the whole time one thinks, "who is this guy, and where did he come from?". Seagal especially walks through his role and even sounds like he's been dubbed by someone else during one scene. Maybe he didn't feel like going back and doing it himself or maybe it is him and he just didn't care. A lot of his recent releases have him dub his voice later on and he simply sounds bored.

The director/action director is one of the all-time best choreographers around (see DUEL TO THE DEATH or THE SWORD), but Seagal is not the ideal performer for showcasing said director's highly stylized (and often high flying) type of action. Instead of showing Seagal as an expert in Aikido, the style he is best identified with, performing moves that he can do effectively and that work in real life situations when done as such, the director chooses to insert obvious doubles doing jumping spin kicks and 360 degree leg sweeps that are the opposite of the simple but effective style Seagal has chosen to practice. This juxtaposition of Seagal and double, and more importantly of aikido and wushu, takes away from the enjoyment of the action as our eyes are jarred away from the real Seagal to the double and back. I have nothing against stunt doubles, in fact I would much rather watch a highly skilled stuntman perform a daring stunt than an actor who isn't as skilled do a pale imitation (or even worse a suspense lacking computer generation) in his place, but Seagal has created a persona that must be adhered to. He is known for his joint locks and circular motion takedowns from the art of Aikido and that is what originally attracted, and still attracts, his fans. There are still tons of moves to work with from this art form. Fans of Seagal became fans because they saw him use these simple techniques that a regular guy (not too muscular, not a kung fu prodigy, not even the most athletic) can do. It would serve him (and his fans) well if he would go back to those basics, and by this I don't mean simply repeating them. If he is given a plausible script that makes sense and tells a story involving a man of his age, size, and skill then we would once again have a hero to look up to. I for one would be much more inspired by seeing an overweight 50 something year old man kick butt with moves that are actually possible and effective for people of that age and size than to see someone often ineffectively doubled who always wins just because the script says so. Get back to the basic foundations of your success Steven Seagal, new but still real Aikido based moves for regular guys who want a hero to inspire them not a hero who tires them. The art of Aikido is inexhaustible so don't exhaust yourself doing what you don't do best. The only redeeming qualities of this film are that some of the other fighters do perform some nice movements and now and then the old Seagal is allowed to strut his Aikido stuff. He just isn't allowed to strut it enough. For hardcore Seagal fans only.

He keeps churning them out
Seagal really does put together a good guns&fights action flick. In fact, he keeps doing it, year after year, giving us a subscription to watchable movies, Seagal-style.

That style seems to have solidified, if not congealed. There are only about three changes from one movie to the next. They are A) the good cause that needs saving from B) the bad guys, with a side order of C) pop spiritualism. In this case, A = his daughter, B = some Thai gunrunners and kidnappers, and C = Buddhism for the good guys and Kali-worship/voodoo for the bad guys. The Buddhoo angle makes for an interesting power-pray during the culminating fight scene, but otherwise seems improbable - like so many other things in the movie.

It's just an action movie. Among action movies, it's just a Seagal movie. If that suits your taste, then improbability won't get in your way.

BELLY OF SEAGAL???
I kinda liked this movie despite the fact Lord Steven stil looks fat. He hides it well in this flick which has great action and a storyline to boot. What has happened is... Seagal has retired from the C.I.A. Later his young daughter is kidnaped while running around with her best friend who's father is high up in our goverment. Both girls are treated badly by the Yung kuo tribe. Seagal goes out on his own(big suprise huh?) to rescue them. And like he says to the police "if your not on my side your in my way" There is several good martial art fights in the movie with good effets in each. Seagal leaves a staggering body count as his hell-bent mission goes deep into the soo-won cain dynasty. Later he fights the cann u sing clan and the moh sgr gee clan and no trouble at all with the win do kin clans.

Time to call it a day Steven?
Oh dear, oh dear. Yet another "straight to video" release from Steven Seagal who this times plays a former government agent on the edge of retirement (yes I know you're shocked). He just happens to be in Thailand visiting his niece or granddaughter or whatever when she is kidnapped by some local ruffians. The CIA are on the case but this is simply "not good enough" for Mr. Seagal, who after all trained all of their fathers anyway, and he sets off on a one man mission of justice to sort everyone out, and of course save the girl. The usual mindless and implausible "action" ensues, interspersed with plenty of opportunity for Seagal to change into black clothing and perfect his "hard stare", which is now his preferred weapon, (when not crunching bones that is). As enjoyable as missing the last train home, I ask Mr. Seagal again - "when are you going to retire?" ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Really Royal Tramp I, Part 2
The book on which Royal Tramp 1 and 2 are based (The Deer and the Cauldron by Jin Yong) was originally published as a serial in a Chinese newspaper, so the idea of splitting the story up into parts made sense.

As a result, this film is every bit as good as the first one, and I would strongly recommend buying both films. I would also recommend against watching this film first, since the two films really do make up a single story.

I don't think it will give too much away to say that in this film, Wilson Bond (or Wei Xiao Bo/Trinket Wei - translations vary) defeats his enemies, becomes supremely powerful, and marries all the beautiful women he has met. After all, that's the kind of movie this is, and that's the kind of character Wei is. (In the book, you can bet that any time he's introduced to any new powerful group, he'll be a leader of the group within the next 50 pages, and any time he meets a new beautiful woman, he'll be married to her in the next 100 pages. :-)

I also like that this film contains most of my favorite actresses from Hong Kong: At the end of the first movie, the Empress Dowager (played by the fabulously beautiful "Sharla" Cheung Man) was found to be someone else in disguise. That "someone else" is played in part 2 by Brigitte Lin, another of my favorite female stars. (I would have been happy to watch another couple of hours of the lovely Ms. Cheung, but at least we got a brief appearance from her at the beginning). This film also has Helena Law Lan (who bears a striking resemblance to Michelle Yeoh in this role) as the One-Armed Nun, Michele Reis, Chingmy Yau... Ahhh. If the plot weren't so good, I could just spend my time watching the pretty women.

I can't recommend this movie (or part 1) highly enough. This one is really a must for any fan of Hong Kong cinema, and a great introduction for those who aren't fans yet.

Royal Tramp II, or Lone'er Seeks Revenge on Wilson Bond
"Lu ding ji II zhi shen long jiao" (don't you just love Mandarin?) is not so much a sequel as a continuation of "Royal Tramp." Our hero, Wilson Bond (Stephen Chow), is now a friend of Emperor Ning (Siu-Lun Wan), but he is still caught in the middle of all the factions trying to overthrow the emperor. Bond is ordered to escort the Emperor's sister (Chingmy Yau), who is about to be married off to form a political alliance with a treacherous prince. Once again, our hero is forced to get by on his big mouth and his fast thinking. This 1992 film, also directed by Wong Jing, is a half-step below the original, mainly because it is covering the same ground in a new setting, but for a "sequel" that is pretty darn good. These films might be intended as parodies of Hong Kong swordplay epics, but they are actually way about average as representatives of the genre. Be sure to watch both parts as a double feature. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Every 15 minutes there's a flabbergasting sword fight. All the warriors can fly over, or dismember, their opponents with a flick of the wrist. (The action was staged by Ching Siu-tung, the director of A Chinese Ghost Story.) Eyeballs are extracted, wrists snap, heads explode. The caffeine-rush editing style and its tendency to scream and throw things (usually right at our heads) is almost alienating; it distracts us from a story line that would be difficult to parse even at normal speeds. A scroll known as the Sacred Volume, offering the secret to a powerful martial arts technique, has been filched from the imperial library in Beijing, and the snippy eunuchs assigned to guard it are waxing wroth. An amiable wandering swashbuckler known as Fox, Ling Hu-ching (Sam Hui), from the Wah Mountain School of Swordsmen, gets tagged with the hopeless assignment of retrieving the lost scroll. Wu Ma and Lin Zheng-ying, as noble old martial artists, sing a song together and then die staunchly. Various other factions of fighters, including the glorious women of the rebel Sun and Moon Society of broad-hatted "Highlanders" (who make their living smuggling salt) also express an interest in the scroll--and their principle modes of expression are all fiercely martial. Adapted from the novel The Laughing Swordsman, by Louis Cha (a.k.a. Jin Yong), the H. Rider Haggard of Asia. Cha's story about the character's youth, Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain, is available in English. --David Chute ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Disapointed...
I had very high expectations from this movie. First its the reason why I signed up to amazon, couldnt find Swordsman I anywhere after falling in love with Swordsman II. Plus Iv'read all the feedback in here and people are saying things like "action every 15 minutes" hmmm... maybe quantity is good, but quality is much better. Anyway, not enough swordsfight, and when one happens its too short.

Like another viewer says, this movie helps u understand SwordsmanII better, might be the only valuable reason to see it.. and i miss jet Li :(

Why all the negative opinions?
For some reason, this movie has always seemed to polarize opinion (when people could actually find a copy-- it's been notoriously hard to find until now). People either love it or hate it. After recently viewing the DVD, I'm leaning toward the former camp.

The plot revolves around various parties attempting to recover a scroll that contains a powerful martial arts technique. It's as simple as that, really, and the complexity of the plot stems from the fact that there isn't always a clear line between the good guys and the bad guys-- with the exception of the aptly-named "Laughing Swordsman," the central character of a series of novels upon which this film was based. And I always considered depth of character to be a GOOD thing in a movie.

All told, there really isn't a lot to distinguish this from a typical (typically solid, that is) Hong Kong actioner. However, the notable feature is that it involved no fewer than four directors. Getting top billing is the legendary King Hu, although the better-known Tsui Hark has made an obvious mark. While too many cooks usually spell disaster for a movie, this feels like a genuinely cooperative effort. Hu's eye for atmosphere, color and photography is apparent, while Hark keeps the action sequences looking dynamic and tense. It adds up, amazingly, to an admirable directorial job.

Another asset of the film is its willingness to be dark. Some of the most memorable Hong Kong films feature villains that are really worthy of the viewer's hatred (The Heroic Trio, for one), and there are some vicious scenes in this film. To me, that added to the overall effect.

No, it's not a slapdash story. No, it isn't the mess it could have been, and no, it isn't non-stop wirework and fake action. Swordsman might not earn itself a place as a genuine classic of Hong Kong cinema, but it's a strong effort that's well worth a look-- not only for its historical pairing of several famous directors (let's not forget Ching Siu Tung), but because it's genuinely entertaining.

One of the best adventure/fantasy films ever made.
Swordsman has to be the most under-rated film in the history of modern-day cinema. It is arguably superior to Swordsman 2 and it's beyond me why this film isn't hyped up more than it is.

Yauk Lee
This was a pretty cheesy movie. The actors aren't that great and the filmography is bad. I can't think of any other reason of buying this than to understand part II --- which is a much better movie.

5 Stars for Purely Personnal Reasons
While I don't think anyone will like this movie as much as I did, it's still a pretty good film, providing you remember that like the other two films that make up the trilogy (Swordsman II and The East is Red)this is a fantasy epic, not a martial arts movie. And despite what another reviewer said about this movie, the song that's sung repeatedly through the film is only stupid if you have a closed mind. Furthermore, Tai Seng recently re-released this film so now it's actually possible to read the subtitles. About the movie itself, there are several pretty good fight scences, but they're all 99% special effects. If you can live with that, than you'll probably enjoy this film, but if you're more interested in fight scenes reminicent of Iron Monkey or Fist of Legend instead of Japanese Anime, pass this one buy. That being said, it's a very good film with an unusual plot (meaning it's not a revenge story) about the theft from the Forbidden City of the Sacred "Volume" or Scroll that instructs the reader how to obtain arcane and ultimately divine abilities in martial arts. Sam Hui plays the care-free and clownish swordsman Fox, with Cecelia Yip playing his companion, both of whom get caught up between the various opposing factions who are intent on aquiring the scroll at any cost. Fights erupt between minions of the Imperial Court, the "Wah Mountain School", and the Sun Moon Sect, apparently a non-Han group that dress a little like the Shan near Thailand. In one of the more interesting fight scenes of the movie, Yuen Wah, playing the villian as always and fighting with the Chief of the Sun Moon Sect (Cheung Man), meets his demise after getting a bee in his bonnet and is subsequently reunited with his ancestors courtesy of Cheung Man's bull whip. Again, if you're a Hong Kong Cineman fan who doesn't demand the usual martial arts offerings, you'll probably like this film. CLOSING TRIVIA: Yuen Wah was one of Sammo Hung's and Jackie Chan's classmates at the same Beijing Opera School and was known for his almost freakish physical skill. Once while training, after maintaining a handstand for almost an hour, the master told the students to take a break. Everyone came out of their handstand, except Yuen Wah. When one of the other students took a closer look at Yuen, he found out that Yuen had fallen fast asleep while maintaining his handstand. ... Read more