Thursday, May 24, 2012

Punisher War Zone (2009)

 This is the third adaptation of the Punisher.Now it takes place in New York City.It is directed by Lexi Alexander and stars Ray Stevenson,Dominic West,Colin Salmon,Julie Benz,Wayne Knight.

This is a straight up action movie with all sorts of weapons that the Punisher uses in the comic books and the PS2 game.He is brutal and you see he does not hold back.The villains are once again The Italian mob, a bit cartoonish like the ones in the vampire movie Innocent Blood.Punisher's nemesis is the former crime lord that was disfigured known as Jigsaw.Jigsaw recruits his brother from the insane asylum to get revenge on the Punisher along with his mob.One of Jigsaw's crew members,Nicky was undercover and is killed by the Punisher.The Punisher later finds out he was a fed and pays respect to his wife and daughter. Jigsaw then recruits all the criminals in New York from Russians,Triads,Skinheads,Blacks,Hispanics to put a bounty on the Punisher.

Compared to the Thomas Jane movie this one lacks in dialogue but most have seen both prior Punisher movies and read the comic books so they have an idea of his origin.The most annoying character in the movie has got to be Loony Bin Jim (Doug Hutchison. He tries extremely hard to be very sarcastic and loony.There is a lot of comedy as well with the villains having fun and destroying everything in their path instead of being coldlblooded one dimensional killers.The budget for this movie was 35 million and was used very well.Unfortunately the actors are unknown and the movie had very few advertising.The movie did not make even half of its budget back,but with dvd sales and streaming online it has gotten the recognition.If you are a Punisher fan this one you will like it is more like the comic book.The director is a female and proves that she can direct a great action movie.Hopefully she'll get more work in the future.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Belly of the Beast (2003)

  Belly of the Beast is the only Chin Siu Tung (Monkey Kung Fu,Chinese Ghost Story,Duel to the Death) Western movie so far starring Steven Seagal,Byron Mann (Street Fighter,Corruptor),Monica Lo(Naked Weapon),Tom Lu(Revolver).

  Steven Seagal plays Jake Hopper an ex CIA member whose daughter has been kidnapped in Thailand.He comes out of retirement to rescue her.Sort of like the B movie version of Taken with Liam Neeson.He recruits Sunti (Mann) to help him with his daughter.Sunti owes him his life for saving him 10 years ago.Sunti has then become a monk and leaves to go with Jake.There is a terrorist group known as the Abu Karaf,but Jake realizes that the kidnappers come from somewhere else in Thailand.General Jantapan (Tom Lu) is in charge of the military in Thailand and is working with the American goverment.Jake gets help at a night club in Thailand from waitress Lulu (Monica Lo).He has saved her from some locals so she returns the favor for Jake's search for his daughter.

 Not even the great Chin Siu Tung can make this a masterpiece.There are many flaws in this and lots of wire fu.In this movie Seagal is already overweight and he has a double.The double is half of his size and does flips and flying kicks.Seagal plays the cocky CIA officer like in every movie in his career so far.He does'nt even get a bruise or a hit.Half of the fighting scenes were edited with too many quick cuts so you can only see Seagal's ability half of the time.Trust me He's no Sammo Hung now that he gained so much weight.His fighting technique is his Aikido and looks like he was doing Tai Chi as well.The other fighters like Byron Mann and Tom Lu were edited greatly and they look good fighting on camera.Not enough action in hand to hand combat just more with shooting scenes.That's not why you go to see a Seagal movie.He is known for his quick hits and takedowns.There are a lot of exotic enemies that you don't see in your typical American action movie.Thai fighters with swords,a trannie,Thai monks and a witch doctor.Unless you are a hardcore Seagal fan and Chi Siu Tung fan then this one is for you.Worth a view first before you buy.Naked Weapon,Exit Wounds has better fighting IMO.

Red Heat (1988)

  Red Heat is another guilty pleasure 80s Action movie from Walter Hill(48 Hours,Undisputed,Warriors,Last Man Standing,Bullet to the Head).Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger,James Belushi,Gina Gershon,Peter Boyle, Ed O Ross,Laurence Fishburne.

  A Russian policeman,Captain Ivan Danko (Arnold) is on the chase to catch Georgian drug dealer Viktor Rostavili (Ross) in Russia.Danko has killed his brother and part of Rosta's crew.Rosta manages to get away and kill Danko's partner.He has fled to the U.S in Chicago.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Demolition Man (1993)

    Demolition Man is a action Sci-fi movie in the early 90s Starring Sylvester Stallone,Wesley Snipes,Sandra Bullock,Benjamin Bratt,Denis Leary Nigel Hawthorne,Rob Schneider,Bob Gunton.

   John Spartan aka Demolition Man(Stallone) is on the hunt to track down Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) and save hostages.Phoenix is captured but the hostages all die.Spartan is to blame for not being able to rescue them.Spartan and Phoenix are arrested and frozen to have their sentences.40 years have passed and Phoenix has been taken out into the real world to cause havoc and to assassinate a threat which is a rebel Edgar Friendly (Leary).In the short time that Phoenix has been out he has already caused murder and chaos.Police of the future are now very intimidated and awaken John Spartan to once again arrest and kill Simon Phoenix.

    This is Sly's first scifi action movie followed by Judge Dredd years later.Wesley is having fun being Phoenix and is not your typical coldblooded killer.He has humor in him.Lots of funny scenes of how the future in California is portrayed and it has become the city of San Angeles.Swearing,red meat,bonding,is a nono and lots of technology that is similar to the one in real life today.Good action futuristic flick with guns,weapons from old and futuristic.Pretty good special effects for the early 90s.Before the Matrix,Red Planet,Star Wars,Judge Dredd,6th Day,Terminator 3,Terminator Salvation,Minority Report.Sly is wearing the same beret hat he wears in the Expendables.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Flying Guillotine 2 (1978)

   Flying Guillotine 2 is a sequel of the Ho Meng Hua movie with Chen Kwan Tai as Ma Tan.Replacing Ma Tan is Ti Lung.The movie is directed by Ching Gong and Hua Shan.The cast includes Ku Feng(New One Armed Swordsman,Avenging Eagle) ,Lo Lieh(King Boxer,Dragon Missile),Shih Szu(Deadly Breaking Sword,Jade Tiger), Wai Wang,Wong Chung,Yeung Chi Hing,Shut Chung Tin(Spiritual Boxer,Battle Wizard),Fan Mei Sheng.The action choreography is directed by Tong Gaai(Shaolin Intruders,Shaolin Prince,Opium and the Kung Fu Master).

   Years after Ma Tan's escape there has been lots of Han rebels teaming up to assassinate The Emperor