The Cat - 1991 - Hong Kong

The Cat - 1991 - 6/10
AKA - Wèisīlǐ Zhī Lǎomāo // 衛斯理之老貓

Alien monstrosity invades Hong Kong, along with a bitter foe from another system.
Our alien heroes are a pixieish girl and a forceful black cat.
How forceful?  Friend, wait till you behold the epic battle it has with a Rottweiler.
Luckily for us, the adventurer Wisely gets involved.

 
Best way to fight?  Bottles of vodka, set ‘em on fire.  Books, what?
The ridiculous story is matched by the effects.
Glorious nonsense!  Better Wisely film to see is Seventh Curse.
Oh, how I miss HK energy from this era.

Mad Detective - 2007 - Hong Kong

Mad Detective - 2007 - 6/10 
AKA - San Taam // 神探

 
Bun is highly effective, if highly troubled.
Has the ability to get inside the criminal’s mind, in numerous cases, minds.
Meaning, villains with multiple personalities.
Thing is, he was pretty much flat out nuts.  Once off his meds, even worse.
Uncomfortable Johnnie To vehicle of crime, insanity, and the false narrative. 

Thunderball - 1965 - UK

Thunderball - 1965 - 7/10

 
SPECTRE hijacks a NATO aircraft, seizes two nuclear bombs, and demands ransom.
All 00 agents are activated, with Bond heading to Nassau to investigate the pilot’s sister.
Of course, SPECTRE agents are also there, a mix of useless henchmen and sharks.
Nevertheless, there are two iconic villains in Emilio Largo #2, as well as Fiona Volpe.

 
Awash in style, this is quintessential 007.  Connery’s panache sets a gold standard.
While the impatient may whine during lengthy search sequences, this holds up well.

Full Metal Jacket - 1987 - USA

Full Metal Jacket - 1987 - 7/10

 
Maggots, excuse me, young men, drafted into Uncle Sam’s Marine Corps.
Enduring the brutally savage gunnery sergeant, Hartman, before being shipped to Vietnam.
Just before the Tet Offensive.
Kubrick’s film is terrifying and polarizing.  The Hartman / Pyle conflict searing.
Perhaps a little lopsided, as boot camp lingers long after the deployment.
Easier Vietnam odyssey than Apocalypse Now, which is richer.

Heroes Shed No Tears - 1986 - Hong Kong

Heroes Shed No Tears - 1986 - 5/10
AKA - Ying Huhng Mouh Leuih // 英雄無淚

 
The Thai government hires military mercenaries for a dangerous operation.
Kidnap a drug lord, hiding in Vietnam near Laos.
This is during the Vietnam War, mind you.
The mercenaries soon face opposition (and bullets) from all sides.
Early John Woo film suffers from studio meddling and an incoherent script.
Meaningless action aside, oh, what could have been.

The Siege At Firebase Gloria - 1988 - Australia

The Siege At Firebase Gloria - 1988 - 6/10

 
Marine long range unit comes across a Vietnam village massacred by the Viet Cong.
They realize something big is afoot and report to HQ … and are ignored.
Just before the Tet Offensive.
The squad finds an existing firebase, barely defended, low morale.
Outnumbered 5-to-1, the combat assaults are bloody messes.
More thoughtful than many films, as both commanders wonder about leaders behind the lines.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3371358

Robotrix - 1991 - Hong Kong

Robotrix - 1991 - 6/10
AKA - Nu Ji Xie Ren // 女機械人

 
Scientist Sakamoto, deranged, shifts his consciousness into an android.
From there, he goes on to kidnap, then a spree of rapes and murders.
Who’s gonna stop him?  Female police officers, transferred into female cyborgs.
Fembots, anyone?
Think Robocop with loads of nudity, sex, slathered with sleaze.
Trashy Category III flick, an inspiration for teenage males; robotics builders who will recreate Amy Yip and Chikako Aoyama girlfriends.

The Last Of The Mohicans - 1920 - USA

The Last Of The Mohicans - 1920 - 6/10

 
Indian guide Magua misleads English reinforcements heading to a besieged fort.
Magua, ally of the French and Huron tribe, is an opportunistic devil.
And lusts after Cora, daughter of the English colonel, who herself is drawn to Uncas.
The outdoor photography is breathtaking at times, remarkable for 1920.
Although this is part of Cooper’s “Deerslayer” stories, Magua dominates here.
Wallace Beery makes a formidable, unstoppable villain.

The Last Of The Mohicans - 1992 - USA

The Last Of The Mohicans - 1992 - 7/10

 
French and Indian War, where the English are outmatched in wilderness warfare.
Hawkeye and his Mohican family are reluctant to take sides, but eventually assist the English.
Director Mann filmed this as rousing adventure and it works gloriously.
Varied chases, memorable ambushes, spectacular battles.
Daniel Day Lewis solid as Hawkeye.  This put Madeleine Stowe on the map.
The dark star, however, is Wes Studi as the fierce Magua.
His eyes and expressions are implacable.

Seam - 2017 - USA

Seam - 2017 - 6/10

 
The Seam is the borderzone between humanity and cognizant machines.
An agreed “reservation” after a global war between the two.
Machines also include lifelike cyborgs, living with humans.  Partners.
Forbidden partners, punishable by extermination.
SciFi leans on BSG themes.  Superb Jordan locations, OK CGI, slick editing.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3370958

Fuze - 2025 - UK

Fuze - 2025 - 7/10

 
During construction, a World War II bomb is discovered in London.
A big one, a blockbuster.
The Army bomb squad is summoned, neighborhood evacuated, police cordon off the area.
Meanwhile, a small crew of robbers gets to work in the basement adjoining a bank.
Fabulous caper film, operating on multiple levels.  Army, police, civilians, criminals.
If you enjoy heist movies, watch it cold.
Avoid reviews, sorry, most will spoil the countless twists that await.

Category III: The Untold Story Of Hong Kong Exploitation Cinema - 2018 - UK

Category III: The Untold Story Of Hong Kong Exploitation Cinema - 2018 - 7/10

 
Broad overview of Cat 3, from pre-beginnings in the Shaw era, to the glorious 1990’s heyday, to post-takeover censorship and demise.
Anthony Wong, Godfrey Ho, and Josie Ho represent the veterans.
Caucasian academics and fanboys round out the talking heads.
An easy entry for those curious about the apex of Hong Kong cinema craziness.
Films referenced include Sex And Zen, Untold Story, Dream Home, Ebola Syndrome, Naked Killer, Viva Erotica, dozens - more.
Asian film buffs, essential.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3370778

Ceux de 14 - 2014 - France

Ceux de 14 - 2014 - 6/10
AKA - Men Of ‘14

 
Men of 1914, onset of the Great War, soldiers of the French 106 Regiment.
Pretty much all told from the soldier’s point of view.
March here, wait, go there.  Attack, retreat, no – go back, wait, wait.
Husbands, boyfriends, sons, an illiterate, a cook, scavenger, intellectual.
In keeping with the mass carnage of that war, each installment brings losses.
Not as much as those in 1914, Verdun, but familiar faces will be buried.
History types will be on surer footing, yet the lack of details may disappoint them.

Battle Royale II: Requiem - 2003 - Japan

Battle Royale II: Requiem - 2003 - 5/10
AKA - Batoru Rowaiaru Tsū Rekuiemu // バトル・ロワイアルII

 
Why, why, why?
Why did they make this?  Why did I originally buy this?  Why did I rewatch?
Survivors of the first film are now terrorists.
The fascist government reacts by kidnapping more teens and sending them to a remote island.
Opening salvo explodes onscreen, yet exposes an inherent flaw.
There are … were … plenty of “contestants” and most are massacred at this time.  
Combatants who survive are dull and unsympathetic.
Moreover, the film is preachy, action-oriented yes, but laden with messages.

Naked Killer - 1992 - Hong Kong

Naked Killer - 1992 - 6/10
AKA - Chik Loh Goh Yeung // 赤裸羔羊

 
Kitty is a punisher, exacting revenge on men who brutalize women.
Where it hurts, between the man's legs.
With a cop investigating her, she enmeshes him in her vigilante world.
There is a mentor and partner, later a lesbian duo of assassins.
Easily enough for three films, tossed together like a salad.
Fast-paced Cat III film is prime Hong Kong, more fun should one be addled.

Killer Shark - 2021 - China

Killer Shark - 2021 - 5/10
AKA - 夺命巨鲨

 
Happy-go-lucky shark has plenty to feel cheerful about.
The Pacific teems with screaming, squealing, tasty humans.
Once it starts chomping, it can’t stop at just one.  Or two, or four.
Six affluent (or wannabee affluent) youths crash their yacht and are stranded.
One bleeds heavily, attracting the voracious predator.
Borrows from The Reef, although most know this going in.
Laughably bad subtitles.  Meals are whiny beyond belief – root for the shark!

Hanzo The Razor: Sword Of Justice - 1973 - Japan

Hanzo The Razor: Sword Of Justice - 1973 - 6/10
AKA - Goyôkiba  // 御用牙

 
Introducing law enforcement’s most innovative interrogator.
Hanzo is a righteous Edo officer, incorruptible, in pursuit of a prison escapee.
He tracks him by employing various S&M techniques on females who know “something”.
Oh, and his Razor nickname has to do with his terrifying schlong.
Nudity, torture, geysers of blood, misogyny, and a funky Blaxploitation soundtrack.
A wild film that would be surpassed by the sequel, The Snare.

War Machine - 2026 - UK

War Machine - 2026 - 5/10

 
Following Afghan deployment, he applies to Ranger camp.
Endures intense boot training, makes it to final “Death March” round.
Unaware that an alien craft has landed in the zone and will start  eliminating all candidates.
High voltage actioner of combat squad is predictable but watchable.
Sequences cribbed from 80’s and 90’s SciFi powerhouses P-A-ST.
(“If it bleeds, we can kill it.” - “Game over, man” - “Everyone fights, no one quits.”)
No kids in this, but an injured guy who has the same role.
Not original, yet exciting if you are in the mood.

Shaft - 1971 / 2019 - USA

Shaft - 2019 - 6/10

 
Private eye John Shaft survived a hit from drug lord Gordito decades earlier.
He hasn’t forgotten.
His son, JJ, an FBI agent, is now on the trail of something illicit.
Will Dad be there?
Action formula is slick, professional, well-delivered.
Samuel Jackson fits the role.  Acceptable reboot, just lacks a little spark.

Shaft - 1971 - 6/10

 
Harlem gang boss hires Shaft to find and rescue his daughter, kidnapped by the Mafia.
Shaft relies on informants, a militant, street talk, as well as police.
Of the latter, he is wary.  Some inside the department are reliable, others two-faced.
Roundtree’s Shaft is a classic loner, close-mouthed, calculating.
Film mixes detective work with street vibe, and features a classic Isaac Hayes score.
Influential film kicked Blaxploitation into overdrive.  Followed by good sequels and a poor TV run.

Lady Snowblood: Love Song Of Vengeance - 1974 - Japan

Lady Snowblood: Love Song Of Vengeance - 1974 - 6/10
AKA - Shurayuki-hime; Urami Renka // 修羅雪姫 怨み恋歌

 
Continuation to Lady Snowblood (1973).
Yuki, arrested, sentenced to death, is approached by the Secret Police.
The offer: Infiltrate a subversive group, report, and receive amnesty.
Set later than the first installment, Japan is heading into militarism.
Right-wrong, heroes-villains, are murkier this outing.
Politics distract from the narrative, and this feels unfinished, as if there should have been a part three.