Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain Review

Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain, 1983
Reviewed By; Dan S.
Directed By: Tsui Hark
Written By: Yuet Shui Chung, Szeto Cheuk-hon
Starring: Adam Cheng, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Hoi Mang, Moon Lee, and Brigitte Lin.
Language: Cantonese (English dubs available)

Plot: Set in medieval China, a young army scout stumbles his way into the middle of a secret war between magic kung fu weirdos and all powerful demons that look like flying sheets.

Review: As exciting as it is disorientating, the utterly bizzare "Zu Warriors" sprints through its epic plot, gigantic cast,and escalting horror/fantasy elments without ever slowing down or stopping to explain itself. Needless to say you aren't going to have an easy time following this fever dream of a movie. Thankfully, the film is very playful in tone and doesn't take itself too seriously, freely mixing physical comedy and even ironic self-aware humor into the increasingly surreal action. The highly creative and unsual kung fu fights are frequent and complex with weird cartoonish special effects and wire work. The effects are somewhat dated in places and you can even see "wires" occasionally, however this is all part of the movie's campy appeal. All the performers appear to be having a ton of fun, providing the movie with boundless energy and charm. And while the film does show its age and budget, the ideas and visuals are so wild and imaginative, you are still going to have your mind blown.

Rating: ****

Full Contact Review

Full Contact, 1992
Reviewed By: Dan S.
Directed By; Ringo Lam
Written By: Nam Yin.
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Anthony Wong, Simon Yam, Anne Bridgewater, Bonnie Fu.
Language: Cantonese

Director Ringo Lam skillfully utilizes dramatic camera work that evokes the work of his contemporary John Woo. However, his emphasis on surreal colors, bloody exit wounds, and jaw dropping early bullet time effects set him apart as a far more "over the top" visionary. Highlighted by exaggerated performances, goofy dialogue/one liners, and a rocking 80s metal soundtrack this is some deliciously cheesy fun. The non-stop action is fairly large scale and diverse with strip club shoot outs, freeway chases in muscle cars, exploding cars, bank heists, and brawls. In the rare event the film does slow down, the character and story development is limited to goofy but entertaining melodrama that is certainly anything but dull.

Sporting sleeveless vests and a ridiculous hair cut, the soft looking Fat has never looked more uncomfortable in his own skin as the motorcycle riding anti-hero, but his physical presence and natural likability overcome his awkwardness. Cast against type, Anthony Wong hilariously overacts as a cowardly geek turned badass turned crybaby. As the memorable gay villain an outrageously dressed Simon Yam, produces weapons from thin air with magic tricks, cuddles young boys, and makes amusing offensive taunts. Evil babe Bonnie Fu provides some serious sleaze as an apparent nympho who is constantly moaning and grinding on every guy in the movie except Yam of course. Cute good babe Anne Bridgewater doesn’t have much to do except some weird arty striptease performances that curiously recall Flashdance.

Rating:

Invisible Target Review

Invisible Target, 2007

Reviewed by Dan S.

Directed by: Benny Chan

Written by: Benny Chan, Rams Ling, and Melody Lui

Starring: Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue, Wu-Jing, Jaycee Chan

Language: Cantonese, Mandarian.

Liberally lifting ideas and scenes from such genre classics as Hard Boiled, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Ong Bak, and The Matrix to name a view…Benny Chan’s buddy cop yarn Invisible Target is a two plus hour marathon of action movie clichés. Seemingly on a tight budget, the movie has a cheaper look than its Hong Kong contemporaries and is mostly located in abandoned low budget standbys that wouldn’t be out of place in an Amercian direct to video production. While Chan does manage to string together a couple of fun downtown chase sequences its nothing you haven’t seen before, and done much better.

Nicholas Tse and Shawn Yue share leading man duties but the script doesn’t really give either actor much to do except chase bad guys and beat them up. Despite this emphasis on action, both men prove to be lackluster martial artists, showing little personality and relying heavily on wire assisted kicks. As the villainous gang leader Wu Jing is the film’s most experienced martial artist, staging and carrying the film’s better fight scenes. As a rookie cop living with his grandmother, the youthful awkwardness of Jaycee Chan gives the movie its only emotional pull, providing some good laughs and touching moments. Seemingly aware of these two performers’ value, Chan is smart enough to give his supporting talents a most unusual amount of screen time, elevating an otherwise average production as a result….but one wanders why he just didn’t trim out the unnecessary fat all together and focus the movie on them.

Two Fists Out of Five