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: ****

Ong Bak 2 Review

Ong Bak 2, 2008
Reviewed By: Dan S.
Directed By: Tony Jaa, Panna Rittikrai
Written By: Tony Jaa, Panna Rittikrai
Starring: Tony Jaa
Language: Thai

Lacking any literal connection to the original Ong Bak, this is a historical piece with some interesting Thai costumes, jungle settings, and natives. However, the boring camera work, bad storytelling, and sloppy editing ensure you won’t enjoy your stay. An infamous troubled production noted for Jaa’s increasingly unstable behavior and financial short comings, this is one seriously unwatchable mess. Lacking any type of emotional resonance, the narrative is impossible to follow as cryptic mumbo jumbo and non linear flashbacks attempt to convey some sort of decade spanning spiritual revenge story with an abrupt non-ending as the money ran out. Most of the action is saved for the last half with some painfully slow pacing that makes the movie feel much longer than it really is.

Jaa has some impressive moments when he runs atop a real herd of elephants but there are precious few eye catching stunts. Ultimately the fight sequences are soulless and detached, void of any drama or suspense as our stoic hero is continuously rushed by waves of faceless enemies from some unknown origin off camera. Some scenes are more ambitiously filmed than others, most likely the ones original director Rittikrai finished before he quit. Much like Jaa's enemies, supporting characters appear and disappear with no explanation throughout the head scratching narrative. The most noteworthy being some sort of ghost that appears out of nowhere, kicks Jaa’s ass, steals his elephant, and leaves him for dead during the climax. Yes, you read that right, and its way more boring than it sounds.

One fist out of five