Yes!

 

 (imdb)

YES MADAM-1985-Inspector Ng (Michelle Yeoh) reluctantly teams up with hard ass Scotland Yard detective Carrie Morris (Cynthia Rothrock in her film debut) to investigate some murders in Hong Kong. It's related to some microfilm that 2 dumb brothers Stepilsi (John Sham) and Aspirin (Hoi Mang) stole from a motel room. They and a third brother Pandopen (director Hark Tsui) are trying to raise money to buy a house for their father (Sammo Hung!) who's in an old age home. Meanwhile, a hit man chases them hired by a pipe smoking mobster boss Tin (James Tien) who wants the film.

 I didn't like the freeze frame ending or the terribly cheesy '80's synth score. Despite a lot of good fights, bloody shootouts and killing, there's a lot of comedy courtesy of director Corey Yuen (THE TRANSPORTER (2002)).

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Tekken Too

 

 (the movie database)

 

TEKKEN 2-KAZUYA'S REVENGE-2014-This is a sequel (actually a prequel) to the original (which I haven't seen) which is based on a video game. 

A martial artist Kazuya (Kane Kosugi) with amnesia is forcibly recruited to work as an assassin for a whispering, conceited rebel leader called The Minister (Rade Serbedzija). He puts an explosive device in Kazuya's chest for co-operation. When Kazuya falls in love with Laura (Paige Lindquist), he wants out. While trying to discover his real identity, he meets and fights his new target, Brian Fury (Gary Daniels; FIST OF THE NORTH STAR (1994)) who warns Kazuya to “walk away” after he beats him. Later, Kazuya teams up with the obnoxious Rhonda (Kelly Wenham) who kills the minister when Laura is kidnapped by The Gentek corporation. 

At the corporation Kazuya meets Mishima (Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa) “his father”, the man who “created” him, who says “Your body is a weapon your mind can't control”. It turns out Laura is an android too. After he kills Fury, Kazuya leaves to find Mishima who runs Tekken City and is waiting for Kazuya, setting up another sequel. 

Despite some high spots, this isn't very good but what can you expect from director Wych Kaos, the guy responsible for the insufferable BALLISTIC: ECKS VS. SEVER (2002)? 

No direct sequel was ever made.

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Sho Shows Them

 

 (imdb)

PRAY FOR DEATH-1985-In Japan, a black clad ninja fights some other ninjas and a guy in a demon mask but it's just a TV show called “The Black Ninja” being watched by the two sons of Japanese businessman Akira Saito (Sho Kosugi) and his American wife. He wants to start his own local business but she wants to move to the US. Saito doesn't seem to know any martial arts and his kids urge him to learn Karate. However, when Saito encounters an old man (actually his adopted father) in a temple, they have a sword fight which disproves Saito's lack of fighting skills. A flashback shows he kind of killed his brother, a red ninja, because he is actually a former ninja himself! No sooner do they get to America and have problems. Sam Greene (Parley Baer) sells them a restaurant in a bad neighborhood. They ran afoul of gangsters looking for a priceless necklace who beat up Greene and kill him in a fire. The kids (Kosugi's real life sons, Kane and Shane) run into older bullies but beat them up. 

The stupid gangsters think Saito has the necklace so they kidnap his son Tomo for a Mafioso boss (Michael Constantine). He has a sadistic henchman named Limehouse (James Booth; also the screenwriter). Saito goes to the police but 2 corrupt officers block his progress. After his wife and other son wind up in the hospital, he invades a mob yacht and beats up a lot of white guys. Stupidly, Limehouse kills Mrs. Saito and Saito prepares for revenge. Even one son gets into the act with a supped-up bike. Saito invades the mob mansion. He cuts them all to ribbons but Limehouse lams it. The finale where Limehouse uses an ax and a chainsaw to try and kill Saito is great. Limehouse's demise literally has him praying for death. If they thought America was violent then, they should be around today! Also with Robert Ito.  

The acting is not so good but action-packed direction by Gordon Hessler (SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN (1970)) saves it. Star Kosugi was already pretty well known for his appearances in ENTER THE NINJA (1981) and its sequels and the short-lived TV series THE MASTER (1984) starring Lee Van Cleef. 

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Five?

 

 (imdb)

FIVE SUPERFIGHTERS-1979-A dude in black beats up the teacher and students of a martial arts school. He says their Kung-Fu is “lousy”. 3 students vow revenge on the guy but split up almost immediately having a quarrel over who should head north. Meanwhile, a young widow beats up the idiotic Mr. Ma and his two thugs when they harass her. “Hey, that woman's Kung-Fu is pretty good”. Ting Tien, the student who goes north meets and gets beaten up by her, then helps her grind bean curd. Chi, the second student gets in trouble for peeing on a scarecrow (a gambler was hiding in it). He starts gambling but when the gambler's wife breaks up the game, he has to fight everyone. He then gets beat up by a drunk guy who walks funny but becomes his student. The third dummy meets a fisherman, gets beat up then becomes his assistant. While all this is going on, their downtrodden master who thinks the trio has abandoned him, meets Mr. Fu. Tien is a real jerk. Even the widow's blind father gets the best of him. When the trio finally meet again they give the guy in black a good fight but their master's drunken sword technique saves the day.

 Only in a Run Run Shaw production could 4 guys beat up one guy and the fight still be fair. Not sure why the title mentions 5. Director Mar Lo provides good fights and action in this underrated feature.

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Condors

 (imdb)

 
EASTERN CONDORS-1987-Some Chinese convicts go to Vietnam to destroy a stockpile of munitions left behind by the US. It's part martial arts, part DEERHUNTER, part DIRTY DOZEN with great fights. Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao beat up everyone. It's violent and action packed with Academy Award winning actor Dr. Haing S. Ngor. The villain is played by Wah Yuen who made many movies after (and before) this, He was in the big budgeted SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS in 2021. Director Hung (real name: Kam Bo-Hung) directed the Jackie Chan film DRAGONS FOREVER the same year (he also co-starred). From 1998-2000 he starred in the US TV show “Martial Law”. 

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Opium Kung Fu

 

 (themoviedatbase)

OPIUM AND THE KUNG FU MASTER-aka LIGHTENING FISTS OF SHAOLIN-1984-Tieh (Lung Ti; THE SENTIMENTAL SWORDSMAN (1977)) is the leader of a Chinese militia and martial arts teacher. A master turns his place into an opium den. Many of the men become addicts, abandoning their wives, losing their jobs and generally slacking off. Ti is defeated by his nemesis Yung Feng (Kuan Ti Chen) because of his own addiction to opium. After his son is killed, a blind priest helps Ti break his habit. He goes through the usual back breaking retraining. In a rematch, Tieh not only has to fight Yung but his two henchmen who have huge shields. 

The movie features some great fights but the strangest part is that a kind of comedic character becomes an addict, leading to the deaths of his wife and children and his suicide. One of three movies actor Tang Chia (SHOALIN INTRUDERS (1983)) directed for the Shaw Brothers.

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New Fox

 (themoviedatabaae)

NEW TALES OF THE FLYING FOX-1984-Two “heroes” have a sword fight. Hu Feng (Alex Wong) is a knife (scimitar) master and Miao (Alex Man) is a sword master. They fight but are evenly matched, however Miao's brother and his wife put poison on Miao's sword and when Feng gets a little scratch he dies. His wife commits suicide after his death entrusting the care of her son to Miao but before he can pick up his new charge, a servant takes the baby and runs. The baby Wu-Fei grows up to be an excellent Kung-Fu guy who wants revenge against Miao who he believes killed his father. Later there's a lot of talk about poisoning. After several awesome fights, Miao and Wu Feng must fight a group from Tibet and then the evil brother who has two powerful weapons. 

This Shaw Brothers production directed by Sze-Yu Lau, is based on book by Louis Cha. 

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Deadly

 (themoviedatabase)

THE DEADLY KNIVES-(aka FISTS OF VENGEANCE)-1972-A young man named YenTzu-Fei (Yun Ling) returns to his village with Kuan Yue-Hua (Li Ching), his new love. His adopted sister Cha-Cha (Lily Li) is jealous. “Evil” Japanese want a forest for timber but Yen's father, who has a deed to the land, stands in their way. Ogawa (Miao Ching), a pervert, declares this love for Cha-Cha quite violently after fantasizing about her taking off her clothes. An all-out battle ensues at the end of course. 

This Shaw Brothers production was directed by Il-Ho Jang (THUNDERBOLT FIST (1972).

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You Go, Streetfighter

 

 (themoviedb.com)

SISTER STREETFIGHTER-1974-When her undercover cop brother (Lee Long) is exposed and captured by gangsters, the police enlist his sister Tina (Etsuko Shihomi), a cute but dangerous Kung-Fu fighter to help get him back. The head gangster has lots of henchmen (one is called Hammerhead) and Tina gets to fight them all. She also gets help from the original streetfighter (Shin'Ichi “Sonny” Chiba) who seems to have a little problem with women as streetfighters. 

Shihomi made 2 sequels and is also in MESSAGE FROM SPACE (1978). She and Chiba also starred in LEGEND OF THE EIGHT SAMURAI (1978). Director Kazuhiko Yamaguchi also directed the two SISTER sequels and KARATE BEAR FIGHTER (1975) and KARATE FOR LIFE (1977) with Chiba.

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Early Chan

 

 (imdb)

DRAGON FIST-1979-Ton Huo-wan (Jackie Chan) seeks retribution for the death of his master by the villainous Master Li. He travels with his master's widow and daughter. He gets caught in a war between a clan ran by a one-legged master and a band of “gangsters”. He joins the gangsters to get medicine for the widow.

Fairly entertaining early Chan outing is constricted by a low budget and usually pushed aside. Directed by Wei Lo (THE BIG BOSS; NEW FISTS OF FURY).

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Dragon

 

 (blackbeltmag.com)

BLOODFIST-1989-After his brother is killed in Manila, Jake Raye (Don “The Dragon” Wilson), an American martial arts instructor goes there and gets involved in a fighting tournament trying to find his brother's killer. A local named Kwong (Joe Mari Avellana) helps him train. Jake eventually has to face his brother’s killer, Chin Woo (Chris Agular). But things aren't exactly as Jake sees them. One of the fighters is played Billy Blanks (the creator of “Tae-Bo” in his 4th movie). It also features Vic Diaz as a cop. 

This martial arts film was directed by Terence H. Winkless (THE NEST (1987)) and features some good fights but not as flashy as some “aficionados” might like. It was professional kickboxer Don Wilson's first big role and put him on the map, spawning 6 sequels.

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Martial Arts Vs. Vampires

 

 (themoviedatabase)

LEGEND OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES-1974-Transylvania 1804. A guy named Kan (Shen Chan) who once presided over the 7 Golden Vampires visits Dracula's castle to ask the king of vampires to help him resurrect the group. Dracula (John Forbes-Robinson) has a better idea. He possesses Kan's “image” and decides to resurrect the 7 himself. After the credits, in Chung King 100 years later, Prof. Van Helsing (who else but Peter Cushing) lectures on the Seven Vampires and his encounters with Dracula. The “sophisticated” Chinese students ridicule him but one student Hsi Ching (David Chiang) visits the professor at night to apol-ogize. He definitely believes in the legend as his grandfather destroyed one of the vampires. He wants Van Helsing to accompany him and his 6 brothers to the village where the remaining 6 vampires rule. Meanwhile, Van Helsing's son Leland (Robin Stewart) gets into trouble with local gangster Leung Hon, when he agrees to escort widowed world traveler Vanessa Buren (Julie Ege) home. They are saved by 2 of Hsi's brothers. Vanessa agrees to finance their expedition provided she's allowed to go. Under the protests of the elder Van Helsing, she is allowed. 

Right off the bat, they are attacked by Hon's gang. The brothers (each has a specialty) plus their lone sister Mei Kwei (Szu Shih) defeat the gang and Hon gets an arrow through his neck. Later, in the village, the group battles the remaining 6 vampires and their undead army. They destroy 3 more then get ready for a final showdown. There's a big violent martial arts battle that ends tragically for some. After the final vampire is put down, Van Helsing meets his arch enemy. Dracula's disintegration scene seems longer than their actual battle. 

This has a little of everything: martial arts, weapons, vampires, walking dead, nudity, dismemberment. No classic but not the shit show it is sometimes described as. However, this was Hammer co-production with The Shaw Brothers studio and there were a lot of “communication prob-lems” between the two directors on the film, the English Roy Ward Baker and the Chinese Cheh Chang. A sequel was planned but poor box office performance shelved that idea.

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More Chan (Jackie, Not Charlie)

 

 (themoviedatabase,org)

SNAKE AND CRANE ARTS OF SHAOLIN-1978-8 Kung Fu masters create a new martial art called the 8 Steps of Snake and Crane. Yin-Fung (Jackie Chan) has the book the 8 masters wrote. He's looking for a man with a tattoo on his shoulder and he has lots of fights. The daughter of the leader of The Flying Tiger clan (Nora Miao) also wants it. 

There's a lot of characters who go in and out of the story and some great fights. Eventually Yin-Fung reveals all and gets his revenge. Directed by Chi-Hwa Chen who later made POLICE STORY (1985) with Chan.

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Chan Vs. Wooden Men

 

 (imdb)

SHAOLIN WOODEN MEN-1976-in a Shaolin temple, a guy everyone calls Little Mute (Jackie Chan), because he can't speak, gets in trouble a lot with the monks and meets a prisoner Fat Yu (Kang King) chained up in a cave who teaches him to fight. A nun (Ping-Yu Chang) also helps train him. He passes the test of the 36 Shaolin wooden men, a long corridor with giant wood men who continually punch, and leaves the temple. In the city, he meets a cafe owner (Hsin Chin) and his son (Kam Cheung) and daughter (Chun Lung). 

The Green Dragon gang kidnap her and Little Mute and the son go looking for her. They save Yu from being re-captured but split with him when they learn he’s a vicious killer. The story takes several turns with Little Mute having a showdown battle with his father's killer. Early Chan film directed Lo Wei.

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Chan

 

 (imdb)

CRIME STORY-1993-A police inspector Eddie Chan (Jackie Chan), who may be suffering post trauma, becomes involved in the kidnapping of a real estate magnate (Kar-Ling Law) and his ailing wife (Auyeung Pui San), planned by Detective Hung (Kent Cheng), a corrupt cop. 

There are some incredible stunts and sfx, especially in the finale but this is much more serious than Chan's usual serio-comedy outings. Directed by Kirk Wong (with an assist by Chan).

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Tiger's Back

 

 (imdb)

RETURN OF THE TIGER-1977-In Hong Kong, Chang Hung (Bruce Li) and his nameless partner (Angela Mao; ENTER THE DRAGON (1973)) want gangster Paul the Westerner (Paul L. Smith; in MIDNIGHT EXPRESS the next year) to close down his operations. Mr. Chen (Yi Chang),his right hand man, learns that Chang is here to avenge his father's death. Another mobster Mr. Sing (Fei Lung) wants Chang on his side. After many double crosses, Paul and Chang have a climactic fight. 

This sequel to EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER was directed by that movie's producer, Jimmy Shaw, which Li and Chang co-starred in.

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Coming And Going

 

 (imdb.com)

EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER-1976-On a movie set, martial arts actor Dragon Bruce Lee tells his friend Tiger David Lee (Bruce Li) that if something happens to him, Tiger will be Dragon's successor. Of course Bruce dies. In Singapore, Tiger David suspects foul play. He's pretty upset. He goes to Hong Kong to check it out. It seems some gangsters led by The Baron (Yi Chang), tried to blackmail Bruce into carrying drugs for them and his mistress movie star Susie (Hsin-Yi Chiang) has an incriminating tape they want. Tiger's friend George is killed and his girlfriend is raped but Tiger triumphs in the end in this sub-par Shaw Brothers production.

Director Tso Nam Lee also made FIST OF FURY 2 (also with Bruce Li) and THE TATTOO CONNECTION with Jim Kelly.

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Yeoh

 

 themoviedb.org)

THE TOUCH-2002-A woman (Michelle Yeoh) and her brother (Brandon Chang) try to retrieve an ancient artifact containing the essence of an age-old monk with the help (?) of a moronic thief (Ben Chaplin). A pompous treasure hunter (Richard Roxbury) is also after it. There are some decent fight scenes at the beginning but the video game like climax isn't very good and Chaplin's semi-comical smart ass acting brings the cliched story line down a bit more, once again pandering to western audiences casting a white guy in the lead instead of an Asian. 

Director Paul Pau was the cinematographer who shot CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000).

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Reality??

 

 (themoviedatabase)

DIE FIGHTING-2014-A group of martial artists, The Z Team, go to Hollywood. Their kind of leader is Fabien (director/writer Fabien Gorchon/Garcia). His girlfriend Meilu (Adelyne Liu) is kidnapped by some nut who blackmails the group into making a "reality" martial arts film. He sets them against various deadly scenarios. Robbing an armored car, fighting a SWAT team, battling a dojo of black belts, a gang of killers, LA street gang and finally each other. 

The fights are very well done, some resemble the old classic ones from the Shaw Brothers. It draws some inspiration from the SAW movies. Ludicrous plot with not great acting but great fights. Twist ending goes on way too long.

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Who Will Win?

 

 (imdb)

SHAOLIN VS. MANCHU-1984-The Manchus want to get rid of all the Shaolin monks. The Shaolin abbot puts a monk named Rocky (Man-Hoi Ling) in charge. When a prostitute is attacked by soldiers, Rocky saves her but later she says Rocky raped her. He's punished then literally thrown out of the monastery. It turns out Rocky's chief rival, Jouan is a spy for the Manchus who set Rocky up, then kills the abbot. After the Manchus fail to kill his accuser, Rocky takes her to live with his aunt and she spills the beans. The evil spy becomes the new abbot and has monks fighting each other. Mostly everyone gets killed (including a little kid) but Rocky gets revenge. The ending is a little weird probably due to bad editing and dubbing. 

Director Chiu-Jun Lee was also an actor. The DVD I saw also had the trailer which took me right back to the days when movies like this were the mainstay of the Harris theater on 42nd street in NYC.

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