Jackie Chan

 

(Rotten Tomatoes)

PROJECT A-1983-In 19th century Hong Kong the navy has their ships destroyed by smugglers and they are all "reduced" to being part of the police force (who they never got along with). Navy Lt. Dragon Ma (director/co-writer Jackie Chan) becomes a Sgt. and locks horns with Capt. Tzu (Biao Yuen). However bureaucracy and corruption cause him to quit the force. He meets his old friend con-man Fei (Sammo Hung). They get into trouble over some stolen guns. 

Eventually Ma is put in charge of bringing down the pirates led by Sam Pau (Dick Wei). He enlists Winnie (Isabella Wong) and Tzu to help him. In disguise he infiltrates the pirate base. Later of course Fei winds up helping Ma, Tzu and Jaws (Mars) in the incredible final battle. 

This was a huge hit in Asia and garnered several nominations and awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Chan made a sequel in 1987.

Thanks for reading!

Lee's Game

GAME OF DEATH-1978-Every martial arts movie fans' favorite paste up job. The legendary Bruce Lee began this film as producer/writer/director in 1973.

While filming Lee got an offer from Warner Bros. to star in the most expensive budgeted martial arts at the time (ENTER THE DRAGON). He planned to resume shooting on GAME but died of a cerebral edema (some might disagreed with the cause of death) before DRAGON's release leaving behind about 100 minutes of footage. In 1978 DRAGON's director Robert Clouse was hired to make a movie out of the remaining footage.

The story concerns a martial arts film star Billy Lo (either Kim Tai-jung aka Tony Lung, or Yuen Biao doubling for Lee who appears briefly in close-ups and in scenes from WAY OF THE DRAGON (used as the film he's working on; Chuck Norris also appears). He's under pressure from a syndicate boss Dr. Land (Dean Jagger) and his smart ass henchman Steiner (Hugh O'Brian; still alive at the time of this writing). Billy refuses to buckle under the syndicate's grip so Land sends an assassin (Mel Novak) to kill the star. Billy is shot but not killed but with the help of his reporter/friend (Gig Young in his last role) fakes his death and has plastic surgery so he can get revenge on the gang. He wears various disguises (so he doesn't look like the real Lee) and beats up a corrupt American martial artist (real pro Karate fighter Robert Hall). Later, after his girlfriend (Coleen Camp) has been kidnapped,  in the film's most famous scenes, Billy (the real Lee) has to fight three guardians played by Don Insanto (his real life student), Korean Hapkido master Ji Han-jae and former pro basketball player Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

Writer/director Robert Clouse does a good job of editing together scenes of the real and fake Lees but even still the movie doesn't ring true and the re-editing and Lee doubles ultimately do in the production.

Thanks for reading!

Quickies of all kinds!

Ha! I was just watching an episode of the old quiz show I'VE GOT A SECRET. It was on for many years begining in the early 50's. The episode I just saw was from the early '60's toward the end of it's run. Steve Allen was the host and the "celebrity" panel they had was usually the same four people. There was Bill Cullen, a well known TV game show host who emceed morning game shows into the 1980's, Bess Myerson, a former Miss America who later became pals with future NYC mayor Ed Koch and was prosecuted by NY state for some shady dealings I forget the details of (she was aquitted though), Henry Morgan, a mostly dead on humorist who seemed to take delight in making audiences not like him and a woman named Betsy Palmer who apparently was a very popular stage actress but who I only knew for one thing. She played Jason's mother in the original FRIDAY THE 13th and is on the receiving end of one of the most famous decapitations in film history! Freaky!

UNDISCOVERED TOMB-2002-Two mercenary type adventurers help a Professor (Yoko Shimada) hunt for the secret of some eternal life pills. Along the way they pick up two mysterious men and a young guide. They encounter a vicious but clownish local tribe, plant people, a giant snake and a living statue. There’s a lot of fighting and it seems to be influenced by Jackie Chan’s ARMOUR OF GOD.

AMSTERDAM CONNECTION-(1978)-This is a typical cheap matial arts movie from the late '70's. Much of the fighting is pretty lame and the dubbing is atrocious but the climax is done well. The plot involves drug running, a dealer posing as a movie producer and selling the would be actresses into prostitution and double crosses. It features Bolo Yeung (in bad sunglasses) and Yuen Biao. The music resembles the Rocky theme "Gotta Fly Now" and part of Pink Floyd's "Have A Cigar" is used!

INUYASHU-SWORDS OF AN HONORABLE RULER-2003-In the third OVA of this popular Anime series the half demon Inuyashu must team up with his demon brother to battle a demon connected with their late father. All the regular supporting characters are featured as well. If you are a fan of the series (which I am) you’ll like this.

THE BIG NOISE-1944-A late period Laurel & Hardy comedy from Fox that’s not very good. The team plays a pair of phony detectives who are hired by an inventor (Arthur Space) to guard the super bomb he’s invented. Little Bobby Blake (the future TV star and murder suspect) is the little brat who causes much of the trouble. Director Mal St. Clair helmed many of the team’s later work.

Thanks for reading!