Chinese Tiger

Starring:Chin-kun Li
Studio: Saturn
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Best Martial Arts Film Ever
Disappointed...
Not The Best Martial Arts Movie
East meets West, and West comes off best.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Starring: Chang Chen , Chow Yun-Fat , Chang Cheng , Cheng Pei-Pei , and Sihung Lung
Director: Ang Lee
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Hero
House of Flying Daggers
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The Last Samurai (Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B00003CXR4
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Amazon.com essential video

Hong Kong wuxia films, or martial arts fantasies, traditionally squeeze poor acting, slapstick humor, and silly story lines between elaborate fight scenes in which characters can literally fly. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has no shortage of breathtaking battles, but it also has the dramatic soul of a Greek tragedy and the sweep of an epic romance. This is the work of director Ang Lee, who fell in love with movies while watching wuxia films as a youngster and made Crouching Tiger as a tribute to the form. To elevate the genre above its B-movie roots and broaden its appeal, Lee did two important things. First, he assembled an all-star lineup of talent, joining the famous Asian actors Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh with the striking, charismatic newcomer Zhang Ziyi. Behind the scenes, Lee called upon cinematographer Peter Pau (The Killer, The Bride with White Hair) and legendary fight choreographer Yuen Wo-ping, best known outside Asia for his work on The Matrix. Second, in adapting the story from a Chinese pulp-fiction novel written by Wang Du Lu, Lee focused not on the pursuit of a legendary sword known as "The Green Destiny," but instead on the struggles of his female leads against social obligation. In his hands, the requisite fight scenes become another means of expressing the individual spirits of his characters and their conflicts with society and each other.

The filming required an immense effort from all involved. Chow and Yeoh had to learn to speak Mandarin, which Lee insisted on using instead of Cantonese to achieve a more classic, lyrical feel. The astonishing battles between Jen (Zhang) and Yu Shu Lien (Yeoh) on the rooftops and Jen and Li Mu Bai (Chow) atop the branches of bamboo trees required weeks of excruciating wire and harness work (which in turn required meticulous "digital wire removal"). But the result is a seamless blend of action, romance, and social commentary in a populist film that, like its young star Zhang, soars with balletic grace and dignity. --Eugene Wei

Description

An epic set against the breathtaking landscapes of ancient China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, combines the exhilarating martial arts choreography by Yuen Wo-Pind (The Matrix) with the sensitivity and classical storytelling of an Ang Lee film. The result is something truly unexpected: romantic, emotionally powerful entertainment.

Customer Reviews:

Best Martial Arts Film Ever.......2007-06-22

Everything has already been said about this film, so I'll put only a short review here.

Why did I use the superlative in the title? Because it seems to be true for me. (The second place belongs to House of Flying Daggers [Region 99].) The story line is not very strong, but much better than you may see in this genre. The romantic threads do not make it too schmaltzy, and the visual design is simply excellent.

Disappointed..........2007-05-28

Although I enjoyed Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi (as always), I didn't enjoy this movie hardly at all. I couldn't believe this was the movie that got such rave reviews and was Oscar nominated etc. I don't say that foolishly, stating that I dislike the movie when really I dislike the genre. That's not it. I just much prefer films like "House of the Flying Daggers" and "Hero" to this one.

Not The Best Martial Arts Movie.......2007-04-05

the cinemotography is pretty good i this movie, but the plot was raw. This movie was okay.

East meets West, and West comes off best. .......2007-02-16

The martial arts film traditionally has attained its own unique niche in the domain of film. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a Chinese-language film that works within the parameters of the old cliches of this niche, but changes just enough to make it stand out and create an appeal that reaches far beyond the limited circle of the average martial art film enthusiast. It doesn't lack the action that one might expect from the typical film in this genre, but it adds something new: the soul of tragedy and romance.

An adaption of a Chinese pulp-fiction novel, the story concerns two secret lovers (the male Li Mu Bai and female Yu Shu Lien) who are warriors on a quest to recapture a legendary sword, the Green Destiny, which has been stolen by a masked bandit. The thief turns out to be the beautiful princess Jen Yu, who is in the middle of trying to avoid an arranged marriage, because she is secretly in love with the desert bandit Lo, whom she grew to love after being abducted in the wilderness. Behind the intrigue and romance of these two forbidden loves, lies the dark cloud of mastermind Jade Fox, the evil woman responsible for the deaths of Mu Bai's former master and of Shu Lien's fiance. This sets the stage for a poignant drama, warm romance, and breath-taking action.

Despite being a martial arts film, the movie breaks the traditional Eastern mould by incorporating romantic elements one would expect from Hollywood. It has well been said that stylistically, it is "a blend of Eastern action and Western psychological drama." I think this assessment is correct, that while on the one hand the film is clearly inspired by martial-arts mysticism and action of the East, underneath the window dressing of the foreign aspects of the film lies the romanticism and drama that one is accustomed to from the West. By catering to what appeals to the modern Western mindset and incorporating subtle criticisms of traditional Chinese culture, it's not surprising that the film was somewhat of a flop in Asia, and that its concessions to contemporary themes of love and feelings made it a breakthrough success in the West. Stephen Greydanus puts it well by remarking: "Ang Lee has here crafted a masterful synthesis of various forms of Chinese mythology and Taoist philosophy that brings a broader perspective to its subject matter than many Asian films including some aspects of more typically Western sensibilities and ideals and, in the end, embraces a gently romantic humanism that is more life-affirming than the esoteric way of detachment and denial characteristic of Eastern thought." Certainly there are allusions to Taoistic mysticism, but the Taoism is in the end rejected in favor of realism and romanticism - which perhaps explains why the movie worked for Western viewers and not for Eastern ones.

The movie has also been the subject of scathing criticism for other reasons, not least from conservative Christian quarters, where offense was taken primarily to the implicit endorsement of extra-marital sexual relations, and the rebellious attitude of Jen toward her parents and her arranged marriage. For the most part, I share this concern, and it's good to be reminded of it. Watching too many movies which advocate the moral laxity of modern culture can dull sensitivity on this point, and unfortunately there aren't enough films on the other extreme to act as correctives.

But perhaps most discussion has been about the ambiguous conclusion (*spoiler warning*), where Jen leaps into the unknown. Lo has just expressed the wish is "to be in the desert, together [with you] again" and then Jen jumps off the cliff into the mist of uncertainty. If it's not suicide, what is it? And what happens next? We don't know. Some have optimistically seen this as a Christological leap of faith and sacrifice with the hope of resurrection, but it seems to me that interpreting this as a message of atonement and resurrection is being too generous and overly charitable. Perhaps the point is that we don't know the ending, and that the movie can only leave it up to us to decide for ourselves. And isn't this typical for a Western culture without absolutes? Maybe this is a reflection of our post-modern culture more than anything. Not only does contemporary culture delight in being morally ambiguous, but as a result it also has an ambiguous eschatology. The best that modern Western film can offer is a nebulous promise of a hope for the future. In other words, our world today doesn't really know much about the afterlife, so it can't really tell us much about it, except offer paradoxes and try to make us come up with our own happy endings. The best promise it can give is a blend of hopeless romanticism and eastern mysticism, where suicide is romanticized as an genuine escape and a leap into another world where perhaps dreams might just come true.

Despite being critical of some of these underlying themes and moral ambiguity, I have to admit that Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is stimulating in raising these questions, in a way that few popular films today do. It remains a fascinating film in what it says about a clash of cultures, and in what it says about our time. The discerning viewer is sure to find some measure of profit and entertainment from this highly regarded and award-winning film. - GODLY GADFLY

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.......2007-02-12

I watched the TV programs first. I understand it must have been difficult to make the long story to short. But the movie didn't reflect the original plot. Since I like Michelle Yoe and Zhan Ziyi, I bought the movie. But I didn't really enjoy it. I couldn't understand the ending, either. I wonder why it got the awrad. Anyway, I recommend "Hero" if you like to enjoy fantazy kun fu movies.

Average customer rating:

john woo, douglas sirk & sergio leone menage a trois
Snazzy "western"
primitively horrible
admirable effort but too strained to be effective
Disappointing transfer

Tears of the Black Tiger
Starring: Suwinit Panjamawat , Chartchai Ngamsan , Stella Malucchi , Supakorn Kitsuwon , and Arawat Ruangvuth
Director: Wisit Sasanatieng
Manufacturer: Magnolia
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Old Joy

ASIN: B000N6UES4
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Amazon.com

Imagine John Ford (The Searchers), Jean-Luc Godard (Weekend), and John Waters (Pink Flamingos) collaborating on an insane 1950s melodrama, drenched in succulent Technicolor--rose-petal reds, turquoise blues, saffron yellows, and Pepto-Bismol pinks--and you're just barely encompassing the cinematic delirium of Tears of the Black Tiger. This fever dream of a movie features rival gunslingers, a poor farmboy and the daughter of a wealthy landowner, a murdered father, bloody revenge, a forced marriage, and a half-dozen other cliches stitched into a preposterous yet weirdly engaging story. But the story isn't the point; director Wisit Sasanatieng takes every opportunity to dive into a different style or device, ranging from delicate shots of a lovely girl in a mint-green gazebo to spewing gore and full-on battle with machine guns and grenade-launchers. The sets are often blatantly theatrical, the lighting exaggerated, and the acting ranges from wooden to maniacal. In short, this Thai movie is like nothing you've ever seen, born of a deep moviemania and unbridled chutzpah, and you owe it to yourself to watch it. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

john woo, douglas sirk & sergio leone menage a trois.......2007-06-09

outstanding flick. i expect most viewers not to "get it," more's the pity to them (come on now, thai culture's not THAT alien to you all, is it?). visually breathtaking, maniacally acted and directed. deserves a wider audience and more appreciation than it's sure to get, sadly...

Snazzy "western".......2007-06-08

The previews were intriguing, and the movie is so expressive it is surprising. I know the cultures of the Pac-Rim are old and in many ways sophisticated, but the adapatation of their esthetic to our genre is fun, cool and engaging. And, damn, the story is not half bad! It is not entirely a spoof, just that those cultures stylize for high esthetic goals, and this movie gets that treatment in the most unexpected dimensions of color, slow-motion, sound, and close-ups. Too good to not have in the collection!

primitively horrible.......2007-05-23

this year 2000 thai production is a terrible waste of your time and money. so primitive and basic with poor acting, annoying sound track and weird retouched colors. thai movie after some of successful box office records, now trying very hard to dump older and bad movies to fool people to get a peek. if you later found out it's so bad, they've already got your money. tough lock.
this 'fah talai jone' is the example that a bad movie could still lure you to pay for a peek. horrible acting, directing, editing cooked with a terrible screenplay. thai cowboys...yeah, right, thai romance, yeah, right. the fighting scenes were all so poorly performed, so primitive that almost drove me crazy.

admirable effort but too strained to be effective.......2007-05-04

**1/2

In this age in which just about every other film seems to be a sequel, adaptation or remake of a previous work, it seems positively ungrateful, not to mention counterproductive, to criticize a movie for being TOO innovative and creative - yet that is exactly the case with "Tears of the Black Tiger," a movie that is a mixture of so many different genres and styles that it is virtually impossible to explain what it is like to anyone who hasn't actually seen it.

Indeed, if the term, in and of itself, were not self-contradictory and meaningless, one might be tempted to call "Tears" a "Chinese Italian Western," seeing as it draws much of its look and style from those "spaghetti westerns" that Clint Eastwood made his name with in the 1960's: "A Fistful of Dollars, "For a Few Dollars More" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." Yet, that would be an inadequate description of "Tears of the Black Tiger" as well, since the movie also looks like one of those glossy 1950's melodramas by Douglas Sirk, on the order of "Magnificent Obsession," "Imitation of Life," and "All That Heaven Allows" (albeit with an all Chinese cast). It certainly makes for a bizarre hybrid, to say the least, but, despite its originality, this tale of an unlikely romance between a gun slinging outlaw (the Black Tiger) and a classy beauty from the upper classes - who seem to be inhabiting entirely different centuries, let alone entirely different parts of the world - fails to ignite much interest in the viewer.

With its cartoon-like violence, highly stylized settings, arch acting and corny dialogue, the film is obviously intended to be an affectionate send-up of the kind of escapist, popcorn movies Hollywood has been exporting to the world for nearly a century now. But the movie is too strained to be truly funny, too artificial to be truly involving, with its jumbled, out-of-chronological-order narrative structure finally frustrating the viewer past the point of caring. The bold, garish colors add to the film's air of surrealism, but most people will probably tire of the movie once the novelty of the concept has worn off.

"Tears of the Black Tiger" is a film one would like to support and admire, but the sad truth is that, in this case at least, the filmmakers were not able to pull the thing off. "Tears of the Black Tiger," for all its goodwill and craftsmanship, earns an "A" for effort, but a mere "Gentleman's C-" for the overall product.

Disappointing transfer.......2007-04-28

Saw this at the theater and was wowed away by how visually stunning this film is. I was excited to order it on DVD, and received it today, but was disappointed by how low quality the transfer is. The colors are dull and blurry compared to what I saw on the big screen. Total let down because the visuals make the movie.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Superbit Collection)

Average customer rating:

Best Martial Arts Film Ever
Disappointed...
Not The Best Martial Arts Movie
East meets West, and West comes off best.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Superbit Collection)
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow , Michelle Yeoh , Ziyi Zhang , Chen Chang , and Sihung Lung
Director: Ang Lee
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Hero
House of Flying Daggers
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ASIN: B00005NRND
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Amazon.com essential video

Description

The Superbit titles utilize a special high bit rate digital encoding process which optimizes video quality while offering a choice of both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. These titles have been produced by a team of Sony Pictures Digital Studios video, sound and mastering engineers and comes housed in a special package complete with a 4 page booklet that contains technical information on the Superbit process. By reallocating space on the disc normally used for value-added content, Superbit DVDs can be encoded at double their normal bit rate while maintaining full compatibility with the DVD video format.

Customer Reviews:

Best Martial Arts Film Ever.......2007-06-22

Disappointed..........2007-05-28

Not The Best Martial Arts Movie.......2007-04-05

the cinemotography is pretty good i this movie, but the plot was raw. This movie was okay.

East meets West, and West comes off best. .......2007-02-16

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.......2007-02-12

Average customer rating:

Standard Chinese TV Series
GREAT
Colossal Letdown!
The soap opera version of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Excellent Production

New Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Starring: Chi , Yik , and Tung
Manufacturer: Tai Seng
ProductGroup: DVD
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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
House of Flying Daggers
Hero
The Master Swordsman
The Warrior

ASIN: B0001OGV3A
Release Date: 2004-06-22

Description

The classic swordplay saga based on the acclaimed martial arts novel by Wang Du Lu and made for cinema by Ang Lee, now gets a new interpretation in this expanded and exciting retelling! To escape from an arranged marriage, the feisty and wild Yuk Jiao Lung secretly learns kung fu from her master, who is formerly a member of an anti-government rebel cult. At the same time, swordsman Li Mu Bai meets and falls in love with fellow swordswoman Yu Shu Lien when she takes revenge for her parents' death. The fates of all four of them will eventually link together with the appearance and theft of the legendary Green Destiny Sword. The reappearance of the notorious female bandit Jade Fox further complicates matters. NEW CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON is a sweeping tale of love, revenge and honor, and an incredible martial arts adventure filled with stirring fights and magnificent sceneries shot on location in mainland China.

Customer Reviews:

Standard Chinese TV Series .......2007-03-01

One thing that I always see in reviews are people who compare this film to the Action Adventure wire-fu epic flic. This is a Chinese action drama. It's also a TV series. Not a Gung Fu epic. As an action drama, it's one of my favourites. Amazing action, a much-appreciated love story, and further background into the characters.
Remember that Chinese cinema is NOT American cinema. Everything is different. Different people play the same parts in variations from the original. And each variation can show a different part of the whole story. I loved the further dive into this world.

GREAT.......2004-11-18

this video is the best chinese action movie i've seen besides some I've seen a few years ago with Vivian Leung. The action is great, all the actors/actresses were Great! I liked it so much more than the original crouching tiger hidden dragon.... I would definitely watch it over and over and over again.!!

Colossal Letdown!.......2004-09-22

This version of Crouching Tiger is certain to disappoint most fans of the Ang Lee movie version. The special effects budget is nonexistent. There are scenes where the wires are vividly visible, destroying any believability. Unfortunately, the acting only deepens the disappointment. It is abysmal and amateurish. The story progresses at a jerky pace and the editing is choppy, (probably reflecting the fact that this is condensed from a 15 hour TV version), making it difficult to follow what is going on. Take my advice, save your money! Buy the Ang Lee movie version if you have not already seen it. Watching this horrific and degenerate version is painful and not worth the effort.

The soap opera version of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.......2004-08-15

The Ang Lee version of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon left many Asians with a bad taste. The movie version cut alot of the side stories and boiled it down to the bare essentials. Asian audiences felt that 2 hours was not enough to tell the original story. The same can be said of many book to movie adaptations.

This U.S. DVD release of New Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is essentially a condensed Reader's Digest version of the television mini-series that aired in China shortly after the Ang Lee movie came out.

The original series, like alot of Chinese mini-series, tended to explore many aspects of Chinese culture that would be unfathomable to Western tastes. Much of that is cut out.

This series plays out more like a soap opera with continuing plot lines from episode to episode.

It's too bad that Tai Seng edited alot of the story out as some folks may want to see the complete uncut series. But in the interest of Western audiences, it was pared down to a more managable 4 hour show. This DVD release would probably not have sold very well if it was released in the U.S. in its complete uncut edition with more discs and a higher price.

VCDs of the original uncut series are available in China and in Chinese video rental shops but there are no English subtitles or English dubbing.

Excellent Production.......2004-08-13

This tv production pre-dates the famous movie by a year or so, but, has it's own character and story to tell. Some incidents remain the same, as well as all the major characters, performed by an attractive and talented group of actors (I've developed a little crush on the actress playing Shu lin). This was apparently a much longer work attested to by missing scenes shown in the opening and closing credits and it's a shame Tai Seng has not also offered the complete series dubbed for the serious collector. What's left is a sometimes choppy, but well edited story that expands into many different directions from the movie, yet at it heart never strays from the familiar. Great martial arts too. Very Highly Recommended!!

Shaolin Wooden Men... Young Tiger's Revenge

Average customer rating:

No comedy, just great acting from Jackie Chan, Kam Kong, and everyone else
An almost mute Jacky Chan!
ORIGINAL IS BETTER~!
THIS IS THE TYPE OF JACKIE CHAN MOVIE I LOVE AND MISS
Get Hong Kong version!

Shaolin Wooden Men... Young Tiger's Revenge
Starring: Yuen Lung , Tien Miao , Her Du Wei , Kam Chiang , and Jackie Chan
Director: Chi-Hwa Chen
Manufacturer: Beverly Wilshire
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Release Date: 2000-11-14

Customer Reviews:

No comedy, just great acting from Jackie Chan, Kam Kong, and everyone else.......2007-04-15

Jackie stars as a mute who has grown up at a Shaolin monastery since he was a boy and trains to become a fighter so he can revenge his father's death one day. He meets a prisoner played by Kam Kong, one of the most likeable kung fu actors ever. He develops a strong relationship with Jackie and helps him with his training so he can beat the Shaolin wooden men and leave the monastery. Jackie taking on the robot like wooden men was actually exciting because of his great acting and kung fu skills. This movie is definitely one of his best physical performances. There is a lot more to the story and it all results in an incredible emotionally charged ending.

It was great to see Jackie giving such a different type of acting performance, but the kung fu is of course the brightest spot in the movie. Kam Kong is a large man and can do some amazing kung fu with that big frame. I wish him and Jackie would have fought more in movies.

I love cheesy movies, but this is the complete opposite. There is no cheese to be found, it's just a very good kung fu movie.

3.5/5

I have the DVD from Telefilms International and it's watchable. Hong Kong Legends just released this uncut, but I don't know of any other uncut versions.

An almost mute Jacky Chan!.......2006-10-27

Shaolin Wooden Men was the second film Jackie Chan did for Lo Wei Productions and the first film he did under director Chen Chi-Hwa (who also directed Jackie in Half a Loaf of Kung Fu) - though Lo would get Supervising Director credit. Chan was lent out to this up-and-coming director who would give him more room to experiment. Jackie gave more effort on his martial art styles by mutating traditional forms like the snake form (one of Jackie's favorites) giving more flowing and flamboyant movement and being less classical in structure. Unfortunately, he did not have much say in his character development with a character that was still in Bruce Lee's shadow. Shaolin Wooden Men was considered the second flop in a row for a Jackie Chan led film.

Jackie played a mute young man (called Dummy in the dubbed version) whose father She Lan was killed by an unknown assailant. I've read a couple of different rumors on why Chan was mute in this film: to make it easier on him acting and the other rumor was that Lo did not have confidence in his acting skill. Jackie's character has sworn revenge and to increase his martial artist skills he becomes an earnest student in a Shaolin monastery. He has trouble at first adjusting to monk life. Such activities as using lead shoes to carry water up and pour in barrels and chopping wood was difficult for the mute but he would note be prevented from learning Shaolin martial arts. It would normally take five years of this training before he could start on his fighting training, but the mute was crafty. He learned balance techniques from a drunken monk (Miu Tak San). He befriended a visiting female Buddhist named Nun Woo Mei (Cheung Bing Yuk) who taught him "Ten Shadows Eight Steps" to make him lighter on his feet. Several scenes of this technique reminded me of several of Missy Elliot's videos.

In order to leave the Shaolin monastery Jackie would have to pass a test of fighting. He would have to go through a gauntlet of mechanized Wooden Men (strangely looking like a Monty Python gag) that many monks with more advanced training that the mute have failed. The mute was lucky in finding a Shaolin prisoner who befriended him and in exchange for food and wine would train him. Fa Yu (Kam Kong) is a curmudgeon character who says he is only captured until he learns "The Lion's Roar" which will shatter the internals of his enemies (or at least provide a cheesy sound effect.) He taught the mute several techniques which would help him pass the gauntlet as well as improve his fighting prowess.

The Shaolin Wooden Men only play a small part of this film. The mute inevitably passes the test and burns the dragon and tiger insignias into his forearms by lifting a searing hot cauldron that marks the opening into freedom and the beginning of his travails. First he must deliver a message from Fa Yu to a gimpy pharmacologist who owns the Tsun Chung Pharmacy in the town of Ching Ho who is part of the Green Dragon and White Tiger gangs. This pretty much establishes Fa Yu with those gangs and the rest of the film deals with the (other) inevitable aspects of his escape and why he was imprisoned by the Shaolin.

The martial arts are above standard, but not as good as the later Jackie Chan films. Though the final fight sequence does last awhile and is the highlight fight of the film. The plot is a martial art cliché with a student enrolling in a Shaolin Academy to learn Kung Fu to avenge the death of his father. There is also the ubiquitous training manual "Justice against the Devil" given to Jackie by a blind monk. However, the relationship between the mute and his teacher Fa Yu is an interesting angle reminding me of the relationship of Yuen Biao and Lau Kar Wing in Knockabout. Chan seems a little unsure of his acting ability, even without voice, but he always looks professional with the martial art choreography. I think most people will like the later Jackie Chan films better, but if you find a decent copy of this film they will think it is a decent film -- though not much better. Note: look for an early small speaking role for Yuen Biao.

DVD Info: Choosing the right copy is also important. I own two different copies of the film both with their own problems. The Columbia copy reigns in about 96 minutes though it misses 10 minutes of the beginning. These ten minutes are very fun to watch. It includes the "showcase" beginning with Jackie fighting four monks each with a different animal style. It then includes his character having a nightmare dealing with the Shaolin Python Wooden Men and then a sequence showing normal life at the Shaolin temple. The Columbia version is also cropped to a 1.78 aspect. The line on the DVD about preserving the original aspect is hooey. The benefit of this DVD is that it has the Mandarin soundtrack and good subtitles. The second version I own is the Telefilms Internation DVD (also R1 and also hooey about being the Original Uncut Version) which has the original aspect, a more clear screen and the beginning that is missing in the Columbia version. This version is missing ten minutes that are in the Columbia version though it cost me only two dollars. It is missing any extras like subtitles or other languages. So the best thing to do is look for a copy that has 106 minutes or over, is not cropped and is not R1.

ORIGINAL IS BETTER~!.......2006-02-05

If you want UNCUT ORIGINAL version, ALWAYS look for ORIGINAL LICENSED Production. NOT US Release. Its a foreign film, it should not be US version to begin with~! HELLO!!!?? Why settle for LESS with US Version where they edit and cut so many excellent scenes especially with Jackie's Fighting Scenes. And US Release ruins the speed and sound as well. I have been collecting Jackie Chan's movies both HK and US Release Version for quite some time now. I found HK Version to be MUCH MORE in enjoyable, and HIGHER in Quality. American Market always like to "Americanize" and "Control". Regional Code Regulation thing is one of the example to CONTROL the Market. Why not let everyone enjoy the same HK Original Release move the same way ENTIRE WORLD enjoys it ?? No one makes Hollywood American movies to "French version" or "Chinese Version" ~! This what Americans are doing~! Well, enjoy the cheap "American version" then~! LOL

THIS IS THE TYPE OF JACKIE CHAN MOVIE I LOVE AND MISS .......2005-05-16

REMEMBER WHEN JACKIE CHAN KICKED ASS? REMEMBER WHEN JACKIE CHAN WAS THE COOLEST MARTIAL ARTS STAR ALIVE? WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WAS BEFORE HE GOT OLDER AND BEFORE HE STARTED POPPING UP IN HORRIBLE MOVIES LIKE ''AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS'' AND ''SHANGHAI NOON''. IN THIS CLASSIC MARTIAL ARTS MOVIE FROM THE 1970S, JACKIE CHAN PLAYS A YOUNG MAN WHO'S CONSTANTLY HAUNTED BY THE FACT THAT HE WITNESSED HIS FATHER'S MURDER. AFTER LEARNING SEVERAL STYLES OF MARTIAL ARTS FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT PEOPLE [INCLUDING A PRISONER WHOM HE BRINGS FOOD TO EVERYDAY IN EXCHANGE FOR KUNG FU LESSONS], HE SOON SETS OUT TO FIGHT THE WOODEN MEN AND AVENGE HIS FATHER'S MURDER. A VERY GOOD MARTIAL ARTS MOVIE THAT HAS MEMORABLE FIGHTS, WHICH'RE ALWAYS FUN TO LOOK AT. THE MOVIE'S WORTH IT ALONE FOR THE CLASSIC CONFRONTATION BETWEEN JACKIE CHAN AND THE WOODEN MEN.

Get Hong Kong version!.......2005-01-20

I agree with the other reviewers who said the Columbia-Tristar veriosn cuts out so many good moments (what WERE they thinking!?!?!)! I have the English dubbed version, and it's pretty good - I'd recommend it to all kung-fu movie-philes (and especially Chan-o-philes!). The athletics are superb, although the film quality is not top-notch (it is, however, orders of magnitutde better than the "pea-green" situation with the Columbia release!!!!!!). it IS one to enjoy!

Kung Fu Theater: Chinese Hercules/Mantis Fists & Tiger Claws of Shaolin

Average customer rating:

Kung Fu Theater: Chinese Hercules/Mantis Fists & Tiger Claws of Shaolin
Starring: Kung Fu Theater Double Feature
Manufacturer: Bci / Eclipse
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Martial Arts Theatre: Mantis Combat & Dirty Kung Fu
Martial Arts Theatre: The Death Duel of Kung Fu & Inheritor of Kung Fu
Invincible Armour
7 Grand Masters
Faster Blade Poisonous Darts

ASIN: B000CSTKHY
Release Date: 2006-03-21

Mantis Fists, Tiger Claws/Duel of the Brave Ones

Average customer rating:

MANTIS FISTS ALONE IS WORTH THE PURCHASE!
Two of the worst movies I've ever seen
Super rare films in one package!

Mantis Fists, Tiger Claws/Duel of the Brave Ones
Starring: Black Belt Theatre
Manufacturer: Ground Zero
ProductGroup: DVD
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7 Star Grand Mantis/Dragon Kid
Fist of the White Lotus

ASIN: B00005UQ7L
Release Date: 2002-02-05

Customer Reviews:

MANTIS FISTS ALONE IS WORTH THE PURCHASE!.......2005-04-12

Let me just say that Mantis Fists Tiger Claws is a brilliant
movie! I love how they mix slasher horror films with a typical
revenge kung fu movie! This movie took me off guard cuz I
thought this was gonna be a typical kung fu movie but after
seeing the final fight between this guy and a human praying
mantis, I was thrilled! Mantis Fists is original with a ton of
rape scenes (particulary on this one chick, poor girl) and with
some pretty good kung fu and alot of weird weapons! Oh and the movie is subtitled in French!

Duel of the Brave Ones is a typical modern day kung fu movie!
need I say more! I really don't like modern day kung fu films
cuz it just seems uninteresting to me! But this movie has nudity
so that will make you happy!

In the end: WORTH IT FOR MANTIS FISTS ALONE! It's a rare find
and well worth the $10. Stupid Mantis Fist guy you're no student
of mantis fist so you can go and die!

Two of the worst movies I've ever seen.......2002-05-25

Being a student of praying mantis kung fu, I HAD to buy this movie. I mean, how bad could it be? No matter what the quality, there would definitely be some good kung fu practitioners in this somewhat esoteric style, right? WRONG. The fighting is bad, sound is bad, filming is bad, quality of the DVD and its source (looks like a 10th generation video copy) is bad, the story is impossible to follow. There are two unnecessarily explicit partial-nudity rape scenes, and gratuitous gore throughout. I give it at least 1 star, because it's so bad it's hilarious at times. If you can stay awake. At the end, the horrible and super-deadly mysterious predator is revealed--someone hopping around in a furry green mantis suit with big scary mantis claws for hands. Unless you're a fan of campy, trashy kung fu and/or horror movies, don't bother. I took mine back for a refund. I can't review "Duel of the Brave Ones" because it was so bad I couldn't even watch it. Basically a cheesy 70's Honk Kong gangster streetfighting flick. In a genre known for its bad acting, writing, directing and filming, these 2 are the bottom of the barrel.

Super rare films in one package!.......2002-04-07

First off,the quality of the ultra rare Mantis Fists and Tiger Claws is not very good.It apparently is the only existing print left of this film,so what can we do?I would complain but the price is so low,that it's well worth buying.The movie is wild to say the least.A woman gets raped by a mantis(!)and her daughter turns into a mantis kung fu monster.Need I say more?The second feature is with the same cast and has great action.Get a bag of snacks and enjoy!

Average customer rating:

I've seen better...
this is one of the most violent kung fu flicks i've seen!

Chinese Tiger
Starring: Chin-kun Li
Manufacturer: Saturn
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Shaolin The Blood Mission
Dragon Connection
Deadly Shaolin Longfist
Masters of Tiger Crane
Ninja Against Shaolin

ASIN: B0000B2XUR
Release Date: 2003-07-17

Customer Reviews:

I've seen better..........2007-05-15

I kinda think this movie blew chunks! I thought it was going to be a lot better than it actually was. I'm not saying it was a totally bad movie, but it sure wasn't that great either. I guess for the 6-7 bucks it cost, not that bad. I don't think i'd buy it again though.

this is one of the most violent kung fu flicks i've seen!.......2003-02-03

i LOVE this movie!words are just hard to describe it. this movie is filled with drug smuggling,... and of course... violent ...kung fu. if you don't like violence in kung fu films, then step aside, cause this won't be your cup of tea, but if you do, then is this the movie for you! all the fights end in a vicious manner, but the climax is great. this puts enter the dragon to shame and i love bruce lee, he's the man, but this movie is so much better!

Average customer rating:

liked tiger over wall slightly better
Buy this one!!
Phillip Ko is at it again

Goose Boxer/Tiger Over Wall
Starring: Goose Boxer , and Tiger Over Wall
Manufacturer: Ground Zero
ProductGroup: DVD
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Hit Man in the Hand of Buddha
Shaolin Invincible Sticks

ASIN: B00005RY9S
Release Date: 2001-11-27

Customer Reviews:

liked tiger over wall slightly better.......2006-05-22

First off, picture quality is fine, widescreened, not all the way, but about 1000 times better than a pan and scan job. The picture quality is average, faded, btu no real prblems like distortion and only all teh fight scenes look excellent. Both movies quality looks the same.

GOOSE BOXER-4/5-Now this one took me by surprise casue I have only seen a couple reviews for it and people seem to hate it, especially compared to the other movie on this disc. But it is a TIGHTLY choreographed movie that has some of the better cantonese comedy that I can rememeber in a kung fu movie. it starts with a local butcher(charles heung) and gets the comedy started right off the bat. After a couple minutes he needs to beat down some thugs and we get to see his goose style. I wasn't expecting much, but man can this guy fight. Charles Heung didn't have a big acting career or nothing but has been an exexcutive producer on huge productions like johny to's "Throwdown", tsiu hark's "legend of zu warriors", jet li's "black mask" and "contact killer", and even a "a chinese ghost story". He has been THE producer on this, "goose boxer", "dr. wai", and the "god of gamblers" movies. I would compare him to derek yee, except he's not a director. Great fighter though, and a GREAT actor. He is so perfect for this role. The comedy is some of the best I have seen. Nto woo ping type stuff but way better than that. If you don't watch close, you won't see it, but for a movie that is only 78 minutes, it is really hard not to find those 10-15 WONDERFUL moments. And the fights are absolutely off the chain. Reason for that: Tommy Lee is the DIRECTOR!!!!!!!!! Hoi san lee is the bad guy. Holy ship!!!!!! I have never seen him in a better performance. Most people who don't know these movies will shrug that comment off, but this guy has fought like a hundred different people on screen. Quick bio-----Shaw brothers star who was of course contracted but EVERYONE sought this guy out cause not only was he a really good screen fighter, he knew how to not hurt people. Unlike some guys(Hwang Jang Lee, benny the jet, etc).He is the senior monk that sort of opposes san te in 36th chamber, and also had a fight with gordon in shaolin vs. wudang, and baddie in bad movies like descendent of wing chin and my 12 kung fu kicks. he always looks good, but he shines through everybody save phillip ko in this.

So the butcher gets talked into becoming a martial arts instrucotr for a school who sorely needs him. Well after phillip ko's brother is murderd, Ko he does some investigative work. Next Lee hoi-sang shows up to the goose boxer's school and kidnaps him. And that certainly got the Wtf award for this movie. And with a midget and then goose and sex kung fu styles, it is a tough award to get. So we find out that he is kidnapped cause... You have to go find out. But I will tell you that phillip ko has 2 SPECTACULAR FIGHTS. And like I said, the great lee Hoi sang is brilliant with his crane style. For a big, scary man, he pulls if off good. And when I say big, just check out his neck, eek. Ending gets a little silly but with tommy lee at the helm, 2 of the best screen fighters in the genre, a new young star who cetainly could have been huge if that was what he wanted, a couple of good comic relief characters, and a midget. And you get one of the best of the genre. Also, movie seems to be cut on a few scenes, so if abybody know of a an uncut version, please let me know.

TIGER OVER WALL-what the heck that title means, I still can't figure it out. I have to say that this is easily one of the best directing jobs I have ever seen in a kung fu movie. If the story could match the great dialogue and acting, this would EASILY get a 5, and I would be able to confidently rate the disc a 5. Unfortunately the story is about a foreigner's dog being stolen. And the police are being pressured by the "foreigners" to get somebody to take the fall. Yeah, I need a story better than that. But like I said, the director does an AMAZIGN job. He is the director from GREAT movies like "Secret service of the Imperial Court", "Bastard Swordsman", and the return, "hellz windstaff", and 3 evil masters. His name is Chun-Ku Lo, a.k.a.- Tommy Loo. You will certainly notice an obvious difference in tone with most of his movies. Discounting hell'z windstaff, that wasn't a psychologically thrilling movie or nothing:) One of the corrupt cops is a famous shaw brothers star who fights gordon second one to last to johnny wang in return to the 36th chamber. The fights take a LONG time to get started, but man when they do you will wish that you were paying more attention. Phillip Ko gets pretty pissed after all of his people are getting taken down by the cops. And they don't just throw them in jail they take old or retarded guys who are just susceptible to say a corrutp police official who needs to get results. Lee tso-nan(director of great movies like "shaolin vs. lama", "phantom kung fu", and "challenge of death") plays a caring doctor character who is also the master of Ko's school and has to keep signign things fo rthe ploice to say that like prisoners are being treated good and some other things. Of course by the end he changes and stands up for himself. He is just a great director who is a really good actor also. So a very well told if not a good story keeps you interested until the fights happen. Ko fights the guy who I always mix up with lo lieh(please post his name, cuase I know someone knows it). Ko's bro then goes at with the other cop, I think he is like a decective, but still a bad guy all the way. This is actually my favorite fight of the movie, well maybe the final fight beats it out. And action was choreographed by tak tseung??. I didn't get the first name but those are the 2 that follow it. When the end credits role it says wong chen-li was assistant martial arts director. All in all, one of the better final fights I have ever sen. Not the greatest pole fight. If
you have heard of but have never sene Hwang Jang Lee, then this is a PERFECT MOVIE TO GET STARTED WITH. His kicks are on full display. I would have liked multiple opponents for his patented triple kicks, but he does good enough on one person:)

Buy this one!!.......2002-09-22

I bought the Goose Boxer/Tiger over Wall DVD because it was...and in the store. I was amazed to discover how great these two movies are (especially for the price)!! Goose Boxer is more of a comedy but it has many superb crane style fights. Tiger Over Wall, though, is definately the better of the two! The plot, though seeming flaccid at first, takes unexpected turns and the characters are well crafted to believability making the movie as a whole more and more intriguing. Every fight is amazing and paced well through out the movie so that the action and storyline do not overwhelm each other. The final fight between Lee and Koa is absolutely mesmerizing! Lee plays such an awesome villian you WANT to see him get his ... kicked, but he's too damn good to get beat down easily, making the fight that much more intense!
This is one of the best old school kung fu flicks I've seen in a while! The fact that I've heard so little of it before is a shame! Go out of your way to see this one if you have to.

Phillip Ko is at it again.......2001-12-07

"Tiger over wall" is one of the most underrated Kung-fu movies of its' era Phillip Ko is the star of this flik and man he gets down using Mantis fist, tiger and eventually Eagles claw he gets into many fights thoughout this movie and if you are a fan of Ko's screen work you will not be disapointed after "Dragon on fire" AKA "The Dragon the hero" this is his best as the lead player. Huang jang lee (Silver Fox) is awesome as well. The fight at the end is one of the best hand to fist combat scenes I have ever witnessed. Take a look tell me what you think.

Average customer rating:

The definite bible of Tiger-Crane form

Tiger and Crane Shaolin Kung Fu
Starring: Tiger & Crane Shaolin Kung Fu
Manufacturer: Cav Distribution
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Tiger-Crane Form of Hung Gar Kung-Fu (Literary Links to the Orient)
The Shaolin Workout: 28 Days to Transforming Your Body and Soul the Warrior's Way

ASIN: B0000A2ZQL
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Customer Reviews:

The definite bible of Tiger-Crane form.......2007-05-01

This is the definite video bible of the Tiger-Crane Paired Form performed by a younger Chiu Chi Ling, the reigning Grand Master of the Wong Fei-Hung branch of Hung Gar. The production value is quite high, particularly for a martial arts instruction video.

DVD:

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