Sonny Chiba is the consummate bad ass. The film kicks off with mafia terrorists hijacking a Japan Airlines flight to off our hero. Of course, Chiba thwarts their attempts, killing five mobsters with his bare hands with a lit cigarette hanging precariously from his mouth. After his midair heroics, Chiba holds a press conference announcing his intention to wipe out the nation’s narcotics industry. He also offers his services as a bodyguard to anyone who is willing to come forward and provide information about the drug lords activities.
He is soon approached by a mysterious woman claiming to have important information and asking for Chiba’s protection. She seems to be legitimate, but is she really what she appears to be?
In case you were wondering why the opening monologue sounded so familiar, it was quoted liberally by Samuel L Jackson’s character in Pulp Fiction.
“The path of the righteous man and defender is beset on all sides by the iniquity of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper, and the father of lost children. And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious anger, who poison and destroy my brothers; and they shall know that I am Chiba the Bodyguard when I shall lay my vengeance upon them!” Thomas DiSanto
Kung Fu Movies Also known as Chinese Super Ninjas, the great Cheh Chang writes and directs this amazing entry into his sublime cannon of Kung Fu Movies. This cult classic was produced by Shaw Brothers Studios and stars Tien-chi Cheng and Meng Lo along with Shaw Brother’s regulars Wai-Man Chan and Pei Hsi Chen. Five [...]
This film ranks as #9 on the Hong Kong Film Awards Best 100 Chinese motion pictures of all time and is one of two King Hu films to make the top ten. This Kung Fu classic is a very unusual entry into the cannon of Kung Fu movies and has often been imitated. Thematically, ‘A [...]
Produced by the Shaw Brothers, The One-Armed Swordsman would help define Chang Cheh as a premier director with his own eclectic blend of Japanese-style action, western rebelliousness and Chinese wuxia heroes. This film would not only be the first film to break the 1 million dollar box office barrier in Hong Kong, but it would [...]
This is arguably Jackie Chan’s best movie and truly exemplary of his unique ability to combine Bruce Lee martial acumen with three stooges-like humor. Director Yuen Woo-Ping really brings out the best in Chan and this film is one of his finest performances, setting the bar for all films to come. The plot centers on [...]
This is considered by most aficionados to be the first great Kung Fu genre film to come out of Hong Kong in the 1960′s and is most certainly a great film by any standard. Produced by the inimitable Shaw Brothers and written and directed by King Hu, this film is an absolute technical masterpiece that [...]
This is one seriously bad ass Shaw Brother’s classic that will totally blow you away. This film easily ranks as one of the top 10 Kung Fu Movie classics, and has influenced many of the films that came after. The venerable Chang Cheh directs this unintentional masterpiece and stars Kuan Tai Chen, Feng Lu and [...]
A sequel to the International smash hit “Ip Man”, Wilson Yip takes another turn in the directors chair and Donnie Yen reprises his role as the title character, Ip Man. Picking up right where the first film left off, the sequel centers on Ip’s life in Hong Kong, which is under British colonial rule. Newly [...]
This is Donnie Yen’s breakout performance and one incredible Kung Fu movie. The plot, fight choreography, setting, cinematography, overall production value and performances are superb. When Ip Man’s son, Ip Chun, saw the movie for the first time he was exuberant, and it’s no wonder. Donnie Yen inhabits this movie like he was possessed by [...]
This wonderful film serves as a loose sequel to 1977′s Executioners from Shaolin, but the film is technically more of a remake. I know what you’re thinking: How can they re-make a film 1 year after it’s release? Let me assure you: With Shaw Brothers Studios producing, Liu Chia Hiu (otherwise known as Gordon Liu [...]