Shogun Assassin

Originally a Manga (comic)

Lone Wolf And Cub

Released in 1980, Shogun Assassin was actually compiled from two parts of a Japanese series called "Lone Wolf And Cub", which was re-edited together and dubbed from Japanese into English by Robert Houston, after the rights were bought by David Weisman, an American film producer and director. The original story came from a Japanese manga (comic) series from the 1970s, created by the writer Kazuo Koike and the artist Goseki Kojima, the story was adapted into six films, four plays, and a television series. 

This movie is relentless in its depiction of a samurai's avenging blade, as limbs are decapitated and fountains of blood flow all the way through the movie. When this movie arrived in the U.K in 1983 it was labelled a "video nasty" and went through some controversy involving the bloody violence, which lead to copies being seized but the prosecution attempt was later dropped and the movie was given a 18 certificate in a pre-cut and re-release in 1992. I must say the fight scenes were very well executed in this movie, and yes i meant that in every sense of the word, and as the movie gets straight to the nitty gritty from the opening scene's, i expected nothing less from a film called Shogun Assassin. Since both Lone Wolf and cub (father and child) never really had much of a dialogue in this movie, the somewhat eerie child voice of Lone wolf's cub, narrates both he's and his fathers journey through out the movie, coupled with the electronic scoring, both elements added some originality and zest to the film. A cult classic amongst moviegoers and matial arts fans alike, this movie is basically about an assassin for hire on the run from his former paranoid boss after his wife was murdererd by his bosses ninja's who were sent to kill him also, after winning his freedom by killing his bosses son in a duel, Lone Wolf still has to watch his back at every turn since his former boss the Shogun is still after him. A scene that offers some nail biting suspence was when Lone Wolf offers his child a life or death choice through either choosing a ball or a sword, which would determine whether he will join his mother in the after life or go on with his father, that was a edgy moment amongst other scenes in which the child proves himself to be his fathers son everytime.

Many of the lines from this movie are sampled by hip-hop artist and Wu-Tang Clan member the GZA on his 1995 album "Liquid Swords", which was the first time i heard about "Shogun Assassin".

 

Gza's Liquid Swords album cover

Synopsis and trailer 

Ogami Ittō, better known as "Lone Wolf" (Tomisaburô Wakayama), is the Shogun's former top executioner, who is forced to become an assassin after his wife is murdered by the shogun's ninja's. He travels throughout the land with his son Daigorō in a cart and together they seek revenge against the Shogun. They are known as the "Lone Wolf and Cub".

Directed by: Robert Houston
Produced by: Shintaro Katsu, Robert Houston
Written by: Bobby Houston
Based on: Lone Wolf and Cub by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima
Starring: Tomisaburo Wakayama, Kayo Matsuo, Minoru Ôki
Shôgen Nitta, Shin Kishida, Akihiro Tomikawa
Music by: Hideaki Sakurai
Cinematography: Chishi Makiura
Edited by: Lee Percy, Toshio Taniguchi
Distributed by: Toho

Release dates: November 11, 1980

Running time: 1hr 29mins

A Chinese Ghost Story (1987)

This classic 1987 Hong Kong release was the first time i saw a movie of it's type, a action, horror, romantic comedy, and boy was it a work of cinematic greatness. It starts of as a funny script with lots of humour and then incorporates the martial arts sword fighting action shortly after, followed by the horror and romantic elements, with all that mixed together you get the enjoyable visual cocktail that is, A Chinese Ghost Story. This movie was so popular, it won a few awards, was followed by two sequels, an animated film, a television series, a 2011 remake and also sparked the trend of folklore ghost films in the Hong Kong film industry. A Chinese Ghost Story had some very impressive horror elements, especially one in particular, in the form of a giant tongue belonging to the 1000-year old tree demon, which is so grotesque and horrid it will make you shiver, also the spirit of the sexy suductress that lead unsuspecting men to their doom is also a nice touch, plus other spooky stuff. The fight scenes were very well choreographed, from the jumping sword fights to the use of supernatural powers, the giant tongue i mentioned earliar also as a few fight scenes. The romantic sequences work well in this movie with its comedic antics and cute aww moments between the enchanting spirit, played by Joey Wong, and the lead role, played by Hong Kong superstar Leslie Cheung. Years later, Cheung unfortunately committed suicide due to depression on 1 April 2003 by jumping off the 24th floor of a Hong Kong hotel, Cheung left behind some memorable moments as a musician and actor, including this masterpiece, A Chinese Ghost Story.

Synopsis and trailer

  

In this martial arts film, Ning Choi-san (Leslie Cheung), a traveling tax collector, takes shelter for the night in an abandoned temple. When he meets the lovely maiden Nip Siu-sin (Joey Wong), Ning immediately falls for her. Unfortunately, Ning later discovers that she is a ghost who is forced to serve a cruel demon, and he resolves to save her from the evil spirit. Enlisting the aid of Taoist warrior Yin Chik-hsia (Ma Wu), Ning ventures into a supernatural realm to save Nip's soul. 

Directed by: Ching Siu-tung
Produced by: Tsui Hark
Screenplay by: Yun Kai-chi
Story by: Pu Songling
Starring: Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong, Wu Ma
Music by: Romeo Diaz, James Wong, David Wu
Cinematography: Poon Hang-sang, Tom Lau, Sander Lee, Horace Wong
Edited by: Cinema City Production Co. Ltd. Editing Unit
Production company: Film Workshop, Cinema City
Distributed by: Media Asia (previous) Fortune Star (current), Hong Kong Legends (UK), Metropolitan Films (FR)
Release dates: 18 July 1987
Running time: 1hr 38mins

Armour Of God

Released in 1986, Armour Of God was one of the first movies i saw of Jackie Chan, who wrote, directed and starred in what can be considered as one of his best works, not only does it have some of the best fight scenes in martial arts movie history, it can also be compared to a chinese Indiana Jones type movie, that takes you on spectacular adventure. Although Armour Of God might look dated nowadays, its still a good watch, for the great stunts, fight scenes and comedy aspects that Jackie Chan delivers well to the screen, which almost cost him his life, as he fell and hit his head on a rock whiles filming a stunt, this is why most of the movies middle part were more of a romantic comedy because production had to wait for Jackie to recover for the action scenes, and boy did he deliver in the end with an epic fight scene with four women, which is one of the best fight scenes ever in movie history, so look out for that.

Synopsis and trailer

Jackie, a.k.a. "Asian Hawk" (Jackie Chan), is a former musician who becomes an adventurer and treasure hunter, Jackie reunites with his former band mate Alan (Alan Tam), who seeks his help as his girlfriend Lorelei (Rosamund Kwan) has been kidnapped by an evil religious cult as a means of acquiring Jackie's services. The cult possesses two pieces of a legendary armour called the "Armour of God", and they intend to have Jackie bring them the three remaining armour pieces.

Directed by: Jackie Chan, Eric Tsang

Produced by: Leonard Ho, Chua Lam

Written by: Jackie Chan, John Sheppard, Eric Tsang

Starring: Jackie Chan, Alan Tam, Lola Forner, Rosamund Kwan

Music by: Michael Lai, Tang Siu Lam

Cinematography: Peter Ngor, Robert Thompson, Arthur Wong, Cheung Yiu Cho

Edited by: Peter Cheung

Production company: Golden Harvest, Goldenway Films Ltd.
Distributed by: Golden Harvest, Media Asia

Running time: 1hr 37mins

Release dates: 1986 (Japan)

21 January 1987 (Hong Kong)

District 13

District 13 or Banlieue 13 as known in France is a 2004 action packed movie that introduces parkour (freerunning) to the movie world and does not hold any punches with its intense fight scenes and enemy evasiveness using techniques and movements from the phisical activity known as parkour. The term ‘Parkour’ was first introduced by one of its co-founders David Belle in 1998, Belle also stars in this adrenaline filled movie in which he can be seen all the way through performing amazing skills in parkour making this movie unique and ground breaking to the point that the American rapper, actor and director Rza (Wu Tang Clan) decided to remake it in 2014 with the title Brick Mansions which also stars David Bell alongside the late Paul Walker. Before its American remake the original had a sequel called District 13: Ultimatum which came out in 2009. Theres enough for any action junkie in this movie and if you like parkour its an extra, i mean why would'nt you, even if it is only from a spectators point, its still breathtaking, so sit back and take a ride thhrough District 13.

Official synopsis and trailer

“ In 21st-century Paris, a member (Cyril Raffaelli) of an elite police squad must enter a crime-ridden ghetto to defuse a bomb that has fallen into the hands of Taha (Larbi Naceri), a powerful hoodlum. The cop joins forces with a civilian (David Belle) who must rescue his sister (Dany Verissimo) from the same criminal who holds the bomb.”

This movie was written and produced by the critically acclaimed, award winning french director Luc Besson and see's the directorial debut of Pierre Morel who directed Taken.


Directed by: Pierre Morel
Produced by: Luc Besson, Bernard Grenet
Written by: Luc Besson, Bibi Naceri
Starring: David Belle, Cyril Raffaelli, Dany Verissimo, Bibi Naceri
Tony D'Amario
Running time: 1hr 26mins
Country: France
Language: French   
Release dates: 10 November 2004 (France)

Besouro Mangangá

This movie Besouro (beetle) tells the amazing story of the legendary capoeira fighter Manoel Henrique Pereira, who would eventually become the icon Besouro Mangangá. The movie's story begins in 1920s Brazil when slavery has been abolished but in the poor town of Bahia the plantations are still run by men who hold the local population as slaves. When his capoeira master is murdered by the evil Col. Venancio, Besouro wages a one-man war against the colonel and his men and even against death itself. This movie artistically incorporates the Brazilian martial arts capoeira with African spiritual systems and delivers it in a well choreographed way by Ku Huen-Chiu of 'Crouching Tiger', 'Matrix' and 'Kill Bill'. Despite the fact that this movie follows the typical clichè of matial arts movies about a student avenging his teacher, it still works, and although i would have also liked to have seen more action scenes from the choreographer, the ones we do see are great. Known as 'The Assailant' in English speaking countries, Besouro was directed by João Daniel Tikhormiroff and came out in 2009.

Acion scene from Besouro

Here's the trailer

 

Follow this link for more on Besouro Mangangá

More on Capoeira

Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics and music, and is sometimes referred to as a game It was developed in Brazil mainly by West African descendents with native Brazilian influences, probably beginning in the 16th century, capoeira today is now an intangible cultural heritage of Brazil.

The music in capoeira sets the tempo and style of game that is to be played within the roda (circle). The music is formed by instruments and singing. The main instrument called berimbau, controls the rhythm with a tempo that differ from very slow to very fast, depending on the style of the roda. Two capoeiristas enter the roda and play the game according to the style required by the musical instruments rhythm.

Musical inatruments used in Capoeira

Roda (circle)

 

Capoeira is a unique art form for the fact that it can either be described as martial arts, a dance, or a game. In a sense, Capoeira is to Brazil what Parkour is to France and Thai Boxing is to Thailand.

Here's how Capoeira looks when put against another form of martial arts, in this scene from a movie called Tom-Yum-Goong or as known in North America ‘The Protector’ we see a Capoeiraista called Lateef Crowder Make an appearance.

Follow this link for more on Capoeira

Initial release: October 30, 2009 (Brazil)
Language: Portugese (English subtitles)

Director: João Daniel Tikhomiroff

Written by: Patrícia Andrade Bráulio Tavares
João Daniel Tikhomiroff

Running time: 1h 35m

Initial DVD release: February 10, 2010 (Brazil)

Music composed by: Pupillo, Rica Amabis, Tejo Damasceno