"Actor: Mo Chun Chen"

• Evil Cult | DVD | (02/06/2003) from £4.99   |  Saving you £1.00 (20.04%)   |  RRP £5.99

  The Evil Cult (aka "Lord of the Wu Tang") is a wildly and wacky supernatural epic in which Jet Li masquerades as Mo-kei, a weakling warrior orphaned as a child when his parents are killed by two evil Jinx warlords. Chased out of the Wu Tang compound by a leader who considers him a liability, Mo-kei (and his female protectress) find themselves trapped in a dark abyss where they stumble upon a "cooking monk" trapped in a massive boulder who holds the secret to a lost form of Shaolin kung fu. They trick him into teaching Mo-kei the secret of his "solar stance". Newly empowered, Mo-kei sets off to find his maternal grandfather, King of the Gold Lion (de facto leader of the Evil Cult), to rally his clan with the Wu Tang in order to defeat the stifling government forces and exact revenge on the terrible Jinxes. Martial Law's Sammo Hung appears as Chang San Fung, Tai Chi Master of the Wu Tang clan (Hung also choreographed the action sequences for this film). Director Wong Jing (who also helmed the God of Gamblers series, Hard Boiled 2, and Return to a Better Tomorrow) just about keeps a handle on the plot and ably directs the stunning action sequences, some of which occur on battlefields swarming with soldiers. On the DVD: the main feature is presented in letterboxed format with original Cantonese dialogue and English subtitles. The print is generally of good quality but afflicted with blemishes and white flecks throughout. The subtitles are clear but their awkward translation and speed of transition serve at times to make an already convoluted plot harder to understand. It's a shame that an option to listen to a dubbed soundtrack wasn't added as the dubbed theatrical trailer (included here) enhances the daffiness of the movie. Other extras include comprehensive cast and crew filmographies and a small selection of stills. --Chris Campion

• Island On Fire | DVD | (22/05/2000) from £8.97   |  Saving you £-2.98 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Island on Fire is, as the trailer says, "five films in one!". Despite the packaging headlining Jackie Chan this violent modern-day prison drama is an ensemble piece with Chan, a pool-player in prison for accidentally stabbing a man to death, on screen for no more than a quarter of the 92 minutes. Anyone buying this as a Chan movie may be seriously disappointed, for apart from the brevity of his role there is no trademark Chan humour. Also in the brutal and corrupt prison is Andy Lau, an undercover cop searching for the murderer of his professor, and Sammo Hung offering comedy and pathos as an inmate who keeps escaping to visit his son. There are many more characters, together with one subplot involving a mouse which anticipates The Green Mile (1999) and another concerning an assassination conspiracy which parallels Nikita, also released in 1990. Island of Fire is an uneven, always entertaining, sometimes moving film which packs an incredible amount of incident into its running time. However, it should be noted that it is an imitation of, rather than an official entry in, Ringo Lam's Fire series, which includes Prison on Fire (1987) and City on Fire (1987). On the DVD: The anamorphically enhanced 1.77-1 picture is a very good transfer of a rather grainy print, though given the many darkly lit scenes, this grain is probably part of the original film. The mono sound is fine. The film can be watched with the original Mandarin soundtrack and English subtitles, or with a much better than average English dub. The packaging claims there are over 60 minutes of extras. In fact there are nine deleted/extended scenes of variable quality, the best of which give more emotional depth to Sammo Hung's character, together with video interviews with Sammo Hung, Jimmy Wong Yu and director Chu Yen Ping. These total around 20 minutes and are interesting but not specific to the film. Also included is the theatrical trailer, Hong Kong Legends' own "music promo" trailer and eight trailers for further releases. There is also a six-page "animated" biography of Jackie Chan. --Gary S Dalkin

• Island Of Fire | DVD | (02/10/2000) from £10.25   |  Saving you £11.00 (122.36%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Island on Fire is, as the trailer says, "five films in one!". Despite the packaging headlining Jackie Chan this violent modern-day prison drama is an ensemble piece with Chan, a pool-player in prison for accidentally stabbing a man to death, on screen for no more than a quarter of the 92 minutes. Anyone buying this as a Chan movie may be seriously disappointed, for apart from the brevity of his role there is no trademark Chan humour. Also in the brutal and corrupt prison is Andy Lau, an undercover cop searching for the murderer of his professor, and Sammo Hung offering comedy and pathos as an inmate who keeps escaping to visit his son. There are many more characters, together with one subplot involving a mouse which anticipates The Green Mile (1999) and another concerning an assassination conspiracy which parallels Nikita, also released in 1990. Island of Fire is an uneven, always entertaining, sometimes moving film which packs an incredible amount of incident into its running time. However, it should be noted that it is an imitation of, rather than an official entry in, Ringo Lam's Fire series, which includes Prison on Fire (1987) and City on Fire (1987). On the DVD: The anamorphically enhanced 1.77-1 picture is a very good transfer of a rather grainy print, though given the many darkly lit scenes, this grain is probably part of the original film. The mono sound is fine. The film can be watched with the original Mandarin soundtrack and English subtitles, or with a much better than average English dub. The packaging claims there are over 60 minutes of extras. In fact there are nine deleted/extended scenes of variable quality, the best of which give more emotional depth to Sammo Hung's character, together with video interviews with Sammo Hung, Jimmy Wong Yu and director Chu Yen Ping. These total around 20 minutes and are interesting but not specific to the film. Also included is the theatrical trailer, Hong Kong Legends' own "music promo" trailer and eight trailers for further releases. There is also a six-page "animated" biography of Jackie Chan. --Gary S Dalkin

• The Crane Fighter | DVD | (19/05/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Old school martial arts from the Far East. The lovely but deadly Judy Lee stars as the Crane fighter who teams up with the debonair Kung fu kid Raymond Liu to overthrow the evil Manchu warlords who have taken over Canton. Superb action direction and direction from Raymond Liu a firm favourite with kung fu fans world wide.

• Ancient Art Of Monkey Kung-Fu | DVD | (15/03/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  All followers of the martial arts continually attempt to improve their skills. In this action packed Kung Fu comedy our hero learns the difficult style of Monkey Kung Fu from an old master. Through countless bloody Kung Fu encounters he finally becomes the expert who defeats his enemies...an entertaining film mixing action with humour.

• Unleashed/Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon/Kung Fu Hustle | DVD | (02/10/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Unleashed: Serve no master. Written and produced by Luc Besson and directed by Louis Leterrier Unleashed features a fantastic performance from martial arts superstar Jet Li. On and beneath the mean streets of Glasgow fiery gangster Bart (Hoskins) is merciless with debtors would-be rivals and anyone else he takes a passing dislike to. Bart maintains his stranglehold through his unwitting enforcer Danny (Jet Li) who he has 'raised' since boyhood. Danny has been kept as a near-prisoner: trained to attack and if necessary kill. Danny knows little of life except the brutal existence that Bart has so cruelly fashioned for him. However when Danny has a chance encounter with the sightless piano tuner Sam (Morgan Freeman) he senses true kindness and compassion for the first time and experiences the transforming power of music. When a sudden gangland coup separates Danny from Bart and the gang Danny escapes the underworld. Taking refuge with Sam and his stepdaughter Victoria (Kerry Condon) Danny finds a family of sorts and a future... However the mob will not give up their prize asset so easily and Danny must soon call upon his skills once more to protect his family and bury his past. (Dir. Louis Leterrier 2005) Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Amazing martial arts fighting sequences (choreographed by Yuen wo Ping - The Matrix) stunning special effects action adventure and romance have made Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon the most talked about movie of the year. Martial arts masters Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) and Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) battle against evil forces to recover their stolen sword the legendary Green Destiny. (Dir. Ang Lee 2000) Kung Fu Hustle: From walking disaster to Kung Fu master: it's a new comedy unlike anything you have seen before! In the 1940's Chinese province of Guangdong petty thief Sing (Stephen Chow) aspires to become a member of the notorious Axe gang the fiercest cruel and most widespread crime syndicate in the city. However Sing is just a street rascal (trying to ignore the fact that his heart is actually in the right place) and so he ventures into the run-down Pig Sty Alley to prove his worth. However in attempting to extort money from the hairdresser Sing unwittingly exposes the plump landlady her hen-pecked husband the camp tailor and rugged coolie as martial arts masters in hiding. Coming to the attention of the Axe gang who want to clear out the apartments Sing's actions have set off a relentless chain of events that brings the clans together in an explosive battle! Stephen Chow continues his unique comedy style that first came to the attention of the West in Shaolin Soccer mixing slapstick in the finest tradition of Buster Keaton; to marvellous martial arts choreographed by none other than Yuen Woo-ping (The Matrix Kill Bill); to dance sequences with tuxedoed gangsters; to moments of genuine pathos concerning Sing's mysterious history involving a beautiful mute lollipop vendor... (Dir. Stephen Chow 2004)