Dean Routledge

I have to say I was really looking forward to seeing this flick. I really enjoyed the original Manga animated versions, even though I am not a real anime fan. I was hoping the big screen effort would pay off and that we may have a new classic in the genre. I saw the movie on video as soon as it was released, and even though I thoroughly enjoyed, something was missing. I still can't quite put my finger on it. Don't misunderstand me, it is beautifully filmed, there is great dialogue and it has super action sequences...but I still felt that something wasn't quite hitting the mark for me. That was my personal opinion.

Do watch it for yourself though. I have to state that the acting was very above average for a film like Crying Freeman and I think, that in the right hands, Mark Dacascus could be a real star in the making.

I had mixed feelings about viewing Blade...I desperately didn't want to believe the hype for fear that I may be disappointed. Thankfully, the hype was on the mark for once. Blade is probably one of the best action/horror crossovers I've seen to date. I generally find that when a filmaker tries to combine two different genres they always tend to lean slightly more to one side than the other. In Blade this is not the case. A superb blend of both the aforementioned categories adds up to a rollercoaster movie which picks up momentum and doesn't halt for a moment. This combined with excellent character development makes what was a good film into something alot more. The cast are great, Snipes is particularly deadpan as the hero, and its always good to see Kristofferson in a movie. Dorff is simply terrific as the archvillain and the supporting actors do the movie proud. The production design is lavish with a great dark side to it and the costumes and special effects are just right. Not too much, not too little. Couple this with a good script and sub-plots....voila!....instant great Saturday night movie.

Shogun Assassin is the amalgamation of the Lone Wolf and Cub movies which in turn are based on the Japanese popular comic books.

The plot of the film revolves around the shoguns chief executioner and his son. The shogun goes insane and orders him killed. He sends assassins who, when they don't find him kill his wife instead thus sending him on a cold blooded road of revenge. The lone wolf (as he is called) now wanders the countryside pushing his young son in his wooden pram (which is armed to the hilt!), taking any jobs as a hired killer he can find on the way.

The fight scenes are like mini ballets with copious amounts of fake blood which is comical to say the least, but the swordplay is fabulous. You literally marvel at the way he carves through armies of enemies. Another charming feature of the movies is the constant narrative by his young son and many of the less violent moments of the film are often quite touching concerning the relationship between the father and son.

A great action film which is now available after many years on the banned list. One to watch.....

Even though it is more than 25 years since Enter the Dragon was first released, to this day it is still hailed as the landmark of martial arts films.

Used primarily as a vehicle for the late, great Bruce Lee this movie has a thin plot, little actual character development and the acting isn't fantastic.....it was never meant to be another Citizen Kane. Its merit lies purely in the action content. If you were to ask any learned martial artist I'm sure that 9 out of 10 would tell you that the fight sequences are unparalleled, even today. The fluidity of Lee is astounding. Unlike most martial arts films of that time the fighting is very realistic, and has a somewhat visceral quality. There is also the use of traditional Oriental weapons (nunchaku, escrima sticks, etc..), although the British censors in their wisdom have seen fit the cut the nunchaku sequence, and I'm afraid, like any censored movie, it just isn't the same watching when you know you aren't getting the full monty, so to speak.

Still, on the whole one of my personal favourites and a must see for any action or seventies film fan. If you get the opportunity see the remastered American version with added footage....I've got one,envy me!!!

Personally my favourite Kurosawa movie and obviously one of his more influential works. The story centres itself around a Ronin (Toshiro Mifune), and how he spends his time moving back and forth between two rival gangs in a small village. I'm sure you know the plot by now (we've all seen "A Fistful of Dollars"), but the points that really stand out for me are performances and the incredible use of light and shadow by Kurosawa. The film has some absolute gems as far as classic scenes are concerned. I mean who has not seen a dog in a movie running down a road with a hand in its mouth? It's been used a number of times but once again it was Kurosawa who sowed the seed.

The film is full of humour, but at the same time carries a certain seriousness, and we get to see the full scope of Mifune's acting ability. The action scenes are as always superb, quite often over before you can visually digest what has happened and they constantly have you reaching for the rewind button.

Breathtaking.

It's difficult to really appreciate this movie by today's standards when you can turn your channel to any film station and see "Die Hard" or a movie by John Woo. What viewers seldom realise is that this is the movie that set the action standard! Huge majestic sweeping scenes, incredible camera work and a visceral use of movement, sound and shadow. Even now you can watch any movie by one of the great action directors of our generation - Cameron, the Scott brothers, McTiernan etc - and pick very small homages to Kurosawa and this masterpiece of cinema.

A simple plot in itself - a village needs protection against bandits and finds it in the shape of seven warriors - easy enough? The real strength of the movie lies in each of the separate characters own personalities. From clown-like to serious, the full scope is covered. The other strong points include some of the most breathtakingly realistic action sequences ever put on celluloid and an equally incredible finale complete with final statement concluding that the time of the samurai is over, (especially watch for the warrior who symbollically throws away his sword before his death).

A must see, but make sure you get to the full uncut 3 and a quarter hour version.

A film truly worthy of the term "seminal".