[5.75/10] Tai Chi Hero (2012)

Tai Chi Hero (2012)

Brief review: After the recently released martial arts caper, "Tai Chi Zero", here comes the second installment in the franchise, that promises even more silly fun and crazy fights. Sadly though, the director obviously didn't save the best for last, because compared to its totally refreshing predecessor, "Tai Chi Hero" is a bit of a let down. The story about the origin of Tai Chi fighting style is even more unfocused and less action-packed this time around, and full not-so-interesting back stories, that muddle the plot even more.Also, its clever tag line says 'from zero to hero', but unfortunately, it's more like 'from goofy fun to unnecessary seriousness', which automatically makes this sequel less enjoyable than the wacky "Tai Chi 0". Having said that, the film still has its moments of cheeky humor and slapstick comedy, as well as video game references such as pop-up 'vs.' titles and cartoon-like special effects, plus, it kind of redeems itself in the final act, thanks to the final 'stair rail' fight sequence between Yang Lu Chan and the protector, which is executed to sheer perfection, as well as super-exciting and fun to watch. That being said, this extraordinary action scene is not enough to save the film from being average at best. Angelababy is pretty to look at, and Yuan Xiaochao continues to impress as the protagonist, but it's Tony Leung Ka Fai as Master Chen that gives the most charismatic performance here.

Overall summary: Neither as quirky, nor as funny, nor as inventive as the original, Fung's "Tai Chi Hero" has one true highlight, namely the astonishing final fight scene, but apart from that, this so-so sequel barely delivers the big fun and non-stop action its predecessor did.

[6.75/10] Tai Chi Zero (2012)

Tai Chi Zero (2012)

Brief review: Self-proclaimed as a steampunk kung-fu flick, "Tai Chi Zero" is HK director Stephen Fung's latest film, shot back-to-back with the following sequel, "Tai Chi Hero". Right from the very beginning, particularly the hilarious back story presented as a silent, black and whine film, you could tell that "Tai Chi Zero" will be a quirky, goofy fun, and it turns out exactly that. Sure, it's a bit silly and the story itself is nothing special, but who cares, considering all the delightful craziness happening on screen. Visually,  "Tai Chi Zero" looks like a mash-up of styles and techniques, that feels refreshing and unique in its own way. It's like watching an authentic old-school kung fu film turned into a video game, with a hint of Western influence. The legendary Sammo Hung can do no wrong, and he proves that yet again with his fight choreography, which is imaginative without being too over-the-top. The videogame-ish action scenes are fun, edgy, smartly-executed and accompanied with an outstanding wire-work, and "King Fu Hustle"-like cartoonish special effects. "Tai Chi 0" also celebrates the acting debut of Yuan Xiaochao as the lead character Yang Lu Chan, and what a great debut it is. Although, he barely shines with any remarkable acting abilities, his strong screen presence combined with his enviable martial arts skills will make you rooting for his likable character. The rest of the cast is good too.

Overall summary: Slightly goofy and generally all over the place, yet entertaining and conceptually innovating, "Tai Chi Zero" never take itself seriously, plus, its clever visual approach and creatively-choreographed fight sequences leave you craving for the upcoming sequel.

[6.50/10] The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)

The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)

Brief review: Driven by his gigantic passion for Chinese martial arts, Wu-Tang Clan leader and actor, RZA, finally makes his directing debut, giving us "The Man with the Iron Fists" - a semi-successful martial arts fantasy flick for western tastes, that is heavy on action, but very light on plot. The story, narrated rather poorly by RZA himself, is unnecessarily complicated,  confusing, and not particularly original, and as a result the film feels forced and all over the place. RZA's inspiration from old-school kung-fu films is obvious, but he also gives the movie a modern edge in order to mix things up. He may be a lazy narrator and sub-par director, but RZA certainly has taste for visual panache, and that shows through the movie's lavish overall look and strong production values. The action sequences are frenetic and highly-stylized, complemented by first-rate wire-work, and featuring a surprising amount of violence and gore. The choreography by the legendary Corey Yuen is very creative, though at times, there's too much going on on the screen, and that combined with the choppy editing, makes the fights a bit hard to follow, if still thrillingly spectacular. There are far too many characters in the movie, none of which is particularly memorable. The colorful, international cast including Lucy Liu, Russell Crowe, and Dave Bautista do their best with the given material, but it is the mediocre script that doesn't let them shine.

Overall summary: It's wildly uneven, and overstuffed with characters, and the weak plot is just an excuse for some over-the-top action scenes, but "The Man with the Iron Fists" still can be fully enjoyed for what it is -  a visually stimulating martial arts extravaganza for grown-ups.

[10/10] The Raid (2012)

The Raid (2012)

Brief review: Gareth Evans' "The Raid" may have a simple premise, but its plot works perfectly, and that combined with the slick execution, leaves a big impact on the viewer. Why? Because "The Raid" is the real deal! It starts off at a frenetic pace and never lets go, quickly turning itself into a shockingly brutal, ultra-violent, tense and thrilling adrenaline rush of a movie, that features some of the best action scenes ever put on film. Just when you think there's no chance for the next fight scene to top the last, it happens, and that proves Evans' out-of-this-world skills as a director and his ability to deliver a progressively mind-blowing action. Considering the movie's low budget, the technical quality of "The Raid" exceeds expectations big time. Evans' truly innovative direction features an impressive variety of camera angles, razor-sharp editing and camera movements so vigorous, they'll spin your head off. The big, old, dark, filthy building is the ideal setting for the hard-edged story, the amazing soundtrack and crisp sound effects match the high-octane intensity of the film, and the bluish, almost violet, tint of the cinematography has a subtle stylishness about it, that takes the film's visuals to another level. Although there's very little character development the main character, Rama, played by Indonesian martial artist Iko Uwais, is so brave, bold, good-hearted and likable, you can't help but fall for his character.

Overall summary: With its masterfully choreographed and executed action sequences, heart-pounding pacing, inventive direction and highly stylized visuals, Evans' "The Raid: Redemption" is sheer brilliance, and the ultimate cinematic ecstasy pill for every true action junkie.

[8.50/10] Wu Xia a.k.a. Dragon (2011)

Wu Xia a.k.a.
Dragon (2011)

QuickRating: Although its story is somewhat similar to 2010's wuxia phenomenon "Reign of Assassins", Peter Chan's "Wu Xia" is still an engrossing, skilfully choreographed, masterfully directed and visually fascinating martial arts drama, that truly captivates the viewer with its compelling characters, gorgeous scenery and strong script, and showcases Donnie Yen in top form, both acting-wise and fighting-wise.

[7.25/10] The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011)

The Flying Swords of
Dragon Gate (2011)

QuickRating: It's overstuffed with characters, the pacing is uneven and Jet Li is wildly underused, but "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" makes up for its lack of coherence with spectacular sandy scenery, amazing costumes, and frenetic, wonderfully-choreographed action sequences, that while a little heavy on CGI and somewhat cartoonish, are exciting and entertaining to watch as is the movie itself.

[6.00/10] The Sorcerer and the White Snake (2011)

The Sorcerer and
the White Snake (2011)

Brief review: Based on an old Chinese legend, Ching Siu-Tung's latest CGI-driven kung fu fantasy "The Sorcerer and the White Snake" suffers from a weak narrative and silly script, and tries to blend too many different genres unsuccessfully, but it still manages to entertain the viewer, thanks to some spectacular set-pieces and a bunch of quirky characters. Jet Li is a bit bland and emotionless as Abott Fahai, but he proves yet again what an amazing martial artist he truly is. Shengyi Huangand is a bit over-dramatic, and yet she delivers as the White Snake, and the rest of the cast do an okay job. Ching Siu-Tung is undoubtedly one of the best and most creative fight choreographers on the planet, but his directing skills are rather questionable. He tries to achieve a bigger effect by throwing too many things on the screen, and jumping too much from one camera angle to another, and as a result his direction ends up being a bit of a mess. The action sequences are CGI-laden and too over-the-top, yet nicely-choreographed and exciting to watch, and the special effects range from impressive to lame. Some of the settings are absolutely stunning, and the cinematography is sharp, vivid and colorful, which makes the film very appealing, visually.

Overall summary: Goofy, plotless and overly-sentimental, yet visually-fascinating and filled with thrilling action sequences, "The Sorcerer and the White Snake" falls flat on its face in terms of storytelling, but still succeeds as an entertaining and enjoyable martial arts fantasy flick.

[5.50/10] The Lost Bladesman (2011)

The Lost Bladesman (2011)

QuickRating: Aside from a few stunning shots and a couple of thrilling, marvellously choreographed fight scenes, "The Lost Bladesman" is an incoherent, clumsily-paced and visually-unimpressive martial arts flick that can be easily considered a misfire, due to its unimaginative script, messy narrative, lackluster execution and Donnie Yen's surprisingly weak and emotionless performance as Guan Yu.

[5.00/10] The Warrior's Way (2010)

The Warrior's Way (2010)

Brief review: Although in itself "Warrior's Way" is an Eastern movie made for Western tastes, first-time Korean director Sngmoo Lee struggles to find the balance between those two cultures, and as a result, his martial arts/western/fantasy hybrid fails to deliver a satisfying story. Also, for a film called "Warrior's Way", the movie doesn't provide enough action to justify its title. With the exception of the fast-paced opening sequence and the action-heavy final act, "Warrior's Way" is more of a romantic movie rather than a true martial arts flick. The fights themselves are nicely-choreographed and the wire-work is passable, but the action scenes are either shot in slow-motion or too fast to follow. However, in terms of visuals the film succeeds vastly, despite some cheesy CGI work, as it has some truly spectacular settings, and a vivid, almost artsy cinematography that pleases the eye. Korean star Jang Dong-gun plays the lead character Yang, and although his martial arts skills are undoubtedly impressive, he turns in an unbelievably dull and uncharismatic performance. Kate Bosworth definitely has the looks, but her acting abilities are rather questionable. Unsurprisingly, the great Geoffrey Rush steals the show as the cool drunkard, Ron.

Overall summary: Aside from some truly gorgeous settings, colorful cinematography and a few thrillingly-choreographed and nicely-shot action sequences, "Warrior's Way" is a poorly-acted, joyless misfire, that barely lives up to its promising title. Nice try, Sngmoo Lee!

[7.25/10] Sucker Punch (2011)

Sucker Punch (2011)

Full review: Zack Snyder, the visionary director of "Watchmen" and the astounding "300", brings his latest visual extravaganza, "Sucker Punch" - a ludicrous, yet striking mishmash of various different genres, that features everything from samurais, to fire-breathing dragons to Nazi zombies to Moulin Rouge-style burlesque, and while many would understand what the director had in mind, it often feels like Snyder got lost in his own imagination in his attempts to bring his first original story to life, as the end result is a big hot flashy mess. Despite its 'muddleness', "Sucker Punch" still manages to achieve its purpose, which is to entertain. Yes, you might be quite disappointed by the lack of coherence, satisfactory plot and decent writing, but you'll certainly be unprepared for the massive amount of stupendous action and imposing visuals this movie has to offer. The CGI backgrounds are uniquely-crafted and breathtakingly beautiful, the special effects are as slick as it gets, and the action is first-rate. The variety of camera angles and different techniques that Snyder uses during the first-rate fight scenes are simply admirable, and his trade mark slow-mo sequences are mind-blowing as usual. Each of the 'dream' sequences is 'painted' in different color, and totally unique in terms of style, settings, action and cinematography. The robo-samurai action scene in the first half is the highlight of the movie, and deserves a special mention, as it's сo beautifully-shot and out-of-this-world spectacular, it's sure to blow you away. The music score contains various alternative rock tracks, with the updated version of Bjork's "Army of Me" being in the lead. Sadly, in terms of acting "Sucker Punch" fails to impress, with most of the performances being sub-par. Emily Browning as is as gorgeous as she's dull in her role as Baby Doll, Carla Gugino just doesn't have much to work with, and Vanessa Hudgens is almost unnoticeable. Abbie Cornish does her best as Sweet Pea, and she's the only real standout in the movie. Jena Malone is also good, but her screen time is extremely limited, and Oscar Isaac does a fair job as the villain, Blue Jones .

Overall summary: Zack Snyder's latest flick may be pointless, humorless and pretty incoherent at times, but it's so spectacularly action-packed and visually jaw-dropping, its plot weaknesses could be easily forgiven. Whether "Sucker Punch" is a video game-inspired movie or a movie-inspired video game, it's hands down a feast for the eyes.

[9.50/10] Shaolin (2011)

Shaolin (2011)

Brief review: Benny Chan's latest effort, "Shaolin" is a martial arts movie with heart, brain and soul, and it delivers on almost every single level, as it manages to be dramatic, serious, funny and action-packed all at the same time, due to it's well-balanced and thought out script and pitch-perfect execution. Benny Chan is an incredibly versatile and very capable Asian filmmaker, and "Shaolin" is a significant projection of his talent, imagination and skills as a director. His positioning of the camera mount achieves a sensational diversity of camera angles, plus, the dynamic camera movements emphasis and enhance certain scenes. The action is just one of the film's major strengths. The fight sequences and the stunts are extremely high-octane, fast-paced, and briskly-shot and edited by the legendary action director Corey Yuen. Chung Chi Li also does a brilliant job with the choreography, as he increases the effect with a fair use of flawlessly-executed wire work and some polished CGIs. Visually, "Shaolin" also never fails to impress. The production design is as beautiful as it's authentic, and the refined, eye-candy greenish cinematography pleases the eye throughout the film. The intense, yet beautiful music score adds depth to the picture. The acting ranges from good to exceptional. The widely popular Andy Lau's delivers, arguably, the strongest performance of his career. He conveys different emotions with ease, and makes us really care about his evil-turned-good character, General Hou Jie. Jackie Chan brings comic relief, but without being over-the-top this time around. Each and every one of supporting actors also do an excellent job in portraying their characters and making them incredibly sympathetic and likable.

Overall summary: With its compelling story, brilliantly-portrayed characters, fantastic visuals and stupendous action sequences, Benny Chan's "Shaolin" ranks as one of the most accomplished, profoundly-engrossing and slickly-crafted martial arts movies ever made.

[6.75/10] Kung Fu Wing Chun (2010)

Kung Fu Wing Chun (2010)

Brief review: Directed by Joe Cheung, "Kung Fu Wing Chun" is a different take on the story of the origin and development of the Chinese martial arts style, Wing Chun. Though a bit cheesy compared to the Yuen Woo-Ping's 94 version, it's still a well-choreographed, entertaining and visually captivating 90's style kung fu flick, full of engaging characters and exciting action sequences, that instead of taking itself too seriously, brings the fun side of Wing Chun. As a martial arts flick, it features plenty of stirring, if unspectacular fight scenes, filled with excellent wire work. Visually, the movie impresses with its exotically-gorgeous production design, some vividly beautiful images (even though many of them being CG), and a vibrant yellowish cinematography, that exudes richness. Тhough the film has a relatively large cast of actors, the main focus is one Bai Jing, who absolutely steals the show as the title character. Jing is as quirky as she's sweet and likable in her role as the rebellious tomboy, Wing Chun, determined to develop her martial arts skills. Colin Chou, mainly known to the audience for his role as Seraph in "The Matrix" franchise does an excellent job as the villain, while Ye Shaoqun is just okay as Chun's love interest.

Overall summary: Although it often borders on silly, "Kung Fu Wing Chun" is an enjoyable, action-packed and nicely-crafted martial arts comedy, that successfully maintains the 'fun factor' throughout.

[6.75/10] The Green Hornet [3D] (2011)

The Green Hornet [3D] (2011)

Brief review: Though it suffers from uneven pacing and unsteady direction, Michel Gondry's 'new wave' anti-superhero flick delivers exactly what it promises: great visuals, exciting car chases, cool gadgets and and plenty of martial arts action. Sadly, Seth Rogen plays the least likable character in this movie, as the Green Hornet himself is an egocentric idiot, who's more like а drone, rather than a hornet. The Taiwanese charmer, Jay Chou, is the true star of the film - not only that he's charismatic and engaging as an actor, but he also possesses an incredible martial arts skills, that will blow you away. Christoph Waltz steals the show, yet again, as the weird, yet delightfully sympathetic villain, Chudnofsky. Diaz is just okay in her role, and James Franco's cameo is rather disappointing. "The Green Hornet" may not have the most substantial plot ever, but it certainly delivers visually. The CGIs are truly impressive, especially those during the slow-mo Matrix-like fight sequences. The action itself is clearly the highlight of this flick, as it's exciting, well-shot and creatively-choreographed. Though the 3D adds little to the experience, it isn't exactly bad or unnecessary.

Overall summary: Quite brainless and often clumsy, yet spectacularly-entertaining, "The Green Hornet" is an inventive blend of flashy visuals and exciting action scenes, fleshed out with lots of enjoyable silliness.

[3.00/10] Wushu Warrior (2010)

Wushu Warrior (2010)

"Wushu Warrior" takes place in 19th Century China, where Lord Edward Lindsey is operating an opium running scheme. When he has one of his adversaries, Reverend Elders, killed, the reverend’s son Jonathan is taken to a small village on the outskirts of the big city. Upon learning his father has died, Jonathan is taken under the wing of village head Uncle Pei. When Jonathan sees two kids arguing, he learns that they are studying the martial art of wushu. When Jonathan asks Uncle Pei to teach him, Pei resorts to training him in secret. Truth to be told, this Canadian-Chinese co-production is probably the most poorly-executed and uninspired martial arts flick I've seen an my life, as it fails to deliver on every single level. It's a complete rip-off of many, many other and better films of this genre and it's shot and choreographed with zero imagination. The story is a standard fare, that pretty much contains every possible cliche known in history of martial arts movies. It shamelessly borrows an already tired ideas, without even changing them a bit, in order to avoid the plagiarism. The funniest thing about "Wushu Warrior" is the fact that every single Chinese actor in this film speaks English at all times, which makes it even less authentic and credible. Not a surprise though, since the director himself is a noneAsian. The writing is completely sub-par, as all the lines are laughably ridiculous and stiffly-delivered by the actors involved. In terms of acting, this flick also fails to make a good impression. All the English-speaking actors are wildly unknown, and lacking in both, acting and fighting skills. You won't believe for a minute that Tod Fennell is a warrior and a martial arts master. On a positive note, the Chinese actors are vastly better, as they play way more engagig characters. Although pretending to be a martial arts movie, "Wushu Warrior" is almst lacking in action, especially in its first half. And as soon as the action starts though, you find yourself even more bored than before, as the fight scenes are horribly-staged and amateurishly-choreographed, accompained with poor wire work and laughably cheesy special effects. Same could be said for the training sequnces, which are mostly boring, rather forced and ridden with cliches. The lack of budget is obvious, as "Wushu Warrior" looks and feels like a cheap made-for-TV movie with its low production values, extremely cheesy special effects and technical incompetence. Yes, the Chinese scenery is exotically gorgeous as always, but that's not enough to save this film from being visually poor and hardly engaging. With its lame and thoroughly predictable story, third-rate fight choreography, and dull and uninspired direction, "Wushu Warrior" should be considered as one of the worst martial arts movies ever created.

• My Rating: 3.00/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
• IMDb: 5.2/10