Love and a Bullet

Amazon.com

Love and a Bullet has a sly satirical tone that lifts it above the common herd of would-be Quentin Tarantino movies. Rap star Treach plays Bishop, a hit man who declares, "The world is full of people that, quite frankly, we all could do without." But his rationalizations start to fall apart when he's assigned to kill a woman who, in his eyes, deserves to live. Plus, he suspects that his boss--who runs an elite team of assassins--may have killed Bishop's own lover, a beautiful government agent. Naturally it's all building up to a typical spectacle of over-the-top violence with some gratuitous skin along the way (including full-frontal nudity from the very buff leading man), but what makes Love and a Bullet work is that the filmmakers use its absurd reality to make sneaky comments about race relations and job satisfaction. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

A True Macho Man's Movie.......2007-07-26

This was one of the most funny and action filled movies that I had seen in a long time. I love the dialogue amongst the actors with the narration in the backdrop. Most of the profanity was funny but the movie could have been just as entertaining without as much cursing.

Comedy-action.......2007-06-19

A noteworthy entry into the 'action-comedy' genre, of which there are few laudable examples. Though not one of the best, this movie, which at times includes some of the best, is fun enough to enjoy.

More comedy than action, and a genuine twist near the end of the movie. An excellent way to spend an afternoon.

MUCH BETTER THAN I ANTICIPATED!!.......2006-11-24

I thought this action-packed film was quite good. I've read quite a few reviews on this film over the years and I'm still not understanding all of the over-analyses over whether the script is racist in its treatment of African-Americans as killers. I've never been a fan of what used to be called "blaxploitation" movies. I came of age during the initial release of such films as "Super Fly", "Foxy Brown", and "Sweet Sweetback's Badaass Song". I missed them all and haven't seen too many of their contemporary counterparts and I don't think that I am any better or any worse for the experience (although I strongly believe that "blaxploitation" was then, and is now, a misnomer). However, when I accidently came across this movie on cable late one night, I was hooked!! I always thought Treach was sexy, but he laid it down in this flick! His portrayal of Malik Bishop, a hit man with a heart, is rivoting. What some people refer to what they call stilted acting by all the actors, I found it to be merely tongue-in-cheek camp satire. Although violent at times, none of the scenes are gratuitous or out-of-context. After all, the film IS about a contract killer with a conscience who is looking for the love of a good woman. So what if she's at the "executive level of execution" while he's still a "murderous mailboy"? She handles an assault weapon in her 4" Manolo Blahniks while carrying a back-up rocket launcher tucked away in the zippered compartment of her Birkin bag. Her hits exhibit much better strategic planning than those of her "future baby daddy". But don't most females take the lead in traditionally male-dominated positions? Isn't it the same in "Mr. & Mrs. Smith"? With the exception of the races of the killer couples, weren't the story lines similar? Yet, no one had anything fundamentally negative to say about the "Brangelina" film. Both contain bullets, big guns, buffed bods, and big lips. However, one film is a hit while the other goes straight to video. If you watch this film while keeping in mind that nothing in it is meant to be serious, then you will find "Love and a Bullet" to be a film rich in satirical black comedy (and I'm referring to the literary genre, not race). The film only fails with some of the principle characters. Kent Masters King was horribly miscast as a kept woman. She is just not sexy enough in this role to be believable as the potential victim of a jealous rich lover. Even her clothes were frumpy. Kelly McGillis was hotter as an Amish woman in "Witness"!! Why waste a hit man of Bishop's caliber on this woman when Shug Knight is out of a job right now? Now let's talk about what's really going on - the MALE NUDITY, albeit brief. Wow, it is refreshing to see a man "drop trou" for a change - and Treach IS the man for full-frontal nudity. Is that your gun, Mr. Treach or are you just happy to see EVERYONE?!? I burned my DVD player up, rewinding and freeze-framing his ripped abs and everything "South of the Border". Yeah, I'm down for "O.P.P."! You know me!!

fight scene rip off.......2005-11-13

No complaints here, save for the fight scene with the martial arts hitman...I'd say about 90% of the action footage is directly taken from Jackie Chan's "Legend Of Drunken Master".

Not bad........2005-02-14

You really don't expect much
from movies where rappers receive
top billing, but this movie
manages to stand apart from the genre.
Not only is this a fantastic action film,
but it also successfully combines
elements of comedy, social satire,
and blatant stereotype.
The absolute best thing about this movie
is the script. Eloquent, funny, intelligent,
and full of surprises.

Since I'm a person with an overactive mind
and short attention span, I'm always quick
to note which movies are able to maintain my
interest throughout the entire film. This film
does that and never disappoints.

I highly recommend this movie for purchase or rental.

Above all, I'm glad at least ONE rapper has turned out
to be a good actor.

Average customer rating:

"Your Honor, six times a night, my boyfriend has no problem with that"
Just wasn't there
Bullets = Three, Love = Zero?
FIVE AND A HALF STARS
Asaka Seto is superb in this surprisingly good movie

Bullets of Love (Ws Sub Ac3 Dol)
Starring: Leon Lai , Asaka Seto , Terence Yin , Richard Sun , and Wai-Man Chan
Director: Wai Keung Lau
Manufacturer: Tai Seng
ProductGroup: DVD
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Oldboy

ASIN: B000066752
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Customer Reviews:

"Your Honor, six times a night, my boyfriend has no problem with that" .......2007-06-27

Leon Lai stars as a cop who's wife is assassinated by thugs looking for revenge on him. Lai then finds a new girlfriend who is a mirror image of his dead wife. After trying to let this girl take his wife's place, he realizes that there is just something not right about her. It is all too obvious what is going on, and when they finally reveal it, I didn't even care about any of the characters anymore.

It was great to see Chan Wai Man as good guy, but that is about the only thing I enjoyed about this movie. The action is poorly done and there is very little of it. The acting is not bad, but almost every single scene is completely meaningless and filled with mindless talking.

Andrew Lau is a very good director, but this movie doesn't support that statement. 'Best of the Best' and 'The Storm Riders' are much better examples of why he is a good director.

2/5

The DVD from Tai Seng is awesome. Picture quality is good. There are minor scratches throughout. Subtitles are well written and sound is very good. Special features include a 20 minute promotional documentary on the making of the film and a commentary with Frank Jane. I don't know how to spell his name, but he is the one who writes the subtitles for Tai Seng and he knows a ton about Hong Kong cinema. Usually Frank just corrects Ric Myers the whole time, so it is nice to hear a solo commentary from him.

Just wasn't there.......2005-04-28

I had high hopes for this film but it just wasn't there. Thought the fil moved a little slow for what I was hoping to see, mainly action.

Bullets = Three, Love = Zero?.......2003-12-05

Wow.

Typical Hong Kong fare transplanted from overseas onto American soil is generally virtuoso gunplay punctuated by splashes of blood, mayhem, and explosions. This is not to say that these films are bad; rather, it is only to say that -- after several releases -- most films tend to blend together in plot, substance, acting, and theme.

In my opinion, BULLETS OF LOVE has only a single shortcoming: it is poorly titled. Certainly, the title is symbolic, and the meaning will be known by the end of the film ... but couldn't they come up with something better?

Leon Lai plays Sam, a detective in self exile from the police force after the assassination of his fiance, Ann (Asaka Seto in a wonderful breakthrough-style performance). However, after the assassin she-beast guns down Ann in cold blood, she realizes her attraction to Sam. Two years and several plastic surgeries later, she slithers her way into Sam's life in the personae of You, a freelance photographer. The two of them find redemption from their past lives and past mistakes. However, once the assassin's boss is released from prison, both Sam and You are forced to revisit their pasts, discover You's secret, and set their respective worlds right again.

While the packaging boasts that BULLETS is an action thriller, the film spends a tremendous amount of time and energy exploring these two characters and the people who populate their mutual existence. More than many other Hong Kong thrillers, BULLETS takes ample time for the leads to find one another and to surrender to their feelings of love. This relationship -- despite the forced dramatic situation -- is given a strong backbone of realism, and much credit should be given to Lai and Seto's performances. Together, they create a chemistry that is palpable; come the film's bloody conclusion, the viewer has grown to care deeply for them.

A truly great find and a welcome surprise, BULLETS starts slow -- setting up a relatively elaborate situation -- but it paces nicely to a bullseye up through the climax.

FIVE AND A HALF STARS.......2003-03-19

An excellent film with considerably more plot and character development than some Hong Kong productions. Asaka Seto steals the show. Her performance has depth and subtlety, and if you don't care much about such things just enjoy the fact that she's totally hot! There is plenty of action, bullets, blood and even a few quick martial arts sequences, but in addition, this flick also features a suspenseful, well written and well directed story. Very few flaws overall and very much worth the price. Plenty of websites have good plot summaries if you need more, but fans of H.K. Cinema will not be disappointed, and if you're not a fan yet this one's a great way to get acquainted!

Asaka Seto is superb in this surprisingly good movie.......2002-10-07

Bullets of Love is a Hong Kong action movie that has many very tender moments and even a few funny moments. Hong Kong action star/singer Leon Lai plays a Hong Kong detective who, along with his prosecutor fiance (Asaka Seto), fights a nasty Hong Kong gang. When the gang has Leon's fiance killed, he retires from the police force and tries to live a quiet life with his family in a fishing village. One day Leon spots a woman who is a dead ringer for his dead fiance, and he falls in love with deadly consequences (that's three "deads" in one sentence--not bad, eh?--Hey, it's a Hong Kong film. You gotta expect this kind of violence in a review). Bullets of Love has the action and tongue-in-cheek humor you'd expect from a movie of this genre, but Japanese TV actress Asaka Seto is so effective at being both brutal and tender she is able to play different characters with the same face. The result is startling. She fully adds an extra dimension to this very effective film. This DVD version is in Cantonese and English with English subtitles, and includes a "making of" documentary.

Average customer rating:

I hope this one is picked up by Dragon Dynasty for release
Sometimes brilliant, sometimes painfully obvious...
Not the best of Woo but still a worth while watch
Your basic waste of time
John Woo loses the plot

Bullet in the Head
Starring: Jacky Cheung , Chung Lam , Shek Yin Lau , Waise Lee , and Tony Leung Chiu Wai
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 6305120382
Release Date: 1998-09-29

Amazon.com

The 1990 film Bullet in the Head engages at every turn. At once a political epic, a story about childhood friends and loyalty, as well as a tale of corruption and war, John Woo's action-packed face-off contrasts '60s idealism--the Beatles and Elvis--against the shifting tide in the East. It's plain that Woo has pulled his trio of heroes straight from Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America as well as Michael Cimino's The Deer Hunter, but there are bits of Nicholas Ray's Rebel Without a Cause tossed in for good measure. The old Chinese way of life is fading in the face of the emergent Vietnam War and Chairman Mao's Red Army, and Hong Kong struggles under archaic British rule. Three friends--Ben (Tony Leung), Frank (Jacky Cheung), and Paul (Waise Lee)--rub up against gang warfare, capitalism, and opportunism in a life that is strongly tinged by Western culture. Ben falls in love and wants to marry Jane (Fennie Yuen). Frank has borrowed money from a warlord to pay for his pal's bridal bash but a rival group, led by Ringo and his thugs, are hell-bent on keeping loose-cannon Frank from keeping his promise. The boys kill Ringo in a face-off and the cops come looking for them, separating Ben and Jane. The trio escapes to exploited luck-of-the-draw Saigon to make their fortunes. Luck, however, isn't with them. In a violent, balletic dance to honor, greed, and a teenage pledge that is challenged with adulthood, Bullet in the Head is sentimental despite its exquisitely choreographed blood bath; it's steeped in the kind of code-of-ethics morality that has been the glue of buddy films since the beginning of cinematic time. Bullet in the Head is a tale of love and betrayal played out against a backdrop of wartime chaos, and while Woo had made other vital and vibrant movies--The Killer, Hard Boiled, and A Better Tomorrow--none were as impassioned as Bullet in the Head. That it retains its innocence at all is a tribute to this Hong Kong action auteur, who brands his movies with visual flair as well as a palette splattered with blood. --Paula Nechak

Customer Reviews:

I hope this one is picked up by Dragon Dynasty for release.......2007-07-04

This movie was amazing. The character development was superb, coupled with excellent acting. The story follows three young friends through their young life as friends through a journey that none will forget. The action is amazing, and in many ways some scenes are almost too intense to take. I loved the movie, seeing what happened to each character, and the way some peoples lives end up far different than expected. See this movie if you love movies, you will not be disapointed.

Sometimes brilliant, sometimes painfully obvious..........2007-01-15

I saw the director's cut of this film a number of years back when John Woo was "hot" in Hollywood terms. It was, for the most part, pretty good, but it's not a perfect film. The relationship between the 3 men is done in a very heavy handed, obvious way (they constantly, and I mean constantly, say "we're buddies, we're supposed to stick together"), Waise Lee's character is very poorly written, and it's hard to believe in the usual "lost innocence" plot line when these guys are having gang fights at 15, and we're supposed to believe that life as smugglers in Vietnam made them hard boiled (so to speak). Aside from that, the film has great setpieces (especially a shootout in a bar), the ending has a great shootout (even though thematically it's pretty obvious where it's heading) and the rapport of Simon Yam (who gives a good performance) and the 3 main characters is surprisingly believable. As one reviewer has already said, Woo is erratic, even in his Hong Kong days. Anyone who has seen Once a Thief or Just Heroes will attest to that. Here, he's intermittenly brilliant and obvious, sometimes in the same scene. It's worth watching if you're a Woo fan. If not, you can probably skip the film.

Not the best of Woo but still a worth while watch.......2006-12-18

Jacky Cheung, Tony Leung, and Waise Lee are friends growing up in Hong Kong 1967. When trouble arises they decide to leave for Vietnam to become smugglers. Wlile the story doesn't ever really settle on anything and you don't know exactly where the movie is going to go, John Woo manages to bring us the bloodshed and and tragic friendships that he is best known for. Tony Leung does fine in his role, Jacky Cheung is outstanding, and then Waise Lee is the ony person I questioned. Simon Yam gives his usual average performance with above average moments. The movie of course comes down to the end. Don't expect a great movie like 'Better Tomorrow' or 'The Killer' but one that is different and is worth a watch for any Woo fan.

Your basic waste of time.......2006-08-13

This might be the perfect flick for a fourteen year-old who aspires to be a mass murderer. There is little to recommend it apart from the technical perfection of some of the cinematography and the staging of the scenes of mass destruction of people and property. Even these scenes have none of the balletic grace of Tarantino's "Kill Bill" films, his salute to the genre, or "Reservoir Dogs," which has a mystery at its core and some fine acting and dialogue that temper the violence.
"Bullet ..." is little more than two hours of broken glass, fire, blood squirts, amputation, beatings and explosions. This makes Gladiator look like a Sunday school picnic. The characters are totally flat, one-dimensional. There is virtually no plot aside from excuses generated to wreak havoc. The acting is weak, static, despite the fact that I don't understand a word of Cantonese. We are presented with a series of stereotypes (the hooker with a heart of gold, the good friend, the crazy friend and the bad friend).
Unfortunately the American stereotype of the Viet Cong as madmen -- and Saigon as hopelessly corrupt -- is reiterated here to the detriment of any understanding of Viet Nam during the American occupation. The worst thing is that -- because they are so shallow and undeveloped -- you don't care what happens to the characters. So I'll tell you and then you won't have to finish watching the film: they kill each other.
My advice-- skip it.

John Woo loses the plot.......2006-02-25

It's a common belief that John Woo lost his way when he moved to Hollywood, but in truth his career was always highly erratic even in his Hong Kong days. For every Better Tomorrow or The Killer on his resume there's at least one disappointment on the level of Bullet in the head.

On paper Bullet in the Head looks like John Woo's most ambitious and under-rated film, but sadly it turns out to be an entirely derivative and largely ineffective shoot-em-up that blows its few good ideas in all the overkill. There's the germ of a good idea in its sprawling tale of three friends who skip the rioting Hong Kong of 1967 to make their fortune in the chaos of Vietnam, but it's quickly lost amid the cartoon carnage - this is the kind of film where Woo will add a bomb disposal man having his arms blown off to the background of a romantic parting, and that's one of the more subtle scenes. Clunking construction and wild leaps of logic abound (it's hard to take Jacky Cheung's cries of "Don't make me commit murder!" seriously after we've just seen him gun down thirty people) and the tragedy of Vietnam is reduced to the level of a video game in several over the top and largely uninvolving action scenes.

There are a few mildly effective moments, such as Simon Yam's memorable introduction, but the lasting impression is of a hack who has seen The Deer Hunter and The Killing Fields several times without ever really understanding them. Horrendously disappointing. No misjudged underappreciated lost masterpiece, just a mess.

Average customer rating:

One of the Best
love&bullets
Good scenic photography, but that's about it.
If only there were more bullets flying in this film

Love and Bullets [Region 2]
Starring: Charles Bronson , Jill Ireland , Rod Steiger , Henry Silva , and Strother Martin
Director: Stuart Rosenberg , and John Huston
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004SX7L

Customer Reviews:

One of the Best.......2006-07-11

I consider this movie to be one of the best that the husband/wife team of Charles Bronson/Jill Ireland did. Excellent scenery, great action and a sad but great finish. Waiting for the much deserved DVD release.

love&bullets.......2003-06-28

i seen this movie a few times and i think it a very good movie charles bronson is arizona homicide cop the movie is shot in switzerland and it looks very good rod steiger is good movie havealot of excitement and thrills also star jill ireland the movie really show the breathtaking beauty of switzerland a must for all bronson fan

Good scenic photography, but that's about it........2002-08-29

Bland thriller in which Charles Bronson must deliver gangster's moll Jill Ireland to police while assassins trail them all the way by boat, train and plane. There's little suspense in Wendell Mayes' script (he also wrote DEATH WISH 1) but attractive scenic photography makes up for the movies lulls. This lumbering film is basically just an excuse for Ireland to change wigs every ten minutes, her Southern belle accent is also particularly annoying. Does she end up taking a bullet? Could there be a merciful higher being in existance to save us from her dreadful performance? If you're curious: watch it, if not: then don't bother. It's not the sort of movie you remember well the following day. In fact the most memorable part of LOVE AND BULLETS is the last 20 seconds. So I've just saved you wasting approx 102 minutes and 40 seconds of your time.

If only there were more bullets flying in this film.......2000-06-09

Charles Bronson has done a remake of The Gauntlet here in Love and Bullets. Same old storyline tough cop exidrites a female prisoner brings her back so she can testify against the mob. But the Gauntlet was more satifying than this. I am sorry to say that because i'm a big fan of Charles Bronson, but i'm afraid ol charlie missed the mark here quite a bit. The only thing remarkable in this film is the breathtaking swiss alps scenery. And as for Rod Steiger has got to be the most pathetic villain in film history, a stutering mafiso in love with his mistress. Even the greats like Charles Bronson can make bad chocies at times and appearing in this terrible,boring film is one of those times.

Love & Bullets ~ Starring: Ginger Lynn, Rebecca Love - Director: Veronica Hart (Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Love & Bullets ~ Starring: Ginger Lynn, Rebecca Love - Director: Veronica Hart (Special Edition)
Starring: Hershel Savage , and Rebecca Love
Director: Veronica Hart
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Full-Motion Chapter Menu
Director's Commentary
Behind the Scenes/ Movie Previews
Star Bios/ Photo Gallery
Wall to Wall Mode/ Auto Start-Repeat

ASIN: B000Q5L31Y

Product Description

When love is great, it's grand, but when two people go through a bitter divorce, it can get damn ugly! Karen and Richard Roman had it all, a good life, a nice house, good health... but now all they seem to have is contemt for each other. When karen finds out about Richard's romp on a porn set she sets out to get a divorce but Richard won't go down without a fight. As the ugliness builds , they play with each other by flaunting their outrageous sexual exploits and destroying personal property. Will this war ever end, or is someone going to have to pay with his or her life. (Includes over 1 hour of Bonus Content)

Average customer rating:

Bullet in the Head
Starring: Jacky Cheung , Simon Yam , Fennie Yuen , Tony Leung Chiu-Wai , and Waise Lee
Director: John Woo
Manufacturer: Fortune Star
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ASIN: B000M4RG0Q
Release Date: 2007-02-05

Average customer rating:

A True Macho Man's Movie
Comedy-action
MUCH BETTER THAN I ANTICIPATED!!
fight scene rip off
Not bad.

Love and a Bullet [Region 2]
Starring: Anthony 'Treach' Criss , Kent Masters King , Charles Guardino , Shireen Crutchfield , and Sam Scarber
Director: Ben Ramsey , and Kantz
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ASIN: B00007855B

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A True Macho Man's Movie.......2007-07-26

Comedy-action.......2007-06-19

MUCH BETTER THAN I ANTICIPATED!!.......2006-11-24

fight scene rip off.......2005-11-13

No complaints here, save for the fight scene with the martial arts hitman...I'd say about 90% of the action footage is directly taken from Jackie Chan's "Legend Of Drunken Master".

Not bad........2005-02-14

DVD:

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