The King of Masks

Amazon.com

The King of Masks tells a tale steeped in ancient tradition, simultaneously challenging the sociosexual inequity still plaguing China today. On the streets of Szechuan Province in the 1930s, the aged King of Masks, sole living master of "change-face" opera, delights and frightens audiences with the secret art of lightning-quick mask-shifting. His fondest wish is to pass on his skill to a male heir before he dies. Famous female impersonator Liang Sao Lang craves knowledge of the king's secret technique, offering to relieve the old man's poverty by taking him into his opera troupe. The king declines: what sort of heir would this half-female creature make? Instead, he buys an orphan on the black market, joyously showing him off as his grandson and heir. But soon the child is forced to disclose a dreaded secret--one that effectively renders him a person of no value according to Chinese custom. In the king's eyes, the kid goes from "beloved grandson" to "stupid crook," and both the old man and the child must pay dearly for his bigotry before they can know joy again. A deeply moving film, simply told and superbly acted. --Laura Mirsky

Customer Reviews:

Story of unconditional love in tumultous social setting expertly told. Will melt even a heart of stone.......2007-08-04

This is one of the most enthralling movies I have seen for a very long time. Loyalty, betrayal and unconditional love is expertly weaved and told in film. Nothing in the film is gratuitous, with many twists and turns to keep you in suspense and engaged throughout. Tears of joy and sadness are guaranteed.

Great story!.......2007-05-07

A wonderful, moving movie!! How do they get children to act like this?? And the sub-titles did not distract from the movie at all. One of my favorites!!

Bring the tissue!.......2007-01-15

A great movie about China, but more so about unconditional love. If you want a good movie with great visuals, try this one!

Overt Child Exploitation That Never Redeems Itself Satisfyingly.......2006-12-17

A well-acted, well-portrayed, sickening, overt example of an adult whose sole desire for a child is based on getting that child to meet his own selfish needs. He has little or no love for the child based on who the child is in her core, and sends her the basic message that she does not count as a human being aside from being an object to gratify him. If the child does not mold to his expectations and desires she gets rejected, and this is the horrible tension of the movie.

Although the movie has some twists and turns that shake things up, the man's character never develops much in a satisfying way, and nor do the basic themes of adult selfishness and cultural repression. As such the movie is essentially non-redemptive, and portrays a sad and tragic side of humanity.

Although this movie is set in an outer province on China in the 1930s, it's actually a good metaphor for Western culture, much as Western cultural norms do not allow parents to exploit their children so overtly...

Luck and misfortune intertwined..........2006-11-11

SPOILERS.............

Wang is a street performer, the self proclaimed king of Masks. He is a man getting up there in age, and he soon realizes the need for an heir. But his art is a long time family secret, passed down only through the male generation. But in 1920's China, boys are coveted whereas girls are thrown to the side. He buys a child on the street, only to find out too late that his little boy is actually a little girl. King of Masks is a story about a man so bound by tradition he denies his fate, leading to one tragedy and misfortune after another.
Although engaging, and at times heart rendering, I would call King of Masks a mediocore film. Even through all the tragedy I knew that everything would turn out alright in the end. It was fairly predictable.
The characters were very likeable. Wang was a very endearing man, and Doggie was the cutest thing. But I don't think the film expanded enough on their relationship. In fact at one point I was unclear whether Wang had kicked the girl out, or she had run away.
There were times, also, when the story felt rushed, and some ends were left loose. Such as explaining what exactly the purpose of kidnapping the children were.
As a whole, although fairly entertaining, it did not offer the depth that I hoped it would.

Average customer rating:

not really good
LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
My guys love it . . .
Buying Again - Can't live without it!
I thought it was great - surprised at poor reviews

Sesame Street: All-Star Alphabet
Starring: Larry King , Melissa Etheridge , Sheryl Crow , Nicole Sullivan , and Stephen Colbert
Director: Eddy Matalon
Manufacturer: Sesame Street
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ASIN: B0008FXSZ6
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Customer Reviews:

not really good.......2007-07-10

i bought this for my two year old baby, but she gets bored with it maybe because she is not familiar with the songs and people here like norah jones or any other artists so she doesn't like this and its hard for her to watch movie like this with lots of adult artists singing their popular songs and yet those songs obviously are not popular for the kids...

LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!.......2007-05-23

My son can't get enough. He watches this over and over. We sing the songs and have a good time with the letters. I am glad I brought this dvd it's the best thing since Brainy baby...

My guys love it . . . .......2007-04-15

I was also surprised by the poor reviews - both my two year old and one year old are riveted, which is fortunate as it's one of the only children's videos that doesn't make me want to gouge out my own eardrums. I will say that for actually learning the alphabet I think the Leapfrog Letter Factory is better, but there again you have the super annoying Professor Quigely - who I must say is no Stephen Colbert.

Buying Again - Can't live without it!.......2007-02-08

My kids love this, and as an adult who has to sit through it, the banter and dry humor between A and Z is hilarious. They dropped and scratched it when it fell out of the car on a family trip and I'm buying it again for my youngest who misses it so much. The kids didn't seem to mind the less overwhelming presence of Elmo and really appreciate the great music. It's a nice break from Elmo and I was surprised that they picked up on the great underlying lesson about not boasting (A), and not not always being the most popular (Z).

I thought it was great - surprised at poor reviews.......2006-12-20

My kids are only 6 months old and this video holds their attention more than Baby Einstein and other dvds. I'm surprised at the poor reviews, but all kids are different and don't like the same things...

Average customer rating:

Too much R&B, not enough Blues
Great show but poor recording quality
Amazing blues session
TERRIBLE DVD TRANSFER, AVOID AT ALL COSTS!
Great stars, disappointing concert

BB King Blues Session
Starring: B.B. King
Manufacturer: Hudson/Street
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009RS088
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Description

A rousing night of super, super blues with some of the worlds greatest performers! BB King hosts an all star Blues session featuring Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert King, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Chaka Khan, Billie Ocean, Gladys Knight, Etta James, Paul Butterfield and Dr. John giving up some of the most exciting and memorable performances in Blues. So, Fasten your seat belts and get ready to cruse to the blues.

Includes:

Why I Sing The Blues
Please Send Me Someone To Love
The Thrill Is Gone
I'd Rather Go Blind
When Something Is wrong With My Baby
Sky IS Cryin'
Something's Got A Hold On Me
In The Midnight Hour
Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own
Let The Good Times Roll
Take My Hand, Precious Lord Finale

Customer Reviews:

Too much R&B, not enough Blues.......2007-07-28

I first watched this about ten years ago and recently bought this poor DVD version. This is a runny VHS transfer but the picture is still watchable and the sound is decent.

With Billy Ocean, Chaka Kahn, Gladys Knight, Etta James, and Phil Collins in the line-up, it's obvious the producers of this special were more interested in appealing to the R&B/pop audience than pleasing blues lovers. This makes me wonder if B.B. actually had complete say over who would be appearing in this concert. I'd also like to know why Etta James was given much more time on stage than the other stars??? Despite a little too much R&B for what was supposed to be a "blues" show, we do have a pretty nice selection of bluesmen here too with Albert King, Paul Butterfield, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, and of course B.B. himself who all deliver good performances although Stevie Ray doesn't get much of a chance to tear it up in this show.

With a few changes in the line-up, this show could have been a blues masterpiece. I would have replaced the R&B stars with Albert Collins, John Lee Hooker, Otis Rush, and Buddy Guy who were all alive and well in 1987 when this special was filmed. THAT would have certainly made this a real blues extravaganza to treasure! What we have here is still a pretty decent show however.

The highlights for me are a nice version of B.B.'s classic "The Thrill is Gone" with Eric Clapton swapping guitar licks with King, and the great Stevie Ray who takes the stage with his hero Albert King for a performance of the great blues standard "The Sky is Crying". Paul Butterfield joins them on harmonica and vocals and he gives a strong performance, although I did notice a few dirty glances he gives Stevie Ray during the song.

This is a nice show for R&B lovers, but serious blues fans will most likely feel a little let down. If you want a similiar show with better results, check out the DVD "A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan" which features fine performances from B.B., Clapton, Dr. John, and several other great blues stars including Robert Cray and Buddy Guy!

Great show but poor recording quality.......2007-05-13

That's what it is. But I already knew it before I bought. So you should know it too. However, for those who love the Blues it is a must have! Even aware of the quality I bought it and I am very happy with it!

Amazing blues session.......2006-12-19

Nevermind all the people here complaining about the dvd transfer. It's really not that bad. There is nothing wrong with the audio, just don't expect some blasting surround. And the concert itself is really good. I've watched this dvd I don't know how many times and I never get tired of it. Ok, the quality is not great, but if you like the blues that shouldn't be a problem to enjoy this. The opening "Why I sing the blues" sets the tone, with BB King starting it off and all the others coming in during the song, and what great musicians they are. "The thrill is gone" has some great guitarplaying by Clapton and BB going at eachother. "I'd rather go blind" is the best duet i've ever seen(heard) between a man and a woman (Etta James and Dr. John), it's amazing. And "The sky is crying" by Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan, well, that's about as Blues as you can get really. You can see every artist is really glad to be a part of the session. So don't let these other comments throw you, Blues Session it is.

TERRIBLE DVD TRANSFER, AVOID AT ALL COSTS!.......2006-03-02

This is a fantastic show with an once in a lifetime grouping of legendary blues musicians BUT this new version on DVD is horrible quality with bad picture & audio. The VHS & especially the laserdisc versions are far superior. Hopefully someday a true re-mastered version will appear.

Great stars, disappointing concert.......2006-02-03

I atttended the taping of this show. While the blurb says "a night of red hot blues", it was actually filmed in the afternoon. In spite of the great stars assembled, these pre-fabricated and "planned" shows usually leave much to be desired - and this is the case with this show. However, if it pleases you to see Albert King, BB King, Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan all playing together, then you should get this DVD. Also of note is that this is Paul Butterfield's last filmed performance before he passed away. Out of place in this DVD is the presence of Billy Ocean and Chaka Kahn - sure they probably have blues roots, but I heard their managers insisted they be in this video. I also heard that Paul Butterfield was extremely intoxicated and had to be limoed around the block until he was set to be filmed because he was bagging on SRV saying that he wasn't a real bluesman and had no business being there - obviously Butterfield hadn't heard SRV play. All in all, a disappointment musically, but 2 stars for the presence of some of the greatest bluesmen of all time.

Average customer rating:

never ordered this product either
Morgan Freeman's favorite role
GREAT
Street Smart
Great Morgan Freeman, Good Movie

Street Smart
Starring: Christopher Reeve , Kathy Baker , Mimi Rogers , Jay Patterson , and Andre Gregory
Director: Jerry Schatzberg
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000AM6J0
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Amazon.com

Stuck for a story idea that will excite his dismissive editor, New York magazine reporter Christopher Reeve hits on a winner: the life of a Manhattan pimp. The editor eats it up, but there's just one problem: Reeve made the whole thing up and now the editor wants more. What's worse, a scarily charismatic pimp (Morgan Freeman) and his top prostitute come looking for the reporter, believing that he was, in fact, writing about them. As they seduce him with access to their world, he becomes more and more trapped by his lies, particularly when a crusading D.A. also takes an interest in just what he knows. Reeve is the bland nougat center in what is otherwise a very tasty little film, given added crunch by the superlatively seductive Freeman and the equally intriguing Baker. --Marshall Fine

Description

Christopher Reeve, Kathy Baker, Mimi Rogers and Morgan Freeman star in this intriguing (Boxoffice), OscarÂ(r)-nominated* thriller that's 'smart, cunning, deft, revealing andyesstreet smart (LA Weekly)! Freelance journalist Jonathan Fisher (Reeve) becomes the toast ofthe town when he breaks a story about the dirty deeds of a ruthless New York pimp. There's only oneproblem: Jonathan, under a deadline, fabricated the entire thing. Suddenly he's in demand not only by other reporters and the D.A., but also by Fast Black (Freeman), a real-life pimp everyone believes to be the subject of Jonathan's article! *1987: Supporting Actor (Freeman)

Customer Reviews:

never ordered this product either.......2007-05-30

If you have me as purchasing this item please send me a confirmation

Morgan Freeman's favorite role.......2007-03-28

I purchase this movie because Morgan Freeman stated on "Oprah" that the role he played in this movie was his favorite role. I had never heard of the movie, but being a Morgan Freeman fan, I had to search it out. The movie was enjoyable, had a good storyline and is a must-see for Morgan Freeman fans and Christopher Reeve fans.

GREAT.......2006-08-16

JUST LIKE SEEING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE.

Street Smart.......2005-09-16

I do believe Mr. Christopher Reeve needed his superman suit to make people believe his performance. He missed the mark in this film. It's almost like he went to some "psuedo-Kevin-Costner-wannabe-a-bad-actor" school prior to the filming. I blame the casting director and possibly the director himself/herself. On the other hand... Morgan Freeman's performance was amusing enough to keep me attentive to the end. I was tickled pink to see Mr. Freeman in a "non-goody-two-shoes" role. He is a very versatile actor, very skilled!

Great Morgan Freeman, Good Movie.......2005-02-16

This is a movie that comes so close to being a first-rate thriller that it's disappointing when it misses. It still is a good, hard-edged story, thanks to Morgan Freeman as Leo Smalls, Jr., aka Fast Black, a domineering, charismatic and vicious New York pimp.

Christopher Reeve stars as Jonathan Fisher, a magazine writer who to meet a deadline fakes a story about tough street life and the women and pimps who work it. His main character is just as phoney as the rest of the story, but the article creates a sensation. The DA thinks the pimp in the story is really Fast Black, who is on trial for murder. He wants Fisher's notes, but, of course, Fisher doesn't have any. And then Fast Black, out on bail, sees an opportunity. At first he thinks someone has been talking about him to Fisher and wants to know who. But then he'll show Fisher real street life and verify that he was the character, saving Fisher from journalistic disgrace...but Fisher has to give him an alibi. The story plays out partly through Fisher's squirming attempts to get out of his fix and partly through Fast Black's ruthlessness.

The movie is dominated by Freeman's performance as Fast Black. Fast is a product of the streets, who has survived and flourished because he is ruthless and smart. He can turn violent in an instant, but you're never sure if he's actually lost control. He can be charming and even fascinating. Part of Fisher's problem is that being accepted by Fast Black is a little like being on a drug.

Morgan Freeman over the last few years seems to be the one directors go to when they want world-weary wisdom (Unforgiven, Shawshank, Million Dollar Baby, many others). He can do this kind of stuff with his eyes shut. His turn as a completely believeable, charming, vicious pimp is something to see.

The movie feaures some other strong performances. Kathy Baker plays Punchy, one of Fast Black's prostitutes who befriends Fisher. She still has a few ounces of self respect, and seeing Fast Black terrorize her is not pretty. Andre Gregory plays Fisher's magazine publisher and steals every scene he's in. Shari Hilton as Darlene, another of Fast Black's women, and Erik King as Reggie, Fast Black's muscle and go-fer, make strong impressions.

However, the movie has two weaknesses. Fast Black's story and Fisher's story never quite come together. And Reeve simply doesn't dominate the movie the way his character should. His moral conflict seems more yuppie angst.

Even so, this is a good movie with a first-rate performance. The DVD transfer looks good and there are no extras to speak of.

Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Non-musical Version)

Average customer rating:

(3.5 Stars) Todd Slaughter Is Sweeney Todd: Delightfully Melodramatic in Victorican Fashion
MMM-MMM Meat Pies!
Blast from the past
Villainy personified
Not the Musical

Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Non-musical Version)
Starring: Tod Slaughter , Stella Rho , John Singer , Eve Lister , and Bruce Seton
Director: George King
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002W4U0W
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Product Description

Unsuspecting wealthy customers have their pockets picked and their throats slit in Sweeney Todd's barber chair. His accomplice, Mrs. Lovatt, grinds the victims into the meat pies she sells in her pastry shop. Meanwhile, the mad barber has a romantic eye o

Customer Reviews:

(3.5 Stars) Todd Slaughter Is Sweeney Todd: Delightfully Melodramatic in Victorican Fashion.......2007-02-14

The name of Sweeney Todd is, and will be, associated with Stephen Sondheim's great musical (and a Tim Burton film perhaps), but there once was another Todd, an underrated artist who played the role of this murderous barber like no one else could do. In fact, no actor can act like Todd Slaughter today, and even Sir Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal `Cannibal' Lector sitting at dinner table cannot beat Todd who gleefully hams it up, grinning like a true demon barber.

The basic premise of this British-made film (in 1936) is not much different from that of the Broadway musical. The barber `polishes up' his unsuspecting customers sitting in the ingeniously-made chair that drops the body into the basement. There Mrs. Lovatt awaits the poor victims who end up being meat pies made and sold by herself.

But of course this is not Sondheim. Though Sweeny Todd is romantically attracted to a young and beautiful girl Joanna, the film (directed by George King, who churned out numerous cheaply made thrillers during the 1930s and 40s) is nothing romantic. Except for the brief frame story at the beginning and ending, the film is a melodrama told in a purely Victorian fashion. If someone like Charles Dickens had directed a movie, it would have become something like "Sweeny Todd" with a terrified kid, the hero/heroine in disguise and comical moments before and after the suggested shocks. The story actually includes many plot devices you may find in Victorian novels, and even brief, unexciting scenes of the `natives' attacking the voyagers, most of which we rarely watch on screen today.

But the star of this real curio is Todd Slaughter, whose theatrical acting style is the exact opposite of the method actors'. His hammy performances as demon barber chuckling and cheerfully chattering about his `job' have a peculiarly attractive quality that only Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff could realize. Surely Todd Slaughter is Sweeny Todd, the Evil that is fun to watch, though uncomfortable to be with.

MMM-MMM Meat Pies!.......2004-12-24

Sweeney Todd (Tod Slaughter) and his accomplice Mrs. Lovatt have a strange business relationship. Todd brings the rich victims into his barbershop, where he throws the secret switch to his trick barber-chair, sending them into the basement for a throat-cutting and fleecing. Mrs. Lovatt then makes mince-meat out of the poor saps in her shop next door. Sort of an ancient forerunner to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, SWEENEY TODD is a perfectly gruesome little story. I especially like the new apprentice, Tobias, who goes next door for those tasty meat pies whenever his new master gets a new victim for his razor. Tobias is the eighth boy in eight weeks to fill the job. The other seven have all gone missing! It's a crime that this film has not gotten the notice it deserves. It's creepy, ghoulish, and humorous. Tod Slaughter is menacing, and no more silly in this than Bela is in DEVIL BAT for heaven's sake! Sheesh! Well worth owning...

Blast from the past.......2004-11-16

The movie is a hoot, but the picture quality is poor, and the audio is just awful. But the movie is so off the wall, it's worth the $6.99 just as a history lesson, as they certainly don't make them like this anymore!

Villainy personified.......2003-02-25

Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (produced and directed by the great George King in 1936) features Tod Slaughter in one of his most famous roles. In my mind, no one ever played a villain more ably than Slaughter, and even though I don't consider this film to be his best work, he is marvelous nonetheless. Sweeney Todd is not your everyday barber, but as he gleefully says several times, he loves his work. He especially loves wealthy customers just disembarking from foreign lands. He puts them in his favorite chair, sends his apprentice next door for a meat pie, and then proceeds to "polish off" his customer. A surreptitious pull of a switch is all it takes to flip the chair over and dump the unsuspecting victim head first into the cellar. The meat pie seller next door is in cahoots with him and the dastardly pair split whatever money they find (though not 50-50 if Todd can help it). It is pretty much assumed that the dead bodies are disposed of, to some degree, in the meat pies sold next door, but this is not made explicit in the film (just as we never get to see Todd use his razor to finish off any victim who may not have been killed by his fall). Although Todd is making a lot of money, he wants more. He concocts a business deal with a ship owner that eventually puts him in the position of blackmailing the man's daughter to marry him (Tod Slaughter's characters always go for the ladies), and he even manages to get his rival for the girl's affections in his chair after the man returns home a rich man. Alas, Todd's brilliant villainy cannot last. The ending of the movie was a little bit disappointing to me because the heroes' plans of exposing Todd are really pretty foolish and seemingly of little use, and Todd's own actions at the end seem to defy logic.

This movie is really all about Tod Slaughter, whose remarkable performance more than makes up for some obvious weaknesses in the plot. Slaughter is, in my opinion, the benchmark by which all movie villains then and now should be judged. If you want to learn how to cackle with evil glee or wring your hands together greedily, just watch Tod Slaughter at work. I really loved the way Sweeney Todd told his customers he was going to "polish them off" just before sending them to their deaths. We see Todd's truly dark nature most clearly in his relationship with his new apprentice Tobias (his eighth apprentice in eight weeks, as the first seven have all disappeared mysteriously). His victims never see what's coming, but the poor child is terrorized by the evil barber. Todd, razor in hand, tells him how bad boys that see or say too much sometimes end up having their tongues cut out and other horrible things done to them. He is the perfect villain.

Tod Slaughter's melodramatic style of acting is different from what you will find in modern movies. Some may be inclined to laugh at his performance as he hams it up. This is actually part of the magic of his performance; he encourages you to laugh along with him all the way to hell. No one enjoys villainy as much as he does himself. If you want to see villainy personified, you simply must see Tod Slaughter's work, and there is no better introduction to his unique genius than Sweeny Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Not the Musical.......2002-12-01

To anyone thinking that this 'Sweeney Todd' will be anything like the musical, please think again - it's not, and couldn't be if it tried.

Average customer rating:

Kung Fu Master with a Neil Diamond haircut
Chiba is one bad mo'fo
It's good
this is not jean claude van damme
beautifully shot 70's genre action!

Street Fighter (1974) (Ws Sub)
Starring: Sonny Chiba , Waichi Yamada , Tony Cetera , Yutaka Nakajima , and Teijo Shikeharo
Director: Shigehiro Ozawa
Manufacturer: Vci Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00006JMRV
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Description

Also known as Kung Fu Street Fighter, a mercenary karate master is hired by Yakuza and Mafia to kidnap an oil magnate's daughter. After the fee for her kidnapping is denied, Terry (Sonny Chiba) converts over to the good side of the law smashing heads in and tearing off limbs along the way. Bonus Features: Sonny Chiba Bio| Scene Selection. Specs: DVD5; Dolby Digital Stereo; 92 minutes; Color; 2.35.1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - R; Year - 1974; SRP - $9.99.

Customer Reviews:

Kung Fu Master with a Neil Diamond haircut .......2007-05-25

If you like Kung Fu movies with the whacky sound effects and over the top facial expressions, this is definately up your alley.

The star of this flick is a "Ninja for Hire" of sorts. In the beginning of the movie he is hired to save a dude from the hangman's noose. He does an ancient technique to slow the heart and and stop the breathing of the inmate. So when the criminal is about to be hung, he appears to have a heart attack. Now get this. The yare about to HANG this guy, but since they think he has a heart attack, they send him to the HOSPITAL!!! To cover this buffonnery, the warden simply says 'It is the code."

Well the brother and sister that hired him to save their brother from the gallows, cannot pay him, so of course a fight breaks out. The sister is pretty hot and I only wish she did more high kicks. Unfortunatly the brother has bad timing. He attempts a leaping cobra front kick, but instead of hitting his target (his opponent's chest), he strikes the window and goes right through. Too bad they were at least 20 stories up.

This movie has a few scenes of people falling to their deaths with a nice, rich, red colored paint oozing from their heads.

This ninja man is bad to the bone and kills about 200 people in this movie. The only person he cannot beat is an overweight Karate teacher. The Ninja decides then that he wants to help a deceased billionaire's daughter. He decides to do this 'because I hate punks'.

So the rest of the movie is fighting, fighting, and a little more fighting. This movie follows the old school rules. If you are the hero and you are surrounded by 30 bad guys, they will only attack one at a time. It is best that way anyway. If you fought everybody at once, the camera could not concentrate on each victim. Who would want to miss a dude getting punched in the stomach so hard that a pint of creamed corn comes out of his mouth?? I thought it was a nice touch.

The ninja man has a sidekick, but he meets his doom on a motorcycle atthe hands of a bling swordsman.

The evil chick who masterminds the kidnapping plot is really hot, and likes to play Russian roulette on other people. She get's killed, but unfortunatly, she dies at the hands of the ninja behind an overturned couch, so we do not get to see her 'Death Howl'.

What I liked best about this flick is the dude's facial expressions. Half the movie is close-ups of his deep breathing and opened mouth scowls. There are also plenty of grunts, howls, and 'aaaauugghhhhssss'. His face is pretty talented and can twist and turn many different ways.

Chiba is one bad mo'fo.......2006-09-15

I agree with the previous reviewer. Terry Tsurugi is one of the most memorable and enjoyable martial arts characters ever. He's an anti-hero, not a smiling do-gooder. He helps break a guy out of jail, and when the man's brother and sister can't pay up, he throws the brother out the window and sells the sister into Hong Kong prostitution! Chiba's fighting style is unique. Whereas Bruce Lee fought with his trademark high pitched battle cry, Chiba does a strange deep breathing as a prelude to the painful punishment he's about unleash. Chiba uses a strange karate technique with some kung fu influences. It's not nearly as fluid and elegant and Bruce's, in fact a lot of his hand motions are kinda weird and awkward, but he gets the job done. And how! Oh, the plot? The Yakuza and the Chinese Mafia have teamed up with Western gangster's in order to force a deceased millionaire magnate's daughter to sign operations over to them. Terry switches sides and there is plenty of pain to be felt. Arm-breakings, eyeball-pokings, sword-snappings, throat-rippings and vomit-inducing punches, etc. The sequel, Street Fighter's Last Revenge, is also recommened. Fans seem to like it less than this one, but I found the action scenes to be superior.

It's good.......2005-07-27

'The Street Fighter' isn't one of the classier or more elegant martial arts films, but it's a lotta fun. The fight choreography obviously isn't as complicated or polished as you'd see in more modern films, or even some of the better films of the time, but it's still pretty cool. That, and Chiba's gots real charisma and presence, and is a very solid (...)hero. That's about all you need as far as character is concerned, in this sorta film. This film was infamously violent at it's release, and while this is gonna fade a lot over 30 years, some of the violence here is pretty amusing and impressive. I can imagine people falling out of there chairs while watching the (...) scene 30 years ago. In fact, I could imagine that happening to me now, if I hadn't known about it before hand. The vomit-punch is pretty nasty, too. That, and it just generally has a level of intensity and brutality lacking from most kung-fu films. (Note the scene where Terry breaks one dude's arm three times, right in a row. Painful stuff) The film does take a while to get going, as there is relatively little fighting in the first half of the film, but whaddya expect. It can't all be fighting. (And, some movies try to have too much fighting, which occasionally becomes more tedious and repetitious than just having everyone sit around.) And if avoids the common pitfall of having the neverending 1 on 1 duel. If two characters fight for more than 4 minutes, it's almost guaranteed to get boring. Fortunately, Terrry usually has to fight groups of opponents, which is the real way to go.

Yeah, I'm done. Very entertaining movie.

Grade: B-

this is not jean claude van damme.......2004-12-16

this movie stars sonny chiba. it is an old movie. not the jean claude van damme version.

beautifully shot 70's genre action!.......2004-05-11

Sonny Chiba really stretches it across the screen. The faces he makes! The story is that simple/complex gangster/spaghetti western fare, but this film is beautiful to look at. Great closeups, interiors and settings from Tokyo streets to woodsy sun-dappled river banks to oil tankers. Some creepy and outrageous side character/yakuza keep you on your toes as well. All that with a lotta red splatter and a killer soundtrack make this a classic. The DVD has a quiz at the end that is pretty dumb.

Average customer rating:

King of Kings
Director: Kevin Glover
Manufacturer: Phoenix
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000G1R33K
Release Date: 2006-08-22

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Gangsta King
KEEP IT REAL BATMAN
West Side!

Gangsta King: Raymond Lee Washington
Starring: Robert Stack
Manufacturer: KOCH VISION
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009V2K6
Release Date: 2003-07-22

Product Description

The social and racial upheaval of the 60's sparked the creation of politically and socially active clubs. Groups like the Black Panthers tried to protect their communities from the violence that was perpetrated against them in the name of racism. The demise of these groups led a young Raymond Lee Washingtonito create his own club with much of the same ideals and political ideologies that he admired. He formed one of the most infamous and feared L.A gangs, the Crips. In an exclusive first time interview, Gregg "Batman" Davis, an original member of the Crips, sheds light on the group and the man behind it all. Gangsta King: Raymond Lee Washington dares to dig deep into a world rarely seen by outsiders.

System Requirements:

Starring Robert Stack

Produced by David McKenzie

Running time: 60 minutes

Customer Reviews:

Gangsta King.......2006-02-17

Given the subject matter, one could hardly expect a high budget production but what Gangsta King delivers is little more than a modern day blaxploitation docu-flick. Understandably Greg "Batman" Davis is seeking to portray Raymond Washington in a favorable light but putting it out that Raymond was totally against guns and never carried one is taking it abit far. Contrary to legend, the crips were violent from day one as were the L.A. gangs which pre-dated their emergence. The most interesting thing about this documentary is Batman's photographs beyond that this is one documentary you would be best served renting or borrowing from the library. The historical recreations of past events is terrible due to poor acting and this sums up the rest of the video. Low budget, low quality, low class.

KEEP IT REAL BATMAN.......2006-01-23

I ENJOYED GANGSTA KING THE INTERVIEW WITH GREGG BATMAN WAS NOT EXCLUSIVE .I ORDER THE DVD FOR MY 11 YEAR OLD SON. MY SON MALCOM WANTED TO SEE HIS FATHER GREGG BATMAN DAVIS.GREGG REQUESTED A DNA TEST WHEN OUR SON WAS 2 YEARS OLD THE TEST WAS POSTIVE . I FEEL GREGG BATMAN DAVIS DID NOT TELL ALL THE TRUE FACTS ABOUT HIS LIFE.

West Side!.......2005-10-23

This movie doc. was all that and much more! I really enjoyed this Doc. I aften wondered why WEST COAST hip hop heavy weight BIG SNOOP DOGG. Stood with one foot pointing forward and the other foot pointing east. This movie will explain!!

One Shocking Moment/The Abnormal Female/The Maidens of Fetish Street

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One Shocking Moment/The Abnormal Female/The Maidens of Fetish Street
Starring: Kellie Everts , Althea Currier , Pamela Berkeley , Jennette Foster , and Carroll Wilson
Director: Saul Resnick , George Raders , and Ted V. Mikels
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000G8NXPK
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Description

Name Your Kink! Though Cliff Newhall loves his wife, he also loves to play -- especially after he goes to a nightclub run by Tanya, a scary semi-lesbian who doubles as a dominatrix. Pretty soon, Cliff is not only having a fling with his boss's secretary, but throws himself an intimate little orgy at Tanya's until -- oops! -- One Shocking Moment changes everything in this lurid sexploitation opus from the director of The Corpse Grinders!

Plus: Vickie is a sadist who loves "punishing" her boyfriend. Sherry likes "dirty sex" and being called "dirty words." Kathy enjoys "finding herself in strange beds" with men she doesn't know. And Janet and Barbara both learn they prefer loving the ladies. They're sick and they're proud, and they're all patients of a shrink who specializes in The Abnormal Female....

Product Description

A street gang initiation gone bad, a carjacking leaves an innocent man dead and the young killer free. Reformed, Dre sets out to bury the past, puts down his gun and befriends the family of the man he murdered. But breaking the rules of the street has deadly consequences. A story of redemption and making good that must be settled in blood..

Features:

Digitally Mastered

2.0 Dolby Stereo Surround

Audio Commentary with the Filmmakers Filmmakers

Interactive Motion Menus

Biographies and Filmographies of Cast and Filmmakers

Theatrical Trailer

Photo Gallery

Behind-the-Scenes Featurette

Optical Spanish subtitles

English Close Caption

System Requirements:

Run Time: 96 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

This Is A Good Movie.......2007-01-10

This movie is great it starts off strong some nudity some violence, but hey that's what makes a movie great. RonReaco Lee is a good actor he play's Dre. prefect. Bizzy Bone is a GREAT!!! actor he's serious with a don't mess with me adittude but mostly he dosen't care about anything! He even makes me laugh in some parts. He's got his own style but this movie is good it's worth buying! This movie will tie you into your seat. You can really feel the characters. It's not all gangsta, and drive-by kinda movie but, It's a must have!

Don't hate on bone........2005-12-18

This goes out to N!*#@ Please !!!. Don't hate on Bizzy. Bone thugs-n-harmony forever! Eternally R.I.P. Eazy-E.

Bizzy bone did a good job.......2005-10-31

this guy is funny as hell. why these old reviews saying they laughed at the movie. Better not hav laughed at bizzy. he is an intelligent guy. good laugh.

Reformed.......2005-09-20

I thought the movie was good. It gave me a great pleasure to see a young man that was caught up in a bad situation because of bad choices turn himself around and do something good for the family of a man he accidently murdered. Dre became redeemed and turned himself in to the law to confess his wrong. I think that the movie gives an excellent insight on what could happen if one confesses to what was done wrong and changes it to do what is right.

Bizzy iz Da Realest but what a shame.......2005-01-15

This movie stinks but Bizzy's in it so i gave it five stars but watching it the first 10mins or so i was thinkng it was gonna be a good movie but it turns on ya devastatingly please only buy this if you love bizzy because if you do there a parts that are worth it
HAVE A BLESSED DAY, THANK YOU!

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