Chu (Ng Jan-Wei) reminisces of his youth island adventures, being a virgin turned über horny teen and in love with neighbourhood woman Tak (Lau Wai-Han). In the mix is also Tak's handicapped husband and her outgoing niece Pauline (Asuka Tamami) and since we're also dealing with a Category III rating here, the drama is all about da sex! Yes, Tak's husband has troubles in that area and when not satisfied, Tak is both drawn to Pauline and Chu, creating jealousy in Pauline who has forced Chu to be her boyfriend and further bla bla bla...

Desires and fantasies collide in low-budget, run down environments which surely is representing a village reality but with such inept drama at hand (despite the "art" above in the screencap), it's no wonder Leung Dung-Lei focuses on the sex...A LOT. What feels like a dozen sex scenes in 90 minutes, the erotica could've gone places had it not employed your typical jazz/lounge porno score plus at one pivotal point where Tak REALLY gets what she wants, angelic choirs are heard on the soundtrack! Hilarity ensues then and even great inserts of big engine vehicles during a sex scene has the laughing center getting a workout. The end credits show brief behind the scenes footage of yet another Asuka Tamami vehicle which is possibly Love In Sampan. Remembering nothing of that flick, it all doesn't matter but is a choice by the filmmakers to welcome us to the next sex-marathon. Who's willing...really?

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TROY'S REVIEW: Philip Ko directs and very briefly appears in this sadly, somewhat mundane war effort from Joseph Lai's infamous chopping shop, IFD Films & Arts Distribution. The story features a group of nine American Special Forces troops (including IFD regular Mike Abbott) who are dispatched to the Philippines in order to take on the Japanese army there. Despite one or two chuckles to be gleaned from a number of scenes (including in one when the enemy makes the bizarre discovery of a swear word that has been urinated into the sand) plus the utter historical inaccuracy displayed glaringly throughout, the film itself is regretfully a chore to sit through and is best done so with one's finger held securely on the fast forward button. A real shame. Also known as American Force 3: High Sky Mission.

Even for a no-brainer action flick, the Philippines lensed High Voltage scores astoundingly low. Although written by a woman, nothing but the standard cop (Donnie Yen) wants revenge on thug (Roy Cheung) for sadistically killing his wife-template is used, with quiet moments of character torment interspersed throughout to make us believe there's depth. You don't hire Donnie Yen for that but to flash his action skills. They're hidden in a murky vcd print and the poor editing, with the only clear moments being when Donnie Yen "blesses" us with his poses. While Phillip Ko makes worse B-movies, director Andrew Kam (Fatal Termination) not only disappoints but ends up dangerously close to Ko Fei's level.

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HK Flix.com

Korean superkicker of Drunken Master and Snake In The Eagle's Shadow fame, Hwang Jang-Lee knew he wasn't going to be able to escape his villainous screen persona working for others so with his own production company and himself in the directing chair, Hitman In The Hand Of Buddha became one of the rare ventures where he was the hero of the piece. Still a fairly tough sell in actuality but Hwang still knew a thing or two about the selling points of martial arts cinema of the time. Personal vendetta, comedy (with the main inclusion being a Beggar So-esque character essayed by Fan Mei-Sheng from The Magnificent Butcher. A role he inherited from the iconic Simon Yuen who passed away during the production of that film), uneventful middle section and some good ol' Shaolin Temple training makes for a typical template. Hwang Jang-Lee also knew why he was a selling point so the repertoire is firmly on display, starting with the trademark kicking showcase. But the package is a detailed combo of everything from props fighting involving benches and chopsticks to pole work and eagle's claw, all well supervised by action directors Corey Yuen and Mang Hoi. Co-starring Eddy Ko, Tino Wong and To Siu-Ming.

Worth mentioning is the Eastern Heroes dvd presentation that includes a rare Korean edit of the film, reportedly assembled by director Hwang Jang-Lee himself. While both this and the English version are still missing footage, the Korean language edit contains exclusive training scenes and extended fight scenes among other things. At times, in particular the beginning, the editing feels almost too rapid and obviously still in need of a spit polish but it's a very welcome inclusion after all.

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HK Flix.com

TROY'S REVIEW: Talk about screwed up timelines! This IFD effort is about as illogical as humanly imaginable. One minute it's set in the second World War and the next... in a sleazy 1970's metropolis with our protagonists seemingly not a day older! Well, what more could we expect from our old pal Godfrey Ho? But of course, if the above wasn't confusing enough, Ho also manages to edit in another tale featuring IFD regulars Richard Harrison and Mike Abbott as mortal enemies who spend the entire film trying to bump each other off. As you can probably guess, the two inevitably meet up for the grand finale which ends in typically abrupt style with one of the combatants sent to the great beyond with a well placed grenade. Yes, rousing stuff indeed... this is not. Whilst a sadly very rare title to come by, it's one that will be sure to please all fellow IFD fans immensely. Ah, God bless IFD.

The constant fight for supremacy within the martial arts world gets a wild and colourful treatment by Liu Jun Guk (Bastard Swordsman), a director not caring much about the fact that Shaw Brother's was on its downhill slide. It's obviously the response to Tsui Hark's Zu: Warriors From The Magic Mountain but with the polished Shaw Brother's touch to the spectacle. Ejecting King Hu-esque grace from this type of Wuxia, martial arts fans may have little to rejoice about as the majority of the film takes the undercranked, high flying, special effects route for its fights but boy what a fun time action directors Phillip Kwok and Yuen Tak delivers. There is some excursions into good caliber swordplay but elements such as Kwok's character being an expert at the Ghostly Laughter technique and Donald Kong keeping an English speaking demon at his lair overpowers the grounded elements if you will. But it's no trouble keeping up with Liu Jun Guk's manic direction as it's straightforward, small and witty (the use of what seems to be computer game style music is an oddly appropriate choice). Phillip Kwok also gives a wonderfully balanced performance, handling stoicism and the needed sense of fun perfectly. Also starring an adorable Mary Jean Reimer, Max Mok, Yeung Jing Jing, Lau Siu Kwan, Lau Suet Wah and Jason Pai.

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HK Flix.com
Yesasia.com

Around 1990, Taiwanese thrash meister Chu Yen-Ping (Fantasy Mission Force) had a rare outburst of actual creativity when he delivered Island Of Fire and the war drama A Home Too Far (quoted as a favourite of his). Although this was not so much evident in the Hong Kong versions of said flicks as they were substantially shortened in that territory, Chu's full length 2 hour cuts reveals fine intentions and instincts, some very much applicable to the presence of actor Tok Chung-Wa (largely cut from the shorter edit of Island Of Fire).

It's the horrors of war through the eyes of the desperate little man. Horrors concerning losing your buddies, futile fighting against a larger enemy, the toll it all takes on family and how you define national pride in the face of all this. Not as much of a propaganda movie as you would think, A Home Too Far involves through intense battles and a sense of humanity. The latter examination being portions of the film that do run a bit too wild with sentimentality which is a bit of a shame as the fairly involving drama can't reach any great poignancy therefore. It's still welcome, especially at 2 hours, to see Chu Yen-Ping showcase some actual strength and skill as a director. O Chun Hung and Andy Lau do solid, reserved work and Ku Feng also appear in a supporting role.

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HK Flix.com