When We Were Kings

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Decades ago, documentary filmmaker Leon Gast attempted to complete a feature about the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" championship bout between boxers Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire. Sundry complications, though, held up the project until its release in 1996. It was well worth the delay. From Gast's perspective of modern history, the six weeks Ali and Foreman were forced to spend waiting in Africa for their fight to take place now looks like an important moment in America's cultural understanding of African American roots. In a nutshell, Ali had been stripped of his heavyweight champion title because his opposition to the Vietnam War-era draft had landed him in prison. Reigning champ Foreman agreed to a Don King-promoted match in Kinshasa, but after all parties got there the fight was put off. Gast captures the charismatic Ali, in the ensuing days and weeks, going out among the people and getting to know them while the more reclusive Foreman keeps to his own company. Meanwhile, King brings over black American artists such as James Brown and the Spinners to mix it up with African musicians. The sense of excitement and connection is thrilling, as is the boxing footage of Foreman and Ali finally taking swings at one another in a titanic duel. Writers George Plimpton and Norman Mailer, each of whom was covering the fight as journalists, are on hand to recollect the details. Whether you're a fight fan or not, this is a unique experience and a fascinating insight into America's sense of identity. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

When We Were Kings.......2007-07-18

It's an intensely bittersweet experience to revisit Ali in his prime, when his verbal banter was as quick and devastating as his right hand. Gast's film is a thrilling ride, providing vivid testament to what made Ali so powerful and compelling both in and out of the ring. Both Norman Mailer and the late George Plimpton add incisive commentary.

Magical.......2007-07-09

This was orginally going to be a documentary about the music festival that was playing at the same time as the rumble in the jungle. The footage collected dust for years as nobody had the money to convert the footage into a film. Years later it was realised that the fight was actually more important than the music festival and the film was made. A little of the music footage is left in the final film and what there is is great, in particular BB King playing some stunning blues guitar.

This is a great documentary capturing the greatest sportsman of the 20th century at the height of his fame. Ali was perhaps physically past his best, but he still had the guts and intelligence to outwit a stronger and younger opponent. As a 13 year old I watched the fight live and to this day it remains my favourite sporting moment. Harry Commentator shouting "Oh my God he's won the title back at 32" still rings in my ears to this day. Of course this is an American documentary so we don't get the BBC commentary.

The contemporary interviews with Norman Mailer and George Plimpton (who were both there) add great insight into the occasion and they both tell marvellous stories about Ali.
Ali is very very funny on occasions and it is a joy to see the great man before illness set in a few years later.

As bonus items on the DVD you get both the thriller in manilla (Ali v Frazier) and the rumble in the jungle (complete). This is a must-have DVD for anybody who remembers when Ali was the most famous person on the Planet, and a glorious reminder of his many special talents. If you're a bit too young then watch this to find out what you've missed.

Great Kinetic Movie Making.......2007-04-24

Certainly one of the greatest sports movies of all time, and one of my favorites. I can't think of an athlete in public life who has brought me more pleasure than Muhammad Ali. This movie serves as a record of the man and his times, brilliant, funny, charismatic, and athletic.

Great Documentary about Ali's Fight with Foreman.......2007-04-08

I am a huge fan of Muhammad Ali. He had such confidence in himself (at least outwardly) that he taught me how to have confidence in myself. I have been inspired by his strong spirit.

You get a good snapshot of this in When We Were Kings. Ali is heavily favored to be knocked out by George Foreman, who enters this fight against Ali 40-0 with 37 knockouts.

But watch Ali draw strength from the African people in Zaire. Watch him as he focuses on both his training and in the PR for the fight. Watch him mix it up with James Brown in a concert in the days leading up to the fight. Soak in all the eyewitness commentary of Budd Schulberg and George Plimpton and others who were in Zaire.

This is a well made period piece, capturing Ali in the days prior to one of his best nights ever. Excellent!

Great Documentary.......2007-03-27

Great Documentary. It gave us a new perspective about Muhamadd Ali 's personality and all the details behind this fight. Definitely, a collector's item.

King Boxer (aka 'Five Fingers Of Death')

Average customer rating:

The influences this movie has... just call it the blueprint!
MASTER OF THE IRON FIST !!
A classic finally gets its due

King Boxer (aka 'Five Fingers Of Death')
Starring: Lo Lieh , and Tien Feng
Director: Cheng Chang Ho
Manufacturer: Weinstein Company
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ASIN: B000MM0LE6
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

Better known in the United States as Five Fingers of Death, this spectacular mix of martial arts action and Western-style melodrama from the legendary Shaw Brothers Studios helped to light the fuse for the kung fu movie explosion in the early '70s. Indonesian actor Lo Lieh is the young acolyte caught up in a struggle between rival martial arts schools; after one villainous outfit murders several of Lieh's classmates with the help of hired killers, he trains to develop the invincible "Iron Palm" technique and defeat the opposing school. Korean director Chang-hwa Jeong delivers stunning (and very violent) action set pieces (set to a dizzying array of American library music cues, most notably Quincy Jones' theme to Ironside) but also manages to create a compelling and dramatic sub-story about loyalty and honor. The result is a martial arts film that can be enjoyed by viewers who aren't fanatical about the genre and diehard kung fu heads alike. The widescreen DVD (which surpasses all previous VHS and DVD versions of the film) includes an interesting commentary track by Quentin Tarantino (who aided Dragon Dynasty in assembling its Shaw Brothers library) and critics Elvis Mitchell and David Chute, who discuss King Boxer's appeal and thematic similarities to Hollywood product; Chute is also featured with critic Andy Klein in one of three short supplements about the film's production and history, with director Jeong and martial arts choreographer Liu Chia-Liang taking center stage for the others. - Paul Gaita

Description

(Action) A young martial arts students quest to win a tournament despite numerous acts of sabotage by his rivals.

Customer Reviews:

The influences this movie has... just call it the blueprint!.......2007-09-05

Seeing this for the first time you may knock it for being fairly paint by numbers (train/tragedy/train harder/revenge/redemption)... problem is that this is one of the original paintings that the formula is based off! This is classic kung-fu action in the finest sense of the word. Lo Lieh as our heroic lead is great and shows flashes of Bruce Lee type charisma (but not nearly his furious fighting) and will have you rooting for him through every uphill battle he's in. Lots of cool characters and action scenes, including the 3 Japanese masters brought in to derail our hero (and bust his hands up real good!). The movie just oozes style and grittiness that in this new age of martial arts film we may never see again (Kill Bill excluded)... so sit back and enjoy it like the fine wine it is!

MASTER OF THE IRON FIST !!.......2007-07-03

Kudo's to the Weinstein Company for releasing this Kung Fu classic on DVD.The audio and video restoration that went into this DVD release is absolutely incredible and Martial Arts fans won't be disappointed."King Boxer" is presented in it's Widescreen format and enhanced for 16x9 television's.The films colors are incredibly sharp and vibrant and the mono sound is clear and crisp.The video transfer of "King Boxer" is the absolute best version I have ever seen and fans of the Kung Fu genre will be amazed by the quality of this release.Sound options include original Mandarin and English dubbed version and choice of subtitles.The special features are an added bonus,specially the Trailer Gallery.This movie has it all,non-stop action,fierce fighting and plenty of blood.Watch the magnificent Lo Lieh as he masters the Iron Fist technique and exacts his revenge."King Boxer" is five star entertainment at it's very best!!

A classic finally gets its due.......2007-06-19

King Boxer (aka Five Fingers of Death) came out in 1973 and is a classic example of a Shaw Brothers kung fu film - a genre they helped pioneer and perfect with this movie being one of the finest efforts from this time period. It also has the distinction of being the first kung fu film to be released in the United States, just ahead of Bruce Lee's equally influential Enter the Dragon. In the 1980s, it inspired filmmaker John Carpenter to make Big Trouble in Little China and more recently was a huge influence on Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill movies.

The filmmakers maintain just the right level of pacing with very short lulls between action sequences. Let's face it - we're not watching King Boxer for its thoughtful characterization. That is not to say that this film is not well made or doesn't take itself seriously because it does, but it is hardly Shakespeare either. Director Cheng Chang Ho employs sudden zoom in and outs and even the occasional freeze frame during many of the film's dynamic fight scenes. This is a beautifully shot movie with expert use of the 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio with superb compositions of every frame. The use of shadows for dramatic effect in one scene, and a brief fight that takes place at sunset that looks like something right out of 1950s Technicolor era, is part of the reason why this film is so revered among kung fu film fans.

King Boxer features betrayal, torture, revenge and even some heroic style redemption thrown in for good measure - all heightened to melodramatic levels making for a very entertaining ride. Our hero has to deal with a devastating injury and his own self-doubts before he can face the bad guys and use the Iron Palm technique to save the day. You soon find yourself rooting for Chi-Hao to win the competition and the cute woman he loves as well. Even though our hero triumphs at the end, it is a terrible cost with friends, family and his mentor dead or horribly maimed all because of a petty rivalry between two martial arts schools.

There is an audio commentary by filmmaker Quentin Tarantino and film critics Elvis Mitchell and David Chute. Love or hate Tarantino, the guy knows his film history, displaying an impressive encyclopedic knowledge of kung fu cinema. For example, he not only talks about how it was the first kung fu film released in America but then rattles off 5-6 other films that came after. This is a very entertaining, information-packed track by three guys who are fans of the film and display a genuine love for the genre. Highly recommended.

"Interview with Chang-Hwa Jeong." He talks about how he got involved with the film. Initially, he found the script to be "common" and studied Chinese history and literature in order to make improvements. He talks about some of the techniques he used to make the action sequences so exciting and visceral.

"Interview with action director Lau Kar Wing." Kar Wing was the kung fu director on the movie and speaks about how he approached the many fight scenes, including the challenge of matching the actor with their stunt double seamlessly.

"Interview with film critic/scholars David Chute and Andy Klein." Chute gives the film a historical context in terms of American cinema including its shocking level of violence at the time. They point out that the soundtrack was a pastiche of music ripped off of other film and that this would often hamper its distribution because of rights issues.

Also included are two trailers and alternate opening sequence that features very crude opening credits.

Finally, there is a "Stills Gallery" with poster and promotional photographs.

Average customer rating:

The Champ (1931)
A Story About True Devotion
A Classic
a film that pulls no punches
A Knockout

The Champ
Starring: Wallace Beery , Jackie Cooper , Irene Rich , Roscoe Ates , and Edward Brophy
Director: King Vidor
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B000BYA4H4
Release Date: 2006-01-31

Description

Grab your dreams, come out of your corner and step out swinging. The double Oscar winner The Champ is ready to take on the world! With feet planted, chin tucked and its heart unashamedly on its sleeve, this original father-son tale (remade in 1979) remains one of the all-time great tearjerkers. In an Academy Award-winning Best Actor performance, burly Wallace Beery - he of the fog-cutter voice and gruff warmth - plays the washed-up prizefighter making a ring comeback to provide for his son. Nine-year-old Our Gang comedy star Jackie Cooper is Dink, as devoted a son as ever stood in any man's corner. Laugh. Cry. Cheer. Cry some more. Even as The Champ breaks your heart, it heals the spirit.

Customer Reviews:

The Champ (1931).......2007-06-21

Vidor's gushy tale of devotion--about a big bruiser's bottomless well of love for his charismatic kid and number-one fan--is unabashedly sentimental by today's standards, but it still gets the tear ducts flowing. The aptly named Beery, with his tugboat voice and ruffled mien, won a much-deserved Oscar, while Cooper's wrenching, precocious Dink still remains the "Our Gang" star's most unforgettable role. (Beery and Cooper had such a fabulous rapport they went on to star in two more films together.) With its gritty look and a knockout weepy finale, Vidor's "The Champ" is an undisputed winner.

A Story About True Devotion.......2007-01-10

I enjoy watching The Champ movie because it is well acted in both the father and son roles. Wallace Beery gives a convincing performance as a despairing father who was driven to drinking and gambling but cared much for his son. He was aware that he had become a "has been" in the sport of boxing and was desperate to find a way to support himself and his child. Though Andy Purcell (Beery) had allowed these vices into his life, his love and sensitivity toward his son came through brilliantly in the generosity he showed to keep the boy happy.

Purcell's son Dink, played by Jackie Cooper, was completely devoted to his father. Dink was being raised in a less-than-desirable environment and had adopted some crude ways but, in spite of everything, was charming, friendly, and caring to his father and to friends. Though Andy disappointed him on a few occasions in the movie, Dink's loyalty and love for him came shining through to the very end when the boy witnessed the death of his father.

The story, acted out, brings tears, sentiment, and evokes tender feelings for both Andy who wanted so much to make his son happy and for Dink who remained faithful to his father through it all. The honesty in Dink's character provides a moral lesson and example for children today to stay faithful and to love and honor their parents, no matter what may happen.

A Classic.......2006-11-21

I was very familar with the reputation of the movie "The Champ" but never saw it until last night. I was prepared for a film heavy on sentimentality, a fair amount of action (in the ring), and a cute child actor. I got all of that but in a better package than I had expected. Although I was hesitant to give the movie a 5 Star rating, I did so on the exceptional acting from the two stars.

I have seen a number of other films with Wallace Beery and his character is generally the same in every movie; a sort of Victor McLaughlin with a lower voice. He's quite the likable character but what impressed me the most was the many times he spoke his lines as though they were an "in-character" ad lib offering. As I noticed those scenes, I saw others in which he seemed to speak as though from a script. However, his "aw shucks" style never varied and the way the words flowed seemingly spontaneously is probably the reason he won the Best Actor Oscar for "The Champ".

Beery had real competition for that award from young Jackie Coogan. I was equally impressed with his acting and I felt that there were parts of the movie that the director may have turned him loose to do his own ad-libbing. His emotions were very effective and never overdone, even at the end. The scene where he discovers that the drunk being brought to jail in the paddy wagon is actually his father is outstanding. There were many other noteworthy scenes of his as well. The supporting cast is rather standard fare and serves only to fill in the roles necessary for Beery and Coogan to strut their stuff.

The plot is rather predictable and you could sense the ending almost from the beginning. Much of the plot is there to enhance our appreciation of this father/son relationship. At times the scenes let us know how bad a father Beery is while other scenes (often the same ones) let us know how devoted a son Coogan is. I usually succumb to a good tear-jertker but "The Champ" left me more inspired by the acting than teary-eyed from the plot. Either way, this is a worthwhile movie to see.

a film that pulls no punches.......2006-09-06

the real one, not the bathetic remake with jon voight and icky schroeder. this stars wallace beery as the washed-up middleweight ex-champ (boy, does THAT strain credulity for the eyes!) and jackie cooper as the young son who is the adult figure to the man-child. both leads give great performances, and although it was beery who walked away with the oscar it was actually cooper who deserved it more (tho god forbid the academy should ever deem a kid actor worthy of such!) the movie clearly resonated with its depression audience, and holds up well today. its the rare tear jerker that stays away from mawkishness.

A Knockout.......2006-08-01

It would be easy to dismiss "The Champ" as merely a manipulative tear-jerker. Possibly, but if you're going to be manipulated at least have it done by the best. There is nothing slick here. Director King Vidor vividly captures the desolate seediness of Depression-era Tijuana. The film's climactic fight scene is very realistic. Wallace Beery won the Oscar for his role as the Champ but he could very well have shared it with young Jackie Cooper(not even nominated) as his wise beyond his years son,Deke. The chemistry is dynamic between the lovably grizzled Beery and the heart-rending Cooper. The formula here is timeless so the story doesn't date in the least. You could remake it today and I have no doubt it would still work. Which leads me to the 1979 remake with Jon Voight and Ricky Schroder. Despite the generally negative buzz that surrounded it at the time it's not that bad.

Average customer rating:

Kindness & Acceptance
Beautifully British
A Film Worth Seeing
Pretty boys, decent script, okay flick
So hilariously awful it deserves 5 Stars!!!

Like It Is
Starring: Steve Bell (III) , Ian Rose , Roger Daltrey , Dani Behr , and Jude Alderson
Director: Paul Oremland
Manufacturer: First Run Features
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 6305495750
Release Date: 1999-08-07

Amazon.com

Like It Is is much like watching a train wreck--the very idea of it is repellent and yet you perversely can't avert your eyes. While its urban grittiness and sooty veneer entranced some critics who mistook its violent, netherworld neorealism for art, Like It Is offers little in the way of redemption, positive gay imaging, or even particularly good narrative.

Paul Oremland directed this venture about a young, gay Blackpool tough named Craig (Steve Bell) who bare-knuckle boxes for money. He ultimately moves to London in search of a better life and falls in with the trendy London gay club scene, meeting and falling for a handsome record producer named Matt (Ian Rose) and his wealthy boss (played by the Who's lead singer Roger Daltrey). The better life is quickly tainted by disillusion and misery, much as is the viewing experience.

Steve Bell is, in real life, a featherweight boxing champion in Britain and therefore brings an urgent and raw vitality to the lead, but the characters as a whole are either irritating or unsympathetic, and it's ultimately difficult to find anyone to care for, or a story worth empathizing with. --Paula Nechak

Customer Reviews:

Kindness & Acceptance.......2007-05-10

This rental was an interesting evening's entertainment. Steve Bell was a featherweight amateur boxing champion when he was cast in this part and does a great job bashing in the competition's faces for the camera. As Craig, he plays a guy whose parents have died and is trying to find his way in the world. He hangs outside of clubs and looks at the men going in and out, unable to muster up the nerve to enter. He runs into Matt, a music promoter, played by Ian Rose. Rose appeared in the 2006 film "Flyboys" & does a fairly good job here as the sympathetic friend who helps Craig become comfortable with himself. What most appealed to me about the film is the tolerance of it. Christopher Hargreaves plays Craig's older brother Tony who observes his risky boxing bouts and tries to understand him, despite repeatedly berating him. After we go through the on & off romance between Craig & Matt, Christopher unexpectedly shows his younger brother great kindness and acceptance. The film ends on an upbeat note with Matt choosing love over business and Craig offering forgiveness. Enjoy!

Beautifully British.......2006-12-19

"LIKE IT IS"

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

First Run Features released a few years ago a wonderful little movie called "Like It is". It s the story of Craig, a rough kid in Blackpool, England, who survives life by picking up cash as a bare-knuckle fighter. Together with that, he has a hard time accepting the fact that he is gay. One evening he meets Matt from London who works for a shady but very enterprising music producer. Matt lives with one of his clients who has her own problems and Craig goes to London to visit Matt and falls in love with him. This along with many other problems makes for a tenuous situation and is the meat of the movie.
Let me start by saying that the actors are wonderfully charming and there is an excellent balance of humor, drama, action and more quiet interludes. There are also wonderful studies of contrasts. Blackpool is bleak while London is full of color, a poor lifestyle is contrasted with the richer people, an environment of repression is set against the liberalism of a sophisticated environment. The changes affect Craig and his character is what holds the m0vie together. He wants and needs to change but his idealism is rooted in the mentality of the north of England with its innocence and simplicity. Craig (Steve Bell) gives an outstanding performance as the fighter who has trouble accepting himself. It is not often that a young actor can send out such a positive performance in his first film. Physically, he is exceptionally good looking but it is his acting that shows him off here. He carries himself with a masculine swagger while exhibiting great tenderness. As he struggles with his own homosexuality, he will be respected by the gays that see him and the straight audiences will marvel at his talents.
Roger Daltrey of "The Who" plays his part of Matt exceptionally well and with candor. The rest of the cast is just as good and this simple and enjoyable film shows the evolution of sex and love in a relationship of two men in London. It is the constant contrasts that are integral to the plot and they are what make the movie really work. Craig demystifies many gay stereotypes and that in itself makes this worthwhile viewing.
This is not a perfect movie by any means but what it is, is original. The fight scenes are e classic but not overly choreographed and thereby realistic. I would not say that the movie reaches the level of some of the fine things I have seen on the BBC but I do think it is not far behind.
The love story angle is used merely to illustrate the coming out theme of the film. As Roger Daltrey as the older gay male watches the younger man make mistakes he is taken back to his youth and sees what he missed and at what he succeeded.
There are male on male sex scenes as well and they are in no way lurid and exploitational. Rather they are representations of what two men feel for each other and add a great deal to the film. This is a movie to not only be seen but to be adored. To some it may hit very close to home and to others it will be just a pretty movie. Either of those are good reasons to watch it.

A Film Worth Seeing.......2006-12-05

For years there were practically no movies with decent gay characters-- at least in these United States. Now we can hardly keep up with them, thanks to the advent of DVD's. "Like It Is" is one such film, not so much about coming out as coming to terms with your sexuality. Craig (Steve Bell) is a young man from Blackpool who has a rough and tumble time getting his life together. He falls for Matt (Ian Rose) who works for Kelvin (Roger Daltrey), an older, worldly conniving character who gets in the way of these two men and their relationship. Of course there is the obligatory girl friend type, in this case, Matt's roomie Paula.

This film, like many of this genre, has a low budget feel about it although a decent movie-- as this one demonstrates-- can be made without a lot of cash and fanfare. The actors, including Mr. Daltrey, give decent peformances. Craig-- a sometime bare-fisted boxer-- suffers a rather bloody boxing defeat but ultimately makes some progress in getting his act together, a step in the right direction.

Pretty boys, decent script, okay flick.......2006-04-10

An unpredictable, complicated story about a boxer/criminal "ingenue" who hooks up with a gay promoter in the music biz. Dig the London scene, the accents, ways of speaking that are superficially different from Americans. Watching these English fellows, one can definitely see we share much the same blood. Recommended based mainly on the competent, if not witty or profound, script, and the superb acting skills of the too cute boxer dude. The music promoter guy is also cute but just a little too cognizant of being so. This film gets my typical affirmative action for gay films, an extra star over what it would otherwise get.

So hilariously awful it deserves 5 Stars!!!.......2005-12-17

I first saw this at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in 1998. I left feeling....'that's over now let's get to the pub'...in short I was quite indifferent to it. Several years later it was on TV one night and I watched it again....and I realised how atrocious it was. A year or so later I wtached it again and this time another reaction to the film developed within me.....it was actually - if unintentionally - funny. We have the seasoned Matt demonstrating what can only be described as the most laughably innacurate London accent since Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. Then we have Craig....a supposedly bare knuckle boxer who doesn't look as if he could knock his way out of a soggy brown paper bag. Enter Roger Daltrey....anyone remember 'Buddy's Song with Chesney Hawkes? Roger please keep to music; and I can only assume the Dani Behr character was created by the vilest imaginable mysoginist. If you don't set out to take the film seriously you can really enjoy it. Horrendous dialogue and acting that would make an infant school Nativity Play look like a RADA production. If any of them had been alive Sid James, Hattie Jacques and the rest of the 'Carry On' crew would have made the film truly complete. Marvellous!

Average customer rating:

This Is Not The William Klein Directed Documentary
Muhammad Ali: the greatest

Muhammad Ali: The Greatest
Starring: Muhammad Ali , Sonny Liston , Angelo Dundee , Jack Nilon , and Chris Dundee
Director: William Klein
Manufacturer: PASSPORT VIDEO
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ASIN: B00005RERF
Release Date: 2001-12-18

Description

There is perhaps no person in the world who is more famous than Muhammad Ali. His picture hangs in the Smithsonian institution in Washington D.C. as well as on the walls of mud huts in underdeveloped countries that have never seen a boxing match.

This is the story of a man who changed the face of sports, and political action and popular culture in the twentieth century; and, who has gone on to become one of the great humanitarians of all time.

Through rare footage and photos, as well as vintage newsreels and interviews MUHAMMAD ALI: THE GREATEST is the definitive look at the three time Heavyweight Champion of the World. Taking you all the way from his early years in Louisville Kentucky to his triumphant return to the world stage at the 1966 Olympics in Atlanta, this program provides a rare glimpse at the fighter, the mouth and ultimately the man who has become a living legend.

Customer Reviews:

This Is Not The William Klein Directed Documentary.......2007-08-11

I actually did not watch it once I became aware that it was not the film I was looking for. Amazon made a mistake in listing William Klein as the Director - so beware. Through some investigating I've determined that the DVD I intended to purchase is a documentary titled "Ali The Greatest: 1964-1974." I've seen clips of it and have read many very favorable reviews - it looks outstanding...

Muhammad Ali: the greatest.......2005-12-14

I was disappointed in this movie poor poor quality. skipped. its a shame because he is an was a great man.(i didnt see it before i gave feedback). passport did a poor transfer to dvd. there are better dvd`s out there.

Average customer rating:

Great B movie Martial Arts

Catman In Boxer's Blow
Starring: Jonathan Isgar , Kenneth Goodman , Kenneth Woods , Bruce Fontaine , and Mark King
Director: Godfrey Ho
Manufacturer: Tapeworm
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005U13H
Release Date: 2000-10-31

Customer Reviews:

Great B movie Martial Arts.......2003-09-20

After being scatched by a redioactive cat, Sam a top U.S. Agent develops incredible super-human powers. By using both his laser vision and his amazing strengh, Sam and his partner Gus burst into an iron fisted, bulllet popping battle against the Un-Holly Reverend Cheever! Cheever plans to distribute nuclear devises and plung the entire world into a nuclear catastrophe. He must be stopped! Action Movie...

Average customer rating:

This is not the 1971 film called King Boxer
Kickboxer takes Revenge

King Boxer
Starring: Meng Fei , Tien Feng , Chao Hsiung , Nan-Kung Hsun , and Yasuka Kurata
Director: Cheng Chang Ho
Manufacturer: Crash Cinema Media
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Customer Reviews:

This is not the 1971 film called King Boxer.......2005-04-05

The 1971 film with the title "King Boxer" was the first Kung Fu film on general release in the UK and was first featured on the leading BBC TV show about the cinema. It was the start of the popularisation of the Kung Fu film genre in the UK.

This DVD was published in 1979 according to the cover. Be warned!

Kickboxer takes Revenge.......2002-01-27

This film is both a bit different, and nothing new.

The first ten minutes consist of shots in and around some sort of Thai festival with elephants. There's a glaring lack of dialog, which makes the opening of the film tedious. But, as soon as the visiting King Boxer meets up with his lovely young cousin (?), things begin to pick up.

They tour the city, and then King Boxer asks to see some Thai Boxing. She takes him to see a friend of her's, a pro kickboxer as he prepares for a match. Bad guys try to get the upright young boxer to throw the match, but he refuses. Naturally, this leads to a fight after the match, in which King Boxer lends a hand. Becoming fast friends, the two martial artists train together, and King Boxer teaches the kickboxer his special kung fu techniques.

Meanwhile, back in China, a bad Japanese businessman who is an expert in Karate and Judo, hears all about the famous King Boxer and decides to test him. He and his men beat up King Boxer's students and insult the Gym. When King Boxer returns, butt is soon kicked. But the bad guy is sneaky, and uses King Boxer's honorable beliefs against him. In the end, the kickboxer helps take revenge with his friend's special kung fu strikes.

There's a great fight between King Boxer and his foe's minions in the bad guy's lair. The last fight was also different, showcasing Kickboxing vs. Karate. In most kung fu movies, you never see someone in a non-Chinese or Western-looking boxing stance, and it was interesting to see the two styles pitted against each other.

It looks like most of the Thailand stuff was all shot on location, which does not mesh very well with the more traditional kung fu movie setting back in China, all shot on sets. Also, the image is slightly distorted on the ends, similar to the effect from the old Dimension 150 process (you can see the slight distortion effect in "Patton"), but even more so here. It only becomes noticable when the camera pans or shifts, and creates a strange "bend" to the edges of the image. I'd say it was the cameras used, not the print or transfer. And as a bonus, the film is presented in it's natural widescreen format (in fact, the DVDs in the "Shaolin Boxer Collection" that I've bought so far are all in glorious widescreen).

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

When We Were Kings.......2007-07-18

Magical.......2007-07-09

Great Kinetic Movie Making.......2007-04-24

Great Documentary about Ali's Fight with Foreman.......2007-04-08

Great Documentary.......2007-03-27

Great Documentary. It gave us a new perspective about Muhamadd Ali 's personality and all the details behind this fight. Definitely, a collector's item.

Average customer rating:

Docudrama Style
Waist of time and money
"Rocky" it ain't...

The Prize Fighter
Starring: Gary Busey , and Arliss King
Manufacturer: Mti Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Sports | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0006IUE4S
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Product Description

After a life of hard knocks and wrong turns, boxer Ed Jones gets a second chance at fulfilling his life long dream of a Championship. With the help of veteran promoter and the guidance of a former champ Ed embarks on the come back of a lifetime.

System Requirements:

Running Time 96 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Docudrama Style.......2007-09-05

I don't know if the people depicted in this movie are real or not, but it is done in a docudrama style, which probably accounts for its less than slick Hollywood production values. The story is weak enough that it seemed to me they were trying to get in the relevant facts of the prize fighter's life. I do have to say that having gone to university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, it rang true as being set in that area. The local boxing promoter made me think of the late-night advertisements for a local furniture store back in the 1960s. I think this movie would be of most interest to folks who lived in Oklahoma during that time period.

Waist of time and money.......2005-07-20

This is one of the worst movies I've seen. I'm a boxing and ultimate fighting fan and also like martial arts movies. The fighting in this movie is a total disappointment as well as everything else. The boxing is awful, which is the main reason I rented it. There may have been one somewhat entertaining fight but all I can really remember is seeing men basically slapping each other. The choreographer, director, or whatever didn't seem know what boxing is actually like nor put much effort into the fights. It looked like they just picked guys of the street and had them pretend to box. Fighting doesn't have to be realistic to be entertaining and too much realism will look sloppy and can be boring (I've seen many boring boxing matches). This is just sloppy.

"Rocky" it ain't..........2005-06-08

This film with a boxing theme is about a down and out man, Ed Jones, getting a second chance in life. It's also about the seamy side of the boxing world, with one promoter, Arliss King (Pat Richardson), putting on "Bad News Slugout" shows, which are ultra violent matches, and another corrupt promoter, Whitey (Gary Busey, who sells himself short in this part), out for the fast buck. Ed Jones has a lot of tragedy in his life, with a past of alcohol and fast women, a pregnant wife, and the desire to be a boxer. He agrees to do the "Slugout" shows, aiming for higher things in his career.

The production values, outside of the footage that takes place in the boxing ring, which is well done, are nil. The cinematography is truly atrocious (home movie quality), the editing equally awful, and the audio sometimes fades in and out, with the occasional strange dubbing, but despite the "zero budget" look, I'm sure the film will be of interest to fight fans. In a fine performance as Ed Jones, Rob Boyd has a good screen presence, and is believable as the central character of the boxer.
Leon Spinks, a great fighter who in real life has seen the ups and downs of a career in the boxing ring, has a small part, as does infamous skater Tonya Harding.
I'm giving this film an extra star, because even though the babes prance around topless in several scenes, we are spared the constant barrage of foul language that often permeates this type of film, and for this I thank writer/director Mark Mason.
Total running time is 90 minutes.

Average customer rating:

Shaolin King Boxer

Manufacturer: Coolung Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

In a botched attempt to help their partner escape from prison, two evil mercenaries are stopped by a policeman and a local hero. For revenge, the hero's family is brutally murdered. Now it's up to him to find the two criminals and put them away once and for all.

DVD:

DVD

DVD