Blood And Bone (2009) - A Review

 

This movie is so good!

Blood And Bone is a martial arts action movie released in the United States in 2009 and stars Michael Jai White, Eamonn Walker, Dante Basco, Nona Gaye, Michelle Belegrin, Bob Sapp, Dick Anthony Williams, Ron Yuan, Julian Sands, and Matt Mullins. It was directed by Ben Ramsey, with fight choreography by J.J. Perry and Michael Jai White.

Michael Jai White as Bone. He is a good guy you do not want to mess with.

In Blood And Bone, Michael Jai White plays Bone, a man just released from prison looking for a place to live in Los Angeles. He finds an apartment run by Tamara (played by Nona Gaye), who rents out a room for him there... as long as he doesn't bring any trouble there. Tamara takes care of 'abandoned' children at her apartment, including a young boy named Jared. Bone does look for trouble, though. He wants to get into the underground fighting circuit in L.A.

Bone becomes friends with Pinball (played by Dante Basco), a local fight promoter. He also meets James (played by Eamonn Walker), a local crime boss and fight manager. Bone is especially interested in James' girlfriend, Angela (played by Michelle Belegrin), which James does not like. Eventually, Bone becomes a sensation, using his martial arts skills to dominantly win his fights.

James wants Bone to fight for him, and he wants him to face the top underground fighter in the world, "Pretty Boy" Price (played by Matt Mullins). James wants to use this fight to elevate his ranking in the Consortium, the shady organization running the underground fighting circuit. We find out Bone is not fighting for fame or money, but to keep a promise. Will fighting for James end up making Bone break his promise...?

Eamonn Walker (left) as James. He is one bad dude. Ron Yuan plays his lackey.

Blood And Bone is one of those movies I've read is really good, but I have never been able to watch it. I finally found it on American streaming site Tubi (as of this review), so I got to see if it lived up to the hype. It did! In fact, it more than lived up to hype. I loved this movie! Not only is the action good, but so are the characters and the story. It goes a little deeper than just an underground fighting tournament movie. We see the street life, we see good people trying to make it in a tough world, we see race and class issues, and we see the best and worst of humanity in this movie.

Michael Jai White plays Bone as a stoic, disciplined man doing what he has to do to keep a promise. Eamonn Walker, as James, is also stoic (to a certain extent) and disciplined (he doesn't use bad language), but is also very narcissistic. Bone is genuine in his personality and motives, while James is all show. Dante Basco as Pinball brings a lot of the humor in the movie, and man can he talk! Nona Gaye gives an understated performance as Tamara. Michelle Belegrin as Angela Soto is a sight to behold, but she plays a very tragic character. You feel something for the characters in this movie, and that's a good thing.

The fight scenes in Blood And Bone are excellent!

Blood And Bone has a lot of exciting, hard-hitting fights. Michael Jai White is awesome in this. Not only does he do some impressive high-flying kicks, but he also does some submission work. The movie starts out with Bone being attacked in prison, and in this fight scene we see that Bone does not play around in fights! Of course, the best fight in the movie is when Bone fights 'Pretty Boy' Price. Really good choreography here, and Matt Mullins is an awesome martial artist. He is another guy that should be in more movies (I loved him in Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight, an underrated TV show).

There are a lot of martial artist/fighter cameos in this movie! Kimbo Slice, Bob Sapp, Ernest 'The Cat' Miller, Maurice Smith, Erik Betts, Gina Carano, Bob Wall, Fumio Demura, and Gene LeBell (among many others) all make appearances. Watch out for them!

As you can imagine, I highly recommend Blood And Bone. This movie is really good. In fact, I would recommend it to people who are not martial arts movie fans, too. The plot may be the 'basic' tournament fighting story, but there is a lot more to it. Even though the movie is a bit dark and gritty, it is actually very uplifting and inspirational. Plus, the action is excellent! Michael Jai White is a national treasure, and he deserves to be a huge action star. Check Blood And Bone out, you won't regret it!

Reviewed by David Williams

[Fight Scene Friday] Dennis Lafond meets the Mag-Fighters !

 It's Fight Scene Friday™, and this week's scene is what happened when Dennis Lafond met the Mag-Fighters! Yep, Dennis and Andy Long get it on in this one! Nice little tribute to the King of Pop as well. Check it out, not only is the action great, it's funny as well!

The Black Dragon's Revenge (1975) - A Review

Classic 70s cinema.

The Black Dragon's Revenge (also known as The Death Of Bruce Lee) is a martial arts/blaxploitation/Bruceploitation movie released in 1975 and stars Ron van Clief, Charles Bonet, Jason Pai Piao, Yuen Qiu, Lau Hok-Nin, and Thompson Kao Kang. It was directed by Tony Lou Chun-Ku, with martial arts directed by Chan Lau, Ron van Clief, Jason Pai Piao, and Leung Pasan.

Ron van Clief is the man in this movie.

In The Black Dragon's Revenge, Ron van Clief plays...himself. He gets hired by a mysterious wealthy man (played by Thompson Kao Kang) to find out why and how Bruce Lee died. Ron, being a close personal friend of Bruce, accepts the assignment. So he goes to Hong Kong in search of answers. Ron meets up with his friend Charlie Woodcock (played by Charles Bonet), an antique dealer and martial artist, and they travel throughout Hong Kong interrogating people. They face off against thugs who seem to want to stop them from finding out the truth. Little do our heroes know, there are students from a kung fu school who are also looking for answers about Bruce Lee's death. Perhaps if they worked together, they could find out what really happened to Bruce Lee.

Yuen Qui (left) and Jason Pai Piao more than hold their own in this movie.

I first learned of Ron van Clief from the Top Fighter documentary, and have always kept him in mind when looking for martial arts movies to watch. I watched that documentary in the 1990s, and in 2023 I finally watched a Ron van Clief movie! I knew (from the documentary) that he is a legit martial artist, and I watched his UFC fight back in the day, so I had high expectations for his action scenes. Ron van Clief does not disappoint in The Black Dragon's Revenge...unfortunately, everything else does.

This movie is straight up weird. Ron and Charlie go around asking people about Bruce Lee and about the way he died (even asking a Betty Ting Pei analogue questions at her apartment). Basically, the movie talks about all the different theories on how Bruce Lee died. This did not feel right to me. It felt...exploitive. I guess this shouldn't be a surprise, considering this is a blaxploitation and a Bruceploitation movie. The acting is stiff and awkward; there are many scenes of characters just walking to their destination, no dialogue or anything to keep it interesting; and the plot seems a bit convoluted, until the end when everything comes together.

Despite all that, Ron van Clief is very cool in this. He has an awesome look (the afro and mutton chop sideburns), and he has this swagger about him throughout. Also cool to see Yuen Qui in an early role (she played the Landlady in Kung Fu Hustle, 2004). She's really good in this! Jason Pai Piao is also cool in this movie. Charles Bonet, as Ron's friend Charlie, is interesting in this. Their friendship seemed genuine. Also, this has some cool music; though I must say it seemed a bit too upbeat in some scenes.

Ron van Clief kicks major butt in this movie!

The main reason to watch The Black Dragon's Revenge is the action. The fight scenes are the best part of this movie. Ron van Clief is the real deal as a martial artist, and he kicks butt in this. Ron's style is powerful and straightforward. Charles Bonet, as Charlie Woodcock, is a kung fu fighter, so his style is more fluid. Yuen Qui is also an awesome fighter in this, and she gets to show off her skill pretty well here. The fight scenes are rough and rugged, but very entertaining. They may not compare to the fight scenes that would happen about three years later in Hong Kong, but they are still very good. I also liked how the Hong Kong martial arts students in the movie were respectful of Ron van Clief's karate-based style. Very cool.

So, should you watch The Black Dragon's Revenge? I would say yes, just so you can see Ron van Clief in his prime kicking butt. The movie itself is very weird and awkward, with some weird comedic scenes as well. The music is good, Ron van Clief and his allies are good, and the fight scenes are good. Ron van Clief doesn't get talked about enough when it comes to great martial arts movie stars, so I thought I'd shine a light on him. Ron van Clief is the real deal!

Reviewed by David Williams

Baby Assassins 2 (2023) - Movie Teaser Trailer

 A teaser trailer for Baby Assassins 2 dropped, and it looks awesome! Baby Assassins 2 is a sequel to...Baby Assassins, which came out last year (2022). There is not much info out about this new movie, but here is the synopsis for the first movie:

Upon graduation, highly trained teenage assassins Chisato and Mahiro are informed by upper management that they will need to hold down “normal” jobs as a cover, and—even worse—they’ll be forced to share an apartment. However, after an unfortunate run-in with a Yakuza member, the two must band together to survive an epic fight for their lives.

And here is what I could find about the new movie:

 Those two are finally back on the screen...!?
The long-awaited sequel to the action movie of the killer girl duo!!!
His killing skills are perfect, but he can't easily fit in with society... Those two have grown (or not...?) Fun Youth Entertainment!!
A miraculous chemical reaction in which young talents collide freely!!!
Offbeat laughter and authentic action played by unique characters that seem to jump out of a manga!!!

Baby Assassins 2 comes out March 24, 2023 in Japan, and hopefully elsewhere later. It looks really good!

[Fight Scene Friday] PRIMAL

 This week's Fight Scene Friday™ scene is a short film/concept by Aaron Toney called Primal. Aaron Toney directed and choreographed this film, and boy did he make a banger! He went from making/participating in these awesome short films to doing stunt work in the Marvel movies. This guy needs to be the star of his own movie or TV show, that's for sure. Check it out!

 

The Flash (2023) – Official Trailer

 It's finally here! The official trailer for The Flash is out, and it looks amazing! Here is the synopsis:

Barry Allen / The Flash travels back in time to prevent his mother's murder, which traps him in an alternate reality without metahumans. He enlists the help of Batman and the Kryptonian castaway Supergirl from alternate realities in order to save this world from the restored General Zod and return to his universe.

This movie is based on the Flashpoint storyline in the Flash/DC comics universe. With everything that has happened with Warner Bros. and the DCEU, we will see if this movie will be used to reset everything and set up the new DC movie universe. It is great to see both Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck back as Batman, I must say. Also cool to see those certain villains returning.

The Flash comes out June 16, 2023! What a birthday present for me!

 

[Fight Scene Friday] Aaron Toney Vs. Michael Lehr: Fight Practice | DONNIE YEN INSPIRED FIGHT SCENE | ACTION CONCEPT

 This week's Fight Scene Friday™ scene is an action concept/practice fight inspired by Donnie Yen! It stars Aaron Toney (gray jacket) and Michael Lehr (black business suit) and was directed, shot, edited, and choreographed by Emmanuel Manzanares, so you know it's good! Check it out, it rocks!

"Ride On" (2023) (龙马精神) | Official Trailer 2 (English Subs)

 Check out the second trailer for Jackie Chan's latest movie, Ride On. Here is the latest synopsis:

Washed-up stuntman Luo can barely make ends meet let alone take care of his beloved stunt horse, Red Hare. Luo reluctantly seeks help from his estranged daughter and her lawyer boyfriend when notified that the horse may be auctioned off to cover his debts. Unexpectedly, Luo and Red Hare become an overnight media sensation when their real-life fight with debt collectors goes viral. And Luo gets a second chance to choose between his stunt career and his family. 

This movie looks like it could be really good! I thought this was going to be a dramatic comedy with not that much action, but this new trailer has proved me wrong! I can't wait to see this one! Ride On comes out April 7, 2023 (Jackie's birthday) in China! Hopefully an international release (unedited) follows soon.

 

[Fight Scene Friday] "SCRAP!" TARELL vs ROBIN (test fight)

 This week's Fight Scene Friday™ scene is a test fight between Tarell Kota Bullock and Robin Calvo! This is a Team Red Pro joint, so you know it's good! Really nice choreography by Tarell Kota Bullock, with both fighters killing it with their performances. Good use of music, too (a bit of a language warning, this is a classic M.O.P. song, and they go hard). Check it out!

 

Hydra (2019) - A Review

 

Hydra is an amazing action movie!

Hydra is a martial arts/crime movie released in Japan in 2019, and stars Mimoto Masanori, Miu, Nagase Tasuku, Nishina Takashi, Nomura Hironobu, Aoyagi Takaya, Tanaka Yoji, and Sonomura Kensuke. Hydra was choreographed and directed by Sonomura Kensuke.

Takahashi is a man of few words... and a serious aptitude for kicking butt!

In Hydra, Mimoto Masanori plays Takahashi, a quiet, somewhat awkward chef who works at a bar called Hydra. The owner of the bar is Rina (played by Miu), a young woman who inherited Hydra after her father disappeared. Another young man works at the bar, Kenta (played by Nagase Tasuku), who has a crush on Miu and is kind of uncomfortable around Takahashi.

One day, an older gentleman, Hasegawa (played by Nomura Hironobu) drugs the drink of a woman he is talking to in the bar. Takahashi sees Hasegawa drug the drink, and ends up helping the woman out of the bar when she becomes intoxicated. It seems Takahashi is always there to stop such incidences from progressing further. Hasegawa then tries to drug Rina, and Takahashi is able to save her. He warns Hasegawa to stay away from Rina, but lets him go. Little does Takahashi know, someone was watching his altercation with Hasegawa...

Rina under duress. Little does the guy know, he made a huge mistake!

The next day, Takahashi meets up with his former colleagues, who inform him that Hasegawa is dead. They want him to come back to their organization. It turns out this organization assassinates evil people; corrupt cops and politicians. Takahashi refuses to join back up with them, even though they tell him there is a new group of assassins who is going after them as well as the corrupt cops and politicians. As you can imagine, this new group is after Takahashi, and they know how to draw him out. Takahashi has to face off with the top assassin (played by Naohiro Kawamoto) of the new group to end this problem...

I shared the trailer for Hydra on this blog, and ever since then I've been on the lookout for it, because the trailer blew me away when I saw it. So imagine my surprise when I found it on the free streaming site Tubi a month ago! As you can imagine, I've been desperately wanting to watch this movie, but I had to clear out some time and get things done before I could do it. I finally watched it and... it was worth the wait! This movie is so good! It is dark and moody, stylish, and has amazing fight scenes. I am surprised not that many people know about Hydra; it is really an underrated gem.

The fights in Hydra kick so much butt!

The first ten minutes of Hydra has no dialogue, and that sets the tone of the movie. We see an assassination in these first ten minutes (and it is a messy one, I've never seen as assassination done like that in movies). There is also this amazing synth score that plays throughout the first ten minutes. From there we meet Takahashi, Miu, and Kenta, and we see how they relate to one another. It is a bit awkward, but it is humorous as well. Mimoto Masanori as Takahashi is a man of few words, and even fewer emotions. Great performance by him, it must be tough to not show any emotion, especially when the other actors in the scene are saying and doing funny things. Miu as Rina and Nagase Tasuku as Kenta are likable in their roles as well.

As the movie goes on, we find out why Takahashi is the way he is, his former occupation, and why he left it. We find out what happened to Rina's father, and we find out the motives of the new assassination group in town. You realize what an awkward situation and relationship Takahashi and Rina have. Some people prefer the bar scenes with Takahashi, Rina, and Kenta; while others prefer the assassin groups storyline. I liked them both. It provides a contrast in who Takahashi is now and who he used to be (but still is, deep down). There is some depth to Hydra.

The fights are fluid and fast!

There are only two major fight scenes in Hydra, but don't worry; these fight scenes are amazing! They go fast and hard during the fights! Naohiro Kawamoto, who plays the villainous assassin, is a monster! His speed and fluidity is incredible. In his first fight, he destroys the unlucky assassin who faces off with him. In his second and final fight with Takahashi, it is a battle to the death! They use knives, strikes, and grappling to take each other down. The final fight, is quite frankly, exhilarating! Great stuff! Mimoto Masanori as Takahashi also shows off his incredible martial arts skill in Hydra. We see Takahashi assassinate targets in his prior life, and we see he is a resourceful fighter. He uses his surroundings and random objects as lethal weapons. Takahashi is also fast and fluid as a fighter, so the final fight is a sight to behold! There are are other small fights and assassinations in Hydra, and they are also well choreographed. The two main fights are definitely worth the price of admission.

If you are an action movie lover, or a martial arts movie enthusiast, I highly recommend watching Hydra. It may be low budget, but the story, characters, and action make Hydra a must see. The end of the movie seems to set up a sequel, and I hope one gets made; there is so much that can be done with these characters (and I want to see more of Mimoto Masanori as Takahashi in action). I can't wait to see what director Sonomura Kensuke can do with a larger budget!

Reviewed by David Williams