Monkey Kung Fu Blu-ray Review

 

• Director ‏ : ‎ Mar Lo
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Chiu-Sing Hau, Siu-Tung Ching, Hui-Huang Lin, Feng Kuan
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic, NTSC, Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 29 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ March 22, 2022
• Studio ‏ : ‎ 88 Films
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Hong Kong
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

 

         Monkey Kung Fu feels like a Jackie Chan film in the way the fight scenes were choreographed. Not only are everyday items integrated into the fight scenes, but there is also a comedic tone to the entire endeavor. It makes for a highly enjoyable and entertaining experience all the way through, while also being one of the more impressive of the Shaw Brothers kung fu films. Released as Stroke of Death in North America, Monkey Kung Fu is hardly the most famous Hong Kong martial arts movie, but it deserves to be better known. Hopefully the new 88 Films Blu-ray release will introduce the 1979 film to new audiences.

 

Shaolin Mantis Blu-ray Review

 

• Actors ‏ : ‎ Chia-Yung Liu, David Chiang, Lily Li, Cecilia Wong
• Director ‏ : ‎ Liu Chia-Liang
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 36 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ March 22, 2022
• Studio ‏ : ‎ 88 Films
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Hong Kong
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

 

         The 1978 Shaw Brothers martial arts film Shaolin Mantis (also known as The Deadly Mantis) is almost like several films in one. While the first half is heavy on romantic and comedic elements, the second half provides nearly non-stop showdown sequences. Even with tonal inconsistencies and a twist ending that could be seen as frustratingly unearned, Shaolin Mantis is engaging from beginning to end.

 

The Outfit (2022) Review

 

6:45 Blu-ray Review

 

• 
  
• Director ‏ : ‎ Craig Singer
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Michael Reed, Augie Duke, Armen Garo, Joshua Matthew Smith, Remy Ma
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 36 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ March 22, 2022
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• 
  

         As many time loop narratives have been used in TV and film in recent years, new approaches to the trope are likely to be met with critical comparisons. This does not work in favor of 6:45, a horror film with a time loop set-up but none of the entertainment value found in Happy Death Day. At the same time, even if there was nothing to compare it to, 6:45 is unobjectively bad filmmaking.

 

A Journal for Jordan Blu-ray Review

 

• Director ‏ : ‎ Denzel Washington
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Michael Jordan, Chanté Adams, Jalon Christian, Robert Wisdom, Tamara Tunie
• Producers ‏ : ‎ Michael Jordan, Jason Blumenthal, Todd Black, Steve Tisch, Denzel Washington
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Blu-ray, Digital_copy
• Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ Portuguese, French, Spanish
• Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ Korean, Thai, English, Portuguese, French, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 11 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ March 8, 2022
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

         When it comes to filmmaking, good intentions are rarely enough, and A Journal for Jordan is a spectacular example of that. Based on Dana Canedy’s memoir A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor, the film follows the former New York Times journalist’s romance with 1st Sergeant Charles Monroe King. While the true story is showed respect in the efforts to adapt it into a movie, this often comes at the expense of good filmmaking.