AlxSmits Reviews

Beyond Hypothermia (1996)

A well made chick flick action film

[18 February 1999]

Another in a recent trend of artsy girl-with-gun movies that tries to play to the male audience with hardcore girls 'n' guns action while attempting to attract the female audience with a love story framework and complex feminine psychology issues. As such, both genres are compromised, but the result is a fine looking and well crafted dramatic thriller.

A decidedly different role for the frail and tragically pretty Wu Chien Lien, as she plays a ruthless and dispassionate assassin desperately searching for her humanity. Surprisingly, she does a remarkable job with the material and presents herself as a complex combination of harsh conviction and fragile vulnerability. Unfortunately, her character is so cold and soulless that you never really connect with her or care what happens to her, which ultimately threatens the emotional impact of the film.

Enemy Shadow (1995)

An engaging girls 'n' guns art film

[18 February 1999]

I've heard a lot of negative comments about this film, and in particular Jade Leung's performance, but I found it to be an exciting and seductively dangerous portrait of a policewoman who's torn between her corrupt superior officer and a reckless criminal. Jade Leung's stoic and disconnected performance perfectly reflects the frail psychology of her character as she slips further into desperation and recklessness.

The film resembles an art flick in its structure, tone, and execution, but the gritty action sequences that are sprinkled throughout help keep the film from becoming overly pretentious (Ms. Leung actually got severely burned in a mis-timed explosion during filming). Of course, maybe you have to be a Jade Leung fan or a girls 'n' guns fan to appreciate what this film is trying to accomplish.

Fox Hunter (1995)

Jade Leung delivers the goods in this intelligent girls 'n' guns outing

[17 February 1999]

Apart from the goofy and annoying antics of the obnoxious pimp character, I really enjoyed this femme fatale entry from action diva Jade Leung. In a genre that even the Hong Kong film industry is abandoning, Jade proves that she still has what it takes to kick some serious butt. She also shows a little more diversity as an actress and doesn't seem as wooden and stoic as many of her previous performances. Another welcome surprise is the inclusion of an intelligent and resourceful villain, who is just plain nasty and doesn't have to prove it with maniacal laughter and random acts of chaotic violence. A respectable budget, a decent plot, strong performances by everyone, and out of control action sequences make this film an action lover's treat.

Nerawareta gakuen (1997)

A sci-fi horror film that focuses on adolescent female angst

[16 February 1999]

Another Japanese teen sci-fi horror film in the "Eko Eko Azarak" vein that downplays the science fiction and horror elements in favor of exploring the emotional and psychological plight of the main character (played by ultra-cute Kazumi Murata). As such, it's slow and overly talky, and the action pieces and special effects sequences are sparse and all too brief. Fortunately, actress Kazumi Murata is charming enough and endearing enough to carry most of the film, and the awkward adolescent chemistry between her and boyishly handsome Shuji Kashiwabara is both touching and sincere. "Eko Eko Azarak: The Series" actress Hinako Saeki shows up as the main villainess and her fierce persona boosts the creepy factor of the film quite a bit. Like so many films of this genre, it won't play well to everyone, but it's worth checking out if you're interested in seeing how a group of Japanese high school girls handle a scary supernatural situation without slipping into gore and exploitation territory.

Angelfist (1993)

A femme fatale film without any femme fatales

[4 February 1999]

Once again I fell victim to deceptive video box art. Even though actress Melissa Moore appears prominently on the cover brandishing a gun, there is no gunplay in this pathetic low budget martial arts action film. The biggest problem with this film about a female kick-boxing competition is that none of the girls can fight! The main actress, who is billed as a legitimate award winning martial artist, only exhibits a handful of different moves, and all of her semi-competent fight scenes are laughably performed by a male stunt double in drag! Another fine example of an American girl-fu film that completely misses the mark.

Eternal Fist (1992)

Cynthia Khan outshines entire cast in her American debut

[4 February 1999]

Kickfighting champion Dale "Apollo" Cook is fighting personal demons and seeking revenge in this post-apocalyptic fighting tournament film. Even though Dale Cook is an accomplished fighter, he lacks cinematic style and grace, and is rather unconvincing as an actor. Fortunately, his cute and spunky sidekick (Hong Kong action star Cynthia Khan) picks up the slack and steals the show with her fierce intensity and physical grace. Although this film doesn't offer anything new to the genre, the fight choreography and execution is decent (especially by Western standards), and Cynthia Khan fans will be thrilled to see her kicking butt in her black leather and spandex ensemble. Marginally enjoyable stuff if you like fight oriented action films.

Eko Eko Azarak: Wizard of Darkness (1995)

A smart and sexy teen horror film

[3 February 1999]

Here's a sexy and bloody by-the-numbers supernatural teen horror film that somehow manages to be fresh and exciting. The tight and intelligent script is matched by high production values, interesting characters, slick special effects, and a haunting musical score. The direction is smart and generates a tense atmosphere of ever-increasing dread without dipping into cheap thrill exploitation. Highly recommended as a late night scare-fest - particularly if you enjoy watching girls dabble in the black arts.

Nemesis (1992)

A fun and above average sci-fi cyborg adventure film

[3 February 1999]

Albert Pyun's stylish direction and excellent use of dilapidated locales make this B-grade sci-fi actioner entertaining throughout (reminiscent of his earlier Van Damme vehicle, "Cyborg"). Although lead actor Olivier Gruner's wooden acting is often unintentionally funny, he has the look, physique, and physical grace to fit the role and to pull off the various kinetic action pieces that highlight the film. An adequate script and competent special effects also help to make this an above average cyborg adventure film.

Zero Woman (1995)

A barely competent shot on video erotic thriller

[28 January 1999]

This low budget, shot on video, erotic thriller is little more than an excuse to get model/actress Natsuki Ozawa naked in a variety of sleazy situations. The film attempts to combine the sexual charms of Ms. Ozawa with woefully inadequate action sequences, made even worse by the fact that she doesn't seem comfortable or convincing while handling a gun. Martial artist Kane Kosugi (remember him from those early 80's Sho Kosugi ninja flicks?) is the only one in the group who can throw a decent kick, but even he can't salvage the poorly realized action scenes. In its defense, the film is a step above similar Andy Sidaris get naked action fare in style, tone, and content, and is passable as a late night sexploitation romp. However, if you're looking for something more, don't bother with it. Additionally, don't let the American marketing of this popular Japanese series mislead you - this film was originally released in Japan as the second film in the series, "Zero Woman 2".

Cat's Eye (1997)

A super cool, ultra sexy, zany superhero film

[27 January 1999]

A prime example of what Japanese filmmakers do better than anyone else - take a ludicrous premise, give it a serious treatment, and somehow manage to make it all work. During the day, three lovely sisters run a restaurant called "Cat's Eye". By night, they don black vinyl fetish gear and become the notorious cat burglar team known as "Cat's Eye". It's a good thing no one has ever made the connection. A live action adaptation of the anime with the same name, it resembles the original "Batman" TV series more than anything else, with its tongue-in-cheek campiness and its arsenal of ridiculous gadgetry that would make Bruce Wayne jealous. To the Cat Cave, girls! Everything about this film is fun and light-hearted, and the entire cast looks like they're having a great time. The action scenes, though somewhat tacky, are hilarious and complement the campy tone of the film quite nicely. Not for everyone, but if you appreciate anime, superhero comic book mentality, playful campiness, and girls in vinyl suits, it's definitely worth checking out.

Eko Eko Azarak II: Birth of the Wizard (1996)

For fans of melancholic Japanese school girls

[26 January 1999]

Somewhat of a letdown after the exceptional "Eko Eko Azarak: Wizard Of Darkness", but if you like the genre, it's still worth checking out. Our favorite high school witch, Misa Kuroi, is being pursued by a nasty demon who keeps jumping from one host body to the next (like "The Hidden"). She is forcefully protected by a mysterious stranger (like Kyle Reese in "The Terminator"), and together the two of them find love and courage, and face the demon. As a sci-fi/horror film it's rather plodding and unremarkable, but what it does succeed at is creating an interesting character study of the melancholic plight of Japanese teenage girls. The entire film just looks and feels like shojo manga. Tragically beautiful Kimika Yoshino has matured as both an actress and a woman, and seems more confident in her abilities and more convincing in her role as Misa. The movie shares the same high production values and gory special effects as the first film, but without the sexual content.

Zeiram (1991)

A visually dazzling sci-fi spectacle

[20 January 1999]

A visually stunning film full of extravagant monsters and dazzling special effects. Director Keita Amemiya definitely has a flair for this kind of stylistic filmmaking and the film looks great, although the pacing could be tightened up a bit. What sets the film apart from so many others is the conviction and no-nonsense portrayal of the main character (Iria) by actress Yuko Moriyama. She offsets the otherwise campy tone of the film and lends it some credibility. Worth checking out if you're interested in a fun no-brainer sci-fi adventure stocked with girls, guns, gadgets, and monsters.

Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion (1995)

The best Japanese monster movie I've ever seen

[15 January 1999]

This movie rocks! Gamera gets a serious facelift for this feature, with a sleek new look and a bad attitude. No longer is he a hero just for the kiddies, but a serious threat to anything that gets in his way. The film looks great, has high production values, state of the art special effects, a killer music score, a tough no-nonsense attitude, and massive large scale destruction. Monster movie fans are sure to be thrilled. Even without the benefit of subtitles I found the film to be riveting from start to finish. Highly recommended.

Lethal Panther (1990)

A guilty pleasure for girls 'n' guns fans.

[13 January 1999]

This is far from great filmmaking, but it may well represent the pinnacle of femme fatale, or "girls with guns", action cinema. What it lacks in production value, it more than makes up for in attitude and content. The three female leads are superb in their unflinching no-nonsense roles, with Filipino beauty queen Maria Jo leading the pack with her sizzling intensity. Despite the low production value, poor continuity, and music score cannibalized from a dozen other films, this violent and bloody John Woo inspired actioner features impressive camera work, exciting gunplay, and energetic fight choreography. Apart from a handful of sleazy and gratuitous sex scenes, I would highly recommend this film to anyone interested in the genre.

Zeiram 2 (1994)

A must-see film for femme fatale fans

[6 January 1999]

This is one of my top ten favorite films. Although it is essentially an inferior remake of the original "Zeiram", where it really shines is in actress Yuko Moriyama's portrayal of the principal character, Iria. Her character has been refined and fleshed out considerably since the first film, and Ms. Moriyama's uncompromising presence, radiant beauty, and fierce intensity quickly elevate the film from mediocrity. Fans of science fiction, Japanese monster movies, and femme fatales will all find something to like in this film. The weakest links in the film are the challenging pace (typical in Japanese cinema) and the return of Teppei and Kamiya to provide mirthful moments of comedic relief. Typical of Director Keita Amemiya's other work, he seems more interested in delivering a stylistic and visually stunning film instead of a cohesive narrative, but on that level it succeeds with flying colors.