Wong Chin (Jang-Lee Hwang), a country fellow, battles rivals, with the plot following the usual arc of such films with an early defeat and additional training in a new technique. Plenty of kicking action in this one, originally titled Jie dao sha ren. Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great. …
Read the full post →“<em>Hitman in the Hand of Buddha</em> (1971)”
Fans of the 1960s Batman might want to take a look at this 1966 Philippine movie featuring the comedian Dolphy in a dual role as both Batman (including his alter-ego, Dolpho) and “James” (i.e., James Bond). The two heroes (with Batman aided by Robin) are commissioned to foil the evil organization CLAW, which is threatening …
A race car driver (Etsuko Shihomi) doubles as a government agent as she tries to avenge her father’s death, aided by her step-siblings and a lady wrestler. The villains are ruthless and strange, and the plot is at times rather chaotic, but it does hold the viewer’s interest. Original title: Karei-naru tsuiseki. Mildly recommended. Otto …
Rogelio (Armando Silvestre) battles criminals as the masked wrestler La Sombra Vengadora (“the Avenging Shadow,” played by Fernando Osés). The bad guys are led by La Mano Negra ( “the Black Hand”), who is trying to force scientists to decipher a formula that he wants to use. This early luchador film is fairly undistinguished but …
Darna, the Philippine equivalent of Wonder Woman, battles the alien Planet Women, who have come to Earth to figure out a way to bring the whole planet across the galaxy to use it to house their excess population, coincidentally killing all people on Earth along the way. The colorful Planet Women (each is a different …
Read the full post →“<em>Darna vs. the Planet Women</em> (1975)”
Santo is pretty much all that stands between Martian invaders who wish to compel all of Earth’s people to join together in a subservient peace, failing which, they plan to kill everyone. The invaders make a start by vaporizing folks at a baseball game, but they also clash with Santo, who they quickly decide will …
Effective adaptation of Alistair MacLean’s suspense novel features a young and athletic Anthony Hopkins in the lead role as a British agent investigating just what happened to a ship that has recently disappeared — along with several others previously. The changes made from the book are reasonable, and the end result is a well-paced thriller …
Rather grim and quite violent Turkish cop movie, with Cüneyt Arkin as a tough officer who essentially loses everything and takes the battle to the crooks. Not recommended. Otto thinks you should avoid this movie. Movie 372 for 2021.
The Red Raiders is an exciting Ken Maynard cavalry actioner with good stunt work and impressive tricks performed by Tarzan. Maynard is a cavalry lieutenant out to stop a troublemaking young Indian leader, Lone Wolf (Chief Yowlachie), who is fomenting war, while also competing against his commanding officer (J. P. McGowan) for the affections of …
Read the full post →“<em>The Red Raiders</em> (First National, 1927)”
Where Eagles Dare is a fine action movie, filled with twists and tense moments, based on a novel by a master of mystery-filled adventure fiction, Alistair MacLean. At the start, a small group of Allied agents led by a British major (Richard Burton) undertakes a mission to rescue an American general captured by the Germans. …
