Wild movie from the Philippines, originally titled Lumaban ka, Satanas, features a man who is chosen by his dead uncle to battle the powers of evil, in the form, first, of “the Prince of Magic,” but eventually Old Nick himself. Fans of film oddities may enjoy it, but it isn’t very good. Not recommended. Otto …
The Tale of Zatoichi (1962)
A blind masseur who happens to be a marvelously skilled swordsman is hired by a crooked official for a battle against a rival gang. Zatôichi monogatari, the first of more than two dozen movies about the character, is a character-driven drama in which the viewer comes to know not only the title character, who is …
Siete minutos para morir (1969)
An American agent investigates the murder of a consular officer in Hong Kong and uncovers a much more complicated situation involving a list of agents that must be kept out of the hands of the Red Chinese government. There’s plenty of action, but overall the movie is unmemorable. Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie …
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Shaolin Tamo Systique (1977)
The always entertaining Polly Ling-Feng Shang-Kuan stars in this lighthearted movie, originally titled Shi da zhang men chuang Shao Lin and also known as Fight for Survival, as a young woman with an earnest desire to learn kung fu despite a prohibition on female students at the Shaolin temple, and her intense dedication ends up …
La sombra del murciélago (1968)
A disfigured former professional wrestler, El Murciélago (the Bat), driven mad by his condition, lives a life in hiding, scheming for opportunities to best other wrestlers — he has henchmen kidnap them and bring them to his secret lair for that purpose — and obsessed with a beautiful singer. Fortunately for the world, the masked …
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Yarasa adam – Bedmen (1973)
Action a-plenty and lots of dancing are to be found in this Turkish Batman and Robin movie that is marred by poor editing, unappealing “heroes,” and a rather jumbled plot in which the Dynamic Duo take on a murderous gang targeting various young women at the behest of a criminal mastermind. For completists only, I’d …
La mansión de las 7 momias (1977)
Masked wrestlers Blue Demon and Superzan come to the aid of a young woman trying to obtain a cursed treasure so that she can make restitution to the descendants of those harmed by her ancestor and thus break her family’s curse. To achieve her end, she must pass three tests, including finding a scepter and …
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Forced Landing (Paramount, 1941)
Eva Gabor had her film debut in this Richard Arlen actioner. Arlen plays a hotheaded pilot who comes to the country of Mosaque for work but clashes with a local military official (Nils Asther), particularly over the officer’s fiancée (Gabor). When the young woman’s father is ill and in trouble — workers on the vital …
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Shaolin Kung Fu Master (1978)
A killer is after the treasure of a Manchu prince, and others are after it as well, in this film, originally titled Zhui lie. Moderately entertaining but unmemorable action ensues. Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great. Movie 242 for 2021.
Atacan las Brujas (1968)
Santo squares off against a group of witches to protect a friend and his fiancée, with plenty of action that will appeal to fans of the wrestler and his films. Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great. Movie 228 for 2021.