04-19-2015, 04:56 PM
This went direct to home entertainment. I did a quick interview with Dustin Nguyen, which didn't work out very well because the phoner was from Vietnam so their was a delay which fouled the timing of the questions. We wound up talking over each other too much. And then there was the Eugenia interview, which I mentioned on the Outcast thread. They gave us some combo packs for a sweepstakes. Combo packs usually do really well for us, but this one under-performed. I've had the DVD for some time, been meaning to watch it, but it just came live on Netflix so I watched it there.
ED and I were chatting about this and he made a comment how he liked to original as a good comic book movie. I've found several others in that same camp. The martial arts people hate it. The comic book people are okay with it (except Greg the Marvalman - what's up with that). Anyway, ED, if you want a combo pack of the sequel, just say the word and I'll send you my review copy.
The sequel, well, if I was RZA, I would be living my lifelong dream and making Kung Fu flicks. I get what he's doing with this now. RZA wants to make a Chang Cheh film. Those were great, very comic book, classic Shaw fodder, sanguinous, lots of wacky weapons, weird almost unfollowable plots, and great entertainment. But the key element, the Kung Fu, was awesome. That's where MwtIF consistently drops the ball. The fights are still the biggest weakness in 2. They are a little better in this film, but they could be so much better.
The first MwtIF was really overblown with Crowe and Liu and the big theatrical release. This one has much lower expectations as it's direct to home entertainment. The sets and locations are surprisingly stunning - they shot in Thailand and selected some great locations. There's even a Bollywood-esque number, a harem dance if you will. Coupled with the music, the soundtrack is spot on in several places, there's some entertainment value there. The soundtrack is the shining part of the film and takes center-stage in several segue scenes. The finale fight music is a nod to Morricone, like the first. The story arc is predictable for the most part. I give it a big 'meh'.
ED and I were chatting about this and he made a comment how he liked to original as a good comic book movie. I've found several others in that same camp. The martial arts people hate it. The comic book people are okay with it (except Greg the Marvalman - what's up with that). Anyway, ED, if you want a combo pack of the sequel, just say the word and I'll send you my review copy.
The sequel, well, if I was RZA, I would be living my lifelong dream and making Kung Fu flicks. I get what he's doing with this now. RZA wants to make a Chang Cheh film. Those were great, very comic book, classic Shaw fodder, sanguinous, lots of wacky weapons, weird almost unfollowable plots, and great entertainment. But the key element, the Kung Fu, was awesome. That's where MwtIF consistently drops the ball. The fights are still the biggest weakness in 2. They are a little better in this film, but they could be so much better.
The first MwtIF was really overblown with Crowe and Liu and the big theatrical release. This one has much lower expectations as it's direct to home entertainment. The sets and locations are surprisingly stunning - they shot in Thailand and selected some great locations. There's even a Bollywood-esque number, a harem dance if you will. Coupled with the music, the soundtrack is spot on in several places, there's some entertainment value there. The soundtrack is the shining part of the film and takes center-stage in several segue scenes. The finale fight music is a nod to Morricone, like the first. The story arc is predictable for the most part. I give it a big 'meh'.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse