Obviously the main benefit of DVD technology is the superior quality and general presentation for film fans. But, for some genres, five star treatment is less doubtful, and sometimes the most a fan can settle for is mediocre quality but at an extremely low price. Such is the case with Brentwood and this collection of 10 martial arts related films on five double sided discs. Still, kinda' a shame this is a gray market, less than legit release.

The Streetfighter (1974)- An exploitation classic. A masterpiece of 70's sleaze, funky music scoring, and Japanese karate action. Reportedly the first film to receive an X-Rating for violence by the MPAA. Sonny Chiba stars as Terry Tsuguri, the meanest, baddest mercenary for hire you'll ever meet. After he helps an underworld martial artist, Junjo, break out from prison, Junjo's family cant pay the bill, so Terry takes his sister as payment and sells her into whoredom. Terry then gets mired in a plot by the Yakuza to kidnap an oil heiress and take over her families business. When Terry refuses to do the mobs bidding they decide he knows too much about their plot, so they send assassins to kill him. They soon realize they picked the wrong man to cross, and eventually the revenge filled Junjo comes back to get even... Its got everything an exploitation lover demands. What ensues in The Streetfighter is some of the greatest b movie action, from teeth spitting kicks, to X-Ray skull smashing, head exploding, eye gouging, testicle ripping, wild, offbeat combat with one of the silver screens most charismatic anti-heroes. Uncut and Highly Recommended. (out of 5 possible) Movie: 4 1/2 Picture: 3 1/2 letterbox (laserdisc?) print shows some wear and tear, faded contrast and graininess, but is sharp, with good color and the best transfer you're likely to find. Sound: 2 ½ Dolby Digital 2.0 English dub or Chinese dub, some dropoff, volume is a little low, especially on background music and fx, but it gets the job done Extras: 1, 6 Chapters, DVD dictionary, Trivia, Rom links, and an old WB cartoon "Have you got any Castles?" Replay: 4 1/2

Blood of the Dragon (1971(?) aka The Desperate Chase)- Patriotic rebels try to overthrow the Mongol forces that have taken over the land. A mortally wounded rebel gives a key document to a wiseass street urchin and tells the kid to deliver it to Prince Ma. Our hero, the loner warrior, White Dragon (Jimmy Wang Yu- Chinese Boxer, Master of the Flying Guillotine), helps the kid deliver the secret message. However, it ends up that one of the many people White Dragon has defeated and disgraced over the years just happens to be Prince Ma's father. He is immediately challenged by the prince and White Dragon halfheartedly fights, retreating, and the prince basically carves White Dragon's spine up before he escapes. (Thus we enter into the Wang Yu Disadvantage Theory, which says: "When Wang Yu is at a disadvantage, be it armless, mortally wounded, against a supremely more powerful enemy, or all of them combined, his films are always better because we root for him more." It's the exact opposite of the Bruce Lee: "I Easily Kick Everyone's A** Theory"). Badly wounded or not, when White Dragon sees that that the message they tried to deliver was important and that the prince is a patriot, he knows that they must make amends and he must get the list to the Prince. The normal complications arise as the Mongol forces converge against the wounded White Dragon as he tries to 1.) not bleed to death and 2.) get Prince Ma to accept the message... The action is actually pretty average, solid but forgettable, other than the big fight at the end where massive carnage ensues as White Dragon and the prince unload on an army of Mongols and their leader who has a neat whip-sword. Wang Yu always did better when his stuff was outrageous, and this one just misses that mark, though he looks better with a weapon than in hand to hand combat. The soundtrack, by a group called Flood (obviously inserted on the film by some US/Euro distributor) is pure 70's prog rock and adds a nice giggle to the proceedings. This film was among the first imported Wang Yu/kung fu titles to hit US shores. (out of 5 possible) Movie: 3 Picture: 2, fullscreen, washed out, grainy Sound: 2 1/2 fair mono Eng. dub Extras: 1/2, Chapter Selections- Wang Yu Filmography Replay: 3

Bloodfight (1989)- Shameless semi-inspired Bloodsport knockoff Japanese action film. A late night cable favorite of mine and my friends to laugh at back in the early nineties. The great Yasuaki Kurata (Shaolin Challenges Ninja, Punch of Death , Millionaire's Express) stars as Masahiko Kai, a washed up martial artists intent on finding a protégé so he can reclaim his former glory and the World Free-Fighting tournament. He finds this student in Ryu Tenmei, played the great HK b-actor Simon Yam (Bullet in the Head, Hitman, Fulltime Killer). However, when the Ryu is defeated and killed by tournament champion Chong Lee (Bolo Yueng basically reprising his Bloodsport role with some added Crackerjack cobra tattoos), Masahko Kai begins to train and focuses his shambled life on getting revenge... Kurata is old and well past his prime, but still looks good. Basically the film is only interesting for its cheesball factor, and boy does it provide that in spades. There is some of the greatest phonetic 'Engrish' acting I've ever seen, and I'm a sucker for it- always gets me laughing. The fights are standard 80's cheese and pretty fun, but the films biggest selling point may be the gang of Japanese punks Ryu and Masahiko tussle with, who are a real riot, overacting to the point of abstraction. (out of 5 possible) Movie: 2 1/2 Picture: 2 fullscreen, basic grainy direct to video Sound: 2 1/2, Fair Mono Extras: ½ 12 Chapters- Lame Bolo Yueng Bio Replay: 2 to 2 1/2 depending on how late at night it is.

Punch of Death (1973 aka Prodigal Boxer)- Baby-faced Meng Fei (5 Masters of Death, Secret of the Shaolin Poles) stars as legendary folk hero Fong Sai Yuk. Sai Yuk provokes the anger of a rival martial school by inadvertently killing their star pupil. The students father enlists two bothers, including Iron Hand Tam, Yasuaki Kurata (Shaolin Challenges Ninja, Ninja in the Deadly Trap) to track down and kill Fong Sai Yuk. Attacking his school, they his kill Sai Yuk's father and he and his mother are forced into exile. His mother trains him to defeat the deadly duo, who the temperamental Sai Yuk is no match for despite being driven for revenge... Very good independent effort. Good story and locales. Fong Sai Yuk gets beaten up throughout most of the film, leading to good training scenes between the callous hero and his level-headed mother. I'm not a huge Meng Fei fan, so his presence as the star hinders the film a little for me, but Kurata's villain and the finale more than makes up for it. (out of 5 possible) Movie: 3 Picture: 2 ½ Very soft, washed out, and well worn widescreen print. Still fine, considering its age. Sound: 2 1/2 Pretty good Mono English dub Extras: 0, Just Chapter Selections Replay: 3

36 Crazy Fists (1977)- This film has the dubious dishonor of being one of those movies rushed onto video store isles to cash in on the mid 90's Jackie Chan craze in the US, and although often featuring Jackie on the cover, he only did the fight choreography for this middle of the road kung fu film and never appears onscreen (unless you get a copy with a behind the scenes opening credit sequence). Basic kung fu master student/revenge film, Wong Tai Kung's (Leung Siu Hung- Shaolin Kid, 5 Superfighters) father is killed by Manchu gangsters. He basically finds wacky training in two different kung fu masters, a by the book, strict monk and a drunken master, who both hate each other... Good elaborate fights with some acrobatics and weapons work is mired by the typical plot, comedic buffoonery, and bland direction by Jeung Wa Chen (Ape Girl, Half a Loaf of Kung Fu, Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin). The fights are entertaining, but its still just a so-so film; you can do a lot better, but there is certainly worse. This is the cut that includes a boob joke that is edited out of some prints. (out of 5 possible) Movie: 2 1/2 Picture: 1, Fullscreen very soft, very washed out, very worn, probably the worst picture of all the films in this collection. Looks like an EP vhs that has been played a hundred times. Sound: 2, Passable Mono English dub Extras: 0- Just Chapter Selections Replay: 2 1/2

Breathing Fire(1991)- Absolutely tepid direct to video action fare. Pretty family friendly, but like The Karate Kid for morons. The retarded script involves two brothers, one of whom is Jonathon Ke Quan (aka 'Short Round' from Temple of Doom and 'Data' from the Goonies), whose father, unbeknownst to them, is a bankrobber. When his gang (which includes Bolo Yueng) robs a bunch of gold and one of the members tries to stab them in the back, they kill the turncoats family except for his daughter who escapes to his old army buddy, Dave (a martial artist named Ed Neil, who looks like a sleepy Mark Harmon with Down Syndrome, and is a Power Rangers costumed actor). Well, Dave takes her straight to his old friend, coincidentally, the main bad guy. Soon, Dave and the two brothers are protecting the girl and getting traing from Dave... It is silly, stupid, and Dave, the only good fighter, gets his leg broken halfway through, so we then have the two teenagers forced on us as the heroes. Boring as Hell. (out of 5 possible) Movie: 1/2 Picture: 1 1/2 video fullscreen, very grainy Sound: 2 1/2 Extras: 1, 6 Chapter Selections, DVD dictionary, Rom links, Trivia, and an old cartoon "Spooking about Africa" Replay: 1/2 just for the scene where Bolo is in drag during the robbery.

Shoguns Ninja (1982)- One of a string of bad fantasy/ninja/campy weirdo Japanese action films put out in the early 80's. Another personal favorite guilty pleasure of mine since I was a kid. Hiroyuki 'Henry' Sanada (Royal Warriors, Ninja Wars, The Ring) stars as the sole heir to powerful family that was wiped out by Sonny Chiba's evil samurai commander. Escaping the slaughter of his family as a child, Sanada was raised to be a powerful fighter and given a sword that not only proves the legitimacy of his bloodline, but when combined with another sword, is a map to his families hidden treasure. So, he comes back to seek revenge and gather his families fortune, aligning himself with a sympathetic ninja clan, its an all out battle between them and Chiba's evil forces... There has never been a really good ninja movie, but there have been some gloriously oddball and amusing ones. Relentlessly offbeat from funky 80's score, to its wirework, swinging, reverse photography, trampoline jumping ninjas, to the indescribable Dance Fever, Flashdance, Jazzersize, interpretive dance that Sanada does at one point. It alone, is one of the most perplexingly strange things I have ever seen in a movie, making it worth a viewing for the b movie fan. (out of 5 possible) Movie: 2 1/2 Picture: 2 1/2 widescreen, but a little cropped and matted, unlike the stretched fullscreen print I used to always watch on tv. Good color and sharpness, grainy, but pretty nice. Sound: 2 ½ Mono English dub Extras: ½, 12 chapters- Chiba bio. Replay: 3

Legend of the Eight Samurai (1983)- Sprawling 130 minute epic, 80's, convoluted, cheesy, Japanese fantasy based on a famous tale. Directed by Kinji Fukasaku (Green Slime, Samurai Reincarnation, Battle Royale) and featuring a huge cast, the main selling point being Sonny Chiba and Henry Sanada. The basic story is about a select group of warriors who receive enchanted magic crystal balls. The warriors are supposed to protect the Princess of the Satomi Clan, which was all but wiped out by the evil witch Tamazusa, who bathes in a giant pool of blood to remain young... While epic in scope and featuring some huge colorful sets, crazy costuming, weird action, and multiple characters, it is very unwieldy and ultimately a chore to sit though. Despite the bad acid trip fantasy, the silly story gets too mired in its cast and the action sequences are too few and brief until the ending. It is bizarre enough and filled with many unforgettable images, like a celluloid video game, well worth a viewing for those with stranger tastes. (out of 5 possible) Movie: 2 1/2 Picture: 2 1/2 good color and sharpness, unfortunately fullscreen lessening the epic feel. Sound: 2, Mono English dub, some hiss and distortion. Extras: ½ 12 Chapters- Chiba bio Replay: 1 1/2

Blind Fists of Bruce Lee (1979)- Bruce Lee clone, Bruce Li in a Drunken Master knockoff, including Simon Yuen as the drunken, and this time also blind, master of kung fu. Actually this is one of the better ripoffs of Drunken Master, with mediocre fights, but actually some good comedy for a change. Bruce Li is Yah Chen Long, a typically spoiled rich kid and supposed great martial artist. Only thing is, his two teachers are fakes, teaching him styles like dog and cat kung fu ("This is the dog begs", "The cat cleans whiskers") and hiring fall guys for him to beat up on so he'll think he is a true martial artist. When real thugs show up and begin demanding protection money from the townspeople, Yah gets pummeled and quickly realizes he was being conned. Eventually he gets help from an old blind kung fu master, who teaches him true kung fu, and Yah returns to beat up the goons and reclaim his families fortune... Poor old pudgy Simon Yuen's fight double is a good 30-50 pounds smaller, but the neat training scenes and decent comedy make this old school film a worthwhile affair. (out of 5 possible) Movie: 2 1/2 Picture: 2 1/2 Your usual dirty fullscreen kung fu print, but okay, fair color, and good sharpness for an old independent cheapie. Sound: 2 1/2, Mono English dub, pretty good some distortions as expected Extras: 1, 6 Chapter Selections, DVD dictionary, Rom links, Trivia, and an old Casper cartoon Replay: 2 1/2

Fist of Fear: Touch of Death (1980 aka The Dragon and The Cobra)- As if the Asian film industry wasn't disrespectful enough in trying to capitalize on Bruce Lee's untimely death by creating clone stars, films, using Bruce footage over and over, here we get an even more blasphemous and completely idiotic American attempt. Composed as a faux documentary centered around a 1979 World Karate Tournament in New York. A documentary anchorman (Adolf Ceasar) talks to us about Bruce, his mysterious death, the karate tounamnet that may have the winner be his successor, while weaving in clips from various kung fu movies and Lee clips. They dub Lee's voice in an effort to make the clips appear like an interview. The kung fu movie clips are used in such instances as telling the (false) story of Lee's grandfather, a great samurai? warrior. Martial artist Bill Louie dresses up like Kato, and various other karate, martial guys show up, as well as Fred "The Hammer" Willaimson and collect their paychecks in various vignettes. Eventually we are treated to more karate tournament footage and more hideous disrespect to Bruce Lee. Maybe worth a look for camp value, but is ultimately disrespectful and stupid (Lee, a Chinese ,with a Japanese samurai grandfather, plus the focus on Japanese karate?) Its a wonder the Lee family let stuff like this get made. (out of 5 possible) Movie: 1/2 Picture: 3 1/2 surprisingly nice letterboxed print. Sure it shows lots of grain and such, but damn fine for a low budget movie. Sound: 2 1/2 Capable track. Extras: 1, 8 Chapter Selections, DVD dictionary, Rom links, Trivia, and "A Haunting We Will Go" Casper cartoon Replay:0

Conclusion- Okay, so, the quality stinks.- In case you werent paying attention, Quality=STINKS- But the price (I've seen it selling for between $10-$15) is right for the martial b film fan. Previously, I paid $4.99 for three of the films in this collection- Blind Fists of Bruce Lee, Blood of the Dragon, Streetfighter, and at the time thought I was getting a nice bargain. Pretty much, if you would even consider renting the films it would cost you more, and certainly a handful of them have good replay value. If you are the slightest bit interested in even a few of the films, dont care about the technical issues (vhsish picture, double-sided discs) well , it wont break your wallet to give this collection a try. Final Synopsis: A Classic- Streetfighter.. Solid Old School- Blood of the Dragon, Blind Fists of Bruce Lee, Punch of Death... Cheesy Fun- Shoguns Ninja, Bloodfight... Mediocre/Okay- Legend of the Eight Samurai, 36 Crazy Fists... Barely/Not Worth Your Time- Fist of Fear, Breathing Fire.