JLW Reviews

An Empress and the Warriors (2008)

Feels more like a TV series

[6/10 · 2 June 2008]

This is one of those movies that you can tell is trying to be good but ends up being mediocre. There is a love story that is way out of place during a war between the Yan and the Zhao, a love triangle between Donnie Yen, and an ambitious Nephew who will seem to do anything to take over the throne. All of these stories could be well off on their own, but the director doesn't explore either to a satisfaction. Martial arts fans will see a duel between Leon Lai and Donnie Yen, but it feels like it was just placed there just for the sake of having them fight each other.

There is good stuff here, but it is rushed and clichéd to the point where it feels like you are buying one of those TV drama DVD sets.

The World Is Not Enough (1999)

An exciting thriller

[6/10 · 19 November 1999]

The film starts out with an excellent boat chase, but after that, things start to fall down. Pierce Brosnan returns as Bond in his best one yet. The film ends with a disappointing climax but the film was awesome.

I would probably rate this 3 out of 4 stars

A Hero Never Dies (1998)

A Lot of Shooting

[7/10 · 7 April 1999]

This movie was kind of ridiculous. It's about two gangs that fight each other. Each of the gang's best members got kicked out (in a shoot-out, of course). One gets shot a lot of times, the other loses his legs. This teaches us a valuable lesson, don't get shot. They both survive. One vows for revenge on his boss, the other for his boss. There are many violent gun fights, they're a little ridiculous (get shot? no problem, just keep shooting back!).

7/10

The Matrix (1999)

Awesome graphics and action scenes

[10/10 · 2 April 1999]

Whoa, the only word that came into my head was "awesome" when I was watching this. The storyline is a little silly, but the action sequences were so cool. The actors would have shoot outs and martial arts fights, all of them really long and graphic. Like when they shoot they fly through the air shooting each other and dodging bullets. The martial art sequences were nice because...it's the Matrix! You can kick a lot higher there...

*** out of four