bickeler Reviews

Star Trek: Voyager: Blink of an Eye (2000) Season 6, Episode 12

Excellent Episode Easily One of Voyagers Best But ....

[9/10 · 3 May 2024]

A great episode for Voyager for sure. The writing was excellent and the acting good if a bit wooden in a few spots. The but is the wasted opportunity they had. This show made so many bad 2 episode stories this could have easily better than most of them. Thing like the Doctor going to the planet were explained rather than shown all missed opportunities to be sure. Also none of the science was really delved into everything felt a little short in explanation and story. Although the performances were good they could have been better as 2 episode plot. The problem was well I hate to say it but too little time.

Still a Voyager Classic don't pass it by!

Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)

Could Be Worse as in NO Trek at all

[6/10 · 6 February 2018]

Not as horrid as some make it out to be. I'm an old school Trekker I grew up watching TOS in the 70s. This could be worse as in NO Trek at all on TV as it. has been for 12 1/2 years. I watched every Star Trek series when it was originally aired except TOS little young for that. I think the Movies they made recently are much more of a horror show than this series is. Yes the Klingon makeup is a bit overkill and the scripts need polishing but it beats rehashing TOS on the big screen with Red Matter ...barf. Complaints about tech are silly back in the 1960s 80s etc they could only do so much . We live in an era of Micro Tech now should we pretend we don't when making this series? Better to pretend TOS or TNG looked better than it did at the time. Discovery while not great does offer a door into the Star Trek Universe again and maybe with some input from the fans it can be great.

The Guillotines (2012)

Film makers are confused and you will feel cheated

[2/10 · 9 September 2015]

This movie offers what would seem to be a remake of "The Master of the Flying Guillotine", even if they put out something akin to it might have been OK. This convoluted mess is not sure what it wants to be a movie? a political statement, a Morality tale? It's none of the above it is a poorly directed and written disaster. The opening scenes offer us some cool if unreal weapons and some nice action. After that you will feel cheated as their isn't any action it's just slaughter whether it be brutal beatings, decapitations, firearms or even flame shooting cannons! The whole thing is a silly mess with no real plot other than these Guillotines being eliminated to get rid of a "stain" to the new Emperor. As if one could remove a stain from Qianlong and he'd come out rosy clean. he being guilty of genocide among other things in his reign. This movie want's to be The Last Emperor meets Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon but comes off more like Shanghai Noon meets 1911. The main characters are decent actors and the dialogue isn't that bad if they would just stop weeping for Five minutes this might have been OK. Ah well I can not recommend enough to not see this film please do yourself a favor and PASS.

Fat shan chaan sin sang (2005)

Excellent Remake of old TV series

[9/10 · 6 September 2015]

Very well done TV series from HK TV remade from an early 80s series.

Look for Yuen Biao in the lead, Gordon Liu as a police officer and many other character actors from HK Kung Fu movies. Yuen is very good in this albeit he is older and can not move like when he was 25. He looks good though and there is lots of action and a good story . Also Timmy Hung does quite well as the spoiled son who eventually reforms his childish ways. No it's not Fist of Legend as far the action goes it does lean on

the dialogue a bit more but the script is good and I had no issue with the translations to English other than the odd phrase. You need just a touch of imagination to work with most HK industry dialogue to English subs lol. All in all it is much better than many B Kung Fu flicks that I have seen and I found it highly enjoyable.

Tommy (1975)

Who haters Unbelievable!

[10/10 · 31 July 2015]

Let's stop for a minute and ask who was in this movie? Uh the WHO that's who! Jeez this was a great cinematic take on a great album and this was also pretty close to the Who's vision of Tommy. The music was there and just as great as the album and the cast was dead on even Oliver Reed played his role perfectly. Those who dislike this must dislike the WHO and the 1970s that is all I can get from that. Having grown up in the 70s, listening to the WHO and watching Tommy I can't say how one could say this is a bad movie shame on you! I always have enjoyed this classic and always will the mood, the music, the vision it's all there. Keith Moon as Uncle Ernie is deliciously evil , Anne Marget is perfection and Roger Daltry was great too! To all the Nay Sayers watch it again you must have left the room!

Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005)

As Good as TOS ever was cancelled before it's time.

[10/10 · 1 April 2015]

Not only was this as good as the Original Star Trek but it was highly original and was one of the best Sci-Fi TV shows ever. The acting was first rate and Scott Bakula made as good a captain as Shatner or Stewart did. The supporting cast lacked nothing there was character development, humor, drama, sex( a bit taboo on previous shows). The stories were some of the best of any Trek series. The old-new technology was titillating, fresh and just plain interesting. The prequel factor I saw as a plus and one that plugged right into Trek continuity. I watched this show from the time it originally aired Broken Bow to the last episode and myself I was never let down. However in my opinion many watchers couldn't take the true Science Fiction nature of this show. Even the original TOS would lack explanation or reason in many episodes. Enterprise offered time travel , new planets , new aliens , technology, there wasn't much missing. People I knew who had complaints at it's original airing had similar ones I see here and rather petty such as this show's Enterprise looked better? I think after 3 shows in the 24th century many people couldn't pull their imagination out of it and into the 22nd century.

The only mar to this fantastic show was they did drag the Xindi plot\storyline out for one too many episodes and I suspect led to it's cancellation as most people find it hard to keep up with a 2 episode plot but a season no. However if you watch the 4th season you see it's return to greatness unfortunately it had lost it's viewers in the 3rd season(not me ). People complain about a prequel but I find a reboot a pill I just can't swallow . Enterprise had a good run though and if you haven't seen it please do!

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes: The Cardboard Box (1994) Season 1, Episode 6

Brett's Last is one of his best! An almost Flawless Gem!

[10/10 · 1 August 2014]

Brett and Granada deliver in this taut and very well acted episode. Well above the last dozen episodes that preceded it. Some have commented about Brett not being at the height of his powers but rather the opposite nearing the end of his short life. My take is rather the opposite the tone of this story is rather dark and somber and Brett's performance matches that tone oh so well. The story of a new marriage gone wrong through the influence of a jealous scheming sister is the perfect dose of reality for a dark Holmes tale. The story taking place on Christmas no less really makes it even more so. Ciaran Hinds performance is Oscar worthy and Joanna David as the third sister is perfect. Hinds makes this dark and sordid tale even more so with a physicality and presence that is hard to ignore. Even Deborah Findlay puts down a strong performance as the jealous sister.

Holmes is tasked to not only sorting out this domestic disaster but also the case of grave robbers. There is more than enough story in fact it's amazing they put all in such a short episode. Brett even leaves us with philosophical musings about the nature of humankind and the evil that we do. Absolutely one of my favorites and I suspect it will be yours! I'm glad that Brett's last performance as Homes was one of his best, unlike a few of the other "Casebook" episodes. Not to be missed if you are a Homes fan!

Evil Dead (2013)

Not very good at all.

[3/10 · 19 January 2014]

Definitely not worth paying to see this one. The actors in this are sort of OK as normal people but when things hairy well not so much. The story is of course good the script well not so much. The effects are decent but by the end of the movie your suspension of disbelief has all but expired. And as many reviewers have said the characters in this are very two dimensional as no personality is established with any of them. In reality any Evil Dead movie is worth watching a third time rather than watch this once. The only thing that it really had going was the Plot and location. And yes the car in the yard was a nice touch and the house looked spooky. The rest well not so much, in the end this picture left me empty.

Drunken Monkey (2003)

Chia-Liang Liu !

[10/10 · 10 January 2014]

Chia-Liang Liu is still under appreciated unfortunately. This movie has great action, great humor, great plot and a great cast. What's wrong with this picture then(pun intended)? Many don't appreciate the old style Kung Fu movie meld of comedy and serious action. The most sterling example of this is Chia-Liang Liu's own Mad Monkey Kung Fu a tear jerker with comedy and action that makes it a classic. Here in Drunken Monkey he offers up not a sequel but a movie in the same vein if not as much a tear jerker. The cast including Jacky Wu's acting is good and at no moment in this movie are you left with time to wonder different as it's paced well. I think many have issues with the comedy aspect, maybe if you are not of fan of classic Kung Fu movies I can see. But that means the likes of Fu Sheng, Gordon Liu , Sammo and many others are not for you. As many of their best movies have strong comedic elements and let's face if life was serious all the time everyone would be depressed. Even the sets and backgrounds were excellent and I found it to be a worthy last movie for one of the best Martial Arts directors and action choreographers in the industry. Farewell Chia-Liang Liu you will be missed!

Legendary Weapons of China (1982)

Classic Must see

[10/10 · 9 January 2014]

Anyone who has reviewed this movie and stated the plot is stupid has no knowledge of 19th century China. In fact during the Boxer Rebellion these "Boxers" believed through rituals they could make themselves impervious to firearms. No I am not making this up and neither did Chia-Liang Liu and while he exaggerated and had fun with it for comedic values he was making an historical notation. The Martial Arts in this movie are exceptional and so is the outrageous humor instilled in this movie. Not only did he poke fun at the Boxers but also many of the Martial Arts movies of the 1970s that went a little overboard with the magical Kung Fu element. And all in the same breath showed the usage of almost every weapon used in Chinese Martial Arts. The talent in this movie speaks for itself aside from Liu and his brothers there is Fu Sheng, Hou Hsiao and the sweet Kara Hui. They don't make Martial Arts movies this original or good anymore either with all the Ip Man clones and CGI epics not even close. All I can say is Chia-Liang Liu you are sorely missed.... And the point is no amount of skill will help you dodge a bullet!

Badges of Fury (2013)

Not that Bad

[7/10 · 8 January 2014]

This movie is not as bad the reviews if taken as a comedy which I am sure is it's intent. I found it be very humorous and amusing and I am not a huge fan of International humor. To me as a Westerner International Humor just doesn't come across however the physical humor in this was very funny and there is nothing wrong with the plot. The script however needed some polish to be sure and that is why I rate it 7 out of 10. I would give it a 9 for the excellent use of CGI in making some very funny fight scenes and some of the verbal jokes and not so physical insinuations are amusing as well. The dialog does get muddled though in the middle of the movie and it probably could have been edited a bit better. In conclusion I would say the comedy and action scenes are worth putting up with what seems an unpolished film.

Five Elements Ninjas (1982)

Good Fun

[8/10 · 21 December 2013]

I would give Chang Cheh's effort a 9 for pure amusement factor and a 9 for the action as the weapons and stunts are a lot of fun. As far as plot and acting eheh this one not so much. The Five Deadly Venoms would seem like Shakespeare and this a bad high school play in comparison. The plot is complicated but very childlike in it's actual dialogue. The characters have no chance at development and the timeline is ridiculous (The girl is given 6 months hard labor and Ricky Cheng learns the art of the Ninjas in what a 5 week study course? As the girl is still doing hard labor when he returns) The costumes in here are cheesy but very amusing but still a bit too much to accept as reality(Makes Iron Flag costumes realistic in comparison). I say that as I can see a black or brown ninja costume but gold with shiny hats haha really? In total a somewhat silly movie that keeps one occupied the entire length of the film I wonder if Cheh didn't have a bit of humor in mind with this one as one can't possibly accept it as a straight action without laughing.But one wonder as the gore factor is rather high ?

Green Lantern (2011)

Excellent Green Lantern Too Comic like for non-fans

[10/10 · 3 January 2013]

I think the problem maybe that even in Green Lantern's heyday he was not the most popular comic hero. The real problem is this movie is too much like a comic and doesn't appeal to non-fans it's not just the the green thing . Being a Green Lantern fan of the Golden Age and Hal Jordan since the 70s my own view is Ryan Reynolds comes off as a nigh perfect Hal Jordan and the there is not much wrong with this movie I think there is just a lot of nitpicking because Green Lantern isn't Thor or the Avengers. I'm a fan of Marvel since way back when but also DC, you anti-DC types need to get a grip. This movie was easily one of the best comic to movie projects ever if what you want is to see a comic on the big screen not some bloated Hollywood farce.

Shaolin: The Blood Mission (1984)

Hwang Jang gets Bloody and the laughs keep coming!

[9/10 · 5 April 2012]

This is not your typical Saturday afternoon Kung Fu flick no matter what some may say. Hwang Jang is great and there is fine action sequences with the monks. The rest is well Hilarious and in a good but also bad. At first I thought this was a comedy like Prodigal Son etc no no this is just a really really badly directed movie. I can't blame the actors as Hwang at his worst is passable and the story has meat to it. No the director couldn't make this one happen and in the end decided everybody gets snuffed or maybe that was his intention either the results are Hilarious at times akin to Airplane! The best is the Abbot with the book "sewn" into his back!Which kills him upon removal haha totally ridiculous but delicious just the same. In fact half the movie is insanely ridiculous(you have to watch the monks burn) but it's very amusing and Bootmaster Hwang throws a lot of kicks in this one. Definitely worth the watch to either see Hwang or laugh yourself to tears.

Mai fu (1973)

Another unknown Shaw Classic .Mystery Kung Fu twist

[10/10 · 25 March 2012]

I am not sure why the first reviewer was down on this movie (Bad popcorn?)at all. I would call this a smart ,exciting and well acted film. There are few bumps in the road a few of the characters in here should have been fleshed out a bit more. However the main story is rather good and keeps your interest as our hero Hsiung Chao plays a rather intelligent and able lead. It's actually nice to see a Kung Fu film especially from Shaw where the hero isn't just relying on brawn or skill but brains. This movie is also a bit of twist as our hero usually played bad guys and our villain Chih-Ching Yang usually plays good guys like someone master etc. Everyone in this is petty,shortsighted and greedy except our hero and his lady who are far from perfect themselves,what could be more realistic than that? The fight scenes are rather good and realistic except at the very end I think it was bit forced as far who gets who goes.

Cha chi hu (1970)

Highly Underrated Gem from Shaw

[10/10 · 23 March 2012]

Excellent Kung Fu flick from 1970 in fact I'd say it might have been one the best of that year. The cast is very good including early roles for David Chiang and Chia-Liang Liu and of course Feng Tien in one of his better villain roles. Aside from the great story and cast the swordplay in this one only gets better as the movie goes on and the finale is worth the wait!Also while there are some crazy leaps the string swinging is tastefully done and works well for the storyline.Also don't miss Ping-Ao Wei in his best role ever as blind antagonist who fights with a spear!Even the romance in this movie is good with two heroines vying for the affections of Hung Lieh Chen and not the better for it.

The 18 Bronzemen (1975)

Underrated Gem From Kuo

[9/10 · 16 March 2012]

While not perfect I find this to be a highly entertaining film with excellent performances by the four main characters. Some complained of bad acting(Uh yeah and Jackie Chan can act?),bad dubs(watch the subbed version) and poor effects. I suspect there is a rather bad dubbed version out there. The subbed version I watched I got a while back and watching it for the second time my only critique is the Shaolin set (model lol)and the ending was little kooky(Doubles of the Villain everywhere ha.) it still delivered however at the very end. The story of three friends in Shaolin all sent there by their fathers for different reasons is one of the best I can remember in any Martial Arts flick.a young Carter Wong is fantastic as the serious Big brother.All I can say is I wish more Martial Arts movies were as well made as this one.

Ip Man 2 (2010)

Worth the watch never mind the story Sammo and Donny!

[9/10 · 4 December 2011]

The action scenes in this movie with Sammo and Donny Yen are insanely good and any martial arts fan should love them.Anything else is this movie is just butter on the bread.The story is good though and so is the acting here.The storyline is fictitious and the only non-fiction is the main character.But like I said who cares this movie is just good old Kung Fu fun! Sammo looks great in this film considering his age I should look this good at 60!Donny sets the screen on fire with his famous kicks and agility and still has most even though he is creeping into middle-age. To me this movie is a lot about a good solid old fashioned Martial Arts flick that focuses on the action ,decent story, good Kung Fu and decent acting which is surprisingly hard to find in today's cinema.Sad but true sigh.

Barry Lyndon (1975)

Good actors,great cinematography ,just a really BAD SCRIPT!

[2/10 · 4 February 2010]

Nobody could ever convince me Kubrick is a bad writer or has directorial issues.This film however after 3 hours of it I don't know what to think of it at first.Was he in a bad way at the time he made this?Personal problems?Or maybe he just convinced himself this was a good script.Someone on IMDb said the characters were wooden I agree but I would not blame the actors.The narrative to this movie is OK it's far from Clockwork Orange's level however .The dialogue is very weak stuff and makes the actors look as if they are not very good at all.It's an unexciting film even with the great cinematography it just bores the hell out of you.Honestly I had to break this movie into 4 parts as I was that bored in the first hour.Ryan Oneal while not my favorite actor is usually very good.In this movie he seems like a walking,talking automaton and not the title character lol.I laugh I know but it's so scarily true I am still in shock that a Stanley Kubrick movie came out this way.

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Very creepy

[10/10 · 28 April 2008]

I suspect this movies plot and point of view have a touch of realism too strong for many to swallow.

Like the almost hero(Josh Brolin)who instead of getting the girl and the money winds up in the morgue.

Or the Sheriff who can't make sense out of any of it.

And who can make sense of homicidal maniacs?

Ever try and figure out why Andrei Chikatilo or Ted Bundy killed all those people?Their mommies didn't love them ?That's the ticket oh yeah!

Read some true stories about crime for example.This stuff drags on and on and can be totally weird.

Most of the victims in this movie are killed because of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Brolin is the only one who died for a strong reason,greed got the best of him!(And how many of you were rooting he'd get away huh?)

Let's face it if he turned the money in he would have been fine.

So much for our hero.

It's hard to swallow the truth most times.I think that's why many choked on this film.

This movie is great for many reasons acting,directing,photography the list can go on.

If anything our killer in here might almost have to much point compared to reality.But not quite.

This movie is worth it just to see Bardem as the ultra creepy killer.

Well done worth a second watch.

Tou tiao hao han (1971)

Unreally crazy and quite bad directing

[3/10 · 20 April 2005]

Wow this movie was a total head scratcher.Firstly I'd like to point out the cast is a bit off.Not only in who is in it but who the star is!And after watching this and checking all the names in the credits and checking here and yes googling it.You know what I have no idea at all!But it's not Carter Wong or Lau Ka Wen aka Chia Yung Liu aka Lau Kar Wing.It's the cop in Turkey yes Turkey who's a karate expert but no names in the credit fit?Anybody see this and have clue who he is?Anyhow the director of this movie is probably the worst part of it.The action is decent in fact some fight scenes are pretty good.However the story is choppy,the acting weak and the speedup of the final fight scene didn't help at all.Although I give it 9 out of 10 for location shoots!The director was intent on spicing this one up with romance and fun in the sun.And hey watch Bolo run run run!Actually there's too much running in this movie entirely.This really could have been a good movie if not for the director I think lol.Oh and don't miss Carter Wong's extended cameo in the lead role!

Oh here's the spoiler there is no Ninja Killer at all!

The 7 Grandmasters (1977)

Great Movie even dubbed!

[9/10 · 20 March 2005]

Joseph Kuo made a great movie here and as previous poster pointed out sans any Chans or Lis it's awesome.The fights are realistic yet the moves are just to kool.The story could use a little polish here and there though.Aside from that it's a winner.So if you like any kind of Kung Fu vid don't miss this one.

You won't be disappointed by the stylish fights and solid footwork.And even though the story is a little rough it works well.The acting in this is also excellent.The dubbed version I seen was good no bad Cockney accents or really terrible translations.All in all this movie will leave you satisfied.

T

Shao Lin zui ba quan (1981)

This movie Rocks!

[10/10 · 15 February 2005]

Awesome Chia Hui Liu movie the fights are great.Now Albeit it is a low budget and the editing and dubs are pretty weak stuff.However the bad parts of this movie are just plain funny and the good parts wow.I would have to say the fight sequences in this movie are highly realistic no phony jumps or extraordinary feats.What you see is just good old plain Gung FU.And Gordon looks great in this so do all the actors as far as the Gung Fu.Even the story is decent I suspect it had a very low budget and slim timetable to make it.Don't expect polish there isn't much do expect bad dubs(Eng. Version),cheap camera tricks and a very brief ending!You will also see Gordon at his best and the one handed fighter is to good to be missed!

Fist of Legend (1994)

Perfect!

[10/10 · 31 January 2005]

Wow Jet Li is evil in this movie if you like action movies you must see this movie!It is without a doubt one of the best Martial Arts movies ever made.And yes it's much better than the original Bruce Lee(Sorry Bruce!)film.In fact you would be hard pressed to find any action movie made as well as this is.

It is Perfect Martial Arts flick.I have watched this movie 3x and can find no flaws.The fights are not only brutal,intense and wonderful but are also intelligently thought out.The acting is first rate and so is the rest of this movie.Even the villain is great.A true salute to Bruce Lee's legacy.My only issue with this movie is I wish I'd seen it 10 years ago!