michael-3204 Low-budget and above-average action from director Tony Leung, who also did the fight choreography. Top-billing goes to martial artist Gary Daniels, who was still very much in his on-the-job training phase trying to learn how to act (ten years into his acting career). The guy has the moves, the build and the looks, but he is stiff as a board when it comes to delivering anything but a well-placed punch or kick. He plays a semi-retired NYC cop with PTSD whose Australian accent is never explained, but probably stems from Daniels being unable to speak with an American accent.Much better are the triple threat of Chuck Jeffreys as a cop who reluctantly drags Daniels out of retirement, gone-too-soon Darren Shahlavi as the martial artist killer the two are hunting, and Frank Gorshin as a stereotypical police chief. Gorshin embraces the type with so such relish that he elevates the pedestrian material and makes a character with no surprises fun to watch. Jeffreys brings a similar, if slightly more understated energy to his role and makes him likable even when he's doing magic tricks at a murder scene. Shahlavi, in an early English-language role that is more substantial than stunt double in Hong Kong action films, is dynamic and wonderfully unhinged as a fighter who is systematically taking out former champions. You never know quite what he's going to do next, especially with his maniacal laugh, and he gets some of the best lines (not that there are many gems). After beating one opponent to a pulp, he exclaims in frustration "Why aren't you better?!," and you get exactly what makes this guy tick. He and Daniels tangle quite a bit as the film progresses and both are skilled enough to make the action come alive.The story and screenplay by Keith W. Strandberg isn't much to write home about, but it moves pretty swiftly. Leung, as a director, adds some nice touches, like the dissolve from a red moon to a red stoplight or the way the reflection from Shahlavi's blade lights the face of one of his victims, and he films 1990s ungentrified Manhattan with sufficient grime and grit to make one long for the old days. It's not exactly "Taxi Driver," but it's nice to see. (Only a few scenes take place in NYC, much of the film was shot in Wilmington and it is obvious and jarring when the locations change, but Leung still makes the most of the limited screen time NYC gets.) Mainly, though, it is Leung as action choreographer who shines here, packing the film with impressive sequences that take full advantage of his casts' athleticism. Despite clunky exposition and a leading man with some severe limitations, this is a solidly entertaining watch.

Comeuppance Reviews In New York City, a serial killer with a very silly costume (Shahlavi) is going around beating up/killing all the meatheads in town. Chief Hutchins (Gorshin) assigns police detective Chuck Baker (Jeffreys) to the case. Aside from being an avid martial artist and cop, Baker also enjoys magic tricks. But when the man known only as "the killer" ramps up his evil doings by taunting the NYPD via his mastery of the newly-formed "internet", a serial killer expert, Ken O'Hara (Daniels) is brought in to assist Baker. O'Hara is a good-natured divorced man with a young daughter, Lauren (Jones). Of course, he is also a highly skilled martial artist. When it is discovered that The Killer has murdered O'Hara's beloved, elderly, mustachioed Kendo instructor, and is now after his cousin Kelly (Rocci), O'Hara finally gets angry and wants revenge. Naturally, at first O'Hara and Baker don't get along, but they must team up to stop the mysterious killer with the detachable metal fingers.Bloodmoon is a very entertaining movie, and has a pretty insane, off-kilter vibe. Sure, it's a bit overlong at 100-plus minutes, and some of the more repetitive aspects of the movie could have been trimmed, but the excellent fights make up for any other minor flaws. It's all Hong-Kong style fast-paced, creative moves meant to please fans of this genre. No doubt this was due to the fact that this is a Seasonal Films production directed by Kuang Hsiung, who recently served as one of the action directors for Ip Man. And the writer, Keith Strandberg, is responsible for penning the No Retreat No Surrender and American Shaolin series. So that should give you some idea of what to expect here.Chuck Jeffreys has charisma and humor coming out of every pore of his body, and even his magic tricks come complete with wacky sound effects. His resemblance to Eddie Murphy/Robert Townsend is uncanny.Gary Daniels is, as always, extremely likable as the "mind hunter", or profiler. He really gives Richard Norton a run for his money in the "white guy with an accent who is an excellent martial artist but is also very personable and likable" department. The legendary Frank Gorshin is awesome as the stereotypical angry chief. It was nice to see him, especially in a role like that. Let's not forget Jeffrey Pillars as the classic computer geek Justice, and there's even an early appearance from wrestler Rob Van Dam. Brandie Rocci is nice as the spunky Kelly in a role that will remind you of Cynthia Rothrock. Shahlavi as the baddie, complete with metal shoes that make for painful kicking, was a cross between impressive martial arts and out-and-out silliness. Kind of like the movie itself, really.Add to that the nostalgic 90's computers (and surely some of the earliest references to the Internet, GPS, and texting ever seen on film - movies like this never get credit for being ahead of their time) and you have a rollicking good time.Great quality fights and many funny moments are the name of the game for Bloodmoon.For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

sveknu This is clearly one of the best movies starring Gary Daniels. There are two reasons for that. The fight scenes in this movie are just great! Well choreographed, really exciting and WAY better than some of the other crap that Daniels has taken part in ("American Streetfighter" or "Capital Punishment", anyone?). It's a shame that Daniels hasn't gotten more good directors to work with, because it's really great when it finally happens. The second reason why I like this movie, is because of the cool buddy cop-feel between Daniels and Jeffreys. There haven't been enough of this kind of movies for a while. The story is also OK, although everyone should watch this movie for the action, and only for the action!

Phroggy Most US martial-arts flicks are direct-to-video dreck, but this one has a real director and real visual flair. The storyline - a martial-arts psychopatic fighter terminates other champions in one-to-one fights - is classical, but this movie has good fights and production value closer to the best Hong Kong movies. If you're tired of boring stuff like the endless "Bloodfist" series, check this one out.