Reviews
Mystic Blade (2014)
Simple, sinister, but really entertaining Martial Arts Action
Briefly about the plot: After several crucial missions, a Lone assassination warrior named Sam, abandons his ways of assassination from his former killer commando group, choosing a simple, ordinary, but exotic life in Thailand, another life style incorporating Buddhism in peace, getting married with a Thai woman and raising a child together in the Northern jungles of Thailand. But soon, it took an abrupt end, as Sam's former assassin partner tracked him and murdered his wife in front of his wife. With nothing left but his innocent son, Sam is taking up the ultimate path for revenge redemption, taking his kid alongside him in the most brutal sceneries in his quest for vengeance.
For an ordinary person, this movie would obviously seem to be crap. However, in the heart of Martial Arts practitioner or fan, who sees certain aspects from a different view, despite the simplistic cliché plot, I think that this movie is worth seeing, as one of Canada's rising stuntman, supporting actors in several International and Asian Martial Arts Action movies and leading personalities of Thailand's Asia Pacific Taekwondo Organization, displays a full array of exciting Martial Arts actions in his starring role.
Some short remarks, some story-telling animation flicks have obviously replaced some cost-consuming acting sceneries. Not that it is something bad. It was just a fact, from a production standpoint for a new and first time director.
It can only get better for his next project....
A big shout out to Master Don, (a former TKD teacher of mine, when I attended TKD classes in International School)
Sanctuary (1998)
"And the all mighty god announces..."
"...that this movie deserves a solid 7even." It offers the mainstream things that you would expect from a solid middle class Action-thriller.D The story centers around Luke Novak (protrayed by Mark dacascos), a former secret underground CIA killer who has escaped his past life as a killer, to lead a life as a peaceful priest, only to get caught up again with his past, upon meeting a former ally who asks his help. His former boss and his henchmen soon find out about his whereabouts and are starting a merciless vendetta against their former soldier...
The plot and the setting of the movie, plus the action displays a very solid atmosphere and entertainment.
The lead actor Mark Dacascos shows his versatility and demonstrates that he is more than simply just a Martial Artist, while exactly this aspect is actually his real talent which over the years hasn't been promoted for a greater main stream public. Yet in this case, and considering the Genre of being a dramatic Action thriller, this tiny little flaw can be overlooked, and be promoted into a solid B. The role of Luke fits remarkably well for Dacascos, since he seems to have a rather peaceful personality, and hence indicated in one of his interview that he intended to be a monk, something that really reflects that priest character that he displays.
Sanctuary is a movie that is worth buying. A Solid 7even...
Alien Agent (2007)
Agent Mark
First of all, I think it is way better than "I am Omega", BUT some aspects of the movie let me be disappointed. Well since I am very Martial Arts-oriented I make the short version and comment on those, particularly....
a) first fight: Mark vs Darren Shalhavi ( Yes I know this guy, a very neat Martial Artist, also unheard of guy Here ), the fight after Mark came out of the damaged car.... Yes, one of my personal favorite fights, a very consistent pace by pace choreography. Mark didn't use High kicks, only Close Range Counters, and a sweep at the end. Short, but very acceptable fight scene.
b) Mark meeting Isis and her bully partner: Mark fought well against the small fry, good average choreography.... but then seeing Mark struggling against Isis's partner without any Martial Arts move, was a little bit disappointing. Finishing off with a gun shot is way to easy...
d) Mark confronting Billy Zane and Isis. well let's get to the ugly part first. Billy Zane's performance was the most pathetic I have ever seen. First he commands Isis to kill off Rykker wimping "Kill him, kill him...." <- the way he said it, was already pathetic. A real main villain would have been more sinister,.... but after Isis obviously couldn't finish Rykker, he then wimped "Okay,... let him watch then..." And after he said "I will return with thousands (of troops)" that's where I started laughing at him... Man, and at the end, Ceylops didn't even return, HAHAAAAA!!!!
But now back to my real purpose the Martial Arts fight sequences: Isis vs Mark.... this at least should have been the highlight of the movie,.... but it didn't turn out this way,... AGAIN... Yes, I appreciate that the director let Isis perform some good Martial Arts moves with a Kunai-whip, pretty and good,... but again what about Mark the main actor??? I thought he would at least land 3 or 4 moves, of Punches and Kicks against Isis, and we Martial Arts fans would have been more than happy,... well at least Mark got a hold at Isis's Whip which deserve at least a plus point on my Skala,
e) And guess what there was another fight, somewhere on the roof top, against to mercenary aliens ( was it at Rykker's World or not ??? I am not sure ) Well anyhow. This is at least a worthier finish , and we see Mark kicking the hell out of the two bullies. This was a good fight in the end, and it saved my mood.
Overall this movie was way better than "I am Omega". It was not the neat Highlight as I had hoped for, but in general it was acceptable with some flaws.... This movie had some good average fights, but also some tiny disappointing ones, and a pathetic Billy Zane... My favorite fights were the one at the beginning and in the end, the one where he fought of those thugs. I must say, it is somehow again a little bit of a shame of how a director can portray a wimpy Villain Leader and didn't use Mark's incredible Martial Arts talent to full potential yet again.