The killer maniac tracks down and kills his victims, but not just anyone, but the strongest masters of martial arts. The police are powerless. And then the killer leaves no evidence and confuses the detectives with messages over the digital network. We have to turn to former serial killer specialist Ken O'Hare.
The film was shot in the era of the expansion of Asian actors and directors in American cinema. Together with John Wu, Ringo Lam, Cui Hark, Jackie Chan, Jet Lee, smaller masters came. One of them was Tony Leung Siu Hung. This is his penultimate and probably his best film. In the typical style of an American action movie, he made an Asian drive.
The main role here is Gary Daniels, the star of the second-row action. Daniels, unlike many film fighters, does know how to play, but he is catastrophically unlucky with suppliers and projects. And movies where he is in the lead role a little. That's the best one. He is good here, fights a lot, plays the image of a calm and reasonable hero. There is in the tradition of the genre and a funny African-American partner in the face of a certain Chuck Jeffries. Well, everyone is eclipsed by his appearance of the villain performed by Darren Shahlavi. His image with metal boots and iron claws is certainly memorable. And the background is colorful.
The plot, although interesting and tense, but there are enough holes. It is not clear the motivation of the villain’s heads, and the action could be more. Although it is enough here, and almost all the characters of the film fight here. In general, the level of production he stands out against the background of his fellow genre, breaking out in the A-class. Still, the Chinese know how to stage and the movie is quite stylish.
7 out of 10
When the blood moon rises, the world will plunge into the quintessence of evil. .
I just happened to see this movie recently. There's a lot to regret, because if I'd been able to do that as a child, I'd probably be indescribably excited. Cinema would immediately become one of my favorites. Watching it now for the first time, the exact same emotions are probably almost impossible to experience. And that is my regret.
But I did enjoy the film, despite the fact that it looks very outdated, especially as a category B, it becomes more noticeable. The picture, of course, conquers its hand-to-hand action. It is very much there for an hour and a half of timekeeping. So you won't be bored. Many actors who are involved in fights are skilled fighters and there they are given to fully demonstrate their abilities. Fights are very spectacular, put smart, interesting, diverse. A lot of long takes are used, sometimes slow-mo is practiced. Now such a level of entertainment and staging fights in the afternoon with fire will not be found in new films. All mercilessly cut, cut, removed so that nothing is really visible. You don't get any pleasure. The same thing is different, it is noticeable that the creators approached the shooting with attention and love. Especially since the creators had martial arts craftsmen at their disposal. And the impressions of these scenes are appropriate. And even if sometimes a certain picture is noticeable, this does not spoil the sensations and does not detract from the merits of the creators and actors. Also sometimes, very rarely, but still used cables, but this is also not critical.
No complaints to the actors, fight well, play not great, but it is quite normal for an action movie. There are elements of drama, but not very convincingly staged and played as well. But again, too much drama, they didn't want to squeeze. A strong emphasis was placed on the action side. D. Shalawi very brightly played the role of the villain, for this he is a huge bow. His character will be remembered for a long time. It inspires a sense of danger, although at first it resembles some dressed-up Zorro, only the sword is missing. In battle is not inferior to any of the main characters, neither together nor separately. He's very cool.
Not so long ago I watched an Asian film with a similar plot and concept and D. Ian in the lead role. This is ' The last of the best' and it turned out to be a pass. I don't know if it's a Chinese remake or plagiarism or something. The movie with Daniels turned out better and more interesting in everything. That's what I'm going to add to my collection.
It was five minutes after watching the movie Blood Moon. All sweaty, overflowing with delight, the reviewer tries to link his impressions into a clear text.
In the 80s and 90s, Cantonese cinema flourished. Sensitive producers of the Western Hemisphere could not for too long ignore the fact that the personnel potential of Hong Kong is able to give Hollywood that aspect of the genre of action film, which far from understanding the quintessence of martial arts Americans clearly experienced difficulties. And this aspect is a detailed execution / staging / shooting of fist action.
If I am not mistaken, the first venerable Cantonese who conquered America was John Wu, who shot the action movie “Difficult Target” in the States, who collected a decent amount in the domestic box office. Then Robin Shaw flashed in the cult now (and then – just popular) film “Deathly Battle”. Then the Yankees clearly heard the name Jackie Chan - through the super hit 1998 "Rush Hour". In the same year, fans of hamburgers and cola enthusiastically watched the first season of “Chinese City” with the unique Sammo Hung in the title role. However, soon the Cantonese expansion came to naught: John Wu after the failure of the “Hour of Payback” infamously returned to Hong Kong, Robin Shaw changed blockbusters to grindhouses, Jackie Chan quickly bored the American viewer, and Sammo Hung could not even pull the second season of “Chinese City” on an acceptable TV rating. But that’s a different story...
The story of “Bloody Moon” originates in the filming of either American or Hong Kong (if you look at the names of the creators, it turns out about 50/50) action movie “Deathly Duel”. Very, apparently, well worked director Tony Leung Siu Hung, producer and screenwriter Kit Strandberg and actor Kit Vitali. We gathered, probably, in a tavern after the premiere, decided that “Kick the iron while it is warm!”, and took up the production of the magnificent “Bloody Moon”.
The plot resembles the one that was in the movie “Tiger’s Claw”. A maniac with an extremely narrow specialization appeared in the city: the fact is that the murderer is interested in the long and persistent beating to death exclusively of martial arts masters. The account of the unknown killer has already recorded the lives of a boxer, kickboxer, karateka, kendoist and judoka. To stop the supercool maniac will have two no less mater fighters - detectives O'Hare and Baker.
An experienced fighting game viewer calculates the invisible hand of Hong Kong at one or two. When watching such films as “Never Retreat or Surrender”, “Curfew” and “Judgement Mission”, I was regularly visited by a pleasant thought: “No, even the actors and American, they clearly did not stage the fights – thank God!” Cantonese approach the shooting of action episodes two, no, 100,500 times more responsible. This is an eloquent precedent called "Jackie Chan and James Glickenhouse." The Asian star experienced a culture shock when, after an unsuccessful take of the action-moment, the American director waved, saying, “OK, and so it will go”; so you understand, it is customary to spend twenty takes in Hong Kong to shoot five seconds of contraction.
Fist action "Bloody Moon" because and hypnotizes the viewer with its impeccability that the director of this action movie is from Hong Kong. I bet Tony Leung attended either the Chinese Drama Academy or Lingnan University. So what exactly gives off Cantonese roots with giblets, forcing a fight-expert to point his finger at the screen while watching and shout "Wow-dot!"? First, the Hong Kong bouts are very fast. Secondly, the Hong Kong bouts are clearly designed: they are devoid of unnecessary (pardon for the tautology) movements. Thirdly, Hong Kong bouts are very beautiful; perhaps kung fu is not the most effective martial art, but the most spectacular is definitely.
None of the action episodes of “Blood Moon” my tongue will not turn to give an estimate of “average”. Each fight attracts attention and cuts off the breath of the viewer, a soul was invested in each fight, if you want a pinch of imagery in the soup from choreographic analysis. The final fight of great action actors Gary Daniels and Darren Shahlavi is so worthy of a place in the Golden Collection of Cinemas. Some not too sophisticated viewers in their reviews of "The Expendables 2" thanked (!) Stallone and Van Damme for the inconspicuous final duel. So I want to gather these amateurs and / or Newphages in one room, tie them to chairs and show them the movie “Bloody Moon”, so that these philistines see what is a cool fist action in general and an amazing final fight – in particular.
My collection of favorite films was replenished with an anniversary (thirtieth) copy. I recommend the great action movie “Bloody Moon” to everyone.
9 out of 10
Like two fingers on a trumpet, or the parade of movie stamps
Director and combat choreographer Tony Leung was not very popular in his homeland, in Hong Kong, because in the mid-90s he decided to link his career with the United States. The first film he shot in America - "Deadly Duel" - came out very cheerful, adolescent in spirit (similar to "Do not retreat and do not give up" by Corey Yuen). However, the next film - "Bloody Moon" - turned out to be a head lower and a centner heavier.
It would seem - in the lead roles Chuck Jeffries (previously starred with Cynthia Rothrock) and Gary Daniels (Jackie Chan fans remember him for "City Hunter"), and the villain is played by Darren Shahlavi, from one rough appearance of which the opponent will break cold sweat (despite the fact that the actor is only 24). It seems that there are all the components of a good, at least not boring hand-to-hand action movie. “Bloody moon” and really can not be called boring, but slim and easy, too.
“Moon, moon, flowers, flowers, we often lack friends and kindness in life” – Sofia Rotaru sang. One guy, who definitely lacked friends and kindness, bought a mask in a carnival costume store, bought shoes with steel inserts from an experimental designer, and went to kill in the light of the moon. Meanwhile, two cops are hunting him. The first is a cheerful black guy, a moderate version of Chris Tucker, who jokes even when he looks the gun in the face. The second is a loser, battered by life, left the police, on the family front, too, unlucky, and in general, life is a pain. By some coincidence, all three are masters of martial arts.
About the actors. When contractions begin, everything is in action and no complaints are caused. The fights are well staged, as for an American film, although Tony Leung could have done better. The fight is quite a lot, not all of them are plot justified, but let them be. Acting is harder. Chuck Jeffries created a beautiful, very charismatic image of a cool cop, dissecting on a motorcycle and loving to perform tricks. Darren Shahlavi, as already mentioned, is great - there is no shame in losing such a villain. In fact, Jeffries together with Shahlavi and pull the whole film. Gary Daniels only spoils everything - no games, a stupid expression on his face, and the look is completely cowish. And this is a tough cop catching a serial killer? I don't believe it! I don’t know why he chose Jeffries for the final fight. Of all the others, you can remember only that the adopted daughter of the teacher Daniels (the screenwriter is clearly a fan of Mexican TV series) is a pretty sports girl who is also given to wave her legs in front of the camera. Although the reason for her presence in the film is very vague, especially the phrase Daniels: "She's like a daughter to me." What, the Sensei stepfather didn't give the girl proper parental attention? Oh yes, there is also a memorable character - a hacker who has become so integrated with a computer that he can not even move away from the need, and therefore urinates in a thermos. This is a complete overkill - after all, not a toilet comedy after all.
But that's not the worst. What spoils the film the most is the mass of stamps. There's a maniac wearing a mask. He sends mysterious messages to the police that the police cannot decipher, no matter how obvious they may be. A retired police officer is involved in the investigation. Two cops who can't stand each other have to work together. A single telephone conversation is enough to reunite the divorced spouses. A pretty girl, entering the bar, immediately becomes the object of harassment, ending in a brawl. Well, all sorts of trifles: during a fight, someone will certainly break a glassed coffee table, next to the villain there will necessarily be a steam pipe, and a truck that you can jump on will pass the window at the right time. It's a B-movie, what do you think? The main portion of stamps, however, is reserved for dessert - (careful, spoiler!) to summon the main character to a duel, the villain takes his family hostage (!), takes it to an abandoned factory (!!) and puts it on a bomb consisting of red dynamite checkers and a timer with large red numbers (!!!). After such a “flung cranberry” and even want to turn off the film.
In addition, the police in the film are too clueless. The maniac destroys the champions of martial arts, but the fact that all the killed are champions, the heroes pay attention only after the fifteenth murder. Or when three people who have seen the killer (albeit in a half-mask) look for him in a photo - and from two options manage to choose the wrong one. Very bad with visual memory.
In general, if you ignore the cliches and bad performance of Gary Daniels, the film is not bad. It is recommended for viewing fans of old fighters without computer graphics.
This is a film of my childhood, it came out somewhat later than the acclaimed “Deathly Battle”, but from the point of view of pure art, the fight was much stronger. “Blood Moon” is devoid of fantasy, terrible events, illustrated in it, could occur in almost any metropolis, and the only satellite of the Earth poured with red is a very real astronomical phenomenon. Toni Ling’s fighter is undeservedly forgotten, although his artistic value is highly specialized. And yet, against the background of frankly low-grade pictures with the exhausted islands, tournaments and stencilled villains, Blood Moon is a very stylish movie.
Ling’s breathtaking production, first of all, trumps the well-performed main characters. It is only in our understanding that there should be good and evil investigators. The ocean is different. There must be a silent brutal and tireless cheerful, preferably African-American. Gary Daniels is quite well-known in certain circles kickboxer, who has achieved considerable success in the ring, but did not make a really big movie career. Little Englishman lit up in the first “Expendables”, but now few people remember him. “Bloody Moon”, perhaps the best film of Daniels, which embodied his honed combat skills, as well as male charisma and modest charm. Chuck Jeffries is even less known to the general public actor, but his undoubted gift of a comedian is surprisingly harmoniously presented in a harsh action movie. Detective magician Baker considers himself a high professional who does not need the help of retired Ken O'Hara in the capture of a serial killer-master of martial arts, but the chief of police treats Chuck with distrust and sees him as more of a failed circus, and therefore insists on the involvement of a former specialist.
Detectives O'Hare and Baker are confronted, without exaggeration, by an outstanding villain. An unnamed killer with a crowed color patlami frightens and fascinates at the same time. Only at first glance he looks like a masquerade artist, but the knock of shoes with metal plates leaves no room for doubt - before us a real master who can make an unforgettable impression. As he removes his graceful half-mask, Darren Shahlavy appears before us. An Englishman with Iranian roots utters only a couple of dozen phrases for the film, but the level of his skill is understandable even to a very distant viewer from Kung Fu. Mad at the tournament of the strongest masters, the killer was presented with a unique sign of quality. Before us, devoid of all nuances, is almost an ideal fighter, for whom there is only a goal and means to achieve it. The killer is very strong on his own, but does not shy away from forbidden techniques, so, his steel fingers, piercing through the stomachs of opponents - the strongest memory of the "Bloody Moon" even many years later. “Joke aside!” exclaims the killer, whose symbol was the lunar eclipse.
Eastern martial arts – first of all philosophy, any sensei first trains the spirit of students and only after a long time teaches them techniques, blows and captures. Between the detectives and the killer lies a whole chasm - they only guess about the effectiveness of their skills, and the failed champion regularly tests them in practice. One of the signature features of the Blood Moon is the opposition of different styles of combat. The killer himself constantly combines, constantly improving, and his victims are not green youngsters, but real masters, honored champions, but only their school. In fact, the maniac is driven by the hypertrophied excitement of the athlete, who is looking for opportunities for universal recognition. Obviously, the ring at a certain stage became too tight for him and even full contact could not satisfy his insane thirst. Add to this the undoubted talent of electronics – you will get an almost perfect hunter, regularly going out in search of prey.
"Blood Moon" is able to present a real master class in the staging of fights. Everything is terribly realistic: screams, clutters, blows, the use of improvised and foot tools - in total, this is a sign of the quality of a cool action movie. It seems that everyone can fight here, even the short girl Kelly. Weapon in the film, of course, is present, but in fact, only for status. Bullets are not afraid of a tough killer - he will find a way to dodge. Some fights came out especially noble, like the fight on the katanas. How much wisdom the old kendo master has and how much rage his evil opponent has. He wants respect! “Don't you remember me? It’s a pity! – such words as a funeral ring. The murderer does not just skillfully beat his opponents, he also instructs the chosen ones. Some of the words of the long-haired demon are worth listening to. “To win, you must use any weakness of the enemy.” How willing are you to take advantage of the enemy’s vulnerability? He may not be merciful at all. The era of samurai etiquette remained in the irrevocable past, in a real battle where there are no rules, first of all, the will comes to the fore, and only then the level of skill.
In a film on the subject of martial arts, it is not often possible to meet such a competently furnished police investigation. After all, the killer not only skillfully knows his business, he is smart and plans his actions well. The director simultaneously raises an important topic of trust between forced partners. At first, Ken and Chuck perceive each other without any warmth, but when they try to open their hearts, they develop a friendship. How much trouble from distrust, unwillingness to listen to the close! Ken's family affairs receive little attention, but Ling hints at the need to remain human, not just a maniac hunter. The murderer here also acts as a counterweight, we practically do not know anything about him, why suddenly such a furious thirst for an imaginary title. The inexhaustibility of ambition, backed up by deadly art, made possible such a savage personality whose motives are so difficult to calculate. There is a place in the brutal action movie and humor, and how it should not be, when detective Baker does not deny himself the pleasure of removing flowers from his sleeve at the right time. Very funny was a well-fed hacker, whose help was so useful to the heroes. I guessed of course that the personalities turned on the computer live and look sloppy, but the impression is still strong.
Summing up, I note that “Bloody Moon” will remain a picture for connoisseurs of martial arts. But not only nostalgic it can be interesting. In our age, where a simple action movie, devoid of computer graphics, looks like a dinosaur, sometimes it is useful to touch the themes of real combat. From Gary Daniels did not come out a star for a decade, and the glory of Jean-Claude Van Damme Briton will never reach now. However, this actor has a movie in which his benefit happened. After Blood Sports, thousands of boys ran to record in the karate section. Now they are not running much, although the information is a car and a small cart. That is why such a good fighter should not be completely forgotten. After all, the creators did not forget about the moral side of the matter, and the character of Gary Daniels preaches such simple truths to us that it is not at all shameful to defend with fists on occasion.
The time of the blood moon has come, and now you will not be saved!
Genuine stars of martial arts films Gary Daniels and Darren Chalawy break their jaws right and left. “Blood Moon” reminds of the famous among “their” "Tiger's Claw" with Bolo Yeng as a ruthless killer fighter. The message is the same - death sweeps away the best karate players, boxers, judokas. The main villain is strong, smart, cunning. Evil is absolutely dominant and always one step ahead. However, brave policemen, who perfectly master hand-to-hand combat, are also not blatantly shivered and constantly pursue a blood-crazed killer. Separately, let's talk about fights. They are certainly colorful, spectacular, dynamic. But they have little credibility. You can see that the actors worked on their own, but the fighting scenes lack, what, shock, strength, practicality. However, the muzzle does not stop for a minute, fighting is here, fighting is there. Spectacularly wave their legs and conduct uppercuts for everyone who is not lazy: both the strong and the weak sex. The story is simple, but is this what we look for in action movies like this? Same thing. I watched it in 1997 on VHS. The impressions are the brightest. After watching, I constantly wanted to spin the “wheels”. The film is useful, because it does not teach anything wrong, but, on the contrary, speaks about the need to be strong and brave. Almost like fairy tales.
The movie turned out to be interesting. Of course, this is more of a “passing” film abroad and the word popularity was not even in my mind. But the pluses in the film are more than minuses, which obliges fans of the genre to watch.
1/ The main villain – I haven’t seen all of Darren’s roles, but in this film he’s impressed with his performance and skills! Master of martial arts. He is strong and knows anatomy well, so he hits exactly the energy centers of the body, cruel and ruthless, beats his opponent to death, cunning and calculating, confuses the investigation and remains in the shadows. His hero is somewhat crazy, but he is respected.
2/ Story, script. The main negative hero decided to prove to everyone and himself that being a champion is not easy. He finds, surpasses, humiliates and kills champions of different stripes one by one. He is hunted by the police (Gary Daniels and his partner), who together are not inferior to him in strength. Why did I tag the story? Yes, because in such films you often look only at the characters and their showdowns, but not at the history. Here the story turned out to be interesting and the development of events does not let you get bored.
3/ Fights. That's the big deal in the movie. There are many. They're spectacular and technical. They feel the sharpness, cruelty, blood and confusion of the opponent, who loses strength, make us feel his fear. Darren just amazed with his technique. Gary Daniels in his usual form and technique, of course, does not lag behind, but his hero does not cling to the charisma of the main villain. Very interesting battles came out in closed spaces - in the course were bottles, shops, pillows, cabinets, chairs and everything that came to hand - all this was broken by the hands, feet or head of the opponent. It's spectacular, very spectacular.
4/ Lips... Perhaps they are the ones who push the film away from high praise. Well, for example, take a scene when Darren holds a barely alive opponent by the shoulders, kicks him and pulls him up, holds him in straightened arms as a victim of some kind of ritual. All would be well, but the poor guy has raised the corner of the T-shirt on his back / cable, rope or whatever they use /. Or when one of the heroes simultaneously held a rope, at the end of which Daniels is about to fall head down and break, while fighting off the enemy. Was it my thought, or did he wrap the rope around his belt and tighten his arms in a split second? In general, such little things spoil the impression a little, but they are written off.
For films of this category, you can safely put a rating of 10. Fans of the genre will be satisfied with the viewing.