Seeing as how we are finally running out of films to review here on the site, we came up with this new "Quick Hits" section. Basically it will provide info on movies that aren't full on Bruceploitation, but rather have a scene or reference to Bruce. We've already reviewed a couple movies that should be in the "Quick Hits" section such as City Hunter and Deadly Eyes. We just came up with this idea to keep us in material to keep adding to the site.

CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE (2003)
Starring: Jet Li, DMX, Anthony Anderson, Kelly Hu, Tom Arnold, Gabrielle Union
Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak

The Brucey element of the movie takes place when Jet Li poses as an ultimate fighter. Once in the cage he declines to fight. The announcer just so happens to be a midget and he doesn't much care for Jet's attitude. With that begins the best part of the entire movie, Jet Li vs a midget! Yes, they fight and I found myself laughing out loud at this scene. I watched it twice! Anyway, Jet picks up the feisty midget who then says to him, "Put me down or I'll kick your ass Bruce!" Jet throws the little guy across the ring onto some ultimate fighters and replies "I'm not Bruce." Stupid midget.

KILL BILL Volume 1 (2003)
Starring: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Darryl Hannah, Sonny Chiba, Gordon Liu, Chiaki Kuriyama, David Carradine Director: Quentin Tarantino Fight Choreographer: Yuen Woo Ping

I'm not sure why I'm including this here because pretty much everyone has seen or at least heard of Tarantino's KILL BILL. You don't even need to watch the movie to see the Bruceploitation here as it's all over the posters and promotional material. It features Uma Thurman in a leather motorcylce outfit modeled after Bruce Lee's yellow with black GAME OF DEATH one piece track suit. In the movie Uma wears the yellow track suit during the big House of Blue Leaves scene. Not only that, the Crazy 88's wear black masks just like Kato (Bruce Lee stupid!) did in THE GREEN HORNET. I read that Tarantino even used music from THE GREEN HORNET. Remember though, Tarantino is paying homage to Bruce Lee, he is not ripping it off or doing because he can't think of anything original. I know lots of people will think I'm crazy for saying this, but I wasn't all that impressed with KILL BILL. I found to be "just okay" and couldn't really understand why all this nerds were crapping their pants over how cool it is.

THE NEW BIG BOSS (1997)
AKA: Legend of the Wolf
Starring: Donnie Yen, Edmond Leung, Carmen Lee
Director: Donnie Yen

Hey everyone, look! It is THE NEW BIG BOSS! Not to be confused with the old BIG BOSS, this is the NEW BIG BOSS. This BOSS is so BIG that he had to be labeled NEW. So all you fans who loved THE BIG BOSS, no doubt you will dance in your pants when you see THE NEW BIG BOSS.

Or at least that is what Media Blasters hopes you will do. With visions of Bruce Lee kicking in their heads, Media Blasters did the unthinkable. They grabbed a martial arts film and, in a cloak of darkness, renamed it and released it under their Tokyo Shock label, hoping to trick the general movie consuming public. The film? None other than Donnie Yen's 1997 directorial debut LEGEND OF THE WOLF, which has nothing to do with Bruce Lee or THE BIG BOSS in the slightest. Why? Why? WHY?

Truth be told, we should probably take it light on Media Blasters. This is an age-old trick done back in the day to dupe anyone and everyone who wasn't paying enough attention. It is a bit odd to see them do it to a Donnie Yen film though, because it is something that would probably sell well on its own. But we should credit them for bringing he here in its original language and uncut. So to recap, THE NEW BIG BOSS is LEGEND OF THE WOLF. It has nothing to do with Bruce Lee. Thank you and mind your step.

SHAOLIN SOCCER (2001)
Starring: Stephen Chow, Lee Wai, Vicki Zhao Wei, Ng Man-Tat, Cecilia Cheung, Cheung Ming Ming, Law Kar-Ying, Karen Mok, Chan Kwok Kwan
Directors: Stephen Chow, Lik-Chi Lee

This action comedy directed by Stephen Chow is the funniest I have seen in a long time! It’s evident that the producers had a decent budget to work with because the movie looks good and they used the hell out of the special effects. The story is about Fung, a former soccer star, turned cripple, turned coach, turned loser meeting up with six brothers who are all Shaolin kung fu experts. They use their skills on the soccer field with great success. When the film comes close to it’s finale our heroes face ‘Team Evil’, leaded by Mr. Hung (who was responsible for crippling Fung) Bruce enters the frame as a goalie wearing the GOD-suit. And guess what, this guy is a very credible impersonator. Unfortunately we don’t get to see him showing any martial arts techniques, however he does a few poses. Too bad he’s only in for a few minutes, in an attempt to stop a ball (which reaches a speed that causes a hurricane) he ends up flying trough the goal. He leaves the frame being carried away on a stretcher putting his big sunglasses on, being saluted by the rest of the team. A somewhat weird, yet funny tribute to the Little Dragon. I know soccer isn’t popular at all in the US, but don’t let that bother you to cheat yourself out of 80 minutes (if you watch the edited version, the uncut version runs 112 minutes) of outrageous fun!
Review by Mark.