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Angel Terminators (1992) Directed by: Wai Lit

Barely a blimp made locally and barely making a blimp as a movie, Angel Terminators main attraction, the action, takes a while to fully get going but by the end you'll have an image in your head of who the female equivalent of Jackie Chan would be. Namely Sharon Yeung. Clinging to cars while shooting guns, sliding down poles, performing a finale stunt worthy of the rewind button and in general kicking ass, surrounding her is some story strands about the take down of gangster Ken (a thoroughly evil Kenneth Tsang). Connecting Carrie Ng, her husband, cops Sharon Yeung and Kara Hui to all of this, add a key gambling debt, Tsang urinating on Carrie Ng, forced drug addiction and you indeed get a sense the dark detours the flick takes... thankfully. It's thoroughly compelling, adds an edge to the subsequent action and while the female duo's fight with Dick Wei is disappointingly a big nothing, mentioned finale is breathtaking and the film is another fine example of Hong Kong cinema not needing perfect pieces to add to a fine whole.

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Angel Terminators II (1993) Directed by: Wong Jan-Yeung & Chan Lau

Bearing no story connection to Angel Terminators, we're not really allowed to ponder that fact as we're thrown right into the action. No useless exposition or excuses to lead smoothly into the robbery scenario, directors Wong Jan-Yeung (Dreaming The Reality) and Chan Lau shows early where their focus will be at. Frequent and dependable fisticuffs interspersed with dependable, gory gunplay follows so Angel Terminators II has a slight edge over the average girls with guns-flick. However there is slightly interesting family- and relationship drama going on also, leading to some actual minor acting so the final package deal becomes a decent, little standout in the crowded genre. Starring Sibelle Hu, Moon Lee, Yukari Oshima, Jason Pai, Lo Lieh and Karel Wong.

Angel With The Iron Fists (1967, Lo Wei)

Not shy about its inspirations and aspirations, Lo Wei's Shaw Brothers production cashes in on the spy thriller, James Bond-tropes and really a booming genre and cinematic feel of the era. They should because they are armed with the technical goods to deliver. Watching Lily Ho's Agent 009 infiltrate a gang of smugglers with world domination plans, she's placed in an elegant, gorgeous frame that is as much a stylistic showcase fashion-wise as it is for the production designers at Shaw's. Having their own version of Q present fun gadgets, these are all fun per default but not the true color of the movie. These enter as Lo Wei places us in the hidden, expansive lair Tina Chin Fei leads and we might as well be in a science fiction movie at this point. Featuring a tunnel of fire, an instant decapitation device, a blinking map of the world etc, all this would easily come recommended if Lo Wei WASN'T involved. Granted these movies look ten times better compared to his work post Shaw Brothers career but momentum is kept at medium due to an excessive running time and sluggish pace. Making us stay for as long as possible to watch said, actual good elegance and content is not the correct instinct. Similar impact or greater could've been achieved by being swift, tight and sadly this is not the only example of the boring excess of our director. Fine highlights are present, just way too spread out.

Anger (1970, King Hu)

King Hu's contribution to the short story collection within Four Moods (also featuring a part done by Li Han-Hsiang among others), 'Anger' takes place in the by now very well established aspect of Hu's movie universe: The inn. Several strangers and government officials arrive and all through the night there's fighting and a desire for money at the end of it. Looking grand, professional and very much recognizably King Hu, it's also a fairly bland version from the visionary. The short format obviously gets to the point quicker but tension or action isn't all that appealing as you're not invested. It's a basic showcase of style but we've seen it done better before at feature length.

Anger Girl (1988, Wong Gam-Din)

A gang of girls on the fringe of society fights, uses their sexuality to rob and are gradually pulled into escalating events that leads to extensive bloodshed by the end. The mature intent is appreciated and the gritty look but the movie doesn't score convincing points as a tragic drama. Mainly because of the fact that it leans on quite elaborate action set-pieces for the last half instead. One car accident leads to several clashes with police that eventually involves arms smugglers as well. Both sides are fed up. The youths and some of the cops are as bloodthirsty but the lack of sincerity to the drama is made up for quite impressively thanks to the action. It may not be realistic for some characters to transition from youths to fighting back with guns but the movie features very impressively staged and violent gunplay nonetheless. Not playing the John Woo card but rather the violence from desperate characters-card, it may be spectacle ultimately but it's worthy and impactful in its own way. With Eliza Yue, Derek Yee, Ng Man-Ling, Lau Siu-Kwan, Chor Yuen and Wong Jan-Yeung (director of Dreaming The Reality).

The Angry Hero (1973) Directed by: Kim Lung

Thoroughly lacking in inspiration and ambition, this Taiwanese kung-fu film slowy crawls towards its way too epic 90 minute running time. It actually does have ambition in the sense that it's a way too involved revenge story infested with an overabundance of characters. Despite attempts at making gritty fight scenes (one is set in rain) and Taiwanese favourites Lee I-Min and Lung Fei appearing, it's only the inevitable (it's signaled way beforehand) old man in a wheelchair fight at the end that sparks any feeling of creativity. The filmmakers may have only had that and decided to gamble all on that. It's a losing venture but at least it was a cool attempt.

The Angry Guest (1972, Chang Cheh)

Although coming off more as a tourist film and a fashion showcase than an affecting reunion of long lost brothers who take on the underground boxing world in Thailand, Duel Of Fists must’ve felt like golden material or made an impression at the box office in 1971 since this follow up appeared the next year. Regardless, a new tale was conceived, shot partly back on location in Thailand but also in Japan and with this direct sequel The Angry Guest we get more murder and less sightseeing tedium. Li Ching playing Ti Lung’s sister had such an undercooked role in Duel Of Fists she could have easily been cut out. Here’s she’s somewhat more of a key figure as she’s kidnapped by the crime syndicate that takes our brothers Fan Ke (David Chiang) Wen Lieh (Ti Lung) to Japan where gangster boss Yamaguchi (director Chang Cheh, in a rare on-screen appearance) want to exchange her for their services.

Recapping the basics of the first film and going traditional on us with an opening white background martial arts demonstration by our leads, the returning Chen Sing then escapes prison and proceeds to go on an amusing murder spree for the first 20 minutes. Amusing because Chang Cheh’s bloodshed re-emerges in full force (after a reduced presence in the last movie) with stabbings, he’s running over the martial arts students of Wen Lieh's with a truck and there's several instances of seppuku (accompanied by what sounds like sheets being torn on the Shaw Brothers foley stage). It does venture over into the unintentional laughs category and in reality The Angry Guest feels more like the cast and crew in make- rather than artistic mode. It was another busy year and this production wasn’t made to highlight and evolve their skillset and voices. What’s also very evident is that the cut to Japan means establishing shots of Tokyo's urban center at night and driving scenes go on for what seems like an eternity. It’s not as endless as the prior entry as it was showing us a LOT of Thailand but the film is clearly trying to establish production values by being outside the Shaw Brothers stages and it looks embarrassing doing so. Chang Cheh would have some success making modern tales but it was clear inspiration got triggered and the frame sparkled a little more when his heroes were in the martial world. The Angry Guest squeezes into approved territory partly though if you’re in the mood for something inconsequential (that could easily be excluded from your Chang Cheh exploration in reality) and the construction site finale perks you right up with some violent moments of note involving heavy machinery. These sights are new and also compared to several stretches of Duel Of Fists, something actually happens in The Angry Guest. Also starring Yasuaki Kurata, Fong Yan-Ji and Bolo Yeung.

Angry Ranger (1990) Directed by: Johnny Wang

Produced by Jackie Chan and starring Ben Lam, one of his stunt members. Choreographed by JC Stunt Group means we get a steady stream of fast paced action but unlike Jackie's films, this one goes for grittiness instead. It's still top notch action cinema but in terms of filmmaking this is a pure, rocksolid dud. The plot about ex-con Peter getting into fights with local triads is just an excuse for the sometimes painful action and stunts but hey...why not?

The Angry River (1971) Directed by: Wong Fung

One of the first ever released movies from the legendary Golden Harvest studios, on board from the getgo were cast & crew that came to create and participate in signature efforts from the studio. Director Wong Fung eventually got Hap Ki Do, Lady Whirlwind and When Taekwondo Strikes under his belt and leading lady Angela Mao continued to ignite the screen with ferocity in those efforts. With The Angry River, the sharp direction (and also writing) from Wong Fung creates an unexpected romp through conventions. Having Mao's character hunt for the black herb that is needed to cure her father, also looking for it are several swordsmen that more often than not won't conceal their shady behaviour. The titular river is one of many obstacles, a river literally on fire and it's this trek through hurdles that even brings in a creepy atmosphere to this particular world of martial arts. When monsters attack, we as a viewer feel surprised that it's THIS Golden Harvest churned out early on but we're on board. Maybe not for valid reasons but the way Wong Fung conducts himself later helps take The Angry River into classic status.

Injecting a true danger as many hunt for the herb in Mao's possession, a heroine drained of her powers and to boot a vulnerable heroine up for potentially being torn apart by the uncertainty of the world she's in, it's not high drama or too far from a genre vehicle but these features and tweaks of expectations are compelling aspects to the film. Not forgetting to spice things up with action, the latter third becomes a non-stop sword and gore exercise from action directors Sammo Hung and Han Ying-Chieh (both also appear in fighting roles). While prior duels have had the aura of actual danger and darkness, The Angry River isn't wrong in its judgment to travel a bit away from this atmosphere and even features forest duels not too distanced from A Touch Of Zen. Combination of danger and ride is pretty magical. Also with King Hu regular Pai Ying.

Angry Tiger (1973) Directed by: Shang Lang

Although it has a 1979 copyright as well, that's presumably the date it was dubbed and released as Spirits Of Bruce Lee. Disappointingly though, little Bruceploitation-madness occur and the only spirits of Bruce Lee that gets evoked is via the Thailand setting from The Big Boss plus the often used half Jade-amulet plot. They don't even add Lee's war cries for Michael Chan in the dub. Instead, the film is an ordinary martial arts revenge story with no qualities to speak of. Partly, the aggravating dubbing of a consistently laughing character amuses.

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