The Lost Empire (1984) Movie Review

The Lost Empire is a 1984 fantasy action adventure movie written and directed by Jim Wynorski. The film stars Melanie Vincz, Raven De La Croix, Angela Aames, Paul Coufos and Angus Scrimm. Wynorski is kind of a legendary B-movie director now with over a hundred films to his credit but he started writing films like Sorceress (1982) and Screwballs (1983). However, he wanted to move on to directing and got a theater owner to finance his debut film, which was originally going to be tax write off but the producer liked it so much he actually released it. For years it was sort of obscure but recently got a proper release on home video.

When her brother is hospitalized by ninja robbers who steal a magic jewel, Inspector Angel Wolfe of the L.A.P.D goes on a fantastical quest along with her native american friend Whitestar and the rowdy convict Heather McClure. The three infiltrate a religious cult located in an island fortress and fight the ghoulish forces of evil.

When it comes to B-movies that throw everything at the wall to see what sticks, I think The Lost Empire is simultaneously the most well known example of this but also the one that embodies the disjointed feeling you can expect from such a description the least. What I mean is that there is a cohesive throughline in this film, not only when it comes to the plot but also when it comes to the tone and the passionate spirit that you feel while watching it. You can tell this was made by a fan of overtly exploitative and lurid pulp fiction of the cheesy variety. Wynorski himself said that he thought this was going to be his only chance at making a movie so he threw in everything he wanted to see in a feature film. This includes ancient wizards who turn into creatures, ninjas, a prison mudfight, gorillas and a lot of busty women. A lot of odd elements that would come up in his extensive filmography from time to time.

The main trio of actresses are very good in their respective roles, considering this is a Wynorski film you usually assume that they were chosen for their physical attributes instead of their talent but these girls manage to be very loveable and embody their characters with charm and grace, highlighting subtly the archetype they are without overdoing it or coming off as bland. They are perfectly balanced when it comes to their delivery and their demeanor, ending up as believable and more than a caricature. All of them are also badasses and engage in some fearsome combat sequences. Wynorski makes them daring and skilled, having some nice chemistry and a palpable sense of comradery in some of the action sequences.

A good amount of the effects of this film fits very well with the unreal and stylized pulpy atmosphere it creates, some good practical and optical effects that look campy enough to fit but also technically adept enough to impress for the craft or just for the endearing nature of those obsolete tricks. The cinematography is also very solid, this was shot with care for the frame and the space in the shot by Jacques Haitkin, who adds some technical refinement to the sleazy and extravagant images Wynorski came up with.

Some people might have issues with the pacing but it's really not a very long film, it starts off very action-packed and carefully constructed enough to intrigue you even if you are aware that the film engages in some sort of understated self-parody, right from the intentionally silly (in a sly way) opening crawl. I don't think the film feels like a drag but you can sometimes feel like the shots go on for a little too long or that the movie doesn't have enough of a drive or even a proper exploration of a central character to hang onto, but those worries are dissipated by its virtues. 

A highly recommended piece for those who like adventure camp with some exploitation vibes. Fun and deranged flick.

AD Police Files (1990) Anime OVA Review

AD Police Files is a three-episode OVA series from 1990 that takes place in the same universe seen in Bubblegum Crisis, it’s actually a prequel, something evident since it revolves around Boomers, and produced by the same company but done by a different creative team to keep the franchise alive. It's hard to say that it fits our blog because it doesn't have the main group of girls as protagonists, it really only features a few characters from the original show, like Leon, but it's quality makes it worthwhile as it is mostly an anthology series focusing on a different case involving the fictional police force, the ADvanced Police, from the franchise.

In the first episode, The Phantom Woman, some officers encounter a horny prostitute boomer who get her biochemical balance all screwed up because of her sexual desire, setting her loose and going into killing sprees. In the second episode, The Ripper, a serial killer stabs and mutilates girls, a young policewoman is on the case as she believes the culprit is human due to the sensation that there are feelings involved. The third episode, The Man Who Bites His Tongue, is basically the animated cliffnotes of Robocop, but evil, showing an officer named Billy being turned into a Boomer and losing his humanity and self-control. This last one is probably the weakest because it's kind of derivative but it's still very well done.

Ultra-gory, deranged and grotesque, this untamed OVA series is kind of a very strange concentration of the things that were presented in Bubblegum Crisis but condensed in a shorter running time and increasing the filth, devoid of any established main character and nearly completely undomesticated. Right out of the gate we are presented with violent and bloody images that add to its grisly tone, mixing in some sleazy eroticism and sexual references or allusions throughout.

The fact that it's a very short anthology series, completely episodic, means that you won't get to really relate or know the protagonists to a deeper degree but in 20 minutes you understand them because of the very on point and well-crafted storyline and characterizations that allow the characters to breathe and live in such a short span of time. The length isn't an issue when it comes to simply being entertained by the show but I do wish they delved deeper into the potentially interesting characters, like the police lady with a robotic arm or the sweet officer from the second one. They have what it takes for a complete series or at least to carry a movie or longer OVA but here they are essentially just minor compared to the plot, which is the focus.

While not entirely successful, this attempt at expanding the world of Bubblegum Crisis will probably deliver the treats as the animation and subject matter are both juicy but you won't get to invest much in the storylines as they go by pretty fast. Recommended if that's what you are looking for.

Royal Warriors (1986) Movie Review

Royal Warriors (Wong ga jin si, Ultra Force, In the Line of Duty, In the Line of Duty II, Police Assassin) is a 1986 Hong Kong action martial arts film directed by David Chung (Magnificent Warriors, I Love Maria), a well known cinematographer in his homeland, and it starts Michelle Yeoh in her second lead role after the success of Yes, Madam! (1985), as well as Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Wong, Ying Bai and Wai Lam. This is considered to be the second film in the In the Line of Duty series, added retroactively to the franchise after the release of Yes, Madam. Although, sometimes it is mentioned as In the Line of Duty I.

Michelle Yip (Yeoh) is a police officer and kung-fu expert who stops the hijacking of a plane coming from Japan by a group of terrorists. The murder of two terrorists sets in motion a search for revenge by the organization behind the criminal act, ending the life of many innocents and provoking the stalking of the people involved, which include Michelle, flight security agent Michael, and Yamamoto, a Japanese Interpol agent.

As it is the case with many typical Hong Kong films the fighting is pretty dynamic, favoring quick cuts in movement, highly unlikely and impractical but cool-looking flips or rolls and very fast-moving violence. The style of the best of the Hong Kong action movies is present here and you will see a lot of what you are looking for if you have tasted the genre before. Yeoh and some of the actors really show off their stunts and martial arts talent in some of the best sequences (there's an incredible chainsaw fight, a daring building scuffle, destructive car crashes and some wonderful shootouts), especially the ones that open and close the movie, as you can imagine.

There's a sense of unexpected harshness and sometimes even cruelty in these Hong Kong movies. This edge is what puts stuff like Righting Wrongs or Yes, Madam on a whole other league compared to the usual action flick. The best example is when the family of a character is murdered by the criminals in this movie. First of all, usually, it's the agent in the field the one who gets killed and is then avenged by a partner or something (something that also happens here), but they also have a red herring scene that plays with the idea of the agent dying on the job but the opposite happens. Second of all, It's not something you would expect to see, especially so early in the film, because it's kind of shocking to have these types of characters, who often survive the film, or who are used to create tension and as an incentive for the hero to rescue his family, but here they are disposed off quite early since the film is more about revenge and what drives people to commit acts of vengeance, something that's explored in the antagonists as well. 

The main leads are likable enough even if the chemistry is very poor while the acting isn't. Some characters are kind of weak and not well defined but they are redeemed by the fact that the actors do a decent job at injecting some semblance of presence or charisma, even if it's tiny. This is also evident because the art direction and the visuals aren't particularly polished or elaborate, so a lot of the time you can get a somewhat plainly shot sequence that goes on for too long, followed by an action-packed and better shot one that elevates the experience.

With adrenaline-fueled dangerous action choreographies, a script with more meat and emotional resonance, Royal Warriors is a kind of stand out movie that functions as a bold addition to the subgenre. The main problem I have is that Michelle Yeoh's character should have been more active and should have had more protagonism because she isn't as much of a driving force in this as in some other later flicks or even the previous ones she starred in. Either way, she has her cool moments throughout.

Very recommended for Hong Kong action movie buffs and fans of action superstar Michelle Yeoh.