The Beast of War - Kevin Reynolds - USA - (1988)

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094716/ 

Plot from Imdb: During the war in Afghanistan a Soviet tank crew commanded by a tyrannical officer find themselves lost and in a struggle against a band of Mujahadeen guerrillas in the mountains. A unique look at the Soviet 'Vietnam' experience sympathetically told for both sides.

Quite unique harsh war movie. The good thing about this film is that it doesn't make you, yes you  - testosterone freaks, want to "join the military and live wild adventures". Oh noooo....It shows you the gruesome reality of war. Destruction of innocent village, torture, fights between men from the same side, a test to the limit of your inner morality. Very nice fights sequences & a very impressive production values for this quite unknown 80's war flick. Clearly a forgotten gem. One thing would have made this movie perfect: to have chosen a real Russian cast and to have stick with Russian language. The fact that they all speak English is weird in the movie (specially when the Afghans have kept their language + subtitles)...but, tragically, also premonitory. Check it out !

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

There's no trailer available, so here is an extract:

Du bi quan wang da po xue di zi - Master of the Flying Guillotine - Yu Wang - HK - (1975)

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072913/ 

Plot by Imdb: The one-armed boxer is stalked by a vengeful flying guillotine expert, after his disciples were killed in the first 'One-Armed Boxer' film...

One of the best kung-fu flick EVER ! Really funky & over the top all the way.

Not much of a storyline here, a revenge path, a bloodsport-like tournament and some crazy fights, HK style. The fun factor comes from the weaponry and the crazy 70's style of the movie. The main villain, the master of the flying guillotine, is really outrageously dressed, with a complete Buddhist monk robe, huge eyebrows (as usual), and a swastika sign  around his torso (this has not the same connotation for Asians as for Europeans of course, swastika is still used there as a religious symbol). The fights are nicely done, and quite entertaining, thanks to the different styles presented: Thai boxing, Indian Kalaripayattu (with extending arms !!!!), Mongolian wrestling, monkey kung-fu, Japanese sword-fighting, you name it !

Of course, the real heroe here is the Flying guillotine, apparently a real weapon used in the YongZheng era !

Nice treat for the 70's electro-rock fanatics, like myself, during the flashy opening credits, there is a crazy tune by NEI!, a german band that could be compared to Tangerine Dream...Of course,  the chinese producers had not purchase the rights and, due to complaints, it was removed in some later releases of the movie. (the US dvd version still has it). I choose a trailer with this music, because it was such a shock to me the first time I saw it. Enjoy !