Iron Angels

I had heard a lot of good things about "Iron Angels" and how it influenced the Hong Kong film industry so much that for years they were trying to cash in on its success by attaching the world "Angels" to a series of similar films. Having finally seen it, I must say I was a bit underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, the action scenes ARE spectacular and explosive, particularly a massive shootout (we're talking about HUNDREDS of bullets here) that ends with a very high jump from the roof of a house, and the climactic fight between Moon Lee and Yukari Oshima that gets seriously bloody and brutal. It's the film-making itself that leaves something to be desired: there are too many points where the film seems to lack a smooth flow from scene to scene, and becomes hard to follow. Obviously a must-see for Girls-With-Guns fans (Lee, Oshima - who brings a touch of perversity to her villainous role - and Elaine Lui all mean SERIOUS business in action), but not quite a classic of the genre IMO. Try to see it in the "Iron Angels" version, as the one titled simply "Angels" has been trimmed in moments of extreme violence. (**)

IRON ANGELS is Hong Kong's answer to CHARLIE'S ANGELS, as a pair of fighting women go up against a sinister drug smuggling organisation in a bid to take down the kingpin in charge - who just happens to be a woman. The film is chock full of outstanding action sequences in the form of car chases, shoot-outs and of course martial arts bouts, and it's fair to say that this is top stuff. Certainly there's rarely a dull moment here amid all the death, violence, and suspense.

The delectable Moon Lee wins all of the attention as the lovely-looking crime fighter who turns out to be a deadly combatant in the fight stakes too. She needs to be: the villain of the piece is none other than Yukari Oshima, who invests her role with a real deadliness. Support comes from the welcome likes of David Chiang and in particular Hwang Jang Lee, who gets something more developed than the usual stock bad guy role, which I was very happy with. Inevitably the story is dominated by kick-ass fight choreography and a wowzer powerhouse fight climax that has to be seen to be believed.

In the mid '80s quality of Hong Kong movies started to skyrocket, and many above B movie were produced such as this one. This movie is bit of a crossover between the old school and the new direction Hong Kong cinema was starting to take.

Hideki Saijo who's a Japanese singer, and Yukari Oshima who's a Japanese karate champion stars with other Hong Kong luminaries.

I like the HK movies from this era, because it has opulence that gets more intense for the next 10 years. Actresses are beautiful, modern looking, and they can move.

I'm not a fan of HK cinema anymore, but I wouldn't mind dating any one of the actresses from this era especially Chow Wai Man.

But anyways, I think you get the drift. HK movies from this era are treat to watch. This one wouldn't disappoint either, it's a great action flick from British ruled Hong Kong.

Yeung's poppy fields are torched by a law enforcement task force, she retaliates by ordering police officials assassinated. The Angels break into Yeung's corporate offices, eventually tracing her headquarters. After Alex Fong's character is captured and held by Yeung, the Angels mount an assault to rescue him. A complex sub-plot involving an armored car bullion robbery eventually leads the Angels to a final showdown with Yeung and her men.

This film tends to get some respect, and though it has some explosive action, much of the plot is taken up by a lot of buildup, characters appearing, talking and some spying - to be honest, it was just about watchable for the first 45 mins before going up a gear, where some of the finest fights and stunts are performed. This is quite violent film, containing some sadistic scenes of torture, courtesy of Cynthia Luster. She steals every scene she is in. She's so nasty that you just can't wait until Moon Lee and co. Give her a good send-off. Not as good as the sequel, but it's ok with an intense last thirty minutes.

"Iron Angels 1": After a lot of Thailand's opium production is destroyed, the gangsters want vengeance on the police forces, and Madam Sue (Yukari Oshima) is the most merciless at that. She loves to torture guys in a cellar and kick the s**t out of everybody who doesn't successfully follow her orders. After a lot of agents were killed, members of a special branch called the "Angels" must try and stop Madam Sue's latest plan: a gold robbery.

Highly enjoyable action flick with memorable scenes like the violent fight between Mona (Moon Lee) and Sue at the factory, the trigger-happy Helen (Elaine Lui) wearing two bullet-belts while blasting her way through the enemies' headquarters like there's no tomorrow, their fellow agent Ken trusting his meditation technique to survive being buried alive, and last not least one of the most evil performances of Yukari Oshima ever. Oh, and then it's all for the gold bunnies!