mdcowboy
*This review contains spoilers*This is fun movie that I knew would be great before I even watched it. I mean, come on, this movie is classified (not on IMDb) as a "kung-fu zombie" movie. That practically guarantees this movie to be a good time!If you don't take this movie too seriously, you'll have a good time. It tells the tale of a dude named Johnny, who lives in a boring little town, practicing kung-fu that he learned watching old chopsockies, while managing his gas station/museum with the help of his UFO-obsessed friend, Eddie. When Eddie finds a piece of a cursed spear in the desert, a Chinese demon inside possesses him. Now, he goes through the town, infecting others and making them into his slaves. Only Johnny, with the help of his friend Mika, part of a long line of warriors trained to fight the demon, and the use of the other part of the spear, hidden inside his father's guitar, can he kill the demon and restore order. Yeah, that's a really convoluted plot, but well-choreographed fight scenes, good special FX, and nice acting make this a fun, action-packed indie movie that plays out well. B+
mariannemu
I saw this movie last year and loved it. It was an unexpected mix of eastern spirituality, morality play, slapstick and love. Great family fare or for those who love the real action of martial arts that are not computer generated. The story moved along engaging your heqrt and mind while amusing. Although the majority of the cast is not widely known their talent speaks for themselves. All the technical components are there in spades. Wonderful music, lightening that enhances the martial arts and direction with a deft and knowing eye. In the end it is a simple story of good over evil but told from a unique and intriguing manner.
beyond_eibon
If you're waking up in the morning and tired of watching bad re-runs of Power Rangers...this is a good alternative. The imaginative tale of Kung Fu, Comedy, Demons & Rock-Billy is fused quite well. The story begins with an ancient Chinese Demon trapped for centuries and released in a small soon to be ghost town. Johnny Tao is young kid dealing with pressures of taking care of his brother and struggling in an economically crushed town. The only thing keeping him going is watching/studying classic Kung Fu films. Now you have Demons running a mock...so what is a teen too do?....Kick some ass.This mixer keeps the movie going and enjoyable to watch. Recommend checking it out with your kids.
kelly-668
I liked the simplicity and clarity of the story, the story-telling, and the fight sequences. In an age where it seems like every film is computer generated and you're never sure if your watching the actors or a computer geek in Silicone Valley's work, it was refreshing to see a film that went back to the basics. I liked the characters and cared about their plight, the story kept moving and had a number of surprises, and I wasn't bombarded with images my children couldn't watch. There needs to be more films like this. I simply enjoyed watching this film and hope more film-makers go back to the basics. This is a perfect example of the fact that it is the "steak" we want, not the "sizzle". Johnny Tao is a really nice piece of steak.