morrison-dylan-fan Reading a UK movie mag when Baby Driver was about to come out,I noticed an interesting interview with film maker Edgar Wright,who picked this a a "cult film" rec.Making a note of the title,the arrival of a Hong Kong challenge on ICM led to deciding it was the perfect time to meet Riki-Oh.View on the film:Becoming the first flick to be given a CAT III rating for violence in Hong Kong,co-writer/(with Masahiko Takajo) director Ngai Choi Lam & cinematographer Hoi-Man Mak wear it with pride, by pounding the screen with an endless splatter parade. Smartly deciding to point the action and gore in an animated Grindhouse direction (the film ended up not doing well in HK) Lam gives everything a handmade quality with excellent the rubbery practical effects and gallons of fake blood vividly bursting open in slo-mo Kung-fu fights.Pulled from Tetsuya Saruwatari's Manga/ Comic-Book, Lam and Takajo adaptation is given satirical jabs by the baddies being The Gang of Four, (changed to The Four Heavenly Kings in the Asia cut)and Riki-Oh trying to re-gain freedom from the prison walls The Gang of Four have placed round him. Hitting a konck-out, gore-drenched punch from the opening, the writers cast a rich,pulp atmosphere via the minimalist back-story of Riki-Oh being filled in mid-battle,with each fight brilliantly building up like a Comic-Book run,as Riki-Oh discovers new powers after each victory. Only 18 at the time,Siu-Wong Fan gives a blistering performance which highlights the never say die attitude in Riki-Oh's story.

hellraiser7 Live action adaptations of manga and anime have always been sort of a hit or miss affair with me, but this film is a hit a very powerful hit because it was one of those rare adaptations that actually work.This is one of my favorite films of all time. I really like the story, which is a simple story which is common in most shonen manga, but most importantly it works because it's straight to the point no complicated nonsense to make things come to a painfully screeching halt.I really like the protagonist Ricky, the actor Fan Siu Wong I thought was really solid and cast perfectly, he physically fits the role he really looks like the character straight out of the manga. And he's a good martial artist, it's a shame this guy didn't become a big martial arts star I thought he had potential. But anyway, Ricky is a protagonist that is sympathetic, he's a good natured man despite breaking the law but the people he killed weren't innocent as we see in a flashback they killed his significant other for no good reason. He does respect the law and was willing to pay the price. And he's not a man looking for trouble but unfortunately he just went to the place that's a hive of trouble.The real bad guys are the Warren, Boss, and their cohorts that all are really evil and are all under the guise of the law. They just want to twist and manipulate the law for their own selfish benefits, while breaking anyone that abides and respects it. From the awful things this organization does it just all the more makes you want Ricky to punish them, make them pay the price.And the film/manga is almost kinda a Christian film as there is some Christian allegory in places like seeing someone hanging from a cross. As well as Ricky being buried alive and risen for seven days much as Jesus was entombed and then risen once more after the days were up. There are Christian themes like redemption and spiritual empowerment.However just like the manga were all really in this film for the fights and the effects with it which are great. This film was done on a modest to low budget but it used well and right because they put effort into their craft, once again an example another limited budget film that doesn't disappoint.Like with all shonen manga/anime, I love the idea of superhuman martial arts. Ricky's style is sort of one based on harnessing Chi and making that energy external and empower your body making both one. The way it's executes it's fun to think this could be a real martial arts technique that works.Some scenes and fights really look like the manga panels come to life, in fact they use most to all of the manga panels as their storyboard to make the film. The chirography and gore effects are all great and just seeing the execution of them made me wonder why the hell couldn't the two live action "Street Fighter" movies be as much fun as this; you see Ricky and his opponents use the superhuman power moves and techniques against each other which is just jaw dropping and awesome.Like in one battle you see Ricky fight against a big muscled guy and he literally punches though the guys fist. Another with some guy armed with knitting needles and steel wire, hitting Ricky at some points of the fight which I'll admit hurt me just seeing that steel wire wrap around his body, ouch.Though my favorite one on one battle in the film was with the boss that just Hulks up and he looks like the video game boss Abobo from "Double Dragon". The guy is a fraking beast, I won't say more about the fight you have to see it for yourself to believe it, but I wouldn't recommend eating anything while watching.Ricky Oh packs a punch.Rating: 4 stars

nasteen8 So many folks on here liken this film to the gore classic "Dead Alive" that it's kind of off balance. Sure, there's all sorts of blood and guts, but that's where it ends. Dead Alive is Zombies, Ricky Oh... Well, Ricky Oh is a man... Let's just say he's a man for his time.Obviously everyone reading the reviews knows what the hell this movie is about, so let's not try to over do it here. I'm just going to say a few choice tidbits about this fantastic film so you can just watch it. Because let's get real, if you're reading this, you obviously have some sort of interest. Well, let me just tell you now, WATCH THIS FRICKEN MOVIE. Hell, don't even watch it, go out and buy it, you won't have buyers remorse. Sure, if you like your movie all shiny and pretty like "Titanic" or "Driving Miss Daisy", then you won't like this (besides, what the hell are you doing reading these reviews anyways). BUT, if you love a good cheesy flick, then of course, you're not just going to like this, YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT. Ridiculously over the top, ridiculously violent, ridiculously insane and completely entertaining. Hell, a guy hides breath mints in his fake eye, if that's not enough for you. All this time spent reading reviews could be spent watching this fantastic film and laughing your ass off, so get to it. After you watch it once, grab a few friends and have a good ol' fashioned "Ricky Oh" Party and watch everyone's reaction. Trust me, even the friends you think will hate this one will probably end up loving you for introducing them to such a classic. Cinema just ain't the same without stuff like this.

likalaruku Both Cinema Snob & Diamanda Hagen have review this movie, Hagen is the one that made me want to see the whole thing. You can't get it on DVD, or even buy a legal in-print copy, so don't be afraid to watch it online if you can't find a secondhand VHS.This is a contender for king of "so bad it's good." The special effects are over-the-top, the dubbing is hilariously bad, & I challenge you to find an actually comedy funnier than this action movie. You get the feeling that the movie is not taking itself seriously, but the actors play it straight. This is a great movie for an up-all-night party or a drinking game. Get a VHS copy & spread the gory bloody love.