Five Elements Ninjas (1982)

An exhilarating martial arts film and also incredibly violent and bloody. The martial arts headquarters comes under attack from Japanese ninjas led by Kembuchi Mudou (Michael Chan). The master is poisoned and his troops, which includes Xiao Tian Hao (Ricky Cheng), fortify their base. However, the ninjas in the lovely form of Junko (Chan Put-Sai) infiltrates the base and then facilities a full ninja attack. The master is killed and Kembuchi now rules the martial arts world...

Xiao is the only survivor and escapes, with the help of Junko who seems slightly conflicted - probably the only depth or shade of grey in this film - to learn ninja fighting skills himself. With three friends he returns to challenge the ninjas in a final showdown against the five elements of ninja: gold, wood, water, fire and earth...

Don't expect a huge amount of story here, the film is about 95% fighting, but that's really what you want from a film like this. The action is often rather over the top with various wire-fu and mysterious bending of the laws of physics. There is also quite a lot of literal destruction of the human form. An amazing film full of bizarre ninja weapons, men in white capes and Junko in her leather and fishnets outfit.

Lizzies of the Field (1924)

A frantic auto-race comedy short with some incredible (and dangerous looking) stunts. Two garages have a heated rivalry. When an auto-race with a large prize is announced then both garages enter cars. Billy Bevan and Sidney Smith hope to win the race and will do anything to win, unfortunately their rivals feel the same way...

This is an incredible little film packed full of visual gags (for example a car which is actually a bed) and superb stunts. The film's plot (such as it is) lacks much in the way of sophistication. What it certainly doesn't lack is spectacle. 

Shoot to Kill (1947)

An enjoyably tough crime drama with Noir touches. When a police chase ends in the felon's car crashing the police find to their surprise the occupants of the car was wanted gangster Dixie Logan (Robert Kent), DA Laurence Dale (Edmund MacDonald) and his wife Marian (Luana Walters) - the only survivor. In hospital Marian recounts to reporter Mitch (Russell Wade) exactly what happened, which we see in flashbacks.

DA Laurence Dale was corrupt, and had framed Logan for a serious crime. Marian knows that Laurence is in cahoots with the mob and worms her way into firstly the DA's employment and then his affections, with the help of Mitch. Marian is playing a dangerous game though and wants Laurence to bring down the mob, this puts her directly in the firing line. Why exactly is she risking so much?

A rather complicated plot full of double crosses though the rapid pace of the film means you seldom have enough time to get too confused. The Noirish edges and the strong female character help make the film a decent watch.

Love on Delivery (1994)

Ho Kam-An (Stephen Chow) is a hapless dim sum delivery boy who falls in love with martial arts student Lily (Christy Cheng). Unfortunately, she is also the object of the creepy and slimy Judo Master Blackbear (Joe Cheng). 

When Ho Kam-An is humiliated because he can't stand up to Blackbear and Lily gets hurt, he goes to a bizarre kung-fu teacher called Tat (Ng Man Tat) to learn a very strange form of martial arts (which is more a scam) so he can be a hero...

And it is all very very strange, a classic HK comedy which ruthlessly takes the piss out of the likes of the Terminator, Rocky and Karate Kid, to set up a number of very odd comedy situations and an avalanche of gags, weird tangents and Cantonese puns. Although a funny film and very madcap, it's also quite a violent film with a number of crazy and very well choreographed fight scenes. A classic example of a Stephen Chow comedy and very entertaining indeed.

The Beach Girls and the Monster (1965)

A ridiculous if funky surfer monster movie. America's youth are doing what they do best on the beach in the mid-1960s, dancing to rock and roll, fooling about with the opposite sex, and surfing of course. The local marine scientist, Dr Lindsey (Jon Hall), has a very dim view of these activities, especially as his son Richard (Arnold Lessing) for some reason prefers girls and surfing to helping Dad out with fish and test tubes...

Then one of the bikini clad girls is killed by some sort of monster. Dr Lindsey thinks it may be a mutant fish though Richard just thinks it is a local maniac. Soon another surfer is killed, as well as Dr Lindsey's bitchy new wife Vicky (Sue Casey) and even Richard's best friend Mark (Walker Edmiston) is attacked. Maybe Richard is right and it is a maniac dressed as a giant fish...

The film is a joyous mess, with a cool surfer rock soundtrack. The monster is rather unscary and laughable and the film is shamelessly exploitative with plenty of footage of girls in bikinis dancing on the beach. Drivel but fun.