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Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Wheels on Meals (1984)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on February 25, 2025 0Comments 0Likes

Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan are headed to Barcelona, Spain in the 1984 action-comedy spectacular WHEELS ON MEALS, featuring Jackie and Yuen as food truck operators and Sammo as a hapless detective. Of course, we also get a pickpocket damsel in distress (Lola Forner), shenanigans in a mental hospital, car chases, foot chases and one of the best martial arts fights EVER between Jackie and kickboxer Benny “The Jet” Urquidez. We dive into the background and even spend some time chatting about Jackie Chan VIDEO GAMES. Lots to discuss, so let’s get to it!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Project A (1983)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on December 9, 2024 0Comments 0Likes

A seismic shift in Hong Kong filmmaking occurs on this episode of WE DO OUR OWN STUNTS with the release of the legendary action-comedy PROJECT A in 1983. Directed by (and – of course – starring) Jackie Chan, alongside his Peking Opera classmates Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, it’s a raucous, often hilarious and stunt filled thrill ride packed with pirates, pratfalls and one infamous fall from a clock tower that has to be seen to be believed. It changed filmmaking forever and sent Jackie’s already ascending star into the stratosphere. But does it hold up? Let’s check it out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Cinema Smorgasbord Sells Out – The Shadow Strays (2024)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on November 25, 2024 0Comments 0Likes

On this bloodthirsty episode of CINEMA SMORGASBORD SELLS OUT we’re sitting down with Timo Tjahjanto’s epic, gore-filled action film THE SHADOW STRAYS, currently streaming on Netflix! Starring actress/model Aurora Ribero as “13”, a 17-year-old assassin who gets suspended after a botched mission and befriends 11-year-old Monji. But when Monji gets kidnapped 13 gets some very, very, very blood revenge on his kidnappers while getting on the wrong side of her assassin group. UH OH! We also chat about Indonesian action as a whole because WHY NOT? Check it out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Winners & Sinners (1983)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on September 30, 2024 0Comments 0Likes

CUT THE CRAP! We’re post-American excursion and post-Lo Wei scraps and things are about to POP OFF with the first of the Five Lucky Stars series WINNERS & SINNERS starring Sammo Hung, Richard Ng, Charlie Chin, Stanley Fung and John Shum. Oh, and Jackie Chan is here as well, reconnecting with his “big brother” (and Yuen Biao in a tiny part) for the first time in years and transitioning to martial arts/comedy hybrids with higher production values and bigger stunts. This one might lean a bit TOO heavily on the comedy, but you get roller skating stunts, car stunts, and some dynamite action to whet your appetite for what’s to come. Enjoy!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Fearless Hyena 2 (1983)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on July 29, 2024 0Comments 0Likes

One stage of Jackie Chan’s career comes to an awkward conclusion in FEARLESS HYENA 2, with producer Lo Wei taking old footage (from the first Fearless Hyena, along with some bits from Spiritual Kung Fu) along with some a few new scenes filmed before Jackie’s controversial move to Golden Harvest to create something predictably incoherent. Filled with actors doubling Jackie (in disguise), pieces that don’t quite fit together, and the introduction of Austin Wai as Tung, a mechanical genius with an automatic house, it makes for a bizarre and often baffling viewing experience without ever becoming entirely unwatchable. Have a listen and see if you agree!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Fantasy Mission Force (1983)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on May 20, 2024 0Comments 2Likes

After helping him get out of his previous contract (and some messy business with some Triads) Jackie Chan owed martial arts superstar Jimmy Wang Yu some big favors, and he started paying up by appearing briefly in the truly bizarre 1983 action/comedy FANTASY MISSION FORCE. Despite a plot structure that (loosely) copies The Dirty Dozen, FANTASY MISSION FORCE throws in amazons, Nazis, vampires, ghosts, Brigitte Lin, musical numbers, Mad Max-style cars and lots and lots of explosions. There’s even a few kung fu fights for good measure, It’s far from boring, but is it any good? Let’s find out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – Dragon Lord (1982)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on March 4, 2024 0Comments 0Likes

After a less-then-fruitful experience in the US (filming THE BIG BRAWL and THE CANNONBALL RUN), Jackie returned to Hong Kong with a blank check from Golden Harvest and a chip on his shoulder. The result was plenty if bumps, bruises and 1982’s DRAGON LORD, which serves as a transitionary period between the old-school kung fu films of his past and the stunt-heavy films (with higher production value) that would define his work in the 1980s. In this episode of WE DO OUR OWN STUNTS we break down the good and bad of DRAGON LORD, its two cuts, and the two bravura sequences within. LISTEN!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Whatever Happened to Vic Diaz? – Project: Kill (1976)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on November 13, 2023 0Comments 4Likes

Leslie Nielsen is leading a group of brainwashed, drugged up SUPER SOLDIERS in the Philippines but after taking a break from his daily dose of super soldier serum he starts to grow a conscience and goes on the run, with his first-in-command Gary Lockwood hot on his trail in William Girdler’s conspiracy action film PROJECT: KILL from 1976. If you like seeing two old, not-very-flexible actors throwing kicks and uppercuts while Filipino stuntmen go flying, this is the movie for you. Best of all SPECIAL GUEST Vic Diaz shows up to gnaw on the scenery. Check it out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – We Do Our Own Stunts – The Big Brawl (1980)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on August 21, 2023 0Comments 0Likes

Jackie Chan in AMERICA! On this episode of WE DO OUR OWN STUNTS Jackie makes his first American excursion to star in the Robert Clouse directed comedy-action vehicle THE BIG BRAWL (aka BATTLE CREEK BRAWL). Despite Jackie knowing very little English (and having to promote the film on American television) and working a very different style than he was used to, the film is actually a ton of fun – as long as you don’t go in expecting the acrobatic fighting from his recent Hong Kong films. We also chat about the recent RIDE ON controversy, Jackie’s appearances in HIDDEN STRIKE and TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM, and SO MUCH MORE. Check it out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Whatever Happened to Vic Diaz? – Raw Force (1981)

Cinema Smorgasbord, Podcasts on June 12, 2023 0Comments 0Likes

On this high kicking episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ? we’re setting off with a nudity-filled sexploitation comedy mixed with a martial arts action film featuring a dash of the living dead, cannibalism, Nazis, explosions and a heck of a lot more with the wild 1981 mashup RAW FORCE from director Edward D. Murphy! Starring Cameron Mitchell, Geoffrey Binney, Hope Holiday, FIRECRACKER’s Jillian Kesner and – of course – Vic Diaz, this one is goofy as hell, and occasionally lives up to its extra lurid poster art. We also discuss cult film revivals, what it means for a film to be “trash”, the definition of exploitation and all sorts of other heady topics. CHECK IT OUT!