Features:
Description:
These brief features--barely an hour apiece--continue the adventures of the Bogard Brothers, Terry and Andy, from the popular video game. In "Legend of the Hungry Wolf," the adolescent brothers witness the murder of their father by Geese Howard. After 10 years of intensive martial arts training, they're ready to seek revenge, but Master Tung will teach only one of them the secret Hurricane Punch. He chooses Terry, who draws strength from the chi of the Earth. Along the way, the brothers meet kickboxer Joe Higashi and Lily, the mysterious barroom queen. An injured Terry is traumatized when he loses a fight to evil German aristocrat Wolfgang Krauser in "New Battle." He binges on self-pity and scotch until his confidence is restored by a feisty kid and the ghosts of Master Tung and Lily. Ninja girl Mai Shiranui provides comic relief and jiggle interest. In both films, Andy and Joe rush precipitously into battle and get the cookies beaten out of them, leaving Terry to destroy the enemy. Although Terry kills Geese in "Hungry Wolf," he's alive at the end of "New Battle," leaving open the possibility of further sequels. Anime villains have more lives than cats. Not rated: suitable for ages 13 and up for considerable violence, alcohol use, and sexual humor. --Charles Solomon
|