Mad Warrior (1984)

1984 – Mad Warrior (JPM Productions)

[Philippines release date 4th January 1984, also known as "Mad Warriors" and released on UK VHS as “Clash Of The Warlords” – onscreen title “Clash Of Warlords”]

Director Willie Milan Title Design Ed Rohr Soundman Fred Manoza Assistant Camera Boy Anao Clapper Danny Caburnay Boomman Max Stabillo Electrician Nardo Taytayon Crew Mario Caburnay, Bobby Ramon Estabillo Wardrobe Waldo Masconi Liason Officer Manolo Maglaya Fight Instructors Jay Grama, Linda Castro Assistant Editors Bonifacio Brien, Ever Ramos, Nelen Rampar Stills Willy Anao Makeup Mely Sioson Schedule Master Lito “Extra” Manuel Effectsman Edilberto Naelgas Setman Emeng Eslaban Utilitymen Johnny & Totto Prosthetic Makeup Cecile Baun

Cast Anthony Alonzo, Jennifer Kirkham, Johnny Monteiro, Willie Williams, Gabby Farro (Maria), Robert “Marios”/Marius (Malsam), Tom Romano, Rey De Gusman, Ching Zabala, Waldo Masconi, Ading Montalban, Fred Esplana, Jay Grama, Mel Arca, Alex Bolado, Linda Castro, "W Stuntmen", Paul Vance, Edward Bronett, Andy Peterson, Robert Benson, Tony Rocha, David Light, Hardy Oppoua, Rommel Valdez, Max Laurel, Sonny Erang, Rusty Santos, Boy Ibanez, Teresa Hunt, Joan Durst, Avi Seetaky, Robert Miller, Jimmy Santos, Romy Nario

Fred Adelman’s review from the Critical Condition website:

CLASH OF THE WARLORDS (1985) - In this sequel to director Willie Milan's W (aka: W IS WAR - 1983), warrior Rex (Willy Williams) is forced to fight his best friend gladiator style in an arena by evil warlord Malsam (Robert Marios), who is holding Rex's young son prisoner and will only free him if Rex kills his friend. When Rex kills his friend and Malsam renegs on his deal, he and his son escape with the help of a friendly female. Malsam orders his men to recapture Rex and his son (He says, "Find them and don't come back until you find them!" What!?!), but the trigger-happy henchmen kill Rex's son and the helpful female when warrior Maria (Gabby Parro) comes out of nowhere to help Rex fight the bad guys. As Rex and Maria walk through the post-nuked terrain, they are captured by a group of people and led to the town of Opulus, where Maria is reunited with her long-lost father Zeus, a scientist who is working on a cure for radiation poisoning. We also find out that Malsam is afflicted with a strange disease where he begins to mutate every time he looks at the moon (When he sees the moon one night, he tells his men, "Take it away and I'll cover it in blood!" Double what!?! Some of his men turn to each other and say, "He has a devil inside him!" and "He's not just crazy. He's a lunatic!"). Malsam will not rest until Rex is dead, so he hires a band of beefy warriors to capture Rex and bring him back, which they do (without very much trouble at all). Rex must fight a series of battles in the arena, each one more dangerous than the last. Just when things begin looking grim for Rex, Maria shows up with a "Liquidation Squad", an army of rocket launcher and machine gun-carrying men who help Rex defeat Malsam's men. The rest of the film is just a series of gunfights and explosions until Rex confronts Malsam for a lightsaber duel (!), where Rex quickly defeats Malsam (he explodes into a million little pieces when Rex cuts him in half with the lightsaber!) and Maria and Rex share a passionate kiss before Rex jumps on his horse and heads off on another adventure, which audiences never got to see (because it was never filmed). Maybe he died of radiation poisoning.

This is strictly lower-tier Filipino action cinema that's pretty rough going for the viewer. I guess it would help to view the first film (which I didn't at the time of this review), but I really doubt if it would make a big difference. The Greek subtitled version I viewed edits out most of the gory footage and the English dubbing is so bad, it's almost surreal. Most of the impalements, axe fights (which seems to be the weapon of choice here) and gun battles end abruptly and those edits get quite annoying after a short period of time. We don't watch these films for the storylines, you know, so editing out all the gore kind of defeats the whole purpose of watching it in the first place. I'm sure director Willie Milan (ULTIMAX FORCE - 1986) didn't mean for this film to be as awful as this edition makes it out to be, but the atrocious dubbing (the word "arena" is pronounced "areener" and the dubbing crew can't seem to make up their minds if Gabby Parro's character name is "Maria" or "Reya") and lack of bloody violence in this version makes it a tough sitting for the viewing audience, even if it's only 73 minutes long. The only interesting (and weird) points this film has to offer are Malsam's aversion to the moon (which is quickly dropped) and counting how many times you spot people standing around in a circle (which is a lot!). Also starring Tom Romano, Rey De Gusman, Teresa Hunt, Joan Durst, Ching Zabala, Waldo Masconi and the "W Stuntmen". Also known as MAD WARRIOR. A Video Memory Release. Not Rated.

Michael Petch's review from the Post-Apocalypse website:

After seeing the DVD cover on eBay, I had to buy a copy. 23rd Century, well-known purveyors of the most basic region 0 DVD's, have released a poor-quality extras free DVD that you can pick up on eBay for a few pounds if you're lucky. I was....

At times like this I realise how reliant on the internet I am for information. Trying to research this movie I have fallen flat on my face. It was tough to find information on Death Run (external review), but this is in another league. Apart from one or two message board requests here and there, nobody seems to know where this is from or when it was made. I looked and looked and finally found a tiny bit of information from the British Film Institute website. Additionally I have been sent scans that confirm the film has also been titled Mad Warrior (scans at the bottom of the page).

Lets firstly clear up, or at least try to clear up, some of the big questions:

Where? The very end credits thank the Hoyop Hoyopan Cave, which is in the Philippines. This makes lots of sense as loads of PA's hail from that country. Camp John Hay is also thanked. This was an American Air Force 'rest and recreation' base until the Americans handed it back to the Philippeans in 1991. It's now a holiday resort.

Who? Well that’s a tough question. All the names sound very English and none show up when searched on IMDB or Google. All pseudonyms, I'm sure. Finally I found a picture from my collection of saved PA scans that I have built up over the past couple of months. I found a selection of foreign PA boxes a while back on a random message board, and one, Mad Warrior, has the same art work as Clash of the Warlords. It appears they are the same film. Searching for Mad Warrior threw up a link at the BFI with some genuine names. The director and actors have all done other film work, though nothing much worth mentioning apart from Robert Marius. I don't know who he plays here but he's also in Warriors of the Apocalypse (1985).

When? The credits and the box are no help but again the BFI comes to the rescue. 1985, it claims.

Why? You’re on the wrong website if you're asking this question (although some may say films are produced to make money).

And that's the total sum of everything I know about the making of this film, but I did watch it, and I have lots to tell...

The beginning of the film gives a good forewarning of the quality of things to come, the music started and I was immediately impressed. A lively synth and electric guitar combo. Unfortunately what we see isn't so impressive. A black explosion cloud is seen moving up for a second and then it freezes. After a few seconds, the Clash of the Warlords title card flashes up for a couple of seconds over the explosion. Then we're treated to three minutes of the freeze frame explosion and nothing more. Honestly, it’s a freeze frame picture and music for three minutes! Obviously there were originally some credits here that were too foreign for us to handle. If it wasn't for the music, I would have been annoyed. I actually found it rather amusing, unlike the beginning of Exterminators of the Year 3000 where the opening titles were intact but missing the music.

The music is pretty good throughout, but I fear it has been stolen from somewhere else because throughout the film it cuts out during scene changes and sometimes randomly. It's really obvious and spoils the mood constantly.

We open to a gladiatorial arena setting. Don't expect a grand arena though, this is just a circle surrounded by logs. People are standing around watching a fight in the arena. The combatants have short axe type weapons and everybody is dressed in black. I will find it easier to call this group the Warlords. The Warlords are commanded by a fruit cake called Malsam who wears a metal mask over half of his face to cover up radiation scars.

Mustachioed Rex wins the fight. The crowd all chant "Kill him!" and Malsam gives the thumbs-down sign. Rex hesitates but eventually kills the loser. "I'm not at all satisfied,” claims Malsam, "what I want you to do is kill your best friend." If you think Malsam's insane now, just wait till later! Rex's best friend is brought into the arena. His young son is watching him and he knows that he must fight to save his son and get his freedom. Rex easily kills his friend. Everyone laughs at him but blond beauty Reya consoles him, "Bravo, your great". Nice.

It turns out that Malsam lied and Rex is not freed. That night Rex is sitting in his tent with his young kid, who is asleep. Malsam’s woman Tanya goes to see Rex. She like Rex and promises to help him escape “If…” and then she starts to unfasten her top. After what seems an age of unfastening she finally takes her top off, and at that very second the camera cuts to behind her, so you don't see anything even though your sure you were about to. If that poor kid wakes up he's going to develop some psychological problems from this.

We cut to the next day and see Rex, Tanya and the kid running through your mandatory mine setting. Keep an eye on Tanya as she has a hilarious run. I wonder why Rex needed Tanya’s help to get away? Malsam is obviously pissed – his best fighter and best woman have escaped. “Find them, and don’t come back until you’ve found them! They can’t hide forever, this island's too small”. Island? Hmm.

So off heads a group of Warlords on horseback, fronted by the crappest post-apocalyptic vehicle ever. It’s a tricycle with armor. After a minute or two of chase footage, the Warlords catch up to Rex and Co. In a horribly staged scene, the child and Tanya don't turn to face the attackers. This is to allow a planned special effect to work. They are both shot in the back with some kind of poisoned dart or something. Rex is about to be captured when Reya arrives up on the hillside. She has a machine gun and shoots, scaring off the Warlords. Rex is obviously pretty distraught and walks off with his dead son in his arms, Reya fallowing. Nobody seems to care about poor Tanya who is just left where she died. It turns out Reya misses her father, who disappeared somewhere. Yeah, he just disapeared. That's all the explanation I got, so that's all you're getting.

Meanwhile, in a tent laboratory filled with bubbling chemicals, the lead scientist has found a cure for wounds caused by atomic radiation. Is that even slightly possible? At first I thought this lab was at the Warlords' base, but soon enough we realise that it actually belongs to the other big group on the island.

Rex and Reya end up walking through a forest and are soon captured by this other group. They don’t have a name, but I was calling them "the browns" because they all wear brown, as appose to the Warlords in black. It turns out that the top scientist guy is Reya’s long-lost father so they are welcomed into the group. It turns out Reya has a damaged arm. Dad can soon fix that. “It’s just a minor infection caused by radiation”.

Time now for a blurry slow motion flashback. Rex’s wife is dead in a shallow stream. His kid is there and they are surrounded by Warlords. No wonder he hates them.

The browns' camp is a pretty place in the woods. Theses are obviously the good guys. Just like at the Warlords base there are always people moving around. The director has overcompensated for his lack of cast by getting people to march around at all times. In the Warlords' camp there are ALWAYS groups of people running around in the background, and most likely changing direction as soon as they are off-screen and running back, pretending to be other people. This technique is severely overused. We can tell are only 40 or so actors. Why would there be so much hustle and bustle? Still, it's fun to see people running around for no reason and with no actual military precision or timing.

Anyway, they all seem to be preparing for war. The Browns are play-fighting and the Warlords are sharpening axes and training on throwing deadly Frisbees. We even see that the Warlords actually have two armored bikes, although we only ever see one moving. The Browns then move up a step and start training with rocket launchers.

Around this point the tape screws up for a second or two. That’s right; I’m watching a DVD version, but the original tape the DVD was made from screws up. Poor quality control! Talking of quality, some of the footage looks OK, and other parts look poor. It’s like it was filmed on two totally different cameras (which is probably not far from the truth). Just when you think the training montage is over, there's one final treat. The Professor shows up and takes out his lightsaber. That’s right, his lightsaber. It seems this guy really is a genius. He switches it on and has a swing. Oddly, it hits something invisible and there's a little explosion but the scene cuts away milliseconds after the hit. Bizarre and crap looking, but enjoyably unexpected.

Now remember earlier when I said that Malsam would get madder? Well it appears he doesn’t like the moon (unlike the woman in Empire of Ash who loved it). He comes out of his tent and shouts for his right hand man, “Azim, the moon is getting full!” He rants, “Take it away from me, get it away!” and he continues to moan, “Not possible Malsam” claims Azim. Malsam goes one step further, “I’ll cover it in blood, I need fresh blood!”.

Malsam continues to rant crazily. Not far away, his men are talking about how crazy he is. They all think he's a lunatic, so why do they all follow his orders? It’s just as weird as the Hog in Deadly Reactor. Soon enough the film goes from weird to weirder. Malsam is chained up, without his mask (revealing radiation scarring and a fake eye make-up) and is surrounded by a circle of his men with flares. He howls and moans. “He’s not just crazy, he’s a lunatic!” claims one of his men. Absolute madness.

The next day we have a lot more training. The Browns sure love to fight with each other. Rex tells Reya that that she's too young for him (he has a mustache for goodness sake) and that he has a mission. Strangely the Warlords capture a few Browns and Malsam and his men sneak up on the Browns base. Malsam has a look at the Browns who are all too busy training to notice anybody sneaking up. For some reason, Malsam decides to go back to his base. He wants to kill Rex in the arena. Later that night Malsam has some sicko sex with some random woman outdoors while all his men are lined up in front facing away.

The next day Rex decides to leave the camp and kisses Reya before he goes. Over at the Warlords' camp, we find out that they need to fight because all their land is ruined from the radiation and they can’t grow food. Can’t they all just make friends? In a superb little scene, Malsam and Azim are walking between two ranks of men with spears. The troops move their spears out of the way as Malsam and Azim walk towards the camera.

Unfortunately the troops don’t seem to have practiced the technique very much and there are spears removed early and some not removed at all. One guy simply forgets altogether and another decides to wiggle his back and forwards a couple of times. Classic. Malsam is still angry that Rex escaped. Some guy turns up at their base with a selection of tough gladiators for hire. Malsam wants them for his arena for when he manages to capture Rex.

It turns out that Rex went into hiding in the mountains. A group of Warlords turn up, they have a bit of a chase and Rex is captured. Back at the Browns' camp, the commander is debating whether to attack the Warlords or not. “Thousands of our warriors could lose their lives.” he claims. What? Thousands? Ridiculous. He also mentions something about a “liquidation squad”. I don’t know what that was about but it sounded good. Reya continues to persuade the commander that it's is the right thing to do.

Rex, and another guy who was also captured, are taken to the arena and meet face-to-face with Malsam. “You're crazy, Malsam!” claims Rex. “You mean you never knew? Ha ha ha ha!” is his reply. At least he accepts his madness.

Time now for some explanations. It turns out Rex’s father killed Malsam’s father, and Malsam killed Rex’s father. Got that? Now he wants to kill Rex. To start, Rex and the other guy fight four of the hired gladiators in the ring. Not a bad fight but it includes some pointless slow-motion camera work.

Soon the gladiators are all finished and the new guy and Rex are forced to fight to get a chance to fight Malsam. Rex obviously wins. He's about to kill the guy but he throws his axe at Malsam, who immediately shoots it down with a laser. Quite good. Meanwhile, the Browns are preparing for their attack. They fire off a load of rockets, blowing up Malsam’s silver bubble tents. Also quite good! Malsam runs down some secret entrance into some caves hidden under one of the tents. Cut to a ton of shooting, fighting and general chaos where the Browns have the clear upper hand as the Warlords don't seem to be able to shoot straight. Reya and Rex team up and head into the caves with a troop of the Browns. Even in the caves there are plenty of troops pointlessly marching about in any old direction.

After a whole load of fighting Rex and Reya finally make it to the heart of the caves where Malsam has his throne-room type place. It's filled with ground fog from noisy flares. Malsam’s last wild card? A red lightsaber! Oh yes, it's time for a lightsaber duel. These things sound and look crap but it’s a superb moment.

Eventually Rex wins and Malsam explodes when the blade hits him (strange - is he made of explosives?). Rex and Reya kiss and they all head back home, but it seems like Rex doesn’t want to stay with the Browns. It isn’t explained at all but he heads off on a horse in your quintessential PA ending. If they really are on a small island, I wonder where he's off to? Why do PA heroes always leave to be on their own? Just to give us one extra thing to laugh at, the very final scene sees Rex talking to some of the Browns on his horse, except all the dialogue is cut out. His mouth is moving but there's just music playing! And that’s the end, followed by a few credits and thanks.

Final Thoughts: This movie is pretty bad. The production values are shocking and the editing is poor. Despite this, I still had a lot of fun. There was a lot to laugh about and it was fun, which is more than can be said about a lot of bigger-budget PA’s. If you have seen a lot of post-apocalyptic films before, and enjoy the rubishness, then this is highly recommended, just don’t blame me if you think it's awful.

W (1983)

1983 – W (Triple A/Cinex Films Inc./F. Puzon Films Enterprises Inc)

[Philippines release date 1st July 1983; released on US VHS as “W Is War” on Spanish VHS as“W Significa Guerra”, French VHS as “Vendicator W”, Canadian VHS as “W: La Vengeance Des Sauvages”, West German VHS as “Firestorm - Die Letzte Schlacht”, and Finnish VHS as “Kersantti W - Kykyajan Mad Max”]

Director/Writer Willie Milan Musical Director Ernani Cuenco Cinematography Apolinario Cuenco Supervising Editor Joe Mendoza Production Designer Arthur Amarante Art Director David Harrison Makeup Artist Gloria Vidallon Special Effects Robert Naelgas Wardrobe Designer Waldo Masconi English Adaption Noel Mallonga Effects Editor Jun Cabralles Assistant Editor Cesar Baltazar Sound Supervision Rolly Ruta Sound Processing Magna Tech Omni Titles Boy Quilatan Graphics Vic E. Velasco

Cast Anthony Alonzo (W2, aka Wally Lucas), Paul Vance (Praxis), Joonee Gamboa (Chief Najir A. Medina), Alicia Alonzo (Alice), Ada “Huber”/Hubert (Pratingst), Ann Marrie (W2's wife), Bing Davao (V1), Richard Jones (Pentagon), “John Montero”/Johnny Monteiro (Nesfero)

Fred Adelman’s review from the Critcon Online website:

Outlandish Filipino actioner. A gang of bald-headed, chopper-riding drug peddlers (even the female members are bald!) roll into town and get into a fight with police sergeant W2 (Anthony Alonzo). He ends up shooting one of the gang members and his boss, Major Medina (Joonee Gamboa), suspends W2 from the force. The gang members steal their comrade's dead body from the morgue and bring him back to their leader, Nesfero (Johnny Montero), who declares war on W2 because the dead gang member happened to be his brother. The gang attack W2 and some police buddies (they all have single letter names followed by a number) at a restaurant using machine guns, but W2 and his buddies escape. Things really go south for W2 on his honeymoon, where Nesfero and his men castrate W2 and rape his wife (Ann Marrie). When W2 wakes up in the hospital, discovers that his package is a little light and realizes that he will no longer be able to satisfy his wife, he vows revenge (Later on, he watches his naked wife masturbate in the shower and totally loses it. He screams to his wife, "I'm useless! I'm a eunich!"). Nesfero is expecting a huge shipment of opium and the Syndicate is worried that he is fixating too much on W2, so Nesfero kidnaps W2 and tortures him (he's strung-up and hung horizontally by ropes between four posts). He is rescued by female gang member Pratings (Ada Hubert), who tells W2 that Nosfero raped her and that he's the Devil ("He's gone mad!"). Major Medina assigns Lieutenant V1 (Bing Davao) to find the missing W2. So what's the first thing V1 does? Why he goes swimming in flesh-colored Speedos with W2's horny wife and then makes love to her! W2 returns home and catches them in the act (She says haltingly, "I really don't know what came...over us!") and throws his wife out of the house. Pratings tells W2 about Nesfero's upcoming opium shipment, so W2, Pratings and some buddies intercept and steal the shipment, which puts Nesfero in hot water with Syndicate boss Praxis (Paul Vance). What Nesfero does next is truly brain-busting. He and his men take an entire Catholic nursery school hostage and threaten to kill all the children unless the opium shipment is returned and W2 is delivered to them! Police reporter Alice (Alicia Alonzo, Anthony's real-life sister) gets involved in the case when she finds out her daughter is one of the hostage children, but her stupidity gets her daughter killed. W2 comes out of hiding (after he creates an armor-plated car, body armor and a hand-held rocket launcher) and faces Nosfero and his gang in the explosive finale.

This crazy Philippines-lensed action flick, directed and scripted by Willie Milan (ULTIMAX FORCE - 1986), is one wild ride. The plot makes absolutely no sense and looks like it was edited with a chainsaw (some violence and nudity seems to have been cut out in this version, especially noticable in the shower masturbation scene), but this film is so perverse and out-there (A castrated man as an action hero? Who would have thought?), you'll wonder what alternate universe this film was made on. Filled with hilarious dialogue (When one of the cops asks Major Medina where they should look for the missing W2, he snaps back, "Search in Hell if you must!" or W2's rant to Major Medina when he won't lift his suspension: "I put my ass on the line while you sit back and polish your medals!" That line of dialogue is repeated at least three time while Major Medina has a crisis of conscience in his office!), and mindless violence, including explosions, multiple gunfights, child killing and W2's assault on Nesfero's beach compound in the finale, where both he and Pratings don handmade steel helmets, which make them both look like the Rocketeer! Hey, this isn't rocket science, but W (also known as W IS WAR) is a mindless, fun action romp the Filipinos excelled at making. Director Willie Milan made a sort-of sequel in 1985 called CLASH OF THE WARLORDS. Besides a couple of the same actors appearing in similar roles, it really has nothing much in common with this film (For one, the sequel is a post-nuke film and this one isn't). Also starring Richard Jones as Nosfero's henchman Pentagon, who thinks he can outfight a machine gun. He can't. Not to be confused with the 1974 thriller starring Twiggy, which shares the same single-lettered name.

Mad Warrior (1985)

1985 – Mad Killer (Triple A Films)

[Philippines release date 19th September 1985, original title “Junior Buang: Mad Killer Ng Visayas”]

Director Willy Milan [as Wifredo Milan] Screenplay Ricardo Tariman Producer Tarhata M. Directo Executive Producer Antonio V. Hernandez Cinematography Apolinario Cuenco Music Willy Yusi Editor Pat Ramos Sound Bing de Santos Art Direction P. Villapana Assistant Director Rico Tariman Production Managers Boy Banawa, Rudy Basco Assistant Editors Nelson Ramos, Randy Brien, Ricardo Crisostomo Sound Effects Danny Sanchez Layout Artist Manansala Titles Mon Chok Fight Instructors Jay Grama, Fred Esplana Stillman Rudy Ramos Makeup Artist Gloria Vidallion Effectsman Robert “Guy” Naelgas Schedule Master Rudy Basco Setting/Propsmen Waldo Masconi, Danny Beyer? Utility Men Truman & Omeng

Cast Anthony Alonzo (Junior Buang), Leni Santos, Myra Manibog, Rex Lapid, Raoul Aragonn, Perla Bautista, Alicia Alonzo, Renato del Prado, Joonee Gamboa, Fred Moro, Tom Olivar, Rene Jose, Jay Grama, Den Montero, Grego Gavino, Dahlia Delgado, Ellen Bendanillo, Sharon Mateu, Robert Talby, Avel Morado, Bong Varona, Jun Santos, Fred Esplana, Mel Arca, Rico Tariman, Romy Blanco, Joel de Nero, Danny Javier, Bobby Henson, Roger Cruz, Waldo Mascon, Rey de Guzman, Andy Calma, Fred Belleca, Mardy Fuentes, Danny Zurbano, Ching Zabala, Jay Pineda, Bobby Hernadez, Moret Palmos, George Tormida, Joel Martinez, W Stuntmen, Dove Stuntmen, Vultures Stuntmen, Tanay Movie Stuntmen

Introducing 8 new stuntmen: Jett Velasco (SOS Daredevils), Waldo Reyes (Thunder Stuntmen), Jun Borja (Vultures Stuntmen), Ronald Asinas (Professional Stuntmen), Manny Samson (Shadow Stuntmen), Jing Castaneda (Dragon Stuntmen), Ver Rodriguez & Carlos David (W Stuntmen)

Jailbreak..... 1958 (1984)

1984 – Jailbreak...... 1958 (Triple A productions/Cinex Films Inc/F. Puzon Film Enterprises Inc)

[Philippines release date 30^th December 1984, original title “Muntinlupa, 1958”]

Director/Screenplay “José Antonio”/Anthony Alonzo Producers Conrad C. Puzon, “Pierre”/Pio C. Lee Cinematography “Policarpio”/Apolinario Cuenco Music Lutgardo Labad Editor Joe Mendoza Production Design Pete Manansala Sound Mixer Rolly Ruta Assistant Director Sonny Saret Script Supervisor Noel Mallonga Production Manager Johnny Leoncio Assistant Editors Vergilio Betez, Bonnie de Guzman Sound Effects Editors “Jhun”/Jun Cabrales, Rudy Cabrales

Cast Anthony Alonzo, Paul Vance, Mariane Reeves, “Daniel”/Nick Nicholson, Mark Joseph, Fred Montilla, Renato Del Prado, Mary Walter, Tita Muñoz, Alicia Alonzo, “Jonee”/Joonee Gamboa, Jonjon Hernadez, Den Montero

Review from the WTF DVDs online catalogue:

Cool Filipino film in English about a man who sets out to take revenge against the drug dealers who turned his nephew into a drug addict. He raids their mansion packing a machine gun killing several and must take them all out - that is, until the cops nab him. Then he sets a plan into action to escape from prison to finish what he already started. The first 20 minutes of this film is filled with trashy language and women beatings as this fucked up or should I say dysfunctional family screams, yells and beats each other, it’s a total laugh riot if you ask me and the rest of the film is pretty good too…

Angel On Fire (1995)

1995 - Angel On Fire (My Way Film Company/Omni Films International)

[Original Philippines title “Matira Ang Matibay”]

Director/Writer/Action Director Philip Ko [Filipino version credited to Ko, Teddy “Chua”/Chiu and Artemio Marquez] Screenplay [English version] Mike Cassey [Filipino version] Rey Atalia Executive Producers Christine Eunice Yui Dee, Frederick Timothy Yui Dee [sometimes known as Derek Dee], Melanie Marquez Co-Producer Lam Pak “Heng”/Heung Supervising Producer (HK) Ricky Wong Ga-Kui [sometimes listed as K.K. Wong] Associate Producer (Manila) Louie Kee Cinematography (HK) Lau Yip Cinematography (Philippines) Eduardo “Baby” Cabrales Production Manager Ng Shui-Cheong Sound Recordist 108 Records Ltd Co Editor (HK) Grand Yip Wai-Keung Editor (Philippines) Francis J. Vinarao Presenter Jeffrey Cheung Kai-Ping Assistant Director Lee Chun-Wa Composer (HK) Chow Fook-Wing Music (Philippines) Ringgo Marquez

Additional Philippines Credits: Stunts Darren Shahlavi, Tom Tom Car Stunt Co-Ordinator [uncredited] Marcus Fox Associate Director James Gaines Production Manager Glen Parian First Assistant Director/Script Supervisor Belen Griarte Second Assistant Director Louie Katana Sound Supervisor Willy Islaw Art Directors Lito Estacio, Max Paglinawan First Assistant Cameraman Ariong Cuenco Second Assistant Cameraman Oscar Moreno Third Assistant Cameraman Danny Bustos Assistant Script Supervisor Becky de Vera Assistant Production Manager Manuel Leonardo Dubbing Supervision Lucy Quintos & Co Sound Effects Ben Acosta Effectsman Edilberta Nelgus Assistant Editors Edwin Celes, Roberto Malad Makeup Artist Flor Mendoza Costume Caretaker Fe Herrera Ronnie Ricketts’ Makeup Artist Manang Cita Melanie Marquez’ Wardrobe Renee M. Salud Field Soundman Reynaldo Chiong Crew Mar Enriquez, Cardo Montes, Elmer Adem, Lerry Balagot, Jojo Bolano Electrician Marcial Tagod Mikeman Jimmy Zabarte Setman Jonnon Salazar Propsmen Jimmy Relox, Alvin Manjares Utility Men Bobby Calceta, Roberto Barlam Drivers Toting Llanes, Amor Tugadi, Roger Estacio Caterer Reynet Lapid Looper Eduardo Acosta PR Department Supervisor Mimilanie M. Dee Assistant PR Department Supervisor Mark Castro TV Supervisor Camille Gomba Publicist Jobert Sucaldito PRO Ross Celino, Robert Silverio, Noel Asinas, Mercy Lejarde, Noel Villa Jr, Pilar Mateo, Archie de Calma, Roel Villacorta

Cast Cynthia Khan (Interpol Agent Siu Ching), Ronnie Ricketts (Harry/Lok in HK version), Sharon Yeung [Pan Pan] (Wong Li), Waise Lee [Chi-Hung] (Inspector Su Chin), Winston G. Ellis (Black Leopard), Melanie Marquez (May), Tom Tom, Lee Chun-Wa (Tony), Darren Shahlavi (Tony’s thug), Anthony Alonzo, Mark Houghton (Buyer's Bodyguard), Philip Ko (Rocks/Ko Cheung in HK version)

Cast on Philippines version: Ronnie Ricketts (Boyet), Cynthia Khan (Mai), Anthony Alonzo Rex), Philip Ko (Chang), Melanie Marquez (Natasha), Luis Gonzales (Mr Estrada), Winston Ellis, Dinky Doo Jr (Jimmy), Nog-Nog (Max), Louie Katana (Lee), Jojo de Leon, Jonathan Gabriel, Rando Almanzor, Mike Cassey (Eddie), Warren Escudero, Shema Yamamoto, Telly Babasa, Bobby Orbo, Jolly Jugueta, James Gaines, Belen Griarte, Ernie David, Dick Zamora, Rey Ebdane, Mark Martin, Manuel Leonardo, Thunder Stuntmen, Scorpio Stuntmen

Review from the Alex In Wonderland website:

Cynthia Khan is a Hong Kong police officer hot on the trail of a supermodel who has stolen a "precious thing" from Shaolin Temple and is trying to sell it in Manila. Sure, she's a rather unattractive supermodel (wear enough makeup and anyone can be a supermodel), but she can fight fairly well. In Manila Ms. Khan hooks up with a goofy, but kind-hearted cab driver (Ronnie Ricketts) who likes to box in his spare time. I bet he'll come in handy... At the end of the movie, she also joins forces with a mainland cop played by Sharon Yeung, but her scenes seem pathetically out of place, like they were originally shot for a different film. The good guys finally prevail after a laughably excessive exchange of firepower.

This film looks pretty good for a low budget Filipino effort. Cynthia Khan looks great and her outfits are extremely cute. Unfortunately, her fighting scenes are only average, and are occasionally spoiled by some embarrassingly poor wire stunts. Sharon Yeung's brief fight scenes are good, but she doesn't even look like she's in the right movie. And you know you're in a low budget movie when high and mighty crime lords drive the Ford Mustang II as their vehicle of choice.

Review from the DVD Cult website:

Between 1990 and 1995, the Hong Kong film industry was booming, and lots of low-budget producers were jumping on the bandwagon. It was during these years that a new sub-genre of films was born, that I like to call ‘the Angel series’. These were low-budget action movies that ripped off the Michelle Yeoh films by featuring various female Hong Kong stars in leading roles kicking ass on the bad guys. I’m talking about films like ANGEL MISSION, ANGEL TERMINATORS, ANGEL OF VENGEANCE, etc. These films are not sequels and don’t have much in common, other than hot Hong Kong actresses in starring roles. ANGEL ON FIRE was actually filmed in the Philippines in 1995, and was carefully produced to look like a Hong Kong film. Tai Seng has recently released ANGEL ON FIRE on their budget HK DVD line.

ANGEL ON FIRE is directed by Hong Kong director (and former action star ) Philip Ko, who also has a feature role in the film as a gang leader named Rocks. Cynthia Khan, best known for the IN THE LINE OF DUTY series, takes top billing as an unnamed Interpol agent, who goes undercover to catch a thief. Waise (13 COLD BLOODED EAGLES) Lee plays Su Chin, the Interpol chief who gives her this assignment. Sharon Yeung plays another Interpol agent named Wong Li, who joins Cynthia Kahn’s character uncover.

Mimi is a former-model turned thief. She breaks into a Shaolin temple and steals an ancient relic. She is caught in the act by the monks, and they chase her through the streets of Hong Kong on bicycles. She is then picked up by helicopter, which is piloted by the gang leader who hired her to steal the relic, Rocks. Mimi tells him that she was caught in the act and wasn’t able to get the relic. Meanwhile, Interpol chief Su Chin (Waise Lee) assigns one of his top agents (Khan) to go undercover and capture Mimi and recover the relic, no matter the cost. He informs her that she will be joined by another under cover Interpol agent named Wong Li.

Rocks accompanies Mimi to the headquarters of a crime boss named Tony. Tony hired Rocks and Mimi to retrieve the relic, but Rocks betrays them both and steals the relic at gunpoint. Rocks is actually loyal to a different crime boss who wants the relic. What Rocks does not know is that the statue he possesses is a fake; Mimi still has the original. Rocks' boss is furious when he finds out he has a fake relic, and threatens to kill Rocks. At the airport, Cynthia Kahn meets a goofball taxi cab driver named Harry, and they attempt to follow the suspects, but the taxi breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Cynthia and Harry become fast friends, and she calls on him again for her transportation needs.

Harry tells her he is a boxer, and asks her to go to one of his fights. The fight turns out to be one of the illegal pit-fighting affairs, held by the crime lord that is desperately trying to acquire the relic. Harry has to fight a massive fighter from Africa called Black Leopard. The mean African fighter clearly has the advantage, but Harry manages to outsmart the Black Leopard, and he and Cynthia flee the illegal fight.

Mimi has managed to avoid capture and retain the relic. She goes to a huge field with a large circular electrical tower to make the switch and get her payoff from a third party buyer. Things get a little complicated when Tony and his men show up. Tony goes on a tirade saying how hurt he is she betrayed him (apparently they had some romantic thing going on). Just as Tony is about to kill Mimi, Rocks arrives with his own battalion of thugs, including the Black Leopard. An all-out war erupts between the gangs for possession of the relic. Cynthia and Harry show up and join the fray. Then undercover Interpol agent Wong Li arrives to assist them. But how can three people stop an explosive gang war?

Director Philip Ko wrote the script, directed, and acted in ANGEL ON FIRE. The only positive thing I have to say about Mr. Ko’s talents, is that he is a decent character actor. This film is very bad, even by B movie standards. Some films are so bad, that they are entertaining (like MIGHTY PEKING MAN or PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE), but this is just plain bad. The script is terrible, the direction and production is without any style or flair, the characters and acting are atrocious (except for some of the character actors portraying the crime lords). Ko does not know how to generate any suspense or tension, or give us any characters we can care about.

Cynthia Khan is graceful in ANGEL ON FIRE. She kicks butt and looks good doing it. Though she mostly uses her martial arts skills to beat the bad guys, she does resort to firearms a few times. She is an underrated actress, but you would never now it from this film (I still can’t believe she slummed in this production). Sharon Yeung is looking butch and showing her age. But she can still move like a limber young panther. Her role is limited, and she just shows up at the climax to help Cynthia Khan fight the rival gangs.

The film chugs away at a snails pace, until the last thirty minutes or so. Despite the ineptness of the entire movie, the last act delivers some excitement and violent action. Two gangs do battle over who will keep the relic, and our heroines help take down thugs from both gangs. The battle ground shifts to a small airport where things get crazy when the gang leaders take to the sky. Tons of rapid-fire, machine-gun action, exploding grenade launchers, and endless kung-fu fights finally bring the film to life for a little while. This climax still does not justify having to sit through the entire movie though.