Develop explosive fighting power! White Crane Hard Qigong strengthens muscles, tendons and ligaments and develops the strength and flexibility of the torso and spine. Hard qigong also builds a strong root, improves your stability and increases your muscular endurance.

A big-budget summer epic with money to burn and a scale worthy of its golden Hollywood predecessors, Ridley Scott's Gladiator is a rousing, grisly, action-packed epic that takes moviemaking back to the Roman Empire via computer-generated visual effects. While not as fluid as the computer work done for, say, Titanic, it's an impressive achievement that will leave you marveling at the glory that was Rome, when you're not marveling at the glory that is Russell Crowe. Starring as the heroic general Maximus, Crowe firmly cements his star status both in terms of screen presence and acting chops, carrying the film on his decidedly non-computer-generated shoulders as he goes from brave general to wounded fugitive to stoic slave to gladiator hero. Gladiator's plot is a whirlwind of faux-Shakespearean machinations of death, betrayal, power plays, and secret identities (with lots of faux-Shakespearean dialogue ladled on to keep the proceedings appropriately "classical"), but it's all briskly shot, edited, and paced with a contemporary sensibility. Even the action scenes, somewhat muted but graphic in terms of implied violence and liberal bloodletting, are shot with a veracity that brings to mind-believe it or not-Saving Private Ryan, even if everyone is wearing a toga. As Crowe's nemesis, the evil emperor Commodus, Joaquin Phoenix chews scenery with authority, whether he's damning Maximus's popularity with the Roman mobs or lusting after his sister Lucilla (beautiful but distant Connie Nielsen); Oliver Reed, in his last role, hits the perfect notes of camp and gravitas as the slave owner who rescues Maximus from death and turns him into a coliseum star. Director Scott's visual flair is abundantly in evidence, with breathtaking shots and beautiful (albeit digital) landscapes, but it's Crowe's star power that will keep you in thrall-he's a true gladiator, worthy of his legendary status. Hail the conquering hero! -Mark Englehart.

This is the best of the three movies about a boy and his killer whale. Beautifully photographed, it's worth watching just for the heavenly British Columbian scenery and underwater photography. It helps that the story is well thought out and more expertly executed than the first two films in this series. Jason James Richter, the little boy from the previous Free Willy flicks, is given a credible role as a research assistant trying to understand why whale populations are decreasing. His story parallels that of the son of an illegal whaler who knows his father is involved in criminal activity and is particularly disturbed by the moral ramifications. Unlike the pro-environment characters in other movies, the fishermen in this story are given a valid point of view, as they are facing very real economic hardships due to the overfishing of the oceans. This plot tangent is given equal footing with the friendship between the two key boys in the story. It all gets a little too corny, but overall this is recommended as a family picture. -Rochelle O'Gorman.

Do you know anyone who hasn't seen this movie? A box-office smash when released in 1993, this spectacular update of the popular 1960s TV series stars Harrison Ford as a surgeon wrongly accused of the murder of his wife. He escapes from a prison transport bus (in one of the most spectacular stunt-action sequences ever filmed) and embarks on a frantic quest for the true killer's identity, while a tenacious U. S. marshal (Tommy Lee Jones, in an Oscar-winning role) remains hot on his trail. Director Andrew Davis hit the big time with this expert display of polished style and escalating suspense, but it's the antagonistic chemistry between Jones and Ford that keeps this thriller cooking to the very end. In roles that seem custom-fit to their screen personas, the two stars maintain a sharply human focus to the grand-scale manhunt, and the intelligent screenplay never resorts to convenient escapes or narrative shortcuts. Equally effective as a thriller and a character study, this is a Hollywood blockbuster that truly deserves its ongoing popularity. -Jeff Shannon Do you know anyone who hasn't seen this movie? A box-office smash when released in 1993, this spectacular update of the popular 1960s TV series stars Harrison Ford as a surgeon wrongly accused of the murder of his wife. He escapes from a prison transport bus (in one of the most spectacular stunt-action sequences ever filmed) and embarks on a frantic quest for the true killer's identity, while a tenacious U. S. [+]

After her new husband receives a fatal shower of. 45 caliber rice, a vengeance-seeking widow must learn an ancient fighting technique in order to bring down the bad guys in this amusing bone-cruncher of a film. Five-time world kickboxing champion Cynthia Rothrock may be somewhat inexpressive in the lead role, but whatever she lacks in charisma is more than made up for by her sheer kick-ass athleticism-a trait director-cinematographer David Worth captures admirably. (In true exploitation-fu fashion, every impressive kick or punch is shown a minimum of three times at differing speeds. ) Former 1970s action presence Robert Ginty (forever known to Mystery Science Theater 3000 fans as "That Paper Chase Guy") lends an authoritatively stoic hand as a shady ally. Rothrock's final coup de grace to beefcake baddie Richard Norton is guaranteed to inspire a collective sympathetic wince from male viewers. This full-frame DVD includes production notes, cast/crew bios, and the marvelously histrionic original trailer. -Andrew Wright.

Fran Rubel Kuzui's 1992 tongue-in-cheek vampire comedy is sugarcoated horror, an unusual mix of the cute and scary, with a splash of postmodern pop nonsense to give culture critics something to think about. Kristy Swanson plays a Valley Girl who learns she belongs to a line of ancient vampire killers. After training under the watchful eye of a mentor (Donald Sutherland), she becomes a spandex-wearing, kung-fu kicking, stake-stabbing babe and the mortal enemy of a narcissistic master vampire (Rutger Hauer). The accent is all on cheery attitude, though the action can be as authentically unnerving as any other halfway decent monster movie. Paul Reubens, formerly Pee-wee Herman, has a small role as Hauer's fanged familiar. -Tom Keogh.

Johnny is an orphan with big dreams. He escapes the orphanage, and with the help of Mary, becomes a roller skating champ. Once he's famous, all the girls want him, and Johnny's only too happy to give them what they want. But only one girl has ever loved him - Mary. It will take a personal tragedy for Johnny to see the error of his ways.

Japan's deadliest hit woman is sent to shut down the mob-run black market in human organs and winds up the reluctant bodyguard to the government's chief witness, the sneering mistress of the head man. The Zero Woman formula is closely followed: gratuitous nudity, soft-core sex scenes, and brutal violence abound. In the precredits kickoff, a mad doctor maniacally cackles while fondling the organs of a dissected corpse until Zero puts a stop to the party games, executing the doctor and his gun-toting associates with cold efficiency. She's less enthusiastic about her babysitting assignment, but true to formula her icy heart is melted by her flirty female charge and they engage in steamy female bonding. Such bliss is short lived for the doomed-to-loneliness Zero Woman, however, as a corrupt politician and the kinky, cross-dressing mob boss plot to remove the witness. Long, lean, sphinxlike Chieko Shiratori makes a fine Zero Woman in this installment. She moves more like a model than a warrior, but her cool intensity gives her the façade of impersonal professionalism. This quirky low-budget video series has never been a bastion of high style or meaningful drama-it's downright cheap, often clumsy, and utterly exploitative-but the sleek austerity, nihilistic edge, and world-weary cynicism continues to contribute to the fascinating mythology with each succeeding chapter. -Sean Axmaker.

This rousing, explosive 1961 WWII adventure, based on Alistair MacLean's thrilling novel, turns the war thriller into a deadly caper film. Gregory Peck heads a star-studded cast charged with a near impossible mission: destroy a pair of German guns nestled in a protective cave on the strategic Mediterranean island of Navarone, from where they can control a vital sea passage. As world famous mountain climber turned British army Captain Mallory, Peck leads a guerrilla force composed of the humanistic explosives expert, Miller (David Niven), the ruthless Greek patriot with a grudge, Stavros (Anthony Quinn), veteran special forces soldier Brown (Stanley Baker), and the cool, quiet young marksman Pappadimos (James Darren). This disparate collection of classic types must overcome internal conflicts, enemy attacks, betrayal, and capture to complete their mission. Director J. Lee Thompson sets a driving pace for this exciting (if familiar) military operation, a succession of close calls, pitched battles, and last-minute escapes as our heroes infiltrate the garrisoned town with the help of resistance leader Maria (Irene Papas) and plot their entry into the heavily guarded mountain fort. Carl Foreman's screenplay embraces MacLean's role call of clichés and delivers them with style, creating one of the liveliest mixes of espionage, combat, and good old-fashioned military derring-do put on film. In 1978, the sequel Force 10 from Navarone was released, but MacLean fans will prefer to check out the action-packed thriller Where Eagles Dare. -Sean Axmaker Stills from The Guns of Navarone(click for larger image) Beyond The Guns of Navarone at Amazon. com More Military & War Films More Gregory Peck Films More Classic Films.

This is what The Mod Squad wanted to be. Chan (Eric Tsang), a cop on the fringe of the force, assembles a team of loose-cannon cadets-the Gen-X Cops-to infiltrate the mobs of Hong Kong, and they find a stolen shipment of explosive rocket fuel. Dressed in skin-tight leather and vinyl, hip to the point of being ridiculous, our heroes (named Jack, Alien, and Match) have to fight not only ultraviolent criminals but also hostile factions within the police as they track down a supercool Japanese gangster with no fear of death. The clichés fly fast and thick, and the plot is at times incomprehensible, but the action is pretty much nonstop. A shootout in a surfboard factory is particularly spectacular but is only one of several rapidly edited, stunt-filled sequences. The dubbing is better than usual (though subtitles would still be preferable), and there's some unfortunate homophobia, but the actors are all good-looking, the rock soundtrack is loud, the colors are bright, and the attitude is intense. Gen-X Cops even features a cameo by Jackie Chan, who's somehow involved with presenting the film. A slick, silly, and very entertaining movie. -Bret Fetzer.