Carry On Pickpocket (1982)

Rice Pot and Chimney are 2 expert pickpocketers who with their Master’s daughter Ann have managed to earn quite a living on the streets of Hong Kong. They’re quite a formidable team. Unfortunately their Master takes all of their money and they are forced to get involved with local gangsters in order to get some cash. Meanwhile Rice Pot meets Ling at the disco and instantly falls in love with her. He finds out she is an undercover policewoman, and she calls upon Rice Pot and his friends to obtain some diamonds from a crime boss. This they do successfully but the only problem they have now is staying alive, as the crime boss is prepared to kill to get his diamonds back.

Now before you start to think that this is a UK comedy it isn’t, it’s got nothing at all to do with the British Carry On films. This is another great Sammo Hung directed action/comedy movie. It begins as an all out comedy with some action scenes but as the movie heads into the second half it turns decidely darker, serious and brutal with some superb choreographed fights near the end. Sammo gets to show us how versatile he is in this movie and Frankie Chan as his sidekick gives him good solid support. This movie might start out a bit slow but once it gets going the mood starts getting more intense. Whenever you see any Sammo Hung movie you know the action and fight scenes are going to be spectacular and you will not be disappointed here. There’s a fantastic motorcycle bike chase and the fights feel fresh and different from what you might have seen in his other movies. You don’t associate gore with Sammo’s movies but we do get a couple of nasty bloody deaths in this one. The comedy on offer is also really funny.

Carry On Pickpocket is probably one of Sammo’s lesser known movies although I don’t know why as it’s brilliant. I highly recommend that if you get a chance to buy or watch this movie, you won’t be making a mistake.

Sadako’s Rating: 4 stars out of 5

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OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let’s Go Kamen Riders (2011)

The movie begins with OOO fighting a monster wondering why it’s not bleeding medals after each attack. As the creature possesses a young boy, Den-Liner appears from the sky and out comes Koutarou (KR New Den-O) to explain that the boy has been taken over by a Mole Imajin. OOO and Ankh board the Den-Liner as they head back in time to 1971 where the Mole Imajin has gone. They are warned not to go outside the train and interfere in the timeline but they do. In the resulting fight with the Imajin, Ankh drops a cell medal which is picked up by a Shocker goon who hands it over to the Shocker General. He then presents it to the Great Leader. It is only when Eiji and Ankh return back to the present time that they realise that something is amiss. Shocker is now in control of the world having used the cell medal 40 years ago for their evil purposes. Kamen Rider 1 and 2 were totally defeated, brainwashed and have been working for Shocker ever since. The change in the timeline has meant that no new Riders appeared after them. Den-O and OOO head back to the past once again to undo the damage but things only get worse for them. Can they defeat Shocker and it’s allies and reverse the damage already done to the timeline?

This was a fun movie to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Kamen Rider and unlike the 2009 movie All Riders Vs. Dai-Shocker where only the main riders teamed up to defeat Shocker, this one has the main riders and the secondary riders appearing together at the climax. Not only that but other tokusatsu heroes also have a small cameo – Kikaider, Kikaider 01, Inazuman and Zubat. I’ve heard and read about those 4 heroes but I’ve never seen their series so it was a nice touch despite the short time you see them onscreen. The reason for their appearance is it was also the 60th anniversary of the Toei Company. The movie focuses on 000, New Den-O and Kamen Riders 1 & 2. You don’t need to have seen any of the series in which they appear to enjoy this movie but it helps a little bit. The plot is good and there’s plenty of thrills and spills to keep you interested especially with the high quota of pyrotechnics on show. It all comes together in the brilliant climax where all the old riders appear to take on Shocker and it’s Great Leader. This is a movie that young kids and their parents who liked watching the original KR series back in the early 70’s can enjoy and reminisce. I loved this movie and if you’re a fan of any of the past KR series I’m sure you will too.

Sadako’s Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

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