Adventures of Johnny Tao (2008)
Johnny Dow struggles to make a living at his small town gas station by charging motorists to see the electric guitar used by his late father a one-hit, rock and roll wonder. Legend has it the guitar was carved in the shape of a dragon's head and made in part from an ancient spear his father found in the crater of a shooting star. When Johnny's friend Eddie stumbles upon the other half of the spear he releases an ancient demon hungry for power and destruction. Mika a beautiful Chinese warrior who holds the secret to fighting Eddie and his army of kung fu, sugar-craving warriors reveals to Johnny that the only way to stop the evil spirit is to use the first half of the spear - the dragon on Johnny's guitar! Together Johnny and Mika set out to fight Eddie and his army, reunite the two halves of the spear, restore peace to the town and - of course - save the world!
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This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place
Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.
I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.
A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.
*This review contains spoilers*This is fun movie that I knew would be great before I even watched it. I mean, come on, this movie is classified (not on IMDb) as a "kung-fu zombie" movie. That practically guarantees this movie to be a good time!If you don't take this movie too seriously, you'll have a good time. It tells the tale of a dude named Johnny, who lives in a boring little town, practicing kung-fu that he learned watching old chopsockies, while managing his gas station/museum with the help of his UFO-obsessed friend, Eddie. When Eddie finds a piece of a cursed spear in the desert, a Chinese demon inside possesses him. Now, he goes through the town, infecting others and making them into his slaves. Only Johnny, with the help of his friend Mika, part of a long line of warriors trained to fight the demon, and the use of the other part of the spear, hidden inside his father's guitar, can he kill the demon and restore order. Yeah, that's a really convoluted plot, but well-choreographed fight scenes, good special FX, and nice acting make this a fun, action-packed indie movie that plays out well. B+
This was a thoroughly enjoyable mix of genres - lots of unexpected (but carefully planned) laughs and jolts. The camera work and direction are top notch and the performances very even and pleasing.While some of it could be labeled parody, the writing/directing seems completely aware of the demands of the genres and knows when to wink at them and when to treat them seriously. As a viewer, I felt totally comfortable during "the ride."The fight in the alleyway is a standout, as is all of the stunt work, actually. Careful planning is evident, but nothing looks stagy or mechanical. All in all, a very satisfying couple of hours in the dark.
I really thought this movie was a lot of fun. It was very enjoyable and entertaining. The characters were kooky, funny, and lovable. The action scenes were very well done without excessive violence (if I can say that about a Kung Fu Action movie), and the comedy was a very smart tongue-in-cheek style. It's also a great wholesome family movie. I don't see why parents would not love an action movie that's funny without any cursing or gross language and the kids will love it even more. The filmmaker (Kenn Scott) deserves a round of applause for a job well done. Thanks for this movie.
I liked the simplicity and clarity of the story, the story-telling, and the fight sequences. In an age where it seems like every film is computer generated and you're never sure if your watching the actors or a computer geek in Silicone Valley's work, it was refreshing to see a film that went back to the basics. I liked the characters and cared about their plight, the story kept moving and had a number of surprises, and I wasn't bombarded with images my children couldn't watch. There needs to be more films like this. I simply enjoyed watching this film and hope more film-makers go back to the basics. This is a perfect example of the fact that it is the "steak" we want, not the "sizzle". Johnny Tao is a really nice piece of steak.