Brad’s “Scene of the Day” – The revenge training sequence from FULL CONTACT (1992), starring Chow Yun-Fat!


One of my favorite Chow Yun-Fat action films is Ringo Lam’s FULL CONTACT. Up until FULL CONTACT, Chow Yun-Fat was mostly the suave hitman or tough cop in his action films. Here, he’s a man content with operating on the wrong side of the law to try to get ahead. Unfortunately, he is betrayed by his best friend and criminal cohorts and left for dead in a foreign country. This rock-fueled montage sequence shows him healing up and then preparing to take his revenge, while his best friend / betrayer tries to “be there” for his girlfriend who thinks he’s dead. It’s a badass, multi-fingerless, Chow Yun-Fat who wears bandanas, rides a motorcycle, hangs with a cute dog, and ultimately takes no prisoners. My guess is this scene will make you want to watch FULL CONTACT!

(Note: The video is frozen for the first 8 seconds. After that, the fun begins)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Harvey Keitel Edition!


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today is Harvey Keitel’s 86th birthday! Harvey Keitel is one of the great, fearless actors of our time (BAD LIEUTENANT, anyone). He has been working hard since 1965, and he’s still going strong today, adding up to a career that spans 60 years and counting. His work for great directors like Scorsese and Tarantino has been vital to the quality and success of those films. I really came to appreciate Keitel when he had somewhat of a career resurgence in the early 90’s when I was in my late teens. He’s just a great actor who makes everything he appears in better.

Today, in honor of Harvey Keitel’s 86th birthday, here are 4 Shots from 4 Films!

MEAN STREETS (1973)

FINGERS (1978)

RESERVOIR DOGS (1992)

FROM DUSK TILL DAWN (1996)

#MondayMuggers presents STRATEGIC COMMAND (1997) starring Michael Dudikoff!


Every Monday night at 9:00 Central Time, my wife Sierra and I host a “Live Movie Tweet” event on X using the hashtag #MondayMuggers. We rotate movie picks each week, and our tastes are quite different. Tonight, Monday May 12th, we are showing STRATEGIC COMMAND (1997) starring Michael Dudikoff, Paul Winfield, Richard Norton, Amanda Wyss, Bryan Cranston, and Michael Cavanaugh.

This movie focuses on Rick Harding (Michael Dudikoff), a former Marines officer, who’s now working in the FBI as a chemical weapons designer. While packing up one night, a group of armed soldiers break into the FBI research lab. Interestingly, these soldiers are led by a man named Carlos Gruber (Richard Norton).

So, join us tonight for #MondayMuggers and watch STRATEGIC COMMAND! It’s on Amazon Prime. The trailer is included below:

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Jess Franco Edition


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today is the 95th anniversary of the birth of Jesus Franco!  One of the most prolific filmmakers of all time, Franco made movies that …. well, they’re not easy to describe.  Jess Franco was responsible for some of the most visually striking and narratively incoherent films ever made.  He made films that you either loved or you hated but there was no mistaking his work for being the work of someone else.

Today, in honor of his birthday, here are….

4 Shots From 4 Films

The Awful Dr. Orloff (1962, dir by Jess Franco, DP: Godofredo Pacheco)

A Virgin Among The Living Dead (1970, dir by Jess Franco, DP: anyone’s guess)

She Killed In Ecstasy (1970, dir by Jess Franco, DP: Manuel Merino)

Female Vampire (1973, dir by Jess Franco, DP: Jess Franco)

Brad’s “Video of the Day” – Chow Yun-Fat sings OH VERY NICE! 


Chow Yun-Fat was such a big Hong Kong movie star, and he couldn’t do anything wrong in the late 80’s. While he’s most well known for his action films, he also starred in a lot of comedies. He was often goofy and over the top and the audiences loved it. In the hit film, THE DIARY OF A BIG MAN (1988), Chow plays a man married to two of the most beautiful women of Hong Kong cinema, Sally Yeh (THE KILLER) and Joey Wong (GOD OF GAMBLERS)… at the same time. Needless to say, it’s not an easy situation. Fair warning, if you’ve never seen a Chow Yun-Fat comedy, this may take some getting used to. I personally love it and can’t help but smile as big as Chow when I watch it. I present Chow Yun-Fat singing “Oh Very Nice” from THE DIARY OF A BIG MAN. Enjoy my friends! 

4 Shots From 4 Films: The Chow Yun-Fat Edition!


Chow Yun-Fat has been in so many interesting movies, from underrated Hong Kong Films, to multiple Oscar Winners, to big budget Hollywood fluff! As we continue to move forward to his 70th birthday on May 18th, 2025, I celebrate some of his performances that I find quite interesting! 

TIGER ON BEAT (1988)

FULL CONTACT (1992)

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000)

PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: AT WORLD’S END (2007)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special David MacKenzie Edition


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy birthday to Scottish director, David MacKenzie!  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 David MacKenzie Films

Young Adam (2003, dir by David MacKenzie, DP: Giles Nuttgens)

Starred Up (2014, dir by David MacKenzie, DP; Michael McDonough)

Hell or High Water (2016, dir by David MacKenzie, DP: Giles Nuttgens)

Outlaw King (2018, dir by David MacKenzie, DP: Barry Ackroyd)

Brad’s “Scene of the Day” – from CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER (2006)


As I continue to celebrate Chow Yun-Fat, as he gets ready to turn 70 on May 18th, 2025, I thought I’d highlight his performance as the evil Emperor Ping in CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER. Chow doesn’t often play a bad guy, but he can do it extremely well, and he’s still the ultimate badass. Enjoy this scene between Chow Yun-Fat and Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou as Prince Jai. 

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special J.A. Bayona Edition


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, we wish a happy birthday to the great Spanish director, J.A. Bayona!  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 J.A. Bayona Films

The Orphanage (2007, dir by J.A. Bayona, DP: Oscar Faura)

The Impossible (2012, dir by J.A. Bayona, DP: Oscar Faura)

A Monster Calls (2016, dir by J.A. Bayona, DP: Oscar Faura)

Society of the Snow (2023, dir by J.A. Bayona, DP: Pedro Luque)

Brad’s “Trailer of the Day” – A BETTER TOMORROW II (starring Chow Yun-Fat)!


After the runaway success of A BETTER TOMORROW, John Woo quickly released a sequel. A BETTER TOMORROW II isn’t as good as the original, but the emotions and action are ramped up dramatically. Check out this trailer from the Hong Kong Legends DVD release!