Anjos de Aço

i'd have given this movie a higher rating, but i prefer subtitles to dubbing. that said, the action scenes were aces and the subplots were, as usual for HK flicks, cringe-inducing enough that you were ecstatic when they got back to the martial arts. a neat trick with concrete stands out.

also, i found myself mooning for moon lee - don't want to mess with that angel. the set-up did seem like a take-off on that old fave charlie's angels, but with a co-ed cast. it was nice to see that the women could handle themselves as well or better than the men.

IRON ANGELS is Hong Kong's answer to CHARLIE'S ANGELS, as a pair of fighting women go up against a sinister drug smuggling organisation in a bid to take down the kingpin in charge - who just happens to be a woman. The film is chock full of outstanding action sequences in the form of car chases, shoot-outs and of course martial arts bouts, and it's fair to say that this is top stuff. Certainly there's rarely a dull moment here amid all the death, violence, and suspense.

The delectable Moon Lee wins all of the attention as the lovely-looking crime fighter who turns out to be a deadly combatant in the fight stakes too. She needs to be: the villain of the piece is none other than Yukari Oshima, who invests her role with a real deadliness. Support comes from the welcome likes of David Chiang and in particular Hwang Jang Lee, who gets something more developed than the usual stock bad guy role, which I was very happy with. Inevitably the story is dominated by kick-ass fight choreography and a wowzer powerhouse fight climax that has to be seen to be believed.

This was one of the first movies I ever saw women playing a major role in a modern day action movie! At the time not realizing that this genre was called "Girls with guns" or femme fatale"! Since then I have seen many and just have to say that I love this genre! The women in "Iron Angels" are beautiful but very dangerous! The plot is simple but effective! A special unit ("Angels") is hired to stop a drug syndicate from killing agents who are responsible for destroying opium fields 30 million dollars worth! You get to see the team in action! (For people thinking about Charlie's Angels! It is nothing like that! These men and women are very clever and capable!) The main characters are very likable! Most of them are convincing as martial artists! "Moon Lee" who is not a martial artist shows some moves that let you believe that she is trained! The bad guy in this movie is a very bad woman (Yukari Oshima)! Very attractive,very dangerous and a real martial artist! And it shows! Her kicks are lethal! As with a lot of movies from this genre it is very difficult to get a copy of "Iron Angels" This movie deserves to be seen because it is one of the best in this genre! An overlooked gem!

"Iron Angels 1": After a lot of Thailand's opium production is destroyed, the gangsters want vengeance on the police forces, and Madam Sue (Yukari Oshima) is the most merciless at that. She loves to torture guys in a cellar and kick the s**t out of everybody who doesn't successfully follow her orders. After a lot of agents were killed, members of a special branch called the "Angels" must try and stop Madam Sue's latest plan: a gold robbery.

Highly enjoyable action flick with memorable scenes like the violent fight between Mona (Moon Lee) and Sue at the factory, the trigger-happy Helen (Elaine Lui) wearing two bullet-belts while blasting her way through the enemies' headquarters like there's no tomorrow, their fellow agent Ken trusting his meditation technique to survive being buried alive, and last not least one of the most evil performances of Yukari Oshima ever. Oh, and then it's all for the gold bunnies!

This is a stunning, epic action film with choreography and direction that is as close to perfection as anything I've ever seen.

It is a hard, mean, brutal work that also features some of the best girl-on-girl fighting ever burned to celluloid.

It's hard to know where to start praising it. Everything works. The basic plot line is a little CHARLIE'S ANGELS-like, but don't be fooled into thinking there's anything frivolous within these film cans.

The opening gun battle in Burma's Golden Triangle sets the grim, nihilistic tone. As heroin poppies burn, we are whisked to Hong Kong where our "angels" and the chief villain, Oshima Yukari, are introduced.

Directors Raymond Leung and Teresa Woo captain this project with great assuredness, style and a freshness in the staging that is staggering. The camera moves, cutting and choreography are of the highest order, as is the terrific synth score and the sharp sound design.

Oshima, a sexy, vicious villain, demonstrates a penchant for torture that contrasts with the more girlish, soft personalities of the "angels". One angel, Moon Lee, is absolutely amazing in her demanding role, coming across as both sexy and totally insane.

More noteworthy scenes: an ultra-violent fight between two "friends" in a parking garage; a raid on a country hideout; Oshima's final duel with an able male opponent.

In the Eighties they spent big bucks on material like this. What a golden age it was.