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Memorable, crazy movie

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

This movie essentially begins with an ancient painting from the Sung Dynasty which was taken during World War 2 by the occupying Japanese forces. As the war progressed the Japanese army began experimenting with biological weapons and used Chinese citizens to test them on. However, with the war now turning against them--and the possibility of being executed for war crimes--the Japanese military decided to hide certain top secret files inside of this valuable Sung painting with the idea of eventually bringing it back to Japan. Unfortunately for them, the painting was stolen not long afterward--along with the horrific information contained inside. Needless to say, the Chinese government, unaware of the secret files inside, wants the painting because of its historic value. The Japanese government, on the other hand, wants the painting in order to avoid embarrassment concerning their atrocities. As a result, when the painting turns up on the black market, a number of people want this painting at all cost. This brings us to the present with a Chinese policewoman named "Chin" (Cynthia Khan) in the process of busting a secret transaction involving a Chinese Triad from Hong Kong. When a gun fight breaks out between the police and the Triad, Chin is saved at the last minute by one of the criminals--who just happens to be her former boyfriend, "Hsiong" (Waise Lee). Figuring that he might be implicated in the murder of several policemen, Hsiong flees the mainland and makes his way back to Hong Kong. That said, even though it has been seven years since she had last seen him, Chin decides to travel to Hong Kong to find him. What Chin doesn't realize is that Hsiong has changed quite a bit and since he has possession of the painting a lot of other people are also looking for him as well. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that I found this movie to be somewhat unusual in that it incorporates both action and comedy but then changes rather dramatically toward the end. Yet, even though I didn't particularly care for this sudden change, I must admit that the film itself was fairly entertaining all the same. Additionally, having four lovely actresses like Moon Lee (as "Feng"), Michiko Nishiwaki ("Sen"), Yukari Oshima ("Oshima") and the aforementioned Cynthia Khan certainly didn't hurt either. All things considered then, I rate this movie as slightly above average.

The title "Avenging Quartet" is a case of false advertising: in truth, Cynthia Khan and Moon Lee dominate about 90% of the running time, Michiko Nishiwaki pops up only periodically, and Yukari Oshima's part is basically an extended cameo. All the women look stunning (IMO the show is stolen by the adorable Moon and the sexy Michiko - there is a sharp contrast between these two types of women), but the story is slow, confusing and uninteresting, and the action is sparse until the explosive climactic "battle royale" inside a burning building. The movie has its moments (including a brief confrontation between Yukari and Michiko before they team up), but in between those moments it can be hard to sit through. And as the previous reviewer noted, the Ground Zero version of this movie, retitled "Tomb Raiders", is of very poor visual quality and should be avoided. (**)

A Hong Kong action movie being renamed? This must be a first! If you're interested in getting a copy, I found it as a Black Belt Theatre release on DVD. It's now entitled, "Tomb Raiders." However, there is no tomb and there are no raiders. Who cares! Anytime you put Michiko Nishiwaki, Yukari Oshima, Moon Lee and Cynthia Khan together in the same movie, it's worth seeing. There is a second title on this DVD, "Godfather's Daughter" starring Yukari. The title changed only slightly from the original "Godfather's Daughter, Mafia Blues."

Four great ladies in one movie together, now if that's not a good reason to spend 90 minutes on front of your TV? My fave Cynthia Luster hasn't got the biggest role of the four, but the best fight scenes (one in a training room, one in a burning house!). The painting both the Chinese and Japanese agents are looking for is passed on from player to player like a football sometimes, the director doesn't take that too seriously and is focussing his attention on the - dare I say it - character development, including an ill-fated love interest. I voted 7/10.