Joe Mari Avellana Movies

In this martial arts actioner a brave fighter travels from LA to Honolulu to the Southeast-Asian jungle to get revenge upon those who murdered his brother. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this futuristic film, a drought-ridden Earth is besieged by bands of outlaws who prey upon the small cities in a hope to obtain any water they might possess. When the renegades attempt to take over the town of Chinle, a mysterious warrior named Michael (David Carradine) leads a band of fighters to ward off their attack. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide

In this low-budget rehash of The Dirty Dozen, this adventure centers on the attempts of a tough-as-nails captain to create an elite unit of commandos out of a rag tag band of misanthropes and criminals so they can perform a suicide mission. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this politically-charged supernatural action-thriller from the Philippines, a beautiful television correspondent finds herself possessed by a vengeful demon, a former Chinese mystic who was slain by a Filipino warlord 500 years before. Before the mystic died he swore he would slowly destroy all of his descendants. The mystic makes good on his promise and the victims are killed ritually and branded with the mark of the dreaded demonstone to prove the revenge. The reincarnation of the warlord, now a corrupt Filipino politician, tries to find the killer, but has no luck until an American Marine, Tony McKee is found near one of the most recent victims. The politician immediately frames him for the death. But fortunately, former Marine Andrew Buck is there to prove his innocence. Unfortunately, Buck's girl friend is the demonically-charged reporter. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A group of amazon women are stalked by a ruthless barbarian in the aftermath of nuclear war in this science-fiction action feature. Alee (Rebecca Holden) and Vera (Barbara Hooper) lead the tribe across hostile territory to free their sisters held prisoner in the evil city. The thin veil of feminism is thrown into this routine plot. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Matthew (Richard Norton) lives in the year 2025 in the aftermath of the collapse of civilization. At a remote temple in the desert he discovers the head of the spear a Roman soldier is said to have poked into the side of Jesus as he hung on the cross. This magical artifact enables Matthew to travel back in time to 1986, when the film was made. His mission is to join the spearhead with the missing shaft, which, according to legend, will give him the power to prevent the holocaust which led to the collapse of civilization. At the temple site he meets Michelle (Linda Carol),an anthropology student, and her boyfriend Slade (Robert Patrick). After saving them from a gang of evil bikers, he enlists them in his mission to change the future. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

The makers of this '50s monster-movie throwback must have greatly enjoyed the Wisconsin-lensed Bog -- since this film lifts that regional clunker's premise in its entirety and merely transplants it into a pleasant Polynesian locale. Yet another prehistoric terror from the deep (i.e. diver in cheap latex suit) rises from its eons-long nap after being rudely awakened by boozy, dynamite-fishing locals, slinking among the swaying palms to snack on unsuspecting tourists. That is, until the local Sheriff (of course) teams up with the owner of a popular resort to stand around and talk a lot... and eventually put an end to the beast's bloodthirsty rampage. There's even a convenient reptile expert on hand to kick around pseudo-scientific nonsense and pad out the film's runtime with even more inane dialogue. For more Italian variations on the same tired theme, masochistic viewers may want to seek out Up from the Depths (from the same director, no less!) and Devilfish. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

This action film from prolific Filipino director Cirio Santiago stars Cec Verrell as tough cop Jennie ("Silk"), who works for the Honolulu police. A series of murders has the police baffled, so Silk is called in to help uncover the culprits. Her sleuthing leads to several shoot-outs and evidence that incriminates one of the cops. Connected to the deaths are gangland figures and the ugly business of selling fake identities. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

This action film about a Vietnam vet and his fight against corruption in a small town is a variation on Final Mission by Cirio Santiago. Deke Porter (Richard Hill) gets a call from Elaine, his good buddy Marty's wife, who tearfully asks him for help because Marty has died in an automobile accident. Once he arrives in town, Deke is set upon by the local citizens; marijuana growers who want their business kept quiet. After Elaine's house is burned down, Deke escapes and decides to call up reinforcements from his army days, and the combat begins. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

An amateur Mad Max copycat hoping to cash in on that trend, this weakly scripted actioner is set in a degenerate future time when a group of low-lifes terrorize everyone around. Led by a baddie named Scourge, the men kidnap and regularly rape the sister of the hero Trace (Gary Watkins). Trace gathers up some allies in Stinger (Laura Banks), a distaff bounty hunter and Spike (Linda Grovenor) a young clairvoyant girl, so he can charge in and rescue his sister. Between the three of them, the Scourge by any name is sure to be conquered. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide