Finally on dvd.
Mondo Vendo | Detroit, Michigan USA | 07/30/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I originally watched about 20 years ago and fell in love with the true mondo genre (a tiny tiny tiny genre).
I really had no interest in Faces of Death movies (which are about 70%(?) faked according to the director).
But the true Mondo films with true information I found very interesting.
I am happy to say that the video quality is pretty good on this. I believe the source had to be video tape as I noticed 2 glitches that appear to video tape type glitches). I was expecting much worse quality such as public domain/budget dvd companies are known for. I don't know if Jef Films falls into this category or not.
I do however wish one of the companies that restores these from original negatives with full extra features, etc. had done the dvd but I am happy it was made with at least good video quality.
This is a documentary on things in Asia and Asian cultures that are strange, weird, or interesting to people outside of Asia.
One aspect of the 2nd Shocking Asia I enjoyed is that it is about 70 percent on things in the Philippines. I have numerous Filipino friends and they have indicated they are familiar with most of the things shown, such as the Hobbit House, a bar in Manila run by midgets. Noone I know is sure if it is still open or not but it must have had a good run since they at least know of it and this movie was made over 20 years ago. I may look into it and try to go there if I ever go back to the Philippines.
Shocking Asia II features one scene taken directly from Mondo Cane where people are forcing sharks to swallow sea urchins. The commentary is almost exactly the same information in different words. Other than that I don't know of any other 'borrowed' content. At least they got it from a good source.
This movie ranges from common things such as people selling snakes for food to Japanese sex show with women smoking cigarettes with their vaginas.
A very entertaining documentary on interesting things in Asia."