Author Archives: JJ Bona

Crow, The (1994) Review

Director: Alex Proyas Producer: Edward R. Pressman Cast: Brandon Lee, Ernie Hudson, Michael Wincott, David Patrick Kelly, Angel David, Rochelle Davis, Bai Ling, Laurence Mason, Michael Massee, Bill Raymond, Sofia Shinas, Anna Levine, Tony Todd, Jon Polito Running Time: 100 min. By Numskull The Crow is a movie full of rare things. It’s rare for a person to get killed during production, especially the lead actor. But, as I’m sure … Continue reading

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Rapid Fire | aka Moving Target (1992) Review

Director: Dwight H. Little Cast: Brandon Lee, Powers Boothe, Nick Mancuso, Raymond J. Barry, Kate Hodge, Tzi Ma, Tony Longo, Michael Paul Chan, Dustin Nguyen, Brigitta Stenberg, Basil Wallace, Al Leong, François Chau, Quentin O’Brien Running Time: 95 min. By Numskull A VHS copy of the last movie Brandon Lee completed can probably be found in the bargain bin of your local Blockbuster or Walmart (North America only), and though … Continue reading

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Bruce Lee: A Warrior’s Journey (2001) Review

Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey

Director: John Little Writer: John Little, Bruce Lee Cast: Bruce Lee, Dan Inosanto, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ji Han Jae, James Tien, Chieh Yuan, Taky Kimura, Linda Lee-Caldwell, Bey Logan Running Time: 100 min. By Joe909 If I had to make a top ten list of my favorite kung fu movies, the Game of Death footage Bruce Lee shot in 1972 would be in it. There’s just something cool about it. It … Continue reading

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Big Boss, The | aka Fists of Fury (1971) Review

"The Big Boss" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Lo Wei Producer: Raymond Chow Cast: Bruce Lee, Maria Yi, James Tien Chun, Han Ying Chieh, Nora Miao, Lee Kwan, Anthony Lau, Lam Ching Ying, Billy Chan Wui Ngai, Peter Yang Kwan Running Time: 115 min. By James H. There are movies with low production values and then there are movies with Lo Wei production values. This movie was made for $100,000, and it looks like it was made … Continue reading

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Way of the Dragon | aka Return of the Dragon (1972) Review

"Way of the Dragon" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Bruce Lee Producer: Raymond Chow Cast: Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Gam Dai, Unicorn Chan, Tony Liu, Nora Miao, Wang In Sik, Paul Wei, Bob Wall, Jon Benn, Anders Nelsson, Riccardo Billi, Alexander Grand, Malisa Longo, Andre Morgan, Russell Cawthorne Running Time: 96 min. By Jesse Bruce Lee’s 1973 film Return of the Dragon (which was also written and directed by Lee) tells the tale of a young farmboy from … Continue reading

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Clan of the White Lotus | aka Fist of the White Lotus (1980) Review

Director: Lo Lieh Cast: Gordon Liu, Lo Lieh, Kara Hui, Johnny Wang Lung Wei, Hsiao Ho, Yeung Jing Jing, Cheng Miu, Ching Chu, Lam Fai Wong, Wilson Tong, Cham Siu Hung, Ho Kei Cheong, Lin Ke Ming, Ng Git Keung, San Sin Running Time: 95 mins. By Mighty Peking Man Let’s get one thing straight: Fist of the White Lotus isn’t a remake or a sequel to 1977’s Executioners From … Continue reading

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Hong Kong Playboys (1983) Review

Director: Wong Jing Writer: Wong Jing Producer: Lawrence Wong Cast: Alexander Fu Sheng, Patrick Tse Yin, Nat Chan (Pak Cheung), Cherie Chung (Cho Hung), Lau Suet Wa (Liu Hsueh-Hua), Lee Heung Kam, Fong Ping, Chan Laap Ban, Lam Fai Wong, Lau Yat Fan, Sek Kin, Tam Tin Nam, To Siu Ming, Chin Wai Yee Time: 94 min By Mighty Peking Man Hong Kong Playboys stars the late Alexander Fu Sheng … Continue reading

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Mighty Peking Man | aka Colossus of Congo (1977) Review

AKA: Goliathon Director: Ho Meng-Hua Cast: Danny Lee, Evelyne Kraft, Hang-Sheng Wu, Hsu Shao-Chiang, Ku Feng, Lin Wei-Tu, Chen Cheng-Feng, Alexander Grand, Lee Sau Kei, Wong Pau Gei Running Time: 86 min. By Gwailo It’s a must-see oddity from the Shaw Brothers, starring a young Danny Lee, made around the same time as his equally campy Ultraman. A direct rip-off of the King Kong/Godzilla genre gone totally berserk. Now that … Continue reading

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Legend of the Fox (1980) Review

"Legend of the Fox" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Philip Kwok, Chin Siu Ho, Chiang Sheng, Helen Poon, Choh Seung Wan, Wong Lik, Chui Tai Ping, Wang Han Chen, Lau Fong Sai, Chan Hon Kwong, Chan Hung, Chan Shu Kei, Choi Kwok Keung, Chow Kin Ping, Ha Kwok Wing, Hung Fung, Hung San Nam Running Time: 122 min. By Joe909 When the kung-fu boom was on the wane, the Venoms and Chang Cheh began experimenting … Continue reading

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Flying Guillotine, The (1975) Review

Director: Ho Meng Hua Producer: Runme Shaw Cast: Chen Kuan Tai, Ku Feng, Wai Wang, Kong Yeung, Liu Wu Chi, Ai Ti, Lin Wei-Tu, Wang Yu, Li Peng-Fei, Li Shou-Chi, Lu Wei, Lin Feng, Shen Lao, Chiang Ling, Wu Chin-Chin, Hsu Kuan-Ying, Lei Lung, Ho Han-Chou Running Time: 101 min. By Joe909 Flying Guillotine is not a kung fu movie. Tell yourself that before watching it, and you might not … Continue reading

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Dirty Ho | aka Rotten Head Ho (1979) Review

Director: Lau Kar-leung Cast: Gordon Liu Chia Hui, Wong Yu, Lo Lieh, Kara Hui Ying Hung, Johnny Wang Lung Wei, Hsiao Ho, Wilson Tong Wai Shing, Chan Si Gaai, Yeung Chi Hing, Wai Wang, Shum Lo, Peter Chan Lung, Cheng Miu, Ching Chu, Fung Ming Running Time: 99 min. By Numskull All right, folks…I’m gonna TRY to do this without laughing. No promises, though. “Dirty…….Ho…..” is a kung fu comedy … Continue reading

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Men from the Monastery | aka Disciples of Death (1974) Review

Director: Chang Cheh Writer: Chang Cheh, Ni Kuang Cast: Chen Kuan Tai, Alexander Fu Sheng, Kong Do, Lo Dik, Jamie Luk Kim Ming, Dang Tak Cheung, Feng Yi, Fung Hak On, Gam Gwan, Ho Pak Kwong, Hsu Hsia Running Time: 92 min. By Joe909 One of Chang Cheh’s “Shaolin Cycle” of movies made in Taiwan in the mid-1970s, Men from the Monastery features a unique storytelling approach, an impressive cast, … Continue reading

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Chinese Boxer, The | aka Hammer of God (1970) Review

"The Chinese Boxer" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Jimmy Wang Yu Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, Lo Lieh, Wong Ping, Chiu Hung, Cheng Lui, Fong Min, Chan Sing, Yuen Wo Ping, Wong Chung, Wong Ching, Jason Pai Piao Running Time: 85 min. By Mighty Peking Man Jesus. Bruce Lee sure screwed Jimmy Wang Yu over. Fact #1: The Chinese Boxer was the first martial arts movie to embrace the “I must avenge my teacher” theme. Fact #2: The … Continue reading

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Drunken Monkey (2003) Review

"Drunken Monkey" DVD Cover

Director: Lau Kar-Leung Cast: Wu Jing, Lau Kar Leung, Shannon Yao Yao, Chi Kuan Chun, Gordon Liu, Li Hai Tao, Chun Hoi Liu, Sammy Lau Wing Kin, Lau Kar Wing, Lau Kar Yung Running Time: 97 min. By Numskull The first Shaw Brothers film since 1985. Lau Kar-Leung’s return to the director’s chair after eight years. The first old school, damn the torpedoes, honest-to-God Hong Kong martial arts flick of … Continue reading

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Organized Crime and Triad Bureau | aka OCTB (1993) Review

"Organized Crime & Triad Bureau" DVD Cover

Director: Kirk Wong Cast: Danny Lee, Anthony Wong, Cecilia Yip, Roy Cheung, Parkman Wong, Ricky Yi, Fan Siu Wong, Lee Fai, Louis Koo, Stephen Chan, Eric Kee Running Time: 100 min. By Woody It’s been months since I’ve watched a Hong Kong film. After discovering the intelligent cinema of countries like Japan and Korea, it’s hard for me to go back to simple minded action films and lame-brained humor. Save … Continue reading

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