Category Archives: News

Max Cloud (2020) Review

Director: Martin Owen Cast: Scott Adkins, John Hannah, Lashana Lynch, Elliot James Langridge, Tommy Flanagan, Franz Drameh, Sam Hazeldine, Isabelle Allen, Lois Amber Toole Running Time: 89 min. By Paul Bramhall British action star Scott Adkins has been doing his best to throw his fans off-guard in 2020. Sure, we’ve had the traditional Adkins action vehicles like Legacy of Lies, The Debt Collectors, and Seized, but there’s also been a … Continue reading

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Oscar Isaac to star in Sony’s Live-action adaptation of ‘Metal Gear Solid’ for ‘Kong: Skull Island’ director Jordan Vogt-Roberts

"Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain" Poster

Sony Entertainment has reportedly enlisted Oscar Isaac (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, A Most Violent Year) to star in Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ (Kong: Skull Island) live-action adaptation of Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid. In the film, Isaac will take on the role of the iconic video game character Solid Snake, a highly skilled special operations soldier whose speciality is destroying models of the bipedal nuclear weapon-armed mecha known as Metal Gear. The script … Continue reading

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Bodies at Rest (2019) Review

Director: Renny Harlin  Cast: Nick Cheung Ka-Fai, Richie Ren Xian-Qi, Yang Zi, Feng Jia-Yi, Carlos Chan Ka-Lok, Ma Shu-Liang, Ou-Yang Ching, Roger Kwok Chun-On, Ron Ng Cheuk-Hai Running Time: 94 min. By Paul Bramhall Back in the 90’s it seemed like Renny Harlin was destined to become one of the great action movie directors working in Hollywood. Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, and The Long Kiss Goodnight all deserve a mention … Continue reading

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Fasten your seatbelt for Dante Lam and Eddie Peng’s big budget, CGI-induced thriller ‘The Rescue’

On December 18, 2020, CMC Pictures is finally releasing The Rescue (aka Emergency Rescue) to U.S. theaters. This big budget thriller is directed by noted Hong Kong action director Dante Lam (Operation Red Sea). In the film, a rescue unit within the Chinese Coast Guard are forced to overcome their personal differences to resolve a crisis. The Rescue (read our review) reunites Lam with his To the Fore, Unbeatable and Operation Mekong star, Eddie Peng (Call of … Continue reading

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Deng Chao and Wu Jing to face off in ‘Ping-pong of China’?

"Ping-pong of China" Teaser Poster

Actor/filmmaker Deng Chao – who is perhaps best known for his roles in Shadow, The Mermaid and Assembly – will direct and star in Ping-Pong of China, an upcoming sports drama that will also star Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior 2, SPL II: A Time for Consequences). According to AFS, the movie will center on the Chinese national ping-pong team’s victory in 1995. Here’s hoping Ping-Pong of China will be as fun … Continue reading

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I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK (2006) Review

Director: Park Chan-wook Cast: Lim Soo-Jung, Rain, Oh Dal-Su, Park Jun-Myun, Choi Hee-Jin, Kim Byung-Ok, Lee Yong-Nyeo, Yoo Ho-Jeong, Park Byeong-Eun, Kim Do-Yeon, Son Young-Soon Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall In 2005 director Park Chan-wook wrapped up his Vengeance Trilogy with the release of Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, concluding 3 of the most iconic movies of the 21st century (and which, to this day, I find my answer … Continue reading

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Versus + Ultimate Versus: 2-Disc Special Edition | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

RELEASE DATE: December 8, 2020 On December 8, 2020, Arrow Video is releasing a 2-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray for Ryuhei Kitamura’s Versus, which will include the original 2000 and expanded 2004 Ultimate Versus iterations, in a brand new, director-approved restoration. Read the official details below: A relentless one-of-a-kind sensory assault chock full of hyper-kinetic fight scenes, gangster shootouts, sword-slashing violence and gory zombie horror, Versus was a key title amongst the … Continue reading

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Revenge: A Love Story (2010) Review

Director: Wong Ching-Po Cast: Juno Mak Jun Lung, Sora Aoi, Chin Siu Ho, Anthony Lau Wing, Ken Lo Hui Kwong, Tony Ho Running Time: 111 min. By Paul Bramhall Most Hong Kong cinema fans hold a special place in their heart for the territories Cat III output that populated the 90’s. A heady concoction usually consisting of graphic violence, ample nudity, and a manic energy which made it impossible to … Continue reading

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Netflix to release Takeshi Kitano biopic ‘Asakusa Kid’ in 2021

Director/actor/comedian Gekidan Hitori (A Bolt from the Blue) is set to direct and write Asakusa Kid, an upcoming biopic that follows the early years of the legendary, multi-talented Japanese celebrity Takeshi Kitano (Outrage Coda, Battle Royale, Hana-Bi). Asakusa Kid will star Yagira Yuya (Gintama) as Kitano. Also starring is Oizumi Yo (I Am a Hero), who will play Fukami Senzaburo, a comedian who is also known as Kitano’s mentor. The film will … Continue reading

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Max Cloud | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: January 19, 2021 Martial arts star Scott Adkins (Ip Man 4, Seized, The Debt Collector, Incoming) is taking a second trip to space in Well Go USA’s Max Cloud (aka The Intergalactic Adventures of Max Cloud) a sci-fi actioner that hits VOD on December 18, 2020, then arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on January 19, 2021. Directed by Martin Owens (Let’s Be Evil) and written by Sally Collet (Twist), Max Cloud centers on Sarah, … Continue reading

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Wu Jing may yet again go balls deep into sci-fi territory with ‘Ball Lightning’ from ‘The Wandering Earth’ author

"The Wandering Earth" Teaser Poster

Another live-action adaptation of Liu Cixin’s (writer of The Wandering Earth) sci-fi novel, titled Ball Lightning, is currently in-the-works from actor/writer/director Chen Sicheng, who is perhaps best known for the Detective Chinatown franchise. The novel follows the experiences of a first-person protagonist, Chen, whose family was killed by a ball lightning while he was in high school. Both traumatized and inspired by that experience, he makes the investigation of ball lightning his … Continue reading

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Port of Call: Director’s Cut (2015) Review

"Port of Call" Theatrical Poster

Director: Philip Yung Cast: Aaron Kwok, Elaine Jin, Patrick Tam, Jessie Li, Michael Ning, Jackie Cai, Maggie Shiu, Eddie Chan, Hatou Yeung, Ellen Li, Don Li, Ronny Yuen, Tam Ping-man Running Time: 120 min. By Paul Bramhall Port of Call is something of an anomaly for the year in which it was made, being a Category III Hong Kong production which received no financing from the Mainland. The end product … Continue reading

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The ‘Storm’ stops for director David Lam with ‘The Tipping Point’

"The Tipping Point" Teaser Poster

Veteran Hong Kong filmmaker David Lam (Street Angels) is finally putting a cork on his ever-growing crime franchise (2014’s Z-Storm, 2016’s S-Storm, 2018’s L-Storm, 2019’s P-Storm and this year’s G-Storm – all of which were produced consecutively) with The Tipping Point. As you probably would have guessed, its plot bracket is within the crime/thriller territory. The upcoming film will star Qin Hailu (Tale of Three Cities), Julian Cheung (Extreme Crisis), Eric Tsang (Golden Job), Ray … Continue reading

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One-Armed Swordsmen, The (1976) Review

Director: Jimmy Wang Yu Co-director: David Chiang Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, David Chiang, Lo Lieh, Chang Yi, Liu Meng Yan, Han Ying Chieh, Lung Fei Running Time: 109 min.  By Ian Whittle Given Jimmy Wang Yu’s legendary bad behaviour on sets, and David Chiang’s long feud with Ti Lung, I’d love to have been on the set of this Wang/Chiang team-up, which they produced, directed and starred in. The plot, … Continue reading

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#Alive (2020) Review

Director: Cho Il-hyeong Cast: Yoo Ah-In, Park Shin-Hye, Jeon Bae-Su, Lee Hyun-Wook, Jin So-Yeon, Oh Hye-Won, Lee Chae-Kyung, Jeon Woon-Jong, Lee Kyu-Ho, Son Kyoung-Won Running Time: 98 min. By Paul Bramhall Since 2016’s Train to Busan the zombie genre has continued to attract filmmakers in South Korea, eager to catch up on a genre that for many countries has been a mainstay of horror filmmaking since the 70’s. Whether it … Continue reading

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