Category Archives: All

So Close (2002) Review

"So Close" Theatrical Poster

Director: Corey Yuen Cast: Shu Qi, Vicky Zhao Wei, Karen Mok, Song Seung Heon, Ben Lam, Yasuaki Kurata, Deric Wan, Sek Sau, Jude Poyer, Ricardo Mamood, Michael Wei, Henry Fong, Gam Hing Yin, Wong So Bik, May Gwong Man Chun Running Time: 111 min By Reefer During the preposterous opening of Cory Yuen’s action thriller, So Close, I thought I was going to be treated to a half-assed rehashing of … Continue reading

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Dreadnaught (1981) Review

"Dreadnaught" Theatrical Poster

Director: Yuen Woo Ping Producer: Raymond Chow Cast: Yuen Biao, Leung Kar Yan, Kwan Tak Hing, Yuen Shun Yee, Philip Ko, Lily Li, Tong Jing, Fan Mei Sheng, Fung Hak On, Brandy Yuen, Cheung Chok Chow Running Time: 90 min. By Joe909 Dreadnaught is considered one of the “New Wave” HK movies that upped the bar for martial arts films, and Hong Kong cinema in general. Sure. But what most … Continue reading

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Phantom: The Submarine (1999) Review

"Phantom: The Submarine" DVD Cover

Director: Min Byeong-Cheon Cast: Choi Min-Su, Jeong Wu-Seong, Yun Ju-Sang, Son Byeong-Ho, Go Dong-Up, Han Ban-Do, Park Gil-Su, Seol Gyeong-Gu, Jeong Eun-Pyo Running Time: 110 min.  By Equinox21 Well, Crimson Tide this ain’t. Phantom: The Submarine and Crimson Tide have very similar plots, with obvious major differences between them. They both take place on nuclear submarines where the Captain attempts to launch nuclear missiles. In Crimson Tide there’s good motivation … Continue reading

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Magnificent Warriors (1987) Review

Director: David Chung Chi-Man Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Richard Ng, Derek Yee Tung Sing, Lowell Lo, Koon Ting, Cindy Lau Chin Dai, Tetsuya Matsui, Hwang Jang Lee, Chang Yi, Lo Meng, Ku Feng Running Time: 89 min.  By Numskull Very ’80s action flick that substitutes quantity for quality. There’s not much about it that could rightly be described as “magnificent” but that’s OK… this is a rainy day, nowhere to go, … Continue reading

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Lost Kung Fu Secrets, The (1979) Review

"The Lost Kung Fu Secrets" DVD Cover

Director: Joe Law Cast: David Chiang Da-Wei, Hsu Feng, Choi Wang, Hu Chin, Wong Hap, Paul Chun Pui, Sun Jung Chi, Weng Hsiao Hu, Yuen Sam, Chiang Han, Wang Man Chuen Running Time: 91 min. By Numskull  The Lost Kung Fu Secrets (abbreviated hereafter as “Lost”) is not just an exercise in pointlessness, it’s a full-blown workout. I’m talking three consecutive Richard Simmons videos, here. The…ah, “plot” begins as a … Continue reading

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Tokyo Raiders (2000) Review

Director: Jingle Ma Writer: Chan Suk-yin, Chong Man-keung Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Ekin Cheng, Kelly Chen Wai Lam, Cecilia Cheung, Toru Nakamura, Ken Abe, Maiyu Ozawa, Kumiko Endo, Sirakawa Minani Running Time: 101 min. By Numskull The problem with movies in the “mindless fun” category is that too many of them forget the “fun” part. Happily, Tokyo Raiders does not suffer from this problem and is readily available in unbutchered … Continue reading

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Prison on Fire II (1991) Review

Director: Ringo Lam Producer: Ringo Lam, Karl Maka Cast: Chan Chung Yung, Chow Yun Fat, Victor Hon Kwan, Frankie Ng Chi Hung, Elvis Tsui Kam Kong, Tommy Wong Kwong Leung, Yu Li, Ng Kwok Kin, Roy Cheung You Yeung, Vincent Wan Yeung Ming Running Time: 109 min. By Numskull This here sequel reunites director Ringo Lam, writer Nam Yin, star Chow Yun-Fat, and a few supporting actors in another episode … Continue reading

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Prison on Fire (1987) Review

"Prison on Fire" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Ring Lam Writer: Nam Yin Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Roy Cheung Yiu Yeung, William Ho Ka Kui, Victor Hon Kwan, Tommy Wong Kwong Leung, Frankie Ng Chi Hun Running Time: 98 min. By Numksull Lots of directors out there could learn a valuable lesson from Ringo Lam. No artsy-fartsy cinematic snobbery to be found in his films, for better or for worse. He and screenwriter … Continue reading

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Seven Samurai (1954) Review

"Seven Samurai" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: 7 Samurai Director: Akira Kurosawa Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Daisuke Kato, Isao Kimura, Minoru Chiaki, Seiji Miyaguchi, Yoshio Inaba, Kamatari Fujiwara, Bokuzen Hidari Running Time: 207 min. By Numskull Akira Kurosawa is what I refer to as a “sacred cow” director (others include Ingmar Bergman and Wong Kar Wai). To suggest that any of his films is anything less than perfect in every way is to be labeled … Continue reading

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Running on Karma (2003) Review

"Running on Karma" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Johnnie To Co-director: Wai Ka Fai Cast: Andy Lau Tak Wah, Cecilia Cheung, Cheung Siu Fai, Karen Tong Bo Yue, Chun Wong Running Time: 93 min. By Equinox21 Johnny To and Wai Ka Fai’s Running on Karma is one of the strangest yet ultimately fulfilling Hong Kong movies I’ve ever seen. It’s a difficult movie to explain as so much happens in a 90 minute package. The direction the … Continue reading

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King of Comedy (1999) Review

"King of Comedy"Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Stephen Chow Cast: Stephen Chow, Cecilia Cheung, Ng Man Tat, Karen Mok, Jackie Chan, Bobby Yip, Bruce Law Running Time: 99 min. By Vic Nguyen Stephen Chow Sing-chi has long been considered the undisputed box office king of Hong Kong Cinema (not discounting Jackie Chan or Chow Yun-fat in their heydays), beginning with the remarkable success of the the Jeff Lau helmed All for the Winners. Ever since then, he … Continue reading

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Wake of Death (2004) Review

"Wake of Death" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Philippe Martinez Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Simon Yam, Valerie Tan, Philip Tan, Tony Schiena, Claude Hernandez Running Time: 91 min. By Mighty Peking Man Archer (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is an ex-mobster who has discovered that his wife has been brutally murdered by a psychotic triad leader named Sun Quan (played by Hong Kong star Simon Yam). With the help of his old school gangster connections, Archer sets out for … Continue reading

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Just Heroes | aka Tragic Heroes (1987) Review

"Just Heroes" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Co-director: Ng Ma Cast: David Chiang, Danny Lee, Chen Kuan Tai, Stephen Chow, Lo Lieh, Cally Kwong, Wu Ma, Shing Fui On, Zhao Lei, Tien Niu, Alan Chan, Fung Hak On, Philip Ko Fei Running Time: 97 min. By Numskull This is the John Woo “gun fu” movie that nobody has seen. It’s listed on the filmographies, but nothing much is ever said about it. It simply gets nestled … Continue reading

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All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001) Review

Director: Shunji Iwai Writer: Shunji Iwai Producer: Koko Maeda Cast: Hayato Ichihara, Shugo Oshinari, Ayumi Ito, Takao Osawa, Miwako Ichikawa, Izumi Inamori Running Time: 140 min. By Alexander As I sit here typing this review I’m still trying to figure out whether I like “All About Lily Chou Chou” or not. On one hand, it’s a beautiful film, filled with gorgeous images of rural Japan. The shot of young Yuichi … Continue reading

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Throne of Blood | aka Spider’s Web Castle (1957) Review

Director: Akira Kurosawa Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Isuza Yamada, Takashi Shimura, Akira Kubo, Hiroshi Tachikawa, Minoru Chiaki, Takamaru Sasaki, Kokuten KodoUeda Kichijiro Running Time: 109 min. By Mairosu Guess what dear readers if there are any, it’s a fortification doubleheader! First, I saw Hidden Fortress today, the film which allegedly inspired George Lucas to make Star Wars (turns out it just inspired some moments of Star Wars rather than the whole … Continue reading

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