Category Archives: Asian Related

John Wick (2014) Review

"John Wick" Theatrical Poster

Director: David Leitch Co-director: Chad Stahelski Cast: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan, Dean Winters, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, Willem Dafoe, Daniel Bernhardt, Bridget Regan, Lance Reddick, Keith Jardine Running Time: 96 min. By Jeff Bona If there’s one Hollywood superstar who’s maintained a solid connection with the martial arts film genre, it’s Keanu Reeves. Reeves first made this connection in 1999/2003 with the Matrix trilogy, … Continue reading

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Swelter (2014) Review

"Swelter" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Keith Parmer Writer: Keith Parmer Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Josh Henderson, Brad Carter, Alfred Molina, Lennie James Running Time: 120 min. By Kyle Warner Okay, this one’s kind of silly, but I’m not gonna lie, I enjoyed it. The film begins with a Vegas casino robbery. Four members of a five man crew are captured before they can make off with the loot. The fifth man takes a bullet … Continue reading

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Mission Terminate | aka Return of the Kickfighter (1987) Review

"Mission Terminate" Dutch VHS Cover

AKA: Revenge of the Kickfighter Director: Anthony Maharaj Writer: Joe Mari Avellana Cast: Richard Norton, Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Rex Cutter, Judy Greene, George E. Mahlberg, Nick Nicholson, Henry Strzalkowski, Dick Wei, Franco Guerrero Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall My journey that found me watching Mission Terminate was somewhat of an interesting one. Back in 2008, I’d stumbled across an old Tai Seng DVD of a movie … Continue reading

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Snowpiercer (2013) Review

"Snowpiercer" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Bong Joon-ho Cast: Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, John Hurt, Ed Harris, Ko Ah-Sung, Luke Pasqualino, Alison Pill, Adnan Haskovic Running Time: 126 min. By Kelly Warner In 2013, three of South Korea’s top directors stepped onto a bigger stage with their English-language feature film debuts. Jee-woon Kim (I Saw the Devil) went the big studio route with the Arnold Schwarzenegger comeback actioner The … Continue reading

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Lucy (2014) Review

"Lucy" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Luc Besson Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Choi Min-sik, Amr Waked, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Pilou Asbæk, Analeigh Tipton, Nicolas Phongpheth, Jan Oliver Schroeder Running Time: 89 min. By Paul Bramhall Back in the 1990’s Luc Besson was considered to be in the top tier of action directors, infusing his movies like La Femme Nikita, Leon: The Professional, and The Fifth Element with a distinctive European style and intelligence, while also … Continue reading

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Put Up Your Dux: The Story of Frank Dux (2010) Review

"Put Up Your Dux: The Story of Frank Dux Documentary" Theatrical Poster

AKA: The True Story of JCVD Bloodsport Director: Jesse Barrett-Mills Co-director: Daniel Gallai Cast: Frank Dux, Joe Fiorentino, Jeff Langton, Sheldon Lettich, Brian Thompson, Vic Moore Running Time: 70 min. By Jeff Bona If you’re a fan of 1988’s Bloodsport, then you might be familiar with the name Frank Dux. If not – or if you’ve forgotten – here’s a refresher: In Bloodsport, the name of the character Jean-Claude Van … Continue reading

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Man of Tai Chi (2013) Review

"Man of Tai Chi" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Keanu Reeves Writer: Michael G. Cooney Cast: Tiger Chen, Keanu Reeves, Karen Mok, Simon Yam, Iko Uwais, Ye Qing, Chan Chi Chun, Sam Lee, Yu Hai, Steve Yoo Seung Jun, Michael Tong Running Time: 105 min. By Dirac I was really curious about this film, given that it’s Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut. The lead character, Chen Lin-Hu is portrayed by Tiger Hu Chen, an accomplished martial artist and stuntman. … Continue reading

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Weapon of Choice (2014) Review

AKA: Fist 2 Fist 2 Director: Jino Kang, Tony Urgo Writer: Jino Kang, Tony Urgo Cast: Jino Kang, Douglas Olsson, Katherine Celio, Artem Mishin, Kelly Lou Dennis, Don Williams, John Carney, Steven Menasche, Robert D. Parham, William Armando Running Time: 103 min. By Jeff Bona If you’re willing to take a break from all the mundane action movies playing in theaters, look no further than Jino Kang’s latest revenge thriller, Weapon … Continue reading

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Enemies Closer (2013) Review

"Enemies Closer" Japanese DVD Cover

AKA: Maximum Soldier Director: Peter Hyams Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Tom Everett Scott, Orlando Jones, Kristopher Van Varenberg Running Time: 95 min. By Jeff Bona It’s been nearly 20 years since Jean-Claude Van Damme and director Peter Hyams (2010: The Year We Make Contact) made a film together. Hyams first directed Van Damme during the action star’s career-peak in 1994’s Timecop, then again in 1995’s Sudden Death. The duo’s collaboration … Continue reading

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Welcome to the Jungle (2013) Review

"Welcome to the Jungle" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Rob Meltzer Writer: Jeff Kauffman Cast: Adam Brody, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rob Huebel, Kristen Schaal, Megan Boone, Dennis Haysbert, Aaron Takahashi, Dennis Haysbert, Juan C. Defendini, Kristopher Varenberg, Bianca Bree Running Time: 95 min. By Jeff Bona There are two facts you should know about Welcome to the Jungle before you dive in: 1) It’s not a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie. If you’re expecting something like Kickboxer, you’re in for … Continue reading

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Bruce Lee: In Pursuit of the Dragon (2009) Review

Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey & Pursuit of the Dragon | DVD (MVD Entertainment)

Director: John Little Writer: John Little Cast: John Little, Bruce Lee, Malisa Longo, Jon T. Benn, Anders Nelsson, Riccardo Billi, Chaplin Chang Running Time: 90 minutes By Jeff Bona If you’re a die hard Bruce Lee fanatic and you’re sick and tired of all the countless Bruce Lee documentaries that contain the same footage, usual interview clips and a bunch of other “talking heads,” then John Little’s In Pursuit of the Dragon is … Continue reading

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Perfect Weapon, The (1991) Review

"The Perfect Weapon" Blu-ray Cover

Director: Mark DiSalle Cast: Jeff Speakman, John Dye, Mako, Mariska Hargitay, Charles Kalani, Jr., Dante Basco, James Hong, Mako Iwamatsu, Seth Sakai, Beau Starr, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Professor Toru Tanaka, Clyde Kusatsu, Seth Sakai, Roger Yuan, James Lew Running Time: 87 min. By HKFanatic Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal certainly had the action movie market cornered during the early 90’s, but martial arts fans would be wise not to pass … Continue reading

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Man with the Iron Fists, The (2012) Review

"The Man With the Iron Fists" Theatrical Poster

Director: RZA Writer: RZA, Eli Roth Cast: Russell Crowe, Cung Le, Lucy Liu, Byron Mann, RZA, Rick Yune, David Bautista, Jamie Chung, Daniel Wu, Gordon Liu, Chen Kuan-tai, Eli Roth, Pam Grier, Jon T. Benn, Terence Yin, MC Jin (Jin Au-Yeung) Running Time: 96 min. By Laser Beahm If your 11-year-old son, nephew, grandchild, or alter-ego were to write and star in their own version of a Kung-Fu film, “The … Continue reading

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Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (2012) Review

"Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: John Hyams Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Scott Adkins, Dolph Lundgren, Kristopher Van Varenberg, Andrei Arlovski, Roy Jones, Jr., Mariah Bonner Running Time: 114 min. By HKFanatic Free will is overrated. Just ask the Universal Soldiers – they’re a group of reanimated corpses brainwashed into becoming government killers. After being released from their programming by revolutionary leader Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme), these muscle-bound warriors can finally act of their own violation. … Continue reading

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6 Bullets | aka The Butcher (2012) Review

"6 Bullets" German DVD Cover

Director: Ernie Barbarash Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Joe Flanigan, Anna-Louise Plowman, Bianca Bree, Kristopher Van Varenberg, Terese Cilluffo, Charlotte Beaumont, Andrei Runcanu Running Time: 115 min. By HKFanatic 2011’s “Assassination Games” was anticipated as the beginning of a possible comeback for Jean-Claude Van Damme: it paired the aging action star with hot newcomer Scott Adkins and managed to secure decent theatrical distribution in the United States, a first for Van … Continue reading

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