Category Archives: Chinese

Legendary Amazons (2011) Review

"Legendary Amazons" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Frankie Chan Cast: Cheng Pei Pei, Cecilia Cheung, Liu Xiaoqing, Yu Na, Richie Ren, Yukari Oshima, Kathy Chow, Ge Chun Yuan, Chang Chen, Chen Zihan, Jin Qiao Qiao, David Lam, Liu Dong, Katy Wang Ti, Wang Lee Hom, Wu Ma, Simon Yam Running Time: 109 min. By HKFanatic Love is a battlefield. Or at least that turns out to be the case in “Legendary Amazons,” a 2011 Chinese historical … Continue reading

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Bullet Vanishes, The (2012) Review

"The Bullet Vanishes" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Law Chi Leung Cast: Lau Ching Wan, Nicholas Tse Ting Fung, Yang Mi, Jing Boran, Wu Gang, Liu Kai Chi, Jiang Yiyan, Gao Hu, Yumiko Cheng Hei Yi, Chin Kar Lok Running Time: 100 min. By HKFanatic Ever since the first trailer for “The Bullet Vanishes” hit the web, the film has been labeled a Chinese take on Guy Ritchie’s 2009 “Sherlock Holmes” film. While the movies do share … Continue reading

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High Risk | aka Meltdown (1995) Review

"High Risk" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Wong Jing Cast: Jet Li, Jacky Cheung, Chingmy Yau, Charlie Young, Kelvin Wong, Valerie Chow, Billy Chow, Ben Lam, Wu Ma, William Tuan, Lo Hung, Charlie Cho Cha-lee Running Time: 101 min. By Numskull Wong Jing can’t direct worth sh*t. His frequent toy, oops I mean collaborator, Chingmy Yau, isn’t much of an actress. Jet “F*ck-Me-In-The-A$$-I-Wish-To-Hell-I-Hadn’t-Passed-On-Crouching-Tiger-Hidden-Dragon” Li has yet to impress me with any of his HK films. And Jacky … Continue reading

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Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011) Review

"Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Tsui Hark Cast: Jet Li, Kwai Lun Mei, Chen Kun, Zhou Xun, Li Yu Chun, Mavis Fan Hiu Huen, Fan Siu Wong, Du Yiheng, Sun Jian Kui, Viann Zhang Xin Yu Running Time: 125 min. By HKFantic It was Jean-Claude Van Damme of all people who dubbed Tsui Hark ‘the George Lucas of Asia.’ Most likely because his 1983 fantasy film “Zu Warriors From the Magic Mountain” helped launch … Continue reading

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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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White Vengeance (2011) Review

""White Vengeance" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Daniel Lee Cast: Leon Lai Ming, Zhang Han Yu, Anthony Wong Chau Sang, Jordan Chan Siu Chun, Crystal Liu Yi Fei, Fang Shao Feng, Andy On Chi Kit, Jia Qing, Wu Ma, Chen Kuan Tai, Chan Chi Fai, Ding Hai Feng, Du Yiheng, Xu Xiang Dong Running Time: 135 min. By HKFanatic Director Daniel Lee has long seemed to struggle to find his identity as a filmmaker in the … 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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Nightfall (2012) Review

Nightfall Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Roy Chow Cast: Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Simon Yam Tat Wah, Janice Man Wing San, Kay Tse On Kei, Michael Wong Man Tak, Gordon Liu Chia Hui, Ken Lo, Mike Leeder Running Time: 107 min. By HKFanatic “Nightfall” opens in a prison shower with actor Nick Cheung engaging in a brutal brawl – a sort of slow motion’d, abstractly-directed take on “Eastern Promise’s” infamous fight scene. The violent scuffle … Continue reading

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Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (2011) Review

Director: Wei Te-Sheng Writer: Wei Te-Sheng Producer: John Woo, Jimmy Huang Cast: Umin Boya, Masanobu Ando, Landy Wen, Irene Luo, Vivian Hsu, Chi-Wei Cheng, Lin Ching-Tai, Da-Ching Running Time: 144 min. (Part 1); 132 min. (Part 2); 150 min. (single version) By HKFanatic “Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale” arrives from director Te Sheng-Wei and producer John Woo. The film is officially the most expensive Taiwanese production of all time … 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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Election 2 | aka Triad Election (2006) Review

"Election 2" French Theatrical Poster

Director: Johnnie To Cast: Louis Koo, Simon Yam, Nick Cheung, Gordon Lam, Lam Suet, Wong Tin Lam, Yau Yung, Eddie Cheung, Mark Cheng, Andy On, Cheung Wing Cheung Running Time: 92 min. By HKFanatic As much as I’ve disparaged Louis Koo’s acting in movies like “Triple Tap” and “Accident,” no one can take his performance in “Election 2” away from him. With this film, Koo found the role he was … 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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