Category Archives: Chinese

Pink Force Commando (1982) Review

Director: Chu Yen Ping  Cast: Brigitte Lin Ching-Hsia, Elsa Yang Hui-Shan, Sally Yeh Chian-Wen, Hilda Liu Hao-Yi, Blacky Ko Shou-Liang, Alan Liu Te-Kai, Hsu Pu-Liao, Sylvia Peng Hsueh-Fen, Teresa Tsui Jun-Jun, Wang Kuan-Hsiung, Yu Kam-Po Running Time: 87 min.  By Paul Bramhall I may well have swindled myself by watching Pink Force Commando. At the time of writing I’m in the latter stages of a 12-month detox from madcap Taiwanese … Continue reading

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Shaolin Intruders (1983) Review

AKA: Battle for Shaolin Director: Tang Chia Cast: Derek Yee Tung Sing, Lau Yuk Pok, Jason Pai Piao, Elvis Tsui Kam Kong, Chan Shen, Kwan Feng, Lee Hoi San, Philip Ko Fei, Ku Feng, Alan Chan Kwok Kuen Running Time: 95 min.  By Chris Hatcher It’s not every day a good detective mystery shows up in the midst of a great old school kung fu flick. So when a gem like … Continue reading

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Caught in Time (2020) Review

Director: Lau Ho-Leung Cast: Daniel Wu, Wang Qianyuan, Jessie Li, Michelle Wai, Da Li, Yu Xiao, Hu Zi-Cheng, Li Xiao-Chuan, Hung Jun-Jia, Rock Ji Huan-Bo, Dante Pang Yu-Nong  Running Time: 95 min. By Martin Sandison  Back a decade or so ago Daniel Wu annoyed me. I had seen him in films such as New Police Story and One Night in Mongkok, very good films, and his presence had made me squirm … Continue reading

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Guns of Dragon (1993) Review

Director: Tony Leung Siu Hung Cast: Ray Lui, Bill Lui Cho Hung, Mark Cheng, Patrick Lung Kong, Yvonne Yung Hung, Jackson Lau, John Sham, Tse Ning, Alex Fong, Henry Fong Ping Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall During the early 90’s there was a spate of Hong Kong movies that were shot on location in either the US or Canada, perhaps an indication of directors assessing the feasibility of … Continue reading

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Final Run (1989) Review

Director: Philip Ko Fei Cast: Michael Miu, Cheung Kwok-Keung, Simon Yam, Phillip Ko Fei, Francis Ng, Daan Gwai-Chi, Yukari Oshima, Ridley Tsui, Dick Wei, Newton Lai, Ha Chi-Chun, Ricky Wong, Shum Wai, Mark Houghton, Suen Kwok-Ming Running Time: 79 min. By Paul Bramhall When discussing kung fu cinema, chances are it’ll never take too long before the name Philip Ko Fei comes up. One of the greatest screen fighters of … Continue reading

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Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead, The (1991) Review

Director: Tony Lou Chun-Ku Cast: Donnie Yen, Pauline Yeung, Ben Lam Kwok-Bun, Chui Hei-Man, Kathy Chow, Ken Lo, Robert Mak Tak-Law, Hsu Hsia, Sibelle Hu Hui-Chung, Lee Ho-Kwan Running Time: 92 min.  By Paul Bramhall When people ask what it is about Donnie Yen that sets him apart from his peers, you’re likely to get a multitude of answers. Some may refer to the way he’s stayed relevant as an … Continue reading

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Hand Rolled Cigarette (2021) Review

Director: Kelvin Chan Cast: Gordon Lam, Bipin Karma, Michael Ning, Singh Hartihan Bitto, Ben Yuen, Chin Siu-Ho, To Yin-Gor, Tony Ho Wah-Chiu, Tommy Chu Pak-Houg, Tai Bo Running Time: 110 min. By Paul Bramhall From an audience perspective, the Hong Kong crime genre has been extinct since at least the mid-2010’s, with the last production to truly deliver a slice of uncompromising (re: disregarding Mainland censorship requirements) HK cinema being … Continue reading

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Dragon Blood | aka John Liu In Mexico (1982) Review

Director: John Liu Cast: John Liu, Phillip Ko Fei, Roger Paschy, Cyrielle Claire, Guy Ignace, Godfrey Ho, Lucien Michaud Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall Dragon Blood can be considered to be superkicker John Liu’s last hurrah, both in front of the camera and behind it, pulling star and director duties for a third time after Zen Kwun Do Strikes in Paris and Ninja In the Claws of the … Continue reading

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Ninja in the Claws of the CIA | aka Kung Fu Emanuelle (1981) Review

AKA: Made in China Director: John Liu Cast: John Liu, Casanova Wong, Danny Lee, John Ladalski, Roger Paschy, Mirta Miller, Cheng Bik-Lin, Gam Biu, Raquel Evans, Jose Maria Blanco Running Time: 77 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s always interesting when kung fu stars decide to step into the director’s chair and helm their own starring vehicles, from the globe-trotting adventures of Bruce Le in the likes of Challenge of the Tiger … Continue reading

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Challenge of the Tiger (1982) Review

AKA: Gymkata Killer Director: Bruce Le Starring: Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Richard Harrison, Nadiuska, Hwang Jang-lee, Kong Do, Bolo Yeung Sze, Brad Harris, Dick Randall, Pei Ju-Hua Running Time: 86 min. By Ian Whittle (Note: Every online source I’ve seen says this film is from 1980, which is contradicted by 1982 being mentioned in the dialogue, and a sequence taking place at an event that took place in that … Continue reading

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Schemes in Antiques (2021) Review

Director: Derek Kwok Cast: Lei Jiayin, Li Xian, Xin Zhilei, Ge You, Qin Yan, Qingxiang Wang, Yong Mei, Tao Guo Running Time: 123 min. By Paul Bramhall Movies about antiques may not necessarily sound like the most exciting proposition on paper, but if there’s one thing that 2003’s Ong Bak taught us, it’s that if the antique in question is a buddha’s head, then prepare for your expectations to be subverted. 18 years later, and China has released … Continue reading

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Kung Fu Vs. Acrobatic (1990) Review

Director: Taylor Wong Tai Loy Cast: Andy Lau, Nat Chan Pak Cheung, Yuen Wah, Joey Wong, Cutie Mui Siu Wai, Lau Shun, Walter Tso Tat Wah, Chen Jing, San Kuai, Lee Hang, Mama Hung Running Time: 99 min. By Paul Bramhall Kung Fu Vs. Acrobatic is one of those movies that I remember constantly reading about back when I was first getting into the genre in the late 90’s and early … Continue reading

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Ghost Hill, The (1971) Review

Director: Ding Sin Saai Cast: Tin Peng, Polly Shang-Kwan Ling Feng, Tong Wai, Go Ming, Chan Bo Leung, Shan Mao, Goo Liu Sek, Sit Hon, Man Chung San, Miu Tin, Lung Fei Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1971 the wuxia genre was still very much steeped in the conventions of the previous decade, however it was also becoming apparent that certain directors were gradually starting to explore those … Continue reading

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Journey to the West | aka Go West to Subdue Demons (1991) Review

Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Tung Chi Hwa, Ku Wing-Chuen, Mu Li-Xin, Du Yu-Ming, Yu Jia, Chen Ji-Ming, Zhang Ke-Peng, Yao Yu, Wang Xiang-Wei, Wang Bing-Qiang, Chen Bing Running Time: 86 min. By Paul Bramhall During the 2010’s the only character more popular than Ip Man was arguably the Monkey King. The iconic character got various big budget incarnations courtesy of Soi Cheang’s Monkey King trilogy, Stephen Chow’s pair of Journey … Continue reading

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World of Drunken Master, The (1979) Review

Director: Joseph Kuo Cast: Jack Long, Lee I Min, Chan Wai Lau, Lung Fei, Jeannie Chang Wing Wing, Lung Tien Hsiang, Yu Chung Chiu, Mark Long Kwan Wu, Simon Yuen Siu Tien Running Time: 88 min. By Martin Sandison Around two weeks ago, I received Eureka’s Joseph Kuo boxset through the mail. I know a lot of you readers have received it too. In these heady days of incredible releases, … Continue reading

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