Category Archives: Chinese

Double Tap (2000) Review

Director: Lo Chi-Leung Cast: Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing, Alex Fong Chung Sun, Ruby Wong Cheuk Ling, Monica Chan Fat Yung, Vincent Kok Tak Chiu, Joseph Cheung Man Kwong Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall There can be no denying that the Hong Kong film industry was in a miserable place at the turn of the century. There were 2 key factors behind the slump, the first being that many … Continue reading

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From the Highway (1970) Review

Director: Chang Tseng-tse Cast: Peter Yang Kwan, Ingrid Hu Yin Yin, Chui Fook Sang, Suen Yuet, Lee Hung, Yeung Fui Yuk, Lee Man Tai, Ko Fei, Man Man, Chang I Fei, Gam Dai Running Time: 80 min. By Martin Sandison Part of the journey into living in the moment, as far as I can see it, is to admit when someone has more knowledge than you, about the thing you love. … Continue reading

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Seaman No. 7 (1973) Review

Director: Lo Wei Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, Maria Yi, James Tien Chun, Tien Feng, Han Ying Chieh, Kelly Lee Hoi Lee, Gam Saan, Chin Yuet Sang, Lo Wei, Lam Ching Ying, Ma Man-Chun Running Time: 100 min.  By Ian Whittle I think we’ve found a winner for the Most Underwhelming Kung Fu Movie Title…no wonder the UK VHS was re-named Wang Yu’s Magnificent Fights. For some reason, after a winning … Continue reading

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Steel Fisted Dragon, The (1977) Review

AKA: A Fistful of Dragon Director: Iksan Lahardi Cast: Steve Lee, Enden Marlinda, Ronald Kansil, Vita Fatimah, Chan Lau, Johnny Hong Kong Running Time: 78 min. Paul Bramhall In 1977 the Bruceploitation genre was already alive and well, with guys like Bruce Li bursting onto the scene with 1975’s New Game of Death and Bruce Le unleashing digit related mayhem in 1976’s Bruce’s Deadly Fingers. While the name Bruce combined … Continue reading

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Ninja Champion | aka Poisonous Rose Stripping the Night (1986) Review

Director: Kim Si-hyun Co-director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Choe Eun-hye, Im Ja-ho, Dragon Lee (Mun Kyong-sok), Baek Hwang-ki, Richard Harrison, Bruce Baron, Pierre Tremblay, Yoon Yang-Ha, Park Se-bum Running Time: 87 min.  By Paul Bramhall There are only 2 types of people in the world who’d want to watch Ninja Champion – those who enjoy cut ‘n’ paste Godfrey Ho ninja flicks, and those who want to check out an obscure … Continue reading

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Tai Chi Boxer | aka Tai Chi II (1996) Review

Director: Yuen Woo Ping Co-director: Cheung Sing Yim Cast: Wu Jing, Christy Chung Lai Tai, Yu Hai, Mark Cheng Ho Nam, Billy Chow Bei Lei, Sibelle Hu Hui Zhong, Darren Shahlavi, Ji Chun Hua, Jin De-Mao Running Time: 96 min.  By Paul Bramhall Most discussions that see Tai Chi Boxer mentioned tend to involve the wire-fu craze that dominated the Hong Kong martial arts genre in the first half of the … Continue reading

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King Swindler (1993) Review

Director: Chu Yen Ping Cast: Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Sandra Ng Kwun-Yu, Tuo Tsung-Hua, Liu Chun, Hiu Hiu, Billy Gilman, Lau Kei, Tu Fu-Ping, Chien Te-Men, Tsai Chia-Hung, Lin Hsieh-Wen Running Time: 96 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s common knowledge that back in the 1980’s Jimmy Wang Yu stepped in to straighten up some trouble Jackie Chan was having with the Triads, and to repay the One Armed Boxer for his … Continue reading

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Lover of the Last Empress (1995) Review

Director: Andrew Lau Cast: Tony Leung Ka Fai, Chingmy Yau, Chan Kwok Bong, Valerie Chow, Ku Feng, Yu Rong Guang, Kingdom Yuen King Tan, Yvonne Yung Hung, Bao Fang, Lo Hung Running Time: 99 min.  By Paul Bramhall Before John Wick went on the rampage triggered by the murder of his puppy, there was Chingmy Yau in Lover of the Last Empress, whose ascent to the position of Empress Dowager is … Continue reading

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Kung Fu from Beyond the Grave (1982) Review

Director: Li Chao Cast: Billy Chong Chun Lai, Lo Lieh, Dai Sai Aan, Alan Chui Chung San, Lai Kim Hung, Fang Mien, Ou-Yang Sha Fei, Goo Gwan, So Kwok Leung Running Time: 88 min.  By Paul Bramhall Following the success of Sammo Hung’s Close Encounter of the Spooky Kind in 1980, soon a slew of titles mixing kung fu and the supernatural filled Hong Kong cinema, with the likes of … Continue reading

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Mysterious Footworks of Kung Fu (1978) Review

Director: Chen Wah Cast: Charles Heung Wah-Keung, Michael Chan Wai-Man, Chiang Tao, Fan Mei-Sheng, Betty Ting Pei, Gam Ming, Mang Hoi, Do Ping, Kong Do Running Time: 95 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic After starring in Eagle Claws Champion, James Heung realized he preferred working behind the scenes, so he founded Super Win Film with his brother Charles. Heung’s company produced only two films, Mysterious Footworks of Kung Fu and Goose Boxer, both … Continue reading

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Legend of the Drunken Tiger (1991) Review

Director: Robert Tai Cast: Kara Hui, Chui Kei-Wai, Alexander Lo Rei, Cheung Kwok Keung, Ku Feng, Ho Pak Kwong, Man Siu, Wong Hap, Lee Lung Yam, Chan Yue-Ching Running Time: 98 min.  By Paul Bramhall The early 90’s was the peak era for the whole ”Legend of the….” title structure in Hong Kong cinema. Legend of the Dragon gave us Stephen Chow vs Jimmy White, Legend of the Liquid Sword … Continue reading

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Amsterdam Connection (1978) Review

"Amsterdam Connection" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Shaolin Connection Director: Fan Mei-Sheng Co-director: Law Kei Cast: Chan Sing, Mi Lan, Jason Pai Piao, Bolo Yeung Sze, Fan Mei-Sheng, Wong Yuen-San, Fan Siu-Wong, Law Kei, Lam Ching-Ying, Lau Kar-Yung, Wan Fat Running Time: 90 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic If you love watching movies, chances are you’ve seen at least one with the word ‘connection’ in its title. It might have been one of the greats, such … Continue reading

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Ninja in Ancient China (1993) Review

AKA: The Prowess Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Tung Chi-Wa, Mu Li-Xin, Lin Ying-Jun, Chen Die-Yi, Chan Yee-Gong, Cheng Ya-Lin, Du Yu-Ming Guo Jun, Wan Man-Ying, Chu Ka-Lung, Wu Tian-Yun Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall After spending almost 20 years working exclusively for the Shaw Brothers studio, director Chang Cheh had rightfully earned his moniker of the Godfather of the Kung Fu Film. In 1983 he made his final … Continue reading

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Attack of the Joyful Goddess (1983) Review

"Attack of the Joyful Goddess" DVD Cover

AKA: Attack of the Venoms Director: Chang Cheh Co-director: Chiang Sheng Co-director: Lu Feng Cast: Ricky Cheng Tien-Chi, Chiang Sheng, Lu Feng, Chui Chung-Fei, Lee Chung-Yat Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall By 1983 the Shaw Brothers studio as a movie making powerhouse was on its last legs, and within a couple of years would completely close up shop to focus purely on TV production. Compared to the cinema … Continue reading

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Kung Fu on Sale | aka King of Money and Fists (1979) Review

AKA: Drunken Master Dollar Fist Director: Su Chen-Ping Cast: Sze-Ma Lung, Su Chen-Ping, Man Lee-Pang, Tseng Chao, Dean Shek Tin, Tsung Hua, Cheng Fu-Hung, Hsu Pu-Liao, Su Chen-Ping, Lee Kwan Running time: 90 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic It’s safe to say, at least at this point, that Kung Fu on Sale is Su Chen-Ping’s best film, as it also appears to be his only one. Making a name for … Continue reading

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