Author Archives: JJ Bona

Better Tomorrow II, A (1987) Review

"A Better Tomorrow II" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Producer: Tsui Hark Cast: Chow Yun-Fat, Ti Lung, Leslie Cheung, Dean Shek, Emily Chu, Kenneth Tsang, Regina Kent, Kwan San, Chindy Lau, Dean Harrington, Mark King Running Time: 103 min. By Joseph Kuby Awesomely Ace Addition! A lot of people hate this movie, like as if Wong Jing had bought the rights to the series and messed things up. To be honest, I think the problems that … Continue reading

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Better Tomorrow, A (1986) Review

"A Better Tomorrow" International Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Producer: Tsui Hark Cast: Chow Yun-Fat, Ti Lung, Leslie Cheung, Waise Lee, Emily Chu, Kenneth Tsang, Shek Yin-Chi, Tien Feng, Kam Hing-Yin, Wong Hap, John Woo, Shing Fui-On Running Time: 95 min. By Joseph Kuby Definitely worth the hype! This film is slightly melodramatic (due to Chow Yun Fat but more particularly Leslie Cheung) though the film has a strong emotional undercurrent running through it which beats … Continue reading

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White Valentine (1999) Review

"White Valentine" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Yang Yun-Ho Cast: Park Sin-Yang, Jeon Ji-Hyeon, Jeon Mu-Song, Kim Se-Jun, Kim Young-Ok, Yang Dong-Keun, Kang Jin-Wu, Jang Myeong-Cheol, Park Mi-Rae Running Time: 89 min. By Mighty Peking Man Jung-min (Jeon Ji-Hyeon) is a young woman who drops out of school to pursue her love for “art,” a pastime she wants to make her career. She mysteriously lost her parents when she was very young, and now, lives and … Continue reading

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Windstruck (2004) Review

"Windstruck" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kwak Jae-yong Cast: Jeon Ji-hyun, Jang Hyuk, Kim Jung-Tae, Kim Su-Ro, Lee Ki-Woo, Lim Ye-Jin, Cha Tae-Hyun Running Time: 123 min. By Owlman Kyung-Jin (Jeong Ji-Hyun) is a young police officer. She meets Myung-Woo (Jang Hy-Yuk), a schoolteacher, in the most unusual circumstances. They fall in love. Tragedy ensues. Lots of tears and, as a testament to the title of the film, lots and lots of wind. More tears. … Continue reading

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Last Samurai, The (2003) Review

Director: Edward Zwick Writer: John Logan, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz Cast: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, Koyuki, Tony Goldwyn, Seizo Fukomoto, Timothy Spall, Hiroyuki Sanada, Masato Harada, Sosuke Ikematsu, Shin Koyamada, Aoi Minato, Shichinosuke Nakamura, Shun Sugata Plot: Epic Action Drama. Set in Japan during the 1870s, The Last Samurai tells the story of Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), a respected American military officer hired by the Emperor of … Continue reading

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Legacy of Rage | aka Fire Dragon (1986) Review

Literally: Dragon All Over the Country Director: Ronnie Yu Yan-Tai Producer: Dickson Poon Dik-Sun Writer: Clifton Ko Chi-Sum, Raymond Fung Cast: Brandon Lee, Michael Wong Man-Tak, Michael Chan Wai-Man, Regina Kent, Bolo Yeung, Ng Man-Tat, Mang Hoi, Tanya George, Louis Roth, Stuart Smith Running Time: 86 min. By Joe909 You know you’re in for trouble when even the opening theme song is half-assed; it sounds like someone turning on a … Continue reading

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Crow, The (1994) Review

Director: Alex Proyas Producer: Edward R. Pressman Cast: Brandon Lee, Ernie Hudson, Michael Wincott, David Patrick Kelly, Angel David, Rochelle Davis, Bai Ling, Laurence Mason, Michael Massee, Bill Raymond, Sofia Shinas, Anna Levine, Tony Todd, Jon Polito Running Time: 100 min. By Numskull The Crow is a movie full of rare things. It’s rare for a person to get killed during production, especially the lead actor. But, as I’m sure … Continue reading

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Rapid Fire | aka Moving Target (1992) Review

Director: Dwight H. Little Cast: Brandon Lee, Powers Boothe, Nick Mancuso, Raymond J. Barry, Kate Hodge, Tzi Ma, Tony Longo, Michael Paul Chan, Dustin Nguyen, Brigitta Stenberg, Basil Wallace, Al Leong, François Chau, Quentin O’Brien Running Time: 95 min. By Numskull A VHS copy of the last movie Brandon Lee completed can probably be found in the bargain bin of your local Blockbuster or Walmart (North America only), and though … Continue reading

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Bruce Lee: A Warrior’s Journey (2001) Review

Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey

Director: John Little Writer: John Little, Bruce Lee Cast: Bruce Lee, Dan Inosanto, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ji Han Jae, James Tien, Chieh Yuan, Taky Kimura, Linda Lee-Caldwell, Bey Logan Running Time: 100 min. By Joe909 If I had to make a top ten list of my favorite kung fu movies, the Game of Death footage Bruce Lee shot in 1972 would be in it. There’s just something cool about it. It … Continue reading

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Big Boss, The | aka Fists of Fury (1971) Review

"The Big Boss" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Lo Wei Producer: Raymond Chow Cast: Bruce Lee, Maria Yi, James Tien Chun, Han Ying Chieh, Nora Miao, Lee Kwan, Anthony Lau, Lam Ching Ying, Billy Chan Wui Ngai, Peter Yang Kwan Running Time: 115 min. By James H. There are movies with low production values and then there are movies with Lo Wei production values. This movie was made for $100,000, and it looks like it was made … Continue reading

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Way of the Dragon | aka Return of the Dragon (1972) Review

"Way of the Dragon" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Bruce Lee Producer: Raymond Chow Cast: Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Gam Dai, Unicorn Chan, Tony Liu, Nora Miao, Wang In Sik, Paul Wei, Bob Wall, Jon Benn, Anders Nelsson, Riccardo Billi, Alexander Grand, Malisa Longo, Andre Morgan, Russell Cawthorne Running Time: 96 min. By Jesse Bruce Lee’s 1973 film Return of the Dragon (which was also written and directed by Lee) tells the tale of a young farmboy from … Continue reading

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Clan of the White Lotus | aka Fist of the White Lotus (1980) Review

Director: Lo Lieh Cast: Gordon Liu, Lo Lieh, Kara Hui, Johnny Wang Lung Wei, Hsiao Ho, Yeung Jing Jing, Cheng Miu, Ching Chu, Lam Fai Wong, Wilson Tong, Cham Siu Hung, Ho Kei Cheong, Lin Ke Ming, Ng Git Keung, San Sin Running Time: 95 mins. By Mighty Peking Man Let’s get one thing straight: Fist of the White Lotus isn’t a remake or a sequel to 1977’s Executioners From … Continue reading

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Hong Kong Playboys (1983) Review

Director: Wong Jing Writer: Wong Jing Producer: Lawrence Wong Cast: Alexander Fu Sheng, Patrick Tse Yin, Nat Chan (Pak Cheung), Cherie Chung (Cho Hung), Lau Suet Wa (Liu Hsueh-Hua), Lee Heung Kam, Fong Ping, Chan Laap Ban, Lam Fai Wong, Lau Yat Fan, Sek Kin, Tam Tin Nam, To Siu Ming, Chin Wai Yee Time: 94 min By Mighty Peking Man Hong Kong Playboys stars the late Alexander Fu Sheng … Continue reading

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Mighty Peking Man | aka Colossus of Congo (1977) Review

AKA: Goliathon Director: Ho Meng-Hua Cast: Danny Lee, Evelyne Kraft, Hang-Sheng Wu, Hsu Shao-Chiang, Ku Feng, Lin Wei-Tu, Chen Cheng-Feng, Alexander Grand, Lee Sau Kei, Wong Pau Gei Running Time: 86 min. By Gwailo It’s a must-see oddity from the Shaw Brothers, starring a young Danny Lee, made around the same time as his equally campy Ultraman. A direct rip-off of the King Kong/Godzilla genre gone totally berserk. Now that … Continue reading

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Legend of the Fox (1980) Review

"Legend of the Fox" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Philip Kwok, Chin Siu Ho, Chiang Sheng, Helen Poon, Choh Seung Wan, Wong Lik, Chui Tai Ping, Wang Han Chen, Lau Fong Sai, Chan Hon Kwong, Chan Hung, Chan Shu Kei, Choi Kwok Keung, Chow Kin Ping, Ha Kwok Wing, Hung Fung, Hung San Nam Running Time: 122 min. By Joe909 When the kung-fu boom was on the wane, the Venoms and Chang Cheh began experimenting … Continue reading

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