Author Archives: JJ Bona

Accidental Spy, The (2001) Review

"The Accidental Spy" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Teddy Chan Cast: Jackie Chan, Vivian Hsu, Kim Min Jeong, Wu Hsing-kuo, Eric Tsang, Bradley James Allen, Cheung Tat-ming, Alfred Cheung, Ha Ping, Vincent Kuk, Scott Adkins, Murat Yilmaz, Anthony Rene Jones Running Time: 108 min. By Numskull To say that “this is not your father’s Jackie Chan movie” would be both far too vague and somewhat insulting. The Accidental Spy is a much more serious and intricately-structured effort than … Continue reading

Posted in Chinese, Golden Harvest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , |

Butterfly and Sword | aka Comet, Butterfly & Sword (1993) Review

"Butterfly and Sword" Chinese Theatrical Advertisement

Director: Michael Mak Tong Kit Cast: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Michelle Yeoh, Joey Wong Tsu Hsien, Jimmy Lin Chi Ying, Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Yip Chuen Chan, Elvis Tsui Kam Kong Runing Time: 87 min. By Numskull Maybe this is just a peculiarity of watching a movie at 1 A.M., but it seems to me that Butterfly & Sword was written, produced, and directed by mutant vegetable-people with one brain … Continue reading

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Karate Robo Zaborgar teaser trailer

Shiny retro robots from Japan are much cooler than the Hollywood-ized Optimus Prime. This is what it’s all about. You won’t see Michael Bay’s circular gliding camera angle in this one; Nor will you see Shia Labeouf prancing around with a broken hand. Best part is its budget equals the Transformer set’s snack bill. From the director of ROBO-GEISHA and THE MACHINE GIRL comes this action-packed tale of a police … Continue reading

Posted in News |

From Dusk Till Dawn Blu-ray (Echo Bridge)

RELEASE DATE: May 3, 2011 Finally on Blu-ray! From Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino. The movie stars Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino and Juliette Lewis. You can also purchase the specially priced double feature which includes both From Dusk Till Dawn movies.

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

Wing Chun (1994) Review

"Wing Chun" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Yuen Woo Ping Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Donnie Yen, Kingdom Yuen King Tan, Waise Lee Chi-hung, Catherine Hung Yan, Norman Chu, Tsui Ah Fai, Chui Heung Tung, Cheng Pei Pei Running Time: 91 min. By Numskull In this Yuen Wo-Ping/Michelle Yeoh collaboration, Yeoh is THE Wing Chun, a woman who (in this film, at least) wears mens’ clothing and runs a tofu business with her aunt Abacus (played by a … Continue reading

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Beyond Our Ken (2004) Review

Director: Pang Ho Cheung Writer: Pang Ho Cheung Cast: Daniel Wu Yin Cho, Gillian Chung Yun Tung, Tao Hong, Jimmy Wong Ka Lok Running Time: 98 min. By Slaxor After really enjoying Edmond Pang’s previous film, ‘Men Suddenly in Black,’ I was anxious to see how his next film, ‘Beyond Our Ken,’ would turn out. After hearing the basis of the movie and the fact that a member of the … Continue reading

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Armageddon (1997) Review

Director: Gordon Chan Kar Shan Writer: Gordon Chan Kar Shan, Vincent Kok Tak Chiu Producer: Gordon Chan Kar Shan Cast: Andy Lau Tak Wah, Anthony Wong Chau Sang, Michelle Reis, Michael Ian Lambert, Kim Maree Penn, Vincent Kok Tak Chiu, Kim Yip Kwong Kim, Michael Lui Mai Go, Angel Wong Tsui Ling, Rocky Lai Keung Kun, Wayne Lai Yiu Cheung, Ray Pang Lap Wai, Victy Wong Yin Keung Running Time: … Continue reading

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Mob Sister (2005) Review

"Mob Sister" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Ah Sou, A Sao Director: Wong Ching Po Cast: Annie Liu, Karena Lam, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Simon Yam, Eric Tsang, Alex Fong, Anthony Wong, Chan Chung Yung, O Chun Hung, Lau Yip, Yuen Wah, Lawrence Cheng, Him Law Chung Him, Liu Kai Chi Running Time: 90 min. By Owlman After watching Jay Chou mangle the Cantonese dialect in Initial D, I put in Ah Sou and watched Anne … Continue reading

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Adventurers, The | aka The Great Adventurer (1995) Review

Director: Ringo Lam Writer: Ringo Lam, Sandy Shaw Cast: Andy Lau, Rosamund Kwan, Wu Chien Lien, David Chiang, Paul Chun Pui, Philip Ko Fei, Nam Yin, William Ho Ka Kui, Georges Kee Cheung, Four Tse Liu Shut, Ron Yuan, Victor Wong Chi Keung Running Time: 109 min. By Mighty Peking Man The story should have been simple, but Ringo Lam’s The Adventurers has a plot that’s a convoluted cluster-f*ck to … Continue reading

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Supreme Champion DVD (Phase 4)

RELEASE DATE: June 28, 2011 Ultra-low budget (which is a given coming from “Phase 4”) martial arts/mixed martial arts movie starring UFC’s Stephan Bonnar (aka The American Psycho) and Bloodsport 2’s Daniel Bernhardt. Check out the trailer here.

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles |

The Makioka Sisters Blu-ray/DVD (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: June 14, 2011 This lyrical adaptation of the beloved Japanese novel by Junichiro Tanizaki was a late-career triumph for world-class director Kon Ichikawa. Revolving around the changing of the seasons, The Makioka Sisters (Sasame-yuki) follows the lives of four sisters who have taken on their family’s kimono manufacturing business, over the course of a number of years leading up to the Pacific War. The two oldest have been … Continue reading

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases |

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky | aka Ricky Oh (1991) Review

Director: Nam Nai Choi Writer: Nam Nai Choi Cast: Fan Siu Wong, Fan Mei Sheng, William Ho Ka Kui, Yukari Oshima, Tetsuro Tamba, Gloria Yip Wan Yi, Philip Kwok, Lam Suet, Frankie Chin Chi Leung Running Time: 88 min. By Numskull As cult favorite Hong Kong films go, this one is pretty good… that is to say, it wasn’t as disappointing as Ronny Yu’s overblown “The Bride With White Hair”, … Continue reading

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In the Line of Duty | aka Royal Warriors (1986) Review

"In the Line of Duty" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Police Assassins Director: David Chung Chi-Man Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Sanada Hiroyuki, Michael Wong, Pai Ying, Chan Wai Man, David Lam Wai, Gam Hing Yin, Kenneth Tsang, Ninna Reiko, Dennis Chan Running Time: 85 min. By Numksull Michelle Yeoh, with short hair, fights a bunch of people. Henry Sanada, with a big stuffed bunny rabbit, fights a bunch of people. Michael Wong, with a persistent hard-on for Michelle, makes a … Continue reading

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Ju-On Black Ghost/White Ghost DVD/Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: May 17, 2011 Two new films for the tenth anniversary of the Grudge saga…Well Go USA will be releasing the 2009 Japanese film sequels: The Grudge: Old Lady in White (Ju-On: White Ghost) and The Grudge: Girl in Black (aka Ju-On: Black Ghost).

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases |

New One-Armed Swordsman Blu-ray (AIS)

RELEASE DATE: March 22, 2011 After losing an arm in battle and retiring from the martial world, an ex-fighter (David Chiang) must reluctantly return to his violent ways when he is pushed too far by a relentless gang. This is an import Blu-ray, which amazon.com will be carrying. Read review here.

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles |