Author Archives: JJ Bona

Young Avenger, The (1980) Review

Director: Wilson Tong Wai Shing Producer: Raymond Keung Cast: Wong Yu, Wilson Tong Wai Shing, Norman Chu Siu Keung, Chu Tiet Wo, Cecilia Wong Hang Sau, Cheng Hong Yip, Kong Do, Fung King Man, Tong Kam Tong, Ching Chu Running Time: 83 min. By Numskull I see little point in describing this movie in any great detail; I would just end up repeating myself. It’s a fairly typical chop socky … Continue reading

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Yellow River Fighter | aka The Fourth Disciple (1988) Review

AKA: Swordsman of the Yellow River Director: Cheung Sing Yim Writer: Wong Mak Chuen Producer: Ho Ching, Chiu Hei Chung Cast: Yu Cheng Hui, Yu Hai, Sun Jian Kui, Hu Jian Qiang, Ji Chun Hua, Hung Yan Yan Running Time: 93 min. By Numskull No, it’s not a movie about a guy who fights people by shooting torrents of urine at them; it’s a period martial arts film from mainland … Continue reading

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Yes, Madam | aka Police Assassins (1985) Review

Director: Corey Yuen Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock, John Sham Kein, Meng Hoi, Tsui Hark, James Tien, Dick Wei, Tai Bo, Fung Lee, Chung Fat, Dennis Chan, Fruit Chan Gor Running Time: 93 min. By Numskull Less than one minute into Yes, Madam, Michelle Yeoh slams a hardcover book shut on a man’s exposed genitals. At that point I knew I would be watching something a little…different. And I was … Continue reading

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Master, The | aka Wong Fei Hong ’92 (1989) Review

"The Master" DVD Cover

AKA: Wong Fei Hong ’92 Director: Tsui Hark Cast: Jet Li, Yuen Wah, Jerry Trimble, Crystal Kwok, Billy Blanks, Anne Rickets, To Wai Wo, Lam Ping Hong, Rueben Gonzales, Georges Kee Cheung, Stefanos Miltsakakis, Steven Ho, Mark Williams, Dale Jacoby Running Time: 88 min. By Numskull Ladies and gentlemen, a new standard in lameness has been set. The Master may just be the worst Jet Li movie I’ve seen to … Continue reading

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Tiger Cage (1988) Review

"Tiger Cage" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Yuen Woo Ping Cast: Jacky Cheung, Carol Cheng, Simon Yam, Donnie Yen, Ng Man Tat, Leung Kar Yan, Irene Wan, Vincent Lyn, Johnny Wang, Stephan Berwick, Michael Woods, Chang Seng Kwong, Chen Jing, Fung Hak On, Lam Wa Fan Running Time: 89 min. By Raging Gaijin This vintage 80’s HK action flick is rather atypical for director Yuen Woo-Ping. It has plenty of martial arts action but it’s set … Continue reading

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Where A Good Man Goes (1999) Review

"Where A Good Man Goes" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Johnnie To Cast: Lau Ching Wan, Ruby Wong Cheuk Ling, Wayne Lai Yiu Cheung, Lam Suet, Raymond Wong Ho Yin, Law Wing Cheong, Chang Siu Yin, Ai Wai Running Time: 98 min. By Mighty Peking Man Not one single Hong Kong studio has developed a series of solid, back-to-back films like Milkyway Image company has. Films like “Beyond Hypothermia,” “Too Many Ways to Be Number One,” “The Odd Ones … Continue reading

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Exclusive: Interview with Robert Lee

The following interview took place in the Temple Discussion (cityonfire.com’s now defunct Bruce Lee site) on 3/15/01 between regular vistitors of the site. All of the questions and answers were compiled by JT. Original chat session has been slightly edited for a tighter, easier read. Robert Lee: I first would like to say that Bruce Lee was a very special person in many peoples lives. Bruce has been the cause … Continue reading

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Dragon Lord | aka Young Master in Love (1982) Review

"Dragon Lord" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Dragon Strike Director: Jackie Chan Producer: Raymond Chow Cast: Jackie Chan, Mars, Chan Wai Man, Paul Chang, Suet Lee, Tien Feng, Wang In Sik, Tai Bo, Cheng Hong Yip, Kwan Yung Moon, Danny Chow, Fung Hak On Running Time: 95 min. By Reefer Dragon Lord begins as two sons from rich families prepare for a team contest involving some bamboo pyramid with a football resting at the top. The … Continue reading

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Yakuza, The | aka Brotherhood of the Yakuza (1975) Review

Director: Sydney Pollack Producer: Sydney Pollack Writer: Paul Schrader, Robert Towne, Leonard Schrader Cast: Robert Mitchum, Richard Jordan, Ken Takakura, Brian Keith, Herb Edelman Running Time: 112 min. By Woody When you rent a film with high expectations and get even more than you bargained for, you know you’ve got a great film on your hands. In “The Yakuza”, Robert Mitchum is Harry Kilmer, a man who returns to Japan … Continue reading

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Ninja III: The Domination (1984) Review

"Ninja III: The Domination" Blu-ray Cover

AKA: Ninja 3 Director: Sam Firstenberg Writer: James R. Silke Cast: Sho Kosugi, Lucinda Dickey, Jordan Bennett, David Chung, Dale Ishimoto, James Hong, Ron Foster, Bob Craig, Charly Harroway, Lem Cook Running Time: 92 min By Owlman Ninja III: The Domination was released in 1984 and directed by Sam Firstenberg (Revenge of the Ninja, American Ninja). The film stars Lucinda Dickey (Breakin’) as Christie, a telephone maintenance technician and part-time … Continue reading

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Knock-Off (1998) Review

"Knock-Off" American Theatrical Poster

AKA: Knock Off Director: Tsui Hark Writer: Steven E. De Souza Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rob Schneider, Lela Rochon, Paul Sorvino, Carman Lee Yeuk-tung, Wyman Wong, Glen Chin, Michael Wong, Moses Chan Running Time: 90 min. By Alexander Usually when I answer the phone in the other room I quickly press pause on the remote fearful I’ll miss a vital piece of dialogue or important plot twist in whatever movie … Continue reading

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In Hell | aka The Savage (2003) Review

"In Hell" Japanese DVD Cover

AKA: The Shu Director: Ringo Lam Cast: Michael Bailey Smith, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Marnie Alton, Assen Blatechki Running Time: 96 min. By Reefer Holding a copy of Ringo Lam/Jean-claude Van Damme’s straight to video In Hell in my hand at the video store, I had the same thought that most action movie fans had who wasted money, time, and brain cells on their previous collaborations. Why has Ringo Lam subjected … Continue reading

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Kids Return (1996) Review

Director: Takeshi Kitano Writer: Takeshi Kitano Producers: Masayuki Mori, Yasushi Tsuge, Takio Yoshida Cast: Masanobu Ando, Ken Kaneko, Leo Morimoto, Hatsuo Yamaya, Mitsuko Oka, Ryo Ishibashi, Susumu Terajima, Koichi Shigehisa, Michisuke Kashiwaya, Yuko Daike, Atsuki Ueda, Ren Osugi, Masami Shimojoe Running Time: 108 min. By Equinox21 Kids Return was not even close to being my favorite Takeshi Kitano movie, but it wasn’t bad in the least. It didn’t really even … Continue reading

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Crows Zero | aka Crows 0 (2007) Review

AKA: Crows: Episode 0 Director: Takashi Miike Producer: Mataichiro Yamamoto Cast: Shun Oguri, Kyosuke Yabe, Takayuki Yamada, Shunsuke Daito, Meisa Kuroki, Tsutomu Takahashi, Goro Kishitani Running Time: 131 min. By Ningen A new kid in town named Genji enrolls in a “bad” school where he meets a thug named Tamao who runs the place. Aspiring to head his own yanki[Japanese JD] empire, in order to impress his yakuza pop, Genji … Continue reading

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City of Lost Souls, The | aka The Hazard City (2000) Review

AKA: The City of Strangers Director: Takashi Miike Cast: Teah, Michelle Reis, Patricia Manterola, Mitsuhiro Oikawa, Koji Kikkawa, Ren Osugi, Akaji Maro, Anatoli Krasnov, Sebastian DeVicente, Terence Yin, Atsushi Okuno, Akira Emoto, Eugene Nomura Running Time: 99 min. By Joe909 Tarantino haters take note: Asian cinema is now ripping-off your whipping boy. QT is always scorned for “lifting” scenes, images, and plots from Asian action movies; now that same scorn … Continue reading

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