Author Archives: JJ Bona

Blackjack (1998) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Blackjack" American DVD Cover

Director: John Woo Producer: Terence Chang Cast: Dolph Lundgren, Kate Vernon, Phillip MacKenzie, Kam Heskin, Fred Williamson, Padraigin Murphy, Tony De Santis, Saul Rubinek, Peter Keleghan Running Time: 112 min. By Mairosu Dolph Lundgren is Jack Devlin, an ex-fed turned bodyguard for hire, who suffers a trauma during one shootout and as a result, develops a rabid fear of white colour (?!) . He decides to retire, but is lured … Continue reading →

Posted in Asian Related, Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Windtalkers (2002) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Windtalkers" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Cast: Nicolas Cage, Adam Beach, Roger Willie, Peter Stormare, Noah Emmerich, Mark Ruffalo, Brian Van Holt, Martin Henderson, Christian Slater, Frances O’Connor, Jason Isaacs, Billy Morts, Cameron Thor Running Time: 134/154 min. By Numskull World War II: Navajo code talkers are employed by the U.S. military to relay coordinates in their native language, which Japanese code breakers are unable to decipher. Their efforts are crucial to U.S. … Continue reading →

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Matrix Revolutions, The (2003) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona
"The Matrix Revolutions" American Theatrical Poster

Director: The Wachowskis Writer: The Wachowskis Producer: Joel Silver Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Nathaniel Lees, Jada Pinkett Smith, Harry J. Lennix, Harold Perrineau Running Time: 129 min. By Numskull I was one of a relatively small group of people who was not disappointed with The Matrix Reloaded. As someone who was pleased but not awestruck by the first film, and as someone who doesn’t put … Continue reading →

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Matrix Reloaded, The (2003) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona
"The Matrix Reloaded" American Theatrical Poster

Director: The Wachowskis Producer: Joel Silver Cast: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Randall Duk Kim, Daniel Bernhardt, Harold Perrineau Running Time: 138 min. By Numskull First things first: it is very fashionable to dislike The Matrix. I, for one, have long since grown sick and tired of arrogant, elitist followers of anime and Hong Kong action films constantly bitching about how the 1999 blockbuster “stole” (in … Continue reading →

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Matrix, The (1999) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona
"The Matrix" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: The Wachowskis Writer: The Wachowskis Producer: Joel Silver Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster, Joe Pantoliano, Marcus Chong, Anthony Ray Parker, Julian Arahanga Running Time: 136 min. By Numskull “Unfortunately…no one…can describe…what the Matrix…really is.” The Matrix…the movie, not the thing that no one can describe…is a rare thing indeed: a film that got widespread success, a franchise deal (two sequels in the works) … Continue reading →

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Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Last Hurrah for Chivalry" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Cast: Damian Lau, Wai Pai, Lau Kong, Lee Hoi San, Hsu Hsia, Fung Hak On, Chin Yuet Sang, Ngai Chau Wah, Cheng Lui, Huang Ha, Baan Yun Sang, Chan Dik Hak, Chan Siu Gai, Cheung Ging, Johnny Cheung Running Time: 107 min. By Raging Gaijin “Last Hurrah for Chivalry” has all the elements of a John Woo film: abundant use of slow motion, expertly choreographed action sequences, … Continue reading →

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

Cheetah on Fire (1993) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Cheetah on Fire" Tai Seng VHS Cover

Director: Chui Fat Cast: Donnie Yen, Carrie Ng, Sharla Cheung Man, Gordon Liu Chia Hui, Ken Lo Hui Kwong, Fujimi Nadeki, Michael Woods, John Salvitti, Eddie Ko, Shing Fui On Running Time: 87 min. By Tyler In Cheetah on Fire, “Long Hair” (Gordon Liu) leads a violent gang in pursuit of a stolen missile guidance control chip. Donnie Yen and Nadeki Fujimi play CIA agents who are assisted by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , |

Bichunmoo | aka Flying Warriors (2000) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Bichunmoo" Korean Theatrical Poster

AKA: Bichunmoo – Dance with Sword Director: Kim Young-jun Cast: Shin Hyun-joon, Kim Hee-sun, Jeong Jin-young, Jang Dong-jik, Choi Yoo-jung, Gi Ju-bong Running Time: 118 min. By Alexander Bichunmoo is essentially a series of set pieces featuring beautiful people, gorgeous costumes and rousing music periodically interspersed with imaginative fight scenes that blend arcade-style action and wire-fu (and the occasional exploding torso and severed head). But despite the thin story (it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , |

Beat (1997) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Kim Sung-su Producer: Cha Seung-Jae Cast: Jung Woo-Sung, Ko So-Young , Kim Bu-Seon, Lim Chang Jung , Yu Oh-Seong, Lee Mun-Shik, Sa Hyeon-Jin, Jang Dong-Jik, Do Ki-Seok, Kim Seong-Su, Park Kyeong-Hwan, Kwon Tae-Won, Jin Bong-Jin, Lee Suk, Kim Yang-Woo Running Time: 113 min. By Mighty Peking Man “Beat” is the story involving a few hoods who lived fast and suffered the consequences of their violent, crime-filled lifestyle. It stars … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , |

Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona

AKA: Dog of Flanders Director: Bong Joon-ho Producer: Cho Min-hwan Cast: Lee Seong-Jae, Bae Doo-Na, Byeon Hee-Bong, Miriam Yeung Chin Running Time: 106 min. By Mighty Peking Man The first time I saw Bae Doo-Na in Park Chan-Uk’s Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, I knew for a fact I would develop an interest in her right there and then. Not since Faye Wong’s presence in Wong Kar-Wai’s Chungking Express has there … Continue reading →

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Vengeance is a Golden Blade (1969) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Ho Meng Hua Writer: Ho Meng Hua, Tu Yun Chih Producer: Run Run Shaw Cast: Chin Ping, Yueh Hua, Goo Man Chung, Tang Ching, Li Peng-Fei, Go Bo Shu, Paul Wei Ping Ao Running Time: 103 min. By Mighty Peking Man Li Zhi Shan (Tang Ching), a swordsman in the security business, arrives home to find that a rival company – headed by the evil Long Brothers – is … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese, Reviews, Shaw Brothers | Tagged , , , , |

Dare You Touch Me | aka Bruce Takes Dragon Town (1974) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona

AKA: Bruce Takes the Dragon Director: Liu Hung Sheng Producer: Chen Wei Ling Cast: Yuen Si Wo, Chiang Sheng, Lung Fei, Suen Yuet, Lee Keung, Chou Tai-Sheng Running Time: 90 min. By Mighty Peking Man This movie sucks AND here are the reasons why: 1.) The words “Bruce” and “Le” are not a selling point, but that didn’t stop the designer of the video box to use his name when … Continue reading →

Posted in Bruceploitation, Chinese, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Bruce Le’s Greatest Revenge (1978) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Bruce Le's Greatest Revenge" US VHS Cover

AKA: Way of the Dragon 2 Director: To Lo Po Cast: Bruce Le (aka Huang Kin Long, Wong Kin Lung), Bolo Yeung, San Kuai, Tong Yim Chaan, Lee I Min, Hon Gwok Choi, Michelle Lai, To Siu Ming, Ku Feng Running Time: 94 min. By Goldenfist The official plot, at least according to Amazon’s description, goes like this: “Bruce Le’s Greatest Revenge stars action artist Bruce Le as a man … Continue reading →

Posted in Bruceploitation, Chinese, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Bruce Lee’s Secret | aka Story of the Dragon (1976) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Bruce Lee's Secret" US DVD Cover

Director: Chan Wa Co-director: William Cheung Kei Cast: Bruce Li (aka Ho Chung Tao, James Ho), Carter Wong Ka-tat, Hwang Jang-lee, Robert Kerver, Roy Horan, Chin Chi-min, Ng Yin, Lin Hsiao-hu min Running Time: 90 min. By Joseph Kuby A nice slice of friendly Bruceploitation! While this has been viewed as a biographical picture detailing Bruce Lee’s stay in the West, in actuality it’s really more of a spin-off of … Continue reading →

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My Sassy Girl (2001) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona
"My Sassy Girl" Korean Theatrical Poster

AKA: Yupgi Girl; Bizarre Girl Director: Kwak Jae-yong Cast: Jun Ji-Hyun (Chon Ji-Yeon, Jeon Ji-Hyeon, Joon Ji-Hyun, Gianna Jun), Cha Tae Hyun Running Time: 137 min. By Alexander Gyeon-woo, the main character in “My Sassy Girl,” is a slack-jawed, pink sweater-garbed, whiny little bitch. He falls in love with a rubber-faced, knobby-kneed bully who spends much of the film torturing this hapless loser and making decisions that are so bizarre … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , , |
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