Author Archives: JJ Bona

Too Many Ways to Be Number One (1997) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Wai Ka-Fai Producer: Johnnie To Cast: Lau Ching-Wan, Francis Ng, Carman Lee, Ruby Wong, Cheung Tat-Ming, Tsui Kam-Kong, Joe Cheng, Matthew Chow, Sung Boon-Chung Running Time: 90 min. By Joe909 This was the first Milkyway Image movie I saw, and it’s still one of their very best. Hong Kong movies are known for being fast-paced, but Too Many Ways is faster-paced than most. The ideas, plots, and crazed situations … Continue reading →

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

Bittersweet Life, A (2005) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
"A Bittersweet Life" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Ji-woon Producer: Lee Yu-Jin Cast: Lee Byung-Hun, Kim Young-Cheol, Shin Mina, Hwang Jeong-Min, Kim Roi-Ha, Oh Dal-Su, Vadim, Eric, Kim Hae-Gon, Lee Mu-Young, Jin Gu Running Time: 120 min. By Iuxion A Bittersweet Life is pretty much a cardboard cutout example of how to make an entertaining gangster film, Korean or not. Lee Byung Hun shines in the lead as a hitman who is betrayed by his boss … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Storm Warriors DVD (Lions Gate)

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona

RELEASE DATE: February 15, 2011 Based on the comic book series “Fung Wan” and directed by the Pang Brothers comes the incredible story of two friends, Wind and Cloud, who find themselves up against a very powerful warlord intending to invade their country. In order to protect their land, these two friends seek the help of the all-powerful master. Through extensive training, Wind and Cloud expose themselves to the “evil” … Continue reading →

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

Island on Fire | aka The Prisoner (1990) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
Island of Fire (1990) Review aka The Prisoner

AKA: Island of Fire Director: Chu Yen Ping Cast: Jackie Chan, Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Samo Hung Kam-Bo, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Jimmy Wang Yu, Tao Chung Hwa, Ko Chun Hsiung, Rachel Cheung Shui-Chuk Running Time: 92/100 min. By Alvin George “The Prisoner” (aka “Island of Fire”) is a considerably better movie than its reputation might suggest. Jackie Chan did this movie in the early ’90s as a favor to Jimmy Wang … Continue reading →

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

To Kill A Jaguar (1977) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
"To Kill A Jaguar" Hong Kong Theatrical Poster

Director: Wa Saan Producer: Sir Run Run Shaw Cast: Chung Wa (Tsung Hua), Lau Wing (Liu Yung), Nora Miao, Siu Yam Yam (Shaw Yin-Yin), Ling Yun, Johnny Wang (Lung Wei), Fan Mei Sheng, Chan Shen, Gam Lau Running Time: 90 min. By Mighty Peking Man To Kill A Jaguar is, first and foremost, a drama-love-story-gangster tale. Even though there’s enough action for it to qualify as a straight up kung … Continue reading →

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

Taxi Driver, The (1975) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
"The Taxi Driver" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Pao Hsueh Lieh Cast: David Chiang, Wang Chung, Lam Jan Kei (Lin Chen-Chi), Danna, Yen Shi Kwan Running Time: 94 min. By Mighty Peking Man In Taxi Driver, David Chiang plays a mentally unstable Vietnam war veteran who works as nighttime taxi driver in a city whose perceived decadence and sleaze feeds his urge to violently lash out, attempting to save a teenage prostitute in the process… Just kidding. … Continue reading →

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

Snake of June, A (2002) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
"A Snake of June" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Shinya Tsukamoto Cast: Asuka Kurosawa, Yuji Kohtari, Shinya Tsukamoto, Masato Tsujioka, Susumu Terajima Running Time: 77 min. By Raging Gaijin It’s no secret that the Japanese people are repressed. And we all know that when a society represses its deepest, darkest urges, they don’t actually go away. No, they remain just below the surface and ready to break through at any moment. Or at the very least they’re filtered … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Japanese, News, Reviews | Tagged |

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 →

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

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 →

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

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 →

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

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 →

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

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 , |
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