Author Archives: JJ Bona

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

Posted on January 18, 2011 by JJ Bona
"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 →

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

Tiger Cage (1988) Review

Posted on January 17, 2011 by JJ Bona
"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 →

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

Where A Good Man Goes (1999) Review

Posted on January 17, 2011 by JJ Bona
"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 →

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

Exclusive: Interview with Robert Lee

Posted on January 17, 2011 by JJ Bona

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 →

Posted in Interviews | Tagged |

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

Posted on January 16, 2011 by JJ Bona
"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 →

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

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

Posted on January 16, 2011 by JJ Bona

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 →

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

Ninja III: The Domination (1984) Review

Posted on January 16, 2011 by JJ Bona
"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 →

Posted in Asian Related, Ninja, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Knock-Off (1998) Review

Posted on January 16, 2011 by JJ Bona
"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 →

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

In Hell | aka The Savage (2003) Review

Posted on January 16, 2011 by JJ Bona
"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 →

Posted in All, Asian Related, Reviews | Tagged , |

Kids Return (1996) Review

Posted on January 16, 2011 by JJ Bona

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 →

Posted in Japanese, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Crows Zero | aka Crows 0 (2007) Review

Posted on January 16, 2011 by JJ Bona

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 →

Posted in Japanese, Reviews | Tagged , |

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

Posted on January 16, 2011 by JJ Bona

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 →

Posted in Japanese, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Audition (1999) Review

Posted on January 16, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Audition" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Takashi Miike Cast: Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Miyuki Matsuda, Renji Ishibashi, Tetsu Sawaki, Jun Kunimura, Toshie Negishi, Ken Mitsuishi, Ren Ohsugi Running Time: 115 min. By Alexander Takashi Miike’s Audition scared the hell out of me. Even though I figured out the “twist” early in the film, and I knew exactly where the story was headed, I was still unprepared for a handful of its shocking scenes and revelations. … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Reviews | Tagged , |

Brother (2000) Review

Posted on January 16, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Brother" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Takeshi Kitano Cast: Takeshi Kitano, Omar Epps, Kuroudo Maki, Masaya Kato, Susumu Terajima, Royale Watkins, Lombardo Boyar, Ren Osugi, Ryo Ishibashi, James Shigeta Running Time: 114 min. By Woody Ignore the critics, this is a great flick. One of Kitano’s best? That’s hard to say. Almost any film pales in comparison to classics like “Hana-bi” and “Sonatine”. Maybe it was my lowered expectations, but I really loved this one. … Continue reading →

Posted in Asian Related, Japanese, Reviews | Tagged , |

No Blood No Tears (2002) Review

Posted on January 16, 2011 by JJ Bona
"No Blood No Tears" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Ryoo Seung-wan Cast: Jeon Do-Yeon, Lee Hye-Young, Jung Jae-Young, Shin Goo, Jung Doo-Hong, Kim Yeong-In, Baek Chan-Ki, Lee Yeoung-Hu, Ryoo Seung-Bum, Kim Soo-Hyun Running Time: 116 min. By Dragon Ma I managed to watch this last night and and it came as complete surprise, I’d heard good things about this film, although mostly people compared it to films like ‘Snatch’ and ‘Pulp Fiction’. The film definitely retains the same … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , , , |
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