Author Archives: JJ Bona

Kiss of the Dragon (2001) Review

"Kiss of the Dragon" American Theatrical Poster

Director: Chris Nahon Cast: Jet Li, Bridget Fonda, Tcheky Karyo, Laurence Ashley, Burt Kwouk, John Forgeham, Colin Prince, Max Ryan, Cyril Raffaelli, Didier Azoulay, Vincent Glo, Ric Young, Vincent Wong Running Time: 98 min. By Mairosu Liu Jian (Jet Li) is a top drawer Chinese cop, and also a master acupuncturist (yes, sounds silly, I know). He is summoned from China to help the local DEA bust a Chinese drug … Continue reading

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Maximum Risk | aka Bloodstone (1996) Review

"Maximum Risk" Japanese DVD Cover

AKA: The Exchange Director: Ringo Lam Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Natasha Henstridge, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Zach Grenier, Paul Ben-Victor, Frank Senger, Stefanos Miltsakakis, Frank Van Keeken, David Hemblen, Stéphane Audran Running Time: 100 min. By James H. I swear, Van Damme must have a curse on him. This curse gives bad luck to all involved with his movies. This curse has struck acclaimed Hong Kong film director Ringo Lam. It happened … Continue reading

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One, The (2001) Review

"The One" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: James Wong Cast: Jet Li, Delroy Lindo, Carla Gugino, Jason Statham, James Morrison, Dylan Bruno, Richard Steinmetz, Dean Norris, Harriet Sansom Harris, Archie Kao Running Time: 96 min. By Joe909 Basically this movie is nothing more than “The Highlander” meets your basic comic book/parallel universe plot. The acting’s stiff at times and there’s no character development to speak of, but still, I had a good time watching it. The … Continue reading

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Romeo Must Die (2000) Review

"Romeo Must Die" American Theatrical Poster

Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak Cast: Jet Li, Aaliyah, Isaiah Washington, Russell Wong, DMX, Delroy Lindo, Henry O, D.B. Woodside, Jon Kit Lee, Anthony Anderson, Francoise Yip Running Time: 115 min. By Numskull Once upon a time (though presumably not in China), someone said, “Let’s take someone who has sold a lot of records but has never starred in a movie and team her up with the bad guy from Lethal Weapon … Continue reading

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Cradle 2 the Grave (2003) Review

"Cradle 2 the Grave" Blu-ray Cover

Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak Producer: Joel Silver Cast: Jet Li, DMX, Gabrielle Union, Tom Arnold, Anthony Anderson, Mark Dacascos, Kelly Hu, Drag-On, Paige Hurd, Johnny Tri Nguyen, Ron Yuan, Michael Jace, Daniel Dae Kim, Arnold Chon Running Time: 100 By Numskull I’m one of those people who stays in the theater after the closing credits start rolling. I want to see if they put in some little scene at the end. Usually, … Continue reading

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Paycheck (2003) Review

"Paycheck" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Cast: Ben Affleck, Uma Thurman, Aaron Eckhart, Paul Giamatti, Colm Feore, Michael C. Hall, Peter Friedman, Kathryn Morris, Ivana Milicevic, John Cassini Running Time: 110 Min. By Numskull Paycheck. It’s so bad, the bank won’t cash it. John Woo, apparently still desperate to show the world that he can direct stuff other than straightforward action films (Windtalkers didn’t get it out of his system), does a sucky … Continue reading

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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

"Yellow River Fighter" American DVD Cover

AKA: Swordsman of the Yellow River Director: Cheung Sing Yim 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 China which chronicles the exploits of one Ma Yi, badass … 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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