Author Archives: JJ Bona

Secret Ninja, Roaring Tiger (1982) Review

"Secret Ninja Roaring Tiger" US DVD Cover

AKA: Justice Of The Ninja Director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Dragon Lee (Mun Kyong-sok), Hwang Jang Lee, Jack Lam, Winnie Lui, Petty Suh, Kon Yit So, Henry Chan, Ku Wah, Liu On Fai, Johnny Kam Running Time: 80 min. By Joseph Kuby One of the best ninja movies of all time! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it’s on par with Ninja In The Dragon’s Den and it certainly doesn’t … Continue reading

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Ballistic Kiss (1998) Review

“Ballistic Kiss” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Donnie Yen Writer: Bey Logan Cast: Donnie Yen, Annie Wu, James Wong Ka-Lok, Simon Lui Yu-Yeung, Yu Rong-Guang, Karen Tong Bo-Yu, Michael Woods, Vincent Kok Tak-Chiu, Andrew Chan Chi-Ho Running Time: 90 min. By Numskull I’m tempted to say “nice try”. If John Woo had only half an ass, he might make a film like this. Cat is a lonesome, depressed assassin who wears goofy-looking sunglasses with rectangular frames. … Continue reading

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Killing Machine, The (1975) Review

"The Killing Machine" Theatrical Poster

Director: Norifumi Suzuki Cast: Sonny Chiba, Yutaka Nakajima, Makoto Sato, Naoya Makoto, Sanae Kitabayashi, Akiko Mori, Akira Oizumi, Hosei Komatsu, Kyoichi Sato, Genji Kawai Running Time: 85 min. By Slaxor The Killing Machine is a fun little Chiba flick. Probably one of my favorites of his and much much better then the overrated chore to sit through that is The Street Fighter. In the movie, Sonny Chiba very loosely portrays … Continue reading

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Mr. Nice Guy | aka Mister Cool (1997) Review

AKA: Superchef Director: Sammo Hung Producer: Chua Lam Cast: Jackie Chan, Miki Lee, Richard Norton, David No, Bradley James Allan, Andy Cheng, Paul Andreovski, Jonathan Isgar, Joe Sayah, Glen Chin, Emil Chau Wa Kin, Joyce Mina Godenzi, Sammo Hung Running Time: 94 min. By Numskull First of all, not since Ronald Reagan left office has there been an action movie with a plot this feeble. Second of all, Sammo Hung: … Continue reading

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Fist of Legend (1994) Review

"Fist of Legend" French DVD Cover

Director: Gordon Chan Cast: Jet Li, Shinobu Nakayama, Chin Siu Ho, Yasuaki Kurata, Paul Chun, Billy Chow, Ada Choi, Yuen Cheung Yan, Jackson Lau, Wong Sun, Derek Cheung Running Time: 98 min. By Dan-O Hyperkinetic. That’s what they’ll call it. Know what I call it? You don’t wanna know what I call it. And I call “IT” the same thing I call remakes. “Who ya gonna call?”. Sorry, I… had … Continue reading

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Black Mask 2: City of Masks (2002) Review

"Black Mask 2: City of Masks" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Tsui Hark Cast: Andy On, Teresa Maria Herrera, Scott Adkins, Tobin Bell, Sean Marquette, Michael Bailey Smith, Tracy Lords, Blacky Ko Sau Leung, Terence Yin Chi Wai, Rob Van Dam, Silvio Simac, Nicola Berwick, Oris Erhuero Running Time: 101 min. By Reefer While searching for a scientist to help him deal with his own genetically-enhanced condition, Black Mask (Andy On) stumbles upon some more rejects of science that come … Continue reading

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Black Mask (1996) Review

"Black Mask" American Theatrical Poster

Director: Daniel Lee Cast: Jet Li, Lau Ching Wan, Karen Mok, Patrick Lung Kong, Françoise Yip, Anthony Wong, Moses Chan Ho, Winston Ellis, Russ Price, Henry Fong Ping, Lawrence Ah Mon, Chung Ging Fai, Hung Yan Yan, Kwan Yung, Deon Lam Dik On, Michael Ian Lambert, Ken Lok, Shut Mei Yee Running Time: 95 min. By Numskull Let it be known, dear reader, that this review is for the uncut … Continue reading

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Beyond Hypothermia (1996) Review

Director: Patrick Leung Pak Kin Cast: Jacqueline Wu Chien Lien, Lau Ching Wan, Hon Choi Sek, Shirley Wong Qui Lee, Ken Choi Kwok Ping, Choi Kwok Keung, Ho Hon Chau, Lam Chi Tai Running Time: 85 min. By Mighty Peking Man The opening sequence of “Beyond Hypothermia” fools the viewers into thinking that it’s just another contender in the countless number of “assassin” films that have been overflowing the industry … Continue reading

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Miracles | aka Mr. Canton and Lady Rose (1989) Review

"Miracles" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Canton Godfather Director: Jackie Chan Cast: Jackie Chan, Rose Gua Ah Leh, Anita Mui Yim-fong, Wu Ma, Michael Chow Man Kin, Fung Hak On, Ricky Hui, Ray Lui, Mars, Richard Ng Yiu-hon, Dick Wei, Gloria Yip Wan-Yee, Kenny Bee, Alan Chan, Anthony Chan Yau Running Time: 125 min. By Reefer Let this film go down as one of Jackie’s best looking films. The cinematography, camera-work, and sets are … Continue reading

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City Hunter (1992) Review

"City Hunter" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Wong Jing Producer: Chua Lam Cast: Jackie Chan, Joey Wong, Leon Lai, Chingmy Yau, Richard Norton, Kumiko Goto, Gary Daniels, Ken Lo, Eric Kot, Jan Lam, Mike Abbott, Louis Roth, Carol Wan, Mike Miller, Cordelia Choi, Donna Chu, Mike Leeder, Mike Abbott Running Time: 88/105 min. By Dan-O About 2 minutes into this movie, I thought to myself, out-loud, “Well OK, this is, uh, different”. I think I can … Continue reading

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Gen-Y Cops | aka Gen-X Cops 2: Metal Mayhem (2000) Review

"Gen-Y Cops" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Benny Chan Cast: Edison Chen, Stephen Fung, Sam Lee, Richard Sun Kwok Ho, Paul Rudd, Maggie Q, Christy Chung, Mark Hicks, Rachel Ngan, Vincent Kok, Cheung Tat Ming, Teresa Maria Herrera, Eric Kot, Anthony Ng, Jude Poyer, Marc Redmond, Ron Smoorenburg, Anthony Wong Running Time: 109 min. By Brmanuk Oh well, I guess for £2 you can’t really complain…or can you? It’s debatable I’m sure but no matter what … Continue reading

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Gen-X Cops (1999) Review

"Gen-X Cops" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Benny Chan Cast: Nicholas Tse, Stephen Fung, Sam Lee, Jaymee Ong, Grace Yip, Eric Tsang, Toru Nakamura, Francis Ng, Daniel Wu, Moses Chan, Bradley James Allan, Vicky Chen, Jeff Kam Chun Man, Wayne Lai Running Time: 113 min. By James H. “Gen-X Cops” is, without a doubt, the most American looking Hong Kong film I have ever seen. Not that that is a bad thing, it just is a … Continue reading

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Guns & Talks (2001) Review

"Guns & Talks" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Jang Jin Cast: Shin Hyun-Joon, Shin Ha-Gyun, Won Bin, Jung Jai-Yung, Jeong Jin-Young Running Time: 123 min By Equinox21 This film is a classic! Though, it took watching it twice to come to that realization. But every time I watch this one, I come to appreciate it even more. The acting is terrific, the comedy is funny, the action is spectacular, and the music is excellent! The movie is … Continue reading

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Versus (2000) Review

"Versus" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Ryuhei Kitamura Cast: Tak Sakaguchi, Kenji Matsuda, Hideo Sakaki, Chieko Misaka, Yuichiro Arai, Minoru Matsumoto, Ryosuke Watabe, Hoshimi Asai, Yukihito Tanikado Running Time: 120 min. By Numskull Hot damn! Evil Dead and Bad Taste meet in-your-face combat like only those bloodthirsty Asian film makers can do it, God bless ’em, with ample doses of anime and Matrix-style visuals thrown in to let the viewer know, without just coming out … Continue reading

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Branded to Kill (1967) Review

"Branded to Kill" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Seijun Suzuki Cast: Jo Shishido, Mari Annu, Mariko Ogawa, Koji Nambara, Isao Tamagawa, Hiroshi Minami Running Time: 91 min. By Milkcan I must say I am very glad to have seen this film. Did it make me a better person? No. Did it teach me things about the cinema I never knew? Well, no. But it did, along with “Super Ninjas”, remind me of how much mindless fun movies … Continue reading

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