Author Archives: JJ Bona

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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Battle Royale 2: Requiem (2003) Review

Director: Kinji Fukasaku Co-director: Kenta Fukasaku Cast: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Shugo Oshinari, Ayana Sakai, Riki Takeuchi, Natsuki Kato, Ai Iwamura, Masaya Kikawada, Aki Maeda, Takeshi Kitano, Sonny Chiba Running Time: 134 min. By Equinox21 When good ideas go bad. Ok, so I can understand the point of Battle Royale. I loved the first movie. It made sense (in a sadistic sort of way) to have hooligan kids killing each … Continue reading

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Battlefield Baseball (2003) Review

"Battlefield Baseball" International Theatrical Poster

AKA: Battlefield Stadium Director: Yudai Yamaguchi Producer: Ryuhei Kitamura Cast: Tak Sakaguchi, Atsushi Ito, Hideo Sakaki, Shôichirô Masumoto, Akiko Mishiro Running Time: 87 min. By Equinox21 Without knowing anything about the movie Battlefield Baseball, I decided to pick it up (a bootleg, unfortunately, as it’s the only format that’s affordable) only because it was a re-teaming of actor Tak Sakaguchi and producer Ryuhei Kitamura of Versus fame. I was expecting … Continue reading

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Eye, The 2 (2004) Review

Director: Oxide Pang Co-director: Danny Pang Cast: Shu Qi, Eugenia Yuan Lai-Kai, Jesdaporn Pholdee, Phillip Kwok Chun-Fung, Rayson Tan Running Time: 98 min. By Raging Gaijin I have good memories of “The Eye”. I saw in the theatre many years ago but I remember it being an altogether absorbing and chilling horror film. Angelica Lee gave a solid performance, the Pang Brothers’ directing was stylish without being overbearing, and it … Continue reading

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Eye, The (2002) Review

Director: Oxide Pang Co-director: Danny Pang Cast: Angelica Lee, Lawrence Chow, So Yut Lai, Candy Lo Hau-Yam, Ko Yin Ping, Edmond Chen, Ben Yuen, Winson Yip, Chutcha Rujihanon, Pierre Png Running Time: 98 min. By Numskull Much like the well-intentioned but underwhelming Inner Senses, The Eye stays a healthy distance away from the camp where past Hong Kong horror films have traditionally spent their summer vacations and attempts to capture … Continue reading

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Pee Hua Kurd | aka The Beheaded (2002) Review

Director: Komsan Tripong Cast: Thep Phongarm, Theng Therdtherng, Thanisorn Satayamongkol, Note Chernyim, Noppawan Srinikorn, Jaturong Mokjok, Chanis Yaisamer Running Time: 120 min. By Numskull This limp-wristed Thai film (all three of it) seems to be afflicted with the cinematic equivalent of multiple personality disorder. It starts off with a ten minute, Mr. Vampiresque segment in which a sorcerer named Master Gorey visits a graveyard with his three bumbling fuckwit assistants: … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Thai |

Tom Yum Goong | aka The Protector (2005) Review

"Tom Yum Goong" Thai Theatrical Poster

AKA: Warrior King Director: Prachya Pinkaew Cast: Tony Jaa, Petchtai Wongkamlao, Xing Jing, Johnny Nguyen, Nathan Jones, Bongkoj Khongmalai, David Asavanond, Dean Alexandrou, Lateef Crowder, Damian De Montemas, Don Ferguson, Jon Foo, Ron Smoorenburg Running Time: 110 min. By Kioko I’ve been a martial arts fan for over 20 years now. So from the Bruce Lee films, to Jackie Chan, to Jet Li, I have seen most of these trend … Continue reading

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