Author Archives: JJ Bona

American Ninja (1985) Review

January 16, 2011 JJ Bona
"American Ninja" Theatrical Poster

Director: Sam Firstenberg Cast: Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, Judie Aronson, Tadashi Yamashita, Guich Koock, John Fujioka, Don Stewart, John LaMotta, Tony Carreon Running Time: 95 min. By Owlman Directed by Sam Firstenberg (Revenge of the Ninja, Ninja III: The Domination), this 1985 film starred Michael Dudikoff as Joe Armstrong, an American soldier who has been trained well in the martial arts and uses those skills to fight a band of … Continue reading →

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

Bullet in the Head (1990) Review

January 16, 2011 JJ Bona
"Bullet in the Head" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Jacky Cheung, Waise Lee, Yolinda Yan, Simon Yam, Fennie Yuen, Lam Chung, Yee Tin Hung, Chang Gan Wing, Ernest Mauser Running Time: 118/136 min. By Joseph Kuby The Second Best Film of All Time! (behind Citizen Kane) Many words can describe Bullet in the Head: Excellent! Brilliant! Superb! Splendid! Wonderful! Marvelous! Magnificent! Fantastic! Spectacular! It really is that great! This film is a … Continue reading →

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

Dragons Forever | aka Cyclone Z (1988) Review

January 16, 2011 JJ Bona

Director: Sammo Hung Co-director: Corey Yuen Cast: Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Pauline Yeung, Deannie Yip, Yuen Wah, Benny Urquidez, Philip Ko, Billy Chow, Crystal Kwok, Peter Chan, Roy Chiao, Chin Kar Lok, David Lam, Lo Lieh, Shum Wai, Siu Tak Foo, Tai Bo, James Tien, Dick Wei, Stanley Fung Running Time: 94 min. By Numskull Superb action comedy from the greatest trio of performers ever to grace the … Continue reading →

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

Crime Story | aka Serious Crime Squad (1993) Review

January 16, 2011 JJ Bona
"Crime Story" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Hard to Die Director: Kirk Wong Cast: Jackie Chan, Kent Cheng, Law Kar Ying, Au-Yeung, Christine Ng, William Tuan, Ken Lo, Wan Faat, Poon Ling Ling, Chan Daat Gong, Johnny Cheung, Chung Fat, James Ha, Blacky Ko, Rocky Lai Running Time: 107 min. By Numskull Jackie Chan in a Category III movie? Yes folks, it’s true. What’s more, it’s good. Not Project A good or Police Story good, but … Continue reading →

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

Isabella (2006) Review

January 16, 2011 JJ Bona

After seeing this Isabella’s trailer I couldn’t wait to see the actual movie. Now that I’ve seen it, it’s safe to say that Isabella is a victim of high expectations. The problem with Isabella is director Edmond Pang is trying to be Wong Kar Wai. Plain and simple. Too many forced artsy shots of Chapman To smoking a cigarette or leaning against a slot machine; or just some wannabe artsy angle … Continue reading →

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Awakening (1994) Review

January 16, 2011 JJ Bona

Director: Cha Chuen Yee Writer: Chung Oi-Fan, Rico Chung Kai-Cheong, Lam Kee-To Producer: Cha Chuen-Yee, Rico Chung Kai-Cheong Cast: Anita Lee Yuen Wah, Carman Lee Yeuk Tung, Tam Suk Mui, Anthony Wong Chau Sang, Simon Yam Tat Wah Running Time: 92 min. By Gwailo Simon Yam is a man tormented by the past. He blames con man/feng shui master/sorcerer Anthony Wong for “dragging his wife and kid to death.” In … Continue reading →

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Wild Card (2003) Review

January 16, 2011 JJ Bona

Director: Kim Yu-Jin Writer: Lee Man-Hee Producer: Jang Yun-Hyeon Cast: Jeong Jin-Yeong, Yang Dong-Geun, Han Chae-Yeong, Gi Ju-Bong, Kim Myeong-Guk, Hwang Jun-Yeong, Yu Ha-Bok Running Time: 117 min. By Mighty Peking Man Four psychotic hoods are going around murdering and raping innocent people. Sometimes for money, and other times for pure pleasure… Now, a group of policemen are assigned to the case, particularly detectives Je-su (Dong-kun Yang of Bet On … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, Reviews |

Replacement Killers, The (1998) Review

January 16, 2011 JJ Bona
"The Replacement Killers" Blu-ray Cover

Director: Antoine Fuqua Cast: Chow Yun-Fat, Mira Sorvino, Michael Rooker, Kenneth Tsang, Jürgen Prochnow, Til Schweiger, Danny Trejo, Clifton Collins Jr., Randall Duk Kim Running Time: 87 min. By Numskull I refuse to give this movie a serious review. To do so would be to endow it with a sort of cinematic legitimacy which it does not deserve. The Replacement Killers very well may be the single worst film that Chow … Continue reading →

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Anna and the King (1999) Review

January 16, 2011 JJ Bona

AKA: Anna Director: Andy Tennant Writer: Anna Leonowens, Steve Meerson, Peter Krikes Producer: Lawrence Bender, Ed Elbert Cast: Jodie Foster, Chow Yun-Fat, Bai Ling, Tom Felton, Syed Alwi, Randall Duk Kim, Kay Siu Lim, Melissa Campbell, Deanna Yusoff, Mano Maniam Running Time: 140 min. By James H. When you walk into a film like “Anna & The King”, you expect nothing less than a grand Hollywood epic in the style … Continue reading →

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DOA: Dead or Alive (2006) Review

January 14, 2011 JJ Bona
"DOA: Dead or Alive" American Theatrical Poster

AKA: DOA, Dead or Alive Director: Corey Yuen Cast: Jaime Pressly, Holly Valance, Sarah Carter, Eric Roberts, Devon Aoki, Natassia Malthe, Kane Kosugi, Colin Chou, Robin Shou, Silvio Simac, Matthew Marsden Running Time: 87 min. By Ningen There comes a time in your life when you find out your favorite mainstream director is a hack. For some, that director is James Cameron; for others, it might be Tony Scott; for … Continue reading →

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Assassin, The (1993) Review

January 14, 2011 JJ Bona
"The Assassin" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Billy Chung Siu Hung Cast: Rosamund Kwan Chi-Lam, Max Mok Siu Chung, Zhang Feng Yi, Zhao Jun, Ni Dahong, Cheung Chi Kwong, Diao Xiao-Xiao, Song Ge, Zhang Guang-Bei Running Time: 81 min. By Numskull Ho-hum. Once you’ve stopped flinching from the scene where the main character’s eyelids get sewn shut, you’re not likely to have a very strong reaction to anything else in this movie. And even if you … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Ashes of Time (1994) Review

January 14, 2011 JJ Bona
"Ashes of Time" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Wong Kar Wai Cast: Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Carina Lau, Jacky Cheung, Charlie Young, Siu Tak Foo, Bai Li, Collin Chou Siu Long, Lau Shun, Joey Wong Tsu Hsien Running Time: 91/93/98 min. By Numskull A very poetic multiple-storyline drama featuring a veritable cornucopia of mentally unbalanced and emotionally unstable characters who never make eye contact with … Continue reading →

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

All of a Sudden (1996) Review

January 14, 2011 JJ Bona
"All of a Sudden" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Herman Yau Writer: Chau Ting Cast: Simon Yam, Irene Wan, Alfred Cheung, Dayo Wong Chi Wah, Fong Yue, Peter Ngor, Chang Yin, Lam Chiu Wing, Rico Chung Kai Cheong, Lee Ji-Kei Running Time: 97 min. By Numskull If you like movies that prominently feature leggy Chinese women with big, pointy nipples getting wet and taking their clothes off when they weren’t wearing much in the first place, have I … Continue reading →

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One-Armed Boxer 2, The | aka Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976) Review

January 13, 2011 JJ Bona
"The One-Armed Boxer 2" American Theatrical Poster

Director: Jimmy Wang Yu Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, Kam Kong, Doris Lung Chung Erh, Sham Chin Bo, Lung Fei, Wong Wing Sang, Sit Hon, Lau Kar Wing, Wong Fei Lung, Chui Chung Hei Running Time: 93 min. By Reefer It’s collapsible design, small enough to fit in pocket, would make it the ideal weapon for self-defense, replacing mace and taser guns forever. Imagine. Your wife or mother never again feeling … Continue reading →

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99 Cycling Swords | aka Lung Wei Village (1978) Review

January 13, 2011 JJ Bona
"99 Cycling Swords" American DVD Cover

Director: Tyrone Hsu Tien Yung Cast: Polly Shian Kuan, Yao Hwa, Lo Lieh, Hu Chin, Lung Tien Hsiang Running Time: 91 min. By Numskull I know when I’m beaten. I’ve tried my damnedest. I’ve made a dozen valiant efforts that have invariably ended in failure. I’ve turned it over and over in my head for ages and there’s just no getting around it: Dear reader, it is outside my ability…completely … Continue reading →

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