Author Archives: Z Ravas

Operation Hadal (2025) Review

Director Dante Lam must possess one of the most varied filmographies in all of moviedom; just glancing at his body of work reveals the shifting commercial film trends in Hong Kong and China over the last 30 years. The great tragedy of his career might be that he wasn’t born a decade or so earlier, because you sense the man could have reliably turned out one epic pistol opera after … Continue reading

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The Furious (2026) Review

It’s been a problem for at least a decade now that Hollywood doesn’t sincerely know how to market a stylish new action movie, particularly one out of Asia, without resorting to lazy comparisons like ‘It’s the next John Wick!’ or ‘It’s the next Raid!’ We’re seeing this same tactic play out now as Lionsgate tries to convince regular armchair Americans, the kind who don’t peruse websites like City on Fire … Continue reading

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Mortal Kombat II (2026) Review

You just know New Line was like, “we gotta get this out on VOD before The Furious hits theaters on Friday!” Which is my cheeky way of saying the fights in Mortal Kombat II are not very good, a truth that is made all the more glaring by the knowledge that choreographer Kensuke Sonomura and director Kenji Tanigaki are likely about to reshape the genre this weekend with their latest … Continue reading

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Battle Wizard (1977) Review

"Battle Wizard" Poster

Director: Pao Hsueh Lieh Cast: Danny Lee Sau-Yin, Tien Ni, Lin Chen-Chi, Shih Chung-Tien, Chiang Tao, Keung Hon, Wai Wang, Si Wai, San Shu-Wa, Gam Lau, Teresa Ha Ping Running Time: 77 min. By Z Ravas In which the bad guy’s master plan is to feed the hero to a captive gorilla…because the hero has already drank the blood of the mythical snake creature known as the Red Python, granting … Continue reading

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Contour (2006) Review

Director: Eric Jacobus Cast: Eric Jacobus, Dennis Ruel, Ed Kahana, Andy Leung, Tyler Wang, Stephen Reedy, Donovan McKendrick, Vlad Rimburg, Tracy Butcher, Steven Yu Running Time: 100 min. By Z Ravas Contour is a 2006 independent martial arts comedy set in San Francisco, created by writer/director/producer/editor Eric Jacobus and his cohort of fellow martial artists and stunt performers who cheekily dub themselves The Stunt People. Prior to this recent rewatch, I … Continue reading

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Infiltrate (2026) Review

Director: James Mark Cast: Orphée Ladouceur-Nguyen, Alain Moussi, Tim Rozon, Mitra Suri, Lisa Berry, Jonathan Goad, Jeff Yung, Paul Braunstein, Jason Cavalier, Phi Huynh Running Time: 93 min.  By Z Ravas Canadian stuntman-turned-director James Mark has carved himself a reliable niche in the indie action space. He first made waves with 2017’s Kill Order, a compact Direct to Video effort that doubled as a 70-ish minute stunt demo reel for … Continue reading

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Tiger on the Beat 2 (1990) Review

Director: Lau Kar Leung Cast: Danny Lee Sau Yin, Conan Lee Yuen-Ba, Ellen Chan, Roy Cheung, John Cheung, Chim Bing Hei, Norman Chu, Maria Cordero, Mark Houghton, Phillip Ko, Gordon Liu, Mai Te-Lo, James Wong, Xiong Xin Xin Running Time: 94 min. By Z Ravas Producer A: Hey, we’re doing a sequel to Tiger on the Beat, but Chow Yun-fat doesn’t want to come back. What should we do? Producer B: Just get … Continue reading

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Hard Redemption (2026) Review

Director: Jino Kang Co-director: Christine Lam Cast: Jino Kang, Lou Ferrigno, David Kurzhal, Jessie Pettit, James Aaron Oh, Mikaila Maei Running Time: 88 min. By Z Ravas It’s ‘Die Hard in a school’ starring Jino Kang! You know Jino Kang…right? The writer/director/star of such Direct to Video martial arts efforts as Fist 2 Fist and Fist 2 Fist 2: Weapon of Choice? …no? Well, that’s okay, Hard Redemption also offers … Continue reading

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Dragon Tiger Gate (2006) Review

Director: Wilson Yip Cast: Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue, Dong Jie, Li Xiaoran, Yu Kang, Chen Kuan-tai, Yuen Wah, Wong Yuk-long, Sheren Tang, Xing Yu Running Time: 94 min. By Z Ravas I hadn’t seen Dragon Tiger Gate since it was new on DVD in 2007. It was released on disc in the States by Tai Seng, by the way, just in case you want a reminder of how … Continue reading

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Super Inframan, The (1975) Review

Director: Hua Shan Cast: Danny Lee, Wang Hsieh, Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Yuan Man-Tzu, Terry Lau Wai-Yue, Dana, Lin Wen-Wei, Chiang Yang, Lu Sheng, Fanny Leung  Running Time: 88 min.  By Z Ravas As someone who grew up collecting an inordinate amount of comic books, it’s seemed strange to me that I’ve spent the last several years completely disinterested in what’s happening in the superhero movie space; but a … Continue reading

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Timur (2025) Review

Director: Iko Uwais Cast: Iko Uwais, Aufa Assagaf, Macho Hungan, Andri Mashadi, Yusuf Mahardika, Yasamin Jasem, Prabowo Subianto, Jimmy Kobogau, Bizael Tanasale Running Time: 101 min.  By Z Ravas It’s surprising that Iko Uwais’ 2025 directorial debut Timur dropped Stateside on VOD this week with little to no fanfare. One might lay the blame on the film’s North American distributor, Cineverse, for not utilizing social media to hype the movie’s … Continue reading

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Shaolin Plot, The (1977) Review

Director: Huang Feng Cast: Chan Sing, James Tien, Sammo Hung, Wang Ho, Guan Shan, Wang Hsieh, Chin Kang, Best Kwon Yeong-Moon, Wong Fung, Yuan Shen, Mang Hoi Running Time: 110 min.  By Z Ravas On his journey to stardom, Sammo Hung spent much of the 1970’s serving as a fight choreographer on Golden Harvest martial arts efforts such as Hapkido and Hand of Death, often stepping into supporting villain roles … Continue reading

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Silent Rage (1982) Review

Director: Michael Miller Cast: Chuck Norris, Ron Silver, Steven Keats, Toni Kalem, William Finley, Brian Libby, Stephen Furst, Joyce Ingle, Jay De Plano, Lillette Zoe Raley, Mike Johnson Running Time: 100 min. By Z Ravas Can I just say that I love the idea that someone went to see John Carpenter’s Halloween in 1978 and said, “That was great, the only thing it was missing was Chuck Norris!” Yes, I’ve … Continue reading

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Dogora (1964) Review

Director: Ishiro Honda Cast: Yosuke Natsuki, Yoko Fujiyama, Hiroshi Koizumi, Nobuo Nakamura, Robert Dunham, Akiko Wakabayashi, Jun Tazaki, Seizaburo Kawazu Running Time: 83 min.  By Z Ravas While watching those classic Godzilla movies where hundreds of civilians are fleeing the city due to an imminent kaiju attack, did you ever think about how there are detectives down on those streets who still have cases their bosses expect them to solve, … Continue reading

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Mexicali (2026) Review

Director: Luke LaFontaine Cast: Bren Foster, Tania Raymonde, Plutarco Haza, Kris Van Damme, Louis Mandylor Running Time: 99 min.  By Z Ravas Mexicali is a movie that knows precisely what its audience wants and decides to give it to them without delay. It’s been two short years since Bren Foster broke out on the international action scene with Life After Fighting, and the filmmakers behind Mexicali understand that fans are … Continue reading

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