Author Archives: Z Ravas

A Better Jianghu (2026) Review

October 21, 2026 Z Ravas

The popular Chinese streaming service iQIYI makes the first six minutes of each of its films available for free on its website, which inclines most iQIYI filmmakers to include a rip-roaring action sequence within the initial few minutes of a movie in order to hook a casual viewer’s interest. A Better Jianghu doesn’t really do that; sure, there’s a bit of a chase sequence early on, but director Liu Wenpu … Continue reading →

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Scavenger, The (2026) Review

October 2, 2026 Z Ravas

If you’ve caught Liu Fengchao as a superkicker villain in recent action films like Black Storm and Wings of Dread on the Chinese streaming service iQIYI, chances are you’d be eager to see the award-winning Wushu athlete receive his own starring vehicle. Well, we’ve got a bit of a Monkey’s Paw situation here, because 2026 brings the release of an action-packed modern day thriller in which Liu Fengchao’s martial arts … Continue reading →

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Thai Fighters (2026) Review

September 19, 2026 Z Ravas

Fair warning, I am absolutely overrating Thai Fighters by a fair margin simply because, well, it’s been so damn long since we’ve seen a Thai martial arts movie! Not counting Tony Jaa’s endeavors in the Chinese market such as Striking Rescue, the last time I can really remember sitting down for a bonafide Muay Thai action flick would have to be 2014’s Vengeance of an Assassin, which not-so-coincidentally was the … Continue reading →

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Operation Hadal (2025) Review

June 18, 2026 Z Ravas

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

June 13, 2026 Z Ravas

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

June 11, 2026 Z Ravas

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

June 9, 2026 Z Ravas
"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

June 2, 2026 Z Ravas

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

May 22, 2026 Z Ravas

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

May 14, 2026 Z Ravas

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

May 8, 2026 Z Ravas

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

May 6, 2026 Z Ravas

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

April 25, 2026 Z Ravas

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

April 9, 2026 Z Ravas

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

April 7, 2026 Z Ravas

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 →

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