Author Archives: Z Ravas

20th Century Boys: Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End (2008) Review

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Z Ravas

Director: Yukihiko Tsutsumi Producer: Nobuyuki Iinuma Cast: Toshiaki Karasawa, Etsushi Toyokawa, Takako Tokiwa, Teruyuki Kagawa, Takashi Ukaji, Kuranosuke Sasaki Running Time: 142 min. By HKFanatic 20th Century Boys is a live-action film based off the immensely popular and award-winning manga by Naoki Urasawa, who also created Monster. I’m not familiar with the source material but it must be pretty damn epic – it’s taken three movies, each over 2 hours … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Japanese, News, Reviews |

Colombiana (2011) Review

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Z Ravas

Director: Olivier Megaton Cast: Zoe Saldana, Michael Vartan, Cliff Curtis, Lennie James, Callum Blue, Graham McTavish Running Time: 108 min. By HKFanatic During the past few years, Luc Besson has made the transition from writer/director to writer/producer, creating a stable of Eurotrash action flicks with a rotating set of directors. He’s helped launch the careers of guys like Louis Letterier, who made the transition from The Transporter to big time … Continue reading →

Posted in Asian Related, Reviews | Tagged , |

Chocolate | aka Fury (2008) Review

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Z Ravas
"Chocolate" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Prachya Pinkaew Cast: Yanin Vismitananda, Hiroshi Abe, Pongpat Wachirabunjong, Taphon Phopwandee, Ammara Siripong, Dechawut Chuntakaro, Hirokazu “Hero” Sano, Sirimongkol Singwangcha, Su Jeong Lim Running Time: 92/100 min. By HKFanatic I thoroughly enjoyed the Thai action movie Chocolate when it first came out in 2008, but revisiting it a few weeks ago on blu-ray – with the sound cranked – I think I loved it even more. This is a … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Reviews, Thai | Tagged , |

Soo | aka Art of Revenge (2007) Review

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Z Ravas
"Soo" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Yoichi Sai Ji Jin-Hee, Kang Sung-Yeon, Moon Sung-Geun, Lee Ki-Young, Oh Man-Seok, Jo Kyeong-Hwan, Kim Jun-Bae, Choi Duk-Moon, Choi Jung-Woo, Lee Jae-Gu Running Time: 122 min. By HKFanatic Soo is not a movie I ever hear listed in the same breath as other Korean revenge flicks like Oldboy or A Bittersweet Life. In fact, it’s not a movie that I ever hear listed at all! It’s a shame this … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged |

Pound of Flesh (2015) Review

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Z Ravas
Pound of Flesh | Blu-ray & DVD (Entertainment One)

AKA: Maximum Blood Director: Ernie Barbarash Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Darren Shahlavi, Aki Aleong, John Ralston, Jason Tobin, Philippe Joly, Brahim Achabbakhe, Andrew Ng, Mike Leeder, Adele Baughan Running Time: 104 min. By HKFanatic About two minutes into Pound of Flesh, Jean-Claude Van Damme wakes up in a bathtub full of ice. His skin pallid, his eyes as sunken as a skull’s, he slowly becomes aware of his surroundings. Crawling … Continue reading →

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

Skin Trade (2014) Review

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Z Ravas
"Skin Trade" Theatrical Poster

Director: Ekachai Uekrongtham Producer: Craig Baumgarten, Dolph Lundgren, Mike Selby Cast: Dolph Lundgren, Tony Jaa, Ron Perlman, Michael Jai White, Celina Jade, Peter Weller, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Conan Stevens, Mike Dopud, Tasya Teles, Leo Rano Running Time: 95 min. By HKFanatic Like many action stars of the Eighties, Dolph Lundgren has spent the last fifteen years starring in a reliable stream of direct-to-video titles. Except for a welcome appearance in The … Continue reading →

Posted in Asian Related, News, Reviews, Thai | Tagged , , , , , , |

Typhoon (2005) Review

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Z Ravas

Director: Gwak Gyeong-Taek Writer: Gwak Gyeong-Taek Cast: Jang Dong-Gun, Lee Jeong-Jae, Lee Mi-Yeon, David McInnis, Chatthapong Pantanaunkul Running Time: 124 min. By HKFanatic From the opening of Typhoon, it’s clear that Korea is screwed. A rogue pirate named Sin (Dong-gun Jang) with a grudge against both the North and the South has amassed some weapons-grade plutonium. His big plan is to release it during a typhoon, when the high velocity … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Banquet, The | aka Legend of the Black Scorpion (2006) Review

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Z Ravas
"The Banquet" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Night Banquet Director: Feng Xiaogang Cast: Zhang Ziyi, Ge You, Daniel Wu, Zhou Xun, Huang Xiao Ming, Ma Jing Wu, Chun Hoi Liu, Fan Wei, Li Li, Max Zhang Jin, Aaron Shang, Zeng Qiusheng Running Time: 131 min. By HKFanatic Sometimes a film is less than the sum of its parts. The Legend of the Black Scorpion is a lavishly produced, visually sumptuous period film that brings the story of … Continue reading →

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

City War (1988) Review

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Z Ravas
"City War" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sun Chung Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Ti Lung, Norman Chu, Tien Niu, Lee Ka Ting, Lo Lieh, Teresa Carpio, Michael Chow, Ricky Yi, Mary Hon Lut Lee, John Ladalski, Robin Shou Running Time: 92 min. By HKFanatic City War will likely always hold a fascination for Hong Kong movie buffs, as it’s a vintage heroic bloodshed films featuring the fan favorite pairing of Chow Yun Fat and Ti Lung, … Continue reading →

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

Graveyard of Honor (2002) Review

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Z Ravas
"Graveyard of Honor" DVD Cover

AKA: New Graveyard of Honor Director: Takashi Miike Cast: Narumi Arimori, Yoshiyuki Daichi, Hirotaro Honda, Harumi Inoue, Renji Ishibashi, Goro Kishitani, Takashi Miike, Ryosuke Miki, Yasukaze Motomiya, Mikio Osawa, Daisuke Ryu, Harumi Sone, Shun Sugata Running Time: 131 min. By HKFanatic “A Yakuza without honor isn’t worth sh*t.” So says a Yakuza Godfather towards the end of Graveyard of Honor, and the entire movie puts this notion to the test … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, News, Reviews | Tagged , |

Wild Card | Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Z Ravas

RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2015 Lionsgate presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Wild Card, directed by Simon West (The Expendables 2) and starring Jason Statham. The film is a remake of the 1986 Burt Reynolds movie Heat (No relation to the 1995 Michael Mann movie). When a Las Vegas bodyguard with lethal skills and a gambling problem gets in trouble with the mob, he has one last play… and it’s all … Continue reading →

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles |

Killers (2014) Review

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Z Ravas
"Killers" Theatrical Poster

Director: The Mo Brothers Cast: Kazuki Kitamura, Oka Antara, Rin Takanashi, Luna Maya, Ray Sahetapy, Ersya Aurelia, Epy Kusnandar, Mei Kurokawa, Denden, Motoki Fukami Running Time: 137 min. By HKFanatic Killers generated a great deal of buzz as soon as it was announced. Not only does the movie represent the first time the Indonesian and Japanese film industries have collaborated on a thriller, but movie also boasts a co-production credit from Gareth … Continue reading →

Posted in Indonesian, Japanese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Angel Terminators (1990) Review

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Z Ravas
"Angel Terminators" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Wai Lit Producer: Georges Lai Cast: Sharon Yeung Pan Pan, Kenneth Tsang, Carrie Ng, Michiko Nishiwaki, Alan Chui Chung San, Kara Hui Ying Hung, Cheng Yuen Man, Dick Wei Running Time: 91 min. By HKFanatic Here’s a full admission: I love “girls with guns” movies. Back in the late 80’s and 90’s, this sub-genre of Hong Kong action cinema saw women like Moon Lee and Cynthia Khan kicking and … Continue reading →

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

Falcon Rising (2014) Review

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Z Ravas
"Falcon Rising" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Favela Director: Ernie Barbarash Cast: Michael Jai White, Neal McDonough, Laila Ali, Lateef Crowder, Hazuki Kato, Millie Ruperto, Masashi Odate, Jimmy Navarro, Jazmín Caratini Running Time: 100 min. By HKFanatic Back in May of 2013, the producers of Falcon Rising boldly announced that the film – which hadn’t released a single image yet – would be the beginning of a series of action movies, with 1-2 entries planned for … Continue reading →

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

Beyond Outrage (2012) Review

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Z Ravas
"Beyond Outrage" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Takeshi Kitano Writer: Takeshi Kitano Cast: Beat Takeshi, Tomokazu Miura, Ryo Kase, Akira Nakao, Shigeru Koyama, Toshiyuki Nishida, Sansei Shiomi, Katsunori Takahashi, Fumiyo Kohinata, Yutaka Matsushige, Hideo Nakano, Kenta Kiritani, Hirofumi Arai, Tetsushi Tanaka Running Time: 112 min. By HKFanatic After delivering a modern update on the popular Zatoichi character in 2003, writer/director/actor Takeshi Kitano spent the rest of that decade on a detour into the world of avant … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, News, Reviews | Tagged |
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. ...
  15. 41