-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Newest Comments
on This you can trust: Cameras set to roll in 2027 for ‘King Conan’ starring Arnold SchwarzeneggerAgree. And use Basil Poledouris’ original score as well.
on This you can trust: Cameras set to roll in 2027 for ‘King Conan’ starring Arnold Schwarzenegger“McQuarrie to write”. Please can I make this clear to y’all. JUST USE THE FRI…
on ‘Rush Hour 4’ is moving ahead as director Brett Ratner hitches a ride with President Trump to scout filming locations in Chinathis is just the first step. After Rush Hour 4, Ellison and Trump are going t…
on ‘Rush Hour 4’ is moving ahead as director Brett Ratner hitches a ride with President Trump to scout filming locations in ChinaThat was then…this is now
on Tiger on the Beat 2 (1990) ReviewNot as good as the first film, but it's gained an unfairly bad rep for some r…
on The Ip Man saga continues WITHOUT Donnie Yen? Dennis To in ‘Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend’ coming soon from Well Go USAI love The Legend is Born. I watch it just as much as the Donnie Yen films. I…
on Tiger on the Beat 2 (1990) Reviewif ever I get my hands on either the Shout or eventual Arrow versions I need…
on Return to the living dead! New Poster for Well Go USA’s ‘Colony’ from ‘Train to Busan’ director Yeon Sang HoColony is making its debut in New York. https://deadline.com/2026/05/gianna-j…
on The Ip Man saga continues WITHOUT Donnie Yen? Dennis To in ‘Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend’ coming soon from Well Go USADennis To is the epitome of wasted potential. I really enjoyed his outing in…
on Donald Gibb, the larger than life actor known for ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ and ‘Bloodsport’, dies at 71Rest in peace Donald Gibb You were awesome as Jackson in Bloodsport
on Demon Dancer: Sua/Nara (2026) ReviewThank you! We are very excited to release the finished version!
on Demon Dancer: Sua/Nara (2026) ReviewAny idea when/how this will be released in the US?
on Demon Dancer: Sua/Nara (2026) ReviewGreat and detailed review! Just a single note — we developed the script for D…
on Ready for ultimate kung fu bliss? George Lazenby and Angela Mao’s ‘Stoner’ arriving on Blu-ray from 88 FilmsI remember all these Mao Ying films only available on VCD, still have a bunch…
Author Archives: Z Ravas
Eastern Cherries – First Experiences of Asian Cinema: Japan Edition Part IV
Despite their doors being shuttered over a decade ago, Tower Records is a place that continues to loom large in many consumers’ nostalgic hearts. Don’t believe me? Just watch 2015’s All Things Must Pass, which –– while not a great documentary –– is admirably devoted to preserving the memory of the once great entertainment franchise. For media fans all over the globe, Tower served as a one-stop shop for vinyl … Continue reading
Eastern Cherries – First Experiences of Asian Cinema: Hong Kong & China Edition Part III
By 2002, I’d seen a handful of Hong Kong action movies – mostly John Woo staples like A Better Tomorrow and Miramax’s dubbed Jackie Chan pictures – but it wasn’t until my hand reached for a lonely copy of Tsui Hark’s 2000 gonzo action masterpiece Time & Tide at Blockbuster Video that I truly became a devotee of the genre. To my teenage self, Hark’s surreal blend of audacious camerawork, … Continue reading
Outlaws, The (2017) Review
Director: Kang Yoon-Sung Cast: Ma Dong-Seok, Yoon Kye-Sang, Jo Jae-Yun, Choi Gwi-Hwa, rk Ji-Hwan, Hong Ki-Joon Running Time: 121 min. By Z Ravas I walked away from 2016’s smash hit Train to Busan with a distinct impression that supporting actor Ma Dong-seok had stolen the movie – no small feat in a film about a train full of rabid zombies! Although I’d caught the actor in plenty of parts before, including Kundo: Age of … Continue reading
Battleship Island, The (2017) Review
Director: Ryoo Seung-wan Cast: Hwang Jung-Min, So Ji-Sub, Song Joong-Ki, Lee Jung-Hyun, Kim Soo-Ahn, Kim In-Woo, Kim Joong-Hee, Lee Kyoung-Young, Shin Seung-Hwan, Ahn Se-Ho Running Time: 132 min. By Z Ravas Although director Ryoo Seung-wan has engaged in big-budget spectacle in the recent past – 2013’s The Berlin File felt like the filmmaker’s attempt to top the Bourne trilogy, and long before that he’d dabbled in the superhero (Arahan) and spoof (Dachimawa … Continue reading
Beyond Skyline (2017) Review
Director: Liam O’Donnell Producer: Brothers Strause Cast: Frank Grillo, Bojana Novakovic, Callan Mulvey, Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian, Lindsey Morgan, Betty Gabriel, Antonio Fargas, Samantha Jean Running Time: 105 min. By Z Ravas The idea of producing a sequel to Skyline was initially met with a healthy amount of skepticism, and perhaps for good reason. Despite a drubbing from the critics, the original film proved a financial success way back in 2010 – but that box office … Continue reading
Posted in Asian Related, News, Other Movies, Reviews
Tagged Frank Grillo, Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian
Special Lady, A (2017) Review
Director: Lee An-Gyu Cast: Kim Hye-Soo, Lee Sun-Kyun, Lee Hee-Joon, Choi Moo-Sung, Kim Min-Suk, Oh Ha-Nee, Ahn So-Young, Kwon Yool, Cha Soon-Bae, Sun Wook-Hyun Running Time: 90 min. By Z Ravas Any way you slice it, 2017 was a great year for women in action cinema. Guided by one-half of John Wick’s directing duo, Atomic Blonde saw Charlize Theron once again in full-contact combat mode; even if the film’s poe-faced attitude and unnecessarily confusing espionage plot kept … Continue reading
Danny the Dog | aka Unleashed (2005) Review
Director: Louis Leterrier Cast: Jet Li, Morgan Freeman, Bob Hoskins, Kerry Condon, Andy Beckwith, Scott Adkins, Silvio Simac, Christian Gazio, Michael Ian Lambert, Kazu Patrick Tang Running Time: 133 min. By Z Ravas Supposedly after shooting the particularly bloody Kiss of the Dragon, Jet Li wanted to reteam with French writer/producer Luc Besson for a film that would actually depict the consequences of violence. If that was the case, then they … Continue reading
Death Note (2017) Review
Director: Adam Wingard Cast: Nat Wolff, Lakeith Stanfield, Margaret Qualley, Shea Whigham, Paul Nakauchi, Jason Liles, Willem Dafoe, Jack Ettlinger, Matthew Kevin Anderson, Chris Britton Running Time: 100 min. By Z Ravas The Hollywood remake of Death Note is a project that’s been passed like a hot potato from filmmaker to filmmaker for the better part of a decade. Back in 2011, it looked like Lethal Weapon scribe and Iron Man 3 director Shane Black … Continue reading
Enter the Warrior’s Gate (2016) Review
AKA: Warrior’s Gate Director: Matthias Hoene Cast: Mark Chao, Ni Ni, Uriah Shelton, Dave Bautista, Francis Ng, Sienna Guillory, Ron Smoorenburg, Dakota Daulby, Kara Hui, Dakota Daulby, Zha Ka Running Time: 108 min. By Z Ravas Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a meek and bullied young Anglo kid finds himself transported to a distant world of Chinese mysticism and martial arts, where he teams with a band of powerful … Continue reading
Posted in Asian Related, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Dave Bautista, Francis Ng, Kara Hui, Mark Chao, Ni Ni, Ron Smoorenburg
Female Fight Squad (2016) Review
AKA: Female Fight Club Director: Miguel A. Ferrer Cast: Amy Johnston, Cortney Palm, Rey Goyos, Sean Faris, Dolph Lundgren, Shaun Brown, Levy Tran, Folake Olowofoyeku, Michelle Jubilee Gonzalez, Jeanette Samano, Briana Marin, Chuck Zito Running Time: 90 min. By Z Ravas Hot on the heels of Lady Bloodfight’s Netflix debut, Lionsgate has released Amy Johnston’s other martial arts film, the movie formerly known as Female Fight Club, via On Demand services. Unfortunately for fans of the … Continue reading
Death Fighter | aka White Tiger (2017) Review
Director: Toby Russell Cast: Matt Mullins, Don “The Dragon” Wilson, Cynthia Rothrock, Chiranan Manochaem, Joe Lewis, Jawed El Berni, Gigi Velicitat, Yuhkoh Matsuguchi, Prasit Suanphaka Running Time: 88 min. By Z Ravas The movie once known as White Tiger, now titled Death Fighter, has seen a long and winding road to release. I say this primarily because the film represents the last appearance by Joe Lewis, Karate Champion and friend of Bruce Lee, … Continue reading
Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Reviews
Tagged Cynthia Rothrock, Don "The Dragon" Wilson, Matt Mullins, Toby Russell
Lady Bloodfight (2016) Review
AKA: Lady Bloodsport Director: Chris Nahon Cast: Amy Johnston, Muriel Hofmann, Jenny Wu, Kathy Wu, Jet Tranter, Mayling Ng, Sunny Coelst, Rosemary Vandebrouck, Lisa Cheng Running Time: 100 min. By Z Ravas Ever wonder what happened to Chris Nahon? After helming Kiss of the Dragon – what many fans consider to be one of Jet Li’s best English-language films, if not the best – way back in 2001, the filmmaker chose to keep a relatively low profile … Continue reading
Gun Woman (2014) Review
Director: Kurando Mitsutake Writer: Kurando Mitsutake Cast: Asami, Kairi Narita, Noriaki Kamata, Matthew Floyd Miller, Dean Simone, Tatsuya Nakadai Running Time: 86 min. By Z Ravas It’d be easy for detractors to label 2014’s Gun Woman another case of low-budget sleaze – after all, Japanese AV turned action star Asami spends most of the film’s climax stark naked and drenched in blood – but director Kurando Mitsutake is far too … Continue reading
Tag (2015) Review
Director: Sion Sono Cast: Reina Triendl, Mariko Shinoda, Erina Mano, Yuki Sakurai, Maryjun Takahashi, Sayaka Isoyama, Aki Hiraoka, Ami Tomite, Mika Akizuki, Makoto Kikuchi Running Time: 85 min. By Z Ravas In 2015, Takashi Miike, a filmmaker known for his ceaseless work ethic, eased his output to a relaxed – by his standards – two movies a year. For his part, Love Exposure and Cold Fish director Sion Sono seemed determined to pick up the … Continue reading
Beast with a Gun | aka Mad Dog Killer (1977) Review
AKA: Ferocious Director: Sergio Grieco Cast: Helmut Berger, Richard Harrison, Marisa Mell, Marina Giordana, Luigi Bonos, Ezio Marano, Vittorio Duse, Alberto Squillante, Nello Pazzafini Running Time: 95 min. By HKFanatic Beast with a Gun could loosely be associated with the Poliziotteschi genre (Italian police films) since the hero is a cop, but most of the film’s screentime is devoted to actor Helmut Berger’s crazed bad guy and his violent antics. … Continue reading
Posted in All, Italian, News, Reviews
Tagged Helmut Berger, Richard Harrison, Sergio Grieco
1 Comment