Author Archives: Z Ravas

Shaolin Temple 3 | aka Martial Arts of Shaolin (1986) Review

"Martial Arts of Shaolin" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Shaolin North & South Director: Lau Kar-leung Cast: Jet Li, Wong Chau Yin, Hu Jian Qiang, Yu Cheng Hui, Yu Hai, Sun Jian Kui, Ji Chun Hua, Mak Wai Cheung, Wong Kwong-Kuen, Hu Mei-Jie Running Time: 89 min. By HKFanatic Released in 1986, “Martial Arts of Shaolin” is the latest era Shaw Brothers film I’ve yet to see. I’m not an expert on the Shaw Brothers like many City … Continue reading

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Magnificent Seven, The (1960) Review

Director: John Sturges Writer: William Roberts, Walter Newman, Walter Bernstein Producer: John Sturges Cast: Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, James Coburn, Brad Dexter, Horst Buchholz Running Time: 128 min. By HKFanatic Even now, 50 years later, the debate rages on: “Seven Samurai” or “The Magnificent Seven”? Of course, there’s no reason that film fans can’t enjoy both. But I say if you’re a red-blooded American … Continue reading

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September 6, discover A Horrible Way to Die

Forget everything you’ve ever seen in a serial killer movie and get ready for the chiller that stunned festival audiences around the world. Officially selected by such prestigious film festivals as Sitges, the Toronto International Film Festival, and Fanatastic Fest.Named one of Movieline’s Most Anticipated Films of 2011, Anchor Bay Films releases the atmospheric thriller A Horrible Way to Die September 6th on blu-ray and DVD. Officially selected by such … Continue reading

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Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown (2011) Review

"Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown" DVD Cover

Director: Michael Jai White Cast: Michael Jai White, Evan Peters, Alex Meraz, Dean Geyer, Todd Duffee, Scott Epstein, Jillian Murray, Lyoto Machida, Eddie Bravo,  John McCarthy Running Time: 99 min. By HKFanatic Michael Jai White’s been paying his dues in the movie industry for awhile now – he donned the billowy red cape of the titular hero in 1997’s “Spawn” and spin-kicked Jean Claude Van Damme’s ass through several sheets … Continue reading

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Dusting off cinematic oddities on Netflix Instant

The New York Times has a great article about the obscure cinematic curiosities that hardcore cinephiles may want to dig up on Netflix Instant and Hulu, including the 105-minute cut of Edgar G. Ulmer’s 1949 film noir “Ruthless” and Richard Sale’s 1955 “Gentlemen Marry Brunettes” (in HD, no less). Read the article here.

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Michael Jai White delivers The Beatdown on September 13

Featuring more thrilling and jaw dropping fight sequences than the original; Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown hits Unrated DVD September 13th from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Starring America’s number one martial arts action star Michael Jai White (Black Dynamite, Blood and Bone) in his directorial debut, Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown returns to the adrenaline-pumped underground world of MMA fighting, as a group of four college-aged fighters must … Continue reading

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Blitz (2011) Review

Director: Elliott Lester Writer: Ken Bruen, Nathan Parker Cast: Jason Statham, Paddy Considine, Aidan Gillen, David Morrissey, Zawe Ashton, Luke Evans, Mark Rylance Running Time: 97 min. By HKFanatic “Blitz” is a 2011 police thriller starring Jason Statham and represents the first production effort from Lionsgate UK. While the film secured a theatrical release in the United Kingdom, it went straight to DVD and blu-ray in North America. After watching … Continue reading

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Italian Crime Comes to Netflix Instant

We may be bemoaning their 60% price increase but at least Netflix is steadily adding genre films to their streaming catalog, including some “Poliziotteschi” movies. During the 1960’s and 1970’s, Italian directors popularized Italian crime and police films which were later nicknamed Poliziotteschi movies. What these flicks lacked in finesse they made up for with “mucho gusto”: they were all about tough-talking cop or vigilante protagonists, dangerous stunt work, tense … Continue reading

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Wong Jing goes on a Treasure Hunt to find a good movie

The Malay Mail has an early look at the loved and hated director Wong Jing’s latest effort, “Treasure Hunt.” The film appears to be a family adventure picture and represents a comeback attempt for actress Cecillia Cheung after a sex photo scandal hurt her film career. There’s also a cameo appearance from Lucas Tse, her child with Nicholas Tse. The reviewer says: …Treasure Hunt bears a close resemblance to the … Continue reading

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Cold Fish (2010) Review

Cold Fish DVD (Salient)

Director: Sion Sono Cast: Makoto Ashikawa, Denden, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Asuka Kurosawa, Megumi Kagurazaka Running Time: 145 min. By HKFanatic Japanese director Sion Sono first caught the attention of the international film community with 2001’s “Suicide Club,” a movie that remains a J-horror cult classic, notorious for its opening scene in which a cadre of schoolgirls leap in front of an oncoming train. Since then Sion Sono has been putting out … Continue reading

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Big Racket, The (1976) Review

"The Big Racket" Italian Theatrical Poster

Director: Enzo G. Castellari Cast: Fabio Testi, Vincent Gardenia, Renzo Palmer, Orso Maria Guerrini, Glauco Onorato, Marcella Michelangeli, Romano Puppo, Antonio Marsina Running Time: 106 min. By HKFanatic Two years after “Street Law,” director Enzo G. Castellari returned to the Poliziotteschi genre, or Italian police films, with “The Big Racket.” This time around the main character is actually a cop (played by Fabio Testo) instead of a vigilante. Italian horror … Continue reading

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Street Law | aka The Anonymous Avenger (1974) Review

AKA: The Citizen Rebels, Vigilante II Director: Enzo G. Castellari Cast: Franco Nero, Giancarlo Prete, Barbara Bach, Renzo Palmer, Nazzareno Zamperla, Romano Puppo Running Time: 105 min. By HKFanatic Following my review of “Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man“, I continue my exploration of the “Poliziotteschi” genre, or Italian police films from the 1970’s, with “Street Law.” Much like “Live Like a Cop…” this film opens with a … Continue reading

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Nowhere to Run (1993) Review

Nowhere to Run Blu-ray (Image)

Director: Robert Harmon Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rosanna Arquette, Kieran Culkin, Tiffany Taubman, Ted Levine, Edward Blatchford, Anthony Starke, Joss Ackland, Tony Brubaker Running Time: 94 min. By HKFanatic Jean Claude Van Damme released two films in 1993: “Nowhere to Run” in January and “Hard Target” in August. Although Van Damme got to show off his muscles in both movies, the two couldn’t be more different from each other. Say … Continue reading

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All Outta Bubblegum Presents: Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Hard Target Uncensored

In celebration of our “Hard Target” retrospective review, we’ve got a special treat for you die-hard John Woo fans. Movie blog All Outta Bubblegum is famous for tallying just how many bad guys the hero kills in our favorite action movies. On their “Hard Target” page, they have a video of Jean Claude Van Damme’s kills in the uncut version of the film. Their video is pieced together from the … Continue reading

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Hard Target (1993) Review

"Hard Target" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lance Henriksen, Arnold Vosloo, Yancy Butler, Kasi Lemmons, Chuck Pfarrer, Wilford Brimley, Robert Pavlovich Running Time: 97 min. By HKFanatic Considering how much time has passed since its theatrical run and the fact that John Woo has gone on to become a Hollywood superstar, it’s easy to forget that “Hard Target” was a contentious film upon its release. Several factors were working against … Continue reading

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