Author Archives: Z Ravas

Fifth Cord, The (1971) Review

"The Fifth Cord" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Luigi Bazzoni Producer: Manolo Bolognini Cast: Franco Nero, Silvia Monti, Rossella Falk, Edmund Purdom, Maurizio Bonuglia, Pamela Tiffin Running Time: 90 min. By HKFanatic Barely five minutes into The Fifth Cord and Franco Nero’s character is swigging back a bottle of J&B behind the wheel of an automobile. So I had a feeling this was going to be a good giallo, and for the most part I was right. … Continue reading

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Deep Red (1975) Review

Deep Red Blu-ray/DVD (Blue Underground)

Director: Dario Argento Cast: Macha Meril, David Hemmings, Daria Nicolodi, Gabriele Lavia, Giuliana Calandra, Glauco Mauri, Clara Calamai, Piero Mazzinghi, Glauco Mauri, Aldo Bonamano Running Time: 126 min. By HKFanatic I consider myself a massive fan of Italian horror and, specifically, director Dario Argento. That said, I’ve never felt that Deep Red (released as Suspiria 2 in Japan) was the masterpiece that many claim it is. So maybe that makes … Continue reading

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White Storm, The | aka Cartel War (2013) Review

"The White Storm" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Metamorphosis Director: Benny Chan Cast: Louis Koo, Nick Cheung, Lau Ching Wan, Yolanda Yuan Quan, Lo Hoi Pang, Alex Fong Lik Sun, Berg Ng Ting Yip, Hou Yong, Elanne Kong, Ken Lo Running Time: 140 min. By HKFanatic It might sound hard to believe now, but there was a time when director Benny Chan was considered a great hope for Hong Kong cinema. Halfway through the Nineties, when other … Continue reading

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Crank 2: High Voltage (2009) Review

"Crank: High Voltage" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Mark Neveldine Co-director: Brian Taylor Cast: Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Clifton Collins, Jr., Efren Ramirez, Bai Ling, David Carradine, Dwight Yoakam, Corey Haim, Keone Young, Art Hsu Running Time: 95 min. By HKFanatic I used to wonder what a film directed by video game auteur Suda51 (No More Heroes) would look like. Then I saw Crank 2: High Voltage and wondered no more. With High Voltage, writer/director team Mark … Continue reading

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Zebraman (2004) Review

"Zebraman" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Takashi Miike Cast: Show Aikawa, Kyoka Suzuki, Teruyoshi Uchimura, Yui Ichikawa, Koen Kondo, Naoki Yasukochi, Makiko Watanabe, Keisuke Mishima, Yu Tokui, Yoji Tanaka Running Time: 115 min. By HKFanatic With the massive success of 2010’s 13 Assassins it’s easy to forget that, oh, just a year ago director Takashi Miike was more well known for his typically surreal cinema efforts, which have included such feats as a woman shooting … Continue reading

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

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

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Colombiana (2011) Review

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

"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

"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

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Pound of Flesh (2015) Review

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

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Skin Trade (2014) Review

"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

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Typhoon (2005) Review

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

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

"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

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City War (1988) Review

"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

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Graveyard of Honor (2002) Review

"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

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