Author Archives: Ian Whittle

Shaolin Martial Arts (1974) Review

November 12, 2022 Ian Whittle

Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Chi Kuan Chun, Alexander Fu Sheng, Fung Hak On, Feng Yi, Leung Kar Yan, Gordon Liu, Lau Kar Wing, Johnny Wang Lung Wei, Tino Wong Cheung, Irene Chan Yi Ling, Bruce Tong Yim Chaan, Simon Yuen Running Time: 107 min. By Ian Whittle “I go out and sweat blood to make a swell picture and then the critics and the exhibitors all say, ‘If this picture … Continue reading →

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Tattooed Dragon, The (1973) Review

March 28, 2022 Ian Whittle

Director: Lo Wei Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, Sylvia Chang Ai Chi, Sam Hui Koon Kit, James Tien Chun, Dorian Tan Tao Liang, Lee Kwan, Tong Tin Hei, Pipop Pupinyo, Nai Jia Running Time: 94 min. By Ian Whittle After two less than stellar features lensed in Japan, A Man Called Tiger and Seaman No.7, the Lo Wei/Jimmy Wang Yu/Golden Harvest team finally achieve some success with their third collaboration. In … Continue reading →

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

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) Review

December 28, 2021 Ian Whittle

Director: Kazuki Omori Cast: Kosuke Toyohara, Anna Nakagawa, Megumi Odaka, Katsuhiko Sasaki, Akiji Kobayashi, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Robert Scott Field, Richard Berger, Wataru Fukuda Running Time: 103 min. By Ian Whittle To paraphrase the great Professor Farnsworth: “Never take lessons in not-changing-history from a man who is his own grandpa!” Godzilla vs King Ghidorah is the third film in the Heisei series, following on from The Return of Godzilla (1984) and … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Japanese, News, Reviews |

Challenge of the Tiger (1982) Review

December 15, 2021 Ian Whittle

AKA: Gymkata Killer Director: Bruce Le Starring: Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Richard Harrison, Nadiuska, Hwang Jang-lee, Kong Do, Bolo Yeung Sze, Brad Harris, Dick Randall, Pei Ju-Hua Running Time: 86 min. By Ian Whittle (Note: Every online source I’ve seen says this film is from 1980, which is contradicted by 1982 being mentioned in the dialogue, and a sequence taking place at an event that took place in that … Continue reading →

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

Daggers 8 (1980) Review

November 20, 2021 Ian Whittle

Director: Cheung Sam Co-director: Wilson Tong Starring: Meng Yuen-man, Wilson Tong, Lily Li, Peter Chan Lung, Alan Chui, Cheng Hong-yip, Chan Ming-Wai, Chen Yu-Wei, Billy Chan Wui-Ngai, Yeung Wah Running Time: 90 min.  By Ian Whittle What starts out as another kung fu comedy with slightly too irritating Dean Shek style tomfoolery suddenly turns into something much more complex and intelligent. Meng Yuen-man (The Master Strikes) plays an impulsive kung … Continue reading →

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Seaman No. 7 (1973) Review

June 16, 2021 Ian Whittle

Director: Lo Wei Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, Maria Yi, James Tien Chun, Tien Feng, Han Ying Chieh, Kelly Lee Hoi Lee, Gam Saan, Chin Yuet Sang, Lo Wei, Lam Ching Ying, Ma Man-Chun Running Time: 100 min.  By Ian Whittle I think we’ve found a winner for the Most Underwhelming Kung Fu Movie Title…no wonder the UK VHS was re-named Wang Yu’s Magnificent Fights. For some reason, after a winning … Continue reading →

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

King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) Review

March 30, 2021 Ian Whittle

Director: Ishiro Honda Cast: Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, Yu Fujiki, Ichiro Arishima, Mie Hama, Shoichi Hirose, Haruo Nakajima, Jun Tazaki, Akiko Wakabayashi, Akihiko Hirata Running Time: 97 min. By Ian Whittle The great animator Willis O’Brien remains immortal for his legendary creation King Kong, introduced in 1933 in RKO’s mega-hit film. But that didn’t translate into lots of steady work. O’Brien walked off the rushed “serio-comic phantasy” sequel The Son … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Japanese, Reviews | Tagged |

Revenge of Drunken Master (1981) Review

March 11, 2021 Ian Whittle

Director: Gang Beom-Gu Co-director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Johnny Chan (Wang Dae-wi), Bruce Cheung Mong, Kwon Sung-Young, Eagle Han Ying, Lee Mi-Ji, Han Myeong-Hwan, Kim Ki-Ju, Eom Ju-Hyeon Running Time: 82 min. By Ian Whittle As if all the many weird and wonderful Bruceploitation films weren’t enough, the Koreans (and consequently Asso Asia/Godfrey Ho and Tomas Tang) also tried their hand at JackieChansploitation. Following the cross-over with Dragon Lee; Golden Dragon, … Continue reading →

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

Green Slime, The (1968) Review

January 15, 2021 Ian Whittle

Director: Kinji Fukasaku Cast: Robert Horton, Richard Jaeckel, Luciana Paluzzi, Bud Widom, Ted Gunther, Robert Dunham, David Yorston, William Ross, Gary Randolf, Eugene Vince Running Time: 90 min. By Ian Whittle The late Japanese New Wave director Fukasaku Kinji has a formidable reputation for his many Yakuza classics of the 1970s, his contributions to the Hollywood production Tora! Tora! Tora!, and his latter day masterpiece Battle Royale. He also directed … Continue reading →

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

One-Armed Swordsmen, The (1976) Review

November 19, 2020 Ian Whittle

Director: Jimmy Wang Yu Co-director: David Chiang Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, David Chiang, Lo Lieh, Chang Yi, Liu Meng Yan, Han Ying Chieh, Lung Fei Running Time: 109 min.  By Ian Whittle Given Jimmy Wang Yu’s legendary bad behaviour on sets, and David Chiang’s long feud with Ti Lung, I’d love to have been on the set of this Wang/Chiang team-up, which they produced, directed and starred in. The plot, … Continue reading →

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Fist of Fury Part II (1976) Review

November 4, 2020 Ian Whittle
"Fist of Fury Part II" Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Tso Nam Cast: Bruce Li (aka Ho Chung Tao, James Ho), Lo Lieh, Tien Feng, James Nam Gung Fan, Suen Lam, Philip Ko Fei, Cho Kin, Chan Wai Lau, Lee Kwan, Sit Hon, Jimmy Lee Fong, Shikamura Yasuyoshi, Robert Tai Chi Hsien, To Wai Wo Running Time: 104 min. By Ian Whittle 1976 saw director/producer Lo Wei locate to Taiwan to produce a sequel to his box-office smash … Continue reading →

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

Mulan (1998) Review

September 8, 2020 Ian Whittle
"Mulan" Theatrical Poster

Director: Barry Cook Co-director: Tony Bancroft Cast: Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, BD Wong, Miguel Ferrer, June Foray, James Hong, Pat Morita, George Takei, Soon Tek-Oh, Frank Welker Running Time: 87 min. By Ian Whittle I was a huge Disney fan in the 90s (Beauty and the Beast is among my top 5 films to this day), but for some reason Mulan totally bypassed me until 2014, when I was moved … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Hero, The | aka Rage of the Master (1972) Review

August 26, 2020 Ian Whittle
"The Hero" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Wang Yu the Destroyer Director: Wong Hung Cheung Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, Lee I Min, Lisa Chiao Chiao, Lung Fei, Shan Mao, Cheng Fu Hung, Sit Hon, Cho Kin, Cheung Bing Yuk, Hong Hoi Running Time: 80 min. By Ian Whittle Every once in a while, you will encounter a kung fu film where the English dubbing is so bad it dominates your views of the film. Fearless Hyena, … Continue reading →

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Showdown at the Cotton Mill (1978) Review

August 1, 2020 Ian Whittle
"Showdown at the Cotton Mill" DVD Cover

Director: Wu Ma Cast: Chi Kuan Chun, Dorian Tan Tao Liang, Tong Siu Man, Lee Keung, Fai Wan, Cheung Paang, Chang Chi Ping, Chan Sam Lam, Cheng Sai Gang, Hoh Gong Running Time: 84 min. By Ian Whittle Originally planned as a Chang Cheh production, part of his Chang’s Film Co productions for Shaws, this ended up becoming orphaned when the company collapsed. It’s the third version of the story … Continue reading →

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My Life’s on the Line | aka 60 Second Assassin (1978) Review

June 26, 2020 Ian Whittle

AKA: 60 Second Assassin Director: Wang Chung Kwong Cast: Leung Kar Yan, Lung Fei, Wang Lee-pang, Dean Shek Tien, Wong Chi Sang, Kong Ching Ha, Su Chen Ping, Chiang Ching-Hsia, Li Long-Yin Running Time: 91 min. By Ian Whittle The problem with the kung fu comedy craze is that it often meant dramatic films felt forced to compromise, inserting goofy scenes alongside the drama. A case in point is My … Continue reading →

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