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on Black Storm (2024) Review"And constraints don’t have to be a hindrance to great art" This reminds me o…
on Sammo Hung and Michelle Yeoh? Count us in! Details for 88 Films’ Blu-ray release of ‘Owl vs. Bumbo’ arriving in OctoberThis one is probably the most C tier of Sammo movies during his imperial phas…
on Shadow’s Edge, The (2025) ReviewYou're right - I've never thought about Maggie but now that you mention it, i…
Author Archives: Martin Sandison
Pistol Opera (2001) Review
Director: Seijun Suzuki Cast: Makiko Esumi, Sayoko Yamaguchi, Kirin Kiki, Mikijiro Hira, Masatoshi Nagase, Kenji Sawada, Hanae Kan, Jan Woudstra, Haruko Kato, Kensaku Watanabe Running Time: 112 min. By Martin Sandison Seijun Suzuki’s 1967 art-yakuza classic Branded to Kill has a hallowed place in movie history. It was deemed too experimental by Nikkatsu, who produced the picture and for whom Suzuki had made many low budget formulaic efforts previously, and … Continue reading
Posted in All, Japanese, News, Reviews
Tagged Seijun Suzuki
Master and the Kid (1978) Review
AKA Shaolin Master and the Kid Director: Lin Fu Ti Cast: Yueh Hua, Man Kong Lung, Violet Pan Yingzi, Philip Ko Fei, Chan Sing, Weng Hsiao Hu, Ho Wai Hung, Shaw Luo Hui, Ngok Yeung, Hu Chin, Leung Kar Yan Running Time: 91 min. By Martin Sandison Lone Wolf and Cub remains one of the most well-regarded comic books and film series to come from Japan. My own love for … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Chan Sing, Leung Kar-Yan (Beardy), Philip Ko Fei, Violet Pan Yingzi, Yueh Hua
7 Commandments of Kung Fu, The (1979) Review
Director: Got Si Ho Cast: Lee Yi Min, Chang Yi, Goo Jing, Lung Fei, Ma Chin Ku, Siu Foo Dau, Ching Kuo Chung, Suen Shu Pau, Cheung Chung Kwai, Cheung Taai Lun, Li Chu-Yong Running Time: 84 min. By Martin Sandison The genres of the Italian western and the classic, traditional kung fu movie have many similarities. They both arose out of a turbulent, massively creative time in their respective … Continue reading
Kung Fu Zohra (2022) Review
Director: Mabrouk El Mechri Cast: Sabrina Ouazani, Ramzy Bedia, Eye Haidara, Tien Shue, Lina Hachani, Matthieu Burnel, Olivia Cote, Ali El Mechri Efira, Franck Ropers, Achref Mazhoud Running Time: 100 min. By Martin Sandison The constantly shifting tones at work in old Hong Kong movies is an aspect that puts off many Western viewers, who are used to consistency and predictability; safety, really. Us lovers of the unpredictable, jarring brilliance … Continue reading
Blonde Fury, The | aka Lady Reporter (1989) Review
Director: Meng Hoi Cast: Cynthia Rothrock, Chin Siu Ho, Meng Hoi, Elizabeth Lee Mei Fung, Roy Chiao, Billy Chow, Ronny Yu Yan Tai, Jeff Falcon, Vincent Lyn, Chung Fat, Tai Bo, Melvin Wong Gam San, Wu Ma, Hsiao Ho, Kwan Yung, James Tien Chun Running Time: 90 min. By Martin Sandison In 1995, when I was 13, I visited my local video shop. Ah, those were the days. How I … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, Golden Harvest, News, Reviews
Tagged Billy Chow, Chin Siu Ho, Cynthia Rothrock, Hsiao Ho, James Tien, Jeff Falcon, Kwan Yung, Melvin Wong Kum-Sum, Meng Hoi, Ronny Yu, Roy Chiao, Vincent Lyn, Wu Ma
Caught in Time (2020) Review
Director: Lau Ho-Leung Cast: Daniel Wu, Wang Qianyuan, Jessie Li, Michelle Wai, Da Li, Yu Xiao, Hu Zi-Cheng, Li Xiao-Chuan, Hung Jun-Jia, Rock Ji Huan-Bo, Dante Pang Yu-Nong Running Time: 95 min. By Martin Sandison Back a decade or so ago Daniel Wu annoyed me. I had seen him in films such as New Police Story and One Night in Mongkok, very good films, and his presence had made me squirm … Continue reading
World of Drunken Master, The (1979) Review
Director: Joseph Kuo Cast: Jack Long, Lee I Min, Chan Wai Lau, Lung Fei, Jeannie Chang Wing Wing, Lung Tien Hsiang, Yu Chung Chiu, Mark Long Kwan Wu, Simon Yuen Siu Tien Running Time: 88 min. By Martin Sandison Around two weeks ago, I received Eureka’s Joseph Kuo boxset through the mail. I know a lot of you readers have received it too. In these heady days of incredible releases, … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Jack Long, Joseph Kuo, Lee Yi Min, Lung Fei, Simon Yuen
Face Behind the Mask, The (1977) Review
Director: Chan Chi Hwa Cast: Hsu Feng, Yueh Hua, Lo Lieh, Woo Kei, Go Ming, Jade Hsu Git, Miu Tin, Sit Hon, Lee Man Tai, Au Lap Bo, Chan Sam Lam, Cheung Chung Kwai Running Time: 90 min. By Martin Sandison During the mid-noughties the DVD market in Europe was still pretty strong, and at this time the irrepressible number one old school kung fu movie expert Toby Russell set … Continue reading
Limbo (2021) Review
Director: Soi Cheang Pou Soi Cast: Gordon Lam, Cya Liu, Mason Lee, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Fish Liew, Sammy Sum, Hanna Chan, Kumer Running Time: 118 min. By Martin Sandison In recent times the news from Hong Kong has gone from sad to devastating, especially for the Hong Kong film fan, as the mainland prepares to bring in a law that will censor films that have a perceived ‘threat to national security’. … Continue reading
From the Highway (1970) Review
Director: Chang Tseng-tse Cast: Peter Yang Kwan, Ingrid Hu Yin Yin, Chui Fook Sang, Suen Yuet, Lee Hung, Yeung Fui Yuk, Lee Man Tai, Ko Fei, Man Man, Chang I Fei, Gam Dai Running Time: 80 min. By Martin Sandison Part of the journey into living in the moment, as far as I can see it, is to admit when someone has more knowledge than you, about the thing you love. … Continue reading
400 Bullets (2021) Review
Director: Tom Paton Cast: Jean-Paul Ly, Andrew Lee Potts, James Warren, Adesuwa Oni, Steven Blades, Spencer Collings, Wayne Gordon, Adam Sina, Thomas Smart, Tina Barnes, Eddie-Joe Robinson, Duncan Holmes, Jimmy ‘The Bee’ Bennett Running Time: 90 min. By Martin Sandison Being a huge fan of Jean Paul Ly, especially the deliriously fun Nightshooters – I look forward to every project he does with excited glee. While working as a stuntman on … Continue reading
No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers (1990) Review
Director: Lucas Lowe Cast: Loren Avedon, Keith Vitali, Joseph Campanella, Rion Hunter, Mark Russo, Luke Askew, David Michael Sterling, Wanda Acuna, Philip Benson, Sherrie Rose Running Time: 101 min. By Martin Sandison Scott Adkins Youtube series Art of Action certainly kept me entertained throughout much of this hellish year, as Adkins interviewed many legendary action filmmakers, such as Richard Norton and Dolph Lundgren. Each revealed how they train, and stories … Continue reading
Posted in All, Asian Related, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Keith Vitali, Keith W. Strangberg, Loren Avedon, Lucas Lowe
Jiu Jitsu (2020) Review
Director: Dimitri Logothetis Cast: Alain Moussi, Frank Grillo, JuJu Chan, Tony Jaa, Nicolas Cage, Marie Avgeropoulos, Rick Yune, Marrese Crump, Eddie Steeples, Tommy Walker, Ryan Tarran Running Time: 102 min. By Martin Sandison From the soaring glories of the most fun David Lynch movie Wild at Heart and John Woo’s exceptionally exciting Face/Off, to the doldrums of the hilariously bad Wicker Man remake, Nicolas Cage just keeps on keepin’ on. … Continue reading
Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Other Movies, Reviews
Tagged Alain Moussi, Dimitri Logothetis, Frank Grillo, JuJu Chan, Marrese Crump, Nicolas Cage, Rick Yune, Tony Jaa
Tribal: Get Out Alive (2020) Review
Director: Matt Routledge Writer: Johnny Walker Cast: Zara Phythian, Ross O’Hennessy, Rachel Warren, Thomas Dodd, Valerie Thomas, Grayson James Matthews, Charlene Aldridge, Kenan Ali Running Time: 86 min. By Martin Sandison As a kid growing up in the UK during the 90’s, I adored Jackie Chan movies. They were my first taste of the vast well that is golden age Hong Kong action cinema. And I certainly wasn’t alone. Thanks … Continue reading
Posted in All, News, Other Movies, Reviews
Tagged Matt Routledge, Ross O'Hennessy, Zara Phythian
American Fighter (2019) Review
Director: Shaun Paul Piccinino Cast: Tommy Flanagan, Sean Patrick Flanery, George Kosturos, Christina Moore, Allison Paige Running Time: 98 min. By Martin Sandison One of the prototype underground fighting films is Hard Times, Walter Hill’s testosterone-fuelled gritty classic with Charles Bronson as the man fallen on tough times who must fight to survive. American Fighter feels much closer to Hard Times than any other recent films in the same genre … Continue reading
Posted in All, News, Other Movies, Reviews
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