-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Newest Comments
on Black Storm (2024) ReviewSpeaking of co-finnancing from China, I felt the urge to rewatch The Edge of…
on Black Storm (2024) Review"And constraints don’t have to be a hindrance to great art" This reminds me o…
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
I Am Vengeance: Retaliation (2020) Review
Director: Ross Boyask Writer: Ross Boyask Cast: Stu Bennett, Vinnie Jones, Jacob Anderton, Sam Benjamin, Lainy Boyle, Greg Burridge, Lee Charles, Jean-Paul Ly, Jennifer Lee Moon Running Time: 90 min. By Martin Sandison A year or so ago I reviewed the fantastic Nightshooters, a film I believe to have the best martial arts fights in any British movie, courtesy of rising star Jean Paul Ly. With us all eagerly anticipating … Continue reading
Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Other Movies, Reviews
Tagged Jean-Paul Ly, Lee Charles, Ross Boyask, Stu Bennett
Iron Mask, The | aka The Mystery of Dragon Seal (2019) Review
AKA: Viy 2: Journey to China Director: Oleg Stepchenko Cast: Jason Flemyng, Charles Dance, Rutger Hauer, Jackie Chan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Helen Yao, Martin Klebba, Christopher Fairbank, Igor Jijikine Running Time: 124 min. By Martin Sandison When I was a kid my parents didn’t allow me to watch violent movies; they wanted to protect me from the horror of the world, I guess. But I was allowed to watch Jackie Chan … Continue reading
Posted in All, Asian Related, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jackie Chan, Rutger Hauer
First Love (2020) Review
Director: Takashi Miike Writer: Masaru Nakamura Cast: Masataka Kubota, Sakurako Konishi, Nao Omori, Shota Sometani, Seiyo Uchino, Becky, Jun Murakami, Sansei Shiomi, Takahiro Miura, Maimi Yajima Running Time: 115 min. By Martin Sandison It’s pretty difficult to be an Asian movie fan in the last 25 years, and not love at least one Takashi Miike film. An omnipresence in challenging, genre-shifting vital cinema, the director is irrepressible and much-loved. Even … Continue reading
Shaolin Avengers | aka Invincible Kung Fu Brothers (1976) Review
AKA: Invincible Kung Fu Brothers Director: Chang Cheh Co-director: Wu Ma Cast: Alexander Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan Chun, Chan Wai Lau, Bruce Tong, Lung Fei, Choi Wang, Johnny Wang Lung Wei, Chiang Sheng, Leung Kar Yan Running Time: 93 min. By Martin Sandison As a kid I remember settling down to watch Chang Cheh’s Shaolin Temple – for me the crowning achievement of his monumental Shaolin-cycle. A depiction of the classic story … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews, Shaw Brothers
Tagged Chang Cheh, Jamie Luk Kim Ming, Ricky Cheng Tien Chi, Wu Ma
Luc Van Tien: Tuyet Dinh Kungfu (2017) Review
Director: Hoang Phuc Cast: Andy Long, Diep Lam Anh, Thanh Loc, Kim Tuyen, Du Au, Khoi Chau, Andy Le, Brian Le Running Time: 90 min. By Martin Sandison Some years back my friends and I were active in the Indie kung fu movie scene, and made some features and shorts. We posted on the Stunt People Forum, which is a great way to share videos and support each other. Although there … Continue reading
A City on Fire Interview with Hong Kong actor Anthony Wong
At the age of 14, I took the plunge in to the world of my favourite director, John Woo. The adrenalin rush seemed to last for days after watching the best pure action film ever made: Hard Boiled. The unending coolness of Chow Yun Fat and emotional depth of Tony Leung leapt off the screen, and both are on my list of Top 10 Actors. The villainous actor made less … Continue reading
Posted in Interviews, News
Still Human (2018) Review
Director: Oliver Siu Kuen Chan Writer: Oliver Siu Kuen Chan Cast: Anthony Wong, Crisel Consunji, Sam Lee Chan-Sam, Cecilia Yip Tung, Wong Ting-Him Running Time: 115 min. By Martin Sandison One of the all-time greatest actors in Hong Kong movie history, Anthony Wong (The Untold Story), has appeared in so many of the classics in his time, in so many different genres, he’s unclassifiable. In recent times, Wong has shown … Continue reading
Extreme Job (2019) Review
Director: Lee Byeong-Hun Cast: Ryoo Seung-Ryong, Lee Ha-Nee, Jin Seon-Kyu, Lee Dong-Hwi, Gong Myung, Shin Ha-Kyun, Oh Jung-Se, Kim Eui-Sung, Yang Hyun-Min Running Time: 111 min. By Martin Sandison In the last few years Korean action comedies have really come into there own, with films such as Confidential Assignment and Unstoppable proving the well-established tropes in the genre can be given a fresh and innovative twist. While more comedic and thrill-a-minute … Continue reading
Killing (2018) Review
Director: Shinya Tsukamoto Writer: Shinya Tsukamoto Cast: Yu Aoi, Sosuke Ikematsu, Kohji Katoh, Tatsuya Nakamura, Ryusei Maeda Running Time: 80 min. By Martin Sandison I think I was the tender age of 14 when I first saw Shinya Tsukamoto’s Tetsuo. At that point I had seen David Lynch’s Eraserhead, and the two really went hand in hand for me. Both share an otherworldly, DIY, black and white aesthetic, and push … Continue reading
Integrity (2019) Review
Director: Alan Mak Writer: Alan Mak Cast: Lau Ching-Wan, Nick Cheung Ka-fai, Karena Lam, Anita Yuen, Alex Fong, Deep Ng Running Time: 114 min. By Martin Sandison Alan Mak’s Extraordinary Mission really slipped under the radar a couple of years ago; for me it was one of the best action films of 2017, with the ending reaching insane heights of over-the-top action. Unfortunately, the film under-performed in all territories, and Mak’s new film Integrity is … Continue reading
Final Score (2018) Review
Director: Scott Mann Cast: Dave Bautista, Pierce Brosnan, Ray Stevenson, Julian Cheung, Alexandra Dinu, Lara Peake, Amit Shah, Bill Fellows, Aaron McCusker, Martyn Ford Running Time: 104 min. By Martin Sandison Not to be confused with the Chris Mitchum-starring Indonesian actioner Final Score – a movie Paul’s review completely sold to me (and doesn’t disappoint in its batshit anything-goes way); this 2018 Final Score is a pretty different beast. Very encouragingly, both this film and … Continue reading
Posted in All, News, Other Movies, Reviews
Tagged Dave Bautista, Lee Charles, Pierce Brosnan
Angry Ranger (1991) Review
Director: Wang Lung Wei Producer: Jackie Chan Cast: Ben Lam Kwok Bun, Jackie Lui Chung Yin, Sun Chien, Leung Yuen Jing, Mai Kei, Edward Mok Ga Yiu, Benny Lai Keung Kuen, Danny Chow Yun Kin, Johnny Cheung Yiu Wah, Anthony Carpio, Christopher Chan Sai-Tang, Mai Kei Running Time: 87 min. By Martin Sandison Once one of the premier members of the Jackie Chan stunt team, whose greatest role in a … Continue reading
Eastern Cherries – First Experiences of Asian Cinema: Korea Edition Part II
As a young kid of 18, I used to watch a British Television film review programme, then presented by Johnathan Ross. A major advocate of Eastern cinema, Ross is a larger than life character with an abundance of knowledge of especially Asian action movies. At the end of one programme there was a clip of the South Korean film Nowhere to Hide, featuring two characters fighting in the pouring rain, … Continue reading
Nightshooters (2018) Review
Director: Marc Price Writer: Marc Price Cast: Jean-Paul Ly, Adam McNab, Nicky Evans, Rosanna Hoult, Richard Sandling, Kaitlyn Riordan, Mica Proctor, Hung Dante Dong, Nicholas Aaron, Ben Shafik Running Time: 100 min. By Martin Sandison Hot on the trail of his self-directed short The Division, Jean-Paul Ly (Jailbreak) has achieved the seemingly impossible: starred and choreographed in a low budget, great British-made martial arts film, Nightshooters – ok, ok, it’s not a purists … Continue reading
Eastern Cherries – First Experiences of Asian Cinema: Japan Edition Part III
Until 2008 my interest in Japanese movies had been centred around Kurosawa, and some Anime. I loved Yojimbo, Seven Samurai and Akira, but for some reason I had not burrowed deeper in to the treasure trove of Japanese film. When my local cinema in Edinburgh, Scotland screened a Japanese cult film season, here was my chance. The season was programmed by Matt Palmer, director of recent Netflix original Calibre, my … Continue reading
4 Comments