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on HEAD’d your way! Jimmy Wang Yu’s kung fu classic ‘Master of the Flying Guillotine’ arrives newly restored on Blu-rayI've been waiting for this one a long time! YES!
on This collection is FAT! Details and Trailers for Shout’s ‘Chow Yun-fat Collection’ on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-rayI'm impressed you can tell the difference - unfortunately like most Americans…
on Chen Kuan-tai, martial artist and Shaw Brothers star of ‘Boxer from Shantung’ and ‘Flying Guillotine’, passes away at 80in front of the camera there was definitely a drop off from Sammon circa 1991…
on Back-to-back action! Watch the Trailers for the microbudget martial arts thrillers ‘Five By Five’ and ‘Echo 8 Beyond’Watched the OG Echo 8 and yoooo this is lit.
on Chen Kuan-tai, martial artist and Shaw Brothers star of ‘Boxer from Shantung’ and ‘Flying Guillotine’, passes away at 80Bruce Lee wasn’t ignored in HK because he wasn’t perusing a film career there…
on THE PERFECT WEAPON IS BACK! Martial arts star Jeff Speakman talks about his comeback film ‘Lost Echoes’Time for these old men to go to retirement homes and make room for the new fe…
on Back-to-back action! Watch the Trailers for the microbudget martial arts thrillers ‘Five By Five’ and ‘Echo 8 Beyond’Finally some female-led action! We need way more of this energy. Less men,, m…
on THESE GIRLS GOT BALLS! Watch the New Trailer for Stephen Chow’s ‘Kung Fu Soccer’The biggest hit for the summer in China, according to Variety. https://variet…
on THE PERFECT WEAPON IS BACK! Martial arts star Jeff Speakman talks about his comeback film ‘Lost Echoes’Jeff Speakman is undoubtedly one of the best martial artists of my lifetime.…
on THE PERFECT WEAPON IS BACK! Martial arts star Jeff Speakman talks about his comeback film ‘Lost Echoes’This is great news... He is a great talent that due to politics we missed out…
on Phone, The (2015) RevewThe ending didn't make any sense. So he comes back from the future to save hu…
on Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants (2025) ReviewI love this film. Saw it on an international flight and couldn’t wait to get…
Author Archives: Martin Sandison
Shock Wave (2017) Review
Director: Herman Yau Cast: Andy Lau, Jiang Wu, Song Jia, Philip Keung, Ron Ng, Wang Ziyi, Felix Wong, Shek Sau, Liu Kai-chi, Cheung Chun-kit, Louis Cheung, Babyjohn Choi, Felix Lok Running Time: 118 min. By Martin Sandison Superstar actor/singer Andy Lau (The Great Wall, God of Gamblers) has had one of the most enduring careers of any Hong Kong celebrity, and he keeps going strong. Despite the setback of his … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Herman Yau, Jiang Wu
Rage | aka Anger (2016) Review
Director: Sang-il Lee Cast: Gou Ayano, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Mitsuki Takahata, Hideko Hara, Ken Watanabe, Kenichi Matsuyama, Aoi Miyazaki, Chizuru Ikewaki, Mirai Moriyama, Suzu Hirose Running Time: 142 min. By Martin Sandison As I settled down to watch Rage, my second last film of this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival, I had no idea what to expect. Director Sang Il Lee’s previous films I had heard of, but had yet to … Continue reading
Exclusive: Interview with Hong Kong legend Eric Tsang
On the back of the great success of his wonderful and moving new film, Mad World, Eric Tsang appeared at the 19th Far East Film Festival in Udine. Prior to the screening he was presented with the Golden Mulberrry Lifetime Achievement Award, a fitting tribute to one of Hong Kong’s great filmmakers. Alongside such memorable roles as Hon Sam in Infernal Affairs, Tsang has worked as a director, producer, presenter and … Continue reading
Posted in Interviews, News
Mad World (2016) Review
Director: Wong Chung Cast: Eric Tsang, Shawn Yue, Elaine Jin, Charmaine Fong, Yvan Chan Hok-Man, Ng Siu-Hin Running Time: 101 min. By Martin Sandison The name Eric Tsang conjures up images of Golden Harvest comedies like My Lucky Stars (I’ll never forget the button mushroom joke) or his magnificent turn as gang boss Hon Sam in Infernal Affairs and it sequel. A seasoned veteran of Hong Kong cinema, even directing martial arts movies (he helmed … Continue reading
Sleep Curse, The (2017) Review
Director: Herman Yau Writer: Erica Li, Lee Sing Cast: Anthony Wong, Jojo Goh, Gordon Lam Ka-Tung, Michelle Wai, Mak Kwai-Yuen, Chye Yang Running Time: 102 min. By Martin Sandison After this year’s Udine Far East Film Festival screening of The Sleep Curse – and before my scheduled interview with its prodigiously talented director, Herman Yau – I bumped into the great man outside the theatre. I told him that I’d never seen a film like the masterful Untold Story … Continue reading
Mrs K (2016) Review
Director: Ho Yuhang Cast: Kara Hui, Simon Yam, Wu Bai, Faizal Hussein, Kirk Wong, Fruit Chan, Li Xuan Siow Running Time: 90 min. By Martin Sandison For me, one of the big draws of this year’s Udine Far East Film Festival was the screening of Mrs K, and the appearance by its director Ho Yuhang. Ho is known for genre hopping and has a lot of successful films under his belt – all made in Malaysia. Martial … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Faizal Hussein, Fruit Chan, Kara Hui, Kirk Wong, Simon Yam, Wu Bai
Incredible Kung Fu Master, The (1979) Review
AKA: The Kung Fu Master Director: Joe Cheung Tung Cho Cast: Stephen Tung Wei, Sammo Hung, Philip Ko, Lee Hoi San, Peter Chan, Chung Fat, Dai Sai Aan, Huang Ha, Cecilia Wong, Meng Hoi, Austin Wai, Billy Chan, Lam Ching Ying, Mars, To Wai Wo, Ho Pak Kwong, Wu Ma Running Time: 92 min. By Martin Sandison In 1979, Sammo Hung was at the peak of his powers as an onscreen … Continue reading
Age of Shadows, The (2016) Review
AKA: Secret Agent Director: Kim Ji-woon Cast: Goo Uoo, Song Kang-Ho, Han Ji-Min, Um Tae-Goo, Shin Sung-Rok, Seo Young-Joo, Lee Byung-Hun, Shingo Tsurumi, Kim Dong-Young, Park Hee-Soon Running Time: 140 min. By Martin Sandison I remember going to see Kim Ji-woon’s A Bittersweet Life back when it came out, and thinking: This is something special. An artistic aesthetic, but with populist entertainment at its heart. I then saw The Good, the Bad and the Weird, … Continue reading
Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews
Tagged Gong Yoo, Kim Jee-Woon (Kim Ji-woon), Lee Byung-Hun, Song Kang-Ho
Headshot (2016) Review
Director: The Mo Brothers Writer: Timo Tjahjanto Cast: Iko Uwais, Julie Estelle, Chelsea Islan, David Hendrawan, Epy Kusnandar, Zack Lee, Sunny Pang, Very Tri Yulisman, Ario Bayu, Ganindra Bimo, Udeh Nans Running Time: 118 min. By Martin Sandison While the world waits with bated breath for the next installment of Gareth Evans’ phenomenally popular Raid franchise, we now have a film that more than whets the appetite from Indonesia: Headshot. Starring Iko … Continue reading
Posted in All, Indonesian, News, Reviews
Tagged Chelsea Islan, Iko Uwais, Julie Estelle, Kimo Stamboel, Sunny Pang, The Mo Brothers, Timo Tjahjanto, Very Tri Yulisman
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974) Review
Director: Sam Peckinpah Producer: Martin Baum Cast: Warren Oates, Isela Vega, Robert Webber, Gig Young, Helmut Dantine, Emilio Fernández, Kris Kristofferson Running Time: 112 min. By Martin Sandison Sam Peckinpah’s influence as a filmmaker is undoubted, and his run from The Wild Bunch to Cross of Iron is near-untouchable. Misunderstood at the time, his elegiac, revisionist Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid nearly destroyed his reputation in Hollywood, and was … Continue reading
Posted in All, News, Other Movies, Reviews
Tagged Gig Young, Kris Kristofferson, Sam Peckinpah, Warren Oates
Seeding of a Ghost (1983) Review
Director: Richard Yeung Producer: Mona Fong Cast: Norman Chu Siu Keung, Philip Ko Fei, Tin Mat, Maria Yuen Chi Wai, Wong Yung, Wai Ga Man, Hung San Nam, Pak Man Biu, Jaime Chik Mei Jan, Erik Chan Ga Kei Running Time: 86 min. By Martin Sandison Beginning with 1975’s Black Magic, the legendary Shaw Brothers studio began to make horror movies which became increasingly grotesque, darkly funny and gory. Most … Continue reading
Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet (2016) Review
Director: Lee Joon-Ik Writer: Shin Youn-Shick Cast: Kang Ha-Neul, Park Jung-Min, Kim In-Woo, Choi Hong-Il, Choi Hee-Seo, Shin Yoon-Joo, Min Jin-Woong Running Time: 110 min. By Martin Sandison The Glasgow, Scotland leg of the 16th London Korean Film Festival appealed much more to the arthouse community, with three films being shown. Dong-Ju: Portrait of a Poet was easily the most interesting. A biopic of one of Korea’s most enduring poets, … Continue reading
Hex (1980) Review
Director: Kuei Chih-Hung Producer: Runme Shaw Cast: Tien Ni, Wong Yung, Chan Si Gaai, Shum Lo, Lee Sau Kei, Hon Gwok Choi, Ma Chao, Chan Laap Ban, Lau Yat Fan, Wong Ching Ho, Stephen Chan Yung Running Time: 90 min. By Martin Sandison Hex is the first release from 88 Films’ new “88 Asia” Collection. This UK-based label is known its horror/exploitation releases, and have pledged with this new line to release full HD Blu-rays with … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews, Shaw Brothers
Tagged Kuei Chih-Hung, Tien Ni
LKFF2016: London Korean Film Festival: Glasgow Leg
The London Korean Film Festival, now in its tenth year, has been gathering steam. This year sees offerings from the likes of Kim Sung Soo (Asura: The City of Madness), Woo Min Ho (Inside Men) and Hur Jin Ho (The Last Princess). Alongside these high profile movies, there are also some smaller scale arthouse offerings, which the Glasgow leg will feature. First there is Dong Ju: The Portrait of a Poet, … Continue reading
Posted in News
Ebola Syndrome (1996) Review
Director: Herman Yau Producer: Wong Jing Cast: Anthony Wong, Angel Wong, Vincent Wan, Mariane Chan, Lo Meng, Ng Sui Ting, Peter Ngor Chi Kwan, Shing Fui On, Cindy Yip, Chang Yin, Tsang Yin Running Time: 97 min. By Martin Sandison After the success of the sadistic and powerful Bunman: The Untold Story, the director and star team of Herman Yau and Anthony Wong set about making another classic slice of … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, Golden Harvest, News, Reviews
Tagged Anthony Wong, cindy, Herman Yau, Lo Meng (Toad), Mariane Chan Miu Ying, Shing Fui On
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