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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
Shanghai 13 | aka Heroic Ones from Shanghai (1984) Review
Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Chiang Ming, Ti Lung, Cheng Tien Chi, David Chiang, Lee Chung Yat, Chi Kuan Chun, Wong Ching, Chiang Sheng, Leung Kar Yan, Lu Feng, Chai Kai, Chan Sing, Chen Kuan-tai, Cheung Taai Lun, Jue Hoi Ling, Andy Lau, Danny Lee, Jimmy Wang Yu, Wang Chung, Clement Yeh Running Time: 85 min. By Martin Sandison The great Chang Cheh – one of the most revered, prolific and … Continue reading
Exclusive: Interview with Masaharu Take
Beginning his career as an assistant director, Masaharu Take has gone from strength to strength as a director with a singular and unique voice. His two most recent movies Unsung Hero (In the Hero) and 100 Yen Love have proven his ability to weave interesting stories, strong visuals and great characters into a cohesive whole. With a feeling of deja vu I was attempting to get an interview with Take, and … Continue reading
Posted in Interviews, News
Dragon’s Snake Fist, The (1981) Review
AKA: Iron Head Director: Kim Si Hyeon Cast: Dragon Lee (Mun Kyong-sok), Yuen Qiu, Chui Man Fooi, Gam Kei Chu, Bruce Lai, Kim Young Suk, Seo Jeong-Ah, Moon Jeong Kum, Gam Gei-Fan Running Time: 83 min. By Martin Sandison In the barren wasteland of UK DVD releases of classic kung fu films, one company has taken it upon themselves to be a beacon of light. The company called Terracotta has … Continue reading
Posted in All, Bruceploitation, Chinese, Korean, News, Reviews
Tagged Bruce Lai (Chang Il-do), Dragon Lee (Mun Kyong-sok), Godfrey Ho, Kim Si Hyeon, Yuen Qiu
Redeemer (2014) Review
Director: Ernesto Díaz Espinoza Cast: Marko Zaror, Noah Segan, Loreto Aravena, Otilio Castro, Smirnow Boris, José Luís Mósca, Nuñez Nelson, Mauricio Raab Sanz, Pablo Raab Sanz Running Time: 90 min. By Martin Sandison For my money, the end fight in Undisputed 3 – one of the best martial arts flicks of recent years, which pits Scott Adkins’ iconic Boyka against Marko Zaror’s extravagant villain Dolor – is one of the … Continue reading
Exclusive: Interview with Sakura Ando
Beginning with 2008’s Love Exposure, actress Sakura Ando’s career trajectory has been mightily impressive. She has worked with two of the biggest contemporary Japanese directors, Sion Sono (Why Don’t You Play in Hell?) and Takashi Miike (13 Assassins), and continues to develop as a great leading lady in Japanese cinema. I knew that Miss Ando was going to attend the Edinburgh Film Festival, and was in the process of attempting … Continue reading
Posted in Interviews, News
100 Yen Love (2014) Review
Director: Masaharu Take Writer: Shin Adachi Cast: Sakura Ando, Hirofumi Arai, Miyoko Inagawa, Saori Koide, Shohei Uno, Tadashi Sakata, Yozaburo Ito, Osamu Shigematu, Toshie Negishi, Ruka Wakabayashi Running Time: 113 min. By Martin Sandison As well as being a beautiful and cultural place, my home city of Edinburgh, Scotland has one of the longest-running film festivals in the world, this year being the 69th. This time the festival has been … Continue reading
Eight Escorts, The (1980) Review
AKA: Eight Peerless Treasures Director: Pao Hsueh Lieh Cast: Hsu Feng, Au Lap Bo, Michael Chan Wai Man, Choi Wang, Fang Mien, Goo Chang, Ko Keung, Danny Lee Sau Yin, Lily Li Li Li, Ling Yun, Mau Ging Shun, Stewart Tam Tin, Dorian Tan Tao Liang, Wong Ching, Wang Chung, Wu Ma Running Time: 90 min. By Martin Sandison In 1972 director Pao Hsieh Li and screenwriter Ni Kuang created one … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Choi Wang, Danny Lee Sau Yin, Dorian Tan Tao Liang, Hsu Feng, Ko Keung, Lily Li Li-Li, Michael Chan Wai Man, Pao Hsueh Lieh, Wang Chung, Wu Ma
Rurouni Kenshin (2012) Review
Director: Keishi Ohtomo Cast: Takeru Satoh, Emi Takei, Koji Kikkawa, Yu Aoi, Munetaka Aoki, Gou Ayano, Genki Sudo, Taketo Tanaka, Eiji Okuda, Yosuke Eguchi, Teruyuki Kagawa Running Time: 134 min. By Martin Sandison One of the most successful and critically acclaimed manga and anime’s of all time, Rurouni Kenshin’s fans were understandably worried about a live action version. Thankfully, those fans were in for a treat, and it works just … Continue reading
Rainy Dog (1997) Review
Director: Takashi Miike Writer: Seigo Inoue Cast: Show Aikawa, Blackie Ko, Xianmei Chen, Zhang Shi, Jianqin He, Tomorowo Taguchi Running Time: 95 min. By Martin Sandison Part of director Takashi Miike’s Triad society trilogy, Rainy Dog is a revelation; a quiet, slow moving meditation on innocence and the consequences of violence. Miike is of course synonymous with extreme cinema, especially his masterpieces Ichi The Killer and Audition. As much as … Continue reading
Dragon, The Hero, The | aka Dragon on Fire (1979) Review
Director: Godfrey Ho Writer: Sze To On Cast: John Liu, Dragon Lee, Tino Wong Cheung, Chung Liang, Philip Ko Fei, Chiang Kam, Chan Lau, Alexander Grand, Mars, David Wu Tai Wai, Lee Hang, Mars Running Time: 87 min. By Martin Sandison In the 1990’s one distribution company released some of the greatest old school kung ku movies ever made: Eastern Heroes. As a young kid in my mid teens growing up in the … Continue reading
Cyprus Tigers (1990) Review
Director: Philip Ko Fei Producer: Philip Ko Fei Cast: Simon Yam, Conan Lee, Philip Ko Fei, Collin Cheung Chi Tak, Robin Shou, Joey Wong, Shikamura Yasuyoshi, Winston Ellis, Sophia Crawford, John Ladalski Running Time: 87 min. By Martin Sandison Ask a Kung Fu movie fan about the greatest actors to come out of the golden age and the name Phillip Ko will surely arise. One of the most prolific and … Continue reading
Posted in Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Conan Lee, Joey Wong Cho-Yin, John Ladalski, Philip Ko Fei, Robin Shou, Simon Yam, Sophia Crawford
Buddha’s Palm and Dragon Fist | aka Roving Heroes (1980) Review
AKA: Roving Heroes Director: Got Si Ho Cast: Chi Kuan Chun, Lee I Min, Suen Shu Pau, Wong Chi Sang, Eva Lin Yi Wa, Ma Cheung, Ma Chin Ku, Shih Ting Ken, Ching Kuo Chung, Chiu Chung Hing Running Time:85 min. By Martin Sandison By the mid to late 70’s Taiwanese made kung fu films were exploding, with movies such as The Hot, The Cool and the Vicious leading the … Continue reading
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