Author Archives: Matija Makotoichi Tomic

COF PRESENTS: Interview with Kung Fu star Chang Shan

Posted on June 22, 2023 by Matija Makotoichi Tomic

Meet one of kung fu cinema’s best loved stars, Mr. Chang Shan. Whether you know him as the white-haired villain from Ting Chung’s classics Of Cooks and Kung Fu (1979) and Seven Steps of Kung Fu (1979), or as the ferocious Golden Wheel Lama from Lee Tso-nam’s fan favorite Shaolin vs. Lama (1983), you know Chang Shan can play a menacing villain as well as throw some mean kicks around, … Continue reading →

Posted in Features, Interviews, News |

Mysterious Footworks of Kung Fu (1978) Review

Posted on March 31, 2021 by Matija Makotoichi Tomic

Director: Chen Wah Cast: Charles Heung Wah-Keung, Michael Chan Wai-Man, Chiang Tao, Fan Mei-Sheng, Betty Ting Pei, Gam Ming, Mang Hoi, Do Ping, Kong Do Running Time: 95 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic After starring in Eagle Claws Champion, James Heung realized he preferred working behind the scenes, so he founded Super Win Film with his brother Charles. Heung’s company produced only two films, Mysterious Footworks of Kung Fu and Goose Boxer, both … Continue reading →

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

Amsterdam Connection (1978) Review

Posted on March 24, 2021 by Matija Makotoichi Tomic
"Amsterdam Connection" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Shaolin Connection Director: Fan Mei-Sheng Co-director: Law Kei Cast: Chan Sing, Mi Lan, Jason Pai Piao, Bolo Yeung Sze, Fan Mei-Sheng, Wong Yuen-San, Fan Siu-Wong, Law Kei, Lam Ching-Ying, Lau Kar-Yung, Wan Fat Running Time: 90 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic If you love watching movies, chances are you’ve seen at least one with the word ‘connection’ in its title. It might have been one of the greats, such … Continue reading →

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Kung Fu on Sale | aka King of Money and Fists (1979) Review

Posted on March 17, 2021 by Matija Makotoichi Tomic

AKA: Drunken Master Dollar Fist Director: Su Chen-Ping Cast: Sze-Ma Lung, Su Chen-Ping, Man Lee-Pang, Tseng Chao, Dean Shek Tin, Tsung Hua, Cheng Fu-Hung, Hsu Pu-Liao, Su Chen-Ping, Lee Kwan Running time: 90 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic It’s safe to say, at least at this point, that Kung Fu on Sale is Su Chen-Ping’s best film, as it also appears to be his only one. Making a name for … Continue reading →

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

212 Warrior | aka Wiro Sableng (2018) Review

Posted on February 25, 2021 by Matija Makotoichi Tomic

Director: Angga Dwimas Sasongko Cast: Vino G. Bastian, Sherina Munaf, Marsha Timothy, Fariz Alfarizi, Happy Salma, Dwi Sasono, Yayan Ruhian, Cecep Arif Rahman, Lukman Sardi, Ruth Marini Running Time: 123 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic 212 Warrior could have been a step-up for Indonesian action cinema. Co-production with Fox International Pictures, first for any Southeast Asian movie, secured a substantial budget, and the award-winning director Angga Dwimas Sasongko was brought … Continue reading →

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

Furie (2019) Review

Posted on May 17, 2019 by Matija Makotoichi Tomic
"Furie" Theatrical Poster

Director: Le-Van Kiet Writer: Kay Nguyen Cast: Veronica Ngo Thanh Van, Cat Vy, Phan Thanh Nhien, Phạm Anh Khoa, Tran Thanh Hoa Running Time: 98 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic Veronica Ngo is back, and with her, so is the Vietnamese martial arts action. It’s been a while since we’ve last seen Vietnam delivering an action movie worth praising, but that changes with Furie, and the deadly art of Vovinam … Continue reading →

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

Outrage Coda | aka Outrage: Final Chapter (2017) Review

Posted on September 18, 2017 by Matija Makotoichi Tomic
Outrage Coda | Blu-ray (Film Movement)

Director: Takeshi Kitano Writer: Takeshi Kitano Cast: Beat Takeshi, Nao Ohmori, Ken Mitsuishi, Ren Osugi, Tatsuo Nadaka, Ikuji Nakamura, Toshiyuki Nishida, Hakuryu, Sansei Shiomi, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Pierre Taki Running Time: 104 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic Even before he would go on to direct his senior citizen “yakuza” comedy Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen, easily his least memorable effort, Kitano said that the producers wanted him to make another Outrage … Continue reading →

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

Manhunt (2017) Review

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Matija Makotoichi Tomic
"Manhunt" Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Cast: Zhang Hanyu, Tao Okamoto, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Ji-won Ha, Jun Kunimura, Naoto Takenaka, Masaharu Fukuyama, Yasuaki Kurata, Angeles Wo, Stephy Qi Running Time: 106 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic When a director of John Woo’s caliber announces his return to the genre that made his name, it’s always a cause for celebration, just as it is a reason to worry. After signing his name on some of … Continue reading →

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Before We Vanish (2017) Review

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Matija Makotoichi Tomic
"Before We Vanish" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa Cast: Ryuhei Matsuda, Masami Nagasawa, Mahiro Takasugi, Yuri Tsunematsu, Hiroki Hasegawa, Atsuko Maeda, Masahiro Higashide, Takashi Sasano Running Time: 129 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic Following the premiere at 2017 Cannes Film Festival, Before We Vanish continued its festival circuit at this year’s 17th edition of Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival. With budget as the one thing that shouldn’t give the organizers any headache, NIFFF had the … Continue reading →

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

Exclusive: Interview with the Cast and Crew of ‘Jailbreak’

Posted on June 1, 2017 by Matija Makotoichi Tomic
jailbreak movie interview

This year’s 19th edition of Far East Film Festival offered a special treat for the fans of martial arts cinema. The long-awaited hit title Jailbreak, titled as Cambodia’s very first martial arts movie was scheduled for screening on the opening day of the festival. Coming to Udine to promote the movie was the Jailbreak team: director Jimmy Henderson and producer Loy Te, as well as the film’s stars Jean-Paul Ly … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, News |

Jailbreak (2017) Review

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Matija Makotoichi Tomic
"Jailbreak" Theatrical Poster

Director: Jimmy Henderson Cast: Jean-Paul Ly, Dara Our, Tharoth Sam, Céline Tran, Savin Phillip, Dara Phang, Sisowath Siriwudd, Laurent Plancel, Rous Mony, Sok Visal, Georgina Tan Running Time: 92 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic Following in the footsteps of Vietnam, Indonesia, and of course, Thailand before that, it was time for Cambodia to mark its place on the international martial arts movie map. Delivering the country’s first piece of full-fledged … Continue reading →

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

Terra Formars (2016) Review

Posted on November 12, 2016 by Matija Makotoichi Tomic
"Terra Formars" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Takashi Miike Cast: Hideaki Ito, Takayuki Yamada, Kane Kosugi, Emi Takei, Shun Oguri, Masaya Kato, Rinko Kikuchi, Tomohisa Yamashita, Eiko Koike, Mariko Shinoda, Rila Fukushima, Kenichi Takito, Rina Ohta, Ken Aoki, Kiyohiko Shibukawa Running time: 108 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic Fans and those familiar with the work of Takashi Miike might be missing the “old” Miike; whoever enjoyed films such as Dead or Alive, Deadly Outlaw: Rekka, Ichi … Continue reading →

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

Net, The (2016) Review

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Matija Makotoichi Tomic
"The Net" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Ki-Duk Producer: Kim Soon-Mo Cast: Ryoo Seung-bum, Young-Min Kim, Lee Won-Geun, Choi Gwi-Hwa, Jo Jae-Ryong, Ahn Ji-Hye Running Time: 114 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic Filmography of Kim Ki-Duk could be the subject of many theories and endless discussions. Personally, I see it divided into two major phases: pre and post-Arirang one. Arirang had that something I’ve been missing the whole time, and it had me admiring the … Continue reading →

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

Undaunted Wudang, The | aka Wu Tang (1983) Review

Posted on August 6, 2016 by Matija Makotoichi Tomic
"The Undaunted Wudang" DVD Cover

AKA: The Wu Tang Director: Sun Sha Writer: Xie Wen-Li Cast: Lin Quan, Zhao Chang-Jun , Li Yu-Wen, Ma Zhen-Bang , Tang Ya-Li, Yang Yong, Zang Zhi-Guo, Mao Ying-Hai, Zhao Qiu-Rong, Sun Jian-Ming, Xu Chang-Wen Running time: 94 min By Matija Makotoichi Tomic The importance and the historical significance of Shaolin Temple and its monks is well known so it’s no wonder a lot of kung fu movies are Shaolin … Continue reading →

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Black Tavern, The (1972) Review

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Matija Makotoichi Tomic
"The Black Tavern" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Teddy Yip Producer: Run Run Shaw Cast: Shih Szu, Ku Feng, Dean Shek Tien, Tung Li, Wong Hap, Yue Fung, Kong Ling, Kwok Chuk Hing, Lee Ho, Barry Chan Wai Ji Wan, Chan Chan Kong, Unicorn Chan, Cheung Hei, Chiang Nan, Chu Gam, Ho Kei Cheong Running Time: 83 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic Seems it’s impossible to write a review about The Black Tavern without mentioning King Hu. … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews, Shaw Brothers | Tagged , , , , , , |
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