Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

Man of Reason, A (2023) Review

August 28, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director: Jung Woo-sung Cast: Jung Woo-sung, Kim Nam-Gil, Kim Joon-Han, Park Sung-Woong, Park Yoo-Na, Lee Elijah, Ryu Jian, Kim Joo-Hun, Park Yong, Choi Soo-Im Running Time: 98 min.  By Paul Bramhall  One of the most enduring actors in Korean cinema, since making his debut in 1994’s The Fox With Nine Tails Jung Woo-sung has rarely been absent from the screen in the close to 30 years that followed, and in … Continue reading →

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One More Shot (2024) Review

August 21, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director: James Nunn Cast: Scott Adkins, Waleed Elgadi, Tom Berenger, Meena Rayann, Alexis Knapp, Michael Jai White, Aaron Toney, Teddy Linard, Hannah Arterton Running Time: 102 min.  By Paul Bramhall After his scene stealing role on the big screen in 2023’s John Wick: Chapter 4, in 2024 British thespian Scott Adkins would return to his role as leading man of DTV action flicks by headlining One More Shot. A sequel … Continue reading →

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Mission: Cross (2024) Review

August 16, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director: Lee Myung-Hoon Cast: Hwang Jung-Min, Yum Jung-Ah, Jung Man-sik, Lee Ho-chul, Cha Rae-hyung, Jeon Hye-jin, Kim Chan-Hyung, Kim Joo-Hun, Jonathan Yiombi Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall  3 years after the unexpected global success of the Netflix series Squid Game, the streaming giant continues to plough money into Korean content, with the countries K-dramas coming to enjoy the same level of popularity globally as they have within Asia … Continue reading →

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Christmas Carol (2022) Review

August 11, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director: Kim Seong-soo Cast: Park Jinyoung, Kim Young-min, Heo Dong-won, Song Geon-hee, Kim Dong-Hwi Running Time: 130 min. By Paul Bramhall While the English title of writer and director Kim Seong-soo’s 3rd feature Christmas Carol may sound like another disposable entry in Netflix’s festive movie lineup, thankfully the reality is very different. Taking the classic tale of a revenge seeking protagonist who intentionally gets sent to prison to hunt down … Continue reading →

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New Normal (2022) Review

August 5, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director: Jung Bum-Sik Cast: Choi Ji-Woo, Lee Yu-Mi, Choi Min-Ho, Pyo Ji-Hoon, Jeong Dong-Won, Lee Moon-Sik Running Time: 112 min. By Paul Bramhall Filmmaker Jong Beom-sik is one of those few director screenwriters in Korea whose name is almost exclusively tied to the horror genre. After making his debut alongside his brother Jeong Sik with 2007’s Epitaph, Beom-sik would go on to helm segments in both 2012’s Horror Stories and … Continue reading →

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Super Power (1980) Review

July 30, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director: Lin Chan-Wai Cast: Billy Chong, Hau Chiu-Sing, Chiang Tao, Ho Kei-Cheong, Annie Liu On Lai, Lau Dan, Fung Ging-Man, Wong Chi-Ming, Wang Han-Chen, Lau Hok-Nin Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall In the late 70’s production house The Eternal Film Co. must have felt like they struck gold by signing on Indonesian martial artist and local movie fixture Billy Chong. While Chong had shown hints of what he … Continue reading →

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Customs Frontline (2024) Review

July 20, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director: Herman Yau Cast: Jacky Cheung, Nicholas Tse, Karena Lam, Francis Ng, Liu Yase, Michelle Wai, Angus Yeung, Melvin Wong, Ben Yuen, Amanda Strang, Brahim Chab Running Time: 115 min.  By Paul Bramhall While the flaunting of China’s various authorities and military divisions through the format of cinema has become almost the exclusive forte of Dante Lam, in 2024 he kindly stepped aside to make some room for fellow Hong … Continue reading →

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Phantom (2023) Review

July 15, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director: Lee Hae-Young Cast: Sol Kyung-Gu, Lee Ha-Nee, Park So-Dam, Park Hae-Soo, Seo Hyun-Woo, Kim Jong-Soo, Bibi, Esom, Lee Joo-Young, Kim Dong-Hee, Kim Joong-Hee Running Time: 133 min. By Paul Bramhall If someone asked if I could recall the name of that Korean movie which was set in 1933, and involves a group of independence fighters whose mission is to assassinate an official in the occupying Japanese government, chances are … Continue reading →

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Handsome Guys (2024) Review

July 9, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director: Nam Dong-hyub Cast: Lee Sung-min, Lee Hee-jun, Park Ji-hwan, Lee Kyu-hyung, Gong Seung-yeon, Woo Hyeon Running Time: 100 min.  By Paul Bramhall The comedy genre has always been one which feels reluctant to be tackled head on in Korea, with even productions that bill themselves as comedies often making sharp U-turns into melodrama for their final reels. The likes of 2002’s Sex is Zero and 2017’s I Can Speak … Continue reading →

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Escape (2024) Review

July 3, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director: Lee Jong-pil Cast: Lee Je-hoon, Hong Xa-bin, Koo Kyo-hwan, Shin Dong Hyeon, Esom, Lee Ho Jung Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall When the Korean War ended in an armistice in 1953 the anti-communist film became a mainstay in the South Korean film industry, going through a golden era during the remainder of the decade, and one which continued well into the 1960’s (so much so that, in … Continue reading →

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Tastes of Horror (2023) Review

June 26, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director #1: Ahn Sang-hoon Director #2: Yoon Eun-kyung Director #3: Chae Yoo-joon Director #4: Kim Yong-gyun Director #5: Im Dae-woong Cast: Lee Zoo-young, Kim Joo-ryoung, Shin Eun-soo, Kim Tae-hoon, Park Jin-a, Choi Soo-im Running Time: 118 min. By Paul Bramhall The horror anthology is a production that’s been around for years, and in Asia there have been several takes on the format in the 21st century. The early 2000’s gave … Continue reading →

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Hopeless (2023) Review

June 25, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director: Kim Chang-hoon Cast: Hong Xa-bin, Kim Hyung-seo (Bibi), Song Joong-ki, Kim Jong-soo, Park Bo-Kyung  Running Time: 125 min. By Paul Bramhall In Korean cinema it almost feels like a rite of passage for debut writer and directors to tackle the gritty social drama, usually focusing on those who live on the bottom rungs of Korean society, and with 2023’s Hopeless Kim Chang-hoon proves he’s not going to be one … Continue reading →

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Life After Fighting (2024) Review

June 20, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director: Bren Foster Cast: Bren Foster, Cassie Howarth, Annabelle Stephenson, Luke Ford, Eddie Arrazola, Ethan Browne, Ruby Busuttil, Denise Chan, Mike Duncan, Hakan Manav Running Time: 125 min. By Paul Bramhall Let’s face it, Australia isn’t going to be the first country anyone thinks of when it comes to martial arts movies. Sure productions have been filmed there (Jackie Chan even has his own Australia trilogy thanks to First Strike, … Continue reading →

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Death Notice (2023) Review

June 13, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director: Herman Yau Cast: Julian Cheung, Louis Koo, Waise Lee, Francis Ng, Simon Yam, Myolie Wu, Chrissie Chau Sau-Na, Pakho Chau, Helena Law Lan, Ray Lui Leung-Wai Running Time: 100 min.  By Paul Bramhall Herman Yau is something of an anomaly when it comes to Hong Kong filmmakers. Having made his directorial debut in 1987 and rose to prominence during the 1990’s, he’s the only filmmaker who continues to be … Continue reading →

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Four 3, The | aka The Four: Final Battle (2014) Review

June 5, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director: Gordon Chan Co-director: Janet Chun Cast: Crystal Liu Yi Fei, Deng Chao, Colin Chou, Ronald Cheng, Yu Chenghui, Anthony Wong Chau Sang, Wu Xiubo, Jiang Yi-Nan, Alec Su, Ada Liu Running Time: 107 min.  By Paul Bramhall  The closing scenes of The Four 2 saw the team’s internal strife come to a head, leading to Crystal Liu’s Emotionless leaving both the Divine Constabulary and her brooding boyfriend, Deng Chao’s … Continue reading →

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