Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

Ghost Hill, The (1971) Review

Director: Ding Sin Saai Cast: Tin Peng, Polly Shang-Kwan Ling Feng, Tong Wai, Go Ming, Chan Bo Leung, Shan Mao, Goo Liu Sek, Sit Hon, Man Chung San, Miu Tin, Lung Fei Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1971 the wuxia genre was still very much steeped in the conventions of the previous decade, however it was also becoming apparent that certain directors were gradually starting to explore those … Continue reading

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Journey to the West | aka Go West to Subdue Demons (1991) Review

Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Tung Chi Hwa, Ku Wing-Chuen, Mu Li-Xin, Du Yu-Ming, Yu Jia, Chen Ji-Ming, Zhang Ke-Peng, Yao Yu, Wang Xiang-Wei, Wang Bing-Qiang, Chen Bing Running Time: 86 min. By Paul Bramhall During the 2010’s the only character more popular than Ip Man was arguably the Monkey King. The iconic character got various big budget incarnations courtesy of Soi Cheang’s Monkey King trilogy, Stephen Chow’s pair of Journey … Continue reading

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Castle Falls (2021) Review

Director: Dolph Lundgren Cast: Scott Adkins, Dolph Lundgren, Jim E. Chandler, Dave Halls, Kim DeLonghi, Kevin Wayne, Luke Hawx, Scott Hunter, Ida Lundgren, Bill Billions Running Time: 87 min. By Paul Bramhall There was a moment there when it seemed like 2021 was going to manifest the incomprehensible thought of not delivering a single Scott Adkins movie. However in the closing weeks of the year the British thespian of the … Continue reading

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Ninja Condors (1987) Review

"Ninja Condors" Theatrical Poster

Director: James Wu Cast: Alexander Lo Rei, Stuart Hugh, Richard Phillips, Mick Murray, Eugene Thomas, Lu Feng, Jack Long Shi-Chia, Li Hai-Hsing, Wang Te-Sheng Running Time: 89 min. By Paul Bramhall When it comes to 1980’s kung fu cinema, there were 2 areas that Taiwan excelled at – the kids kung fu flick, and ninjas! The latter became synonymous with the talented Alexander Lo Rei, who came to headline the … Continue reading

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Therapist: Fist of Tae-baek, The (2020) Review

Director: Choi Sang-Hun Cast: Oh Ji-Ho, Shin So-Yul, Jung Eui-Wook, Dong Zhang, Kim Kyeol, Bae Min-Jung, Park No-Kyeong, Jeon Hyun-Soo, No Young-Ju, Oh Kyung-Min Running Time: 104 min. By Paul Bramhall Look past the A-list productions that make it onto the cinema screens of Korea (and increasingly overseas). Look past the many B-grade productions that look to emulate the success of the bigger budgeted counterparts that inspired them. Look past … Continue reading

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Cliff Walkers (2021) Review

Director: Zhang Yimou Cast: Zhang Yi, Qin Hailu, Ni Dahong, Zhu Yawen, Yu Hewei, Lei Jiayin, Liu Hao Cun, Yu Ailei  Running Time: 125 min.  By Paul Bramhall As one of China’s most highly regarded fifth generation filmmakers it seemed like Zhang Yimou was impervious to the increasingly strict censorship laws that the government has imposed on its cinematic offerings in recent years. However in 2019 we learnt that not even a … Continue reading

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One Shot (2021) Review

Director: James Nunn Cast: Scott Adkins, Ashley Greene, Ryan Phillippe, Emmanuel Imani, Dino Kelly, Lee Charles, Jack Parr, Waleed Elgadi, Terence Maynard, Jess Liaudin, Dan Styles Running Time: 96 min. By Paul Bramhall As a fan of the action genre there’s something deeply admirable about the amount of effort that goes into creating a one-shot action scene. From the hospital shootout in John Woo’s Hard Boiled, to Tony Jaa’s restaurant … Continue reading

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Writer’s Odyssey, A (2021) Review

AKA: Assassin in Red Director: Lu Yang Cast: Lei Jia-Yin, Yang Mi, Dong Zi-Jian, Yu He-Wei, Guo Jing-Fei, Tong Li-Ya, Dong Jie Running Time: 130 min.  By Paul Bramhall Based on Shuang Xuetao’s novel of the same name and its sequel, A Writer’s Odyssey finally arrived on cinema screens for the 2021 Lunar New Year after spending more than 2 years in post-production to complete the special effects work. Directed … Continue reading

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Red to Kill (1994) Review

Director: Billy Tang Cast: Lily Chung Suk Wai, Ben Ng Ngai Cheung, Money Lo Man Yee, Andy Dai Chi Wai, Bobby Yip Kin Sang, Baat Leung-Gam, Simon Cheung Yuk-San  Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall During the early to mid-1990’s the Hong Kong film industry took to adapting a number of shocking true crime tales, the result of which produced the likes of The Untold Story and Dr. Lamb, … Continue reading

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Black Cobra 3: The Manila Connection, The (1990) Review

Director: Edoardo Margheriti Cast: Fred Williamson, Forry Smith, Debra Ward, David Light, Kelly Wicker, Ned Hourani, Buddy Norton, Mike Monty, Edward Santana, Maria Isabel Lopez Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall In The Black Cobra 2 Fred ‘The Hammer’ Williamson finds himself involuntarily taking part in an Interpol exchange program, one that sees him sent off to Manila and partnered with a local agent played by Richard Hammond. Despite … Continue reading

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Black Cobra 2, The (1989) Review

Director: Edoardo Margheriti Cast: Fred Williamson, Nicholas Hammond, Emma Hoagland, Najid Jadali, Ned Hourani, Kristine Erlandson, Oscar Daniels, Mike Monty, Leopoldo Salcedo Running Time: 94 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s questionable if anyone was clamouring to see more of Fred ‘The Hammer’ Williamson as tough New York cop Robert ‘Bob’ Malone after 1987’s lacklustre Italian action flick Black Cobra, but for anyone that was, a couple of years later their … Continue reading

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Black Cobra, The (1987) Review

Director: Stelvio Massi Cast: Fred Williamson, Eva Grimaldi, Bruno Bilotta, Maurice Poli, Vassili Karis, Sabrina Siani, Aldo Mengolini, Sabina Gaddi, Laura Lancia, Gaetano Russo Running Time: 85 min. By Paul Bramhall The 1970’s blaxploitation genre gave us some of grindhouse cinemas most recognisable names – from Pam Grier to Richard Roundtree – but perhaps the most popular of all blaxploitation stars would be the man who’d become known as Fred … Continue reading

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Hunt, The (2016) Review

Director: Lee Woo-Chul Cast: Ahn Sung-Ki, Cho Jin-Woong, Han Ye-Ri, Kwon Yool, Park Byung-Eun, Han Jae-Young, Kim Yoon-Sung, Jo Dae-Hee, Cha Soon-Bae, Shim Yi-Young Running Time: 93 min. By Paul Bramhall The Hunt opens with a scene of a frail elderly lady approaching a long-deserted mine entrance located up a secluded mountain, the torrential rain setting an ominous tone as she lays out a numbering of offerings to the dead. … Continue reading

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Boss Level (2021) Review

Director: Joe Carnahan Cast: Frank Grillo, Mel Gibson, Naomi Watts, Annabelle Wallis, Ken Jeong, Will Sasso, Selina Lo, Meadow Williams, Michelle Yeoh, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson Running Time: 100 min.  By Paul Bramhall Opening with a shot of Frank Grillo’s (Jiu Jitsu, Beyond Skyline) character literally being chosen from a Streetfighter II style character menu, Boss Level starts as it means to go on, with Grillo abruptly being woken up by … Continue reading

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Monstrum (2018) Review

Director: Huh Jong-Ho Cast: Kim Myung-Min, Kim In-Kwon, Hyeri, Choi Woo-Sik, Lee Kyoung-Young, Park Hee-Soon, Park Sung-Woong, Lee Kyu-Bok, Kim Joong-Hee, Lee Seo-An Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall Ever since the success of Bong Joon-ho’s The Host in 2006, Korea’s had an on-again off-again relationship with the creature feature. Putting the social commentary aside that Joon-ho’s Han River dwelling monstrosity represented, subsequent efforts have seen the likes of … Continue reading

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