Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

Drive My Car (2021) Review

Posted on April 27, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Ryusuke Hamaguchi Cast: Hidetoshi Nishijima, Toko Miura, Reika Kirishima, Park Yu-rim, Jin Dae-yeon, Sonia Yuan, Ahn Hwitae, Perry Dizon, Satoko Abe, Masaki Okada Running Time: 179 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s perhaps a testament to how much inspiration Japanese author Haruki Murakami is capable of instilling in those who read his work, when you consider that Drive My Car is the second of his short stores in recent years to … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Japanese, News, Reviews |

Clementine (2004) Review

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Kim Doo-young Cast: Lee Dong-jun, Steven Seagal, Kim Hye-Ri, Eun Seo-Woo, Ki Joo-Bong, Kim Jung-Tae, Lim Ho, Lim Hyeok-Pil, Simon Rhee, So-yeon Kim, Jun Won-Joo Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall The likelihood is you’ve never found yourself asking if there’s a Korean version of Don ‘The Dragon’ Wilson, but just on the off chance that you have, then let me put forward the case for Lee Dong-jun. … Continue reading →

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

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) Review

Posted on April 15, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Dan Kwan Co-director: Daniel Scheinert Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., James Hong, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sunita Mani, Aaron Lazar, Audrey Wasilewski Running Time: 139 min. By Paul Bramhall As an actress Michelle Yeoh has made an impact in every decade she’s been active. In the 80’s she kick-started the Girls with Guns genre in her first starring role with Yes, Madam!. … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , |

Midnight (2021) Review

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Paul Bramhall
"Midnight" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kwon Oh-Seung Cast: Jin Ki-Joo, Wi Ha-Joon, Park Hoon, Gil Hae-Yeon, Kim Hye-Yoon, Na Eun-Saem, Kim Yoo-Ri, Kang Sang-Won, Lee Sang-Eun, Lim Seung-Min Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall When looking at landmark movies that came to define Korean cinema in the 21st century, it shouldn’t take too long before Na Hong-jin’s 2008 serial killer thriller The Chaser is brought into the discussion. Sure there had been serial killer … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged |

Yaksha: Ruthless Operations (2022) Review

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Nah Hyeon Cast: Sol Kyung-Gu, Park Hae-Soo, Yang Dong-Geun, Lee El, Song Jae-Rim, Jin Young, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi  Running Time: 125 min. By Paul Bramhall Taking its title from a type of spirit that exists in Hindu and Buddhist culture responsible for looking after hidden treasures, Yaksha: Ruthless Operations is also the name of the latest Korean offering from Netflix. Far from being a supernatural outing, here the reference is … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews |

Wind Blast (2010) Review

Posted on April 8, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director Gao Qun-Shu Cast: Duan Yi-Hong, Ni Da-Hong, Jacky Wu Jing, Zhang Li, Francis Ng Chun-Yu, Yu Nan, Xia Yu, Charlie Yeung, He Tiehong, Wang Shuang-Bao, Chi Qiang Running Time: 114 min.  By Paul Bramhall  If any movie is representative of Chinese mainstream cinema being at a crossroads, then the case for Wind Blast being it is a strong one. Made in 2010, it was a time when China’s rapid … Continue reading →

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

Coffin Homes (2021) Review

Posted on March 30, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Fruit Chan Cast: Siu Yam-Yam, Paul Che, Tai Bo, Rachel Lee Lai-Chun, Cheung Tat-Ming, Wong Yau-Nam, Peter Chan Charm-Man, Candy Wen Xue-Er, Ai Wai Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall As a director, Fruit Chan has always had the ability to take what appears to be standard genre fare, and give it his own unique off-kilter twist. This was on display in efforts as early as 1993’s Finale … Continue reading →

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

Real (2017) Review

Posted on March 22, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Lee Sa-Rang Cast: Kim Soo-Hyun, Sung Dong-Il, Sung-Min, Sulli, Jo Woo-Jin, Lee Kyoung-Young, Han Ji-Eun, Kim Hong-Fa, Jung In-Gyeom, Choi Kwon, IU, Ahn So-Hee Running Time: 137 min. By Paul Bramhall Once in a while a production comes along whose reputation for being a complete train wreck precedes it. Who can forget Andy Lau apologising for appearing in the 007-inspired spy caper Switch, or Jackie Chan battling an Australian … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , |

Spiritwalker (2021) Review

Posted on March 19, 2022 by Paul Bramhall
Spiritwalker | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

Director: Yoon Jae-Keun Cast: Park Yong-Woo, Lim Ji-Yeon, Park Ji-Hwan, Yoo Seung-Mok, Lee Sung-Wook, Seo Hyun-Woo, Baek Do-Gyum, Woo Kang-Min Running Time: 110 min.  By Paul Bramhall It’s fair to say the body-swap plot device has been a recurring theme in cinema over the years. While more often than not the gimmick has been used for comedic purposes, thankfully there are filmmakers out there who have been willing to apply … Continue reading →

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

Beast, The (2019) Review

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Paul Bramhall
"The Beast" Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Jung-Ho Cast: Lee Sung-Min, Yoo Jae-Myung, Jeon Hye-Jin, Daniel Choi, Kim Ho-Jung, An Si-Ha, Lee Sang-Hee, Kim Byung-Choon, Kim Hong-Fa, Kim Young-Sung Running Time: 130 min.  By Paul Bramhall While the Korean film industry has produced a number of remakes from its Asian neighbours like Japan and China over the years, more recently its increasingly found itself turning to European cinema to offer up a distinctly Korean spin … Continue reading →

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Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure, The (2022) Review

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Kim Jung-Hoon Cast: Kang Ha-Neul, Han Hyo-Joo, Lee Kwang-Soo, Kwon Sang-Woo, Chae Soo-Bin, Sehun, Kim Sung-Oh,  Park Ji-Hwan, Kim Ki-Doo, Maeng Sang-Yul, Kim Dae-Han, Park Hoon, Lee Jung-Hyun, Han Jae-Young Running Time: 125 min.  By Paul Bramhall It’s debatable if anyone was clamouring for a sequel to 2014’s slight but entertaining high seas adventure The Pirates, made in the wake of Hollywood’s successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews |

Invincible (2020) Review

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Daniel Zirilli Cast: Johnny Strong, Marko Zaror, Vladimir Kulich, Sally Kirkland, Michael Paré, Paul Kennedy, Jason Archilla, David Blazejko, Paul Collett, Nick Khan, Natalie Lorence, May Myat Noe, Ron Smoorenburg Running Time: 92 min.  By Paul Bramhall Whatever happened to Johnny Strong? After supporting roles in the likes of The Fast and the Furious and Black Hawk Down, his leading role in the 2010 flick Sinners and Saints had … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , |

All U Need is Love (2021) Review

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Vincent Kok Cast: Louis Koo, Tony Leung, Eric Tsang, Francis Ng, Gordon Lam, Philip Keung, Julian Cheung, Louis Cheung, Fiona Sit, Alex Fong, Cecilia So, Cheung Tat-ming, Michael Hui, Chin Kar-lok, Jackie Chan, Yuen Qiu Running Time: 102 min.  By Paul Bramhall If there are 2 movies that show the differences between Mainland China and Hong Kong cinema, then it has to be Chinese Doctors and All U Need … Continue reading →

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

Pink Force Commando (1982) Review

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Chu Yen Ping  Cast: Brigitte Lin Ching-Hsia, Elsa Yang Hui-Shan, Sally Yeh Chian-Wen, Hilda Liu Hao-Yi, Blacky Ko Shou-Liang, Alan Liu Te-Kai, Hsu Pu-Liao, Sylvia Peng Hsueh-Fen, Teresa Tsui Jun-Jun, Wang Kuan-Hsiung, Yu Kam-Po Running Time: 87 min.  By Paul Bramhall I may well have swindled myself by watching Pink Force Commando. At the time of writing I’m in the latter stages of a 12-month detox from madcap Taiwanese … Continue reading →

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

No Mercy (2019) Review

Posted on February 22, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Im Kyung-Taek Cast: Lee Si-Young, Park Se-Wan, Lee Joon-Hyuk, Choi Jin-Ho, Lee Hyeong-Cheol, Kim Won-Hae, Kwak Min-Suk, Kim Ki-Moo, Yoon Song-A, An Se-Ha Running Time: 92 min.  By Paul Bramhall Not to be confused with the 2010 movie of the same name starring Sol Kyung-gu and Ryoo Seong-bum, the 2019 No Mercy is a DTV action vehicle for amateur boxer turned actress Lee Si-young. The list of boxers who have … Continue reading →

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