Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

Runaway Blues (1989) Review

Director: David Lai Dai-Wai Cast: Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Shirley Lui Sau-Ling, Ngok Ling, Sunny Fang Kang, Blacky Ko Shou-Liang, Kelvin Wong Siu, Tanny Tien Ni, Chang Shih, Chan Ging-Cheung Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall Say what you want about how in modern Hong Kong cinema Louis Koo is in just about everything, still nothing can compare to the omni-presence of Andy Lau in the mid to late eighties. … Continue reading

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Odd Family: Zombie On Sale, The (2019) Review

AKA: Zombie for Sale Director: Lee Min-Jae Cast: Jung Jae-Young, Kim Nam-Gil, Uhm Ji-Won, Lee Soo-Kyung, Jung Ga-Ram, Park In-Hwan, Shin Jung-Keun, Jeon Bae-Su, Oh Eui-Sik, Kim Ki-Cheon, Jo Eun-A Running Time: 112 min.  By Paul Bramhall Korea’s infatuation with the zombie genre may have come a few decades later than its western counterparts, but despite its relatively late-in-the-day appearance, that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a popular fixture on … Continue reading

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Space Sweepers (2021) Review

Director: Jo Sung-Hee Cast: Song Joong-Ki, Kim Tae-Ri, Jin Sun-Kyu, Yu Hae-Jin, Park Ye-Rin, Richard Armitage, Kim Moo-Yul, Oh Ji-Yul, Kim Hyang-Gi, Nas Brown, John D. Michaels Running Time: 136 min. By Paul Bramhall The marketing material for Space Sweepers proudly boasted the production to be “Korea’s first sci-fi film project”, a claim which does somewhat of a disservice to the film industries frequent dabbling with the genre during the … Continue reading

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Great Battle, The (2018) Review

Director: Kim Kwang-Sik Cast: Jo In-sung, Nam Joo-Hyuk, Park Sung-Woong, Bae Sung-Woo, Um Tae-Goo, Seol Hyun, Park Byung-Eun, Oh Dae-Hwan, Jung Eun-Chae, Sung Dong-Il, Jang Gwang, Stephanie Lee, Yeo Hoi-Hyeon, Jung In-Gyeom Running Time: 135 min. By Pau Bramhall The Korean historical blockbuster became particularly heavy handed under the years Park Geun-hye was president, with her policies and influence on the film industry resulting in a number of jingoistic productions … Continue reading

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When West Meets East: 25 Hollywood Stars in Asian Cinema

We all know there have been plenty of Asian stars who have tried their hand at Hollywood, with the likes of Jackie Chan, Lee Byung-hun, Ken Watanabe, and even Tony Jaa all having varying degrees of success in Tinseltown. But what about those Hollywood stars who attempted their hand at the Asian film market? Those who have ventured to the East have done so for reasons as broad as the … Continue reading

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Bloody Brotherhood (1989) Review

Director: Wang Lung Wei Cast: Andy Lau Tak Wah, Michael Chan Wai Man, Irene Wan Pik Ha, David Lam Wai, Shum Wai, Ku Feng, Dick Wei, Philip Ko Fei, Tin Ching, Wong Hap, Cheung Gwok Wa, Ken Lo Hui Kwong, Sham Chin Bo, Lee Sau Kei, Cho Wing Running Time: 95 min.  By Paul Bramhall While Wang Lung-Wei is perhaps most synonymous for his various villainous turns during his tenure at the … Continue reading

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Circus Kids (1994) Review

Director: Wu Ma Cast: Yuen Biao, Donnie Yen, Irene Wan Pik-Ha, Lily Lee Lee-Lee, Wu Ma, Lam Wai, Woo Ying-Man, Ken Lo Wai-Kwong, Bey Logan, Yuen Miu, Bei Lou-Kam, Yuen Miu Running Time: 109 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1994 Wu Ma brought together 3 of the best kickers of the era – Yuen Biao, Donnie Yen, and Ken Lo – to feature in the tale of a circus troupe that … Continue reading

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Bloody Mafia (1994) Review

AKA: Red Mafia Director: Casanova Wong Cast: Casanova Wong (Ka Sa Fa), Choi Byung-cheol, Cha Ryong, O O-seop, Kim Du-han, Yoo Seong, Lee Sang-ho, Kim Chang-won, Kim Yeong-uk, Lee Jeonggu  Running Time: 95 min.  By Paul Bramhall By 1994 the kung fu golden era of Hong Kong that dominated the mid-70’s through to the early-80’s was well and truly over, and with it work also dried up for the Korean boot masters … Continue reading

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Swordsman, The (2020) Review

Director: Choi Jae-Hoon Cast: Jang Hyuk, Kim Hyun-Soo, Joe Taslim, Jeong Man-Sik, Lee Na-Kyung, Lee Min-Hyuk Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall The swordplay genre has fallen largely out of fashion over the last decade in Korean cinema, after it spent most of the 00’s being a regular fixture on cinema screens thanks to the likes of 2003’s Sword in the Moon, 2005’s Shadowless Sword, and 2010’s Blades of … Continue reading

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Fist and Furious (2020) Review

Director: Ha Won-Joon Cast: Jung Doo-Hong, Ryu Deok-Hwan, Seo Eun-A, Jung Eui-Gap, Kim Hae-In, Choi Je-Heon, Yoon Seung-Hoon, Lee Hae-Young, Kwon Hyeong-Joon, Choi Ha-Na Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall Coming with possibly the most ridiculous English title since Wheels on Meals, director Ha Won-joon’s sophomore feature Fist and Furious probably has the guys over at The Asylum kicking themselves for not coming up with such a title of … Continue reading

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Derailed (2016) Review

"Derailed" Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Seong-Tae Cast: Ma Dong-Seok, Minho, Kim Jae-Young, Jung Da-Eun, Lee You-Jin, Baek Soo-Min, Kim Won-Sik, Park Ho-San, Park Sung-Il, Han Soo-Hyun, Seo Ho-Chul Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall Derailed had a pretty bumpy road to the screen, as the story which takes place in the world of runaway teenagers was turned down by every investor it was pitched to, for reasons which become apparently clear once … Continue reading

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Me and Me (2020) Review

Director: Jung Jin-Young Cast: Cho Jin-Woong, Bae Soo-Bin, Cha Soo-Yeon, Jung Hae-Kyun, Jang Won-Young, No Kang-Min Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s always interesting when an actor decides to try their hand at directing, and in the Korean film industry there’s been no shortage of examples. From Ha Jung-woo’s Airplane! styled comedy Fasten Your Seatbelt in 2013, to Cho Jae-hyun’s rather Hong Sang-soo-esque take on the folly of … Continue reading

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Gingko Bed, The (1995) Review

Director: Kang Je-Gyu Cast: Han Suk-Kyu, Jin Hee-Kyung, Kim Sun-Kyung, Lee Beom-Soo, Shim Hye-Jin, Shin Hyeon-Jun, Kim Myeong-Kuk, Kim Hak-Cheol, Choi Hak-Rak, Yoo Yeon-Soo Running Time: 88 min. By Paul Bramhall The Gingko Bed is often spoken about in the context of it being the first Korean production to make significant use of CGI. It wasn’t the first, that honor belongs to The Fox with Nine Tails from the previous … Continue reading

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Nessun Dorma (2016) Review

"Nessun Dorma" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Herman Yau Cast: Gordon Lam Ka-Tung, Janice Man Wing-San, Andy Hui, Candice Yu On-On, Jacky Choi Kit, Wilfred Lau Ho-Lung, Tarah Chan Yi-Lam, Phat Chan Fei Running Time: 94 min.  By Paul Bramhall Out of all the Hong Kong directors who started out during the territory’s cinematic heyday, it’s only Herman Yau who continues to be as prolific today as he was during his 90’s peak. While Yau’s expansive … Continue reading

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Evil Instinct (1996) Review

Director: Barry Chu Cast: Carrie Ng Ka-Lai, Diana Pang Dan, Bowie Lam Bo-Yi, Evergreen Mak Cheung-Ching, Stuart Ong, Chung Sau-Han, Le Rong-Rong, Yeung Ging-Shing Running Time: 96 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1996 the golden era of the Category III genre had already past its peak, with the excess of the early 90’s classics like Naked Killer and The Untold Story subsiding to the uncertainty of the HK handover the … Continue reading

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