Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

King Swindler (1993) Review

Director: Chu Yen Ping Cast: Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Sandra Ng Kwun-Yu, Tuo Tsung-Hua, Liu Chun, Hiu Hiu, Billy Gilman, Lau Kei, Tu Fu-Ping, Chien Te-Men, Tsai Chia-Hung, Lin Hsieh-Wen Running Time: 96 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s common knowledge that back in the 1980’s Jimmy Wang Yu stepped in to straighten up some trouble Jackie Chan was having with the Triads, and to repay the One Armed Boxer for his … Continue reading

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Paper Tigers, The (2020) Review

Director: Bao Tran Cast: Alain Uy, Ron Yuan, Mykel Shannon Jenkins, Jae Suh Park, Matthew Page, Joziah Lagonoy, Ken Quitugua, Phillip Dang, Andy Le, Brian Le, Yoshi Sudarso, Peter Sudarso, Gui DaSilva-Greene, Mark Poletti, Yuji Okumoto, Raymond Ma, Roger Yuan Running Time: 108 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s been a long journey for writer and director Quoc Bao Tran’s first full length feature, The Paper Tigers, to come to fruition. … Continue reading

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Night in Paradise (2020) Review

Director: Park Hoon-Jung Cast: Um Tae-Goo, Jeon Yeo-Bin, Cha Seung-Won, Park Ho-San, Cho Dong-in, Lee Ki-young Running Time: 130 min. By Paul Bramhall The Korean gangster movie that was such a consistently entertaining part of the countries output during the 00’s and early 10’s has largely dropped off in recent years, with genre efforts these days more likely to be low budget productions lacking the creative spark of those that … Continue reading

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Lover of the Last Empress (1995) Review

Director: Andrew Lau Cast: Tony Leung Ka Fai, Chingmy Yau, Chan Kwok Bong, Valerie Chow, Ku Feng, Yu Rong Guang, Kingdom Yuen King Tan, Yvonne Yung Hung, Bao Fang, Lo Hung Running Time: 99 min.  By Paul Bramhall Before John Wick went on the rampage triggered by the murder of his puppy, there was Chingmy Yau in Lover of the Last Empress, whose ascent to the position of Empress Dowager is … Continue reading

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Kung Fu from Beyond the Grave (1982) Review

Director: Li Chao Cast: Billy Chong Chun Lai, Lo Lieh, Dai Sai Aan, Alan Chui Chung San, Lai Kim Hung, Fang Mien, Ou-Yang Sha Fei, Goo Gwan, So Kwok Leung Running Time: 88 min.  By Paul Bramhall Following the success of Sammo Hung’s Close Encounter of the Spooky Kind in 1980, soon a slew of titles mixing kung fu and the supernatural filled Hong Kong cinema, with the likes of … Continue reading

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Steven Seagal to reboot ‘The Patriot’

While we continue to wait on the long gesticulating Under Siege 3, hitting screens first will be what Steven Seagal himself has described as a “reimagining” of his 1998 feature The Patriot. In most territories The Patriot was the first Seagal movie to go direct-to-video, and focuses on a deadly virus that he has to stop before it becomes a pandemic. Of course the subject matter is timely considering current … Continue reading

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Legend of the Drunken Tiger (1991) Review

Director: Robert Tai Cast: Kara Hui, Chui Kei-Wai, Alexander Lo Rei, Cheung Kwok Keung, Ku Feng, Ho Pak Kwong, Man Siu, Wong Hap, Lee Lung Yam, Chan Yue-Ching Running Time: 98 min.  By Paul Bramhall The early 90’s was the peak era for the whole ”Legend of the….” title structure in Hong Kong cinema. Legend of the Dragon gave us Stephen Chow vs Jimmy White, Legend of the Liquid Sword … Continue reading

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Ninja in Ancient China (1993) Review

AKA: The Prowess Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Tung Chi-Wa, Mu Li-Xin, Lin Ying-Jun, Chen Die-Yi, Chan Yee-Gong, Cheng Ya-Lin, Du Yu-Ming Guo Jun, Wan Man-Ying, Chu Ka-Lung, Wu Tian-Yun Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall After spending almost 20 years working exclusively for the Shaw Brothers studio, director Chang Cheh had rightfully earned his moniker of the Godfather of the Kung Fu Film. In 1983 he made his final … Continue reading

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Attack of the Joyful Goddess (1983) Review

"Attack of the Joyful Goddess" DVD Cover

AKA: Attack of the Venoms Director: Chang Cheh Co-director: Chiang Sheng Co-director: Lu Feng Cast: Ricky Cheng Tien-Chi, Chiang Sheng, Lu Feng, Chui Chung-Fei, Lee Chung-Yat Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall By 1983 the Shaw Brothers studio as a movie making powerhouse was on its last legs, and within a couple of years would completely close up shop to focus purely on TV production. Compared to the cinema … Continue reading

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Eagle vs. Silver Fox | aka Flying Martial Arts (1980) Review

Director: Park Yun-Gyo Co-director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Hwang Jang-Lee, Gwak Mu-Seong, Sarah Sit Chi-Lin, Nam Chung-Il, Chiu Chun, Kim Yu-Haeng, Pok Chung-Sit, Choe Mu-Ung, Kim Gi-Jong Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall If there’s one aspect of the kung fu world that’s more deadly than any secret technique, it’s the IFD Films distributed kung fu movie. Virtually every readily available Korean kung fu movie from the 70’s and 80’s … Continue reading

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Thunder Run (1991) Review

Director: Hsu Hsia Cast: Ray Lui, Alex Fong Chung Sun, Ha Chi Jan, William Ho Ka Kui, Jason Pai Piao, Fung Hak On, Tony Liu Jun Guk, Ho Pak Kwong, Wan Seung Lam Running Time: 117 min.  By Paul Bramhall At the time of writing in 2021, Ray Lui returned to screens in (the ironically titled) Heroes Return, in which he plays a former soldier that ventures into the Thai … Continue reading

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Horrible High Heels (1996) Review

Director: Chow Cheung Co-director: Chen Wei-An Co-director: Mao Chiang-Pang Cast: Shing Fui-On, Dick Wei, Billy Chow Bei-Lei, Suen Tong, Chow Yuk-Ling, Yue Shut-Man, Lin Hsiao-Lu, Lam Chak-Ming, Hung Fung, Fu Kwai Running Time: 97 min. By  Paul Bramhall During the 1990’s the Hong Kong Category III rating practically became its own genre. The equivalent of a US R-rated movie or an 18 certificate in the UK, while in the west such … Continue reading

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7 Assassins | aka Glory Days (2013) Review

Director: Hung Yan Yan Cast: Felix Wong, Max Mok, Eric Tsang, Guo Tao, Ray Lui, Michael Wong, Benny Chan, Gigi Leung, Ni Hong Jie, Hung Yan Yan, Cherie Chan, Ellen Chan, Rose Chan, Ekin Cheng, Edward Chui, Fung Hak On, Kara Hui, Waise Lee Running Time: 102 min. By Paul Bramhall The glory days of the Shaw Brothers and Cathay Studio in the 60’s and early 70’s may be long … Continue reading

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Walk on Fire (1988) Review

Director: Norman Law Man Producer: Ng See-Yuen Cast: Andy Lau, Cherie Chung, Kent Cheng, Ray Lui, Dick Wei, Lau Siu-Ming, Maria Cordero, Shum Wai, Kam Hing-Yin, May Hoh Mei-Ting, Yung Wai-Man, Teddy Yip Wing-Cho Running Time: 104 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1987 iconic Hong Kong director Ringo Lam hit Hong Kong cinema screens with 2 of his bona fide classics, City on Fire and Prison on Fire, creating a … Continue reading

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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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