Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

Peninsula (2020) Review

“Peninsula” IMAX Poster

Director: Yeon Sang-Ho Cast: Gang Dong-Won, Lee Jung-Hyun, Lee Re, Kwon Hae-Hyo, Kim Min-Jae, Koo Gyo-Hwan, Kim Do-Yoon, Lee Ye-Won, Kim Kyu-Baek, Moon Woo-Jin Running Time: 116 min. By Paul Bramhall 4 years since the breakout zombie hit Train to Busan, director Yeon Sang-ho returns to make it a trilogy with 2020’s Peninsula. Korea’s seen plenty of zombie action in the years in-between, with the genre supplanted to ancient times with … Continue reading

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Tenet (2020) Review

"Tenet" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Christopher Nolan Cast: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh, Clémence Poésy, Andrew Howard, Himesh Patel, Martin Donovan, Anthony Molinari Running Time: 150 min. By Paul Bramhall Director and writer Christopher Nolan may be well known for his high concept blockbusters, but for me he’s also responsible for some of the most exciting action sequences Hollywood has produced in the last 15 years. … Continue reading

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Watch List (2019) Review

"Watch List" Theatrical Poster

Director: Ben Rekhi Cast: Alessandra de Rossi, Jake Macapagal, Arthur Acuna, Jess Mendoza, Angeli Bayani Running Time: 94 min.  By Paul Bramhall Before viewing Watch List it’s important to understand the very real backdrop that the production is set in. When Rodrigo Duterte was elected president of the Philippines in 2016 he launched the War on Drugs, encouraging both the police force and citizens alike to kill anyone they knew … Continue reading

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Hydra (2019) Review

"Hydra" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Kensuke Sonomura Cast: Masanori Mimoto, Miu, Tasuku Nagase, Takaya Aoyagi, Takashi Nishina, Satoshi Kibe, Kensuke Sonomura, Tsutomu Uchigasaki, Naoki Hayashida Running Time: 75 min. By Paul Bramhall Ask anyone about the best martial arts movies from Japan during the 2010’s, and chances are the unanimous vote would go to the Rurouni Kenshin trilogy, the adaptation of the manga that spanned 2012 – 2014. The reason for why these movies … Continue reading

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Seized (2020) Review

AKA: Rizk Director: Isaac Florentine Cast: Scott Adkins, Mario Van Peebles, Karlee Perez, Steven Elder, James P. Bennett, Matthew Garbacz, David Fernandez Jr., Justin Nesbitt, Luis Gatica Running Time: 85 min. By Paul Bramhall Everyone’s favorite British martial artist Scott Adkins stars as a former special force’s agent who, after his wife was killed as part of a mission several years ago, is now a single parent to the child … Continue reading

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Kung Fu League (2018) Review

"Kung Fu League" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Kung Fu Alliance Director: Jeff Lau Chun Wai Cast: Vincent Chiu Man Chuk, Dennis To, Danny Chan, Andy On, Bruce Leung Siu Lung Running Time: 102 min. By Paul Bramhall Jeff Lau is one of those directors that audiences either love or hate, with the camp you fall into being largely dependent on a tolerance (or perhaps enjoyment) of his everything and the kitchen sink approach to filmmaking. Sure, … Continue reading

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Leg Fighters, The | aka Invincible Kung Fu Legs (1980) Review

The Leg Fighters | Blu-ray (VCI Entertainment)

AKA: Invincible Kung Fu Legs Director: Lee Tso Nam Cast: Ha Kwong-Li, Dorian Tan Tao-Liang, Peng Kang, Wang Yao, Lui Wan-Biu, Chin Lung Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall After 1978 gave us The Zodiac Fighters and 1979 delivered Five Superfighters, in 1980 it was the turn of The Leg Fighters to kick off the new decade. A Taiwanese indie, at the helm was journeyman director Lee Tso Nam, a … Continue reading

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Zeta: When the Dead Awaken (2019) Review

"Zeta: When the Dead Awaken" Theatrical Poster

Director: Amanda Iswan Writer: Amanda Iswan Cast: Cut Mini, Dimas Aditya, Jeff Smith, Edo Borne, Joshua Pandelaki, Willem Bevers, Revaldo, Natasha Gott, Chicco Kurniawan, Atiq Rachman Running Time: 94 min. By Paul Bramhall Indonesia may have put itself on the map over the last decade thanks to its martial arts offerings, with the likes of The Raid and its sequel making an impact on action movie fans across the world, however … Continue reading

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Double World (2020) Review

"Double World" Theatrical Poster

Director: Teddy Chen Cast: Henry Lau, Mark Cheng, Peter Ho, Bobo Hu Ming, Jiang Luxia, Him Law, Lin Chen-Han, Xiuyu Lin, Minghu Xu, Ningjiang Zhang, Li Xi-Yu, Wang Yan-Long, Du Xiao-Fan Running Time: 110 min. By Paul Bramhall In the mid-2010’s it felt like you couldn’t get away from the big budget fantasy blockbuster in China, with a constant stream of CGI spectacle filled extravaganzas dominating the screens. Zhong Kui: … Continue reading

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One Night in Bangkok (2020) Review

One Night in Bangkok | DVD (Lionsgate)

Director: Wych Kaosayananda Cast: Mark Dacascos, Kane Kosugi, Vanida Golten, Prinya Intachai, Michael S. New, Charlie Ruedpokanon, Alice Tantayanon, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Julie Condra, Shivam Pawa, Siripon Yuktadatta Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall In 2019 Thai director Wych Kaosayananda had somewhat of an epiphany with his feature The Driver. Using nothing more than a stationery car, a green screen, and an action star who’s been off the boil for … Continue reading

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Legacy of Lies (2020) Review

"Legacy of Lies" Teaser Poster

Director: Adrian Bol Producer: Marco Robinson Cast: Scott Adkins, Honor Kneafsey, Andrea Vasiliou, Anna Butkevich, Victor Solé, Matt Mitler, Yuliia Sobol, Martin McDougall, Chee Leon Sua Running Time: 101 min.  By Paul Bramhall The latest Scott Adkins vehicle Legacy of Lies has had an interesting journey to the screen. A passion project of Dutch director and writer Adrian Bol and producer Marco Robinson, it was originally planned that Robinson would … Continue reading

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Ninja Over the Great Wall (1987) Review

"Ninja Over the Great Wall" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Fire on the Great Wall Director: Bruce Le Cast: Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Li Ning, Yu Hai, Leung Yim, Shikamura Yasuyoshi, Cheng Yuen Man, Xue Bai, Gao Jian-Hua, Ma Zheng, Yang Li-Xin Running Time: 90 min.  By Paul Bramhall After spending 10 years playing various incarnations of Bruce Lee within the infamous Bruceploitation genre, Huang Kin-Lung (or Bruce Le as he’s more commonly known) directed what could be … Continue reading

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Boyka: Undisputed IV (2016) Review

"Boyka: Undisputed IV" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Todor Chapkanov Co-director: Isaac Florentine Cast: Scott Adkins, Teodora Duhovnikova, Alon Moni Aboutboul, Julian Vergov, Brahim Achabbakhe, Paul Chahidi, Tim Man, Andy Long Nguyen, Hristo Petkov Running Time: 86 min. By Paul Bramhall Few actors get to portray a character that comes to embody a franchise so much, their name brings more recognition than the franchise itself. Rambo did it with the 1st Rambo sequel, Rambo: First Blood Part II, … Continue reading

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COF Presents – The Scott Adkins Starter Pack

COF Presents – The Scott Adkins Starter Pack

As many of us have spent a significant portion of 2020 in lockdown, there’s been no shortage of Starter Packs to provide inspiration of what we can do with all that extra time on our hands. Make Your Own Sourdough Starter Pack? Check! Grow Your Own Vegetables Starter Pack? Check! They’re all there, and at COF, we’ve decided to contribute to the cause as well, by unleashing The Scott Adkins … Continue reading

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Magnificent, The (1978) Review

"The Magnificent" Poster

Director: Kim Hyeong-Jun Co-director: Chan Siu-Pang Assistant-director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Carter Wong, Casanova Wong, Chan Sing, Doris Lung, Elton Chong, Chang Il-do, Dragon Lee (Mun Kyong-sok), Martin Chui Man-Fooi, Chan Chan-Wa Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall In the late 70’s the kung fu genre was evolving dramatically. After the Bruce Lee mania of the early 70’s there came a wave of ‘basher’ flicks, movies that put an emphasis … Continue reading

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